by Lorenz Font
“Thank you.” I rotated my arm and it did feel as good as new. “Wow.”
“You’re welcome,” she said, looking quite smug.
“What was that about?” I asked, still floored by her fighting skills.
“Which part?”
“The acrobatics and ninja moves. Since when have you been able to do that?”
Her eyes sparkled. “Detherina—I mean, my mother—mentioned something about that. She said that since I reached maturity today, I would know what to do when the need arose.”
“What does that mean?”
“I think I was destined to be your Prodian.”
I opened my mouth, but then shut it again. What could I say?
I had been given the exact opposite of the truth. The plan to keep us safe had worked, but that didn’t mean I liked it. Shannon, my beautiful girlfriend, was now my Prodian. I was overjoyed that this meant we’d be together, but I couldn’t help cursing fate for twisting our destinies into this deadly game.
“Come here,” I said, returning my weapon to my pocket.
“Yes, Alpha.” Shannon tucked her dagger back inside her waistband. When she walked into my arms, it felt so right.
“You knew about that, too?”
She looked up at me with a smile. “Yeah, but I still prefer Curly, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. As long as you don’t mind me calling you ‘babe’.” I kissed her forehead.
“Babe.” It sounded like she was testing out the word. “Hmm, I like it.”
“So what’s next for us?” After another quick kiss to her lips, I led her back to our earlier spot. I sat down and pulled Shannon into my lap, wrapping my arms around her.
“I leave tomorrow,” she said.
Although I’d known about her impending departure, this reminder still hurt.
“I don’t think I can handle being away from you.”
“It’s only temporary. Dethe– er, Mother said you’ll be following me right after graduation.” She shifted around and straddled my waist, making a shudder run through me. “I’m going to miss you.”
“Not as much as I’m going to miss you.” I kissed her mouth and tried to ignore how my body was reacting to her proximity.
“Okay, party’s over,” Matro said, appearing out of nowhere.
I kept my hands around Shannon, and she buried her face in the crook of my neck, giggling.
“I thought I gave you an order?”
Matro chuckled, hovering over us. “You’re still in training. Until we reach Tranak, I’m running the show here.”
“We’ll see about that, won’t we? For now, why don’t you take off?”
His eyes flickered. “Sure thing, but not because you’re ordering it. I’m just a nice guy giving you a little time to regroup before you get an earful from Detherina.” Matro promptly disappeared, but the lingering sound of his laughter echoed in the quiet night.
Shannon jumped to her feet. “My mother sounds like a terror.”
“Oh, you can say that again.” I took her hand and let her pull me up. We gathered our trash and headed to the car. Before I opened the car door, I pulled her in for a long hug. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do without you around.”
“Half a year will pass before we know it. Besides, you have a lot to learn before you get there. Imagine, you’ll be leading a group you hadn’t even heard of a year ago.” Shannon stood on tiptoe to kiss me.
For now, I would bask in the glory that I, the freak with a tic, was holding the prettiest girl on the face of the earth. Soon I would lead a realm of unimaginable beings on the path to safety and happiness. What more could a teenager ask for? If nothing else, it would make a great superhero story. I just had to make it out alive if I wanted the chance to write it.
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Sneak Peek from
Path of the Guardian,
the second book in
The Prodian Journey series
by Lorenz Font
Chapter 1 - Graduation Day
“Baby boy, aren’t you going to finish your Mickey Mouse waffles?” Mom called out from the kitchen.
Standing in front of the mirror, I rolled my eyes and checked my reflection once more before dashing down the stairs. Some things never changed. For special occasions or whenever I was sick, my mother made those waffles. They’d been my favorite breakfast, sure, but that was ten years ago.
“Mom, I ate two already.”
“Okay … fine.” I heard the clattering of dishes and was certain she wasn’t too happy about having leftovers.
“Come on. We’re going to be late.” I kissed her on the cheek, and she turned around with tears in her eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing.” She tried shooing me away.
“You can’t be crying for no reason.”
“I wish your Dad could have been here today. He would’ve loved to see you graduate.”
“I miss him, too.” I pulled her into my arms, feeling the gravity of my father’s absence today more than ever. He would’ve been so proud of me.
She let me go and dabbed her eyes dry with a tea towel. “You have everything you need?”
I held up my blue cap and gown for her inspection, but it was my outfit that caught her attention. “Shorts and T-shirt for graduation? Back in my day, we dressed in our Sunday best.”
Chuckling, I gave her a mock salute. “That was eons ago, Mom.”
She playfully pinched my arm. “You look like you just got out of bed.”
“No one’s going to see my clothes underneath this heavy drapery. Let’s go. I don’t want to be late.”
We hurried out of the house and into my car under the supervision of some of the fiercest warriors from Tranak. They had been watching over us since I turned eighteen, which was the official date my leadership began in their universe.
Unbelievable, yes. Since that day, I hadn’t been able to wrap my mind around the events of the year that followed. I’d come a long way indeed, from an outcast freak-with-a-tic to the leader of a parallel world I’d never known existed. Mom had struck a deal with Detherina, the interim ruler of Tranak, so I could stay with her until graduation day. It was fine with me. In all honesty, I wasn’t ready to be a leader and leave everything I’d ever known behind.
