Awakening by Dubchick

Three-to-One

Chapter 10

Long thin ribbons of sun light fell from the small bank of windows high up at the top of the galleries cavernous entrance hall, as if God himself and placed them there for his delight alone. The ceilings snowy square plaster relief almost obscured by the haze in which is was drenched, the rays bathing the walls and collums of stone and marble in its brilliant pale golden glow. Sharp points of light glistened from the hanging chandeliers suspended in the center of the room with their faceted crystals, casting a rainbow spectrum of coloured over every pallid wall and surface they touched. Whilst all the while fragments in the air sparkled like diamonds, swirled and danced, floating down to the polished entrance floor far below.

Though I hadn't been here for more weeks than I could remember, nothing had changed. This was still the most magical place I knew. I breathed in the familiar waxy polished aroma that reached my nose even before the heavy wooden door thunder hollowly closed behind me. Its thud resonating loudly in the empty expanse, but I'd grown accustomed to it. I knew to expect it. It didn't make me jump like it once had, the thud locking in the sent before it could be diluted. The bouquet of coffee and pastries momentarily intermingling with the polish in a pleasing way, as my empty stomach groaned in hunger as the door to the coffee shop across the foya silently swung open, then back to its resting place.

The click, click, click of high heels on the gleaming monochrome tiled floor filled the space as a young and slender women crossed the floor from one end to the other, along with faint murmurs of art lovers and staff alike. Bronze sculptures of mythical Greek gods sat in their usual lofty positions either end of the long rectangular room. Each one as motionless as the other, striking against their shining white backdrops as they waited on the landing of the identical stair case either end of the entrance, black on white, their moments in time captured for eternity.

Gabriel stood silently at my side. His silken finger glided over my hand, as if to give me the courage to go further. But courage was not needed. I stood still not from apprehension or dread, but from awe, anticipation, and the piece I felt in this time less place. My chest heaved with the satisfaction my body seemed to gain from just being here. Taking in the scene, like being away from home for a long time, I wanting to just drink it all in on my return. This place was a sanctuary and an inspiration. A place where I could be me, or at least the 'me' I aspired to be. The place I didn't have to pretend. A place I could forget about anything other than what I wanted to remember. This was a place I fitted in, no surprises; no shocks - well not usually. Though the last time I was here Gabriel had changed that part, watching over me in secret, keeping me safe – scaring me to death! But I was over that now. It had become another thread that bound me to him.

Now it felt the same as it always had and I mused, if I didn't visit again for five years, twenty years after today, would this place be the same then too?

But I was the one that had changed. My life was so different now I hardly recognised myself. I no longer felt like the child I'd once been, the helpless, hapless victim of circumstance. I was less frightened, at least of the things that used to worry me. They seemed insignificant now. I was starting to trust, and that was a minor miracle in itself. I allowed myself to feel, to care, to be…. happy. Though standing here it was almost hard to believe I could have ever been that person. I'd been lost, alone, scared, and uptight.

I breathed in the sent one more time, just as a voice came from the opposite side of my view.

'Hello.' The voice began. 'It's nice to see you back again.' Even the voice was familiar. 'How are you now?' The man smiled as I met his gaze, as I peered around Gabriel's chest. Gabriel's hand tightened defensively around mind, his body angled in front of me ready for attack. The man stood next to a small desk that was arranged to the side of the three sets of double entrance doors. His peeked hat pulled low over his eyes, flecks of grey hair sticking out from underneath. His arms pulled behind his back, making the black fitted blazer pull tight around his bulging stomach, his trousers skimming the floor where his shining black shoes peeped out from underneath. This was no Guardian, as if they'd be so polite! It was the security guard that had helped me the last time I was here. Picking me up off the floor, after I'd stumbled perusing my 'stalker'. I'd felt ridiculously pathetic when he came running over, but he was kind, and genuinely concerned. Gabriel had not seen, he had been out the door before I got anywhere near him that day.

I smiled back weekly, momentarily reliving my embarrassment of that day, warming my face slightly as I replied.

'Hello.' I nodded. 'It's nice to be back.' I smiled adding. 'Thanks again.'

I felt very uncomfortable, and smiled nervously as Gabriel lead me away; guiding me towards the same marble stair case I'd fallen down months before.

'A friend of yours?' Gabriel's voice was low as we reached the steps, talking into my ear, his eye brow raised inquisitively as he pulled back to look in my face.

I just smiled a one sided smile as we started up the staircase.

