"Girlie!" Blunk squealed excitedly. He seemed to have only just noticed her. Or recognised her, it seemed as she looked up from Caleb's arm and smiled at the passling. "Blunk. Was that you that scared me?" The passling nodded his head eagerly and then shook it when she scowled at him. It appeared even the passling knew not to agitate her. She rolled her eyes and beamed at him as he hugged her leg. "Hey, hey, Blunk. I'm not mad, I promise." She cooed as Caleb stared at her in awe. The passling had been down here, in the oubliette, for quite some time and the mere fact that she knew Blunk seemed to speak miles. She must've been down here quite often if the passling was her friend. But how did she get out? Caleb's eyebrows drew together in confusion before he noticed her leaning down to the passling's short height and whispering in his ear. The little frog-like creature nods, turning to his bag and unzipping it, hastily reaching in and snatching a brown paper package. Angel softly pet his head and accepted the package with a small appreciative smile as the passling went to perch on a rock. "Thanks Blunkers," she said. Caleb frowned as he examined the package. The paper was simple, a common use in the markets of Meridian with the same white twine used to fasten it, but as he investigated it, his curious eyes examining all sides, he found it. Something strange for her to have. Something never before seen unless in the hands of a palace official. It was Prince Phobos' royal seal, printed into red candle wax.
"Where'd you get that?" He motioned to the package with his free hand, pulling his sore arm into his body. It was still burning and it itched as the shredded skin brushed against his shirt. "This?" she lifted the package up in her hand, a confused expression crossing her face. She cocks an eyebrow as he nods and he becomes even more confused. What's wrong with asking a question? Did she not like him being curious? Was it annoying her? "I was expecting you to ask how I get out of here. I mean seriously! But I guess rebels aren't as smart as people say… I got it from—from the palace. That's why it has Phobos' seal." She speaks to him slowly as if speaking to a child. He supposes it's an insult but the tender warmth of her eyes deters him, making it impossible for him to think such things. He studies her face for a moment, and then clicks it into place with one of his lessons from the rebellion; the lying experts. The corner of her mouth twitched, though she took no notice. Caleb knew it was a tell for lying. But was she lying to him? It seemed like she had cut herself off. And another thing; she referred to him as Phobos not Prince or anything else. Like she was on a first name basis with the Prince. Either that or she just refused to dignify him with the term Prince, as many of the rebels did, including Caleb. He used the term to mock him, nothing more and nothing less. Phobos' name was to be his only title. Everyone knows her name except for me, he moaned. The passling probably knew her name too, but just wouldn't say it because of Caleb and it made him uneasy. Such strong feelings for a girl with no name but the one he gave her.
"May I—?" A sharp pain, reverberating through him, causes him to jerk; his legs no longer supporting him. Electricity runs through light touches, igniting fires within his stomach, his heart fluttering as it pounds heavily against his chest and his muscles turn to jelly. Coarse fabric is pulled tightly around him and Caleb looks down to see the passling quickly wrapping a bandage around his arm. "Thank you Blunk," she mumbles, relieving him of his job and allowing the green creature to dance back to his rock. "S'okay Caleb, it'll be all better soon." Hot air breathed on to his neck as he was guided to sit against the wall, Blunk's unblinking eyes following with an intense stare; heavily interested in the interaction. "Caleb okay?" he muttered as the red-head nodded. She seemed certain and it reassured them both some. "Yeah Blunk. He's okay, he just needs to rest—" "I've rested enough!" he snarled. "Even the dead do not rest as much as I have! I'd be better to the rebellion as a dead man than a sleeping one!" It wasn't common for rebels to rest as much as he had, forced or not, and sleeping soldiers were no good to the rebellion. But the minute the words exited his mouth, he regretted it. Angel's cinnamon eyes turned stone cold as his hardened to the strength of their colour's crystal. He shot daggers at her with a scowl. There was no turning back. He couldn't rewind and stop himself from saying it and he, for some reason other than the obvious, didn't want to seem stupid for vocally regretting what he'd said when he followed one rule; don't say something unless you mean for it to do something. He had meant to hurt her, to get a point across, to make her mad. But he had no idea why.
