Awakening by Dubchich

Family

Chapter 11

The temperature seemed to plummet as the cold air whipped past my cheeks, the tears still flowing only making the cold even more chilling, like shards of ice slipping down my face. But I was running so frantically I realized that I was even more lost. I'd run so deep into the forest that I had no idea where I was, no idea which direction would take me to safety. I stopped, concealed behind the thick trunk of a dimly lit tree and bent over to catch my breath, my hands holding my shivering knees as each intake scrapped like broken glass over my throat. Though the last traces of heat still clung to my core, the heat not totally leaving me I now realized, I felt arctic cold where the fabric touched my skin. It made a shiver erupt along my shoulders and slide down my back in an excruciating way. My breathing that had been hard and gasping now slowed making the stabbing pain in my warm chest lesson slightly. I straightened against the dull ache in my side, looking around, trying to find anything familiar, anything that would lead me back home. But there was nothing, nothing except the blackened trunks of the trees, the oppressive darkness of the canopy above, and glimpses of the silver moonlight like pin pricks through the overlapping leaves. It felt hopeless, inevitable that sooner or later they'd be upon me. But unlike my dream I wasn't toying with them, enjoying the game. I was scared, terrified. The despair seeped through every poor until it was all I could taste. It felt like acid in my mouth as the almost real taste rose from my throat. But then, in the distance a streak of blue light momentarily hung on the blackness as it moved. Just like before. My heart beat rose again as I ducked down, quickly circling around the tree trunk at my back for cover. I hid for a few seconds, too scared to move, frozen in the crouched position I'd pulled myself into. Then I forced myself to look, to see if I'd been discovered. I froze again as the light drifted silently closer. As it moved I began to make out the outline of a thick set of high shoulders, the dark hair shining just a little as the almost hidden moons light twinkled through the canopy. My eyes widened, as my breath staggered, and my nailed dug into the frozen trunk. I waited, but nothing happened. No heat, no hum, just the warmth that was decreasing in my chest. Maybe it didn't work that way. Did I need time to recover before it would work again? I didn't know. I'd never needed it more that once before, before I had needed to rest.

Then the figure stopped, and seemed to blow out a noisy long puff of air, in a way I recognized, in the way Gabriel sounded when I did something that aggravated and amused him all at the same time. A wary smile drew up at one corner of my mouth, I started to slowly rise, to call out, but then a strong cold gloved hand grabbed me from behind, around my open mouth and dragged me back downwards to the grown. Instant panic shot through by body, welling up the heat in my chest that had started to reseed. The hand grasped me tight into its body and I felt the warm breath again at my cold ear.

'It's me. Keep quiet.' The whisper brought a wave of relief as the hand loosened and I span around first starring Gabriel straight in the face, then wrap myself around him, the fire tinged adrenaline surging throughout my shaking self.

He held me tight too, stroking my hair, but his focus soon shifted back out into the dense trees.

'Shhhhhh.' He murmured into my ear, but it was to keep me quiet not to sooth me. The icy blue lit eyes moved off slowly in the opposite direction.

'Come on.' He whispered taking my hand and silently leading me down a different path.

Gabriel moved like he knew where he was going flowing over the uneven ground without effort, though I stumbled and tripped behind him, his hand often the only thing keeping me upright. He didn't say a word. The leafy floor started to climb, though the trees where still as dense, the moonlight making its way further through the canopy as we rose.

'Where are we going?' I whispered just loud enough for him to hear.

He shook his head, but I didn't know what it meant.

We continued on without speaking; only the sound of my feet crunching the icy leaves as we made it out onto the top of a clearing. He stopped next to a tall tree with an enormous two toned silver-black trunk, the moons light hitting his face for the first time. He turned and placed his hands on the top of my arms, his face a wash of fierce emotions.

'Why did you leave the cottage?' his voice was a whisper but it was hard.

It stunned me a little, I wasn't expecting it. I winced and scrambled for my words.

'You where gone for so long.' My brow creased as my breathing laboured, my eyes flicking back and forth trying to read his expression. 'I got worried.'

He exhaled shaking his head. 'I know. I'm sorry. It wasn't by choice.' His breathing was just as staggered, the fear and stress obviously filling him too.

'What happened?' I asked because it was obvious something had.

'I went to check the perimeter, but when I got to the furthest point away from the cottage they were there, waiting for me - hiding. I didn't see them. I didn't expect it.'

He shook his head again looking down to the floor. 'I'd got too lax, too complacent. A stupid mistake.' He looked back up again; his eyes darken so much it scared me. 'They sent me back.' He said. His words cold and unfeeling.

'Sent you back? Where?'

'Antaria.' He said just as cold.

'Antaria?' I exclaimed a little too loudly. 'How?'

We both quickly looked around; we'd been too engaged with ourselves to be on the look out for anyone else.

'Two of then I think, which was strange. Guardians usually work alone. With their talents they don't need anyone else...' He seemed lost in though for a second, then focused back on me. 'They had a portal waiting a small distance away. I didn't have time to react. They grabbed me and through me in before I knew what was happening.' His eyes hung remembering the ordeal. 'I though I was never going to see you again.' His eyes lifted as he pulled me in to his chest. His arms too tight, my breath becoming restricted.

'So that's what he meant.' The sudden recollection came back to me.