The first gallery hall was quite, as gallery's usually are, the dividing wall concealing us from the lower floor. Half way into the silent square room I stopped and turned to Gabriel, my chest tightening in a way it never had upon entering my favourite space in the gallery before, my tranquil state quickly disappearing. This was the start of it. The beginning of my process, the point where I'd started planning my painting, and if he was to see the end result, I needed him to understand my journey, understand the development of my thinking. But this was hard. To share such feelings would have been inconceivable before moving to my new town, spending time with this boy, and I guessed everyone else I'd encountered since I'd been here. They'd all moulded me in some shape or form. Gran had taught me to be suspicious of everyone, never trusting, always on my guard. That felt like a lifetime time ago now, but those feelings where still deeply embedded within me, and I felt I needed to exercise them. Completing my transformation to a more reliant and trusting person. I wanted to share this with him, but it still made me nervous.

The heavenly white light of the room swept over Gabriel's face, he seemed to glow, a thin halo touching the very edge of his tussled hair, his expression half way between excitement and bewilderment. His eyes flick around the room, quickly running over every painting that hung on the white walls. Always guardedly coming back to each entrance and exit at either ends of the room.

I blew out a loud resolute breath, and then began. 'Ok.' I swallowed. 'I want to share this with you.' I searched his eyes for any sign of the gravity of what I was about to do. There was none, though I hadn't told him why we'd come here, so it was hardly surprising.

I went on, 'My work is a deeply personal thing…' He smiled sympathetically, instantly understanding my hesitance. My heart pounded and my breath shortened. 'I want you to understand it, and I don't want you to be shocked by it…' I laughed a short quiet nervous burst of sound.

'In the next room is a piece of work that inspired me. It's got every thing I'm trying to create in my own piece.' So no pressure! I thought to myself.

'Show me.' He nodded his head slowly, his eyes now curiously smiling, through his face looked thoughtful.

I gently took his hand and guided him through the opening in the opposite wall until we came to stand in front of the large canvas that held the images of Paolo and Francesca, in the centre of the second room. The bleached light bounced off the canvas, the painting seemed to shine out from the wall in a way it did not seem to affect the other pieces in the room. I sat slowly on the padded bench as Gabriel stood, his eyes gliding over every inch of the master piece. His chest moved slowly up and down as he studied the images with an unreadable expression, though his twinkling eyes grew wider. As I watched his calm appearance it struck me just how similar Gabriel was to Paolo, not facially, there wasn't enough of Paolo's face to make a good comparison and I didn't think Paolo could ever live up to the living master piece that stood next yo me, but physically there was a similarity. The contours of his chest, the defined shape of his muscular arms. Even Gabriel's strong neck seemed to resemble Paolo's as he gazed up studied the large canvas. Gabriel was a vision of perfect beauty, which struck me each time I looked at him. It made my heart tremble like I was seeing him again for the first time, over and over again. The full force of his angelic face seemed to beckoning me to him, an overwhelming need to touch him, to entwine in his arms, to adore him the same way as Francesca adored Paolo. I sucked in a deep breath to control myself, as his voice only partially distracted that thought.

'It's so powerful.' He murmured, his head turning towards to me, but his eyes staying focused on the image. 'The passion on their faces is so… impelling.' His eyes tightened at the words.

'Mmmm' I murmured, adding my own meaning to the word. Then sighed, my day dreaming fading back to reality.

'Do you like it?' I whispered nervous for his response.

'It's stunning!' he replied, his face brightening. He looked mesmerised, his eyes still fixed on the painting.

'It's my favourite piece.' I turned to look at it, and smile. 'They love each other so much that even through their despair; it's not enough to break their bond.'

Gabriel glided down on the bench; his movement so quite it stunned me when I turned back to look where he had been standing, and found him at my side.

'I can see why you love it so much.' his warm tanzanite eyes seeming to sparking in the bright light of the room, deepening into a more intense blue, like a flicker of a flame as he stared into my eyes.

His fingers rippled over my outstretched hand that was propping me up as I rested back on my hands, my usual posture when looking at this painting.

'Thank you for sharing this with me. It's truly beautiful.' He said as his fingers touching along my cheek.

I felt a wash of satisfaction flood over me, as I silently exhaled again, but more intense that the feeling I had felt down stairs. This building could feel like home, but what's the point in a home if there's no-one their?

'You say that like it's the first time you've seen it?' I murmured back, adsorbed in his touch.

His relaxed expression changed. He seemed confused, like he had no idea what I was talking about, his touch simultaneously stopping.

