Protecting Us

I knew sooner or later, Sophie would asked about our parents. I didn't know what I would tell her. I couldn't tell her that they've been captured. That wouldn't go too well. She would freak out and tell everybody. Yet, she brought it anyway.

"So Hayes, how's guardian life treating you?"

"It's going. Nothing interesting happened yet." I lied.

A few things popped into my head that could be labeled interesting. You were one of them.

"Oh really? I mean the way Mom and Dad speaks about it, it sound adventurous and dangerous."

"They have a different job from me. They work wherever their job sends them." I said, hoping she would drop the subject.

"Speaking of Mom and Dad, have you heard from them? They usually send me a letter by now. It's been almost four months since I heard from them"

"No. I haven't."

"You don't think something bad happened to them, do you?"

"They're fine. They're highly trained guardians. They can take care of themselves." I told her.

She didn't anything after that. She was lost in her thoughts. She was thinking about our parents. You knew she was too. So, in order to ease her nerves you offered to help her.

"My father has a huge filing cabinet. It has all the Arysian people's name in there. Abe keeps tabs on his people and I'm pretty sure I can find your parents and assure you they are okay."

"You would do that for me?" She asked. "Can you do that?"

No you couldn't do that. But you were Millie you would find a way to do it anyway.

You smiled at Sophie. "What my father doesn't know, won't hurt him."

Sophie grinned. "Oh! Thank you, Millie!"

She hugged you, tightly.

"Yeah but who's to say I won't tell him."
I said, rising an eyebrow.

"Please, please, please, don't tell." She begged.

"It's against the law." I said.

It was a stupid thing to say. Was I ever the one to follow the law? I dated you and it was forbidden. I was working for Ramadi. That was definitely against the law. Yet I did both and look where it got me.

You rolled your eyes.  "That never stopped you before." You muttered before saying. "Please, Hayes."

"I won't say anything but if Abe finds out, you're on your own." I told you.

The next day, I received the okay we were good to go. I informed them it was safe to leave the grounds. Today was the day of the performance. We had to be extra caution about leaving. Not only was Ramadi lurking in the shadows so was the Morches. They would do anything to hunt us down.

On the way to the town, Sophie asked me to play a game with her. It was Never Had I Ever. I didn't exactly want to play it but Sophie wasn't taking no for an answer.

As we played the game, I found out alot. Firstly, you kissed Kyle. I didn't know when you kissed him but you kissed him and that didn't settle well with me. Secondly, my sister wasn't a virgin anymore. I wanted to know who the hell took that away from her.

But she didn't tell me and she never would. I didn't want to play anymore. I wanted the game to be over with. So I ended it.

"You're done playing. Game over."

I took a seat away from you guys and willed for the bus to get to us to our destination as fast as it could.

When we reached the town, I was happy to get off the bus. It was a long trip and I was glad to finally be there. I kept my eyes alert and ready for anything out of the ordinary.

We walked inside and got everything prepared for the performance. Ezra didn't have a speaker so he volunteered you to speak. You didn't know what to say but you did good speaking infront of everyone.

I watched you sing and you were proud of what you had accomplished. I was proud of you as well. You did an amazing job. Once it was over with, we stayed to have dinner with the audience.

The bus left earlier than we did. I figured that was our cue to get going as well. I didn't want to stay out too late and risk the Morches appearing.

I got into the SUV and noticed Reid's face.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Girls are so cruel." He muttered.

I didn't question him any further. I started the car and drove on the road leading back to the headquarter.

"Get out your feelings. You know we love you." Lily told Reid.

"Don't include me in the we part." You said.

"I take back what I said about girls being cruel. Not all of them are, just one cold hearted, no feelings having-"

"I advise you not to finish that sentence." You warned him. "Lily is right."

"So you do love me?"

"Ew no. I meant the part about getting out your feelings."

"Millie, I know, that you know, that we both know, you love me. I'm just that type of man no one can hate."

I didn't think anyone could truly hate Reid. There was something about his personality that everybody enjoyed.

"Man?" You repeated. "More like...boy." You settled on.

"You know what, Millie?" He said "I'm two seconds away from throwing you out this car and let the Morches take you without feeling any ounce of guilt."

"Ouch that hurts." You faked. "What would you tell Abe?"

"I'll think of something. And Lily and Hayes will agree."

"Don't put me in it." I muttered.

"Yeah. I'm not in it." Lily agreed.

"Geesh thanks guys. Nice to know, if I die you'll totally have my back." You said, sarcastically.

Then out of no where, I felt them coming. So did everyone else. They wasn't anything I could. They crashed into us and sent the car rolling.

"Millie? Lily?" I called out when the car came to a stop. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. Can you move?" I asked, relieved that they were okay.

"Yes."

Without wasting anymore time, I informed you two on what was happening.

"There's four Morches heading our way as we speak. If the window isn't already broken, break it with your foot. Crawl out the car and get to a safe spot. Reid and I will find you. No matter what, don't look back or stop running."

I got out my seltbeat and rushed out the car with Reid. We headed for the Morches closest to the car. We attacked and when Lily screamed, I knew that wasn't a good sign.

