Kel flopped down onto LeAnne's second mattress. It had been almost 3 years
since Kel had arrived in New York, and three years since she had last heard
from any of her male guardians. Sure she talked with Kawitha daily, so she
knew the basic outline of what was going on, but it wasn't the same as
seeing them face to face.
So far the boys had collected almost all of the pieces of the golden armor, all but the gloves. In order to win each piece, one of the boys had to confront their biggest fear. It had been amusing to hear what those fears were, in Vinson's case it had been woman's undergarmets. Kel didn't know if that was suppose to symbolize something, but it was fun to imagine him screaming and running away as a petticoat flew towards him. But now that every boy had faced his fear (she had yet to convince Kawitha to tell her what Owen's fear was) they were all on edge, wondering who would have to fight again.
Kel herself had adjusted quite nicely to her new home, taking in every bit of slang, every new fighting technique, anything that could help her fit in. Even LeAnne, Kel's 5th guardian and current roommate, had to admit she was doing well.
Even Kel's looks had changed. Her brownish hair had gone a bright red, and was neatly layered around her face. It fell to her shoulders and usually hung loosely. Her stocky build had slimmed out, though she still possessed every bit of strength that she used to, if not more. Her pale green eyes had turned a brilliant emerald color, and her lashes had grown out. Her face had slimmed as well, while her lips had filled out. Kel and LeAnne weren't sure if it was her bodies reaction to the new realms, or if that would have happened anyway. Either way, Kel had become beautiful…in a punk sort of way.
She had traded in her tunics and breeches for more modern clothes, namely tight blue jeans and a black sports bra as a shirt. It was LeAnne and hers favorite outfit, and they would wash them each night just to wear them again that morning. It was sort of their gang symbol, a way to show that they were from the tough part of New York. It kept the other gangs from attacking them, even if it was a two girl gang. Occasionally Kel would wear a see-through shirt on top, to give it a bit more of an edge. It was part of their disguises, to buy the men some time to look for the armor before Kel went to battle.
At night Kel trained with Kawitha, who stole into her dreams. In her dreams Kel would be to assorted training grounds, where she would be asked to run life threatoning obstacle courses. Even though it was in a dream state, Kel received all the benefits as if she had actually done it. They would practice there in the dream world until Kel was woken up by her alarm clock, signiling that it was time to enter the real world again.
But the clothes, the attitude, and the night training had another reason. The girls were dirt poor. They had managed to keep the same apartment, though the rent kept going up. LeAnne had two jobs; on Monday through Wednesday she was a bagger at the grocery store, and on Thursday through Saturday she was a waitress at a greasy resteraunt. Kel had one, full time job. Six days a week she was a seceratary to a law firm, which required more money input then LeAnnes job, what with the business suits, etc. Luckily, it also put in twice as much as LeAnne's. They considered Sunday their day of rest, their time to stop working and just hang out.
It was late that Saturday night when Kel finally heard LeAnne come home from her work. Unsurprisingly enough LeAnne had smudged mascara under her eyes. Kel had visited her workplace more than once, and each time had been forced to deck someone to get them to leave LeAnne's butt alone.
"Hey Kel," whispered LeAnne, "We gotta talk."
Immediately Kel shot up from the couch. Three years and LeAnne had never sounded as frightened as she did then. Even when fending off muggers and pushy New Yorkers, LeAnne had never failed to keep up a strong front.
"Yeah?" asked Kel, trying in vain to smooth out her long red hair. It had the uncanny ability to tangle itself whenever there was a chance she would have to leave in a hurry. "What's up?"
"It's the other guardians…" LeAnne began, and Kel's hand flew to her throat where the ever preset medallion hung. It now sported a coyote as well, and the two girls would joke that it was because LeAnne worked like a dog.
"What about them?" Kel fought to keep the panic from her voice, but knew she was failing miserably.
LeAnne sighed heavily and took a seat in a three-legged chair. "Kawitha says they've gone missing. Apparently the blockhead Bauxbart led them into a trap, and Titiar captured them."
Kel closed her eyes and went back to lay on the couch. LeAnne didn't have to say it out loud, she knew. They had to leave.
In her heart, Kel was rejoicing. It as too peaceful, she was getting restless. But to go one on one with Mithros himself? She would rather have spent a million lives being restless then perform that task. Diane, the wildmage, had once met him, and from what Kel had heard, the realm of the gods were bad enough without going head on with its king. But Owen…
Owen. He'd be seventeen now, and she briefly wondered if he still thought fights were jolly. And did he still have his curly hair and goofy smile? Kel tried not to notice that just the thought of him made her heart pound rapidly. 'Neal,' she scolded herself. 'Remember Neal.'
But she found she no longer cared for Neal, who had probably off and gotten married on her. And the prince would have found a new princess, and Cleon would be knighted…
Kel blinked back tears. She missed Tortall, and everyone in it. If only Joren hadn't grabbed that stupid necklace, or suggested her to Timinoe. Then she wouldn't be in this mess.
'You liar.' She told herself. As hard as she tried, she could not find a single reason to believe that this wouldn't have happened sooner or later. You just couldn't escape your destiny. Maybe she needed a new destiny…
'Now you're being foolish.'
