Wilder: The Guardian Series (27 page)

“How do I do that?”

“You must rely on your instincts. You said that you
can
feel danger when it is near you so you must listen to
your body’s natural response. Remember that your enemies do not know that you
can sense their true nature. Use that to get the upper hand from the onset.”

Celeste nodded listening intently.

“I’d like to try something. Roman, go get the blind fold from
the weapons trunk in the garage.” In a flash, Roman was
back
firmly tying the black blindfold around Celeste’s eyes.

 
“Celeste, put all
your energy in concentrating on ‘the feeling’ and see if you can detect from
which direction Roman is coming at you from.”

Celeste stood very still and took a few deep breaths before
delving inside herself to find the source of her premonitions. It was difficult
since she hardly felt it anymore around Roman. She searched deeper within, and
she felt a tiny pang in the pit of her stomach that something wasn’t quite
right. She lunged to her left just in time, plunging her sword into Roman’s
chest.

“Bravo!” said Stellan clapping.

“That was dangerously close to my heart, Celeste,” said
Roman. He pulled the sword out while muttering a few expletives.

She pulled the blindfold up over her head and saw the bloody
wound on his chest. “Oops, sorry! I couldn’t see with the blindfold on, and
Stellan told me to follow my instincts.”

“Next time, try to be more careful or you’re going to have to
find yourself a new training partner.”

“That’s enough for today. Roman, why don’t you go get
yourself cleaned up, and I’ll finish off with some meditating with Celeste.”

“She’s all yours.”

Roman limped back to the house clutching the open wound in
his chest, and Celeste sat down with legs crossed next to Stellan on the lawn.

“Now do you see why the meditating is so important?” Stellan
asked.

“Yes, I think I am starting to,” Celeste agreed.

“It is very important for your mind to be centered so that
you can fully tap into your gifts. I’m sure Dante mentioned that to you as well
when you were summoned by the Council. That was another reason why I didn’t
want Roman to be here during your training. I may be an old man, but I am not
blind, and I see the way you look at each other.”

Celeste reddened at the thought of having this awkward
conversation with Stellan.

“Love is a beautiful thing, my dear, but it can become a
weakness. It clouds our judgment, not just yours, but his too. Be careful that
it doesn’t put you both at risk.”

“Is that what you told my father too?”

Stellan chuckled. “You are a quick one Celeste. Yes, of
course I did. When your father came to me seeking my counsel about your mother,
I had to advise against their relationship. As a member of the Council it was
my responsibility to remind your father that his duty as a Guardian came
first.”

“And what did he say?”

“He didn’t listen to me of course. He, and in this you two
are very much alike, gave me a list of reasons why he should be with your
mother. He was very stubborn, that father of yours, but ultimately he was
right. He succeeded in accomplishing his duties as a Guardian as well as a
husband and eventually a father.”

“Until he was killed.”

“Yes, that is true, but had he listened to me he would have
undoubtedly died eventually as we all do. But without ever experiencing true
love, having a family, and bringing you into this world.”

“Then why do you want Roman and me to stay away from each
other if you think my father was right in wanting both?”

“Because, my dear Celeste, your mother was not a vampire.”

***

“So how is Nico doing with vampire obedience training?” asked
Celeste as she and Roman strolled hand in hand through the moonlit woods. The
peaceful sounds of the forest drowned out the frenetic day of training. The
only sounds that broke the stillness were the crunching of dead leaves
underfoot or the occasional mouse scurrying across their path.

“He said he’s making some progress. It’s slow, but Dani
doesn’t seem to want to rip every human’s head off anymore.”

“That’s promising. So he’s been taking her out in public?”

“Yes, but not in Oak Bluffs. He’s been driving her to Falls
River or Youngstown at night so that no one will recognize her. As long as she
has fed before being near people, she’s been able to hold it together.”

“I just hope that she can go home one day to her family.”