'What?' he exhaled the word, pulling me away to look into my face.

'The Guardian.' I beckoned with my head back down the ridge. 'He said 'one down.' He meant you.'

'What Guardian? Where?' his expression grew grave.'

I paused; he didn't know what had happened. Why would he, he wasn't even been on this planet.

'The tall one. From the cliff. He cornered me, grabbed me.' Gabriel's eyes widened.

'And there's other. The one you just stopped me from calling, and one more I think.' Gabriel's face grew more serious. 'I'm fine. I'm fine. More than can be said for the tall one actually.' My eyebrow rose. A smile gliding over my smug lips. 'I think his heads going to hurt a bit, when he wakes up!'

He only half smiled back, the force of his anxiety not fully disguised.

'And there's two more.' He said quickly.

'Yes. I think so. At least that's what I saw. Three sets of eyes.' I replied the smile falling from my face.

'Were they all the same colour as mine?' he anxiety spilling over into his voice.

'I don't know.'

'Think.' He nearly shouted, gripping my arms tighter.

I shrugged off from his hands and took a step backwards, his ferocious expression scared me for just a moment, until he straightened, and inhaled composing himself.

'I'm sorry.' He paused. 'It's important. The darker the eyes, the more gifted the Guardian. Please Tilley, try to remember.'

'The tall thin one, his are icy blue. I saw then up close. The other two where darker…'I closed my eyes trying to see them in my mind. But opened them shaking my head, 'but I couldn't tell you how dark they where. They all seemed bright against the dark!'

'Ok.' He bowed his head to look into my lowered eyes, his expression soft. He pulled off his gloves, and placed one warm hand each side of my cold face.

There was silence for a moment as we stared at each other, the moon making Gabriel's face shine in its light. It was the face I'd come to depend on.

Then he pulled me in again, crushing me to his chest, his sweet familiar breath filling my hair.

'How did you get back?' The question only just dawning on me.

'I had help.' His said warmly.

'From who?'

'My Grandfather.' He laughed silently and quickly. I could feel it rumble through his chest. 'He was waiting for me.'

I pulled away; looking into his still radiant face. He seemed to shine like an angel, the light hitting his hair and his shoulders giving him a celestial glow. Dispute the situation it still stunned me. 'What?' I asked a little confused.

'Things are changing quickly on Antaria, Tilley. The revolt has begun, though that's brought its own…' he paused, his face full of regret, 'problems.' Gabriel frowned looking down at the floor for just a moment, then looking back up to say, 'But these Guardians, where did you first see them?

'A little way into the woods, just off the field in front of the cottage. Well that's when I realised what was happening. I first saw one of them at the back of the cottage but I didn't realise what it was at the time.'

'Ok. So they know where we're staying. That's not good. It means we can't go back there.' He sounded tactical, like a solider in a war film.

'They've been watching us?' I asked the sickening through reacting with my already mixed up stomach.

'No. I don't think so. If they had this would have happened sooner. It was probably today. At the gallery. I was afraid this might happen. And as it appears their working together, we've got to be smarter than them.' His voice was calm, but his eyes seemed blacker than ever despite the light that made then shine like jewels. He lifted his gaze into the night's frozen sky considering something, then it fell back down onto me.

He exhaled hard, and took both of my hands in his own, looking deep into my worried eyes. 'Tonight, Grandfather will send a portal, it'll home in on this beacon' He rifled in his pocket then held up a small black box with a curious crest on it. His tone was soft with an edge he concealed until the other words followed. 'It will be the last portal that Antaria sends to Earth. He's going to scrambled the Earths co-ordinates, Earths I.P. address if you like, once all the Guardians are sent back. It will take them hundreds of Earth years to find us again. So we haven't got much time.' His face looked pained by his own words.

Then a flash of inspiration told me something I didn't want to know.

'You're a Guardian, aren't you?' I said the words carefully, slowly, so the reality of them stayed permanently fixed in my mind forcing me to believe them too.

'Yes.' He said solemnly, nodding once, you could almost taste the disdain in the word. I bit my lip and nodded back, not making eye contact, fighting the tears that threatened to burst over my lids, but they weren't from fear this time, but sadness. My heart ached, its pounding seeming to intensify the pain that grew with every beat. We stood that way for a long moment, the silence unbearable. Question pulsed in my head, question I didn't want the answer to.

His fingers glided their way through mine, he squeezed, our eyes meeting momentarily, a mournful smile wavered across his face as he turned and pulled me on again.

'Do you trust me?'

'You know I do.'

He walked silently, toeing me behind him making our way back down the ridge in an easterly direction. The cold light of the moon dwindling, the deeper we moved into the cover of the trees. But I didn't pay much attention, the growing ache in my chest reminding me, if I needed reminding – which I didn't, that he would soon be leaving. The ache I now realized was the steadily growing feeling of lose, even before he'd gone. He'd said it himself – this was to be 'the last portal' and 'all the Guardian would be sent back'. And he was a Guardian.