Feeling the older girls hand on her arm, Kel opened her eyes and smiled sadly. "When do we leave?"
So far the boys had collected almost all of the pieces of the golden armor, all but the gloves. In order to win each piece, one of the boys had to confront their biggest fear. It had been amusing to hear what those fears were, in Vinson's case it had been woman's undergarmets. Kel didn't know if that was suppose to symbolize something, but it was fun to imagine him screaming and running away as a petticoat flew towards him. But now that every boy had faced his fear (she had yet to convince Kawitha to tell her what Owen's fear was) they were all on edge, wondering who would have to fight again.
Kel herself had adjusted quite nicely to her new home, taking in every bit of slang, every new fighting technique, anything that could help her fit in. Even LeAnne, Kel's 5th guardian and current roommate, had to admit she was doing well.
Even Kel's looks had changed. Her brownish hair had gone a bright red, and was neatly layered around her face. It fell to her shoulders and usually hung loosely. Her stocky build had slimmed out, though she still possessed every bit of strength that she used to, if not more. Her pale green eyes had turned a brilliant emerald color, and her lashes had grown out. Her face had slimmed as well, while her lips had filled out. Kel and LeAnne weren't sure if it was her bodies reaction to the new realms, or if that would have happened anyway. Either way, Kel had become beautiful…in a punk sort of way.
She had traded in her tunics and breeches for more modern clothes, namely tight blue jeans and a black sports bra as a shirt. It was LeAnne and hers favorite outfit, and they would wash them each night just to wear them again that morning. It was sort of their gang symbol, a way to show that they were from the tough part of New York. It kept the other gangs from attacking them, even if it was a two girl gang. Occasionally Kel would wear a see-through shirt on top, to give it a bit more of an edge. It was part of their disguises, to buy the men some time to look for the armor before Kel went to battle.
At night Kel trained with Kawitha, who stole into her dreams. In her dreams Kel would be to assorted training grounds, where she would be asked to run life threatoning obstacle courses. Even though it was in a dream state, Kel received all the benefits as if she had actually done it. They would practice there in the dream world until Kel was woken up by her alarm clock, signiling that it was time to enter the real world again.
But the clothes, the attitude, and the night training had another reason. The girls were dirt poor. They had managed to keep the same apartment, though the rent kept going up. LeAnne had two jobs; on Monday through Wednesday she was a bagger at the grocery store, and on Thursday through Saturday she was a waitress at a greasy resteraunt. Kel had one, full time job. Six days a week she was a seceratary to a law firm, which required more money input then LeAnnes job, what with the business suits, etc. Luckily, it also put in twice as much as LeAnne's. They considered Sunday their day of rest, their time to stop working and just hang out.
It was late that Saturday night when Kel finally heard LeAnne come home from her work. Unsurprisingly enough LeAnne had smudged mascara under her eyes. Kel had visited her workplace more than once, and each time had been forced to deck someone to get them to leave LeAnne's butt alone.
"Hey Kel," whispered LeAnne, "We gotta talk."
Immediately Kel shot up from the couch. Three years and LeAnne had never sounded as frightened as she did then. Even when fending off muggers and pushy New Yorkers, LeAnne had never failed to keep up a strong front.
"Yeah?" asked Kel, trying in vain to smooth out her long red hair. It had the uncanny ability to tangle itself whenever there was a chance she would have to leave in a hurry. "What's up?"
"It's the other guardians…" LeAnne began, and Kel's hand flew to her throat where the ever preset medallion hung. It now sported a coyote as well, and the two girls would joke that it was because LeAnne worked like a dog.
"What about them?" Kel fought to keep the panic from her voice, but knew she was failing miserably.
LeAnne sighed heavily and took a seat in a three-legged chair. "Kawitha says they've gone missing. Apparently the blockhead Bauxbart led them into a trap, and Titiar captured them."
Kel closed her eyes and went back to lay on the couch. LeAnne didn't have to say it out loud, she knew. They had to leave.
In her heart, Kel was rejoicing. It as too peaceful, she was getting restless. But to go one on one with Mithros himself? She would rather have spent a million lives being restless then perform that task. Diane, the wildmage, had once met him, and from what Kel had heard, the realm of the gods were bad enough without going head on with its king. But Owen…
Owen. He'd be seventeen now, and she briefly wondered if he still thought fights were jolly. And did he still have his curly hair and goofy smile? Kel tried not to notice that just the thought of him made her heart pound rapidly. 'Neal,' she scolded herself. 'Remember Neal.'
But she found she no longer cared for Neal, who had probably off and gotten married on her. And the prince would have found a new princess, and Cleon would be knighted…
Kel blinked back tears. She missed Tortall, and everyone in it. If only Joren hadn't grabbed that stupid necklace, or suggested her to Timinoe. Then she wouldn't be in this mess.
'You liar.' She told herself. As hard as she tried, she could not find a single reason to believe that this wouldn't have happened sooner or later. You just couldn't escape your destiny. Maybe she needed a new destiny…
'Now you're being foolish.'
Feeling the older girls hand on her arm, Kel opened her eyes and smiled sadly. "When do we leave?"