"If you do not rest," she punctuated each word with a stab of her finger to his chest, causing him to catch her hand to stop her nails digging into him, "you're as good as dead. I did not find you here, by the fate of the third sun, to lose you to your ignorance and stubbornness." Her voice echoed off the walls, thumping back into his ears as she glared at him resentfully, folding her arms over her chest. Her gaze was cold and firm. The perfect mask of emptiness was displayed on her face, blocking any previous emotion. It didn't suit her. But in other ways, it did.
Blue, red and yellow specks became more prominent in her eyes, the blonde streaks in her hair blinding him. Fire snapped and crackled as much as it danced and warmed. She was the perfect representation of that. She was warm; welcoming and caring, soft and inviting with bright orbs that drew you in, lured you into the depths of cinnamon eyes and made fingers long to card through red locks. But her flip side was her harshness; her fierce and fiery nature that flared with a dangerous temper; threatening to consume the person her fire once warmed. It was as beautiful as it was scary, and it fascinated the rebel. But though she appeared detached and cold in this moment; she still cared. He knew she did and her argument and resentment towards his refusal to her orders, orders that would help him get better, proved that. She cared as much as he did, even if they were still strangers to each other. Though she was much more a stranger than he was.
His voice was hoarse as he forced himself to choke out the words; "I'm sorry Angel." He was surprised by how smooth it sounded, when he had never conceded an argument, submitted to the other side and apologized. It was a new thing for him; but it was worth it once he saw the outcome. Her eyes brightened considerably, having darkened to coal black, and she bobbed her head in an almost hyper manner before muttering her own apology for getting angry. Though hers was less forced and glided through the air, suggesting the idea that she apologized a lot.
He scratched the back of his neck with his one good arm as he stared at the floor. She moved to sit beside him as he mumbled; "What do you mean exactly…when you say I need to rest?" She groaned, leaning her head on his shoulder and playfully rolling her eyes. "I was getting to that bit but you cut me off!" she scolded and Caleb felt guilty. He had cut her off. He'd immediately taken the first half of her sentence and jumped in to defend his lack of need for rest; effectively preventing her from continuing. "Well, Slee—Caleb," she corrected herself as Caleb merely smiled. He knew she had grown to like referring to him by Sleep Boy. It was a reminder of their first meeting in the forest, something she wanted to treasure as a mimosa. "I mean, you're physically well—restless; drained. Your body needs time and energy to heal and the best way for that to happen is for you to sleep. Mentally, you're fine…or so I think…but physically, it wouldn't hurt." He contemplated what she'd said. It was reasonable, and true. And it wouldn't hurt. As the good old line was; better safe than sorry.
"You sound like you know what you're talking about," he mused, glancing down at her with an intrigued look plastering his face. She nodded, retying the bandage around his arm where Blunk had sloppily placed it. She appeared as though she were thinking something over; pondering the idea of sharing something with him. Her inner turmoil only lasted a few seconds before she nodded again. "I had to. It was necessary knowledge in my house."
****Rebel Fire****
School picture day was turning out to be quite possibly the most annoying day this year. Not because everyone dressed up, including Irma, but because Cornelia had gone from Queen Bee to Queen Bitch in mere minutes; since standing at the front gates to Sheffield Institute, the most prestigious and God awful school in their town; Heatherfield. Apparently all the generations of Guardians came from Heatherfield. Coincidence? Irma thought not. There was something different about Heatherfield. Something important. Something magical. Something that was bound to be a pain in the ass in the near future.
But anyway, ever since the foursome met up under their tree in the school yard, they had been arguing or defending each other and themselves from Cornelia's crude and ridiculing comments. And all the while, Irma was attempting to fulfil the mission handed to her by Yan Lin; encouraging the others to find the Keeper. This was proving rather difficult considering whenever she tried to bring up her conversation with Yan Lin she was cut off or just couldn't speak full stop. So all in all, it was turning out to be some serious shit of a day.
