The Guardians' Daughter

by A. M. McPherson

  “I heard about what happened.” His eyes soften with sympathy. “Are you okay? I know Iron Forge was involved. I can’t fathom how that made—”

  “Erik, you’re the last person I want to talk to about this. Let’s just go back into class.” I wipe away my tears and reach for the handle.

  Erik gently grabs my shoulder. “Ember, can we please talk? I really want to try to repair things between us. You and your parents were like my only family.”

  “Yeah, they were my only family! Where were you when they died? Or afterward? I trusted you, and you abandoned me, as well as them!”

  He releases my shoulder.

  I flitter my eyes in his direction so he can see all the anger reflecting in them. “The only reason you’re trying to talk to me now is because I decided to take this class, which I’m starting to think was an even bigger mistake than I originally thought.”

  Erik regards me with his gentle blue eyes. “Ember, since the day I saw your name on my class list, I thought this would finally be the opportunity for us to talk. I was hoping maybe you were trying to reach out in a way, but I knew better. Think about your parents, they would want us to try to mend things.”

  He’s got me there. Friends and family meant the world to them. I swallow back some guilt. “You’re … You’re probably right.”

  “I know I didn’t handle things the best back then. That’s something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. All I ask is for you to give me one chance to tell you about what happened that day. If you still don’t want anything to do with me afterward, that’s fine. I’ll let you finish the course without having to say one more word to me, and we can part ways at the end of the semester. I’ll never bother you again.”

  I want to hold onto my anger, but I’m tired of being angry. I’m just tired in general. Even though I don’t want to admit it to him, it would be kind of nice if I could confide in Erik. He understands where I’ve been and possibly a little bit of what I’m going through, unlike anyone else here. I know if my parents could talk to me, they would tell me to rely on him, to trust him. This weekend really reminded me how quickly things can change. Do I really have the strength to keep living with this grudge?

  An exasperated sigh escapes my lips. “I just don’t know if I can look past everything that has happened.”

  He nods. “Let’s just … try to have a conversation. What more damage could it possibly do?”

  “I guess that’s true.” I take a deep breath. “Are you free anytime today?”

  His face lifts with surprise. “I will be after three, but are you sure you’re up to it today?”

  I shake my head. “No, but this is one of those things I don’t think I’ll ever be up for. I’d rather get it over with. My last class ends at three thirty. I can meet up after that.”

  His eyes crease with joy. “Come to my office when you’re done then.”

  My chest trembles. “I’ll see you then.”

  Chapter 15

  Ember

  The door to Erik’s office is stained a warm, golden color. A black plaque with bright gold letters spelling ERIK VAST is mounted at eye level. I stare at his name, unmoving. I know earlier I said I wanted to get this over with, but am I really ready for this?

  No, I am not. I’ll never be ready to have this conversation. But it’s time I get it over with. I attempt to hold my breath as I knock on the door, but air escapes me like a dying balloon.

  The door opens, revealing Erik dressed in jeans and a plain white t-shirt. “Hi, Ember. I’m glad you’re here,” he says with a relieved smile.

  I chew on the inside of my cheek. “Okay. Can I come in?”

  “Of course.” He steps out of the way, holding the door for me.

  I enter his office, and it’s a mess. Books and papers are spread all over his desk. Beakers, microscopes, and more books are displayed haphazardly on bookshelves. On the opposite side, black, plaid curtains half cover an enormous window. An old, large antique wardrobe sits at the back of the room, which looks out of place in its surroundings. I sit in one of the wooden chairs in front of his desk, and Erik closes the door.

  He takes his place opposite of me in his threadbare brown leather office chair.

  I focus on some random bits of paper on the carpet.

  Erik clears his throat. “Ember, thank you for coming. I know this wasn’t easy for you. We can just jump right on in if you want.”

  I don’t move a muscle.

  “Or, if there’s anything you’d rather talk about first? I’ll answer any questions you have.”

