Guerriera - The Old Guard

Chapter 2 - 2020

Again, everything was different now. Nearly 535 whole long years have past, and its been a wild ride. Well to summarise things, I met my people. 5 others just like me, all fighters and all immortal. However, we lost two. Everything died eventually.

Andy. She was the first woman that I had dreamed about that night and she was exactly like I had thought her to be. The first immortal, we learned everything from her and I admired her a lot. With us being the only women in the group, we tended to keep a look out for each other especially. She was incredibly strong, and brave and I had never knew someone so caring. Yet, I haven't seen her in a year. After more than 500 years working together, fighting together, she just needed a break. All of us understood.

Quynh, who we sadly lost, not long after I was found. She was an incredible warrior, and the second immortal after Andy. She was on the verge of giving up when Andy found her.

Booker. A soldier in Napoleon's army during the doomed invasion of Russia, Booker was one of the Frenchmen left freezing and starving when the Russians torched their own fields and cities in the dead of winter. Booker attempted to desert but was caught, dragged through the cold, and hanged from a noose, where he stayed for three days until the army moved on. We found him in 1812, and he's only 200 years old or so yet I see him as an older brother.

And Lastly, the two men who stole each half of my heart. Joseph and Nicolo. Nicky and Joe met each other as enemy combatants when a Christian army laid siege to a Muslim stronghold. They discovered their immortality by killing each other, and continued to kill each other each time they revived. Over the years their hate blossomed to love. Then I met them in 1493.

Over 500 years, all three of us just became inseparable. It wasn't sudden, it took me years to know that I loved these two beautiful men but when I knew I didn't act on it. I was scared, they were already in a relationship with each other and I felt like I would ruin it. However, when the year 1499 rolled around, I think all of us didn't care anymore about what happened. We gradually just became a 3 way relationship. We all loved each other so much, and we figured if were going to be alive for centuries to come then why not? At least we could all grow old together.

Before any of us were found by Andy and Quynh, there was one more of us. Lykon. Lykon died in combat, the first and only immortal to run out the clock. To us, Lykon serves as a visual demonstration that despite being functionally immortal, our powers will eventually fade and that we can indeed die. Although I've never met him, I pray every night hoping he has peace.

 I was currently travelling to Marrakesh by Motorbike. After 2 months of being away for personal reasons, I was finally travelling back to see my family. I was roughly 20 minutes away from our hotel. See, we've been here before and I know we don't do repeats so it definitely wasn't Andy who sent out the message. The message of a few school girls being held hostage, no matter how dangerous repeats are, I couldn't turn my back.

The inner city of Marrakesh was busy with people walking in every direction, and I slowly guided my way through the bustling streets. I came upon the inner square where their were a few tourists taking photos, so I turned my back to them and turned off my bike. I stood up and sat by the small running fountain in the middle. I waited.

"Ellie!" I heard a rough voice call out the shorter version of my old name. As time went on, we decided shorter names would be the best. They were easier to say, and allowed us to get each others attention quicker on jobs and as time changed so did names. I think we would catch a lot of peoples attention if called Andy, Andromache the Scythian. Or if I called Nicky, Nicoló di Genova.

I turned and smiled at the sight of two very beautiful people. Booker and Andy. I jogged up to them and immediately caught Booker in a tight hug. I sighed, the smell of whiskey hit my nose and comfort took immediate action through my body. I then hugged Andy tightly, its been a year since I've seen her and she hasn't aged a day. As we pulled away, I kissed her cheek and we turned to carry on walking to the man who sorts out hotel rooms etc.

"Welcome to El Fenn sir" The kind man said.

"Bonjour" replied Booker, as he pulled out his wallet. He continued talking to the man to sort out detail when I heard him ask what he came to Marrakesh for.

"Family..." Replied Booker as he looked at me awkwardly. I smiled and stepped forward to make the conversion less weird for him.

"Oh, your wife is very beautiful..." Said the checkout man quietly but kindly.

I laughed and cheekily slapped Bookers ass as he handed over the money, we then said our thank yous and walked quickly to our room. I suddenly got super nervous to see Nicky and Joe again. It had been 2 months, and I didn't talk to them much in that time. We walked up some stairs and came face to face with a wooden door with stained glass.

Booker went to knock but I held his wrist, I just needed time to catch my breath.

"You're going to be fine, they missed you like crazy. If your anxious about whether they're mad about you not calling them in 2 months, well I think you'll win the fight." said Booker as he held my hand gently.

I snickered, I could definitely not take Nicky and Joe in a fight. But it would sure as hell be fun to try. Its not like they've had like 400 more years of training than me. Booker knocked on the door again and I shuffled my way behind Andy.

Nicky walked up to the door first, and immediately spotted Andy but it was Andy who pulled him in to the hug. Nicky smiled and i could see how hard he hugged her, I think we all did really miss her but Nicky has always been so compassionate and caring about everyone. When they pulled away, Nicky turned to watch as Joe pulled Andy into a hug and spun her around. Booker grabbed my hand gently and pulled me into the hotel so he could close the doors.

Then before I knew it I was attacked. Not by a hug you see, but by a hard punch to the side of my arm. I held it tightly trying to diffuse the sudden pain. 

"Ow you fucker.." I said as I stared into Joes very dark brown eyes.

"I haven't seen you in 2 months, you never called." He said seriously, even his eyebrows were raised. I was in some serious shit.

"I know, I'm sorry love. I just needed time. I wanted to call you both so much but I couldn't. You have no idea how much I bloody missed you both. I'm sorry..." 

Joe towered over me, it seemed intimidating until he smiled. He pulled me into a tight hug and i sighed once more. Although I found comfort in Bookers whiskey smell, their was nothing like Joes fresh out of the shower smell, with a dash of lavender. When he pulled away from the hug we shared a small light kiss. 

Then I slowly turned to Nicky, although Joe hitting me hurt physically, it was Nicky who hurt the most. He was just frowning at me, as if I did something wrong. I hated how guilty he made me feel.

"Nicky, my love. I'm sorry." That's all I had in me. I never realised how much i needed them both so desperately.

I ran into his arms, and bumped harshly into his chest. My arms wrapped around his waist and his arms immediately found comfort around my shoulders, his hand resting on the back of my head, stroking my black hair. I inhaled his scent, pure lavender with a mix of pomegranate. Heaven, both of these incredible men smelled like different parts of heaven.

I'm home.