I knew the stranger in front of me, but I didn't. I know that was a contradiction of terms, but it was true. I knew him and didn't at the same time. I knew his name, that he was one of my kind, and that he wasn't a danger. Anything else, would have to be found out.
"Azriel?"
"Maeryn. Do you remember me?" he asked.
"Sort of. I know your name, other than that …"
"Do not worry. I am here to help you, as I always do, to transition you and train you for the coming century. I am the Keeper," he said, as he walked toward me.
"Keeper?" I repeated.
"Yes. The Keeper of your knowledge and wisdom, war strategies and weapons. I have come to help you prepare."
"My knowledge? My strategies?" I asked, confused.
"Yes. You pass on everything that is in your head to me, before the burning, and I return and pass them back to you when you have awakened. As you know, the awakening leaves you with nothing. Only small clues, that will help you adapt to your new surroundings. Your mind will remember very small details, like my name for instance. Everything else will have to be learned and re-taught. That is why I am here."
Okay, so at least I knew I wasn't alone in this. I had a tutor to help me with everything. No doubt he will have to go through the full history of our kind, and he will help me train. Or maybe it is I who is the tutor. After all, it is myself that passes on the knowledge for future use, as Azriel said. I sighed, as I stood.
"Okay. Where do we begin?" I asked.
"I often find the start is a good place to begin," he smirked.
Great, I thought. A comedian.
"Ah, Maeryn. How little you know me, yet. Once you remember, you will find that I do have a sense of humour."
"How did you …."
"Know? We can converse with one and other through our thoughts. That is how I am able to know when you awaken, and how I am able to find you."
"So, why can't I hear you? Or know that you were coming?" I asked, my head already becoming foggy and sore.
"You will. As I said, that is what I am here for. To help you regain everything that was lost to you."
"Right," I said with a frown. This was going to take some getting used to, and it was going to take time. I might as well get used to the idea.
"It won't take as long as you believe," said Azriel. "We have our own ways of passing on information."
"When you say 'we' …. I mean, are we the only two remaining?" It was a question I had to ask, as I thought I was the only one left.
"No. There are plenty of our kind, but you, dear Maeryn, are the only Warrior, for now. Perhaps we should retire to your dwelling place, so I can pass on the history more comfortably."
"Oh. Yes, of course. I'm sorry. But, I need to collect my car from the school grounds. Do you wish to come with me?" I asked, as I looked him up and down. Questions would be asked if Azriel were to accompany me to school, as he wore some very old, otherworldly clothes. He looked like he belonged in ancient Greece, as he wore a toga-style garment and sandals that laced up to his mid-calf. He was covered with a coat of sorts, though. It was a long, dirty brown, cape like thing, that reached the floor. It had no buttons for fastening, only a tie that tied around the neck.
"Perhaps I should go on ahead, and let you acquire your transport. I can see where you dwell in your mind. I shall see you there," he said, and about turned and headed in the direction of my home.
Great. What was I going to do about school now? It was my first day, and I had already ditched the first class, due to unforeseen circumstances, shall we say. Now I was about to ditch the entire day, and if my history lesson with Azriel were a long one, who knew when I would return, if ever. That thought didn't sit well with me. I wanted to go to school. I didn't want to leave before I had begun, and I didn't want to leave Forks, either. Those matters were for another time, though. I had to decide what to do with my car. If I got seen collecting it from school, whatever excuse Alice had used, would be found to be a lie. Maybe if I hid the keys for Alice, I could text her and ask her to bring the car home for me. Yes, that was the best thing to do. I got my cell out.
M - Alice, I need another favour.
A - Sure, Maeryn. What do you need?
M - Something's come up. If I hid my keys, could you bring my car home for me?
A - Sure. Is everything alright?
M - Yeah. I'll let you know later.
A - Okay. I'll drop the car off after dark.
M - Thanks, Alice.
I text her where I hid my keys, and then ran straight to my house. When I arrived, Azriel was waiting just inside the tree line that surrounded the house. I frowned, wondering what he was doing.
"You have someone tending to your garden," he said, without turning, as I approached.
"Yes. The gardener. I could tell him to take the rest of the day off, if you wish?" I said, as I realised why he hadn't moved. He wouldn't want the human seeing him.
"Yes. That would be best."
After the gardener was halfway down my drive, Azriel walked out of the trees, and up the front steps.
"Please, come in," I said, as I welcomed him inside.
He bowed his head slightly, and whispered, "May the stars bless this dwelling place, and all who dwell here," before entering.
