Watch Over Me (Guardians Book 1)

by Shane Morgan

  Mouths clamped shut instantly.

  He huffed and rose to his feet. “Yes, it is risky, which is why it must be approved by the elders themselves.”

  Queen Vaira yelped in her astonishment. “What are you saying?”

  Pointing a finger, the king instructed, “Lars, take her to the mountains at sunset.” Looking at me, he added, “If the elders approve, I will grant you access to our sacred pool. I am curious as to just who you are and why you are so significant to the demon master.”

  Lars and Obel bowed in gratitude. I did the same.

  The council dispersed, whispers all around as everyone went their separate ways. Anya sulked, seeming even more displeased with my presence in her kingdom.

  Obel stopped us outside the building. “Let’s eat at my quarters, Calissa. I know you must be famished. Then I will tell you more about the elders.”

  At his words, my stomach ached from thirst and hunger. “Yeah. Sounds good.”

  Stalling in the courtyard, Lars made to go in another direction.

  I reached for his arm. “Hey, aren’t you coming with me?”

  An indescribable emotion shone in his eyes as he regarded me. “My apologies, I must report to my general, Etau. I haven’t since bringing you back.”

  “Oh.” I felt guilty. He was pretty much babysitting me.

  Other guardians were heading the same way.

  Ezio sauntered over and patted Lars on the arm, indicating for him to come along.

  “I will join you later,” Lars assured me. He twisted but stopped in an afterthought. Looking back sideways, he said softly, “I am terribly sorry for your pain.” He walked away with Ezio, switching into their gargoyle forms.

  Sarayas fell in step behind them. I called after her and told Obel, “Just a sec.”

  “What is it, Calissa?” She held her gaze down as she spoke.

  “Hope you’re not blaming yourself,” I said and touched her arm.

  Lifting her eyes from the ground, she looked at me at last. “You are not angry with me for failing your friend?” She seemed so sincere. It melted my heart.

  I told her, “No. I’m angry with Rahel, not you, Sarayas.”

  Her sad eyes relaxed a tad. I glanced over my shoulder at Obel then back at her. “Will you please teach me?”

  Baffled, she angled her head. “Teach you?”

  “How to fight,” I said firmly. “I want to learn, so I can kill that evil bitch.”

  Sarayas nodded, impressed by my resolve. “Yes, Calissa. I shall.”

  10

  Obel handed me a massive book. I set aside the rest of my fruits and traced the thick and ancient brown cover. It had carvings of gargoyles, demons, and angels.

  “Long ago, an angel found this magnificent kingdom,” he began, sitting down beside me on the bench. “Within this kingdom lived winged creatures. They knew outsiders would cast condemnatory gazes, but they still longed to see the human world. And so, the angel asked of their higher power to grant them a way to step outside the kingdom. But learning of the strength of gargoyles and their sneaky ability to hide in plain sight, they were tasked to become watchers and guard the human realm from dark beings.”

  “Cool.” I flipped the weathered pages, tinged yellow, and getting a whiff of the book’s oldness. My eyes widened with amazement, seeing all the gargoyles throughout different centuries and their battles alongside angels to destroy demons.

  “Well, that’s the shorter, nicer version,” he smirked. “In truth, there was a long fight between angels and gargoyles in the beginning. But they realized they had a common enemy, and so, a treaty was formed, and gargoyles made the oath to be good. To protect.”

  He veered off into space.

  “Were you ever a guardian?” I asked, closing the book.

  Obel smiled. “My father was a strong guardian. As a boy, he forced me to train. But as time passed, everyone saw I was much better at being a healer and scholar. I am of greater help here than in a fight, Calissa.”

  I smiled at him and hugged the book to my chest.

  His brows went up as a thought occurred. “Speaking of fights, best of luck to you in your training. Rahel is not an easy demon to stop. Guardians have tried for centuries, but just like her master and many others, she’s a genius at escaping.”

  “Well, she won’t escape next time,” I said in a stern voice.

  He narrowed his gaze on me. “Rahel will use your friend to distract you, especially since you can’t accept that she’s gone.”