He quickly tugged at my hand, pulling me downwards, concealing us behind the safety of a blackened trunk, something moved in the distance. Then we rose again, slowly, as a badger scampered away, its white stripes only visible to my eyes as its body caught a thin shaft of light. But what was the point in hiding. It didn't matter, not to me, if I lived or died now. If I was discovered or not, why would it matter now. Without Gabriel with me there wasn't any point. I wanted to fell numb, so it wouldn't hurt so much. I wanted to turn and run. For us both to get away from this place, run for the rest of our lives if that's what it took. I'd said I would stand and fight, but a life without him was no life at all. But as my gaze fell on the outstretched arm in front of me, and up to the tousled hair that shone in the silvery light now and then, and the glimmer from his eyes as he momentarily turned to look at me. It struck me then, through my self-pity. The only thing that mattered now, the only gift I could give to him was keeping him alive. He had people waiting for him, someone who depended on him like I did. Probably a family: a mother, a father, maybe brothers and sisters. How could I deny them the same thing that I needed. Him.

What ever I did tonight it would be to ensure he made it home safely, to free his people. I would deal with what ever came as long as he survived.

The warmth from my body was long gone. The trees and undergrowth that surrounded us offered not insulation from the freezing temperatures that seeped their way through each layer, stinging my skin where they touched. The ground crunched with each new unsure foot step I took. Through Gabriel's feet never seemed to make a sound, unlike the other Guardians who seemed to thunder every time they where near me. My body shivered hard against the biting cold, trying to warm me from within. But it was no use, there was only one thing that could warm me while we were still exposed, and that hum had left me some time ago.

The only resemblance of warmth came from Gabriel's hand, and that wasn't warm exactly, just not as cold as the rest of my quivering body. He guided me deeper and deeper into the trees, almost vanished into the blackness now and again, but his hand stayed tight around mine, so I knew he was still with me. We made out way back down the ridge, and I presumed, back towards the way I'd come, heading for the open field that lay beyond the cottage, and despite my fears we where actually searching for them!

We seemed to walk for longer that it had taken to get here, the forest being much larger that I might have thought, so if we were going back to the open field we were going a longer route. At one point the frozen forest floor opened out, changing the uneven ground into a steep embankment. I stumbling downwards towards the narrow stream of trickling water meandered it's was through the forest. Gabriel scooped me up before I went too far, catching me around the waist and pulling me effortlessly into his body. His feet never faltered, never moving from where he'd planted then. My face glided up to his, nearly touching, our eyes staring for a second of anxious, uncomfortable silence before he carefully placed me back on my feet, and we started to move again. The led in my legs got heavier with each step. The onset of tiredness beginning to overwhelm my human body. The gift dragging away my energy, the consequence of being used. Then as we moved further, in the distance a familiar cry. The owl hooted announcing our presents as we gradually emerged from the trees to the edge of the ploughed field.

Gabriel stopped, scrutinizing the moon lit space that lay ahead of us, as we still stood in the darkness of the trees, just on the edge of the forest. Leaning back against a trunk his arm wrapped around my shoulders, drawing me in close. I curled my frozen arms into my chest and pulled in even closer. Who knew how much time we had left together and I wasn't going to waste it by acting like none of this was affecting me. Like I hadn't already understood that our time was short. It was selfish, I realized that, and I realized that's all I'd been since I'd met Gabriel.

'I love you so much.' I stammered out, the cold and my emotions affecting my voice and the use of my jaw.

'Hmmm.' He murmured back. 'That's the best gift ever.' His chest heaved with a satisfied peaceful breath.

His words made me smile, though the tears welled up in my stinging eyes nearly spilling over. I choked them back and tried to distract myself.

'What do we do now?' It wasn't that I needed to know the answer; I just needed to think of something, anything other than him leaving.

'We wait. They'll find us soon enough.' His voice was calm, but his arms pulled me tighter.

Then three things happened at once. The owl hooted away off at the other side of the field, a tremendous crack of a branch came echoing out of the trees somewhere just behind us, clattering as it hit it's way down through the branched and onto the darkened floor, and Gabriel and I whirled around in response to the noise.

There, shining out of the trees was a single set of piecing topaz eyes. Like a neon sign, announcing the arrival of what we were waiting for. My heart sank, though I knew it was coming, I wanted to stay forever in the moment just before this one, the moment that had just passed. The eyes hovered high above in the branches, like a jungle cat, a short way off into the darkness. Then disappeared as a light thud sounded on the forest floor, and then they shone into view again. Gabriel's strong hand slid around my waist pulled me behind his body, shielding me from what was to come.

From behind us another sound, a snarl like an angry dog. My head spun to see another face. The one I remembered from the college campus. The Guardian that had chased me through the building, my gift aiding my escape, before he vanished despite the fact that I though he was dead. He looked smaller than I'd remembered, and the revulsion in his movie star face showed he remembered me too. His dark blond hair hung to his jaw bone, though it looked almost grey under the light of the bright moon. He stood like a panther ready to strike, his wide shoulders tight, this biceps locked. Poised to attack. One arm in front, the other behind him. Knees bent, like he was at the starting line of a race, with us as the finishing line. I swallowed deeply, remembering the fear I felt that day, it now renewed as I watched his motionless stance. Then another crunch as the Guardian in the trees edged his way closers. My gaze was now divided, switching back and forth between the two menacing figures, not knowing which would strike first. Which did I need to get to first, if I had any chance of protecting Gabriel? But how could I protect against a Guardian, I was stone cold. The one time I wanted the terrifying hum to rise up and seep through my whole body, there was no sign of it. But before any of this could be decided a voice came from amongst the blackness of the trees.