'It is. You've never brought me here before Tilley?'

'But the last time you where here? I sat right here, 'you watched me from the other room?' It was me who was confused now.

'Tilley, I've never been here before. Today is the first time I've set foot in this building.' He said staring at me intently.

My pulse quickened. The only feasible explanation springing to mind, but my mind recoiled not wanting to consider it. Gabriel took the tops of my arms, as my eyes quickened down to the bench, my breath reacting to my run away heart beat.

'What is it Tilley. What's happened?'

'The last time I was here someone was watching me. I thought it was you. I couldn't see their face. They had their hood up, but they had eyes the same colour as your.' My eyes flashed up the same sparkling eyes I remembered from that day.

He straightened, widening his eyes. His head quickly swung, searching over the room and into the next, but no-one else was even close by, complete silence except for the pounding of my heart.

'We've got to get you out of here.' He said taking a firm hold of my hand and almost dragging me towards the exit. He stopped at the edge of the first gallery before sweeping the area with his eyes and quickly marching me through, towards the stair case on the opposite side.

We almost ran down the marble steps, through I suspected he could have moved much faster if I had not been there to slow him down. We hit the ground floor at a slowing jog, not wanting to attract too much attention from the small cluster of people milling around the glass show cases against the wall at the perimeters of the entrance hall. My movements slowing further as I saw the security guards head turn to the sound of your noisy feet. I tugged on Gabriel's arm - a silent request. His eyes scoured everywhere as his grip on my hand grew tighter and tighter.

'You're hurting my hand.' I hurriedly whispered.

His eyes came back to me, wrenching them away from his search, his grip loosened. 'Sorry.' He breathed, his worried eyes boring into mine, then resumed his search. 'I've just got to get you out of here. If they know you've been here they could be watching the building or be inside.' He voice went so low then that I don't think it was his intention for me to hear. 'I can't believe I brought you here. What was I thinking?'

I didn't say a word, now was not the time to be difficult, and the worry that it wasn't Gabriel that day wouldn't allow for anything other than complete compliance as we briskly walked towards the exit.

'Going so soon?' The curious voice made me catch my breath as we reached the large doors. The security guard's eyes where now on use as we quickly made our way to where he stood, still next to the dark wood doors.

'Just a flying visit today.' Gabriel threw back, not taking his eyes away from his search. And with one last sweep he effortlessly pushed open the heavy wooded door with one hand, and guided me through with the other. We raced down the shallow, wide steps that ran down from the gallery to the street below, and onto the bike that was waiting at the bottom.

We sped down the motorway; my previous feeling on serenity fell far behind. A fresh wave of fear had hit me, dragging any hope of normality away. The energy I had felt that morning all but vanished, consumed by the dread in the pit of my aching stomach. My mind conjured up images of shadowy figures with deep sparkling eyes watching me from unseen places, behind walls, statues, doorways and bookcases.

A sudden jerk of the swiftly moving bike brought me back to the present. We swung to the right, speeding past a red streak that I presume was a car then back into the left. Gabriel's head turning quickly, glance over his shoulder, only the glint of his eyes visible through the darkened visor. They looked cold, menacing, it made me shudder, but I clung onto him tighter.

'What is it?' I screamed trying to make myself heard.

'Nothing.' He boomed back, through it was barely audible above the noise of the bike and the surrounding traffic with my ears muffled inside the helmet.

I looked back too, my eyes searching the faces in every car behind us, and every one we swiftly passed, looking for the tell tale blue.

Then as the panicked lump rose in my throat, the tears started to flow. A steady stream of warmth running down my confined face, unable to wipe them away, my head encased in the black helmet. I didn't try to stifle them, but allowed them to flow, oozing down my face and pooling around my jaw line. Then the trembles started, through my back and over my arms, the shock only now starting to show in a physical form. Gabriel gripped at my shaking hands, clasped around his waist. Our speed dropping, as our exit from the motorway came upon us.

By the time we reached the cottage I was almost hysterical. The tears now in floods and the termor seeming to rattle me through to my core, only Gabriel's strong hand keeping me upright and in my seat. He sprang from the bike and scooped me up in one swift motion. Instantly we were inside and my helmet off, so incredibly fast it dazed me for a moment. He dipped down to the floor in front of the unlit fire, holding me so tight I couldn't have moved if I wanted to. But I didn't want to.

