The shock of seeing the once vibrant “party girl” now weakened, and near death, renders the Guardians speechless. The only being to break the silence is Arden herself. She moans softly and opens her infected eyes. The black cracks spread from the whites of her eyes and run down her once beautiful face.
“Hi, baby girl,” Jay whispers as he kneels by her bedside and takes her hand in his.
“Hot chocolate, my favorite.” She says, forming a weak smile.
“Do you need anything?” Miku asks eagerly.
“No, this is perfect. Bryne is the new black,” she jokes.
“Are you cold, do you want some more blankets?” Ameana asks.
“No, what I need is for you to take care of my loved ones; my family,” she replies.
“We’ll look after Rahell, please don’t worry about that,” Miku vows.
“No, not her, I mean the true loves of my life: Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Tom Ford, Coco…”
“Is she delirious?” I ask.
“No, she wants to make sure her closet is well cared for,” Ameana says, smiling.
“Give them to people who truly understand what they mean; people who don’t own sweat pants.”
“I will take care of it,” Ameana promises.
“Stop talking like that, nothing is going to happen to you; right, Marcus?” Rahell asks.
He looks at Rahell, but doesn’t reply. Emmy, sensing the enormous strain Marcus is under, tries to help.
“You know, there are a lot of really hot guys here, is that why you chose this place?” She asks Arden.
“Well, if a girl’s gonna die, she should be near hot guys. It’s a rule.”
“Arden, stop it! You are not dying!” Rahell insists.
Arden tries to answer Rahell, but groans instead. The waves of pain she is now feeling stop her from talking.
“It’s okay, save your energy. You should recharge now, I have to talk to Marcus and the team alone, I’ll be right back,” Rahell promises.
Arden closes her eyes and within seconds she is still. Rahell takes us off to the side so that we won’t be over heard.
“How long does she have?” Miku asks.
“I don’t know. Bryne spreads at different rates, depending on the soul it’s attacking,” Rahell replies.
“You don’t have anything that can at least slow it down?” Rage asks.
“No, Demon, I don’t!” Rahell snaps.
“He’s just trying to help,” Ameana replies.
“Well, I’m sorry if I have a trouble accepting his help, after all, he’s the reason my sister is suffering.”
“It’s not his fault; Wolf’s the one being vengeful,” Ameana counters.
“It’s fine, Ameana, I don’t care what she thinks,” Rage replies.
“No, you don’t care, that’s the problem with you Demons,” Rahell says.
“Look, you want me to leave, chick, just say so,” Rage barks.
“Yes, I do want you to go.”
“Fine, Ameana, let’s go.”
“No. Rahell, I know you’re pissed, but Rage is a part of this team, now. If you want our help, that includes Rage, too,” Ameana says.
“Is that the case, Marcus?” Rahell asks.
Marcus looks around at the team and replies. “He’s with us. He’s not an Angel or anything, but he’s been helpful.”
“You know what? I really don’t give a damn about who you do or do not let into your team. All I want is for my sister to get better.”
“Rahell, I’m so sorry this is happening,” Marcs replies.
“I don’t need you to be sorry, Marcus, I need you to go find the first Alpha.”
“I can’t do that,” he replies in a soft, but certain voice.
“YOU’RE GONNA LET ARDEN DIE?”
“Rahell, please calm down. We know it’s hard for—” Ameana says.
“—I’m not talking to you, Ameana. Marcus Cane, I want you to look me in the eye and tell me that you are willing to let my sister die to save an Akon’s child!”
Marcus’s clenches his jaw and gasps with frustration. He forces himself to look Rahell in the eye as he addresses her. “If we make any attempts to start this mission, they will kill the Sib. I can’t do that.”
“My sister put her life on the line to help you and your team, I carried your teammates Reese and Rio to Difi myself. When everyone said you were going to mess up as First Guardian, I stood by you. I have never asked you for anything, anything at all. Marcus, this is the first and only time I will ever ask you for a favor. Please, please go on the mission.”
“I’m sorry, Rahell,” Marcus says, in genuine agony.
“You’re killing her; she’s all I have and you’re killing her!” She cries as she runs back to check on Arden.
We can hear Arden moaning in pain as Rahell covers her up with another blanket. We start to head back over to them.
“GET OUT!” Rahell shouts as we come closer.
“As soon as the Paras agree to let the Sib—”
“—I SAID GET OUT!” Rahell screams.
Marcus is about to say something, but Emmy signals for him not to speak. Ameana tells the leader it would be best if we all left.
As we head back towards the exit, Marcus asks me if I read Arden’s mind. I say yes and he asks me what she was thinking.
“The whole time Arden was talking to us, she only had one thought,” I reply.
“What was it?”
“I don’t want to die…”
Once outside, instead of taking off into the air, we start walking. A heavy silence falls upon us as we make our way down the streets of Greenland. Finally, after minutes of tortured silence, one of us speaks.
“Okay, what is?” Marcus asks, stopping to face us.
