Guardian
Chapter One
Bittersweet Heart
The cold, stone study darkly frightened a timid boy. His orders had been to stay there, for the lady was to come for him. Quiet and withdrawn, the poor lycan did not know what to expect. The only description he had been given of her was "the lady" and nothing more. The first thing he assumed was that she was older than him. She was to be his first subject, his first and only if he wanted to live. The teenager had no idea who he was going to protect. Now an official Daylight Guardian of the vampires but still a slave, he had no choice in the matter. So silently he prayed that "the lady" would at least not hit him as much as his previous master had. Little did he know that he was to receive far more than he could have ever longed for.
Sweat began to form within the palms of his hands from being clenched so tightly. He massaged his hands furiously as he paced swiftly around the room. Nervous and scared he had not noticed that three people were standing inside the doorway. Instead of turning to look he kept pacing until he heard a man crisply clear his throat. The poor boy blushed immensely when he saw two men part for a slender young girl to walk inside the room. Was this the lady? How could it be? She was everything he had not even dared to hope for. From looking he saw that she was about his age and definitely gorgeous. He had seen her before. Walking down the halls alone, eyes trailing her everywhere she went. Failing at his attempt not to stare, he looked straight into her eyes. They were the most beautiful part about her. The male vampires no doubt would not have said the same, for they found other things to look at rather than the face.
And yet, her eyes were enchanting, like a sapphire spell drifting over him. Her sweet pale face would now forever appear in his mind. She had always looked this way when he saw her, but now he could see her completely, not just a fleeting glimpse, but a long study of her. Yet this would not last long either, as one of the men demanded his attention, "Slave, this will be your subject. Boy, this is Sonja, and you will protect her life with your own." The man was cold and cruel, and his heart shone through his eyes as bleak stone. Already afraid, the teenager played with his fingers completely petrified. The girl seemed not as afraid as he was, for she looked both men in the eye and firmly requested that they do their other chores, "Leave us, please. I will speak with you two later." This girl was apparently important, for they left the instant she asked, leaving the two adolescents alone.
A long awkward silence pierced through the boy as he looked towards the girl once more, taking in as much of her radiance as he could. Both of them blushed when she softly inquired his name after introducing herself. He wasn't quite sure if he could find his voice, but he tried his best to sound confident, "Lucian, my lady. Forever at your service." She frowned slightly, "But you are my guardian, not my slave. If you wish to assist me in something, be it from choice, not obligation." At this Lucian gave her a small smile, "My wish to do so is my obligation." And for the first time since he had first seen her, she smiled wide. Her luscious rosy lips lifted and her eyes brightened. She was like a small child receiving a gift; happy, grateful, and innocent.
Lucian hesitatingly smiled back; afraid that if he smiled too much, he'd spoil the moment. He too was like a small child receiving a gift. Happy, but cautious not to ruin the gift. Such a personality was rare coming from a child born into slavery. He looked at her once more. Her dress was gorgeous alone, but on her it was striking. Made from emerald velvet, it should have kept that pale skin of hers warm. Lucian couldn't help himself to wonder if it really did. She was so fair and hardly ever smiled, with the exception of that minute. The dress was beautiful no doubt, but it looked a little heavy. He looked up at her wistfully, "I do not think you will need me. Any vampire here would take a bullet for you." At this her smile faded and she looked at him with sugar sweet kindness as she softly replied, "You may be surprised. I am not the most graceful creature you've ever seen. You might have to help with bruises."
This worried the young Lycan, "My lady, are you alright? Have you any at the moment?" Sonja gave him a nervous, wan smile as a reply; to which he blushed when he had to ask where they were. A pink tinge graced her cheeks as she lifted the skirt of her dress to reveal about eight purple and yellow marks on each of her pretty lower limbs. Perhaps her dress was not only for looks, her new guardian thought. He began to hope that no one was taking advantage of her frailty.
