The Dragon Guardian
English is not my first language. I'm trying to improve, so be nice with me, please. ^^'
Chapter 1:
Nolwenn Larcher yawned as she was getting the letters from the mailbox : bills, advertisings, a note from an angry neighbor about flower pots falling from a balcony, a white letter with no stamp and just her name, a paper from the local church...
Wait.
A letter without stamp and just her name and no adress ? What the hell was that ? If it was an anonymous letter, she sweared she would find this asshole and chew him or her verbally ! Last time it had been from a stupid teenager boy who had fought it was smart to send menaces by mail with his name on it. Nedless to say she had tracked the guy down, found his parents and shown them the "nice" little words. She had never been annoyed again...
Until now.
So, what to do ?
Well, reading it would be the best but she had better things to do. Like going back to bed before her fever started to rise again.
Yes, the flu was a real bitch this year, and it was early !
"Another guardian ? Asked Eve Baird at the tall silver-haired man in front of her. But why ?
-Well, it seems the Library decided that ONE guardian for THREE "librarians in training" and ONE experimented librarian wasn't enough. But this one has not answered yet. -he muttered- I wonder why... Just hope it's not another obsessed one with security-measures..."
These things were giving more headaches than the three new librarians reunited in the same room... He sighed and walked in the kitchen : he wanted some tea.
A week later, while the LiT and the guardian were on their first mission thanks to the Clipping Book, Jenkins was tidying up his office and saw the paper : still no answer from the new potential guardian. What could simply keep a person to say "yes" or "no" to a Library's letter ? It wasn't hard ! Even someone with half a brain could do it !
You have been selected to interview for a
prestigious position with the
Metropolitan Public Library.
What the hell was that ?! Nolwenn was feeling better than a few days ago. So, a job in a foreign library in the US ? How did it found her in her small french village ? And how could she get there ? A plane ticket wasn't cheap, and it would take too much time getting ready and she wasn't sure that her pet would be allowed on a plane...
"Meow !"
She looked at the black short-haired cat, sitting on the nearest shelf and watching the paper with curious eyes.
"What do you think Ninon ? Could it be a good job ? Better a foreign library than no work at all or the factory ?"
The cat huffed and got up before jumping on her shoulders and meowed again.
"Yeah, I think you're right. It's probably a joke... But seriously : why not ?"
The blue light emited by her door at this moment startled her and Ninon hissed.
"What the hell is that ?! Let's check, Ninon. Springtrap, stay here, Bun'."
The sand-colored rabbit just opened a lazy eye before closing it and sighing : how noisy was his human today... How could he get a nap in these conditions...
"Why the hell is the door glowing... Can't be one of the wards... Not the guardian statuette... Well, let's open it and see... What the..."
There was a corridor and she hear a male voice muttering about librarians and guardians. Magic... Very strong magic. But where was this corridor leading to ? The black cat meowed softly.
"You're right. Maybe it's more than a simple library. But it would still be a better job than the factory."
She walked carefully, her senses in alert : managing to get what seemed to be a portal from her own appartment to this place was a real exploit. How was it even possible ? The voice was slowly closer and closer and she finally found a strange room with offices at the center, many shelves and a tall silver-haired man busy checking papers. How to... Ah yes, the letter was in english... So she would have to speak english here. Foreign letter, foreign place, foreign people...
"Excuse me, sir. Spoke a soft feminine voice. Is that the library ? I just said "why not?" to the letter and my door just sent me there... How is that possible anyway ?"
The french accent was heavy and the sentences unsure. Jenkins sighed : language barriers... Great... He turned around and stopped : that ?! A guardian ?! Seriously ? Was the Library going insane ?!
She was smaller than Miss Cillian ! How could she protect the LiT with such a small frame ?! He got up slowly and she took a step back when she saw how tall he was.
Shit. He was already frightening her just by standing... Well, for a guardian, being intimidated by someone bigger than her, she wasn't going to be a good one...