Mom’s request might have delayed the inevitable, but it pushed my other dilemma to the forefront. I missed Shannon McKesson.
Shannon had been whisked away after we celebrated her eighteenth birthday. The stain given to her by Axhatas, a prominent leader of our rivals from Pratrim, couldn’t be treated here on earth. She was better off where antidotes were available to her. With the promise that she would be protected and guarded by our best warriors, I’d agreed to let her go without me.
Fighters Matro and Carionis escorted my car while I drove my mother to the Greek Theater. Matro led the way inside a cannus, the preferred mode of transport in Tranak that was invisible to human eyes, and Carionis rode his motorcycle behind us. This had been the protocol ever since I’d reached my Aarmark maturity. I had to be guarded by an armed male or female wherever I went for my protection.
Good thing I wasn’t going on a date. Having armed bodyguards would be a total buzz kill. If Shannon were still around, hanging out would have been a big production with a bunch of colorful creatures following us around everywhere.
When we arrived, the venue was humming with activity. Cars were lined up outside, and security was trying to direct traffic. The colorful balloons, flowers, and leis added to the electric atmosphere, and I felt a small shiver of excitement. I spotted Mark Stanton and Darryl Martin, my best buddies, hanging by the entrance. They waved at me.
Even before I opened my car door, Krug, a hulking male with long, platinum blond hair, was waiting outside. “Go on and knock them dead,” he said and took over parking the car for
me.
I quickly donned my blue gown while Car escorted my mom to my side. “We’ll be around. You have some toys with you?” he whispered.
“I never leave home without them.” The dagger belonging to my Aarmark father, Drenton, was tucked into my waistband while the reumdag, my favorite weapon, rested inside my pocket. Although Matro didn’t expect an ambush, we always practiced caution.
Axhatas had escaped during our last clash, and the Ergans had eased off, no doubt needing to regroup after they discovered they were after the wrong person.
My real father had planned the deception, and Detherina had executed it to the letter, even though it meant jeopardizing her own child. My Shannon had been made to appear to be the next heir to the throne, focusing our enemies’ attention on her. The ploy had worked, and it had given me time to reach my prime without constant threats to my safety. Being diagnosed with Tourette’s shielded me from suspicion, as well. After all, no one would ever suspect that the person with such an obvious weakness would be the leader of an entire realm.
I never thought I’d find a reason to be grateful for all the years of suffering from constant twitching and embarrassing verbal tics.
However, the ongoing war had become much more personal for me when my human father was killed.
“Bro, they’re about to start,” Darryl said, gesturing at me to hurry.
I gave Car a silent order to stay by my mother’s side. He nodded.
“I’ll see you in a bit, Mom.” I kissed her on the cheek and then joined my friends.
The three of us went to find our spots in the procession line, prodded along by anxious teachers and parents. Once “Pomp and Circumstance” began to play, we marched in alphabetical order down the main aisle and took our seats. Good thing Darryl was in front of me. The ceremony wouldn’t be as boring with someone to talk to. Although life had changed, I still felt self-conscious around other kids. My tics had disappeared as soon as I hit my Aarmark maturity seven months ago. I didn’t miss the spasms and jerking at all. It was a relief to be free from my Tourette’s symptoms, the F bombs in particular. Now, I wished more than ever that Shannon could see me, just a normal guy for once.
Darryl threw a balled up piece of paper at me, and I caught it just before it hit me on the forehead. “Dude, you’re spacing out again.”
“Just enjoying the sunshine. I heard they don’t get much heat up there.” Up there meant Tranak. Right after our graduation celebration, I’d be leaving everything I knew and loved, including my mother.
I looked around the sea of proud faces, wishing with all my heart that Shannon could be there. It wasn’t the same without her.
The commencement exercises began. Special awards were handed out, the speeches were given, and then the diplomas were distributed. Since most of the academic awards had been given at a special ceremony two nights earlier, the program didn’t take long. I’d received two awards. Not too shabby for a guy who hadn’t given the year as much effort as he’d hoped.
The principal called out my name. “Brian Morrison.”
I followed the line of kids who were eager to get their ticket to freedom. As soon as I received the rolled parchment tied with blue ribbon, I turned around and waved it in my mother’s direction.
Back in my seat, I waited with the rest of the students for the graduation proclamation, when we removed our caps and threw them in the air while our Alma Mater played in the background.
I caught one of the flying caps and then clapped Darryl on the back. “We did it, bro.”
“Sure did.” His smile turned somber. I’d be MIA for a long time, and our plan to go to the same college wasn’t going to happen.
Mark was waiting for us about seven rows behind, wearing a big grin on his face. “Freedom!” he said as soon as we got within hearing distance.
“I thought this day would never come,” I said.
Darryl whipped out his cell phone. “How about a group picture?”
Our families tracked us down, and Car took pictures of us with our parents. A feeling of sadness swept over me again. I understood my responsibilities, but a part of me wasn’t ready to let go of my human life.