It was only until he saw the bruises that he remembered a balm his mother always made. Being slaves, the lycans were beaten hard and often. There were times where Lucian could not walk because his legs were beaten so badly. Often times when he was whipped, Lucian's back would get severely infected from the cuts. And yet it seemed every time he came back to his mother she had that balm. Instantly he knew that it was exactly what Sonja needed to ease the pain and heal her bruises quickly. Silently praying it would be of help, the young lycan looked up at his subject, "My mother always made me a balm when I received such injuries." She gazed at him with hope sparkling in her cobalt eyes, "Do you think that perhaps you could convince her to make some for me?" Despondently he shook his head, "She died two months ago, but I know how to make it."
Sonja was beautiful. She showed him sympathy and empathy that Lucian had never known from a vampire. She fixed her eyes upon him with understanding and compassion, "I am so sorry." And despite the tragic mention of his mother's death, Lucian could not keep himself from beaming, "It's alright. At least I know how to make it for you." And with such a positive response, it was hard for Sonja to keep herself from feeling uplifted. She nodded ever so slightly that it seemed her head was just bobbing on her shoulders, "Indeed. But I need to leave soon to help Markus prepare for my father's awakening. You'll have to help me with it after the sun rises."
This stunned poor Lucian so much that he sputtered for a good minute or two, "Wait… Markus is… awakening your… father? … This would mean that… You are… Viktor's daughter?" That explained the dress, she was practically a princess; the daughter of the oldest and strongest vampire to ever exist. Even in light of the fact that no mortal knew his name, he was the most powerful blood lord ever known. Even more powerful than Markus, a true descendant of the first immortal; a real member of the Corvinus clan.
Realizing that he was now guarding immortal royalty, Lucian instantly knew that he had to drop his admiration. Even if she were not Viktor's daughter, he could not love her. Why was he even wondering about this with himself? What was wrong with him? How could he think of such things? He had already known that he could not admire her. And yet, the moment she walked into the room, all of his sensible thoughts had run from him. The poor lycan could not see that guarding Miss Sonja would be the hardest torture he could ever bare. But unlike most creatures, this one embraced his cross, for such a beautiful burden she was.
"I entreat your pardon. Were you not told? My father wanted me to have the best guard I could have, so I have you." Her voice silkily flowed against Lucian's ears. A modest smile pushed at the corners of his lips before he mumbled back wistfully, "Then he could not have been the one to choose me. I cannot guard you as well as you deserve, milady." Suddenly, the young lycan felt the satin tips of Sonja's fingers graze over his shoulder. Hanging his head low, he shuddered as the satin finger tips of hers pushed several long locks of his hair past his ear. He noticed her hand was bare and cold as her fingers trailed along his face and gingerly tipped up his chin. Looking up with his earthy green eyes, Lucian began to fear he would not be able to stop. For who could with such bright sapphire eyes looking right back? She smiled, "Perhaps that is not so, Lucian. Perhaps you are better suited than you know."
And as she smiled, the young slave felt consolation through the twinkle in her eyes; the twinkle that showed that she was knew and meant exactly what she was saying. Sadly though, their time together was up. For now at least, this was only the introduction. After the awakening, he would be spending almost every moment together with her. His better judgment began to throw a tantrum inside his head as he started to grin. To his surprise, Sonja began to grin as well. And with each passing second, a connection was made without a single word being passing through their lips. Indeed, it would be hard not to be attached to the princess, downright impossible at that. And Lucian was no fool; he would not dare to attempt the impossible.
All of a sudden the thunderous chiming of a clock strode into the room. At once the young immortals knew that their time had run out. Heaving a great sigh, the vampiress withdrew her hand that still lay upon the slave boy's shoulder, "I must take my leave now. But if you would please make me that balm, I would be indebted to you. If you finish it tonight, wait for me in my quarters directly before sunrise, please. Thank you for taking the time to meet me before your service to me. It is so kind of you to do so. Farewell." The young boy could only nod and smile at her before she ran with difficulty out the door.
He knew that dress was heavy, he knew it.