  I snap up my head. “I’ve waited a long time to find out your side of the story, so yeah, let’s start there.”

  He clasps his hands together on his desk and closes his eyes. “I’ve contemplated this for a long time, where exactly would I begin?”

  My jaw clenches. “Just start at the beginning.”

  He focuses on his hands. “Yeah, that really is the simplest answer, isn’t it?” He glances at me. “The day your parents died, I happened to be in the area when everything started. I was off duty that day, but I had some errands to do. I was about to go inside the meat market when people started screaming and running.” He stands and walks to the window to look across the campus, lost in memories. “I ran toward what everyone else was running away from, and it was your parents fighting Black Mold and Iron Forge by town hall.”

  “So … did you help them? What happened?”

  “I wanted to, but, just as it happened, I ran by an apartment building that was on fire. I can see now they probably set the fire as a distraction, but no matter what, I had a duty to do.” He faces me and his eyes plea with me to understand. “Your first duty as a Guardian is to save the lives of civilians. I wanted to be there for your parents, but I had to help the people who were trapped by the fire.”

  “You should’ve helped Mom and Dad, and they could’ve helped you save the people.” This feels wrong to say, but my mind doesn’t want to accept Erik had a valid reason for not helping them.

  Erik shakes his head. “Ember, there was no time to waste. Your parents were two of the best Guardians at the time. Even now, they’re regarded as two of the best of all time. I felt like they could handle themselves. I didn’t know what I do now.”

  All the anger I have for Guardians, Erik, and my parent’s death erupts inside me like a volcano. “Isn’t that the problem? Everyone assumed they would be fine!”

  He breaks eye contact. “Yes, and no. Unfortunately, a lot of distractions were created that day. There were a few other fires and a bank robbery that, for some reason, the news never cared to mention. Everyone was fighting already.”

  “I thought communications were down?” I ask, not masking my confusion. “That’s what I was told, but I still didn’t feel like it was a good excuse. Everyone had to know something was amiss. The news was reporting it!”

  “No, they weren’t down. Just nothing was communicated to anyone—or more like they weren’t paying attention, since they were in the middle of their own fight.”

  I roll my eyes. “So that’s just great. Ignore everything and let your friends die? How’s that okay?”

  Erik’s eyes dart to stare into mine, and a chill runs through me. This is a man haunted by the tragedies of his own past. I never noticed before how many wrinkles he has now, and that his black-blueish hair is thick with grays. The bags under his eyes look like they have been there from years of sleep deprivation. Maybe I’ve jumped to conclusions too quickly about how he handled everything.

  “That is the risk you accept when you become a Guardian.” His voice is strong with authority. “To be a Guardian, you have to realize more than just your own safety is at risk. I saved over twenty people that day. Eight of them were children. If I ignored the fire, they would have all perished! Your parents would have never forgiven me for that.”

  My throat burns while I battle the urge to cry. Dammit, why does he have to keep being right? I sniffle. “No, they woul
dn’t have.”

  A glimmer of the past trickles into my mind.

  A younger, more hopeful me looked at my dad. “Why did you and Mom want to be Guardians, Daddy?”

  “Because your mother and I both wanted to help those who sometimes can’t help themselves,” my dad’s gentle voice echoes in my mind. “Plus, my little Ember, we want to make the world a safer place for you.”

  Tears rush down my face like a waterfall.

  “After I rescued everyone, I left straight for your parents,” Erik continues, a little softer. “They were in the emptied part of the city by this point.” He covers his eyes with one of his hands and exhales a trembling breath. “When I got there, I was too late. They were already gone.”

  I have been so wrapped up in my own emotions I’ve never truly stopped and considered what Erik endured. “So, you were the first one there? I didn’t know that,” I say barely louder than a whisper.

  He nods. “I was, but I didn’t stay.”

  My anger ignites again. “Why didn’t you stay? How could you leave them there like that?”

