Guardian

Chapter Twelve

I sure as hell don't look like a professional bodyguard. Yang thought to herself as she caught a glimpse of her reflection in a window. In an attempt to come off more presentable she zipped up her leather jacket, hiding the bright yellow top underneath, and tried to tame her mane of hair by pulling it back into a ponytail. Convinced she wasn't going to get any better, she shouldered her way into Ghira's office.

"Good you're here!" Ghira grinned from his desk. He was tapping his pen against the wood nervously until Saber touched him on the shoulder, a silent reminder to stop fidgeting.

"Wouldn't miss it," Yang halfheartedly joked. In reality she was just as nervous as the gentle giant seemed.

She stood at the other end of his desk, completely parallel to Saber and copied his stance. Shoulders back, straight stare, feet shoulder width apart, and hands rested in front. It was silent, eerily so, until there was a knock on the door.

Ghira took deep breath and all signs of nervousness left with his exhale. "Enter." He was loud and concise.

The door swung open and a woman donned in a red robe entered. She had short, black hair, mocha skin that was covered in stripped tattoos, and the tiger ears on top of her head stood straight up. She held herself almost regally. After dismissing the two guards she had with her she sat in the chair across from Ghira and leaned back, crossing one leg over the other in a way that wasn't incredibly lady like but it did reveal that she had black pants under the robe.

Blake didn't tell me she was hot! Yang panicked in her mind but kept her face emotionless.

"Welcome Sienna," Ghira offered her a small, albeit fake, smile.

"Ghira," Sienna's voice was smooth. "Bold of you to let a human in on this meeting."

Yang chewed on the inside of her cheek to keep from speaking. She hasn't even looked at me how can she tell I'm human?

Ghira gestured in Yang's direction. "This is Yang Xiao Long. She's Blake's personal bodyguard."

Sienna's face fell in genuine concern. "I heard about the attempts on your life Ghira. Please know that I had nothing to do with that."

He held up his hand. "I never thought you did. As much as we butt heads our end goal in the same. But I didn't ask you here to talk about me Sienna."

"Then why did you ask me here? Surely it wasn't for tea," she made a mocking gesture at the tea kettle next to him.

"I asked you here to talk about the violent attacks on innocent humans."

Sienna sighed. "I didn't order those attacks Ghira."

"But you know who did."

She rubbed her temples and nodded. "I'll take that tea if you don't mind," Ghira poured her and himself a glass. He offered one to Saber and Yang but both refused. As thirsty as she actually was, Yang didn't want to deviate her attention from the matter at hand. "It's Adam," Sienna sighed after taking a sip. "I sent him on a recon mission months ago but he's gone dark. And he's taken a few of my followers with him."

"Have you tried to bring him in?" Ghira didn't seemed shocked and neither was Yang. They both knew he was likely behind it.

"I'm not a fool," she hissed. "I've sent multiple agents after him but he's either gone by the time they get to his last known location or they come back to me in caskets."

"He's always been like this. Surely you've noticed."

Sienna finished her tea and gently set the cup down on Ghira's desk. "I may not be a fool but he sure as hell played me for one. He always had a reason for every accident he had. Self defense, they double crossed him, or the informants boss found out and killed them. There was never any witnesses so I could never question what happened and thus couldn't question his loyalty. It's likely that he is behind the attempts on you and your family's life. He's never agreed with your ways Ghira and you know him and Blake ended on bad terms."