Guardian (Sequel to Fearless)

Chapter Two

Dilated eyes stared back at Iris the next morning. They were eyes that were far from cognizant --vacant windows that barely registered the girl's presence, much less her words. That was what Iris faced as she tried to tell Aunt Renna of her acceptance into the ranks of the Remorda Guardians. Both the general and the rogue watched as she only stared without thought at her niece.

"Did you hear me?" Iris asked. "I'm going away for a while."

Renna appeared to be in a sort of booze-induced daze. The scent of alcohol cloyed at the air under Iris's nose. Her aunt just gave her a sort of incoherent nod and went to fall onto her bed to sleep through the blur. Zayn put comforting hand on Iris's shoulder and gave it a light squeeze, but it was unnecessary. Iris was used to this pitiable Renna already.

The rogue just turned away. There was no anger or disgust in her heart nor was there any pity. Let Renna escape if she needed escape; it was far from Iris's business. She'd made that loud and clear when the addiction had first started. They all had their vices, after all. Perhaps her aunt would stop dancing with hers for a moment or two before Iris took her leave.

Renna had a week. And Iris knew it was futile.

Zayn walked out the house with Iris, taking care to close the door behind her. He hardly understood her calm. He would never be able to handle this as well as she had been handling it. In fact, her coolness was almost alarming. Sure she'd cried and mourned when her father had died... but the situation with her aunt had rendered her oddly unfeeling. Even though Renna was far from blood to Zayn, even he wanted to shake some sense back into her.

"I'm not sure if she understood you," Zayn said.

Iris nodded. "I know she didn't. She's got six days to figure it out."

Everything was quiet for a long few minutes. Finally, "Have you given up on her, Iris?" The question weighted the air like a sack of bricks, and for a moment, Iris considered the meaning of Zayn's words and used it in her self-evaluation.

"She's a grown woman, Zayn," Iris finally answered, "And I am not her keeper. There are enemies you just can't fight in blood and steel... and there are wounds that can't be healed with salves and poultices. And there are battles in this world you have to fight yourself. Things like this take time and determination. And if Renna wants to come back... then damn it, she will. But I just can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped. I can only better myself."

A flash of irritation passed through the rogue. "I will never stop caring for my family, Zayn. I went to war to die for them." The anger fizzled out quickly and she mouthed an apology without thinking.

He smiled a little. "I know."

And without another word, he pulled her into a hug. Her small frame fit nicely against his, and he couldn't help but wonder how difficult it was going to be for him to be without her for so long. Zayn knew that it would feel like lifetimes. But Iris had made up her mind, and the general knew that there was no changing it back. At least she was leaving to do something honorable in all regards. He shut his eyes and captured this very moment in his memory.

He would need his memories in her absence.

She held him for a long while before letting go. And when she did, the both of them quietly took a walk outside, cherishing the presence of the other while knowing that they didn't have much longer left until they would separate for a long, long while.

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