Guardian (2 page)

“Mommy, where are you? Where are you?” I walked from room to room, calling out for her, but her voice never responded to my fearful cries.

Walking out the front door, I ran to Ms. Lennox’s apartment just down the hall.

“Ms. Lennox! Ms. Lennox!” I called out, pounding my small fists on the door. She didn’t answer, and I slowly backed away and began running down the stairs of our apartment building.

“Mommy! Please…Mommy!” Tears were streaming down my face as fear grasped my tiny hand. My mother would never leave me home alone. I found myself on the first floor, the front desk completely empty. I pushed the revolving door with all my might, finally stepping outside into the heat of summer.

That’s when I saw the fire above me. The familiarity and safety of my life disappeared almost instantly. Running across a normally bustling street that now lay barren, horror pawed at me as my world stood empty. The crackling of the fire filled the air, and the pungent smoke permeated my nostrils as I spun around to look at my home, now riddled with flames.

A strange humming filled my ears as I looked in all directions for something…someone. At first it was quiet, but soon it became a deafening blare, so unbearable I covered my ears with my hands. Flames were now seeping through the roof, licking the outer edges. I tried to run for help, but my feet wouldn’t move an inch. My red sandals had melted to the ground beneath me as the heat of the fire raised droplets of sweat to my blazing hot forehead. The raging fire consumed my thoughts. I could feel the heat, the blistering heat that was so overwhelming I gasped for breath.

That’s when I saw her. My mother. She was dressed in a long, white, silken gown. Her hair was pulled back into a beautiful French twist, her lips stained red and her cheeks rosy pink. Her icy blue eyes were staring at me from the window of our tiny apartment on the second floor, the smoke billowing around her angelic figure. Why was she just standing there? Why wasn’t she running from the fire, and why had she not answered me when I had called out to her?

“Mommy! Run, Mommy!” I screamed violently, still covering my ears from the deafening blare.

I watched as she stepped out of the window, placing her feet on the narrow ledge of the apartment building. She never removed her gaze from me as she held out her right hand. I watched as a small, white feather fell from her palm, floating to the ground beneath her. A scream leapt from my throat as I pulled at my legs, my feet finally breaking free. I started running; I had to save her…I had to save her before the fire took her from me. I felt the ground shake beneath me, causing me to lose my footing before I reached the revolving door. The flames swept her out of my reach as her figure disappeared from the ledge. I felt something cold on my forehead as I covered my eyes. The pain, the searing pain of feeling hot and cold at the same time left me rolling upon the ground as I wept out loud to an empty world.

Suddenly the movement stopped almost as quickly as it had started. The pain lessened. My breathing was labored as the raging, unforgiving heat of the fire had seared my lungs. Every breath left me feeling woozy and sick. I was afraid to open my eyes. Afraid of what I would see. Would I see my mother’s burned body on the ground next to me? The way I felt, I wished death would take me if it hadn’t already.

I slowly pulled my hands away from my face. Opening my eyes, the images surrounding me were bright and extremely blurry.

“Macy, Macy, are you all right?” I could feel my mother shaking my shoulder, but couldn’t respond. Her voice sounded like a hollow echo as she spoke to me.

She caressed my cheek gently and wiped a wet washcloth across my scalding hot forehead.

I grabbed my mother’s hand, searching desperately for my voice. “You’re all right, Mommy, why didn’t you run? Why did you let the fire take you?” My words were quiet as I struggled to uncover the answers to the nightmare that swam through my thoughts.

My eyes were finally able to focus on the outline of her perfect, angelic face. She looked at me, gently placing her finger over my swollen, hot lips.

“You passed out, Macy. That’s all. I think the heat in the kitchen just got to you. You’re fine now. Just try to rest. Let me get you some water, okay?”

“No!” I shouted at her. I was afraid of losing her all over again, perhaps for real this time.

That’s when I saw it, the sparkles all around my mother as she stood up. I grabbed the corner of her silken blouse before she was able to walk away. She turned to face me, concern washing over her face. I stared at her intently. The bursts of light…they were stronger this time. More pronounced.

