Chapter 23

The next few days were uneventful but the trio remained on alert ever training and discussing possible strategies to utilise if needs be. They had no idea of what might occur, wanted to be ready for whatever came their way. Brindle missed Marcus an enormous amount, but was smart enough to know that she had to work with what she had and at the moment she had Brae and Arias.

The funny thing was all three were working together extremely well, not as good as she and Marcus of course, but well enough that she believed she wouldn't get killed right off if they were attacked. Brindle shook her head when she had this thought, attack or not they needed to be ready for everything and anything that the demon world threw at them.

Brindle sighed softly she wanted this to be over, she wanted Marcus by her side where he belonged and she wanted to know the truth about what was really going on. She wanted to understand her link with the first 'Keeper' and why the Arch's were so adamant that Marcus no long be her Guardian.

There were so many questions that she needed answers to, she wasn't at all sure if she'd like the answers, but she'd deal... for now she'd stay strong and when it was all over, then she'd see where things stood. She had her suspicions about the past, about her connection with the things she'd seen, but she couldn't put voice to them... she didn't dare, she needed to stay on top of it all. She needed to be 'The Keeper' and all that that role entailed.

Brindle looked to her companions and smiled shaking off the feelings of doubt she still held. He hand went unbidden to her neck and the cord she wore there, she found herself doing this a great deal the past few days. She pulled the cord out of her shirt and held the cross in her hand looking at it curiously. There was something different about it, she wasn't sure what, but something. She rubbed it between her finger and thumb, noting it helped calm her.

She saw Arias looking at her and she quickly placed it back under her shirt. No one knew about the cross... no one that is except Obanab, giving her yet another question that needed answering... how did he know, what did he know about the cross she'd found in the journal that Marcus had sent to her?

She turned to walk away from not wanting to answer any questions he might have regarding what she was wearing around her neck. She took a step towards the back door and froze. Brae reacted first, moving to her and placing his hands on her arms both to steady her and to get her attention. "My Lady?" was all he said and she came back to herself.

She looked up into his concerned eyes and let out her breath, "A vision of some sort Brae. I felt more than saw..." she trailed off and by this stage Arias was beside her as well looking at her questioningly.

"Come," she said quickly, "I feel something unnatural, something... oh God!" She placed her hand on Brae and disappeared, Arias tailing her. When they arrived at their destination she was shocked to find herself at the top of a large cliff. She turned and saw that there were caverns or caves in the side of the mountain and there was a group of people close to the entrance to an opening near the edge of the cliff.

Without thinking Brindle moved forward pushing through the people to discover why they had gathered there. She was shocked to see several children cowering on the ground trembling as a huge man stood over them with what looked like a club. She stood stock still wondering what the hell he thought he was doing, when he spoke she could feel the fear emanating from the children.

"Heathens! You have no right to be here, no right to live! It is our duty to send you back to where you came from, back to the fiery pits of hell!" Then he pulled his arm back in preparation to swinging the club at the young ones before him.

Brindle didn't think, she reacted, before anyone knew what had happened she'd taken the club from them, put him on his ass and was glaring at those surrounding them. "What the hell do you people think your dong?" She demanded, "You would kill, no murder children!" She shook her head and turned towards the children wanting only to comfort them as she could still feel their fear.

Brae growled and she heard his fist connect with someone, then a thump as that someone hit the ground. He growled again, but it wasn't he who spoke, it was Arias. "Who gives you the right to judge these children? Who are you that you believe you can kill young ones so indiscriminately?"

Brindle heard but didn't engage, letting Arias and Brae deal with the people that would do such a god awful thing to the weakest in their world. She reached out a hand and touched the child closest to her and was shocked at what she felt. These children we not human, they were not 'other', they were something else. Brindle controlled her heartbeat and her breathing not wanting the children to sense her reaction to them.

She held her hand out waiting for one of them to respond, to either take it or move further away from her. There were three of them varying in age from about twelve down to a toddler of two or three years of age. It was the toddler that made the first move, she not only reached out to Brindle, she threw her arms around her and began to cry softly.

Brindle put her arms around her in turn and patted her back as she cried. The eldest one, a boy looked at her in awe. "I won't hurt you," she said to him. And when he looked at the people behind her and the two Warriors holding them back, Brindle smiled, "my friends won't let them near you."

The boy nodded still unsure if she were being truthful or not, but noting that her friends were indeed keeping the others at bay. "Where is your mother?" She asked him speaking quietly so those behind her wouldn't hear. "It's alright little one, I won't hurt you... I won't hurt any of you." She handed the toddler to the boy and waited, hoping that this gesture would show that she meant what she'd said.

Brindle stood and looked at the boy then to the cave behind them and he nodded. She took a step toward but stopped when the boy spoke, "Wait!" She looked at him and waited. When the boy moved towards the cave with the other children she followed a few steps behind, letting him know that he was in control.

