This chapter, along with the next 4 chapters, are going to be a bit shorter and each chapter is going to focus on one Guardian per chapter. Also, the next 4 chapters are going to be uploaded probably within a week once they are fully completed.
Thank you for reading! And I hope you are enjoying it so far!
-September 24th-
With it being Friday, Satomi, Wynter's mother, was working the night shift and normally it was Wynter's job to look after Shiro, her 12-year-old brother, but fortunately for her, he was sleeping over a friend's house all weekend long. So, after getting home from school, she went straight to the TV to watch her favorite show without interruptions. She got comfortable on the couch with the bowl of ice cream and began the episode.
However, she must have fallen asleep since the tv screen was asking her if she wanted to go to the next episode, making her groan- she didn't take in count her tiredness being an interruption. Wynter took her now empty bowl to the kitchen, washing it out and putting it in the dishwasher before stretching out her body, relieving some of her aching joints. As she walked back to the living room she tried to remember a time when her body was so sore but nothing before the Guardian training popped into her mind. She was lazy compared to the others.
Before even making to the living room a pounding knock, coming from the front door, startled her into darting behind a wall out of view from the entryway.
"Why am I hiding?" She whispered to herself as she peaked around the wall. She could only see a large shadow through the window curtains next to the door. "Someone knocking on the door is not uncommon. Well maybe in this time and age since everyone uses phones but people still knock, right?"
Not letting her anxiety get the best of her, Wynter went to answer the door. Upon opening it, she saw what the shadow belonged to, a tall cloaked figure standing opposite of her. The figure's mouth was the only thing visible under the black hood and it had a knowing grimace plastered on it.
"Who ar-,"
The figure sprouted pure black wings, easily spanning 18 feet, tip to tip. He swung them back before pushing them forwards with great power sending a gust of wind into the house and right into Wynter, hurling her back.
Wynter's back cracked against the carpeted stair case, her body tumbling down the half of the stairs she flew past before. Surprisingly she was still conscious as her body hit the floor with loud thud. She turned her head towards the doorway as the hooded figure stepped into her house, closing the door behind him with a gentle click. Nothing like the raw physical power he showed just a little bit ago.
The man squatted down next to her to move her hair out of her face, observing her facial features. "Why are they picked so young?"
"Who… are you?" Wynter managed to get out, pushing herself away from the man's hand, body yelling at her to stop moving. "Why are you here?"
The man just laughed. "The previous Guardians didn't tell you about us. That's so like them but I guess you'll find out soon enough who we are… if you survive."
Wynter pulled herself up with the assistance of a wall. "We?"
"I would tell you myself but that would be a waste of time since I was sent here to kill you."
The reveal had Wynter shrinking back against the wall even more. She needed to think of something and quick or else her mom is going to have to conduct her own daughter's murder case and Wynter had a feeling her mother wouldn't find the killer no matter how hard she tried.
But why she didn't think of the whole Guardian thing the moment the hooded figure showed up, just proved she needed to be more aware of the situation at hand and her surroundings. She pulled the Heart of Serine out of the neck of her sweatshirt, holding it slightly away from her.
"Guardian unite!"
The warm purple glow illuminated the room as Wynter was picked off the ground. The man folded his wings in front of him to block his eyes from the bright glow.
The man groaned. "That is always so irritating."
He lunged the moment Wynter was put back on the ground. She avoided him by flying upwards and to the right, landing once again on the stair but this time within her own control.
"Why are you doing this?" Wynter demanded as the man turn to her. She mine as well know why someone wants her dead. "How could this possible benefit you?"
"By satisfying my need to kill something."
The instant confession sent a cold shutter throughout her whole body. "Yupp did not need to know that."
The man laughed, spreading out his wings blocking Wynter from going back down the stairs. So, she went the only way she could- up- even if it probably wasn't the smartest idea. She turned to the left, intent on going to her room so none of the other rooms would get destroyed. At least then she could tell her mom she was redecorating and hope she would believe her.
Once again the man was somehow able to send a gust of wind through the hallway, slamming the top half of Wynter's body against her door frame, this time knocking the air out of her lungs. She began gasping for breath as the man crept closer to her.
"I thought you put more of a fight, being a Guardian and all," the man leaned a shoulder on the opposite side of the frame, crossing his arm over his chest. "But I guess that's what happens when you're the one Guardian that didn't get any powers."
The man reached under his cloak, pulling out a long sword from his side as he pushed off the door frame. Wynter clawed her way into her room, eyes darting around for anything she could use as a weapon. However, the man ceased her attempts with a solid kick to her ribcage. She cried out in pain, gripping at her side, short ragged breaths escaping her mouth.
The man used his foot to flip she onto her back so she was looking up at him with pleading eyes. Laughing, he brought the sword above his head, both hands gripping the handle, both him and Wynter oblivious to the glow coming from beside them.
Not knowing when she closed her eyes, Wynter slowly opened them. Widen and shaken, her own olive colored eyes stared back at her through the reflection of the other sword that intercepted the man's. She followed the blade to the hands that held it to Chance's emerald eyes.
"Chance?" Wynter croaked out upon recognizing the boy.
"Talk later," he replied before pushing the man's sword away. He pointed his sword at the man, keeping him at a good distance, allowing Chance to carefully help Wynter up. "You okay?"
The Guardian nodded her head, not trusting her voice right now, hand still placed over her ribs.
Chance lightly nudged her behind him. "Good. Hurry through the portal."
Wynter's brow furrowed before looking around, finding the portal Chance was talking about and the portal he no doubt came out of. She pulled on the back of his shirt, telling him to follow.
"I'll be right behind you, now go!"
The man swung at Chance as he pushed Wynter into the portal. She could hear the man let out an angry shout before she was pulled away from the purple door. She was going to fight the one who held onto her, yell at them to let her go so she could help Chance but that wasn't the reason she got pulled away. Chance and the man had come barreling through the portal, tumbling to the marble floor of the palace in Serine.
The Keeper looked up at the one who still held on to her. Chance's grandmother and the Queen, Cornelia, helped her to her feet. "Are you okay?"
"I am," Wynter's voice was weak but her breathe was just beginning to come back to its normal speed. "I need…"
"Let Chance and the guards handle him for now," the Queen said, motioning her hand to the guards in the room, each one followed her order to go assist her grandson. "The other Guardians are in a similar situations as you were and you need to help them by bringing them here."
Her eyes shifted to Cornelia. If that was true and the ones fighting the other were just as strong as the man then it might already be to late.
"Do you remember how you created the portals last time?" Wynter nodded. "Good. I can find two of them but not all of them."
"I've got Dakota and Izzy."
"Okay. Khloe and CJ are mine."
Wynter saw Cornelia wave over Wally, Nyx, Grix and King Celeb. "Ready?"
Once each of them confirmed, Wynter and Cornelia began the first two portals for Izzy and CJ.
Any questions, comments or concerns? Or anything that can be improved?