by Lizzy Ford
Chapter Seven
“Hey,” Yully said, seating herself at the bar. The burly blond behind the counter looked up at her voice and smiled. “You took over for Sean?”
“Figured it’d keep me busy ’til Jule brings in someone else. I’m not much for being home alone,” Rourk replied. “It was good of you to come yesterday.”
“Thanks. I’m so sorry this happened.”
“Death is a part of the risk we take. Sean died well, doing his duty. Because of him, more humans are alive than would’ve been if he wasn’t a Guardian.”
“Are all Guardians like you and Jule?” she asked.
“As far as I know,” Rourk replied. “We all serve the same cause of protecting those weaker than us from evil.”
“That’s very noble of you.”
“It’s just what we do.” He set a glass of Coke on the counter before her. “You hungry? I hear they make a mean stew.”
“Thank you,” she said with a faint smile. He left to the kitchen, and her smile faded. She couldn’t help thinking about all the Guardians buried around her home and if they’d been as dedicated and noble as those she’d met. She sighed, aware she’d never know the answer to that question. What she knew was that her father and his lies had skewed her outlook on her world for ten years. Her father was dangerous, even if she didn’t yet know what he was trying to do.
“What luck.” His voice startled her. “Here for the stew or something else, my dear?”
Yully’s breath caught, and her thoughts went to the Guardian in the kitchen. She twisted to face her father.
“The stew, Father,” she replied. “But, I’m done.”
“Shall we?” He held out his arm.
She took it, his power moving through her and making the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. She didn’t relax until they emerged onto the street, away from the Guardian. Her father’s car and chauffeur were waiting. Yully climbed into the car. Neither spoke, and the chauffeur took them north, instead of south towards home.
“Where are we going, Papa?” she asked.
“Downpatrick, on the east coast. The autumn equinox is almost upon us. I want us to have a day to get settled before we perform the rite.”
“What rite is this? I know, I know, I’ll turn into a princess. But what exactly are we going to do?”
“Long ago, the heavens and the earth split from one another. It was a time of great tumult, and the gateway between the two realms was sealed away for eternity,” he explained. “Or so we thought. My kind always thought there was a way to reopen that gateway, and a few days ago, the gateway ruptured. At the autumn equinox, the gate is weakest. You’re going to open the gateway.”
“What will happen then?”
“You’ll turn into a princess,” he said with a cold smile.
“I don’t understand what that means, Father.”
“It means when the immortals reclaim the earth, you’ll be among the ruling party.”
“What’ll happen to everyone?” She braced herself for the answer.
“It depends. Those humans who are willing to serve the immortals will be spared, and those who aren’t, won’t.”
“I see.” Her pulse was flying, and her body cold. She wasn’t going to save humanity. She was going to help him enslave humanity.
“It will be a new start for us.”
“What happens to the Guardians?”
“After you drain their power, they’ll be given the same choice as the humans: serve or die.” He leaned forward, his eyes glowing. “I’ll forgive your indiscretion with the Guardian, my dear. Do as I say, and he’ll be your reward, an eternity with him. Disobey me, and I’ll kill him.”
She looked down, both thrilled by the idea of an eternity with the man who made her feel whole and horrified at what her father told her. A plan formed in her mind, and she cleared her throat.
“As you wish, Father,” she whispered. “I think I need more practice with my gift. I can’t control it yet.”
“We have a long drive. You can practice on me all you want.” He offered his hand. She took it and closed her eyes, determined to find a way to use her gift to counter her father’s magic.