I smiled at his gesture. There was a feeling of familiarity in it, and I found myself to be grateful. I showed him through to the sitting area, and offered him to sit.
"Are you in need of some refreshment?" I asked, and smiled at my choice of words. Perhaps the blessing Azriel had muttered before, had awakened some old customs inside me.
"Water, please. I am quite parched from my journey."
I nodded, and got him a glass of iced water. I sat next to him as he drank half the glass.
"Thank you," he murmured, as he sat the glass on the coffee table.
"Was your journey a long one?" I asked, as he sat back.
He smiled, and shook his head.
"No, but our method of travel leaves us rather dry," he chuckled.
By now, I had so many questions running through my head, but I decided to not bombard him with any, and let him tell his story from the beginning.
"Thank you," he said, smiling again, and I rolled my eyes as I realised he had read my thoughts.
"Now, Maeryn, I shall begin with our history, and why we do what we do, and then you may ask questions. Until then, I would appreciate no interruptions, so if you require anything, please retrieve it now, as my tale is a long one."
I was about to shake my head, and decided to get us a pitcher of water, and a small tray of snacks, just in case. I returned, and made myself comfortable, and looked at Azriel expectantly.
"Our kind are extremely old," Azriel started. "We are many hundreds of thousands of years old. We were created by the stars to protect not just this world, but many others. Although we are many, we are spaced out between the realms, and currently, there are only six of us in this realm called Earth. You, your mother and father, my mother and father, and myself. In each world, there is only one Warrior at a time. You, Maeryn, are Earth's Warrior. Mated couples only have one child, and the females become our Warriors. Males will become Keepers. When each couple have had their child, they teach them everything in preparation for that child to take over from their parents. The parents will then 'retire', as after being mated, they can no longer be reborn. That gift is lost, but they will live out their eternity together in happiness, and be there if the child should need guidance. They then become the Guardians, and watch over their own world. They will let the Warrior know of any impending dangers, and the Warrior will travel to defend, no matter how far."
He took a moment to let this new information sink in. I wondered about my parents, how many worlds or realms there were, and if we could actually die. So many things running through my mind, and I idly wondered if Azriel got bored of recounting the stories back to me constantly. He smiled.
"It is my duty to fill your mind with everything we know, and it is an honour. As for your mother and father, they are the king and queen of us all. They were the very first, and they are very wise. Your father, Raynor, and mother, Callia, were bestowed with gifts from the stars. They had ultimate knowledge and wisdom, and Callia was given the most sacred of our weapons, the Falcata. It is a blade made from a fallen star. It is indestructible, and the damage done by it, rivals none other. It kills every being imaginable. As to your query about death, yes, we can die. But only the Guardians can die, though not naturally. They have to be killed by another. That is why there are no stories of the Guardians. Their secret is sacred."
"What about us? Are there any stories about us? I mean, the ones that are reborn?" I asked.
"Our stories roam the Earth. Our secret is not as sacred, and humans notice some things. Especially when there is a Warrior among them. Sometimes, trying to remain unseen whilst in battle is impossible, so there are some stories. They are said to be the ramblings of mad men, or myth."
"So, how and when will my training begin?" I asked.
"I shall need to pass on your knowledge to you, and then I will leave for a week. That week will give you time to absorb everything, and I shall return with your weapon, and then we begin."
"Weapon? What weapon?"
"Your mothers' Falcata. She passed it on to you when you became a Warrior."
"Okay," I sighed. I had no idea how to use a weapon, but Azriel would see to that. "So how is my knowledge passed on? Do you tell me, or is there another way?"
Azriel smiled, and stood. "Come. We need open ground."
That didn't sound too good. Why would we need open space? I was starting to feel a little anxious.
"Do not worry. It will not take long, but we may singe a few things, and I'd rather it wasn't your home," he smirked.
I left the back door and headed for the woods. I had seen a small clearing while running, and decided that would be the best place for Azriel. He followed silently, and we were there in a few minutes. I stood just inside the tree line, and let him decide if it was okay. He walked into the middle of the enclosure, and gestured silently for me to follow. I walked over to him, and stood about three feet in front of him. He turned to face me full on, and grasped my hands in his.
"Maeryn. This will not take too long, and won't hurt. It may feel uncomfortable, but no more than that. I need you to clear your mind, and close your eyes."
I did as he said, and taking a deep breath, closed my eyes.
"Please, do not panic when I begin, or things may be lost to your mind forever." He snickered slightly. "I tell you this every time, and every time you surprise me by being calm."