"And those shoes, seriously, are you looking for directions to the Emerald City, Dorothy? I mean really—" "Shut it!" Irma growled at the same time that Taranee slapped the blonde in the arm. Hay Lin breathed a sigh of relief and glanced at the two, sharing a grateful and appreciative glance. Irma nodded her head politely as she tuned in to Cornelia's rant about Taranee giving her bruises. "—and my skin is so sensitive! I bruise so easily and I'll be all….all black and blue! Do you know how hard it is to colour coordinate your outfits when your skin is that colour! It's awful and you look all—all—yuck!" Irma rolled her eyes. That girl was more drama then the love life of Barbie and Ken. Hay Lin folded her arms over her chest and frowned. She always took Cornelia's comments with a smile and a laugh, brushing them off because she knew that Cornelia wasn't trying to be mean, in Irma's opinion it occurred naturally, but the Chinese girl didn't look pleased in the slightest. She seemed to be taking most things to heart recently and it made Irma try and be more sensitive towards her, cutting down on her own sarcasm and criticism, so why couldn't Cornelia be the same? If Queen Bee believed herself to be such a great leader she would rally her troops, keep them upbeat, she wouldn't bring them down and belittle them. But then again—that was the daily charm of Cornelia.
"Corny!" Irma hollered, interrupting the bitching blonde. She was hoping to distract her, draw her into an argument and spare her friends her temper and bitch mode. Either that or distract her long enough for the duo to make a run for it. The pair acted differently as of recent; Hay Lin spoke in hushed tones, breathing out the words, their sounds lighter than the very air she controlled. And Taranee; she had become aggressive and hot-headed. Her temper flaring like her element. So far, they were the only ones affected, though Irma had a strong suspicion that Cornelia was next. "What Irmy?" she grumbled, glaring at the ground and completely missing the water guardian's expression. What once resembled defiance and anger was now complete shock. Cornelia hated being called Corny, almost as much as Irma hated being called Irmy, she utterly despised it and whenever she was called it, hell was sure to be brought. Irma had honestly expected another rant and yelling and bitching, but the beast in Cornelia seemed to have quelled its anger.
Just as she was about to respond, Cornelia started squirming. Her hands wrapped themselves around her neck and for a second it seemed like she was going to choke herself. But the caramel brunette immediately thought better of it. She loves herself too much to do that, she giggled.
The Heart of Candrakar was suddenly thrown to Taranee. "What am I supposed to do with this?" she enquired. Nobody answered her. Hay Lin was busy staring at it with a dazed stare and Cornelia was rubbing her chest, clearly harmed by the pink crystal. Irma was starting to get dizzy as she twisted her head to watch both parties; the injured, unfortunately not egotistically injured Cornelia, and the whiner, high-pitched and complaining Taranee. A screech put a stop to that immediately as she turned to see Taranee fling the crystal at Hay Lin, her hands bright pink and steaming. It looked like a bunch of bee stings combined. Either that or the time Irma had to have a hot steam shower in the locker room after science class. She'd spilled some hazardous chemicals and was forced into the shower with all of her clothes on. She'd been sent home afterwards; completely soaked with bright red skin.
Hay Lin caught the Heart, dangling it by its cord before chucking it to Cornelia in fear of being burned. "Eep! No! Get it away!" She shrieked. Irma's brow furrowed, eyebrows drawing together as she frowned. The trio kept bouncing the magical necklace back and forth, earning odd looks from the few students still outside. Most of them were ditchers seeing as class had just started. Irma sent them all a sarcastic wave and returned to her brooding. What the flip did they think they were doing? Whatever it was, it was starting to piss her off.
"Oh give me that!" Irma's hand reached out, snatching the crystal from the air as the girls gaped, thinking she would get burned. The trio seemed genuinely concerned and for a moment, Irma was touched. But the best thing for burns was water, so obviously she had her bases covered. They watched with nervous eyes, waiting for her to shriek, something far too girly for Irma, before they became stunned as the crystal shone blue for a moment before returning to pink. A thoughtful expression overcame Irma. The blue…it was her colour…the colour of the Water Guardian. Did it recognise her? Or her powers? Did it dislike the others or something? An image flashed in the orb, drawing her eyes to it and she stared for several seconds before gasping.
A blonde haired man, in maroon robes, petted a young girl on the head, messing up her red locks and causing a childish smile to appear on her face. He kissed the top of her head and mumbled something undecipherable before shoving her backwards. A dark and slightly intimidated look crossed the girl's face as a second man in heavy armour grabbed her arms and shackled her hands. The girl thrashed, shoving and kicking against the man but she was dragged away.
