Guardians - A King's War

7

All my employees, even the ones who hadn't met Stacy, were gathered in a large circular room with a domed ceiling. The second floor had a railing that went around the edge of the circle, allowing sunlight to stream in from windows on the second floor. Desks were set up neatly around the edge of the room next to windows, and near the hallway leading to the exit and to my office was the couch I'd put Hero on the first night I'd met him.
The eyes of Timothy; my personal assistant, Erica; the mechanic, Aaron; the rather goth psychologist, and 3 interns were all on me and my guests.

"Guys, this is Captain and Divine, they're guardians." I announced slowly.
"Hold the applause." Timothy put his hands down.
"Captain is Stacy's guardian, and Divine is helping all three of us look for my guardian, who went missing recently."
Everyone but Aaron frowned.
"No, we're not doing blood tests or scans or interrogations on anyone."
Aaron frowned.
I noticed that Divine was frowning towards the windows, looking concentrated on something.
"Everything ok?" I asked quietly.
She only held up her hand in answer, cueing me to fall silent.
Finally, her eyes snapped to Captain.
"Do you smell that?"
Captain looked up from fiddling with something on Timothy's desk, feigning innocence after it almost fell to the floor. A few confident strides and she had rejoined us, her eyes watching the windows. Her pupils sharpened slightly, and I stepped back instinctively.

"Everyone get down!"
The command came as a sharp hiss as the windows crashed.
In less than a heartbeat Captain was replaced by a giant serpent, blocking the hellhounds that had leapt at us from the windows and the upstairs. The railing was dented but I was more concerned with staying alive and what the heck was going on.
Captain's scales were amber, like her eyes, and as shiny and clean as a clear flowing stream. She let out an angry hiss, not unlike some I'd heard from her previously, and slithered around us in a tight circle considering her monstrous size. Hellhounds and draugr that jumped at us were flung across the room before they could get a good grip on her scales and her fangs seemed to make quick work of anything she could bite with them.
Divine too had jumped into action, her disguise fading as she seemed to suddenly appear in her usual kimono. She practically danced around the room, flinging daggers that were attached to each other at the ends with a chain. A shuriken would dart around the room sometimes too, and I caught a glimpse of her tossing one out but didn't get to see it hit its target.
Despite all evidence suggesting the opposite would happen, Captain and Divine worked together fluidly, and the battle was quickly resolved. Black goo was everywhere, but all the enemies were defeated. I stood shakily, taking slow breaths as Captain shifted back and Divine coiled her knife thing.
A look I couldn't recognize glazed her eyes as she studied the glop.

"What was that...?" I asked softly.
Captain took a whiff of the goo that had stuck to her and a look of instant regret crossed her face.
"We got attacked." Captain answered unpleasantly.
"A siege, like he warned." Divine seemed to whisper, lost in thought. She pulled her haori tighter around herself, as if cold. Captain gave her an odd look.
"... I need to check on my liege, I'll meet you at the cemetery." She decided finally. A tear in reality formed and she stepped in, closing it before anyone could follow. Captain scoffed behind her back.
"Is she ok?" Stacy asked.
"Hell if I care." Captain answered a little too loudly, stretching her arms.
"Can I come with you?!" Timothy didn't seem aware he'd asked aloud until I looked at him, and immediately a panicked look settled in his eyes.
"I mean- I just-"
I was about to say no before Captain answered.
"If you can prove you'll be useful then yes."

Somehow it became a contest.
Erica pointed out that she had created the device we'd used to scan for Hero's presence (so-to-speak), and therefore knew how to fix it.
Aaron poked the goo, apparently unaware of Captain's gaze on him, and licked it. I wanted to gag. Captain grinned.
"You're on board." Aaron blinked in slight shock but didn't protest.
"Wait why!?" Timothy exclaimed.
"Because that would absolutely disgust Divine." Captain answered simply. I wasn't proud of her wanting to sabotage her fellow guardian, but at least her answer hadn't been 'meat shield'.
Before Timothy could begin to point out why he should come, Captain said no. He looked crest fallen.
"I need him to come with." I announced.
"Why?" Captain scowled.
"He's my assistant." I replied indignantly.
"If you can have Aaron, I can have Timothy."
Captain rolled her eyes but went with it.

With 3 more people to look after, we headed to the cemetery.