(The Hidden Treasures)

A week later, the entrance to the Hidden Treasures opens as the bell rings. When the Guardian, Mikhail Tanner, entered the bookstore, he noticed a coffee aroma lingering in the air. As he turned to look around, he discovered the Guardian Belikov sitting in an armchair near a shelf of western novels for sale.

Dimitri peered up from his book to see that Guardian Tanner had just entered the tiny bookstore. A female voice asked, "Hello, what can I do for you today?" Guardian Mikhail Tanner observed that the female voice sounded sorrowful, and he wondered to whom it belonged until Riley stepped around bookshelves with a few books in her arms. Mikhail Tanner appeared shocked when he observed Riley before him while working in this small bookshop.

A woman in her early 20's, who was standing next to a bookshelf, turned around and walked over to the cashier. Riley asked," Maam, are you ready to cash out?" The young woman answered, "Yes!" Mikhail and Dimitri noticed that the human woman was acting really nervous for some reason. Dimitri got up from his armchair and started moving closer while acting normal. Mikhail stepped a few steps into the shop to wait for Riley, while keeping his eyes on the young woman customer.

Riley walked slowly over to the counter, walking around the counter, reached across the counter for the two books, started scanning both books, and the total was $32.38. Riley said, "The price comes to $32.38 with tax" The woman's mood changed and she said, "How in this world can these two books be worth $32.38 for two used books?" Riley said, Maam, they are brand new books, not used books, and the price will stand at $32.38 with tax." "You can pay the price for the two books, or you leave my shop." "Before you leave my shop, please remove the book that you took from the display case out of your bag."

The woman yelled, I didn't steal anything from your fucking shop." "You don't have any proof that I took anything from your damn shop." Riley said, "Maam, you are aware that my shop has video cameras everywhere to catch thieves in the act." The woman said, "This is bullshit." "You don't treat your customers like this." Riley said, "Maam, then you don't have a problem opening your bag to show me you didn't take book that is worth $7,500."

The woman dashed for the front door. Guardian Mikhail Tanner grabbed the woman by the arm, spun her around, twisted her arm behind her back, and made her scream from the pain. Dimitri walks to the woman, Guardian Mikhail Tanner takes the woman's bag and opens it to discover the old book that Riley speak about. Dimitri removed the book from the bag and turned around, walking back to Riley and handing the book to her.

Riley said, "Thank you, Mr. Belikov." Dimitri smiled at Riley, knowing really reason that Riley was hiding the fact that he was a guardian from the public by saying Mr. Belikov, then saying guardian Belikov. Riley reached down, picked her shop telephone, and dialed the police to report the woman. Mikhail and Dimitri noticed that Riley stayed calm in the face of danger. Until the police arrived to arrest the woman for shoplifting for over $5000.

After the police arrested the woman, they took the report and left the shop.

Dimitri started speaking to Guardian Tanner, trying to figure out why Guardian Mikhail Tanner came to Hidden Treasures. Mikhail said, "The reason I came here is to find Riley and bring them back to court on Abe's orders." "Abe has been waiting on your call to inform him you have found his daughter's location." Riley walked over to both guardians next to the window and said, "Guardian Mikhail Tanner. Please try to understand that I have a good reason." "I can't return to court right now."

Guardian Tanner said, "You need to call your father and let him know why the reason that you can't return to court right now." Riley turned her head, looked at Dimitri, and waited for an answer. Dimitri looked down at Riley's eyes noticing that Riley eyes were blue. Dimitri realized if Riley eyes are blue and Rose are brown.

When both guardians started to hear Riley's watch start beeping. Riley said, "It's time for the shop to close up for the day." Riley turn around to face her customers and saying, "Sorry everyone, My shop is closing for the day." "Please come back tomorrow to buy your books." Mikhail and Dimitri were still standing in the shop, waiting for Riley to close her shop to normal customers." After the last customer left the shop, Riley pushed the button that made the shutter come down, locking them inside.

Riley started heading to the back door. Dimitri and Mikhail followed Riley until they reached the alley outside the bookshop. Riley said, "Good Night, Guardians," and began walking away from her bookshop, heading down the alley until she reached the street. Making the corner and disappearing from sight.

(Alley talk)

Mikhail asked, "Something wrong with Riley?" Dimitri said, "What do you mean?" Mikhail said, "Haven't you noticed that Riley's voice seems sad?" Dimitri said, "What happened to her, I would guess you would be sad too." Mikhail said, "What do you mean?" Dimitri said, "You know the reason why Christian and Riley left court about two years ago?" Makhail said, "Riley was doing a mission for our late Queen Tatiana." Dimitri said, "Yes and No!"

Mikhail just looked at Dimitri and asked, "What do you mean?" Dimitri said, "Before the late Queen Tatiana passed away, Riley did a covert mission for Queen Tatiana." "But when Riley returned to court, Guardian Stone arrested Riley for assassinating Queen Tatiana, and Riley spent 18 months in prison after being falsely accused of assassinating Queen Tatiana."