  Tears threatened to fall once again. Fighting them back, I lowered my eyes and kicked at the ground.

  “Maybe I can still save her. Her soul’s in there, isn’t it? Maybe there’s a way to bring her back.”

  “No one has ever achieved that, Calissa.” Obel patted my shoulder. “I understand your reason for wanting to try, but your friend is gone. Do not suppress the pain, use it.”

  I exhaled deeply and pushed down the tears before they poured out of me. “Anyway, tell me about the elders. Why are they in the mountains and not here with everyone else?”

  Getting up from the bench, Obel wandered over to the stone table and filled a cup with water. He brought it to me. “They aren’t like us, my dear.” He remained standing as he went on. “You will need to be fearless, which is not easy for you, I’ve noticed. If you quiver when we’re in our natural form, I hope you won’t collapse when you face the elders.”

  “That doesn’t help.” I scoffed and drank some water.

  “Well, if you aren’t brave, they won’t be welcoming. They’ll kill you.”

  Jolted by this news, I spilled some of the water on myself. “What? I thought gargoyles made an oath to protect humans.”

  He sighed. “Elders are sworn to the Gargouille kingdom only. They do not care about an oath made with angels to watch over humans.”

  I scowled in my confusion. “But you said gargoyles joined forces with—”

  “Some did,” he cut me off. “Others refused. We still call them our elders and respect them because they are our oldest living gargoyles. They went to the mountains to remain in isolation. The only thing they protect is the sacred powers, including that pool we want you to enter.”

  “I see.” Fear bloomed within me. “They sound like a tough crowd. If gargoyles here are already annoyed with a human in their land, I’m dreading how these elders will react.”

  Obel raked over his long white hair. “What matters is that you remain brave. Don’t worry, Lars will protect you. The elders won’t harm their own. I hope.”

  “Ugh.” I settled the weighty book back on my lap. “If they’re not your everyday gargoyles, what do they look like? Are they in this book? And how exactly did gargoyles come to be, especially like you and the others who can switch appearance?”

  “The first came from the core—the heart of the Gargouille. Then evolution. Magic in the atmosphere of our kingdom. As for the ancient elders, we have no drawings of them.” He looked at the ground and twisted his mouth. “From what I remember, though, they’re like giants and used the darkness to manipulate their prey. I guess you might say they’re grotesque-looking. But that is an insult to us all.”

  I learned quickly that I had to be careful with my choice of words. I didn’t want to offend them further, especially Lars.

  Speaking of my gargoyle protector.

  He opened the door, turning into a man as he entered. I hopped up fast for no reason.

  Lars pinched his brows while staring at me. His piercing gaze made my heart race.

  “Hello,” he greeted, uncertainty in his voice.

  Snapping to my senses, I blinked away and replied, “Hey.”

  Obel cleared his throat. “Finished already?”

  “Yes. I told the general I’ll remain here in the kingdom to watch over Calissa for the time being.”

  Why did my tummy flip at that?

  Lars closed the door. Refocusing on me, he said, “Sarayas mentioned you want to train?”


  I raised my chin and spoke confidently. “Yes, and I want to learn how to use a weapon like yours. A spear.”

  Low chuckles erupted beside me. I glared at Obel. “What’s so funny?”

  “Calissa, weapons are gifted to guardians,” Lars explained. “They appear at the age of sixteen.”

  “You mean, it came out of your actual body?” I scrunched up my face, perplexed.

  That only drew more chuckles. Obel teased, “You have an interesting imagination.”

  “Well, can you blame me? I’m looking at living gargoyles.”

  “Enough about weapons,” Lars said softly. He gestured to the door. “Come with me. We’ll stroll around the gardens to ease your mind before tonight.”

  I followed him outside. The sunshine and temperature felt perfect, not as unbearable or humid as the summer back home. Birds chirped in the trees, and butterflies played in every rose bush we passed. Crimson, yellow, and white flowers that were like nature’s beautiful graffiti.

  This was a welcomed peace after what had happened. The anger and pain in my heart calmed a little, then some more when I noticed Lars staring.

  “Um,” I released the rigidity in my throat and asked, “Is it always like this here? Does it ever snow?”

