King Gnah

18-GUARDIANS

STACY

We were all anticipating an explanation when Anya stepped in to answer it herself. None of us said anything as she took up a spot in the centre of the living room. I, for one, was not paying attention. My gaze had wandered to the beautiful stranger directly in front of me!!

Anya started explaining, and even though I have a weird talent for multitasking my brain, I was still not sure I got everything right. "This was Louis' explanation to give, but for obvious reasons, here we are. You all descend from some mighty lineages. There  is always a generation of guardians in the lands across the barrier, said the barrier that is supposed to keep the extraordinary separate from the ordinary." Here she paused in thought, then continued slowly, " Guardians are the symbol of protection...we did not need them for about two hundred years, but just twenty years ago, we saw the need for them. So Louis hunted high and low, found your parents, and followed them up in hopes of recruiting you one day."

"So were some sort of magical descendants of this Lala-land?" Caleb asked sarcastically.

Anya just stared at him blankly. 

The room was quiet before Caleb hesitated before adding, "You're not joking, are you?"

"No, not really." She added dryly and then went back to explaining, "The guardians require abilities that suit their genetic code. There's a bunch of science in between, but I think you should get it by now." She then turned to the stranger and said, "Stefan here is tasked with looking for and acquiring the gems that hold the guardians' essence. Is that right?"

Then I heard the angel's voice for the second time today, and if I hadn't been sitting, I would have collapsed because my legs had become weak. "Yes, that is correct. We have located eight so far. If we can't get them by next week, we will have to use force...or just steal them," he smirked, a beautiful gesture all on its own.

"There you have it," Anya said, clapping her hands together. "We shall be looking for the Archer first. It belonged to the best archers known to mankind. They are the strategists and trackers amongst the guardians."

Kenny spoke up this time, "And who is it that gets the archer?" 

"You, of course," Anya smiled at his shocked expression.

Stefan, on the other hand, was caught off guard by this. I guessed that no one told him who was getting what. He cleared his throat, then looked away, away, which was at me. I panicked. 

I did not look away in time. He had already caught me staring. My face was warm, I think I am blushing! I felt like the ground should just swallow me whole.

Subconsciously, I looked at my feet. A gesture that I do so many times a day, you could call it a habit. This went on for about fifteen seconds before Anya mumbled something, and everyone shifted. They went wherever and did whatever. This was my queue to get up and move.

I got up too fast, only to bump into Stefan, who was headed for the door. Curse me! I did under my breath, then started to apologise.

"It's fine, ma'am," he said in a very gentle voice.

My heart fluttered. I am at least 5ft6 so I'm a tall girl. He was a whole foot taller than I. I looked up at him, gave a small smile, then stepped back to let him pass. He did.

After watching him go, I was snapped back to reality by Seth, "Girl, you look thirsty!"

"Um...no. I don't think I am." I said, realising that my voice was shaking.

Seth handed me one of his cunning grins, "No, honey, I mean thirsty."

Then he savoured the moment as I turned the colour of his sweater, which was red by the way.

"Urgh!" I yelled out, frustrated," Shut up!" Then I stomped off to the porch.

A part of me wanted Stefan to be there, but I got Kenny instead. It was dark out with some light from the street lamps and the porch light. I saw his expression and noticed that he was shaking. "Should I get you a sweater?" I asked in the loveliest voice I could use.

He looked up as if he did not expect me to be here, then gave me a soft smile and tapped the seat next to him on the steps. I sat by him, and we were quiet for some time.

After two minutes, he sighed, "Do you think I deserve this?"

I didn't know where this kind of question was coming from, so I had to ask him to be a bit clearer.

"I mean," he shifted to look me in the eye, "I have everything I've ever wanted. Family, friends, money, looks," we both chuckle at this, but then he passes a sad sigh, "but I'm not happy. I'm scared. The more I have, the more I have to lose. Then the thing with the archer..." his voice trailed off to somewhere else.

I was speechless. Kenny never tells people what bothers him. He is the heir to the Gnah throne. head of the family. But here he is, cowering. I pulled him in for a hug. He was stiff but relaxed after a while.

"For what it's worth, I think it's brave that you lasted this long," I said honestly.

He had a soft smile when he thanked me for always knowing what to say. 

The truth is, I did not always have words for them. I just try to state facts that may seem hidden in some emotional blind spot, and it ends up making everyone happy. I always wish someone would just tell me the right thing, too. That was the sad part of being the thoughtful one. You care too much to notice your own needs.

We spoke about school for a while, then decided that we should call it. I went to my room, changed, and sat on my bed with my phone. I scrolled until I found the phone number and dialled it.

After two rings, he answered with so much enthusiasm, "Indodakazi yami enhle, how have you been!"

"Hi, baba," I said, holding back tears, "I miss you."

He laughed a little, then said, "Well, Sthandwa sami, you are lucky. I will be permanently transferring back to Elmswood next week!"

I slept with a smile that night.