Mikhail stopped walking and realized why Riley seemed a little off. Dimitri could see Riley had already crossed the street, heading for her house. Mikhail started walking to catch up with Dimitri and asked, "Why would Guardian Stone say that Riley had anything to do with assassinating our beloved Queen Tatiana if she arrived after the fact that the queen had already passed away, unless there was more at play than what normal people see?" Dimitri said, "Soon you realize why Riley can't return to court." "But first, we have to catch her before she steps into her house." Mikhail and Dimitri started running as fast as they could to catch up with Riley as she stood in front of her front door.


(Riley House)

Riley smiled and looked over her shoulder at both Guardians, before opening the front door and stepping inside. Christian said, "Shit Riley!" "Did you find a new one?" Riley said, "They followed me home." "What do you want me to do?" "Leave them on the front step like trash." Christian frowns!"

Riley asked, "Is she awake?" Christian said, "She is in the living room watching Press Your Luck on TV." Riley said, Riley said, "Soon you understand why I can't return court." Dimitri said, "Soon, you will understand who she is." Mikhail Tanner looked at Dimitri and back to Riley to find out who they were talking about.

Riley, Mikhail, and Dimitri walked down the hallway and turned the corner. Mikhail, frozen in place, couldn't believe his own eyes when Queen Tatiana was sitting on the couch eating popcorn and watching TV. Riley said, "Tatiana, please get your feet off my coffee table and put them back on the floor."

Tatiana said, "Shh!

Riley walked over coffee table, started grabbing wrappers, empty soda cans, cleaning the coffee table, and said, "We have a guess?" Tatiana asked, "Is it a feeder?" Dimitri said, "No! Tatiana." Queen Tatiana turned her head to see a new male guardian and said, "Who is this new guardian?" Mikhail bowed his head to the Queen and said, "Guardian Mikhail Tanner, my queen." Tatiana asked, "Is he my new feeder?" Dimitri said, "No! Guardian Tanner is going to help watch you until you are done with appointments."

Tatiana frowns and turns back to the TV.

Riley said, "Christian, Has the feeder arrived and fed the big pain in the ass today?" Dimitri smiled. Mikhail just watched see how everyone acted around Queen. Christian said, "The feeder will be arriving around seven to night, and dinner is cooking." Riley said, "Good, I am hungry.

Tatiana threw popcorn at Riley. Riley just stood in front the her, and glazed down at Tatiana with a smile on her face. Mikhail reached out, grabbed Dimitri's arm, and pulled him back just to ask, "I don't understand how Queen Tatiana is still alive." Why was Riley arrested for assassinating Queen Tatiana and spun 18 months incarceration?

Dimitri said, "First off, you need to understand that Tatiana has breast cancer." "A year ago, Christian and Riley discovered Queen Tatiana on the side of the road with her guardians dead in Jackson, Tennessee." "So Christian and Riley have been taking care of Tatiana until she is ready to head back to Court." Mikhail said, "That doesn't tell me why Riley spent 18 months in prison for?"

Tatiana said, "I temporarily resigned until I defeated cancer." "Riley was my replacement until I was ready to return to the crown." But someone wants to make sure I never makes a comeback against New Royle, and by saying Riley assassinated me, they would get both of us out of the way.

Guardian Mikhail Tanner asked, "Why did you choose Riley to sit on the throw until you returned?" Tatiana said, "Because Riley has battle experiences, a level head, is loyal, true, brave, gifted, intelligent, and has a kind heart." "The Moroi's would fight over the crown while a Dhampier's would understand and listen to my order even if I was on the sidelines." Dimitri and Mikhail understood what the Tatiana was get at. Tatiana said, "Riley could see the truth, while others were blind to the truth."

Guardian Mikhail Tanner asked, "What do you mean that Riley is gifted?" Dimitri said, "Because Riley has the gift of sight." Riley froze in place and turned her head to appear at Dimitri with her mouth open. Dimitri moved his eyes to Riley, seeing her frozen in place, and knew her secret. Tatiana said, "Yes! Riley does have the gift of sight."

Riley said, "I can't control it; I never told anyone, and how did you know?" Tatiana said, "Yeva Belikov!" Dimitri said, "My Grandmother." Tatiana said, "Yes, Yeva told years ago their would be another female Dhampier with the same gift. I would need to be on the look out for her and she would be a twin with blue eyes."

Riley said, I'm getting a headache." Christian said, "Maybe it's a tumor?" Riley said, "Not a tumor!" "I am going upstairs to my bedroom." Tatiana and Christian laugh about the joke. Dimitri said, "I'll get you when dinner is done." Riley said, "Thank you! Guardian Belikov," Riley kissed Dimitri on the cheek, making Christian mad. Christian had a crush on Riley.

Mikhail and Titiana watched smile to watch Dimitri smiled and Christian get mad.