  A few tears stain his cheeks. He drops his hand, revealing his wet eyes. “Because someone else was there. A kid. He was unconscious, and I had to get him to the hospital. I didn’t want to leave your parents. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, but I had to get the kid to safety and ensure he was okay.”

  My breath escapes me. “What? Someone else was there? A kid? A little kid?”

  “He was probably around your age at the time.”

  I stand abruptly. “Did he see anything or hear anything? Why don’t I know anything about this?”

  “I wish I could give you an answer. Unfortunately, I have no clue what happened to him.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. I took him to the hospital and left once they admitted him so I could return to your parents. The next day, I went back, and they wouldn’t let me see him. A day or so later, he was discharged.”

  I need more details. “Do you know his name? What did he look like?”

  Erik looks down. “No, they never released his name. I don’t really remember much about what he looked like. Maybe he had black or brown hair? Those details have become foggy over the years.”

  I stare at Erik, my heart pumping hard. “I just don’t get it. Everyone said my parents were by themselves. Why didn’t you tell me? Why did everyone lie about it?”

  “I figured he was just being a kid and exploring a vacant area. Unfortunately, he picked the wrong day to do it. I’m not sure if there was anything more to it than that, and only a handful of people knew he was found there.”

  I turn my head to the side, digesting everything. “I guess that makes sense. It just seems strange that so many details were not released, like the fires and the other distractions. And now you’re telling me a kid was there? What else could I not know about?”

  Erik sighs. “I agree everything surrounding your parents death is bizarre. It’s like they had a hit on them.”

  I stare off into space but manage to nod slightly. “It sure seems that way.” All of this is becoming a little much for me. I sit back in the chair before I fall.

  Erik steps toward me. “Don’t get me wrong, as Guardians we always have a target on our backs. I won’t lie to you, I’ve wondered many times throughout the years if there was more to it, but, when I would ask questions, I got no answers. Then the city was depending on me more than ever, and I needed to keep it safe, especially from Mad Marie. She ran rampant for a while after your parents’ murders. Only I could battle her, because of her radioactivity.”

  My head pounds with the threat of an oncoming headache. “Is that why you didn’t try to talk to me back then?”

  His eyes mirror my sadness. “I did try to. Once. I came to the house, but Eliza told me you didn’t want to see anyone. She thought I would upset you more. So … I left.”

  My mouth drops open. “Eliza told you to leave?”

  Instantly, he looks like he regrets what he just said, like he ratted out a friend. “Don’t be mad at her. You were young and dealing with a lot. She wanted to protect you as much as she could.”

  Silence drapes over us while my mind grasps at everything I just learned. I feel—bad. Erik has legitimate reasons for why he couldn’t help my parents, and this whole time I thought he just abandoned them, like knickknacks at a thrift store. Now I see how ridiculous it was for me to ever believe that.

  Tears streak my face, with no end in sight. “Erik, I’m so sorry. You never deserved hostility from me.”

  He kneels and grabs my hands. “Ember, you have nothing to apologize for. You lost your parents, and that is something no young child should ever endure. I should’ve been there for you.” He wipes away some of my tears, but my nose drips. I cover it, not wanting Erik to see the snot now running down my face. He retrieves a handkerchief from his back pocket and hands it to me. “It’s clean, I promise. I only used it once to wipe up some acid.” He chuckles, clearly joking.

  “Okay.” I hiccup a laugh. I take it from him and wipe my nose.

  Erik stands and steps backward, giving me some space.

  I have a moment of clarity and, without warning, Aiden springs into mind. “Oh, no! What time is it?” I scan the room for a clock.

  Erik checks his watch. “It’s almost five.”

  I sniffle loudly. “I have to get going soon. I need to grab dinner and bring Aiden his English homework.”

  Erik raises his eyebrows and smirks. “Oh? Who’s Aiden?”