The cave was small but had been set up as a makeshift home, there was an old table, one that looked like it had been left to the elements for a time, one of the lets was shorter than the others and was propped up with a piece of stone. There were two mismatched chairs and a bucket near what looked like a small stream towards the back of the room.

There was food on the table, not much though giving her the impression that the children were all probably hungry. Brindle realised that the furnishings, or what there were of them were all probably taken from the junk yard. Everything looked as if it had been discarded and left out in the rain and sun for a time.

She kept her emotions calm not wanting to frighten the children any more than they already were. There were a few small alcoves off the main room and she checked them out and discovered sleeping areas in two of the alcoves. When she entered the third one her breath caught in her throat, in any other situation she would have gasped, but she knew the boy was still watching her, still trying to decide if she could be trusted.

Suddenly he was there in front of her, standing between her and the woman lying on the makeshift bed against the wall. She smiled at the woman, ignoring the boy for the moment. "Your son is very protective of you and his siblings. That's an admirable trait, one I'd be proud of in a son."

The woman nodded at her and Brindle took another step into the alcove and knelt down beside her. She could see a bandage on the woman's arm and leg, blood seeping through them both. She stated the obvious, "You're injured. Please let me see what I can do to help?"

The woman looked at her in stunned silence, then Brindle looked to the boy, I won't hurt her, I swear by all that's holy, I just want to help her... help you all." She saw the surprised look on his face and before he could respond she did the only thing she could think of to save this family. She called her Guardian.

She sat next to the bed and smiled at the woman, "My name is Brindle, I am 'The Keeper'." She waited for a reaction and when she saw fear in the woman's eyes, she reached out and patted her hand. "I won't hurt you okay. I've sent out a call for my Guardian to come and help us, I know you aren't fully human and neither are your children, so I need him to help in healing you."

The woman's fear increased and she pulled away from Brindle looking towards her children. Then she let out a pained cry as Marcus appeared beside Brindle. "It's alright, he won't hurt you, he's here to help you." Then she stood, turning to her Guardian and although she wanted to throw herself into his arms, she held back placing a hand on his arm and squeezing gently.

Marcus smiled at her and brushed the hair off her face, "You summoned me little one. What is it that you need?" Then he turned his face to the others in the room taking in the children and their worried looks, when he saw the woman he dropped his hand and knelt down beside her firstly taking in her appearance and the knowledge that she wasn't fully human.

"Your injuries," he began and sent out soothing images to the woman, "I need to see how bad they are so I can help you heal." He waited for her to give him the go ahead and when she nodded he pulled back the bandages and examined each wound in turn. He closed his eyes and spoke softly to the woman as a small bowl appeared in his hand containing some kind of salve.

Marcus explained that he was going to cover her wounds with the salve and put clean bandages on them. He could see her body relax somewhat and began tending her wounds. "Where are your companions she asked Brindle while he worked?"

Brindle sat beside him and beckoned the children to sit by her. "Umm, they are outside holding back a group of people who intended harming the children." She looked at Marcus wondering what he'd make of the situation, but his face remained blank and she wondered at this, was it because he didn't want the woman and her children to sense what he was feeling? She wasn't sure, but she went with what her gut told her.

Through their mind link she spoke to him, "Marcus we have to get them away from here, the people out there... they wanted to kill these kids. I know they aren't completely human, but they are kids Marcus, I can't let anything happen to them."

Brindle could feel the warmth that Marcus was sending to her, they were right next to each other and not touching physically and yet she felt him as if he were stroking his hands up and down her arms. She smiled to herself, "I'm not sure where to take them Marcus... unless?"

Marcus nodded and she got to her feet and ran to the entrance calling out to both Brae and Arias to follow her back into the cave. Brae growled loudly at the people that still remained and it seemed to frighten them enough to have them moving further back from where they were standing. Then they turned and ran in after Brindle.

To say they were shocked at what they found inside was an understatement. Marcus stood with the woman in his arms, she was unconscious and the children were looking more fearful than ever. "Marcus," began Arias, "It is time then?" He looked at the children that now leaned in to Brindle and wondered what on earth they were going to do now.

Brindle saw the confusion on both their faces and acted, "Marcus there is only one safe place we can take them." He nodded and she turned to Brae, "Take hold of Arias and open your mind to him. I need you to guide him home." Brae didn't speak; he seemed to know she was choosing her words carefully as if not wanting to say too much. He took hold of Arias' arm and they were gone a moment later.

Marcus looked at Brindle, "It's okay Marcus they are small, all of them wouldn't add up to what Brae does. I'll take them, you just get their mother there safely okay then she wrapped her arms around the children and as she looked up at Marcus they all disappeared.

They reappeared in the orchard and she remained still holding the children until she felt that they were able to walk steadily. When they were ready she stood lifting the toddler in her arms and walked towards the house where she knew Marcus would be. She didn't say anything to the other two children expecting that as she had the baby, they'd follow her.

When they got to the house Brae was standing on the porch with Arias. When they saw her they ran to her helping to bring the children quickly inside. "My Lady, are you sure this is where you wish to bring them?"

