Flames;Sparkles...

chapter five

Chapter five

Her tears shook his heart. He wanted nothing more than to wrap her up in his arms and shield her from whatever was making her cry. He turned around to see a pixie-faced child, but this was not a child, she had fire red hair, hollow eyes, like dark empty voids. She had a sinister smile on her dainty face and her hands were clawed to her side. When she spoke her voice pierced through the air. 'Oh, I know that she's not dead. I know she lied. That doesn't matter, I lied as well.'

Bruce shook wide awake and found himself flying to the floor. A curse flew out of his mouth, when his behind hit the hard, cold floor next to the bed. Then he remembered the dream. His chest tightened all over again when he thought of her face. Nobody should make her cry, she was his and he loved her, she was the one he has been waiting for. She was the one who understood him, she knew what he felt. Their souls are linked. He remembered the pixie and anger boiled into his throat. Before he could stop his bedding was on fire. With a startled gasp and a grunt he put out the flames. Damn curse he thought as he got ready. He was to pick up Alex's friends and then they were to wait for her at the coffee shop across the street from school. She would go to school with Ghalia and they would pretend that nothing was wrong. John was put charge in taking care of the little boy. They had planned everything and Alex insisted on having a plan B and C he couldn't blame her, you never knew who was waiting in the darkness or around the corner. He grabbed his car keys and made for the garage. He hoped that these friends of Alex really loved her as much as she seems to think they do. He didn't want her to cry like she did in his dream, and he would not hesitate killing them if they hurt her.

Alex and Ghalia got up early and ate breakfast alone. Ghalia seemed to be as much of her old self as the situation would allow her to be, and she made all sorts of comments about the house and the soap that Alex gave her the night before. What really got Alex's attention was the comment about the body lotion? It was nothing special, just some rose and diamond scented lotion. It was a gift from "he who must not be named" and Ghalia could not understand why Alex would give it away just like that. Alex explained vaguely that she wanted to get rid of the memories. After that Alex pretty much ignored her and went about getting ready for the day. It was when Ghalia removed her make-up for the sixth time that Alex mumbled that she should get Ghalia her own apartment soon.

When they got to school Alex walked with Ghalia to her locker and then they went to class. She so badly wanted to skip and go meet her friends, but she knew that she would have to till the end of the school day. She could probably handle the matter on her own. Slap the guy around a few times then order him to stay away from Ghalia. But something made her call for the help of her friends; she just wanted to feel them near her. She was tense and she felt as if something was about to happen, kind of like an inkling. She couldn't quite place it, but she just felt like fighting and protecting herself. It started the day she offered Ghalia a ride home. Now she can only wish that her friends help her without question and that Mandy will take charge the way she always does. If there is a great leader in the world it was Mandy. She helped Alex escape out of that hospital and she got Maya back on the right track, well more or less the right track. She even helped Rez when that guy tried his worst with her. Yes, Mandy was the mother hen when it came to their friendship.

'That must be him, let's go. Come on, Rez. We don't have all fall.'  Mandy noticed a guardian close to them and threw down her bags and ran to Bruce. 'Oh, sweetheart! I missed you so much! New York was awful. I can't sleep if you don't sing me to sleep!' Bruce was shocked at this but caught on quickly. 'My dearly sweet, I will never leave you again. Next time I'm on that plane with you, next to you, my hand holding your-' 'okay they took off, probably buying that poor display of public affection.' Maya groaned. 'Dude, you could have smooched her in front of everybody and it would have been more believing. Instead you guys write a poem about fooling our best law enforcement agency.' Bruce nearly laughed, it was true the guardians were the best law enforcers there were in the myth world. But what this girl, with the accentuated curves didn't know was that they were trained to investigate things that were out of place. A young girl meeting her boyfriend at the airport along with her friends was not out of place. It simply looked like they were rich and that their parents weren't home as much. 'Where's Alex?' Rez asked after a short silence. 'At school, she sent me to pick you up. I am less hunted.' Bruce stated bitterly. Alex had not yet told him why she was on the council's most wanted list. 'Oh okay well can you take us to our residence please. Before we meet our other part?' Mandy asked, changing the subject when she saw Bruce's face. It was clear Alex never told him about her little adventure the last few years. They walked to his car in silence. 'Wow, nice car. Is it new, can't be the paint looks polished. Kind of looks like you drive it often.' Rez said as she walked around the car. It was her job to know about these things on all the missions. She liked everything metal and machine operated. 'You know a lot about cars?' Bruce asked. 'Yeah, it's kind of my job when we go on missions. Know all there is to know about everything that includes metal or machinery.' She replied. 'Oh so what is your job Mandy?' Bruce turned to her with a curious expression on his face. 'Well, I am the architecture expert. And I lay out the plans, science is also my gig.' She said and got into the car. Rez was right the car was used often. Not for teen partying she was sure but she could smell a faint smoky smell. 'And Maya?' he asked again. Rez and Mandy looked at each other and said in unison, 'STD's' the both laughed while Maya scowled. She was a "guys" girl but it wasn't that bad. And she was older than all of them together, she can't help she stayed young forever. Bruce gave them a shocked look that turned to curiosity. 'Well, she is a siren. The guys like her… and she likes them.' Mandy explained with a thick voice she had a really hard time containing her laughter when Maya smacked her head. Bruce laughed and shifted the car into gear, driving them to their new apartment. 'I'm in charge of general knowledge.' Maya said and shot Mandy a warning look who changed the subject quickly. 'So has Alex told you who we are and how we are who we are?' she asked him from the front passenger seat. 'Very vaguely. She's not very talkative.' He replied and shot a glance in his rear view mirror before shifting lanes. 'Did you feel a presence in the lane before I shifted?' he asked before looking back again. Maya and Mandy shook their heads but Rez nodded. 'It was not a very happy person. I'm not an expert, but if I have to guess it was a very bitter and angry person who had some sort of personality issue. The thoughts radiating off of this person made me nauseous.' She said in her quiet way. 'Yes, exactly. But where are they now?'