"Go help them." I ordered Reid, dealing with the Morches.

Reid didn't hesitate. He ran off to help you two. This wasn't my first time seeing a Morche and it wouldn't be the last time. I forgot how fast they could be. They landed a few good hits on me but they forgot who they were dealing with.

They pushed the four us of in the middle of the circle as they surrounded us.

"Give it up my friends," One of the Morches said. "You're outnumbered."

"I guess you haven't heard of us." I spoke in a low voice. "But that's quickly going to change." I promised.

As soon as I finished, Reid and I were attacking again. I looked a Reid and noticed he pulled out a gun. This idiot. If he wasn't low on energy yet, he soon would be.

"Who sent you?" I asked, my sword pressed down on the last Morche's throat. Reid pulled his arms back and the Morche cried out in pain. "Start talking."

"No one." The Morche said, scared.

I pressed down on his neck more. I was on the verge of breaking skin.

"Don't you dare lie to me." I warned. "Did Ramadi send you?"

"I'm not lying. I swear I'm telling the truth. I don't work for Ramadi."

"Then why did you attack us?" Reid questioned, tugging on the creature's arms.

"For them." His red eyes landed on Lily and you. "Gethol said to take anyone standing in our way out and take the girls."

"Who's Gethol?" I asked.

"The King of the Dead." The Morche informed us.

Reid and I exchanged glanced. I didn't know a Gethol but I intended to find out.

"I have a message to tell Gethol." I said. "But I'll like to tell him myself. Reid finish him."

I walked over to you and noticed the blood on you.

"Are you alright?" I asked. "You have blood on you."

You glanced down at your shirt and then you touched your forehead.

"It's not my blood."

"It's mine." Lily said. "I didn't have my seatbelt on and a piece of glass cut my right arm."

I looked at Lily. "Let me see."

She held out her arm and I examined it before tearing the bottom of my shirt. I wrapped it around Lily's arm, tightly.

"It's not the best but it'll have to do until we get to the headquarters."

She thanked me.

"We have two options" I said . "We either run to the headquarters or we fly. Which one do you want to do?" I asked.

Reid walked up. "I don't think it's a good choice to run in the woods. The Morches came out of there. There could be more lurking."

"He's right. We can call someone from the headquarters." Lily suggested.

I shook my head. "The headquarters is two hours away and by the time they reach us, there's no telling how many Morches will come."

"Then what else do you expect us to do?" You asked. "We can't fly. We don't have a plane."

I ignored you because you didn't know what we, Reid and I, were capable of doing. I looked at Reid and asked him if he had enough energy.

"Enough to get us there." Reid confirmed.

I nodded. That was good enough for me. I stepped back and felt the energy surge through me and felt the wings ripped though the back of my shirt.

"What...How?" You couldn't even form a complete sentence.

"We'll explain later but for now we need to go." Reid said.

"What about the bus?" Lily asked. "Aren't they in danger too?"

I pressed on my earpiece and got in contact with the guardian watching over the bus.

"Do you have visual on the bus? We were ambushed ten minutes ago." I informed them.

They said they did and if they should let the bus know about the attack.

"No. Don't tell them anything. As long as they are safe, that's all that matters. Don't send them to come and get us. It will only make them worry. But keep your eyes on them."

The conversation ended and we needed to get off the road, quickly.

"Millie come here." I said.

I picked you up and Reid did the same with Lily.

"Ready?" Reid asked.

With a nod, I pushed off the ground and jumped into the air. I flapped my wings going higher and higher but it wasn't high enough. Soon enough, a blade came flying straight at us.

"What was that?" You asked.

"Ninja Blades." I told you, dodging one.

More blades came soaring at us and I dodged them as carefully as I could. I didn't want them to cut you. I glanced at Reid and he was holding onto his arm. He lost gripped of Lily. She screamed as she fell.

I dove down to get her and Reid followed. I grabbed Lily's hand and Reid grabbed onto the other hand. We pushed up with our wings but we weren't going much higher.

"Fuck." I swore as I realized we were going down. I let go of Lily's hand and brought you closer to me. "Reid lose the wings"

He was confused but he didn't question me. Our wings disappeared and we fell towards the ground. As you got closer to the ground, you held tightly onto me.

"Relax." I muttered against your ear. "I got you."

Before we reached the ground, I snapped my wings out. I placed you on the ground and turned to look at Reid.

I asked him what happened and he told me he got hit in his arm and lost his grip on Lily. You asked if we could call Abe so he could come and get us.

"What part about Morches lurking around, do you not get?" I asked. "We're running. They can't be too far from us."

"I would rather wait for Abe's men to come than run." Lily said.

"I agree with her. I'm not a strong runner." You said.

I rolled my eyes. "You're not running. We're running." I gestured between Reid and I.

"I had enough energy for wings" Reid informed me. "If we run, we might have to stop a mile before we reach the headquarters. But I'll try to push it."

I nodded. "Morches may be in the woods but it's faster if we go through it."