In a creepy and pure grey stoned room, littered with cages and chains that hung from the ceilings, the girl was standing in a cage. It was huge, like an oversized bird cage. She was frowning and glaring at three men, one of which was the man who'd brought her to this room. The bird cage was lowered into a dark pit in the ground for several seconds as the men laughed. The pit appeared endless and the girl was easily six or seven feet down. And then the floor unlatched and she fell through. Her mouth opened and it looked like she was screaming. Shadows slowly clouded her features making it impossible to see her anymore. But the last thing seen before the girl disappeared completely, were two cinnamon brown eyes staring up from the hole. A terrified look overcoming her. Her eyes screamed out. Said everything she couldn't. Said; help me.
Three figures caught the Guardian as she stumbled, taking in a deep gasp of air. "What happened? Irma?" Cornelia queried, her face consumed by undeniable care and genuine fear for her friend's well-being. Irma breathed in heavily before thrusting the crystal into the Earth Guardian's hands as the image replayed again. It had all suddenly, and horrifyingly, clicked. The man was no doubt Phobos, the room probably being the dungeon. That meant the girl was a prisoner. "Who is she?" Irma looked up. The crystal was shaking, replaying the scene over and over again as Cornelia cocked any eyebrow. "We need to go get her. She's in Meridian, it's our job to help her." "Who is she!" The blonde demanded making Irma look at her. "Someone important." Someone to lead us.
****Rebel Fire****
"We don't even know where she is, Irma. How are we supposed to go save her? Meridian is huge!" Irma frowned again. Cornelia was being reasonable, which was unusual, but she'd never even been to Meridian. How would she know how big it was? Just as she was about to rebut, Hay Lin tugged on her arm. Taranee was holding the crystal by its cord as the Heart tugged on it, like a dog telling them to follow. Irma threw her arm out in the crystal's direction as if to prove her point. They needed to go get her. Hay Lin looked at the two girls, realizing neither was going to budge and she would be forced to choose a side. But who to choose? The obvious would be a good choice, she mused and then nodded. "We may not know where she is," she beamed, "but this thing sure does!" She shared a look with Irma as she grinned slyly and they both turned to Cornelia with identical puppy dog faces. "Oh no," she glared, waving her hands in a 'don't even try it' manner. Irma's eyes radiated defiance. She did love antagonizing her blonde bestie. "Oh yes," she challenged, pointing at Taranee who was struggling to keep a hold of the necklace without being dragged away. For an inanimate object, which was obviously a bullshit statement, it sure was strong. But then again…it was the Heart of a planet of supremacy and balance; peace-keeping. It had to be strong. "Guys! Hurry up and make a decision already!" the fire Guardian hissed, tugging on the necklace as if it would make it listen, and digging her heels into the ground. If they didn't decide soon, Taranee would be pulled out of sight. "Urgh! Fine!" Cornelia relented as her fellow evil-fighters grinned, spinning around to follow the crystal which all but dragged Taranee in the direction of the girl. The direction of their Keeper.
"Wow, so this is where they store all the world's dust." The sarcasm dripped from her voice as Cornelia whimpered. Despite her confident persona, she hated dust and was terrified of spiders, probably worse than Taranee, both of which covered the school's basement as well as a variety of pipes, leaks and wires. The blonde clung tightly to Irma's hand like a child to her mother and she squeezed her fingers reassuringly. Hay Lin was walking ahead of them with the crystal and Taranee, talking idly as if nothing was wrong and they weren't about to strut their way towards a danger they knew nothing about. But, then again, the girl was probably trying to distract Taranee, who was afraid of everything, including fear. But for once, the dark-skinned girl was fairing pretty well. "Eek!" "Corny!" she hushed, her eyes flashing to the screaming blonde. "It'll be okay, Corny, just chill." Waves of calm flowed from her voice, washing over the Earth Guardian who nodded meekly. "Hey Guys!" Hay Lin called from up ahead. They had momentarily stopped, allowing the other pair to disappear from Irma's sight. "You need to see this!"