He watched her very long brown hair tied in a loose braid, her green tired eyes and her pale features. She was wearing a too large black hoodie and jeans. Longs legs. Thin frame... He could snap her in two halves easily if he wanted to. A black short-haired cat with green eyes was laying on her shoulders, staring at him as if it was defying him to do something to this obviously young woman.
"That's Ninon. My cat. She is a bit territorial..."
Territorial ? That blasted cat was looking at him as if he just insulted her ancestors from the last five generations !
"So, he began with his stern voice. What took you so much time to simply answer to a more simpler letter ?
-Caught the flu, had to stay at home and rest. Just that."
Ah, the flu... Well, he could understand the delay and thinking how contagious was this annoying sickness, he was glad she didn't come earlier. He didn't want to imagine his Annex with 3 Librarians and a guardian sick with flu... It would be hellish.
"So, you're the second guardian. He spoke with his stern voice. I hope you will perform your job adequately. The colonel Baird, the first guardian has been training them for weeks. She is really focused on keeping them alive and safe. Maybe yours is to watch for their soul.
-What ? Watch for the souls of who ?
-The librarians. Let me dumb the thing for you : you are a guardian as the colonel Baird, your work is to keep the Library and the librarians safe.
-I'm not dumb, you know, Mister...
-Jenkins. I am the caretaker of the Annex. The Library has been lost somewhere between planes of existence and we are trying to find it...
-Wait, wait wait wait... Can you, please, take back the story to the beginning ?"
Jenkins sighed and gestued her to sit. They were going for some time... He wanted a cup of tea.
Two hours later :
"So, magic exists -the black cat hissed at the woman- Shht Ninon. There is a Library where dangerous artefacts are kept so they don't fall between wrong hands. - Jenkins sent a dark glare to the now growling cat- Seriously, Ninon ? What's wrong with you ? Librarians are tasked to research and fetch the artifacts. And the guardians are here to protect the librarians.
-Exactly."
Maybe this one wasn't as stupid as he thought... But that cat... Something was wrong with the cat but the caretaker couldn't place what exactly was the problem. Maybe this black beast was just irascible... He was thinking about showing her the Clipping Book when he got a call from the Colonel Baird. A few minutes later, he opened the backdoor, leading to a strange upside-down room with four people inside.
"That's fascinating... He muttered. I would have never thought this could work with closet doors..."
He watched the four people rushing inside and faceplanting in front of him. The tall blond woman got up, closed the doors and took her firearm in hands before opening the doors again only to see an empty alley.
"I have a symbolic representation of all of you in the Labirynth. - He showed a strange circular thing before throwing it on the nearest office- I will not try this trick again for a long time... So, -he clapped his hands at the four- this first little escapade, how was it ?"
Mr Stone dropped the sword on the floor and Mr Jones seemed to remark the silent woman sitting at the desk with the black cat.
"Jenkins, who is that ? Finally asked the colonel Baird.
-That is the second guardian : Nolwenn Larcher.
-Hello, greeted Nolwenn ignoring the cat hissing on her shoulders. Nice to meet you all. Don't pay attention to the cat : she is in a bad mood today.
-You have a french accent.
-That's because I'm french. And you are ?
-Colonel Eve Baird, guardian. This is Jacob Stone, Cassandra Cillian and Ezekiel Jones, librarians.
-In training, added Jenkins passing by. I'm letting you get to know each other. I have work to do. Oh, Colonel Baird: those are the books I've found about minotaurs. Very aggressive creature and they can hold a grudge.
-What ? Wait ! Jenkins !"
She nearly ran after the old man, leaving the shaken librarians and the new guardian alone.
"So, began Nolwenn. What just happened ?"
By the time Eve Baird came back to the main room, the french woman was already chatting the three librarians about their mission.
"So, a minotaur, really ? That must have been a scary encounter.
-It was ! Baird shot that thing seven times and it still got up !
-Really ?! It must have a really hard skin..."