For a while we stayed that way, my tears the only sound. The hysterics kept their grip. Gabriel allowing me to cry it out, the shaking of my body impeded by his strong hold. He didn't offer comforting words, he allowing the shock to take it course, understanding my need to work through it. Eventually it began to wane, the uncontrollable tears lessening to a deep sod.

'I'm going to die, aren't I.' the words came out broken.

'I won't allow that.' He sounded fierce, this chest heaved sharply under my hand.

'They won't stop coming.' I said thickly.

Gabriel hesitated, as my sobs continued, his hand ran down my hair as my face buried into this neck.

'We'll have to give them cause to stop then, won't we?' his voice changed a sudden recognition to some unknown thought.

I swallowed deeply and pulled away, his hold loosening as I tried to move. I didn't understand what he was getting at. He saw it in my tear-stained, confused face as the sobs quieted, abruptly coming with staggered intervals as I fought them back; only small rumbled vibrating through my chest.

'You said it.' He said studying my expression. 'When you're dead they'll stop - mission complete. They'll have no reason to come back. We let them think your dead.'

My eyes grew as the plan unfolded.

'No!' I exclaimed.

'Tilley.' He pleaded.

'No! Your planet. You said I was important to them – alive.' I said the word slowly to emphasis its importance. 'If they think I'm dead, the government will have won. What about all those people you and your Grandfather are trying to help.' The tears where gone now. Their selfishness replaced by determination.

'But it's more important that your safe!' he argued, his face hard.

'No, it isn't. I'm a small, insignificant human. If I can make a difference in the lives of so many people…..' I stopped trying to find the words that would best describe my feelings. 'I will stand and fight.' It sounded good and I hoped he would believe me.

Gabriel's face slowly softened, for a second he looked….proud. Then as the corners of his full lips moved, pursing momentarily, then spreading, pulling higher at one side into a lopsided smile.

His hand caught each side of my drying face and sighed, 'That's why I love you.' He murmured, his deep velvet eyes shimmering with a light that seemed to come from within. His words and his eyes stunned me for a moment, my breath catching at the back of my throat. I pulled at my trembling lip between my teeth. 'You love me?' I stammered out as soon as I could breathe again.

He chuckled, the smile making its way up the opposite said of his lips, then faded to seriousness. 'So much.'

I smiled in response. He loved me. He. Loved. Me! He loved me. Amongst all this craziness' it was all I could see, all I could think of – he loved me! My hand curled around the side of his face and my head tilted to one side, 'I loved you the moment I saw you.'

He pulled me closer, his warm lips slowly placing careful touches on my still trembling mouth, until the need overwhelmed us both, and with such force and power we seemed to melt into one. I was aware of the hum starting to tingle, fire at the edge of my fingers, then curling around my arms, but I pushed it away. Nothing was going to spoil this perfect moment.

The room darkened as night drew in. Gabriel and I had spent countless glorious hours curled up in each others arm on the deep, comfortable sofa. Fear, excitement, and terror all rolled into one, making the time feel precious. But it felt ominous too, like a drawing to a close of my strange and happy time with Gabriel. They were coming, the Guardians, that was certain. They wanted me dead or alive, it was irrelevant which one that was evident, and the dead part would come eventual regardless whether it happened on earth or not. They were strong, they were fast, they were gifted! How could I really compete with that? Sure I had a gift of my own but how dependable it was I couldn't be sure. I'd witnesses Gabriel's fighting abilities on the cliff, but if that had been an untrained Guardian, then could Gabriel really hold his own with a fully trained, lethal, no conscience, servant of the Anterian government? I didn't know. Gabriel had never really discussed his other gifts, well apart from one's he'd shown me, and planting pictures in my mind, that wasn't going to help us; though he'd implied he had many other and I was starting to guess at a few myself. But he loved me, he'd told me so just a few hours ago, and in normal circumstances I would have been bouncing off the walls, but this in it's self created a problem. He was emotional entangled. That would cloud his judgment to protect himself, and that I found impossible to think about. The Guardians on the other hand where detached, cold, calculated and deadly. They had no personal emotions in this, just the need to fulfil a task, to get their fix. And unlike any druggy they could think clearly, objectively. They would bide their time until it was just right, until they had the upper hand. Then they would strike.

The thought made a cold shudder run the length of my body, making me visibly shake. Gabriel's arms pulled me tighter, rubbing lightly at my arm. 'Are you cold?' He asked surmising the wrong conclusion. 'Shall I light the fire?'

'No. I'm fine.' I said straightening up, trying to cover up my discomfort. 'Acutely I think I'll go and do some work if you don't mind?'