Walking up to the others Irma and Cornelia stared at the portal in awe. They still weren't used to it. After all, it was only their second one. "She's in there?" Taranee cringed. Hay Lin nodded, stepping forward only for Taranee to grab her back. Hay Lin ignored her, staring intently at the swirling blue doorway. "It looks pretty cool, maybe we should—" The crystal lunged forward, dragging Hay Lin through. She gasped, taking a sharp breath as Taranee was pulled through as well, having still been holding on to Hay Lin. "Do we-we have to go as well?" Irma looked at Cornelia to see her wobbling slightly. She was petrified, a side that only two people had seen before; Irma and Cornelia's best friend Elyon. Irma nodded but then noticed the girl had shut her eyes, her eyebrows drawing together and several creases appearing as she squeezed them shut, tight enough to rip her eyelids.
"Yes Corny," she vocalised, "We have to. It's our job to help her. The Heart showed her to us for a reason. It just makes it all the more important that we do our job." Cornelia shrugged her shoulders back, straightening up and allowing Irma to hear the uncomfortable crackles as she cracked her back. Irma had always hated that noise, even if she did the same with her knuckles. To her, there was a difference, a slight one, but noticeable enough that it bothered her more than cracking her knuckles did. The Earth Guardian bobbed her head up and down, her eyes still closed as she breathed out an "Okay" sounding more like Hay Lin. She stepped forward and Irma allowed her to. If she wanted help she would ask; it was a quality that Irma admired in her friend. Breathing out again, nodding as she mutters a string of "I can do this" she takes another hesitant step forward.
"Come on Corny," she encourages, but lets a small accepting smile slide into place when the blonde takes a step back. "We can all do this, Corny. Hay Lin and Taranee are waiting for us." She takes her hand again, squeezing it and seeing some of the tension release from her friend at the thought of another person doing this with her. Even though they fought, a hell of a lot worse than cats and dogs, they were more like sisters than anything. They were dependent on each other in some ways, and sometimes even their friends didn't cut it. "On the count of three okay?" She bobs her head again but then frowns. "I don't want to—" "Three!" Irma jumps through, yanking Cornelia's hand and in turn dragging her through the portal as well. Meridian, here they come.
****Rebel Fire****
Caleb looked at the ground unseeingly. A million interpretations and ideas of what his Angel meant were running through his mind. "I had to. It was necessary knowledge in my house." What did that even mean? Were her family just doctors…tending to injured men and women and that meant she needed to know how to take care of people as well? Did she have little siblings that she had to take care of by herself, and if they got injured she'd have to treat them? Or was it something darker than that? Did her parents hate her? Abuse her? Was she unloved by everyone or just her family? Did anyone know what happened to her? Did the Prince know? "—Twenty questions?" she suggested. Her eyes were darker, not black but they were no longer cinnamon. Her voice wavered as she spoke; her fingers fidgeting. She was nervous again. But why? If she was so afraid of him discovering the truth, why propose the game? He nodded, putting his thoughts to the back of his mind where others of their nature, having built up after the last few days, were kept. He could wonder about them later when he had no company. When he was by himself and had the opportunity to collect his thoughts before speaking. When she wasn't there to affect him.
The game was familiar. He and Aldarn had played it when they were small although it was mostly categorized to girls and Caleb usually got the most answers. Aldarn had never really liked it once he picked up on all of Caleb's loopholes to his questions. It was annoying, unfair and easily cheated, but currently, it was better than nothing. At least this way, he could know her better and maybe she could learn from him afterwards. Learn enough to trust him with her name. "Where did you live?" His logic seemed fair. If he knew where she lived before earth, or even a little about her background; a little about her, he could guess about a great deal of things. Save himself some questions.
She chuckled, an amused smile lighting up her face. Her eyes were restored to their proper colour and Caleb found himself losing his resolve. She was so bright and yet dark; an enigma, one he would take great pleasure in unravelling. But it made him want her. Want to see what she saw, want to know what she knew, want to learn what she had learned, want to love how he presumed she loved. Wholeheartedly. The light in her was what he saw, what he wanted to feel, to taste. If she kept his up, her lips would be swollen from the feeling of true passion dancing across them. He'd kiss her eagerly, greedily, tenderly. He'd kiss her until she herself forgot her name, and they'd be on equal ground. But he held steady. He would do that when they were better acquainted. When they could both say they wanted something more. More than the simple companionship; friendship, that they had seemed to form.