  “No. Sometimes it rains. But that’s about as much change as we experience. It is always bright and flourishing in my kingdom.”

  “That alone would make anyone want to stay.”

  We slowed to a stop by a small fountain and more flowers. Then his skin started to turn pale, and his wings popped out, causing me to wince.

  “Perhaps getting used to seeing me in my true form will help prepare you for tonight,” he said, looking straight into my eyes. “Come closer.” He added on a soft chortle, “I will not bite.”

  “Hm.” My heart rate climbed as I decreased the distance between us.

  The shiny silver spear at his back drew my focus. I stepped around and squinted at the weapon, held securely by the leather strap. Swallowing, I lightly traced the engravings, marveled by its design.

  “You said it was a gift?” I confirmed, fascinated.

  “Yes, from the sacred pool.”

  I moved to face him again, observing his gargoyle form up close. “How are you able to shift into a normal human?”

  Lars shrugged. “You could say it’s almost like magic.” He considered a moment, then added, “Like a camouflage.”

  “Your human form…It’s not real,” I deciphered, looking up at his ethereal face. “This is who you really are.”

  Wrinkling his features, Lars moved away as if hurt. “You seem disappointed.”

  I stepped closer and lifted my hand to his arm, carefully tracing his warm skin with my fingers.

  Surprised by my daring move, his head spun back to me, eyes drinking me in. “What are you doing?”

  “Um, not sure.” I moistened my lip. “I’m just…intrigued.”

  A nervous breath trickled out when Lars raised his hand to gently trace the contours of my face.

  “What are you doing?” I murmured.

  He turned his head slowly, voice low, and almost like a soft growl as he spoke. “I do not know. I am also intrigued.”

  Feeling a rush of heat, I tilted my head back and stared into his mesmeric eyes.

  Lars started to smile but stopped abruptly when someone called his name. Anya.

  I backed away from him and spun around.

  Anya shot invisible daggers at me with her cruel glare. Next to her was Ilris. She offered me a sweet smile, unlike her friend.

  “Luuk seeks an audience with you,” Ilris informed Lars.

  To me, he said, “We’ll be going soon.” He frowned as he added, “Perhaps do not eat anything else for the rest of the day.”

  That didn’t sound good. “You think I’ll throw up when I see the elders?”

  Lars huffed a short laugh. “I’m positive, you will.” Then he stepped past me and went in the direction of the courtyard, switching to his human form along the way.

  Anya cut her eyes at me before trailing behind him.

  Ilris remained in the spot, giggling. “Do not worry, he is teasing you. Come, Calissa. I want to show you a quieter place.” She waited for me and began walking once I reached her side.

  Strolling across the clearing, Ilris took my hand and guided me through tall trees. We emerged into a beautiful garden filled with countless roses, a pond, and rocks that glistened in the sunlight.

  Ilris sat on one of the rocks and ran her fingers over the surface as she spoke. “Forgive Anya. She dislikes humans and having to live in hiding because of them.” Glancing up at my face, she squinted. “But I think she’s jealous of you. No woman has ever captured Lars’s attention in this way. Not even her.”

  I gulped and folded my arms. “It’s because demons are targeting me, nothing else.”

  “Hm.” She picked up a flower seed and tossed it into the pond. “Demons aside, I noticed how captivated he is by your presence.” Fishes, or what I assumed were fishes in the dark water, fought for the seed. She faced me again and gestured to the rock next to her. I sat down.

  We stayed quiet, listening to the tweeting of birds nearby. I recalled what Lars told me about mates and only having one for eternity, and also about not making their own choices.

  Looking over at Ilris, I asked, “Were you chosen to be with Luuk?”

  She beamed at my question. “Yes. It was decided from a young age after seeing his face in our sacred fountain. But as we got older, our love grew.”

  “But didn’t you want to make that choice on your own? What if you never loved Luuk? Would you have stayed unhappy just to uphold the ways of your kingdom? Because some waterspout showed you his face?”

