Charlotte

Chapter 2

I woke up on a plane. I think that after everything...the feeding, the running, the emotional hurricane, I actually fainted for the first time in my life. I lifted my head off of the makeshift pillow that was between my head and my shoulder...a rolled up brown duster. 

"Hey," Rose said from across me. She was sat opposite of me, her brown eyes alight with relief. Her long brown hair was a mess, falling down her chest in tangled strands, and her clothes were wrinkled. "How are you feeling?" 

I was still processing things. I was on a plane, in the air; not in a hospital, or worse, a grave. I blinked, having the brief thought that maybe it had all been a dream and we were on our way to L.A. My stomach growled and my cotton mouth was terrible. "Uh," I groaned, a migraine popping up out of nowhere. "Like I died," I answer, looking around. There were several Guardians in various settings, my hope of a massive nightmare being dashed immediately. There was one sitting next to Rose, immersed in whatever book she was reading. I grabbed onto the duster, pulling it off my shoulder and looking down at it in my hands, confused. 

"That Guardian Beli-whatever leant it to you. You looked uncomfortable," Rose answers my unasked question. My lips turn up just slightly in an embarrassed smile. 

"Cute...and considerate," I joke. Rose laughs. 

"Cute? Dude is HOT. But I'm still going to kick his ass." 

This time I laugh while glancing around one more time. "Where's Lissa?" 

"Up front." She didn't sound very happy about it. "They separated us." 

"But...at least we are all here together." I was trying to look at the bright side of things. I was a little worried about what they were going to do with me, but at least I wasn't alone. At least I might have a chance to know what is going to happen to Lissa and Rose. I grip onto the long jacket like a lifeline. 

"Think those pretty blues swayed the Hot One," Rose teases. "He all but got into a fist fight over what to do with you. I'm glad, though." 

I smile a little more genuinely at her. Maybe this Belikov guy wouldn't be such a hard ass. Maybe we actually had a chance here. My friend seemed to slip back into her own head, gazing out the window into the boundless sea of clouds floating by us on our way to Montana. I sat back, my thoughts racing until near the end of the flight when Dimitri exited the forward cabin to join me and Rose. He replaced the Guardian who sat next to the brunette with a nod. 

As he sat down, he handed me a protein bar and a small, sealed, bottle of water. I took them, thanking him, and handing him his jacket. "Uh, thank you," I said heavily. "Not just for this, but the jacket, and bringing me with you." I couldn't meet his eyes. Rose rolled hers and glared at Dimitri with all the heat of the sun. Dimitri offered me one last thing...a small smile. 

"Do not thank me just yet. It's out of my hands once we land." 

I nod, understanding, but still hopeful. Several moments passed in silence before Dimitri addressed Rose. "Were you really going to attack all of us?" Rose just held her glare, punishing him with silence. I almost laughed at the childishness of it. Dimitri continued, "Doing that...protecting them like that...it was very brave. Stupid, but still brave. Why did you try it?" 

"Because I'm Lissa's Guardian, and Charlotte is my friend," Rose finally answers and then returns to looking out the window. 

"And you?" He asks, looking at me. "You're a human, the danger to you was even more so than for the Princess, yet you defend them both." 

"Like Rose said...they are my friends." 

"I admire the loyalty. You would have made a good Guardian if the circumstances were different. Not many people can take me by surprise."