"Still not going to ask how I get out of here?" Caleb's eyes locked with hers as cinnamon looked up at him. Their coloured specks shone brightly in the dark; the most abstract of colours against the brown of her eyes. They were mesmerizing, hypnotising; beautiful. He shook his head, smiling slyly at her, like many predators did before their prey. "I'm assuming that you can't get out by yourself, or you would've done it already—" "Maybe I just want to stay here with you." "With an injured boy at the bottom of a forty foot tall hole in the stone dungeons of Phobos' castle? I doubt it. Meaning you're either rescued or released from the oubliette every time you land in it; which I'm also assuming is more than once. But considering you work for the Tyrant," her expression darkened, looking rather sinister but she didn't deny it, "the second one is most likely the right one. Meaning you'll get out of here when he feels like letting you out." She scowled, obviously not liking that he was right.
Caleb however was kind of glad he was right, but at the same time, he was equally annoyed. He didn't like being wrong, but he was starting to think that he'd be able to endure it if she'd just smile again. Darkness came in many forms and shades, different strengths, while some suited her, others; such as the trivial scowl, made her look unhappy. Something he didn't like. "Besides," he whispered, "I'm not going to waste questions on things that don't matter." She looked at him and he almost laughed. The most adorably confused expression was resting on her face as she looked at him like he had a Larvek head. "I thought you wanted to go back to the rebellion soon." "Soon doesn't mean now. It means whenever I can."
Minutes passed until he realized she still hadn't answered his question. It was like she was avoiding it. Trying not to have to answer so she wouldn't have to remember. Maybe he was right and she was abused or her parents hated her. "Where did you live?" he mumbled again. She shrugged her shoulders, leaning her head on his shoulder and sparking a fire in his stomach as she sighed. She'd separated their eyes, but Caleb could still feel the strength of a broken stare. "…I don't—I don't remember much." She huffed. Angel seemed pissed off, but he couldn't tell if she was being honest or not. But then again, she had no reason to lie to him. No reason that he knew of anyway. He nudged her, encouraging her to share what she did remember. "…I remember moving to Earth when I was little—maybe eight years old? I know where I lived before that was big—huge—the household of a powerful family." Caleb's eyebrow cocked as he glanced at her. What the hell was that supposed to mean?
"You don't remember your own family?" "No—I do—barely…Caleb I don't—don't know my family. I don't even remember my last name. When I started helping Phobos," he cringed, the idea that she was his enemy still hurt. Such an innocent and good person, caring but dark, loving, couldn't possibly be his servant, but yet she was. "He told me about them, that I had a mom and dad…that I had a younger sister and an older brother. He gave me a last name and told me where my sister lived on Earth; he sent me there and gave me protection and money…that's all he did. He didn't ask anything of me, he was really nice and compassionate. He didn't want me in the middle of a war, but he accepted what I'd told him. My loyalty lies with him."
My loyalty lies with him. The words echoed in his ears for a mere second, but it was long enough to help him understand. It made sense and it was something that was easily understood. Phobos had saved her, given her protection, helped her find her sister, and told her about her past. That would drive loyalty from anyone. But it did seem odd that Phobos showed such kindness to her, not asking for anything in return. He was speechless before he replayed what she'd told him. "What about your brother?" Maybe he's still in Meridian. As if hearing his thoughts, she shook her head. A frown was clear on her face. It was a touchy subject. His hopes of her brother were prepared to be crushed but he was surprised when she stumbled through her words, "I never—Let's just not talk about it, okay?" He agreed. The hurt in her voice was obvious, plain for even a deaf man to hear. And he didn't want to upset his Angel any more than he had. Back to the game it was. "Question two—" "Four actually." "Question four then. What are you doing down here?" She looked straight ahead, eyes glazed over as she readied herself to answer.
"—He-ello-o! Anyone down there?" Caleb glared up to the mouth of the oubliette as Angel heaved a sigh of relief. She had been saved from his interrogation. Four shadows blocked out the light, creating more darkness but Caleb remembered the voice. The girls from Earth had come. They'd come to save him. And now they could save them both. He almost didn't believe it, but it was true. The Guardians were in Meridian.