The Secret

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

"Fellow Guardians," he began, "I know these last few days have been somewhat....troublesome, but we cannot let it get to us. The preparations are to continue were we left off, and we are putting Angus in charge of it. We have gotten word from Juan, we cannot yet tell you the contents of his message, but know he has a lead. For now, New hope. The Keepers have arrived!"

The room erupted into cheering, everyone turning to look at the Seven. Dottie leaned over to Eli whispering, "I feel like a display." He nodded but then the Protector continued.

"Mark and Reagan have been put in charge of them, and will see to their training." He continued for a time about something or another, what, the Seven had lost interest in trying to figure it out.

Finally Jaylynn appeared next to Dotti, positioning for her to follow. "Come. They'll be getting into a whole Gathering soon enough. Well be back before you guys are missed." The others heard the exchange too and followed her though a side door.

-----*******_______--------

Jay led them through a network of tunnels, caves, and corridors, explaining as she walked. One particularly large room was the Old Barracks, from when "the D.G.A.", or Dragon Guard Army, was still around. According to Jaylynn that had been over a century ago. Another room that caught the Seven's interest was the armory. From wall-to-wall stocked with perilous weapons of all kinds.

"Is that a dirk?"

"Yes. Ask Uncle Mark and he might train you with it."

"What about this mace? Looks old."

"That, my friend, was Geordie's mace. Let's see....what branch of the family are you on?"

"McGowan."

"Ah. Geordie was a Dent. So he was your....eighteenth cousin on your father's side?"

Ollie pipped in from across the room. "Geordie Dent? Wasn't he a professor of some kind?" Jay smiled. "Only in his spare time. He was a General for the Guardians after serving ten years in the D.G.A."

"You know all this by heart," Callie asked, a little amazed.

"Once you enter the world of the Protector's, your taught family history every day until it's stamped permanently into your head."

"I was hoping for a break from school, not more."

"Oh you have to go to school to," she said before exciting the room. "Come on. We'll be late if we don't hurry." When they caught up she continued. "Yeah. We don't just pull you guys from seventh, eight, and ninth grade and leave you like that. You have to at least graduate from high school. After a month of daily training you'll be sent to a boarding school in London. There you'll finish school and train two times a week."

"Thats it?"

Jay raised an eyebrow. "You think it's that simple?"

-----******_________-------

They found the dining hall empty, save for the Protectors and three others. They were in two groups, talking quietly, like they had all the time in the world. In one group was the white haired woman, one of the light haired men, Uncle Mark, and another woman. In the other was the dark haired man and woman, the other light haired man, and a short red haired boy.

"Thank Jay," the dark haired Protector said as he looked up and saw them. She nodded faintly and moved to stand beside Uncle Mark, the room quieting.

The Protector's exchanged looks, speaking with their eyes. Finally, the white haired woman walked over to the teenagers, a warm smile gracing her features.

"Hello children. I'm Christina, you can call me Chris or Christie. Are you comfortable here, do you have any questions?" Silence.

Dotti spoke a little hesitantly. "Q said our contact with the world will be limited. Does that include our parents? Because I know my mother wouldn't be satisfied with a, "hi mom, no need to worry. I'm doing great" note..."

"I believe Zach can answer your question better than I." She shot a pointed look at the dark haired man. He cleared his throat, throwing an equally sharp look at her before speaking to them.

"Ah yes. Your parents will be fine. I assume right now they'll be going crazy," that earned an elbow in the ribs from the dark haired woman, "but before a weeks out they will receive a letter of explanation."

Dan boldly spoke up. "Thats it? A letter of explanation?"

"You didn't let me finish. Besides, if your so worried, why did you accept?" Silence."as I was saying. They will receive a letter of explanation. Some may understand your decisions, some may not. If they don't, there is a scrum that will have them forget your absense. When you do go back, if you do go back, they will think you've just gone on a trip or some such notion. Of course, there is the possibility that they are too stronger for the potion. In that case they'll just have to accept what's happened."

The seven kids exchanged looks, some mumbling under their breath. Finally Dan looked up at the Protector. "Fine. But we don't agree with it."

"Very well. Now, on to something else. You have already met Chris. This is Natalie," he pointed to the dark haired woman, "and James," one of the fair haired Protectors, "and Lukas," the other fair haired man, "and I am Kayle." No one spoke of the two missing Protectors.

"I trust Jay has already told you of our plans for you," Natalie asked.

"About training and school? Yes."

She nodded. "I know this is all new to you, and confusing, just give it some time. You will begin training in two days." She shared a sly look with Christina. "And don't worry about Mr. Serious here, he's just a sour old man." The two woman burst out laughing. Kayle rolled his eyes.

"Off to bed now, Keepers. You have a big day tomorrow."

-----*******_______-------

In the darkness of the room where the new Seven slept, one of them tossed and turned. Sweat drenched her brow, her hands clenched and eyes tight, trying to block out the images in her dreams. Strange things fluttered around in her mind, things she would not remember when she awoke. A giant shadow looming over an army. A tremor rippling through the earth, destroying machines that were rolling across a flat terrain. Creatures, creatures that could not be identified, fighting, creating chaos all around them.

Something awful was coming.