I heard the front door swing open, my mother calling out for my father to come quickly. My father’s figure stepped into the kitchen, throwing his briefcase on the counter as he loosened his necktie. I heard his footsteps walk over to where I lay, sprawled across the cold, hard floor.

“Helen, what’s wrong with Macy? Does she need a doctor?”

My mother spoke to my father in a hushed voice. “No, no…she just got a little overheated, I think. She’ll be fine.”

“What’s wrong, pumpkin?” he said, running his hands through my sweat-soaked hair.

The shimmering stars were still swirling around my mother as I tried to swallow the hard lump in my throat.

“I see…sparkles around Mommy,” I managed to say. Closing my eyes, I let the images dance through my head once more. Exhaustion fell heavy upon my eyelids as I felt my father lift my body from the floor and carry me to the couch. The touch of my favorite fleece blanket was gently draped across my body, allowing me to burrow my nose under its warmth.

My parents’ hushed voices could be heard from across our dimly lit living room.

“Helen, she hasn’t fainted. You know that good and well.” His voice was full of fear, and it quivered lightly when he spoke.

“Shh…she mustn’t hear what you say, Carl. I just don’t think it’s time to tell her. Not yet. She’s much too young,” my mother countered back.

“You were only ten when you learned who you were. Macy’s a smart girl. You won’t be able to hide this from her for long.”

“What about this evening? Our guests will be here in less than hour, and I don’t have a single thing done.”

My father sighed heavily. “I’ll take care of it. But I think it’s only right we talk to Macy…tonight.”

I could hear my mother pacing the floor, but I kept my eyes closed tight.

“She isn’t ready, Carl. I’m not ready to hand her over to her future just yet. Not now.” My mother’s voice grew faint and saddened as she spoke.

I peeked out of the corner of my eye and watched my father grab my mother’s hands, cupping them in his.

“Macy has seen the sign, Helen. She’s a Guardian, and it’s only right that we tell her what that means. We’ll reschedule dinner for tomorrow evening. This time, she’ll be allowed to have dinner with all of us.”

My father drew her close, hugging her tightly as he kissed her gently on the forehead. I watched as she buried her head in his chest and sighed. My father pulled himself away from her, brushing her tangled blonde ringlets away from her frightened face. Fear left my gut in knots. The words my parents had spoken made little sense, but it seemed incredibly important. I hated to see my mother cry. I drew the blanket up a bit higher around my face, tucking the tiny trickle of tears away silently, out of sight.

Mom smiled despite the rivers that now rolled down her porcelain cheeks. “Her first dinner as a Guardian…she’ll be delighted.”

Chapter Two

Induction

Eleven years later…

Picking at the food on my plate, I glanced over at my mother who was pouring herself another glass of Chardonnay. The white, satin, strapless dress I was wearing was incredibly uncomfortable, causing my ribs to ache with every breath. If only dinner would end and the ceremony would begin. I wanted nothing more than to go home, put on my favorite flannel pants, and plop down face first onto my bed, reaching out for my dreams.

The last two weeks had been completely exhausting. Rehearsing my lines until I was blue in the face, my final dress fitting, and receiving the new, small tattoo that fell just beneath my right shoulder blade. A single, white feather was now visible for the rest of the dinner party to see; a rite of passage to those that join the group of guardianship. It was a sacred mark of our society.

Tonight was my Guardian induction…a ravishing party that was planned for every new Guardian member on his or her eighteenth birthday. Not only would I finally become a formal member, I would be given my Shomer, the name of the individual that I would vow to protect for the rest of my life. It would become a sacred name branded across my heart for safekeeping. To say I wasn’t completely nervous would be flat out lying. I could feel my heart racing in my chest, and my stomach twisting in knots, leaving me nauseous instead of hungry.

Trey Parsons sat across the table from me, his constant glances leaving me uneasy but somewhat flattered in an awkward, spellbinding sort of way. His dark brown hair hung loosely around his face, as if begging for some woman to run her hands through it. His evergreen eyes were mesmerizing, which caused my eyes to wander away from my plate and to his face repeatedly. Even the way he chewed his food was completely hot in a weird sort of way. Although I guessed my real problem was that I was infatuated with this twenty-one-year-old Guardian. We had only spoken on a handful of occasions, but I was determined to get a word in with him later this evening.

