The Spirit Guardians Book 1: Enlightened

Chapter 5

Cassie awoke with a darkened bruise on her forehead, though it was expected. It wasn't as if she loved her appearance before, but she hated looking at herself in the mirror with that dark spot sticking out on her head. She lightly pressed her fingers to the bruise, feeling a dull pain in response.

She glanced over at the clock at the wall, realizing she'd been allowed to sleep in. A guilt stirred inside her that perhaps both Marc and Miguel had given up on training her after the prior day's events. Neither had spoken to her since the day before, and while she was thankful to sleep in, she feared she wouldn't be allowed to train again.

Cassie threw a sweater over her and exited her bedroom, heading to the kitchen. The others were already up and chatting, and the smell of eggs and bacon filled the air.

"That's quite a bruise," Conny noticed as Cassie stepped into the kitchen.

"Of course it is. She slammed her head into a tree branch," Marc pointed out.

Cassie moved past him to grab herself a bowl of cereal. She took a seat next to Conny, doing her best to distance herself from Marc. Even if she wanted to get away from him, she still had questions to ask him.

"Am I training today?" she wondered as she shoved a spoonful of cereal into her mouth.

"No," he said, looking up from his plate of eggs. "You'll be accompanying Lillian to buy supplies and probably get some more stuff for you. Training will resume tomorrow."

Cassie nodded, glad to get some rest. Her body was sore and achy, the wound on her head was giving her a headache, and her stab wound still was healing. It would do her some good to get a calm day.

"How was your stay been so far?" Conny wondered. He paused. "Well, I guess it's not a great question considering the, uh, multiple injuries you've sustained, but...er, nevermind."

Cassie giggled. "It's fine. I just hope I can find a way to get my parents back."

"Not until your spirit makes an appearance," Marc added.

"I know that," she said through gritted teeth.

"Well, you can aid the spiritkeepers as well before that."

"This war has gone on ten years, it seems. Have you ever considered giving up?" Cassie asked, regretting the words as soon as she said it. Perhaps she was trying to poke at Marc too much.

"Conny and I watched our parents die before our eyes. Submitting to the Preservers would be a poor way to repay them. Maybe we're not strong, but we're growing, and one day, we'll stop them," he said, finishing his plate and leaving.

Cassie grunted and sulked. She regretted what she said, but was it truly her fault for caring about her family? They were the only ones who knew and understood her as of right now. She sighed and washed out her bowl before joining Lillian.

Lillian was sitting on the floor, playing with Elijah. He was sitting in her lap, playing with a plastic toy. Cassie stared at the baby curiously. He mostly looked like Miguel, though those blue eyes were certainly from Irene.

"Oh, do you want to play with him?" Lillian asked.

"I don't know how," Cassie admitted. "I'm not that good with babies."

"Nonsense!" she exclaimed, setting Elijah into Cassie's lap. He glanced up at her, his blue eyes staring at her. There was something bright and powerful about them that she couldn't quite put her finger on.

"Talk to him," Lillian said.

"Hi," Cassie murmured, touching one of the soft brown hairs on his head.