Guardians

Chapter Eight: Purity of Heart

A marvel to the eye, the stone edifice sat majestically atop the plain. The spires climbed over the forest canopy, dropping banners over them. The banners bore a white circle with a bird flying beneath it, all over a blue backdrop. The Order certainly knew how to be eloquent.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" I asked.

"Are you kidding? Wait until they find out I brought back White Essence. They'll be overjoyed!" Solana tensed with excitement.

We walked towards the doors, and from our perspective, the spires towered so high they could not be seen. The doors were gilded with a combination of jade and silver, with a branding of a bird embellished in gold. Wyatt and I were awestruck.

Solana stepped to the doors and knocked.

"Who is it?"

"Keith, come on. Let me in," answered Solana.

"Solana! Hey! How was the mission?"

"Just wonderful. I'll tell you all about it inside."

"You see, I would," said the voice, "but you have those two with you."

"They're harmless! I need to take them to the Master!"

The person hesitated, then answered, "Okay, just tell them not to touch anything."

Solana stepped back, signaling us to step away from the doors. They opened slowly, being pushed by the person who greeted Solana at the door. Keith, was it?

Wait a minute. How did he know we were here? There was no hole in the doors.

The doors fully opened, and through the doorway a man approached. Actually, not really a man. He seemed like he was our age also. His brunet hair swayed with the wind while he walked towards us.

"Well?"

"Well what?" Solana raised an eyebrow.

"Are you going to introduce me or what?" he asked.

Solana gestured towards me, "Elijah, Wyatt, this is Keith. He's a good friend of mine." She turned to Keith, "Elijah here needs to speak with the Master right now."

"For what? The Master is probably busy."

"Don't you like surprises?"

Keith—if that was his name—sighed, "Fine. It's not my fault if you get in trouble for this."

"Thanks, Keith."

"Yeah, yeah. I know the whole 'I'll make it up to you' speech. Come on, I'll take you all to the Master."

Wyatt and I hadn't said a word since we got to the castle. There were even more questions than answers, so many that I began getting dizzy. A migraine split my head. I decided to close my eyes until we met with their Master.

Keith, who was in front of me, turned around and chuckled, "You really shouldn't walk around here with your eyes closed, unless you know how."

Keith was right. He told us not to break anything. But, with my eyes closed, that would be inevitable. I opened my eyes to royal blue carpeting that extended down a long hallway. The walls were made from a dark wood. If this place stood firm for so long, it was probably dark oak that lined the walls.

My migraine worsened. I wanted to be home now, in Old Tenebris with my parents, Wyatt, Mrs. Sands, all of them. Then I remembered, there was no turning back.

Not until I brought my parents home.

Wyatt was still taking in the surroundings. He looked like a kid who went to an amusement park for the first time, trying to understand how large everything around him was. Neither of us had stepped foot out of our hometown, and neither of us knew we would end up in a castle of all places.