You asked if I was out of my mind. You didn't want to risk our lives by going in there. Reid said it was better than staying here.

"Beside, what we're about to turn into, they won't be able to touch us." I said.

"And if this doesn't work" Lily said "can we call Abe?"

"We wouldn't have a choice." Reid replied..

The air changed around Reid and I. Suddenly I wasn't standing on two feet but four. My whole body was covered with fur.

I could feel I didn't have much energy left but I was hoping I had enough to get us to the headquarter before passing out.

You stared deeply into my eyes. You couldn't believe what you were seeing.

"All those times, I asked for a piggyback ride and you told me no when all this time you can turn into a wolf." She said. "Oh I'm so gonna enjoy this."

Reid rolled his eyes as he lowered himself onto the ground. Lily hopped onto his back. Reid lifted up and faced us. He was ready to go. I nudged you to climb on my back and you narrowed your eyes at me.

"Don't think because you're a wolf, I won't slap you."

I sighed and you swung your leg over my back, gripping my fur. Reid and I took off, zooming pass the trees. You gripped my fur, tighter.

Lily was having fun. She giggled and told Reid to go faster as she kicked his side. Reid growled but he sped up just little. I knew you were thinking about kicking me as well and right before you could I looked you and warned you with my eyes.

You rolled your eyes and dropped you leg. You said I wasn't fun. We finally reached the headquarter's gate and when Abe saw us he shot questions out left and right.

"What happened? Who did it?"

"We were attacked by a group of Morches." I replied.

Abe frowned. "You didn't sense them coming?"

"We did. Everyone did but before we could do anything it was too late. They hit us." Reid said.

"How many were there? Did you found out any information?" Abe questioned.

"Twelve and yes." I said. "Before Reid killed the last Morche, he told us Gethol sent them to capture the girls."

"What else?"

"That's all. Well he did say Gethol is the King of the Dead." Reid informed him.

Abe nodded his head, taking in all the new news. "How did they know where you where? I thought the scouters confirmed it was cleared."

"Monica or Nathan could have told them about the performance." Reid suggested.

I shrugged. "Or they were watching and we thought it was safe. They have to have a hiding spot somewhere near by."

"I'll send my men's out there first thing in the morning to check it out." Abe said. "We need to find Ramadi and fast."

I said nothing. Mainly because they're never going to find him. Ramadi was a type of man who can vanish without a trace and if you wanted to get to him, you must be useful to him. I learned from experiences. I'd never tell them that and if all went well they never would know.

Abe dismissed us and I found myself in the medical room. Lily was fast asleep on the white bed and you were sitting in a chair, irritated. I smirked. I wondered who made you mad?

You glanced up when you saw me. "Who got you worked up?"

"Marie. I keep telling her I'm fine but she won't listen. She won't let me leave until she checks everything and I really want to take a shower and go to sleep." You said.

I smiled. "You'll live."

You rolled your eyes and then you studied me. You hazel eyes moved across my face.

"You have a bruise forming." You said, looking at the side of my face.

"I'm fine."

You didn't agrue back like you use to instead you asked. "How did you and Reid managed to draw weapons out of thin air?"

I knew you were going to ask sooner or later. I leaned back against the white wall.

"It's called manafest. Every guardian can do it but to a certain extend."

You nodded you head. "You mentioned energy."

"Everything you manafest it requires energy. It takes a portion of you energy supply and everytime you use it, it drains a little of your energy."

"Can't that be a bad thing?"

I nodded. "Yes. If you run out of energy during a fight, you're most likely going to get killed."

That's one reason why I kept checking on Reid. He kept manafesting the most energy sucking weapon he could think of. I thought during our fight, at some point, he was going to pass out but he never did and I'm glad for it. It would be hell trying to carry him.

He's probably resting up right now. He did get very low on his energy source as we ran here.

"What about the angel wings and wolf form?" You asked. "Can every guardian do that?"

I shook my head. "Only Reid and I."

"Why?"

"When we took the oath to protect the two of you, we took on the form of two protectors living on Earth. The angel wing come from the guardian angels or archangels. The wolf form is from the protector animal the wolf."

You slowly nodded your head. "Okay. I understand now. So what are they going to do with the dead bodies?"

I shrugged, nonchalantly. "The agents will dispose of them and clear up the incident before anyone notice."

The government here, hated when vital information got reported in. If the humans found out about us, about Morches, all hell would break loose. Abe made a deal with them a long time ago. If they let him stay here on Earth, secretly, he would pay them. And being the king of Arysn came with its perks. We had jews and gems they never knew existed. Imagine how much it cost here on Earth. Billions. Abe didn't mind because he wanted to keep his daughters safe but with Morches and Ramadi on the loose it's becoming a harder task to keep our race hidden.

Marie came back and told you, you could leave and you jumped out your chair, excitedly.

"About time." You muttered. You stood in front of me and touched my bruise with your small hand, gently.

"You really should get that checked out." You told me, dropping your arm.

You walked out and I instantly missed the warmth of your hand.

Call me crazy but I'll take another punch to my face, if it meant having you touch me again.