The Immortal Guardians: V

Chapter Two

"I- we have to bury Ian." I told anybody who was listening. His body was being held at a local cemetery not too far from where we were staying. "We should give him a Guardian's burial. He died protecting me."

"Yeah." Ezra and Thomas got up so we could go to the local morgue. We would bury his body here. Maybe in the future we could move it to his homeland.

Thomas, Ezra and I buried Ian. Guardians were burned by Phoenix fire. Ares and Eos were singing quietly as his casket burned. He deserved something bigger rather than only five people present for his burial.

I put my hand in my pocket and I felt something cold. I balled my hands into fists. He wouldn't die in vain. I'd make sure of that. None of us said anything but we didn't feel like we needed to.

He had proven himself to be a Guardian.

After an hour or so we walked back to the hotel room. Dr. Nan would have to be moved so we could leave tonight.

"Are you alright?" Dr. Nan asked me as Thomas and Ezra helped him mount his horse. He had some color in his face and didn't look too exhausted.

"Yes sir." I answered clearing my throat. I lowered my eyes. He put his hand briefly on my head.

"I'm not dead yet. We'll get your throne back." Dr. Nan huffed loudly as he adjusted himself on his horse. I opened my mouth but instead only nodded.

Byron handed me the reigns to a horse and I mounted it. We had a long ride ahead of us. I hoped that Dr. Nan would be able to stand it.

"So Franklin did you know that Iris was the Heir?" Ezra asked him. I did my best to not laugh as dr. Nan turned to him with the meanest glare. "I meant sir, Dr. Nan did you know that Iris was the Heir?"

Dr. Nan's eyebrow twitched.

"I had my suspicions. You may or may not know about Brielle's ability with a sword. Broke many school records during her time. I found it rather odd that you had mirroring abilities when only the last known Mirror was Viktor Derks As you know Heirs tend to have the most powerful gift from their maternal line and not the paternal line. The only gifts you inherit from the royal family line is the fire affinity and the familial traits such as the gray eyes, dark hair and of course the Phoenix." He answered thoughtfully. "Your grandmother sure did cause a mess. She and the everybody else is probably in shock that they had a child after all. That surprised me."

"Why?" Thomas turned to him pulling his horse near him.

"The Queen had difficulty baring children. Many years passed by and there were never any signs of a child." Dr. Nan answered. "Poor Aaron was devastated every time they lost their child. Andrea was angry- always intolerable."

"Did George Burke have a kid?"

"There were rumors that he did- a son in fact but the birth of the Guardians children or the Guardians isn't as celebrated as the Heirs birth. Only when the Guardians are named is when we recognize them." Dr. Nan took a deep breath. "Langston would be more knowledgeable but he chose to betray all of us. Rima's mother, Regina would be able to tell us about the Guardians birth. She was present at all of them the last time unfortunately she passed."

"You have an extraordinary resemblance to Aaron but you have features of Brielle. I don't doubt that you are his daughter but I'm wondering why you are showing Brielle's features. Ian's death would have broken any remaining linkage between the two of you and would have broken the wretched curse Andrea put on you. You didn't try to invoke her did you?" he asked me suspiciously.

"No" I blinked at him. It sounded like I had tried to bring her back.

"We took her sword from her grave." Byron stepped in. Dr. Nan glanced down at the blade at my hip. He reached over and pulled it out.

"The sword was made for - what did you give in return for this?" Dr. Nan's eyes narrowed.

"Blood. There was an inscription of her tomb." I told him what it said. "I left Allan's sword in its place."

Thomas and Dr. Nan shook their head at us. I was lost. They were the only ones that seemed to understand what was going on. Or what happened.

"It wanted the blood of a virgin or um well if you were a...erm-" Dr. Nan cleared his throat awkwardly. "if not- of the person that took your innocence by choice and has your affection."

Dr. Nan glanced over at Taron and then at Byron. Ezra coughed saying Byron's name. I turned to Ezra so he could shut up.

"I see." Dr. Nan cleared his throat. Great now he knew that I had lost my virginity to Byron. "We should make a stop at her grave before we continue."

"Jeesh Iris why couldn't you have made your mother proud and remained a virgin." Ezra shook his head at me. Before I could say or do anything he sped up.

We took a detour to Spain where Brielle was from. It turned out that we had messed things up. According to locals it hadn't stopped raining and there were earthquakes every single day.

"How far up is the cemetery?" Dr. Nan asked the local barman.

"It is too dangerous up there right now. I'd wait until the morning, which is when the rain will subside for an hour or so." he told us darkly. "If it doesn't stop we will end up having a flood." The old man was cleaning up some glasses.

"I agree." Dr. Nan replied taking the glass of beer from the barman. He gave us a side-glance. "See you all in the morning." he told us, taking off with his glass.

"How do you know that sword was for Iris?" Thomas asked. We were drinking water except for Byron and Taron. They both had glasses of beer. Alcohol was still forbidden for us. I could really use something strong right now. Thomas turned to me like if he was trying to read me. "The Heir always takes the sword from his or umm her father. Its handed down-"

"If it is asking for a blood gift from the one that ruined her precious flower." Ezra was the only one laughing at his own joke. "Wouldn't that make it for you- meaning it was meant for you."

"I agree." Thomas nodded. "That sword isn't meant for you, Iris. I think its for Byron."

"Didn't she marry Aaron so she could protect him? Maybe she was hoping that the person you chose would do the same for you. She wasn't wrong." Ezra snickered into his drink. I was going to end up killing him.

Thomas pulled out the sword and looked it over.

"Its plain. There is nothing special about it." Ezra commented finishing his glass of water. "Well I'll see you all bright and early." He left leaving us behind. Thomas got up and did the same thing.

I cleared my throat awkwardly.

'I am going to bed too." Byron finished his beer and left. Taron and I sat next to each other in silence.

"You've made your decision." Taron finally told me. "I guess I shouldn't have been surprised." I looked at him, he didn't look upset. "You've got a long history with him."

"Taron- I-" I cleared my throat. Jessh what did I tell him? I was sorry I had slept with Byron.? Well, I wasn't. I was tired of being apologetic for being indecisive. I had done it for myself. It had felt right at that moment. It hadn't been done on impulse like the first time or had been done to forget about him like I had done with Taron. I had sex with him because I loved him and I knew that our relationship was challenging. I was tired of pushing him away or justifying why I still loved him. I would let my relationship with him progress the way it needed to. Either we were meant to be together or not. We would figure it out eventually.

"Iris." He smiled at me. "I'm not upset just disappointed. I wish you could know how happy I would make you. I wouldn't lie or keep things from you but you are choosing him." he reached over and tucked my hair behind my ear. "I'm not going to give up. You can spend as much time as you want with him but my feelings for you aren't going to change." Taron leaned forward and kissed my forehead. I froze under the pressure of his lips against my skin.

"Goodnight." He released me leaving me behind. I pushed the glass of water away from me leaning on my hands.