'Sure.' His mouth twisted into a small smile. 'Not long to go, it's got to be finished soon?'

'What?' my mind flicking to another place that included the Guardians.

'Your painting?' He looked confused for a moment by my response.

I smiled back, but couldn't push the mistaken double meaning from my head. It chilled me as I walked from the room, fear attacking me yet again. But he never seemed worried, I thought. No sign of fear, apart for when it came to my safety, ever appeared on his face. He seemed unshaken by the whole situation with the Guardians, and when he did air his concerns they where only worry was for me - how it affected me. He seemed as sure of the outcome he wanted as the Guardians had seemed in my dreams. Or maybe he just hid it well!

I pushed open the door of the small lemon guest room that now felt more familiar than the room I'd left behind in the house of Maggie and Bill. The canvas stood next to the darkened window of the brightly lit room, as I reached inside and flicked on the light switch. It remained untouched, the way I'd left it two days ago, the unused easels stood opposite, the cottage ceiling too low for the painting and easel combination. It hadn't looked so large in the studio, but this room didn't have high ceiling and the vast amount of space that the college offered. Actually I was surprised they'd got it in the door as I looked at it now. After closing the curtains I pulled away the dust cover from the canvas and stood back to evaluate the work I had left to do. Any body else might have thought the painting was finished. It looked finished, but I wanted to change and add a few things, one thing in particular, then it would be finished to my satisfaction. I reached for the palate and a few specific colours and carefully started work.

A few hours passed until I gingerly replaced the cover and went to clean up. It was getting on for midnight by the time I emerged from the bathroom. The familiar scent of my honey conditioner wafted around my head as I came back into the quiet living room. The long since lit blackened wood fire popped and cracked in the open hearth, orange embers glowing in the low light of the room reminding me of Gabriel's eyes earlier that day. A mug of cold coffee stood on the small table next to the sofa under the bright table lamp. But this was no indicator to how long it had been standing there. Gabriel drank his coffee cold, preferring it that way, maybe an Antarian thing, or maybe a Gabriel thing, I'd never asked. Then, next to the mug I noticed a small piece of lined white paper, folded once, with my name written at the top. I unfolded it, recognising Gabriel's hand, and read what was written:

Tilley,

Just gone out for a perimeter sweep.

Won't be long.

Made you a coffee to keep you

warm whilst I can't.

See you soon my love

Gabriel. x

My eyes flicked to the mug, my hand cupping around it trying to gage how long ago the note had been written and the coffee made. It must have been a while because the mug was stone cold, not a trace of heat left in it, even when I poked my finger into the liquid, a brown thin skin instantly adhering to my finger. Taking the cold mug through to the kitchen I planned to replace it with a hot version. Turning on the tap something caught the corner of my eye out of the long darkened window over the sink. Something flashed, or so I thought. I peered out into the night, but nothing was there, nothing I could see anyway. I filled the jug kettle, turned off the tap and placed it back onto its pad. The kettle burst into life immediately; the elements warming through the icy water. Leaning back against the opposite counter, my absentminded gaze drifting to the digital clock, which shone out emerald green from the black low level oven.

12.06 am. Whilst hiding out here with Gabriel, I was slowly turning into a night owl. I didn't have to get up to go anywhere, so there was no need to get to bed early. So being up, with no signs of needing sleep at this time was quite normal, but Gabriel being out at this time wasn't. I looked at the clock again, 12.07am, feeling a little uneasy. I decided to distract myself, pushing away from the unit to wash out the cold coffee from the large white mug, and replaced it with new coffee granules' from the caddy next to the kettle, and grabbed the milk from the fridge. The kettle, by this time was reaching its climax. Steam poured from it, rising up towards the spots lights sunken into the ceiling, swirling into circles as it went. I poured in the boiling water, and the milk, my fingers drumming on the granite counter the whole time. Taking the steaming mug, and stirring it with the clean tea spoon left by Gabriel on the draining board, I walked back towards the living room, pausing to glance at the clock again. 12.10am.

I leaned back into the sofa, holding the hot cup between my hands. The warmth was good to feel, my shower leaving me colder than usually. The heat from the dying fire trickled around my bare feet, as they rubbed over the top of each other in a bid to warm then quicker. I sat quietly, sipping at my coffee, listening for any sound that would herald his return. I sat for a long time, finishing my drink, still gripping the mug long after it had gone cold. Slowly, as the anxiety set in and built in my mind, I changed seating positions from relaxed, lounged back into the seat, to sitting upright, my fingers drumming the mug, then moving to the edge of the seat, my head tilted forward, straining for any sound from outside. But there was nothing. I quickly stood, and went back to the kitchen to check the time again. 1.16am.