"Great. Now you've said that, I probably will panic," I muttered.
"And you say that every time, too," he laughed. "Okay, I'm about to begin the transference. Calm your mind."
I took another deep breath, and heard Azriel do the same. He then pressed his palms against my temples. It tingled, and my head began to feel warm. I glanced quickly through slightly opened eyes, and noticed flames dancing along my vision. I remained calm, though, even though it appeared to be we were on fire. As I closed my eyes again, the onslaught of knowledge entered my head, and there was a jolt between us. I clenched my teeth to stop myself from groaning as every piece of information that I had accumulated over hundreds of years, re-entered my mind. My parents flashed in front of my eyes, and then were replaced by images of Azriel and I training in combat. Wars and days of peace flew past my minds vision, followed by celebrations and then studying. Pictures of different countries and eras, and friends old and new, invaded my head. Everything was there. Not one moment was missed, and my head began to feel like it was swelling to a point where it would explode. It became hotter and hotter, until I thought I could take it no longer, and then it was over. I remembered everything, now. The burning and swelling ceased, and I felt Azriel remove his hands. I opened my eyes and glanced at him. He was trying to catch his breath.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Yes. It always takes a little exertion to place everything back," he smiled. "I have given you all I had, and now I will leave."
"Will you not stay a while?" I asked, unsure of whether I wanted him to leave or not.
"I will return in one week, and we will have plenty of time then. I will need to stay while we train. We need to prepare for the Sky Riders. We are the only kind that can defeat them."
I raided my mind, and saw them. They were the epitome of evil. They killed every supernatural being they could, to try and make themselves whole again. Ghostly spectres, they had no physical form. They needed the essence of others to accomplish that. Once they had physical form, there would be no stopping them. They would ride through the worlds and take everything they could. We were the only ones that could stop them. We protected lives against all forms of evil, but we were created specifically for the purpose of defeating the Sky Riders.
"Thank you, Azriel. Without you, I'd be lost."
"There is no need to thank me. It is my duty, as I said. I will be back soon," he said, placing a hand on my shoulder.
I suddenly felt like I didn't want to be alone, but remembered Bell, Angela and Alice. I wouldn't be alone. I had some good friends beside me. My mind wandered to one Cullen, though. The beautiful one. Edward. I recalled how his eyes darkened when he saw me, and how mine had blazed. I still didn't understand what had happened, so I decided to ask Azriel.
"NO!" he roared, before I opened my mouth. "It is forbidden, Maeryn! What do you think you are doing?"
What the hell?
"What are you talking about, Azriel? I don't understand."
"You cannot do this!" he screamed, as he paced in a circle around me, pulling his hair.
"Azriel, what have I done?" I shouted back.
"You have bonded with a vampire, Maeryn!"
"Alice is a friend," I said. "She is different from other vampires."
"Not her! The boy! You have bonded with a mating bond! How could you do this?"
A what? Oh no! No way! I didn't even know him. How could I have a mating bond with him? I had only seen him once …. Oh. That's why my eyes blazed. My head pounded. This was not good.
"I'm sorry, Azriel. I didn't know. I have only met him once, and I didn't even speak to him. Please," I pleaded.
"Maeryn, this is wrong. Why?" he asked.
"What do you mean, 'why'? You know we have no control over it. Our destiny is preordained, you know this. I didn't want this!" I screamed. He was still pacing, but thankfully, had stopped pulling at his hair. I could hear him mumbling in his head. It wasn't clear yet, but would be with training.
"I will need to speak to your father about this. This is just not right. I have never seen it before," he muttered.
"Azriel, please. Do not speak with father, yet. It may not be what it is. Maybe if I have a little time I can stop it," I pleaded.
"How can you stop it? It doesn't work like that, Maeryn. Once it's done, it's done."
"But you said that it was just a bond. Can't that be broken before being properly mated? I mean, I looked at him, and left about three seconds later."
He stopped pacing, and frowned at me.
"Three seconds? Then maybe …."
"What?"
"Maybe we could break it, before it fully starts. I will need to research this. I have never seen, or heard, about this before. Maybe there are some legends in our history," he mused.
"Thank you," I sighed.
"Don't thank me yet, Maeryn. I need to leave," he said, stepping back from me. He folded his arms in front of him, and dropped his head.
"One thing, Maeryn," he said, still looking at the ground. "Stay away from the vampire." A flash of red hot flame erupted around him, and he was gone.