“Macy, your dress is absolutely stunning,” Rachel Yancey said, her English accent falling effortlessly from her lips. I will admit, I loved hearing her speak. She was prim, proper and completely delightful. She was one of the very few Guardians that I had grown close to over the years. She was also my mother’s very best friend, and one of the few women who seemed somewhat down to earth despite her deep riches and poignant position in the Guardians.

“Thank you, Rachel.” I smiled at her before darting my eyes towards Trey again.

“Is it Chanel?” Rachel asked candidly.

My mother chimed in before I had the chance to answer. “Actually, it’s Vera Wang. When I saw Macy walk out of the dressing room with it on, I knew instantly it was perfect for her!”

“Indeed it is. She looks more like a ravishing bride than an angel, though,” Deidra Parsons replied, taking a sip of her wine. The spite in her voice rang out clearly to the forty or so guests that rounded the large dining table.

I can’t say I cared for Deidra much. It was quite obvious she wasn’t a big fan of mine either, our entire family for that matter. This is why I was so hesitant about getting involved with her son, Trey. But I wasn’t exactly opposed to secrets either. A sly smile spread across my face when I thought about it, my eyes darting towards Trey again. It was as if he could read my mind. I instantly saw a smile spread across his face as well, causing my cheeks to grow hot and my stomach to flip-flop.

My father stood up, clinking his wine glass with the side of his dinner knife. “Can I have everyone’s attention, please?”

The crowd grew quiet as all eyes focused on my extremely handsome father in his black Prada tuxedo. His hazel eyes glistened underneath the lights of the enormous chandelier hanging above us. His auburn hair was still quite debonair despite the fine gray threads that wove through his locks. My palms grew sweaty as I watched his eyes grow moist.

“Thank you all for coming this evening. This is a wonderful night for our family…for Macy. Becoming a Guardian is an honor and an eternal sentence of gratitude. One in which I feel completely blessed to be a part of. I know my wife, Helen, would agree.”

My mother raised her glass, nodded her head, and winked at me.

“Let us all raise our glasses to the Guardians! And let us welcome our newest member, my lovely daughter…Macy Louise Milligan. Congratulations, Macy!”

“Here, here!” the crowd roared, as crystal glasses clinked together, echoing through the vast dining room.

Trey raised his glass to me, and I did the same, smiling flirtatiously at him. The wait staff entered the dining hall and removed our dinner plates, replacing them with chocolate soufflé. I had barely touched my dinner; the last thing I wanted was dessert.

I leaned over to my mother, whispering softly in her ear, “Mom, I need a moment. Can I be excused from the table?”

“Oh, honey, I don’t know.”

I watched as a few of the dinner guests got up from the table and walked towards the beautiful Great Hall, the room in which I would be crowned in less than half an hour.

“Please? I just need some air. I’ll be back in a few minutes. In time for the ceremony,” I promised her.

She took a bite of her soufflé before answering. “I suppose, Macy. Make it quick though, okay?”

“Okay, I promise.” I patted my mother on the arm, standing to make my exit before she could change her mind.

As I stood up from the table, I picked up the train of my dress off of the floor. I did feel like a bride this evening, not an eighteen-year-old girl whose life was about to change in a profound way. Stepping into marriage seemed like it would be easier than stepping into the life of a Guardian. Who was I kidding? Neither was easy, nor should be stepped into lightly. I needed some air.

I walked away from the exquisite dining room and out into the towering hallway of Olivia and Rex Griland’s home, the Baron and Empress of the Guardians. Their home was on the upper west side of Manhattan, a beautiful spacious loft that overlooked the city, with a view that would easily take your breath away on a cool, clear night. I looked at the stunning portraits that lined the hallway. Angelic oil paintings of former members of the Guardians, portraying faces of perfection with large, white wings that created a silhouette of peace and perfection. Sometimes it was hard to believe that I was a piece of such greatness. This made me incredibly nervous and hesitant about how my life would become in a matter of moments. Was I ready to accept such a prestigious honor in my life?