The ceremony was followed by a luncheon at my house at Mom’s insistence. I was in no hurry for it to end, but I knew I was pushing the time, judging by the impatient glances Matro had been throwing my way. He’d been sticking to me like glue but hadn’t said much. He seemed to understand the weight being placed on my shoulders.
“Let’s play one last time,” Mark suggested after our third trip to the buffet table.
“Yeah,” Darryl said, although he didn’t sound enthused.
We played Call of Duty three times before Matro entered my room.
“Alpha, it’s time.”
The name had yet to grow on me. I stared at my friends, feeling a growing lump in my throat. “I guess this is it.”
Mark nodded, and Darryl sniffed.
“I would say email us, but I know you can’t.” Mark extended his fist toward me.
I bumped it with mine. “I’ll be back before you guys know it. Remember, I’m still your best man.”
“And I’m chopped liver?” Darryl pulled us both into a group hug.
Matro coughed from the doorway. “We have to get going,” he said.
“Remember, I’m going to sneak out if I can,” I whispered to my friends.
“I heard that!” Matro’s muffled voice sounded reproachful.
Saying goodbye to my mother was the toughest. Her tears poured like a flowing river. I stood and held her for a long time, wishing she could come with me.
“I love you, baby boy.”
“I love you, Mom.”
Her hug tightened. “I’m going to miss you.”
“You know I’ll be back to visit.”
She nodded. “I know. Promise me that you’ll take good care of yourself.”
“I promise. Take care of yourself, too.”
It was painful to think it would be a long time before I saw her again. I hated leaving her on her own. She had already lost her husband, and her son was abandoning her, too. My only consolation was that several fierce warriors had been assigned to guard her 24-7. They would ensure her safety and give me some peace of mind.
Mom answered with a sob, but eventually let me go and offered me a small smile. “Go make us proud.”
I watched her climb the stairs before I turned to Matro. “I’m ready.”
He nodded. Instead of taking the cannus as I thought we would, Matro steered me toward the center of my living room.
“What are we doing?” I asked, feeling an increasing vibration around me.
“We’re going to take a wild ride.” Matro’s eyes twinkled, and he pulled me to stand in front of him. “Ready?”
“Do I have a choice?”
His laughter filled the room while he traced his thumb through the air, creating a rectangular pattern. The room started to vibrate, and my stomach churned. As the vibration on the floor increased, so did my nervousness. My Aarmark maturity hadn’t prepared me for space travel. A door appeared before us, solid and daunting. Before I could step back, Matro opened it and shoved me into a black void, then followed close behind.
I screamed like a little girl when I fell into the abyss. My head throbbed and my vision spun, but I kept my eyes open, not wanting to miss my first inter-realm trip. Rays of white, green, and neon yellow flashed before my eyes, blinding me. After a few minutes, the sensation of falling stopped, and we zipped along a tunnel bathed in deep red light.
Matro kept his eyes closed, his face serene during our entire journey, but I was unable to relax. I lost track of time, distracted by the spasms that radiated from my neck down to my feet.
The sensations diminished, and I found myself standing on solid ground, my heart thudding in my ears. The air smelled clean, almost sanitized, with none of the smog inherent to Los Angeles. As dark as it was, my eyesight adjusted at once, and I was able to see everything clea
r as day.
Matro’s usual robe had been replaced with armor the color of liquid silver and looked like a second skin. It covered him from his neck all the way down to his feet. His face had lines of pale blue running from his temples down to the edge of his chin.
“Why do you look like that? Did I miss something?”
“This is what we Aarmarks look like here in Tranak. The shield replaces the clothes humans wear on earth. Do you dig yours?”
I looked down at my body and discovered that just like Matro, my whole body was covered by a similar shell. “Mirror, I need a mirror.”
With a flip of his hand, Matro produced a small rectangular reflector. I didn’t miss the smirk on his face.
“Jesus Christ, this is how I look?” I stared at my face, noting that my usual dull blond hair had been replaced by long, silver locks. My face also had markings—two silver lines that crossed the bridge of my nose and ran underneath my eyes.
“Yes. And I must add, you are your father’s spitting image.”
“That’s a good thing, right?”
“Yes, but it also is a dead giveaway. Our enemies would recognize you from a mile away.”
That didn’t sound promising. “So you’re telling me I’m a sitting duck?”
Matro patted my shoulder. “Not if your guards can help it. Anyone trying to get to you will have to deal with them first.” He gestured toward an imposing portal that was guarded by two figures clad in black armor. “Shall we?”
Rather than comforting me, his assurance gave me pause. Should I be honored that my subjects were willing to lay down their lives on my behalf? It was a strange idea to grasp.
My apprehension doubled the moment I stepped out of the gate into my new world, and without warning, stumbled upon the biggest crowd I’d ever laid eyes on.
“Welcome, Your Grace,” Matro said with a grin. “Your people await you.”
Books by Lorenz Font
The Gates Legacy
Hunted
Tormented
Ascension
Reckoning
Redemption – Coming soon
Indivisible Line
Feather Light
Pieces of Broken Time
About the Author