  My cheeks feel warmer than normal. “He’s the one who was with me on Saturday. He got injured and is in the medical wing. We’re in the same English class, so I figured I’d take the homework assignment to him. It’s the least I can do.” A wave of guilt threatens the horizon of my mind, but I suppress it. I don’t want to have a complete breakdown in Erik’s office.

  “I see. Well, you better be going then. We can talk more again later. I think we’re at a good point to stop.”

  My lips raise faintly. “Okay, that would be nice … to talk again that is.”

  Unexpectedly, he frowns. “Just do me a favor, Ember. Be careful on campus. The fact Iron Forge was on grounds is very troubling.”

  My heart skips a beat, and my chest feels tight. “I know. I don’t know what to think of it. Do you?”

  A kaleidoscope of emotions crosses Erik’s face—fear, worry, sadness. “I’ll be honest with you. The fact he’s on campus the same semester you are is what scares me the most. I was happy to hear you’re using your abilities again. You may just need them.”

  Chapter 16

  Aiden

  My pulse pounds in my wound with each step. Fortunately, it has healed well thanks to nurse Pumpa’s salve, but it’s still tender. I hope Valentino isn’t too hard on me today, but I know better than to expect mercy from one of the top Guardians of the city. Of course, this is the week where I work with her privately while the rest of the class uses the time to practice their abilities together.

  “Mr. Stiles. It’s good to see you on your feet,” Valentino says as I enter the personal training room.

  I eye the gigantic room’s white walls and high ceiling. If it wasn’t for Valentino’s red eyes, she would almost blend into the surroundings. I’m surprised to see it so empty. “I’m sorry I missed class on Tuesday. The gash wasn’t quite closed yet, and Nurse Pompa wanted to keep an eye on it for one more day.” My voice echoes.

  She nods. “Of course, you’d be useless if you bled all over the place. Plus, I hate messes. I hope you’re okay otherwise.”

  It occurs to me I don’t know if Valentino actually knows about what happened last weekend. Dean Warwick made it clear to not discuss the encounter with Iron Forge, but I wonder if the staff would still be aware. “I am. Um … with all things considered.”

  “Yes, it would be natural for you to be shaken up after meeting with an enemy like Iron Forge, but this is why you need to train.”

  Well, I ju
st got my answer. “So, you do know about what happened? I wasn’t sure who would know.”

  Her red eyes shift into slits, almost snakelike. “Never think you can have secrets at this university. Staff is, of course, aware of the situation, so we can be on alert, and unfortunately some students have exceptionally good hearing. Some people like to be oblivious to this fact.”

  My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Oh?”

  “This is not a conversation for us to have, Mr. Stiles. The conversation we need to be having is what contributed to your injury? I’m surprised you were hurt, since your forcefields should have protected you. Especially since you are our YAC champion this year. Explain to me what happened.”

  I drop my head in shame. “Everything just happened so quickly. I was … with someone—”

  “Ms. Vulterra, correct?”

  “Yes. She didn’t react too well to seeing the man who murdered her father.” A memory of when the same man towering over me with a glint of murder in his eye flashes in my mind, and a shiver rattles my body. “Plus, it’s not like I was expecting to take on a villain when I was just trying to talk to a friend.”

  “That’s your first problem. No matter what, you always need to be on alert. If you want to be a Guardian, an enemy can come from nowhere in a moment’s notice. This doesn’t change the fact I know you can react quickly to an attack. When Lewis demonstrated his ability, you were quick to block it, and you protected other people in the process. What happened this time that you couldn’t do the same?”

  I take a deep breath. I don’t want to tell her that Ember attacked me for blocking her advance on Iron Forge. I especially don’t want to tell Valentino that all I could think about was protecting Ember and nothing about my own safety. When I saw Iron Forge aim a dagger at her, all I could picture was her with a hole through the middle of her chest, like her father. No way in hell I would let that happen again.

  “I … was overwhelmed and taken off guard. That’s really it.”