'It's been a while brother.' Though the darkness concealed the man I recognized the voice. It was warm, friendly, familiar, but it had a sinister edge that made me shiver. And the word 'brother'? It didn't make sense. If Gabriel was a Guardian, did it mean colleague?

Then from the blackness and through the shadow strode the shape I'd seen earlier at the very spot where Gabriel and I stood now. The man I wrongly believed to be Gabriel. His shoulders squared, hands curled up into fists, his hood pulled up masking his face, though his eyes blazing out like blue flames against the darkness, until he stood just a few feet away. His hand rose, dragging down the shield that hid him until now.

I gasped loudly, my hand flying up to cover my gaping mouth. I knew this face. I'd spent time with this face; my friend was in love with this face.

My heart raced with this sudden realisation – Robert!

Gabriel stared at me, his dark jewel like eyes shone with confusion. 'You know him?'

I could only nod.

'Hello Tilley. Not seen you in a while either.' His voice was not so friendly this time, more of a sneer as a chilling grim cracked across his mouth. His shaggy dusty blond hair shone where the moons light touched it, as it gently gliding back into place over his one eye.

'I hear you've been giving my friends some trouble.' His eyes flicked towards the man that still stood behind us, his stance unchanged.

'What are you doing here brother?' Gabriel threw back. 'Grandfather didn't tell me he'd sent you too.' His voice as confused as his eyes.

Robert made a disgusted sound in the back of his throat. 'Urk! Don't you get it? You were always so – easily led.' The loathing in his voice now changed to revolution as his words quickened. 'I wasn't sent. I can because of HER!' He pointed directly at me, 'SHE is the reason that our planet is falling apart. SHE is the reason I can't live without constant reminders that our parents died because of her. Our mother protecting her. HER! Not their own son, but HER!'

My mouth still gaped open, but my eyes where now the confused ones. What was he saying? Nothing was making sense. Gabriel looked at me from the corner of his eye, his expression unreadable.

'She's not responsible for any of it brother.' Gabriel retorted firmly back, the word now taking on its proper meaning.

Robert laughed sharply, 'And that's what Grandfather fed you all these years. A pack of lies and you eat it up like the good boy you are.' Contempt dripped from every word. 'But I knew. I knew it was him. He was covering up the truth.'

'And what truth would that be?' Gabriel's tone changing to one more of irritation.

'He's the guilty one. He sent our father and the other Guardian here to die. Then when he came to cover up his mess he left the child alive.' Robert jabbed a finger in my direction again, as I gasped in shock at his words.

'What? He never told you of our family history? How noble!' Robert barked at me, disgust on his face, then turned his eyes back to Gabriel to continue his irate address to him alone.

'He left her alive for what? To ease his conscience? To appease his sense of morality? And now look at us, the whole planets on the verge of war because SHE gives the half breads hope. Ha!' he laughed sharply again. His eyes grew dark as he narrowed then, his jaw tightening as his head bowed slightly, his voice as cold as the night. 'But when she's dead, there'll be no hope.'

Then without any signs of warning Robert lunged directly for me. Gabriel sprang in front, as my body quivered and crumpled to the ground.

My eyes grew wide and my breath staggered as their grappling arms swung each other off their feet, rolling and snarling like rabid dogs.

Then from behind me a sound of something gliding through the air, and a thud on the hard ground close by. I span, facing into the path of the second Guardian who landed yards away. He crouched, coiled, ready to spring again. I scrambled, trying to get my feet underneath me, then froze waiting for him to pounce. But he didn't move, his muscles taut, his expression hard, he glared at me through the night for a moment longer than a breath. Then instantly he was next to me, before I could blink, his cold hand gripped around my throat, pulling me upwards towards his face that contorted into a grimly pleasurable expression. He was enjoying this, just like the Barbie's in the diner that day, enjoying my pain. My fingers gripped where his hand tightened, making me cough and choke, his inhuman strength lifting me, my toes barely touching the floor, and my eyes tight with fear, shielding myself from the familiar blue glow that usually entranced me, but now terrified me.

'How's the painting coming?' He crooned softly into my ear as a volley of images assaulted my mind, but not in the same way that Gabriel had sown me. These images where intended to disturb and terrify. Images of me in my house: the bathroom washing my face; the living room talking to Bill; on the street under the lamp light; then at the edge of the dark ally as two bright blue lights shone out of the darkness. The gallery: sat alone on the bench in the second gallery, twirling my hair between my fingers, sketching down notes, and today gazing up at Gabriel as he studied the painting, and many more that flashed through quickly.

'You.' I accused in a whispered tone. This was the one that had been watching me, and watching me for a long time. The intent worked, terror raged through my body. The images dissolved as he spoke again, his tone changing from sarcasm to whimsy.

'Yes, but you did try to kill me. One good turn deserves another.' His hand grew even tighter making me cough again. I struggled, pushing at his shoulder with one hand and my fingers trying to make there way through his grip with my other. But his hold was like iron, there was no budging it. My eyes filled with the tears that I'd been holding back for so long, as they searched their narrow view for any signs of Gabriel. But there was none. So much for me protecting Gabriel, I couldn't even protect myself. Panic coursed through me, my end now in sight.