We all look at each other but no one says anything. Marcus shoves his hand into his pocket and bites his lower lips as if to keep him from saying something he’ll regret.
“Someone say something. I know you all have something to say so, say it,” Marcus orders.
“Okay, not to be like that, but the party girl has helped us in the past. And she doesn’t deserve to die like that,” Jay says.
“I agree, but we don’t have a choice. You know the Paras are just waiting us out, certain we will give in and if we do, that’s it for Ameana’s son,” Marcus reminds him.
“I know, but…”
“But what, Jay?” Marcus pushes.
“Nothing,” he says, looking a way.
“Stop beating around the damn bush and say—”
“—You should have talked to us before you said no!” Jay explodes.
“What?”
“Yo, I’m feel’n you on saving the Sib, but after finding out about Bryne and who it’s infected, we should have talked about this as a group. Instead, you just went off and made your own decision without us. That’s shady, man,” Jay replies.
“And what would talking have done? The situation would not have changed,” Marcus argues.
“That’s not the point; Arden deserves at least a conversation about how to save her.”
“You think I’m happy about this?” Marcus asks.
“I think you’re sending our friend to her death and you wrong for that, Marcus!”
“You guys really need to step back from each other,” Miku says as the two Guardians get closer and closer.
“What is it you want me to do? Huh? You want to tell Ameana that her son’s life is going to end? Fine, she’s right here, tell her!” Marcus shouts.
“I’m sorry about the Sib, you know that, but it’s no longer about one person. Hundreds of them are dying. We can’t just stand here and let it happen,” Jay counters.
“Jay, it’s not my fault she’s dying.”
“Whatever, man, it’s never your fault!” Jay accuses.
“Arden is family to me, too, but there’s nothing I can do for her.”
“Yeah, but if it were Emmy, you’d figure something out, right?” Jay shouts.
“Jay…don’t,” Miku warns him as she studies the two Angels, now only inches apart, both seething with rage.
“You got something you wanna say to me, Jay, don’t punk out; say it,” Marcus challenges.
“If Emmy contracted the virus, you would have said to hell with the Sib and gotten the Alpha back, but since it’s not Emmy, you don’t give a damn. Maybe if Arden had slept with you, you’d let her live.”
Marcus charges at Jay, the two collide and hit the ground. We call out for them to stop, but they are now in full attack mode.
Jay slams his fist into Marcus’s face, causing Marcus to lose his balance. Marcus rebounds and strikes Jay in the midsection, Jay groans as he doubles over. Marcus is about to attack again, but Jay Glides and Marcus misses his target. The more they fight the angrier they get.
The team shouts for me to pause them with my powers, but they are moving too fast for me to get a shot and freeze them. Miku says she doesn’t want to sing and hurt them.
Finally, Rage takes to the air and is able to divide them. He summons up a fire ball to get their attention.
“Hey, enough!” Rage shouts.
“YOU WANT THIS JOB, JAY, COME AND TAKE IT FROM ME!” Marcus roars.
“MAN, FUCK YOU!”
Marcus glares at him. I’ve never seen the First Guardian seething, so livid. He lands back on the ground. He orders Jay to land. Jay reluctantly follows orders.
“Turn around.” Marcus orders.
“Marcus, no.” Ameana says.
Marcus ignores her. Miku begs him not to do what he’s about to do, but again, Marcus does not respond.
“Jayden, turn around!” Marcus orders again. The chill in his voice causes me to shiver.
Without a word, Jay turns away so that the back of his head is now facing Marcus.
“What’s he gonna do?” I ask Emmy in a whisper.
“He’s going to press on the Deck behind Jay’s head.” Emmy says, in deep dismay.
Emmy explains to me what it means for the leader to touch the spot on the back of a Guardian’s head, called a Deck. Jay’s body shakes uncontrollably for several seconds.
When Marcus is done, Jay has, for the time being, lost both his wings and his powers.
By the time we get back to the villa, Rahell has called Marcus no less than thirty times.
Each time the conversation ends the same way—Rahell begging and Marcus patiently telling her he can’t do anything to help.
“You could send her to voicemail,” I offer.
“No, if I were her, I would be calling every second, too,” Marcus replies.
“Hey, can I talk to you?” Rage says as he enters the spacious living room.
“Yeah.”
They go off a few yards away. Rage looks serious and stressed; although not as stressed as Marcus. The leader looks down right drained.
“What is it?” He asks Rage.
“I wanted to know if…you know…”
“No, Rage, I don’t know,” Marcus says, slightly irritated.
“I wanted to know if you, like…you need me to do anything.”
“No, just take care of Ameana. She’s pretending she’s not stressed out, but she is,” Marcus says.
Rage nods and heads out to the patio. Marcus calls out to him before he reaches the double doors.
“Hey, Rage…thanks…for asking.”
“Yeah, okay.” He replies as he leaves the room.
“Miku texted me, she’s gonna stay with Jay until he cools off,” Emmy says as she enters.
