The Guardian

Chapter 1

*

I walked through the Brotherhood Headquarters. The building was breath taking. It was located on a cliff side, giving us an amazing vantage point. The river and the valley below were beautiful to look at. Watching the sunset was something I started doing everyday. The walls were brick and somehow ancient and modern at the same time. I had been here for a few weeks and I still had yet to explore everything. Everytime I started to sneak off someone would find me. The people here were kind. And those who got too cocky just got thrown in the ring with Fane or myself.

"Are you still mad?" Fane walked towards me, practically gliding across the floor with his confidence. His brown eyes caught the light and took my breath away. I debated turning around and going the other way. He'd really frustrated me yesterday. I kept my glare fixed on him as he got closer.

"I'm not mad" I sighed. "I'm just restless"

"I know. I'm working on it" Fane pulled me into his arms. I laid my head on his chest and breathed in the smell of his cologne.

All I wanted was to go after Elizabeth. I wanted her dead. But Fane would find any excuse to keep me from leaving. And with our circle of friends growing as more people arrived, it was harder to plan my escape. With word spreading about the discovery of the Guardian, hidden members of The Brotherhood were surfacing. Thirty new members had recently moved in. With the Headquarters being so huge, we didn't have any problems. But that just meant more people for me to protect. More lives to risk.

If that wasn't enough, Stone had recently brought in more security. There were guards overlooking the land below. There were even guards that patrolled the headquarters at night. Stone said it was strictly for protection of those who couldn't protect themselves. I believed that. But I knew that security was also there to keep me from leaving.

"Everyone's having lunch in the dining hall" Fane murmured suggestively. I smirked at him as we walked.

"Bet I can still kick your ass" his breath tickled my neck as he stepped closer.

"Oh your on" I smiled daringly and started running toward the training room. I barreled through the doors and dove at the ground just as Fane launched himself over my head.

I ran at him as he started to get up. Fane caught me in his arms and flipped me over effortlessly. I used the momentum and rolled out of reach. I turned and faced him with a smirk on my face.

"Getting better" he praised me. Images of the days we spent in The Fraternity flashed through my mind. Sometimes I wished we could go back to that. But like Fane always said, the past is in the past. Which is why he didn't use the nickname Ghost anymore. It brought up old memories of when he used to work for Elizabeth. It reminded him of the lives he took and the pain he caused.

"Like I didn't already know that" I winked. He laughed at me and took a step closer.

"Don't get too cocky" he warned me as he inched closer.

"Or what?" I challenged.

"Or" he wrapped his arms around my waist suddenly. I gasped in surprise and froze. I glanced down at his lips as he inched his face closer.

"You'll get your ass kicked" he flipped me onto the mats and pinned me. I clenched my jaw and tilted my chin up.

"You tricked me" I accused.

"You fell for it" he teased, eyes twinkling.

I laughed at him and squirmed under his grip. I stopped squirming and fixed my gaze on his lips. His grip loosened slightly. I blinked up at him. He leaned closer, grip loosening even more. I smirked and rolled out of his grip. I didn't hesitate this time. I ran for the climbing walls and launched myself up.