Author's Note: How was your New Year, guys? We survived another year, lol! And, readers, I only got 2 reviews. That really disappointed me. I thought I'd get a teensy bit more than that. Oh well. I have to update the next chapter. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: No. Not mine. Sorry.
Devious Deceit
Chapter 7: The Guardian
Gazzy POV
Who were these people? That weird girl made the shooter shoot himself and poof! He disappeared!
Angel, as innocent and sweet as she is, made a mistake with telling the strangers our names. Stupid, I grumbled. Now these people are gonna stalk us around too. I've had enough of the random strangers trying to hurt Angel and me. I'm her older brother; it's my job to protect Angel from anything and everything.
The strawberry blonde girl introduced herself as Max.
Isn't Max a boy's name? I thought. Angel discreetly elbowed me. Fun fact: Angel can read minds. It's been a little tidbit of hers since she was born. If she knew someone's name and what they looked like, she could read their minds. She reads mine all the time.
I was skilled with knives and bombs, funny enough. I could fight off anyone and anything with the pocket knife I always had. I learned to carry it around when Angel was almost kidnapped on the playground last month. Luckily, I brought it to school for show-and-tell that day, and I lashed out at the guy with a dark aura when he grabbed Angel's shirt sleeve.
Angel nudged my ribs this time, and I realized that I hadn't been listening to what they were talking about.
Pay attention, she said. The strawberry blonde guy's called Iggy; he's Max's brother. The raven haired guy's Fang, Iggy's BFF.
Thanks, I told her. Sorry 'bout that. I zoned out.
I know. I heard a little giggle.
"So, kid, what're your special talents?"
I snapped my head up at the question and quirked an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
"Well," Fang replied. "Your sister said that she's pretty good at poker. What about you?"
"I like making bombs. They're fun," I said.
"Hilarious, Iggy. There's a mini you here," Max said dryly.
Iggy grinned. "I'm a pyromaniac extraordinaire. You name it, I've made it."
"Really? Awesome!" I smiled. "Maybe I can help you with the next one?"
Iggy scrunched up his eyebrows. "I dunno, kid. They're huge explosives. Big bombs make big booms. Dangerous."
"I know. I'm not an idiot. I've done this before," I rolled my eyes.
He shrugged. "Why not? No harm done."
I grinned. "Thanks, bro. This'll be epic!"
Gazzy. I'm gonna ask them. Angel decided.
I nearly screamed. What? No! Are you crazy, Ange?! Who knows if we can trust them!
It's fine, Gasman. I've been snooping around their minds. They know something about it. They can help me. And you.
Before I could stop her, Angel asked, "Do you guys know anything about a golden heart? Like pure gold?"
I swear I saw something glint in Max's eyes. "I do," she replied.
Angel had an eager look in her eyes. "Really? What?"
"For one thing," Max replied. "I know that you're the one that has the gold heart."
We both froze. "What? What're you talking about?" Angel laughed nervously. "I don't have a gol-"
"Don't lie to me. I can sense you're lying. Those who lie a lot go to Hell. I would know," Max said seriously.
I quickly pulled Angel behind me. "What do you want with her?"
I took out my pocket knife and flicked out the blade. It shined dangerously in the sunlight. I glanced at Iggy and Fang; they were just standing there, watching this scene play out. I almost growled at them for not doing anything to help. I wanted to shout for them to do something for us. To save us from Max if she goes haywire.
But they weren't doing anything.
"Nothing, really. I just wanted some information about the heart. Nothing major," Max said.
She's lying! She's gonna hurt us, Gaz! Angel screamed in my mind.
"I know that playing poker isn't your special talent, Angel. There are quirks with having a golden heart, you know. Likei powers. Like mind reading. Like super strength or super speed. But I can tell you're not going to be that fast or strong, since your older brother protects you from dangers. So I'm guessing that you have the gift of mind reading," Max continued. I could feel Angel tense beside me.
"And you, Gazzy," Max turned her sharp gaze to me. "I bet you're good at building bombs. You weren't lying about that. But there's a little something extra to your specialties, isn't there? The way you're holding your knife with that perfect posture shows me that you've had some experience handling and using your pocket knife. Or really, to an extent, knives in general. You've got skills in using it."
Iggy and Fang both raised an eyebrow, as if this was news to them.
Max kept on talking. "You're her Guardian, didn't you know? You'll always protect her. You'd even die protecting Angel. And sadly for you Gasman, but I know that you're death is nearing. And you know it too. You've just kept it hidden from your little sister, just so that you wouldn't worry her."
I remained silent. She was right. I couldn't argue with the truth.
"I'm right, aren't I? You're such a go-"
"Shut up!" I roared. "Shut up, shut up, shut up! It's none of your business, okay? Angel's my responsibility, and I'll always protect her! Ever since Mom and Dad died trying to protect her, that job passed on to me. Just leave it."
Talking about my parents made my eyes sting. Angel knew that. She was just a little girl, and I was going under training with my parents to ensure Angel's safety from demons that'll try to kill her. They told me that I had to find a couple of Angels who will help me, but I doubt I'll find any now.
"H-how'd you know? We never told a-anybody about my heart or our talents," Angel stuttered. She must've been scared that Max suddenly had all this information on us.
Max ignored Angel. "I can help you."
Angel, luckily, was suspicious and weary of Max this time around. "How?"
"I heard that you've been attacked almost every day since they figured out that you had the golden heart. I can help protect you from that."
"But Gazzy's already my Guardian! I don't need anybody else!"
"Haven't you noticed that he's been jumpier than usual? He's probably tiring out from doing it all the time. He's not Super Man or anything. Gazzy needs to rest. I can protect you when he's resting. Then Iggy can help. And Fang can too. After resting a while, Gazzy can take over for as long as he can stay standing without getting sleepy or dizzy. Deal?" Max offered.
Angel took a look at me, biting her lip. Should I? she asked. I don't know what to do.
Go ahead. I'm gonna try trusting her. She probably won't hurt you if we can make her fond of us.
Angel nodded. "You got a deal."
Author's Note: Woo! I'm on a roll! I know, I know, Iggy and Fang aren't really significant in this chapter, ha ha. Sorry! But I thought it might be better if the Demon offered instead of the Angels.
Like it? Hate it? R&R!