  Ilris leaned her head to one side, adamant as she spoke. “Yes, I would have liked to decide on my own, but Luuk and I trust and respect each other. We were friends before we became much more. Even if love never bloomed, we would still remain joined.”

  A thought struck me, and my stomach tightened. “Was Anya chosen for Lars? Did he…see her in the water?”

  She sighed. “Lars hasn’t looked into the fountain. He thinks because Anya is already chosen for him by the council, that it’s not necessary. Our leaders agreed, and coming on the eve before what humans call New Year’s, there will be a ceremony to seal their union. They will become eternal mates.”

  That’s in three months.

  Not sure why that bothered me. Lars was a gargoyle for Christ’s sake. I was human.

  “It is the Gargouille way,” Ilris added, a kind expression masking her features as if she could read me. “We must continue to grow our kingdom.” She pressed a palm to her flat stomach afterward.

  “Oh.” I perked up. “You’re…”

  A wholehearted smile stretched her lips. “Yes. New life grows within me.”

  “Congratulations.”

  I wondered what it was like being pregnant with a gargoyle baby, much less giving birth to one. All I could think about was a stone statue coming out of me.

  Yikes! That had to be painful.

  We talked a bit more about the Gargouille kingdom. I lost track of time, engrossed in Ilris, and the way she glowed whenever she mentioned Luuk. She was undeniably in love.

  At the end of a conversation about how they make their soaps and clothes, Ilris peered up at the trees then stood.

  “It’s almost sundown. You must change for your journey.” I realized then, this whole time, she was trying to help me stay relaxed.

  “Right.” I got up, and we walked back to the sleeping quarters.

  Once inside Lars’s room, Ilris provided a blue travel bag that looked awfully familiar. I crinkled my brows.

  “This is mine.”

  Her features brightened. “Yes. I asked Sarayas to return to your home and retrieve your clothing, to help you feel comfortable here.”

  “Thank you.” My shoulders and smile fell as the jar unscrewed, and pain from losing Shari spilled over ag
ain. “My life will never be the same… I probably won’t ever go back to the city.”

  Ilris scowled. “You won’t miss it?”

  I ruffled my curls and drew a long breath. “Work, my apartment, and…Shari…were all I had in Brighton.” I paused, feeling the rush of pain I’d been trying to block all day, along with tingles as if tears were near. “The truth is, Shari was the major reason why I stayed in that city. The other being that I was still foolishly waiting for my birth parents to find me.”

  She reached out to wipe away my tears with her gentle fingers as they escaped. “It is not foolish, Calissa. Your heart seeks love and closure.”

  Something about Ilris was comforting. It felt like we could be great friends.

  Getting myself together, I suppressed the pain and muttered, “Thanks again.” I gestured to my bag, adding, “This was kind of you and Sarayas.”

  She nodded and left me to change. I scoured inside the bag, spotting my cellphone, which was dead from being unable to function in this world. No one was calling, anyway, now that Shari was gone. Well, except for Mrs. Crawley. I would surely miss the sweet lady.

  Tossing the phone back inside, I pulled out a sports top, leggings, and a t-shirt. Good thing Sarayas packed underwear, too.

  I’d just finished hauling on the leggings when Lars suddenly flew in through the opening.

  “Ah!” I yelped and spun around, covering my exposed chest. “What the hell!”

  “Forgive me, Calissa…I have…Ahem…” He sounded awkward, stumbling over his words. “I have turned.”

  After a moment, I twisted to check. He was looking at the opening in the wall.

  I yanked the sports bra off the bed, putting it on fast, then hauled on the sleeveless t-shirt. “It’s okay. You can face me now.”

  Lars rotated cautiously, wearing a strange expression. His curious eyes traveled over my body, and he exhaled deeply and with something like longing.

  Oh yeah, he definitely saw my breasts.

  Feeling shy beneath his piercing gaze, I flicked away and sank down on the bed to slide on my black sneakers.

  “The sun is setting,” he stated after clearing his throat.

  I felt a sudden prick in my chest as I glimpsed the dazzling mixture of fiery orange, red, and purple colors over the fields and hills. I’d never seen a more beautiful sunset. Shari would have loved it. The perfect backdrop for her pictures.