No clue why I named this chapter after my best male friend, but I did. I like to joke about his name sometimes.

Chapter 16: Heeeere's Johnny!!!!

A man clad in a dark, heavy cloak stood up high on the mountain of Aquardas. He held out a small device that looked very similar to what Earth called a PDA. It beeped, and a shadowed figure dressed identitical like the man appeared floating over the screen, a hologram.

"What do you have to report, Shaman?" the figure asked, his youthful tone giving way to his age. The man in black bowed his head, murmuring in a low, raspy tone, "Master Nickolas, I have succeeded in finding the old ruins you have asked me to find."

The figure nodded. "Very good, Shaman. And no one suspects."

The man crackled darkly. "Only the dead know."

The figure took none of the humor, and carried on in a business-like fashion. "Very well, then. Stay where you are until I give you more orders. And tell no one of this meeting." The last words were said with an icy edge of murderous promise.

Shaman bowed his head again. "I am your servant and eyes." The PDA switched off, and Shaman stood still, like a statue. He would never once disobey his master. Not once.

In the warm Calinforna sun, a young man, probably between his early twenties, with long blond hair, a lock casually over his hazel eyes, lay brisking in the sunshine with four very beautiful women.

However, his moment would not last long, for his PDA rung from his backpack. Smiling a charming smile, he took the hand of one of the girls and kissed it. "I'll be right back, my pretties." The girls giggled like a bunch of school girls.

He stood up, walked over to where his PDA was, picked it up, and continued walking as he answered the call. "Hello? Darcius speaking."

"Darcius, I do not like to be kept waiting," the same tone of the young yet very business-like man from before. Darcius smiled. "Ah, but there's nothing to wait for, my friend."

"Did you take care of the girls?"

Darcius smirked darkly. "Let's say that they're a little . . . lost in the moment."

"So, are they weak?"

"If you call mourning weak."

"Darcius, I do not like to be toyed with."

"Am I toying with you?"

Darcius heard his master sigh on the other end. "Darcius, I hired you to weaken the Guardians. What did you do?"

Darcius smirked at his inner brillance. "Oh, I eliminated their precious husbands. While, four of them, anyway."

"Only four?"

Darcius laughed loudly. "Ha! The Keeper's hubby did all the work himself! There would be no love-lose between the two if I killed him."

"Very clever, Darcius. I must admit, I remember the reason for hiring you."

Darcius smiled. "Just doing my job. So, is there anything else I need to do."

"No, not at all. Just keep an eye on those Guardians for me. Remember, keep them weak."

"Oh, I will, Master Nickolas." Darcius them hung up and grinned at the sun. "Hmm, I probably should check up with my little hobbit friend. Perhaps he has some news for me."

Taking the PDA up, he dialed a number and waited for it to ring. It then clicked and a scratchy voice asked, "Master Darcius! What honor!"

"Shush your praises, Mert! I'm not in the mood right now." Then his harsh tone switched to that of excitement. "So, are you watching the girls?"

"Oh . . . uh, yes, Master! Yes, of course!"

"Don't lie with me, toad!"

"I-I'm not, Master! It's just—"

Darcius didn't prevent his tone from reaching a lethal pitch. "Just what, hobbit?"

Mert shuttered uncontrollable on the other end, making it hard to understand. Darcius had to yell, "Speak up!"

"The Guardians are well again!!!"

"WHAT?!" Darcius slammed his fist into a nearby wall. "That can't be! It shouldn't be!"

"But it's true, Master Darcius!!! The Guardians, they meet new people!"

"What do you mean, new people?" Darcius asked, grinding his teeth.

"New men!!!" Mert squeaked, his tone excited. "They make girls happy!"

Darcius growled, muttering a curse under his breath. "Mert, rent me a hotel. And have my coat ready. It's going to be cold up in Washington."