But then his grip loosened. His hand trembled around my neck, releasing me enough to allow me to breathe. My feet slowly come back down to the ground, as the hum exploded over my entire body. No warning, no tingling, just an eruption of electrical blue power thrusting my arms outwards and my head upwards, my shocked eyes staring into the night's sky above. It held me there. The ferocity feeling like it would ripe my instantly magma hot body limb from limb, as my feet stretched back away from the floor again, the force pulling my whole body upwards, like this time it was gravity that couldn't hold me down. The shock wave of neon crackling energy exploded out from my chest with a deafening deep boom, catapulting the now convulsing Guardian across the forest, and crashing into the nearest tree. The thick trunk shook and a loud crack sound resonated out from its dense wood, mingling with the boom, as the Guardians body hit the solid tree, slid down and landed in a heap at the base. The icy blue lightning covering his entire body and continuing to dance whilst he lay unmoving on the cold hard ground, dislodged leaves fluttering down to rest on top of him.

The shock wave continued, resonated out, from where the Guardian fell and passing over the field on one side and into the eerie silence of the forest on the other. The neon lightning traveled outwards with it, mingling, lighting the way as it rapidly moved outwards into the night, leaving the space in between full with the vain like web of spitting ice blue lightening, dancing in the air, running from my body out to where the shock waves sped off, spitting and sparking, out into the distance.

The lifeless body of the Guardian lay motionless at the base of the trunk, as the heat in my out stretched body instantly reseeded, leaving me gasping for air as my arms and head snapped back in, and my legs wobbling, fighting to keep me upright. I stared cautiously at the unmoving mass opposite me on the ground, not truly believing what I was seeing and what had just happened. The 'boom' faded into the distance as the web of lights snapped from my chest and instantly disappeared. Then a deep ominous 'thud' sound, some where off in the trees, took my attention. Despite the shock of my every increasing gift the fear for Gabriel consumed my stunned mind. Then my focus came back to the Guardian still lying in a twisted mound on the frozen floor. Slowly his hand moved. It grappled around in the dirt as if he were searching for something, or maybe just accessing his situation. Slowly his head rose from the dirt, leaves and mud stuck to the side of his face. His topaz eyes flicked open darkening the rest of his face.

'What are you?' He spat out through gritted teeth, though the sound was pained.

'I don't know.' I whimpered timidly, though the answer was truthful.

His eyes dimmed, like a failing battery, and he slumped back to the ground, his head landing in the hard, cold dirt.

I breathed hard, feeling a mixture of relief and fear all at once. I edged away, holding onto the tree trunk as I moved for support. AS my legs began to respond I moved faster and faster as the distance between us grew. My heart thumped so hard in my chest I thought it would burst through. But I had to be quiet. I had to find Gabriel. To catch Robert by surprise, if I was going to get Gabriel safely home. My run broke into a cautious walk as I heard a sound coming from just over the ledge in front of me. I crept silently up the small bank. The moon light making its way though the tree's to an open patch of ground and a steep drop over the other side, the same ridge I stumbled down earlier. But I slipped, falling hard against the earth, something sharp catching my wrist.

'Ahhh!' I breathed silently, grabbing my wrist with the other hand, the warm trickle of blood oozing over my fingers, exhaling hard to push away the pain.

I began again, pulling myself, commando style, using my legs and my good arm to make my way to the top of the frozen ridge. I peered over keeping my head low. There, over the other side was the steep slope where Gabriel had caught me. Grasses and firms covered its stony incline, and at the bottom the ribbon of water sparkled as it slowly traveled along its path. A figure in the water moved. Picking themselves up of the floor, but despite the moonlight I couldn't see who it was. The shape of the hunched shoulders could have been Gabriel, but that's what I'd thought earlier in the field. He got to his feet, his head still bowed, a hood covering the tell tale hair colour. He seemed to look around, the frozen air clouding as he moved - breath from his hidden mouth. My eyes flicked to where he looked, and then I saw it. The body laying half-way up the slop. Arms outstretched, lying on his back, motionless, feet facing me. My heart stopped, but then raced in overwhelming grief. My stomach rolled, as a sob uncontrollably fell from my mouth, my shaking hand flew up to cover it.

He heard me - the one in the ditch. His head span finding me instantly. My wet eyes widened as, faster than was humanly possible, he was at the top of the ridge standing over me. I held my breath, and quickly looked back to the body lying on the ground. My tears flooded over my eyes making it impossible to see properly. He slowly crouched, still hooded, his hand coming at me.

'Tilley. It's me.' Gabriel said softly, pulling the hood from his head.

My eyes swept over his beautiful face where the silver light exposed one side, my gaze only momentarily flashing back to Robert who still lay, without moving, on the open ground.

'I thought you were dead.' I stammered out, before the tears made it impossible to speak.

He quickly gathered me in his arms. Holding me tightly, stroking down my hair, and rocking me gently.

'It's Ok. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. You're safe. It's Ok.' Came his soothing mantra. We stayed there for a long moment, until he kissed me on top of my bowed head, berried deep in this chest.

'I'm sorry, but we've got to go.' It sounded painful for him to say. But we both knew time was short, the portal would arrive soon, and we needed to be ready.

'How much longer?' I stuttered again the tremors of tears that were still trying to force there way through.

'Not long. Where's the other one?'

'Back over by the opening to the field.' I gestured with my head.

'Is he conscious?'

'No'

'OK. I need to get my brother. They need to be together when the portal comes.'

