The Sacred Ring

Chapter 1

The corridor was dimly lit and very narrow. I could hear murmuring up ahead, so I walk toward the sound. My fingers lightly touch the brick as I walk, getting closer and closer to the noise. My ring caught my eye; it always seemed to glow in the darkness. I got it yesterday but it feels like I've had it for a lifetime. Yesterday everything changed and I mean literally, my brown hair turned a snow white and my brown eyes became silver with gold specks. I now have curves and grew taller than before. Snapping out of my thoughts, I reach a door with a crescent on it and voices could be heard behind it. I can't make out what they're saying and curiosity got the best of me, so I open the door and walk in. The talking immediately stops as everyone looks at me and I gaze around the room. There is a table with twelve chairs in the center of the room; in every chair sat a Keeper except for the one at the head of the table. An old woman sat at the head of the table staring intently at me. She was giving me a weird felling with all the staring but I just walk further in the room acting as though I didn't have a care in the world. I was used to odd looks by now.

"How did you get in here!?" a voice on my left demands. It was a man that looks to be in his late thirties.

"Through the door" I answer looking at the man as though he was dumb. He angrily sighs and says "This room has a spell around it and no one can get in" As I was about to answer him and voice spoke before me.

"Sam that's because spells don't affect her or work near her, unless she casts them. It has to do with who she is and that ring she wears." Says the old lady. He stares at her with shock in his eyes and looking around everyone was taken aback as well. What is going on here?

"Uh...What are you talking about?" I ask the lady.

"Child there's a lot we need to speak about but not right now, another time" Her grey eyes shift to the papers on the table "As we were saying before now that we've found the twelfth she'll beginning training and learning everything she needs to know, agreed?" She finished standing up and moving swiftly to my side. She moves fast for an old person. Everyone else murmured a yes but stays seated. The lady put her hand on my shoulder steering out of the room, when she spoke "I'm Ava the guardian of the Keepers secrets. Let's go somewhere a little more comfortable." We came to a set of stairs leading to a door and went up them. Once through the door, Ava brings us to a sitting room and mysteriously enough there was tea on the table. As she sat down, I gaze around the room. A brick fireplace sat against the wall opposite to the door, in front if it sat a coffee table and two chairs on one side. On the other side sat a small black leather couch.

"Sit please" said Ava sitting down. "Would you like some tea?"

"No thank you" I answer readjusting on the seat to get comfortable on the couch. Watching as she pours herself some tea I consider how this would go. I had only got the ring yesterday and knew only the rumors that circulated around my town. I still don't believe I am the 12th; it must be a mistake somehow. Ava spoke suddenly bringing me out of my thoughts.

"Now I'm sure you have questions but please let me explain and see how many I can answer...." She paused looking at me.

"Gwendolyn." I say quietly.

"Do you know the meaning of your name?" She asks with a slight smile and I shake my head. "It means Goddess of the Moon and did you know the Keepers symbol is a Moon? A past self of yours was said to have created the group to fight evil and keep the secrets of magic hidden. It was thought you left you ring with the Keepers, but no one truly knows as a guardian found it one day with a note attached. Telling who could wear it. You may be wondering what I meant by past self no?"She questioned and I raised my eyebrow in answer 

"The note left with the ring said that you can't remember anything because you decided to die and be reborn at the right time. No one knows if you'll remember your old lives and .....Well we really no nothing about you." I give her a curious look and she chuckles "There's stories about you but no one ever actually saw you. There was nothing ever written by previous guardians, only assumptions. In the Guardians history books, it tells only that the ring with only allow it's self to be touched by the 12th and of a prophecy. If you are willing, then we can begin training you tomorrow to embrace your power. We do not know the extent of them but each Keeper will teach you what they know and specialize in." She ends leaning back and allowing me time to think. 

My mind's racing trying to comprehend everything she just said. In my heart I know what she was saying was the truth but my mind didn't want to believe it. The longer I sat there the more suffocating everything seems to be. I need to go outside now. I dart out of my seat, left the sitting room and dash out the front door I didn't notice before. The bright sunlight blinds me momentarily, when I regain my sight I see beautiful garden. In the center is a fountain and a few stone benches, surrounding it was many different type and colors of flowers. 

I walk to a bench and sit down, admiring the beauty of this place. I don't know how long I have been sitting but my ring became very warm and I suddenly hear a noise behind me. I whipped around with my heart racing.

 A young man walked out of the shadows and I breathe a sigh of relief. His eyes that were cast downwards met mine. His eyes are a grey color and it reminds me of something but I could remember at that moment. A blush rose to his pale cheeks and his eyes left mine. It was then I got a good look at him. He was pretty tall, probably 6 feet, with broad shoulders and pitch black hair. I was about to ask him who he was when he saw my ring. It was still very warm but not uncomfortable, I wonder if it's warm because he's here. A smooth voice brought me out of my thoughts.

"I didn't mean to disturb you" he says kindly.

"You didn't, I just needed some alone time away from all this craziness" I point to the mansion. Wait what?! I turn fully to the mansion with disbelief in my eyes. It was four stories tall. I have never seen a house so tall! It was utterly beautiful and I am speechless. I have no doubt the inside is ever better and I have only seen the sitting room.

"That's what I thought when I first saw it" The man says laughing.

Nodding I say "And you are...?"

"Oh right I'm Marcus, Ava's my grandmother" He sheepishly answers.

"So are you a Guardian to?" I question.

"I'm a Guardian in training; I'm supposed to take over when my grandma steps down." He says. I nod looking at the house and say "Well I better get back to Ava, I abruptly left."

"Right, I suppose I'll see you tomorrow then?" he asks and I tilt my head at him. "Ah, at training I mean." He elaborated.

"Uh, yeah?" I say more as a question and walk to the house. I race to the sitting room and Ava's in the same spot I left her. I slowly take me seat again; Ava looks at me with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm sorry" I say embarrassed.

"It's ok, but how about we finish this talk tomorrow?" Ava says with a kind smile.

"That'd be great, um but one question" I say and she nods. "How do I find my room?" I say embarrassed again.

"The bed rooms are on the second floor, yours would be the one with a crown and crescent moon on it." She answers and I say my thanks going to find this mysterious room of mine.