Roman stopped walking and leaned against a towering oak. A
hint of sadness flashed through his eyes. “It’s hard for vampires to live among
humans, even well-adjusted ones. Dani would have to tell her family what she
is, and unfortunately that doesn’t always go over well. Even if they did come
to accept what she is, after a few years the good old citizens of Oaks Bluffs
would notice that she hasn’t aged a bit and become suspicious. She wouldn’t be
able to stay there for long.”

“Right, I guess I hadn’t thought about that,” she said. “So
does that mean that you and Nico won’t be staying in Oak Bluffs for long
either?”

“We never really can Celeste. Even if it weren’t for Fabian
chasing us, after at most five to ten years most people would start to notice
that I’m just too devilishly handsome for a thirty-year-old.”

“This isn’t funny Roman. When were you planning on telling me
this?”

“We’ve only been back in Oak Bluffs for a few months now,
Celeste. I figured we still had time. And I thought it would be a little
presumptuous of me to start talking about our future since most of our days
together involve you kicking, cutting, stabbing or staking me.”

Celeste couldn’t help but crack a smile.

“Besides, you’re the one that is leaving me at the end of the
summer when you go off to college,” said Roman.

“Leaving you?” she asked. “Are you implying that we are
together?” she asked with a mischievous grin.

“I don’t know, does it?”

“You are exasperating Roman Constantin!” whined Celeste,
playfully punching him in the stomach.

“I love you, Celeste,” he said, taking her by surprise. He
pulled her close to him and took her face in his strong hands. “I’ve never
loved anyone the way that I love you, and I’m sorry that I waited this long to
say it.”

Celeste barely waited for the last word to come out of his
mouth before jumping into his arms, her lips passionately locking onto his.

The next few weeks continued in much the same way: a
never-ending cycle of waking, training, meditating and sleeping. In spite of
Stellan’s original wishes, Roman stayed with Celeste the entire time. As tough
as Stellan tried to be, he couldn’t deny Roman’s value and he didn’t have the
heart to kick him out. Celeste was progressing much more rapidly than anyone
had anticipated, and Stellan frequently found himself watching her proudly as
she pinned Roman to the floor on numerous occasions.

“Nico!” said Celeste as she ran into his arms as he hurried
up the walkway.

“Hello little brother,” said Roman just behind her. “It’s
good to see you.”

“I think this fresh country air is doing wonders for you.
I’ve never seen you look so relaxed brother,” said Nico.

“It’s the company,” chimed in Celeste with a big smile.

Dani lurked nervously by the car until Stellan finally
invited her into the house. Roman stood protectively by Celeste’s side watching
her every move as she neared.

“Hi Dani Lynn, how are you?” she asked.

“I’m doing a lot better, thanks. I can smell your blood, but
I don’t have a blinding urge to tear into your neck anymore.”

Celeste recalled that subtlety had never been one of Dani
Lynn’s strong suits, and apparently it hadn’t improved when she became a vampire.
 
“That’s great to hear Dani. And since
we’re being up front, I might as well tell you that if you try to bite me, I’ll
stab you in the heart without blinking.”

“Sounds fair,” she responded.

“I almost hope she tries,” said Nico. “That would be a sight
I would love to see!”

“Watch it Nico or else I‘ll have to show you some of my
moves,” teased Celeste.

“Now that would be something
I’d
like to see,” said Roman.

“I’ve heard she’s been mopping up the floor with you
brother.”

“I think ‘mopping up the floor’ is a bit of an exaggeration,
but yes, she has come quite a long way – due in large part to my
relentless motivational training.”

“Oh, I don’t doubt that,” said Nico.

“Come on now children, enough of that trash talk as they say.
Let’s sit down for dinner and Celeste can show Nico what she’s learned tomorrow
morning,” said Stellan as he ushered them all into the candle-lit dining room.

The following morning Celeste and Roman were up early for a
jog followed by a round of hand-to-hand combat in the backyard. Roman held
Celeste with both of her arms immobilized behind her back. She threw herself
forward, tucking her chin to her chest and somersaulted to the ground taking
Roman down with her. He landed flat on his back with a ground-shaking thud.