I got to my feet, Gabriel taking my hand to help me, and catching sight of the glinting blood still falling from my wrist.

'Did the Guardian do that to you?' a furious look filling his darkened eyes, as he said the words coldly.

I shook my head, though it felt stupid to feel embarrassed right now – but I couldn't help it.

'No, it was me. I fell!' I shrugged, as an amused smile glided over his face, setting of glints of white light in his eyes.

'What am I going to do with you?' He smiled widely, a hint of a laugh in his voice.

He jogged over to where Robert lay still motionless on the ground. Gabriel cautiously circled him before picking him up with ease, and slinging the heavy looking man over his shoulder. Then jogged back towards me, no sign of strain in his body at all. He was strong - unnaturally strong.

'So what happened over there?' he looked amused as he approached me, Robert dangling unceremoniously.

'I'm not exactly sure.' I shrugged as we made our way back down the ridge and through the trees. 'It was something different. There was no warning this time. It was like a switch, one second I was on fire, hotter than anything I've known, and then it was gone, like a shock wave as the Guardian was slamming against the tree.'

'Well, what ever it was I think being down in the ditch saved me from its blast.'

Gabriel said in a thankful tone.

Just then we reached the opening, the Guardian still lying in a heap on the ground.

Gabriel jerked Robert from his shoulder, carefully placing him next to the other lifeless body.

'I'm sorry you had to get mixed up in our families… dysfunction.' He said still crouched next to Robert, his palm touching Robert's chest. He stayed there for a moment, silence filled the space.

Then he stood turning to me, his expression changing from painful to business.

'Where the first one?' he asked his voice calm.

'Just down there, through those trees, by the fallen tree trunk.' I pointed in the direction.

Then with a streak of blue he was gone. Now I understood how the three Guardians had moved through the forest earlier that night. They were fast, very fast, and so was Gabriel. Of cause he was, he was a Guardian too! Within seconds he was emerging from the darkness, 'tall and wiry' slung over his shoulder. Still unconscious, no sound from him, even when Gabriel slung him on the ground, making no effort to be careful, unlike he had with Robert.

'A really bad headache!' Gabriel said echoing my earlier words, nudging the guardians head with his boot, whilst his hands where pushed into his pockets. He chuckled lightly, but quickly stopped, pulling out a mound of mangled wires and black plastic from his pocket– the homing beckon was trashed!

Then the quietness of the night was broken as a roar sounded off in the distance, back into the forest. Quickly, the noise grew louder as it swept through the tree, shaking the canopy as it sped past. The billowing gust swept past us as it ripped through the night, and out into the silver drenched field. Leaves torn from their branches followed its path as if sucked along, my hair and clothes also caught up in the drag, waving after the wind.

'This is it.' Gabriel called over the roar, his body straightening with tension, but his face confused, looking at the broken box in his hand, then back up out onto the open field.

The gust seemed to circle, winding around on itself, the leaves and dirt that where swept up following its shape. It seemed to revolve faster and faster, kicking up more dirt from the ploughed ground, the roaring noise increased as the size of the circle grew wider and wider. As the roar increased a white haze formed, giving it a cyclone appearance as the colour solidified and rushed up the length of the gust, stretching off up into the velvet black sky. Then a white glow rushed back down the length of the noisy portal. Its light swept around and around on its decent, until it filled the vortex, exposing the opening of its mouth, as it hovered just above the ground. The portal moved fluidly as the center continued to grow wider, kicking up more and more of the littered leaves at the edge of the wood. Then lightening surged downwards from the sky dancing over the smoky tube. The neon blue light hissed and crackled as the two colours intermingling, spiraling around one another in some kind of weird, yet beautiful ballet, the same light that had skipped over my hand only minutes before.

Gabriel carefully moved towards the cyclonel, its light brightening the half of his turned body that I could see. He looked spectacular, beautiful, a halo of light shining out from the center of his body. Maybe he was an angel sent from the heavens, my guardian angle keeping me safe. I'd long suspected it, in a tongue in cheek way. But he truly was breath taking stood there, his raven black hair tousled by the noisy tempest that blew it in all directions, his face radiant with the light that drew up over him. He turned. His expression smooth and he smiled, so serenely I gasped at its sight.

But then his face changed as he turned and walked back towards the three unconscious aliens that lay in a heap on the ground in the comparable darkness.

First he picked up the tall one, effortlessly tucking him under his arm. The 'wonna-be' Guardians feet dragging along the frozen floor as Gabriel quickly moved back to the circling white smoke, stowing him in the stream of light of the vortex as 'carefully' as he had thrown him on the ground. The Guardians body momentarily suspended in the glow, then he quickly disappeared, pulled upwards, along the length of the portal, like a ride at Disneyland until he was out of sight. Gabriel turned quickly, jogging back for the second. As he lifted the still unconscious body of the second Guardian, leave and dirt dropped from his face and hair. Gabriel placed him in the cyclone the same way he had the first. My eyes following him, unable to look away, wonder now replacing the shock that had set in. My mind was only now coming to terms with the gifts that Gabriel had been hiding, or simply only just having the opportunity to display. He then turned back for Robert, but stopped, the anxiety quickly thick on his face. My eyes searched finding what Gabriel had already found. Robert was gone. Gabriel ran to the spot where he'd lay, his eyes combing the trees for any sign of his brother. Then he stopped, staring straight at me, but his eyes weren't trained on me, but behind me. A hand flew around my throat, pulling my head back, my body hitting a hard, strong wall of a chest.