Brindle smiled at Brae, "This is the only safe haven I know of my friend, I know it is your home, but I doubt they would be safe anywhere else. I couldn't leave them to be slaughtered and that's exactly what would have happened had we left them there."

Brae nodded then they shall stay here, our people will protect them My Lady, they trust your judgement and will follow your request that they remain safe here." Brindle was somewhat shocked at what he'd said, that these people would follow her, that they would fight for her and protect these people because that's what she wanted, was a little scary. She didn't want anyone here hurt because of her actions, but she had nowhere else to take them.

Brae took the child from her arms and went back inside, he place her on the couch and instructed the other two to sit there while he saw to some food for them. Brindle left Brae to it and scanned the room for Marcus; she heard his internal voice letting her know he was upstairs with Joslyn and Brody and that they were doing their best to help the woman.

Brindle sat on the coffee table in front of the couch the children were sitting on, she looked them over hoping that none of them were injured as well and thankfully they didn't seem to be. She looked to the eldest child, the boy, "You should all be safe here, at least for now. I know I told you I won't hurt you and I meant that, but for me to help I need you to answer a few questions alright."

The boy nodded and she continued, "First of all, what are you names?"

The boy watched Brindle seemingly considering whether or not she could be trusted, in the end he realised that he had no choice, "My name is Tayne, my mother is Ellenorah and my sisters Orana and Syndal." Brindle looked at the toddler, and he nodded, "yes she is Syndal."

"Okay, good. Now can you tell me what happened, why were you living in that cave and why were those people trying to hurt you?" She had a fair idea why, but needed to have Tayne explain how he saw things.

Brindle watched Tayne carefully, his jaw tightened and for a moment she wasn't sure if he'd answer her. He lowered his head then and she heard a great sigh, "We aren't... I mean we..." his head drooped even further and Brindle moved forward slightly so she could reach him.

She placed her hands either side of his face and lifted it up so they were looking eye to eye. "I know you aren't completely human Tayne, but neither am I now. I don't really care what your origins are; you are a child and as such should be protected. No one here will harm you, they will do their level best to protect you and keep you from harm." She paused letting that sink in and let go his face hoping that he'd keep eye contact with her. "What happened to your mother?"

Tayne maintained eye contact as Brindle had hoped, he was strong and she was glad of it because he'd need to be to be able to take care of his family. "My mother can't always maintain her human form, she sometimes shifts into... into her..."

"Demon form?" Asked Brindle. She saw the horror on his face and spoke calmly asking Arias if perhaps he and the two girls could help Brae in the kitchen. Arias took the hint and lead the Orana and Syndal to the kitchen so Brindle and Tayne could talk more freely.

"Thank you," said Tayne, "My mother, like I was trying to say... she can't always maintain her demon form and someone from the village saw her. We've been hiding up on the mountainside by the cliff for a while now. My father left us there, he said he couldn't stay with us, that we were nothing but half-breeds and he could never take us back to his home, we'd never be accepted. He said we'd be better off without him. He said that war was coming and that he couldn't keep himself safe if he had us with him."

Tayne looked so sad, but also angry that his own father had walked out on them leaving them with nothing and no one to protect them. "You will be safe here Tayne, Joslyn, Brody and Marcus are tending to your mother and you and your sisters will be cared for as well."

"But you're 'The Keeper'? My father told me 'Keepers' kill our kind, so why are you being so nice to us?"

"Tayne, just because I'm 'The Keeper' doesn't mean that I kill anyone who is different. There are all kinds of beings here, my friend Brae is a Shifter, at one time he would have been looked upon as a demon. But we know better now, you, your family are different but that doesn't make you bad. Bad or good, that will be your individual choices and I won't condemn anyone based on the fact that they may one day become evil."

The look on Taynes face was priceless! He assumed that 'The Keeper' would want to hunt them all down, that their lives would be forfeit and here she was telling him that his family would now be safe. He had been so strong these past days, trying to hold his family together while his mother rested. He could feel tears welling in his eyes and before he could stop them they ran their course down his cheeks.

Brindle rested her hands on his arm not sure if she should hold him at first, then throwing caution to the wind wrapped her arms around him and let him cry his heart out. "I'll be alright Tayne, I promise you no one will hurt you or your family here." She held him until he was all cried out.

Brindle moved back from him and smiled letting him know he was okay when she felt more than saw Marcus fly down the stairs and to the front door. She turned and spotted both Arias headed in the same direction. "Brae," she called, "come here and bring the girls with you!" When he did as she asked Brindle directed them up stairs, "Stay with the children and their mother, no matter what Brae, please protect them."

"My Lady," he smiled at Brindle softly and gathered the children ushering them up the stairs, then looked back at Brindle, "So it begins."

Brindle saw the sadness in Brae's eyes and she held him to her quickly before turning towards the front door. She ran outside and stopped in her tracks at what she saw!