Guarded
The wind whispers around me and I run after my brother, chasing him in our game. Out of nowhere it seems, a bronze tiger jumps from the woods. My brother, older and stronger than me, stands his ground and looks the wild animal in the eyes. His worst mistake.
The tiger roars loudly, and then lounges at my brother, Andriel. He leaps up to meet the tiger and then they are locked in battle. My parents come running and take down the beast in five seconds of their arrival.
Andriel lies on the ground, bleeding and dying, while my parents rush forward and embrace him. I slowly walk up beside him. He takes my hand in his and his golden eyes bore into mine. "I love you, little sister," are his last words before he gasps and his grip on my hand slackens.
My mother sobs as his arm falls to the ground beside him. I don't understand. Why is he not running and playing anymore? I ask myself. One glance at his eyes is all the answer I need. They stare blankly ahead, showing no sign of the usual laughter or even the recent pain and love.
I know he's dead but my mind won't accept it. "Andriel, wake up!" I say, while shaking his shoulder. My mother continues to cry, while my father attempts to comfort her. For the first time in the last five minutes a tear runs down my cheek. "Andriel…" I murmur one last time.
I jerk away from my parents and dead brother and run. My parents call me back but I ignore them. I run into the woods, hoping a horrible tiger will kill me too. I run for a while, maybe an hour before stopping.
By now, my mind has basically shut down. I sit down next to a towering tree and cry. I feel a strange power rising up inside me, but I have no idea what it is… Then light, energy, life is spinning around me and I can't take it all in. I close my eyes and when I open them, I know I'm not in the same town. The same country. The same realm.
The door creaks open, revealing a darkly cloaked man. He creeps forward, towards the bed, a silver knife glinting in the moonlight as it rests in his hand.
I step out of the shadows. He swears, then backs up. "Hello," I say coolly, "I really hope you'll reconsider trying. It might not end well for you." He lets out a quiet battle cry while lunging toward me and I leap forward as well. I grab his knife hand and give the wrist a slight turn, getting a cry of pain from the assassin. With my other hand I jab forward causing a painful blow to his stomach. He falls to the ground, and looks up at me.
"Who the devil are you?" he murmurs. I smile almost wickedly while saying, "The devil." My foot swings up and clips his temple sending him into a limp pile on the floor before he has time to say anything else.
I stride out of the elegant room to meet one of my dearest friends, Anwar. I nod toward him and say, "He's ready." He nods back, "Nice work. Once again." I smile. "Your horse is waiting outside and is already saddled up." I give one more nod before walking down the hallway and into the breezy courtyard. A few guards rush past me and I know they are going to secure the former threat.
In the middle of the courtyard stands a beautiful mare, Lidia. She's jet black, perfect for riding inconspicuously at night. I swing gracefully onto her back and nudge her with my heels. She gallops off, while I stare nonchalantly off into the night.