Robert breath rushed over my skin, cooling further my icy cheek, the warmth of my gift gone for the second time tonight. His face almost touching mine as we both stared in the direction of Gabriel's frozen stance.

I could feel my heart thump in my chest, as Gabriel's fearful eyes stared horrified first at Robert then pleadingly at me.

'Mmmmm. I can't see it brother. What you see in this – little human girl.' He sneered loudly the words to his brother, the portal still circling noisily behind us. Roberts cold cheek rubbed against my own, 'She's the same as the rest of them, though I suppose they all have there...uses.' He spat the words out; a sarcastically sickening edge laced the final word.

Gabriel's hand flew up, taking a step forward, his mouth opening to say something, but Robert cut him off.

'Now, now. Don't spoil it brother. I'm just saying hello.' His face turned, touching his lips against my cheek, then skimmed then down to my jaw line, inhaling as he went.

I struggled, trying to break free from the handcuff hold he had on both my hands, pulled tight around my back, in only one of his hands, the other still around my throat. But it was no good, he was too strong, gifted strong.

My thoughts briefly turning to Anna, and the postcard she sent. She'd been so happy, but it had all been a lie, a rouse, an attempt to watch me and find out about me by using my friend. He'd come on strong to me that first week in college, but turned his attentions to Anna when I'd made it plain.

His hand griped around mine tighter, pulling me closer to his already close body.

'Brother.' Gabriel used the distraction to edge a step closer. 'Please – don't.' he spoke carefully, slowly, his still extended arm seeming to reach a little closer. His face a mixture of pain and pleading.

Robert straightened at his words, exhaling deeply as his face pulled away from mine.

He paused, the rage visibly building on his face, as I stared at him out of the corner of my terrified eyes.

'Don't what? Don't kill her! Is that what you're trying to say?' His furious rage causing him to shout, not the roar of the portal behind us.

'Yes. Yes, that's it.' Gabriel's voice battled with his emotions. 'She's innocent.'

'Innocent! Innocent!' He shouted sharply. 'I was innocent. I didn't have a say either. Yet because of her my mother and father are dead, my Grandfather hates me and my brother tried to kill me, to save her skin. It's me that's the victim. Me not her! Me!' He screamed out the vicious words, each one hitting me like body blows to the chest. I never knew. Gabriel had never spoken about his family and the real path that had led him to me. Some things where starting to make sense, whilst other confounded me more. Robert let out a disgusted sound as his anger consumer him. He looking down to the ground for a split second, but just enough time for Gabriel to make a circular motion with his finger and flash his eyes in the direction of the portal, the action momentarily hanging in the air.

I knew instantly what he meant.

Robert panted at my side, but I concentrated, closing my eyes, drawing in as much air as I could through my constricted wind pipe. My hand tightened into claws waiting for it to begin, and my body sank down, planting my feet firmly where I stood.

Robert continued, his tone changing, it sounded like he was now pleading.

He sighed, and shifted in his stance. 'It could be good again brother. You and me. We could take on those half breads...together.' His grip eased on my neck and hands, momentarily shaking my concentration, but the hum in my fingers had already started. I felt him take a step away, closer to the raging portal that still span out in the field, its roar seeming to get louder with each whirring rotation. My concentration focused again, the powerful heated throb in my body gathering into my chest.

'All you need to do is kill her. End her life and we can have our own again.' Robert said coldly pleading.

'We don't have a mother because you murdered her.' Gabriel screamed across the cold night air, his pain almost tangible.

'She was a traitor.' Robert threw back in a bewildered voice.

'In your sick and twisted mind! She was trying to put things right, send a mother back to her child.' Gabriel paused, collection himself, and his voice wasn't so hard when he continued. 'I love you brother, in a strange kind of way, but it's never going to be good again, it can't be.' He sounded broken, desolate. I could feel his pain from where I stood. Though it killed me to do it, I had to ignore it.

With that my closed eyes sprang uncontrollably open, the force that built inside of me almost too much to contain. Finding the tanzanite of Gabriel staring back at me, he nodded once quickly, signalling me, then turned and moved so fast his outline was a blur, as he headed into the blackness in the direction of the ridge. With that I let go, let go of all the power that had been building inside of me, steadily growing as I pulled every last bit of it into my core, this time willed by me. The explosive powder burst from my rigid chest, thrusting my arms outwards, my body upwards and head up towards the silver moon. The shock wave, a pure white ring of light, seemed to move out from me in slow motion as I dragged my head back down, mastering the force rather than it manipulating me. The unreal time bubble that I seemed to be in allowed me to watch every detail of what was unfolding around me. The leaves that where kicked up and my billowing hair all moved in a prolonged action. I watched in amazement, as the light, not crackling and spitting like it once had, now fluidly glided outwards in a perfect circle from my body, gliding out at chest height. A second later the neon lighting burst out of me at the same point, quickly catching up with the circle of pure white light that was now moving over my wrists. A small explosion erupting as the two touched, the neon light a solid layer of light filling the increasing diameter of energy ring. But this time as the light glided back towards me it drew up over my body, covering my entire length from head to foot in a shroud of glistening light, pleasantly tingling as it washed over me, an ora of neon blue. Meanwhile the ring continued its journey along my outstretched hands reaching to the tips of each finger. Then as the white band pulled away from the very tips of my fingers, a second jolt of energy, like the power from a blast, surged through me again. My whole body pushed upwards, my feel hovering just above the ground. I could feel the infinite power of the force, feel it surging through me, but this time without heat, or pain, just total control, like second nature. Gently I floated bak to the frozen ground and looked around The energy wave still surrounding me, though not touching me any longer as I watched its slow motion expanding ring traveling outwards.