My hand gripped the counter. Something was wrong. It must be. Gabriel had never been gone for this long without having Bill stay with me, or maybe I was just being irrational. I didn't know, but I couldn't bare it any long. I galloped back to the lemon room, pulled on my converse hi tops, and made my way for the front door after grabbing my jacket that was strewn over the back of the sofa. Reaching for the door latch my breathing started to quicken, making my head spin lightly. But I controlled it, taking in several large, deep breaths. It seemed to work and I quickly lifted the latch and burst out into the silent night, before I could change mind.

The night air was frosty, but absolutely still. There was no sound at all as I hesitated on the door step. Pulling on my jacket, I fastened it up to my neck, as the warmth from the house quickly evaporated. My arms hugged my chest, in the hope of keeping a little heat in, but it didn't work, the cold seemed to steel away any remnants of warmth left within me.

I carefully tip toed towards the little gate, that was standing open - that made me nervous too, because it was always closed, Gabriel made sure if it. My hand pulled it closed behind me, like it could restore normality and everything would be alright just by shutting it as I went through. Just a silly notion!

My heart gently thumped as I stared out into the night. The silvery moon was full, high in the frosty sky hallowed oily blue. Its cold light made eerie shadows on the grass below, casting long dark silhouettes of tree's that seemed to flicker and change shape momentarily with the moving clouds. The haunting call of an owl hooted somewhere up high, making my pounding heart skip for a beat, and my eyes widen with terror. I gasped and swallowed, my trembling hand grasping the gate post behind me for purport. This little patch of countryside was usually a beautiful place, but in the black of the night, without Gabriel here, it seemed ominous. Then a 'crack' sound came from somewhere off in the distance, the sound piecing my chest like an arrow, and a chill run the length of my spin, ending in a cold sweat.

'Gabriel?' I whispered timidly. The sound almost lost before it reached my lips.

'Gabriel?' I tried again, louder this time, but still too quite to be carried any distance.

Though with my heart pounding and my feet feeling like they had weights attached I dragged my way forwards, too scared to go, but more scared to stay. In front of the cottage, through the large trees and across the track, lay a large open field. It had been full of tall green throffy corn stems that stood higher than my head, but they'd had been harvested a few weeks back. I picked my way over the uneven ground of the ploughed field, stumbling now and then when the footing became particularly uneven.

I tried again, 'Gabriel, where are you?' I loudly whispered.

The owl cried back, making me stumble with its sudden song and I fell, my foot catching on a deep turret in the hard frozen ground. I landed with a 'humph!' the frosty air making my breath cloud on impact.

But there was the sharp sudden 'crack' again, like a dry twig snapping under the weight of a foot. I froze where I lay. My body unable to move - paralyzed by fear - my ears searching for the sound again, trying to locate the direction. The owl called back towards the cottage panicking my body into life as it twisting back, facing the way I'd come, towards the shrill song, my hands fighting with the hard, cold ground. Then a 'snap' from behind me, making my body twisted back around. My now crouch was motionless as I strained my wide eyes, sweeping the moon lit empty space between me and the tree edge at the other side of the field. I knew Gabriel would sometimes come this way. I would often see him, if I was out at the front of the cottage with Bill, on the days when the weather didn't keep me inside.

Then there it was. What I'd been searching for. My frantic heart began to slow to a more regular pace, as my tort muscles relaxed, and a smile drifted over my cold, panicked face. Across the field, just where the silver moon's light was almost diminished by the darkness of the deep forest, stood a tall figure.

Gabriel!

The relief flooded over my body as I rose to my feet blowing out a thankful breath.

The moon light glinting off his glossy hair, turning it silver grey. His eyes twinkling in its luminous rays, but there was something unsettling about his face. I started to move careful, using my outstretched arms for balance over the uneven ground. But his moon light body turned and drifted into the blackness of the dense trees, like a ghost wafting out of sight.

'Gabriel.' I called, 'Wait!'

He seemed to momentarily hesitate then continue into the darkness. I tried to run after him, my fear totally forgotten and replaced with relief. My overactive imagination had got the better of me yet again, but that wasn't a bad thing at all, at least I knew he was safe.

Reaching the edge of the trees, I could just make out the outline of his retreating form. I pushed on, now a little out of puff, the frozen air chilling me through to my core, where the anxious sweat had risen just minutes before.