“Oh,” Marcus says simply.
Emmy and I exchange a look of sympathy.
“I’m gonna check on Ameana,” I offer.
As I head out of the room, they begin to talk. He really needs her right now. Maybe this means they are finally starting to see how much they need each other. I listen in and hope I’m right this time.
“Are you gonna give Jay his powers back?” Emmy asks the leader.
“Eventually. I can’t believe they haven’t called. Why is Wolf doing this?” Marcus asks.
“His heart’s broken. He’s just trying anything to fix it.”
“How is this gonna fix anything?”
“You think if you hurt the person that hurt you, it will make everything right again.”
“Does it?”
“No; but by the time Wolf learns that, it’ll be too late.”
“Did I ever tell you about the first time we met Arden?” Marcus asks.
“No.”
“The team was in Daraquin, training, and we had downtime so she threw a bash to welcome us. In a matter of minutes, she was able to organize a dozen shadow servants, a live band and a full Coy bar.”
“That sounds like her.”
“Everyone dismisses Arden as a pretty face with no purpose, but that night, at the party, we all went from just teammates to actual friends. She helped us do that. She also helped us save the witness to the Triplex location, and how do I repay her? By refusing to save her life.”
“Marcus, you can’t take this on too. You aren’t the reason why this is happening,” Emmy replies.
I don’t hear Marcus’s reply because at the exact time, Ameana comes running down the hallway with a globe in her hand. She zooms past me and I follow her, as does Rage. She enters the living room.
“Miku texted me, she broke a Splash and she thought you should read it…” Ameana announces.
“Why do I need to see it?” Marcus pushes.
“Not you. Emmy,” Ameana replies.
“Okay, break it,” Emmy says.
Ameana hurls the globe at the wall and late edition of the Splash gathers for us to read.
The Love That Never Was
Hello my winged ones. I have very troubling news to report. It seems that we have been lied to. The human and Marcus were, in fact, never in love. According to the First Guardian’s wife, the human has stalked him ever since they met last year. However, the First Guardian has never returned her feelings.
How is it possible to be hunted and stalked by a mere human? Well, we have an exclusive interview with the First Guardian’s wife, Bianca Cane. In this interview she reveals the terrible ordeal she and her husband have suffered at the hands of the human.
IM: Tell us Mrs. Cane, what has life been like with this stalker and why can’t Marcus get rid of her?
Mrs. Cane: My husband is a hero, and like all heroes, he is a victim of his own kindness. He saved Emerson a few times, as that was his job, but since then she has been unable or unwilling to let him go. She insists on going on missions, following him home, it’s really gotten out of hand.
IM: So Marcus was never in love with her?
Mrs. Cane: No, he never loved her. He felt bad for her and she mistook those feelings for love. I tried to ignore the situation, but now that the media is reporting that my marriage to my husband may be a fraud, I just have to speak out. This Emerson girl has ruined his past relationships, but I wil not allow her to ruin our marriage.
IM: Is that what she is trying to do?
Mrs. Cane: Yes, that’s why I came today to clear this up. My husband knows the human is unstable, that’s why he moved out for a while. He didn’t want her to come after me; so, for his wife’s safety, he sought out a new residence.
IM: Rumor has it she is there as well.
Mrs. Cane: You see what I mean about her obsession? I have tried to make allowances, given her mental state, but enough is enough.
IM: Her mental state?
Mrs. Cane: Yes, she was so obsessed with my husband that, while he was on a mission to save his fallen teammate Rio, she followed him to Difi. She literarily followed him to hell.
IM: There have been rumors of the two of them going to Difi together…
Mrs. Cane: Yes, well that’s why her poor mother was kiled. She went Difi and as a punishment for being where she wasn’t supposed to be, her mother was filleted open and her body discarded on the kitchen floor.
IM: Such a sad situation.
Mrs. Cane: Indeed, that’s why I try to be patient with her. Her mental state is fragile. My mental state would be fragile too if it was my fault my mother was killed…
We watch as Emmy finishes the article. None of us knew what to expect. Ameana tells her not to worry about it and that the Splash is always lying about her, too. Rage says everyone knows Bianca’s full of it and to let it go. Marcus is fuming. He picks up his cell to call his wife.
Emmy begs him to put down his cell. Her eyes fill with tears; she lowers her head and asks that everyone leave the room except me. The team says they want to stay, but she begs for them all to go while she sobs into her hands. I signal to Marcus that I will look after her. Finally, the team leaves us alone.
“Emmy, don’t cry. We know you aren’t to blame for your mom’s death. Please, don’t cry,” I beg her.
She looks up at me. There are no tears in her eyes. The sobbing, the shaking and labored breathing were all an act. Emmy isn’t weeping and broken, she’s calculating and focused.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“Eta, if Marcus realizes I’m not upset, he’ll wonder why and force me to tell him my plans. Then he will try and stop me.”
“Stop you from what?”
“Destroying Bianca.”