“Impressive,” said Nico as he came out on the porch to watch.

“Feel free to tag me out,” said Roman breathing hard.

Faster than Celeste’s eyes could follow, Nico had switched
places with Roman and he was coming at her. She ducked and missed his first
blow then followed up with a leg sweep that sent him crashing to the ground.
She hurdled on top of him and held a stake hovering just inches from his chest,
a satisfied grin on her face.

“I was going easy on you,” he said.

“Well, don’t!” Celeste ordered.

Dani joined Roman on the porch where she was shielded from
the morning sun to watch Nico and Celeste now sparring with long swords.

“She’s pretty good,” she said.

“Yes, she’s getting there.”

“So guardians are like vampire hunters right?”

“Something
like
that. They protect
the human world from all evil supernatural beings.”

“And are they strong like us? She seems to be.”

“Not quite as strong, but certainly not your average human
either.”

“How many guardians are there?”

“It’s hard to say exactly, but no more than a dozen around
the world at any given time,” instructed Roman.

“So if I don’t get on Celeste’s bad side, I should be pretty
safe from getting a stake in the heart, right?”

“Yes, it’s pretty unlikely that you will come across another
guardian in your lifetime, unless you do something very bad.”

“Like what?” Dani Lynn inquired.

“Like go on a murderous killing spree, leaving countless
bodies in your wake. Then the Council would send a guardian to find you and end
your life.”

“You say that like you’ve seen it happen before.”

“I have,” Roman said and walked away.

As a reward for Celeste’s tireless training and rapid
progress, Stellan had agreed to allow her friends to come visit for the day.
Natalie had been texting non-stop since Celeste had left town, but she hadn’t
heard much from Brian at all. So Celeste was surprised when Natalie told her
that they would be coming up together.

“Hi!” said Natalie as she ran up the walk. “I missed you so
much!”

“I missed you too,” said Celeste returning her enthusiastic
hug.

Brian came up behind them and nearly toppled them all over as
he eagerly joined in the embrace.

“How are you stranger?” Celeste said to Brian, searching his
eyes.

“I’m good Cel. It’s really great to see you.”

“Come on in, I’ll introduce you to my Uncle Stellan,” said
Celeste as Stellan stepped out of the kitchen.

“This is such a lovely home you have,” said Natalie as she
walked around the large open living room.

“Make yourselves at home children. Celeste has told me much
about both of you. I’m sure you have a lot of catching up to do so I will make
myself scarce,” said Stellan, retreating into his study.

“So how come I never heard about this uncle?” asked Brian
once he was out of earshot.

“He’s not really my uncle, just an old friend of my dad who
recently moved back to the area.”

“Can we go outside? It looks so beautiful out back,” said
Natalie. She had been checking out the backyard through the oversized window.

“Yeah, I was thinking we could go for a hike in the forest.
There’s a river about a mile away, and we can go for a swim too.”

“Sounds cool,” said Brian.

Natalie went to one of the guestrooms to change, leaving
Brian and Celeste looking at each other uneasily.

“So how’s your summer been? Too busy to text your best friend
back?” she asked finally.

“Sorry about that. I joined this summer basketball team, and
I’ve been playing every day. Between that and helping out with Maxi the weeks
have flown by.”

“Okay, I just wanted to make sure you weren’t avoiding me or
something.”

“Maybe just a little bit,” he admitted. “I think this is the
longest amount of time that we’ve spent apart, and I figured I should start
getting used to being without you. I’ve spent most of my life in love with you
without really knowing it, and now I have to try to move on.”

Brian spoke so nonchalantly, and it made Celeste’s heart
hurt. But she knew he was right. “I understand that, and I’m trying to give you
your space. It’s just hard because I miss you so much,” Celeste admitted.

“I miss you too, Cel.”

Trekking through the tranquil forest with two of her oldest
friends, Celeste felt oddly normal. The thick foliage overhead provided a
respite from the scorching noon sun, but still the drops of sweat trickled down
her back relentlessly. She longed to jump into the refreshing waters of the
river ahead.