'Gabriel, hold up!' I choked out, the cold air taking my voice.

But he kept on moving. I walked into the thick darkness, trying to catch him up. Despite my best efforts the gap between us widened and the deeper I picked my way into the blackness the harder it became to see him. Before I knew it I was totally alone. There was no sign of him anywhere. I looked around frantically calling his name, but nothing. No sight and no sound of him, just my cold frosting breath as I panted out the freezing air that seemed to attack my lungs and throat. I scrambled quickly desperate for any sign of him, moving this way, then that way, frantically try to catch a glimpse of him, so I'd know which way to go. But I was alone, lost. I couldn't even tell which way was the way back to the cottage. I bit my lip the panic returning, fighting back the terrified tears that stirred in my eyes, threatened to blur my already light impaired vision.

Then, from somewhere in front of me another 'snap', that made my hand fly put to my chest and my breath gasp again.

'Gabriel.' I whispered, my breathing swallow and hard, my throat tightening. 'Gabriel, is that you?'

Silence.

'Ok, ok Tilley stop being so dramatic. It's probably just a fox or a badger. There more frightened of you.' I spoke the words slowly, reassuring myself, trying to sound convincing as I nervously twisted my hair that hung limp around my face.

Then another 'snap' made me whirl in the other direction as the sound echoed of the trees.

I exhaled, closing my eyes at the same time. 'Get a grip!' I warned myself, rubbing my creased forehead with the tips of my cold fingers, as my heart thumped hard against my chest.

But then, there it was again. The flash that was outside the kitchen window, the one I wasn't sure even existed when I saw it. I gasped, all my fears washing over me in one gigantic wave of realisation.

My breath hard, the cold air burning my dry throat, as my hand quickly made its way back down to my side, my whole body tightening with fear.

Then, another 'snap;, but this time as I turned to it's direction a streak of narrow icy blue light shone out of the black nothingness in the distance, moving incredibly fast, making the blue seem to trail like head lights in one of those stop motion pictures. when you write your name with a sparkler on bonfire night.

My eyes widening in terror, as a cold sweat rose over my temples.

Then before I could react, a second streaked to my left, moving just as fast in the opposite direction, then a third that abruptly stopped, disappeared for just a second, then lit up again. The twin lights hovered, shining about six foot up from the ground, so it couldn't be an animal. I shivered my mind remembering the sight. Remembering it from my nightmare. They were eyes! Some logical part of my brain was still working, somewhere in the very back.

They were here. They'd come. They'd bided their time, waiting for the just the right moment when I was alone, defenceless, unprotected. A single human against three gifted, trained, deadly Guardians. This wasn't my imagination. This was real. This was happening.

Six frozen blue circles, with silvery glints, shining out against the darkness, the moon barely making its way through the thick canopy. Three pairs: one set now to my left and two sets to my right, now all motionless, cold. All trained on me.

The hum started in my fingers. I barely had time to register it before one set to my right disappeared, then reappeared even closer I though, but it was impossible to tell - it was so dark, giving no discernible perspective.

My breath caught again in my painful throat, as the panic grew in my chest.

The heat suddenly grew, surging up over my arm…

Then another icy streak of movement, to my left, until they were about the same distance away as the last pair.

They hovered motionless, staring through the silent blackness.

Fear, terror, panic circled in my mind. My frozen body unable to move, unable to feel, numbed by dread. Only the raging fire that had how mingled with the panic in my chest registering in my chaotic head.

Something screamed in my head, 'RUN!' but I couldn't move. 'RUN OR YOU'RE GOING TO DIE!' That worked. Slowly moving, stumbling backwards, then as the urgency broke through to my limbs I was running through the almost invisible trees, frozen leaves and branches whipping at my body as I ran uncontrollably, in which direction I wasn't sure, just away from the eyes. My breath, my heart and my feet sounded like they where booming, thudding against the cold ground so loudly that they would give my position away. I ran as hard as I could, flying past inky black trunks, running into branches, tripping over roots sticking up out of the uneven ground, until I finally ran full force into a large dead invisible trunk that was lying on the forest floor, crashing into it, as it stood as high as my chest on its side. My heavy, exhausted legs gave way as the wind was forced out of me, my dream flashed back, one from so long ago, but as clear as if it were yesterday. This had happened before. This had happened to her, in exactly the same way. Had I seen it through her eyes or maybe it had been a premonition? This was no time for speculations though, as I heard heavy ground shaking footsteps somewhere not too far off.