Then every thing came back into real-time. The combined power of the fire, hum and heat had exploded with the force of a volcanic eruption. The pure white circle of energy struck Robert in the chest, as the shock wave knocked him off his feet, throwing him backwards towards the swirling smoky portal's mouth.

'No!' he screamed as his he lost his grip on my arms and his helpless body was flung backwards on the ring of light through the air, towards the roar of the circling portal, sending him directly into the revolving cyclone. Instantly it took hold of him, sucking him into the vortex and dragging him up it's length and out of sight, his screams mingling with the roar that seemed to echo in my ears. With that the ring of light exploded sending brilliant sparks of light shattering across the nights sky. Then he was gone.

I exhaled hard, blowing out a lung full of air, the tension making me hold my breath, I now realised. My body felt instantly heavy, a wave of exhaustion hit me as crumpled to the ground, too weak to hold myself up. A sudden deathly cold shiver ran the length of me, the portal dimmed in my sight and I fell into unconsciousness.

All I could see was thick velvet blackness.

All I could feel was the cold more intense that I would ever imagine.

I felt scared and alone.

I wanted to call out, but I didn't have a voice.

I wanted to move, but I could find my legs or my arms.

I listened but there was only silence.

Silence and a black never-ending night.

The darkness lifted, with a violent shudder of my frozen body. Slowly a bright golden light broke through my tight eye lids. The intensity grew slowly giving my brain a chance to work. The reality slowly making its way through the fog of my mind. The dream, no the nightmare was real. The Guardians, including my best friend's boy friend had gone, back to their own world. The fear that had been upon me for so many months was gone. It hardly seemed possible. I felt light, like a burden had been lifted. Then I remembered me - Gabriel!

My eyes jerked open as I simultaneously sat up. The yellow gold light shone all around me, too bright at first to stand, I brought up my hand to shield my eyes from the glare. Quickly I released I was back in the little lemon bedroom of the cottage, I could make that much out. Though I had expected to still be on the forest floor, my body was so cold, the quilt that had been placed over me giving no real warmth. A movement to the side of me took me by surprise.

'Gabriel!' I exclaimed, but the figure sitting in the chair was hallowed by the light that streamed in threw the window making it impossible to see.

'No, it's Bill.' The voice sounded husky, the way Bill voice always did. He stood and walked over to the edge of the bed, taking my hand as he sat gently down next to me, shielding my eyes from the sun that lit the room.

'How do you feel?' His face only half visible to my adjusting eyes.

I shook my head, a throb at my temples answering the question before I could. 'Woozy.' My voice was weak, but that wasn't what was important to me. I had to know. 'Where's Gabriel?'

Bills big brown eyes looked tied. 'He's gone...'

'…back to Antaria.' I whispered the words, my crippling emotions not allowing for any volume, as I finished Bill sentence.

I swallowed, fighting back the instant tears that welled up. My hearted ached; it felt heavy in my chest. But it's what I'd expected; he must have stepped into the portal after I passed out.

I nodded looking down at the crumpled duvet that covered my legs.

'Antaria?' Bill sounded confused but he didn't have time to question me, because as he said the word the white wooden door to the room burst open.

My head turned quickly to the sound; my damp eyes followed and found the hue of the eyes I never expected to see again.

Gabriel stood in the door way, arms wide holding either side of the door frame, jeweled droplets of water hanging from his raven black hair, the way they did after a shower. His face a mix of emotions; relief, happiness, concern, pain. His chest heaved under his white t-shirt as the droplets of waters burst, staining his shirt. He moved quickly, his warm strong hands finding each side of my tear-stained face. His eyes the perfect shade of tanzanite as they searched mine. He swallowed and closed his eyes, just for a moment, like he was checking reality. Then his armed crushed me in tightly into his chest breathing into my hair. I heard the sound of Bill leaving the room, pulling the door quietly closed behind him.

Gabriel's hold continued as he swept his lips over my hair, his hand coming up to hold one side of my covered face. I inhaled, the warmth from Gabriel filling my body, my tears falling onto the lemon duvet, my hands grabbing at his t-shirt, pulling him closer, if that where possible.

It seemed like a dream. One of the good kind. One that I hadn't expected.

Gabriel's hand slid down under my chin, pulling my head up as he loosened his arm and my head slowly drew up looking into his perfect beautiful face. His fingers gently brushed the tears where they still trickled down, smiling as he smouldered next to me. He breathed deeply again, before cautiously leaning forward, his eyes never leaving mine, until he closed them and carefully touched his lips to mine. The touch made my head spin. He did it again, and again, the air almost impossible to take in as my heart beat rose. His intrepid fingers slowly mapped across my hair, then drawing me in closer, as the kiss intensified, the need of it locking us in its hold as my past fears drained away.