The Caretaker sighed as the colonel Baird was angrily swearing about the Minotaur and the fact it couldn't die when shot at. When she ranted about the new guardian : how a runt could help her to protect the librarians ? She was looking more like a PA than a proud soldier. There was no way she would be useful on missions.
He decided to remind her that there were now 4 librarians and only 1 guardian. Another guardian could still help, and if the Library has made its choice in a "runt" as Baird was calling her, it had to be for a reason.
An inoffensive guardian... Better for taking care of the soul of Librarians than their physical safety. Why not ? There had to be a certain balance everywhere.
Now, with a soldier and a... he didn't know what exactly for now, the three baby-librarians should be more or less safe. He hoped the Library had been right in choosing 2 guardians...
"So, wanna go with us to fight an angry minotaur in a magic labirynth ? Asked Jake to Nolwenn who was petting her black cat absently.
-For a first day at work ? She asked, smiling. I've never seen a minotaur nor a magical labirynth. I would be happy to come along.
-No. Interjected Baird. Nope ! Too dangerous ! We don't even know if you can fight or not ! I don't even know what you can do in a dangerous situation !
-I don't like fighting but I can protect myself. And I'm good at watching people and things.
-Not enough. I can't take you on this mission. Stay here with Jenkins. I don't have time for another newbie.
-Please, Colonel Baird. Insisted Cassandra. She's a guardian too. She has been chosen by the Library. She can protect us too."
Eve sighed : Stone and Jones seemed to not really care about the situation and Jenkins was not here to sass them into taking or not the new guardian. Cassandra was doing the Puppy Eyes...
That was really unfair !
"Alright, she wielded. The newbie comes with us. But if something happens..."
She let the threat unspoken but it was still clear.
"Now, let's go and beat that monster before it kills more people."
Being trapped in a magical labirynth was weird. They all were in the Boston town, but not really in the same time. No way to get to the roofs, no way to get to the subway... Fascinating... Even the people in here were speaking total nonsense. Nolwenn could feel her senses being triggered by the magic ruling the place. The Minotaur was hidden in a human apparence but she couldn't be fooled by the smell. The Librarians were not fooled ever by this highly aggressive entity. The french woman was glad she let Ninon at the Annex, it would have been too dangerous for her little friend here.
Jenkins managed to keep them safe from the homicidal bull for a few minutes, so Cassandra could draw a map and find the way to the center of the labirynth. Amazing woman ! She liked her. Ezekiel was staying with the redhead so they could steal the Ariane's Thread and destroy that blasted dimension with the Minotaur inside it while Jake and Eve would keep the monster busy.
"Hey, Runt, you're coming with Jones and Cassandra. You're no match against a Minotaur."
Nolwenn shrugged : she didn't like the new nickname but the tall blond woman was right about the Minotaur. Running with Ezekiel and Cassandra was better, even if she could feel the magic getting stronger and disorienting. She wanted to leave this place before losing control of her instincts but these 2 librarians were her charge. She had to protect them, and to protect them, she had to stay with them, even if everything here was triggering.
"Oh no, I can't. I can't do this. Jake was right ! No one can trust me !"
Oh oh. Not good. Ezekiel was already trying to reassure the redhead and Nolwenn decided to step in :
"Cassandra, look at me, please. You managed to guide us all the way down here. You can do this. I don't know what happened between you and Jacob but if there is one person who can find the center of this damned place, it's you, Girl.
-But it's too much ! Look at that ! It's too much ! I just can't...
-Can you use your others senses ? Asked Ezekiel.
-My senses don't get along since the... -she gestued to her head, making Nolwenn frown.
-Then, me and Nolwenn will guide you. You close your eyes, stay focused on the map inside your head and tell us the directions. Is that alright ?
-Okay... Just tell the directions... -she gripped their arms, making them stepping closer to support her- First, walk straight and turn left.
-Alright, repeated Ezekiel. Straight and left. Let's do this."
