G.U.A.R.D. Book #1: Clandestine

-19-

    Steaming hot water poured over my head, running through the black strands of my hair, and running courses down my body. My muscles relaxed for the first time since leaving North Carolina, and I smiled in contentment.

Already having swiped the majority of the dirt, twigs, and leaves that had embedded themselves in my hair, not to mention all the dried mud on my legs, I just stood in the shower to unwind and enjoy the moment.

Everything that happened since Knife picked me up swirled around in my brain. Why would the League trick my parents into leaving the house? Was it just to attack Dustin and me? Wouldn't they be more concerned with getting Mom and Dad? They were the ex-secret agents. It didn't make any sense going after the kids. Unless... what if Mom had something from her past? That the League wanted? Or maybe Dad did.

That made me wonder, though. Knife didn't know who Dad was, nor why he joined Mom on the business trips. Did he go to the "W.A.T.C.H. spelt with one c,"while she went to G.U.A.R.D.? What kind of agent was he?

Finally, I decided that I had wasted enough water and turned the shower off. Wrapping a clean towel around me, I reached for the brush Jake bought earlier. I had still been in the shower when he came back from the store, and Knife put the items on the counter. He also got me a few new sets of clothes, as well as a new backpack. I wasn't sure how I felt about a man shopping for my girl clothes, but I didn't have much choice. Besides, his selection wasn't actually that bad. And he apparently knew his sizes, because they fit perfectly.

Dropping the brush on the counter, I dried off, then slipped into the black yoga pants and grey, off-the-shoulders shirt. The material was soft and comfy. Folding the towel and hanging it up to dry, I glanced to the mirror. It wasn't the first time I had seen my reflection since coming to Jordan's house, but it still surprised me.

I had a purple and blue bruise on the right side of my forehead, and another just below my eye on my cheek. They were both large and nearly touched each other. Feeling it, I remembered when the League of Blood first came to my house, and the man threw me against the brick wall. Just the memory made me wince, which brought pain to the small line of red stitches, right in the center of the bigger bruise. Jay told me it would leave a small scar, even after it healed. A few other marks covered my face, but none as noticeable as the two bruises and stitches.

I had been feeling pain in my stomach area for a while now, and, lifting up my shirt, I looked at the bruises decorating the skin. If they had been separate before, they were merged now into one, giant bruise. It was colored dark blue, dark purple, brown, and yellow. It must have been from the first attack, at the house. When that man kept punching and kicked me.

Looking down to the counter, I saw the necklace Mom gave me for Christmas, the year before. Picking it up, I gazed at the back and read the words again.

The treasure isn't in the necklace. It's in the wearer.

A sad sigh left my lips. I wished I had Mom with me right then. I didn't want to see her... I was still undoubtedly mad at her. Yet my heart yearned for her arms to wrap around me, her lips to kiss the top of my head.

Slipping the necklace over my neck, I inserted it underneath my shirt. The shell touched my skin coolly. I reached down and coiled my dirty clothes in a bundle. I would come back later to clean it all up.

Exiting the bedroom, I switched the light off and walked back to the living room. My muscles were tired and sore. Jay sat on the couch, leg propped up, and Knife sat across from him, having freshly showered. Upon seeing me, Jay gingerly got up to his feet.

"Careful," Knife warned.

Jay waved her off, then limped to the bathroom. I assumed he was going to take a shower as well. With him gone, I sat in his seat, looking at Knife.