The Guardians (The Highest Order, Book One)

CHAPTER 19

'Is that blood?' I whispered, more to myself than anyone else, swallowing the bile that rose in my throat.

Marcel doesn't look phased by the sight, it was as if this was a daily occurrence for him. Worry still etched his face as he looked between, what appeared to be, some sort of mural and me.

I'm lost for words at the sight so when Marcel doesn't answer, I don't question, in fact, i take it as confirmation. Someone broke into my house and on the wall where my bed leaned against, painted symbols in blood. They were foreign to me, they meant nothing and yet everything in me screamed to get as far away from them as possible.

'Who's blood is it?' I ask in horror, not expecting a response as Marcel's phone rings again and he walks away, placing it against his ear, leaving me alone with it. Deep down, the thought that it was the blood of those missing children scratch at my mind, not allowing me to ignore it.

It was almost impossible for me to pull my eyes from it, even when the urge to throw up rose and fell within me, so when I do manage to look away, I refuse to let myself look back.

The sight was horrifying. How demented must a person be write on a wall in blood?

A hand falls onto my shoulder, starling me out of the thought. A scream rips through me as panic rose adn my heart raced.

'Don't do that!' I yell to a startled Kaleb, 'Are you crazy?'

'Maia's waiting for you at our house' He states simply. I'd never seen his look so serious. This side of Kaleb meant business.

'There's blood on my wall, Kaleb' I state dumbfounded, 'Blood. On. My. wall. And you aren't going to offer any explanation? You're just going to dismiss me, like there isn't BLOOD. ON. MY. WALL. I'm going crazy, that's the only explanation. I'm going crazy.'

Panic sets in like an old friend. One I most definitely hadn't missed. I place a hand on my forehead, 'Why is this happening?'

'Faith,' he places his two hands on my shoulders, levelling with me, 'I need you to leave.'

His words sting, burning into my soul. I know he doesn't mean anything by it, he's just trying to do his job but it still hurts.

Without another word, I leave the room.

True to Kaleb's word, Maia is waiting for me in the living room of the house next door. Worry laced her sun kissed face.

'Are you okay?' She starts, pulling me into a hug, dropping the contents of her hands, 'When Marcel called, Kaleb wouldn't tell me what was wrong, he was like some god damn man on a mission. I thought you were hurt!' Her eyes scan my face and body for any visual signs of distress or injury as I just stand there, stunned by her sudden outburst.

'Maia!' Scolds a voice from behind her, 'Let the girl breath'

Linor Bardin looked like her usual self. Her golden hair was pulled back messily into a knot at the back of her head. She wore faded blue jeans and a plaid shirt with an apron tied over. Baking phase, I noted.

She walks over to me, pulling me into a tight hug, 'The boys will find who's doing this.' She sounded confident, so very sure that whoever it was wasn't going to get away with it.

Pulling back she read the sceptical look on my face, 'Now, you girls head upstairs, maybe watch a movie, I'll bring some cookies up once they're baked' She looks between the two of us before landing her eyes on me, 'It's going to be okay, honey.'

She sends me a reassuring smile before turning and heading back to the kitchen, Maia rolls her eyes, 'She bakes a lot' she notes, 'especially when she's nervous'

Maia is the personification of her room. Everything is so neatly decorated and organized, I almost felt bad for stepping in it. Her walls were white, fairy lights hanging on the right wall where her bed rested. SHe had a vanity opposite her bed where a mirror was placed on the wall, also decorated in fairy lights.

Her floors were boarded with solid oak flooring and a cream rug place eloquently by her bed. Everything in it screamed Maia.

'I'm worried' I state, breaking the silence.

'You wouldn't be human if you weren't' she argues.

'Am I though?' I ask, sitting next to her on her perfectly made bed, 'Human, i mean. Kaleb seems pretty damn sure I'm this Beauregard chick and from what he's explained, she's the furthest thing from human.'

She takes a moment to reply, pondering her answer, 'I don't know Faith,' She lets out a breath, 'Alya Beauregard was special to all of us, Kaleb especially. He's been looking for her for so long, it's hard to be sure if he's right, you know?'

Maia looks at me with a soft smile, her blue eyes sad, 'Would it really be so bad?'

'If not being human means I've got demons painting demonic symbols on my wall in blood, then yeah, Maia, I guess it would be bad if i wasn't human'

'I'm sorry we dragged you into this' She lays back, with her hands crossed behind her head.

'Don't be,' I reassure her, 'But the sooner this thing gets out of town, the better'

Maia lets out a breath in agreement and for a few seconds we stay there, in silence, until I speak up, 'What was she like?' I start, 'Alya Beauregard?'

A smile makes its way to her face, 'She was a lot of you actually, she was so easy to talk to, even at the age of six. The way she saw the world, it was so different and unique. There was no evil in her world, only the misunderstood, and she sought to understand them. Dad was convinced it was going to get her killed and for the longest time, we thought it did. Everything was... happy when Alya was around.'

'She was going to be queen.' She states, finally.

'Huh?' I ask, a dumb struck look on my face.

'Kaleb didn't tell you that?' She starts, a different smile rising on her face, 'The Beauregards were more than just Guardians. They were the Guardians, the original family who brought peace to our people and in return, they gave them titles, crowns, jewels. Our people worshipped them like Gods. They basically were.'

'Where do Knights fit it then?' I ask curiously.

'Knights are the soldiers, the police, the hunter. Well, really, we're whatever our Guardian charge needs us to be. A friend, a protector, a brother or sister. Our blood determines who we protect, so the Bardin's and the Beauregard's are blood-bound, it's how Kaleb knew who you were when he saw you. It's why you aren't intimidated by us the way everybody else is' She turns to her side, looking at me, 'You're destined for greatness, whether you hold the Beauregard name or not, it's in your blood'

I close my eyes, lying back to level with her, staring at the ceiling, 'I don't want greatness' I say with a sigh, 'I don't want to be responsible for the lives of entire people, an entire race. I want to graduate high school, go to college, get a bachelors, get a kickass job and maybe have a few kids, but not this, not constantly looking over my shoulder for 'demons' or 'bounty hunters''

She sits up, leaning on her elbows, still turnt to look at me, 'I know this world may seem excessive, Faith, but it's like every other world, there's good and bad in equal measures. You were born to be in this world. Literally. And who's to say you can't go to college and get a kickass job - you write your story, however the hell you wanna write, but I'll be damned if I'm not right there by your side when you do.'

In her final word, she throws her body over my, engulfing me in a bone breaking hug, 'Like it or not, you're family and I know this world seems daunting at first, but I promise you it's worth every single risk you take.'

She pulls back with tears in her eyes and I almost miss the fact that I've got them pooling in my own.

'Mom's going to kill me when she sees the house.' Was my only response.

~~❤Word Count = 1389❤~~