She could feel it : the closer they were walking, the stronger was the disturbing magic.
It took them a while to walk through the different stairs and corridors but they finally managed to enter a modern room with many artefacts exposed. All of them were about greek mythology and they could see the massive ball of wire at the center.
"So, the Arianne's Thread is that ? Asked Nolwenn. I've always thought it would be smaller..."
For her, the Arianne's Thread had always been a ball of wool, not... That. She saw Cassandra losing her balance and rushed to her side :
"You alright ?
-I will. It's just my brain who really doesn't like being here. I have to count backward from 7. 7 is purple. 6 is indigo...
-Well, spoke Ezekiel. You girls stay here, I'll handle the Thread. Shut down detectors. Off the glass. Grab the Thread... We just need 5 minutes here.
-You don't have them."
The trio startled at the new voice and Nolwenn hissed when she saw the tall woman pointing a firearm to the man. Ezekiel raised his hands and Cassandra's jaw dropped, not knowing what to do.
"Who are you ? Asked the woman.
-We're the Librarians, answered Ezekiel cockily. We accept your surrender.
-Who are you ? Hissed Nolwenn, her nails slowly shifting into black claws.
-This is Mrs Willis, whispered Cassandra. The director of this firm.
-There is only one Librarian and you are NOT him."
The way she was moving her hands and her weapon toward Jones was slowly but steadily getting on the nerves of the french woman who was fighting internally to not shift and wreak havoc.
"But something has changed. Continued Mrs Willis. There is more magic in the world. More power for our sacrifices. – "What ?!" mouthed Nolwenn to Cassandra who went paler just by seeing the fangs – Golden Axes, in one form or another, has always sacrificed innocents for 3000 years and we have never seen our share prices going that high since our last offering."
Killing innocent people for money ?! Cassandra shivered when she got contact with scaly clawed black hands. Nolwenn made a "shht" gesture and she nodded. They would talk about this later.
"You are the first modern people to reach the center. No intern have ever managed that ! Kids today... There is no initiative !"
Something... She needed something to distract this she-demon so they could take the Thread... Ezekiel managed to make her talk and she saw the opportunity to stalk the armed woman, her tail swinging slowly under Cassandra's terrified stare. Poor red head... She didn't need that. The man saw her and held back a face. Yes, she was creepy by walking on all four and being partially transformed but she didn't really care : the threat had to be neutralised. Cassandra moved closer and her unsteady balance made some noise which capted Mrs Willis'attention and she made a disgusted face when she saw the french woman.
"What is this ugly beast ?! Is it even human ?"
Nolwenn hissed and got up, her wings threatening to come out and shred her hoodie, she clenched her clawed hands and growled :
"Have you ever heard of magical dragons ?"
She shot at her but the bullet ricocheted on her scaly arm, hitting a glass protected a small statue.
"Hey, protested Ezekiel. Be careful ! There are some valuable things here !"
Cassandra jumped on the she-demon's back as she was now shooting in every directions.
"This is delicate ! Sweared the man, back to working on shutting down the security. Be careful, dammit !"
A bullet broke the glass protecting the Thread.
"That works too."
He grabbed the thing and the woman threw Cassandra on the floor before directing her attention to the thief. Nolwenn jumped on her, making her fall on the floor.
"Run, you two ! I'm taking care of the she-demon !"
Cassandra was too dizzy to get up and Nolwenn got hit very hard by the firearm on her non-scaled skin on her right temple, breaking the skin and knocking her for a few seconds. Ezekiel ran and the she-demon got after him, leaving the two women alone.
"He left us..."
Nolwenn shook her head : damn, she was bleeding... a lot. Wounds on the face tended to do that... She looked at Cassandra and gave her a reassuring smile.
"You're not alone, Girl. Don't worry about him : he is not that far away."
Just then she finished her sentence, Ezekiel reappeared from the ceiling with the Thread under his arm and a mischevious grin. The red head beamed up when he ran into the room to help her.
"Come on, girls."