My hands gripped the cold hard trunk as I swung by body around, my back pressed into the icy trunk as a throaty snarl came rumbling out from the blackness in front of me.

Clamping down on my lips, I attempted to quieten the sound of my heavy panting in a bid to stay hidden in the darkness, but it was no good, as the loud beating of my heart took over. Then, there were the eyes again. Ice blue hovering in the blackened night, like beacon foretelling my doom. I gasped, tears filling my burning eyes, and a loud sob broke through my quivering lips. This was it. I'd never see Gran, or Bill, or Maggie or Emily again...and Gabriel. I'd never see Gabriel's beautiful face again, all this time together, and I'd been right. This afternoon had been our final farewell, something I feared more that the cold, calm assassin in front of me. I pulled the tears back, down into my chest, waiting for the final moment until this Guardian finally was upon me. The dual lights hovered maybe a hundred yards away as they came into view. The tall darkened form covered by a long dark coat, small rays of moon light tangled over his snarled menacing face. He strode towards me, hands clenched at his sides, his hard and heavy foot falls seeming to boom in my ears, and shake the ground with every step, but he was moving too quick to be humanly possible, he seemed to blur and phase as his body thundered towards me. As he thundered closer a flash of recollection filled my terrified mind. I knew the face, the sneer. From my dreams?

No, from the cliff top. It was the same tall, slender, cruel looking man that had plunged into the sapphire waters of the lake. The one that Gabriel and I had never seen emerge from the dark waters. But he didn't look dead to me; he looked all too alive as his mouth twisted into the same cruel smirk. He stopped with a sudden jerk just in front of my cowering form. He dropped his head to the side as his ice blue eyes grew brighter, and a menacing crooked smile tightening on his thin pale lips.

'I told you, you where next little girl!' His deep voice rasping on every word, clouds of vapor falling from his mouth.

I tried to push backwards, my legs pushed against the cold, littered ground, but the trunk behind me made it impossible to move.

'No.' His hand rose, no glove this time, though they would have been more appropriate tonight. 'Don't do that. It'll just be harder on you. I don't want to hurt you.' His mocking smile grew wider as he shrugged, toying with me.'Well, not much any way.' He laughed, it boomed but there was not humour in it, just murderous intent.

It stopped abruptly. 'Its pay back really, for what that traitor tried to do to me. Didn't get chance before. One down…'

His face instantly changing back to the hard menacing snarl as he closed the gap between us.

My tears burst over, streaking down my warm face, which suddenly amazed me. I wasn't cold. I was hot, no; I was boiling, on fire!

The hum had silently increased without me consciously realising. It had seeped out from my chest into my other arm, through my legs, and all the way down to my feet. My heart leapt with a sudden hope, but all the while not taking my eyes of the wiry Guardian that was making his threatening way towards me. He stood in front of me, his dull black boots almost touching where the white rubber of my trainers ended, looming over the top of me like a predatory animal. He leaned over slowly, his face inches from my own. I closed my eyes, bowing my head, pulling back, his proximity sending waves of fear through my boiling, vibrating, explosive body.

'Times up.' He spat, a sickening harshness to his tone.

Then I was in the air. My eyes flew open. One of his hands grasped at the front of my jacket, lifting me without effort above his head, my feet dangling as he held me outstretched like a small child. His teeth clenched into a terrible grimace.

I instinctively grasped his hand that held me up, fighting for stability. As my hand touched his skin, his harsh expression changed first to confusion, then quickly to shock. He stiffened, his back arching under the strain of the voltage that swept from by body like a run away train, the cold air around us shimmering like it was alive. He seemed to rock slightly back and forth once as his cold icy blue eyes sunk back in their sockets and he crumpled backwards onto the hard ground, with me landing on top of him, still gasping at this hand. I froze for a moment looking down at my hands, the strange neon light still licking over the back of my skin, and dancing over each finger. The heat, though diminished, lingered where the lights still played. Then my wide eyed gaze drew up to the Guardians face beneath me. His eyes where still open, completely white, his face expressionless, through it still scared me beyond belief. I didn't know if he was alive or dead, but I knew I had to get out of there. Scrambling backwards, another thick sob escaping as I pulled myself up of the motionless body that lay on the cold, stony ground and backed away. My eyes trained on the still lifeless body. My hand searched for the obstacle that was behind me. Finding the fallen trunk I kicking my leg over and edging myself further away into the darkness, still not taking my eyes of his perfectly still body, until I turned and ran for my life.