Nolwenn got up and took off her hoodie before it would be teared by the leathery wings.
"What are you ? Asked Ezekiel.
-A magical dragon, she answered quickly. We'll talk about it later but, please, don't tell the others. Let's go before the she-demon gets back."
A metallic click made itself heard behind her and she cursed : the she-demon was already back.
"Give me the Thread ! If you drop it, we're all doomed !
-Any ideas ? Asked Jones to Cassandra as the french one was putting herself between them and the armed threat.
-Jenkins." Gasped the red head.
The rest was too fast for the french to understand but she was more busy tackling down the threat than listening to her 2 charges. She managed to knock the firearm away but the she-demon still had a nasty punch.
"Catch !"
Ezekiel threw the Thread and it rolled into the Labyrinth by itself, making everything shake around.
"NNNOOOOO !" Screamed the she-demon.
Nolwenn felt the magic changing. It wasn't good. It wasn't good at all. They had to leave this place ! She stretched her wings and turned to the librarians :
"Hold on to me, and someone grab my hoodie, please.
-Awesome ! Cheered the thief. You look like a nightfury !
-Shut up and take my hand. Cassandra, on my back. We will fly."
The dimension was shattering itself, Lucky for them, Ezekiel was firmly grabbing the Thread and Cassandra was holding tight on her small guardian's back as they were flying and following the magical wire.
"Cassandra ! Jones ! Runt !"
They perked at the Colonel's voice. She was near.
"Nolwenn, your... dragon parts ! Warned Ezekiel. It's time to hide them.
-You're right. Thanks. And no telling the others.
-No problem."
The tall blonde grabbed them and pulled them toward the Annex where they could see Stone holding the Thread and Jenkins pulling on the wire to get them closer.
"Come on !" Called the old man.
Cassandra was the first to come back, Jones was right after her.
"Come on, Runt !"
Nolwenn got pushed inside by the Colonel and the red head threw her hoodie on her now wingless back. A chance she managed to undo the shifting that fast... She didn't know if she could do it again.
Jenkins closed the doors and leaned against them to make sure they wouldn't open again.
"We did it ! Realised Cassandra.
-Yeah, you did it. Confirmed the Colonel. This time, you did it."
Everyone was panting and trying to get their breath back. Nolwenn smiled : for a first day, it wasn't that bad. She could feel the magic inside the Annex, it was relaxing, not like the one inside the Labyrinth.
"You should have seen Cassandra. She jumped on the Bad Guy's back. She didn't hide !
-And Ezekiel saved the day by leaving me and Nolween alone in the room."
Nolween was busy with her black cat who wasn't happy to have been left alone on a desk in the Annex with no right to explore the place. She hissed and tried to claw her hand but she avoided it without saying anything.
"Miss Larcher, called Jenkins. Come here and let me see your wound."
Oh yes, the cut on her temple... The Colonel smiled and tapped her shoulder to show her support :
"Not bad for a first day, Runt.
-I'll find a nickname for you, you know.
-You wouldn't.
-Wanna bet ?
-Go get patched up by Jenkins before I decide to kick your ass."
She smiled and joined the old man who was waiting next to the main desk. The first-aid kit waiting on the furniture wasn't looking like any other first-aid kit and it worried her a bit.
"Sit here, ordered Jenkins patting the desk. And stay still. It's going to sting a little."
The black cat huffed as her human was getting her wound tended. And the librarians were busy talking to each other, even if Cassandra and Ezekiel were looking at the new guardian jokingly threatening to bite Jenkins if he tried to put another stinging thing on her wound.
Later, at Golden Axes headquarters, Mrs Willis was fuming as her coworker was busy bandaging her right hand after cleaning the claw marks.
"We will find those Librarians. We will take back what is ours ! We will DESTROY them ! And that blasted she-dragon ! I will find her and skin her !"
She would never get the time to do all she had said. After all, she has imprisonned a Minotaur, very aggressive being who can hold a grudge...