Guardians: The Triplex (The Guardians Series, Book 4)

  All of us at the table exchange a glance. Marcus is in such a hurry, he stumbles over his words.

  “Wait, are you sure—how do you—why are you—”

  “Stop it!” I shout at Chance. My voice echoes in the room. Everyone turns towards me.

  “Look, I’m sorry but it’s not fair to keep Marcus hoping for something that’s never going to come. I have read the story of Isis and Demetri a million times. It’s just a story. There were no star-crossed lovers. No blue rain. No Amulet.”

  “Emmy, calm down,” Miku says.

  “No. Look, Prima Ballerina, I’m not gonna let you mess with the people I love by giving them false hopes. If the story was true, it would mean that Lucy killed Demetri. That means she also destroyed the Amulet. It’s time everyone just accepted the fact that I’m going to die.”

  “C’mon baby girl, everything’s gonna be fine—”Jay starts.

  “It’s not. I have to die. That sucks but at least I have a few weeks. Why can’t everyone just leave things alone and let me enjoy the time I have left?”

  Marcus’s face falls. Looking at his expression makes my heart sink. He wanted so much for there to be another way. I get up and take his hand.

  “I’m sorry,” I whisper to him quietly.

  He can’t bring himself to look at me.

  “Will you please allow the ‘ballerina’ to finish?” Chance says.

  “Rio is she lying?” Marcus asks.

  “No but she does have secrets,” he replies.

  “I never said I didn’t” Chance retorts.

  “Let her finish,” Jay says.

  “As I was saying, the story is real. But at the same time, the story is untrue.”

  “I don’t get it,” Miku says.

  “Demetri and Isis did fall in love. They did have triplets and The Council did tempt Demetri with infinite power. What isn’t known is that the Amulet contained nothing. The Council had tricked Demetri.”

  “Great, so this guy killed his three daughters for nothing,” Jay says, clearly disgusted.

  “Demetri was a smart Demon. He was sure the Council would never give him that kind of power. Still he wanted to see what was inside. When he was finally able to open the Amulet, there was no power to be found.”

  “So, even if the story was true, there’s nothing in the Amulet,” Marcus says, mostly to himself.

  “Yes, but he was victorious in that he was able to open it.”

  “He had to kill his daughters, how is that victory?” I ask.

  “His daughters are alive and well.”

  “How do you know?” Marcus asks.

  “I am one of them,” she smiles sweetly and signals off to the side. Just then two other girls appear on the elevated platform. Aside from different hair styles, all three of them look exactly alike.

  “This is my middle sister, Choice,” Chance says.

  Choice’s shining silver hair frames her perfect face and cascades down her back. Judging from the smirk on her face, she is enjoying the attention as she takes her seat in the throne beside her sister.

  “And this is my youngest sister, Charity.”

  Charity is a carbon copy of her older sisters, except her silver hair is in a mass of shimmering, loose curls. She is biting her nails as she heads to her throne. She never looks up at us, only at the floor. Once they are all seated, Chance addresses us:

  “We are the daughters of Isis and Demetri. As you can see, our father cast the Dy out of us safely. We will show you how to do the same for the one you love. The question, First Guardian is this: If we help you, will you help us?”

  “I will give you anything,” Marcus vows, still shocked at the sight of the triplets.

  Bemused, Chance answers him.

  “No, Guardian. We don’t require anything from you. We require everything.”

  CHAPTER SIX: ADAM CITY

  “My father was worried that we weren’t born with wings. He thought maybe they would appear later. That was not the case. As the years went on, we simply never gained the ability to fly. My father was certain we were cursed by the Council for the actions he and my mother took.

  “Than one day, he stumbled on to this area and was shocked to discover that his daughters weren’t the only ones who had powers but no wings. Thousands of beings were created the same way.

  “It was then he uncovered the secret that the Council had been hiding: humans and Angels have been mating for several Cycles. Their offspring are Angel/Human hybrids called ‘Quo.’ The Council feared the Quos would put the world off balance. In addition, they didn’t want breeding between Angel and human to become common practice.

  “So they cast the Quo people out here only miles from the violence and lawlessness of Terra. Our family is the only one to have had wingless children born of two winged beings. That made us much talked about. In addition, my father helped build the city and worked tirelessly on behalf of the Quo people.

  “So when it came time to elect a leader, naturally they chose him. My father had a best friend and advisor. The advisor became known as the Godfather of Adam City. Together the two of them built a thriving place where outcasts were made to feel welcomed. They raised us to believe that even though the Council had deserted us, we were not worthless.

  “They instilled in us the notion that we are only as limited as our minds. There is nowhere wings can take us that sheer determination cannot. Together they were strong, resourceful, intelligent beings. They lead us for many Cycles.

  “The Council put a Trimeter at the entrance of Adam City. This was done long before our family came to live here. The Trimeter reads our DNA. No one who is Quo can leave Adam City. For years my father and Godfather tried to find a way to free us. It took them many Cycles, but finally they were able to combine the right mixture to fool the Trimeter. They poured the mixture into the Amulet for safekeeping, and planned on freeing the city the next day.

  “Unfortunately, my father became seriously ill. We did all we could to tend to him. Godfather was beside himself with worry. The entire city prayed for their ruler’s health and well-being. But nothing worked. Soon, my father was stricken with a serious case of dementia.

  “He believed everyone around him was out to destroy him. In his confused state, he put the Amulet on a Port and sent it to parts unknown. He did this thinking no harm would come to him so long as he was the only one who knew where it was. The illness took my father’s life before we were able to find where he had sent the Amulet.

  “Godfather was able to come up with another mixture; unfortunately, it was too weak. It was only able to fool the Trimeter long enough to get him out. He has been in search of the Amulet with the original mixture for many Cycles now. While he is away, I am leading the Quo people. Although he is not here with us, Godfather has never forgotten us. He has labored and risked everything to set us free.

  “Finally all of his hard work has brought us to this moment. Godfather has located the Amulet. It’s in a place that is too treacherous for him to travel. We would like you and your team to go on his behalf and get it.”

  “Where is it?” Marcus asked.

  “In the Pyron fields.”

  “That means the Amulet is with—”

  “Yes. The Amulet is with Kairo.”

  I know in my soul I will have nothing but regret when I ask the team this question…

  “Who’s Kairo?”

  “The only Demon Angels are forbidden to kill,” Jay informs me.

  “Why can’t you guys kill him?”

  “Politics,” Marcus says bitterly.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “The Council worries killing him will make them look as if they are showing favoritism towards good. Also killing Kairo would severely enrage Lucy, causing her to be even more destructive.”

  “Why does Lucy care so much about Kairo?”

  “He’s her son.”

  Like I said: Nothing but regre.t

  “Um…no one ever told me Lucy had a so
n!”

  “She’s didn’t give birth to him, she created him. The two of them had a falling out and she banished him to Pyron.”

  “Okay, so how bad is this Kairo guy?”

  “Kairo is—”

  “Nothing to worry about,” Marcus lies. I know he’s lying because the others are exchanging quick, worried glances at each other.

  “You’re saying there is a whole race of people that the Council has been hiding?” Rio asks.

  “Yes, we have been held here.”

  “Why would you want to leave this place? It’s beautiful,” I volunteer.

  “It’s a prison!” the middle sister snaps. We all turn to look at Choice.

  There’s a sort of frenzy behind her eyes.

  “Forgive her, Choice can be rather tempestuous,” Chance confesses.

  “It’s okay,” I say awkwardly.

  “Once you have obtained the Amulet and bring it to us, we will cast the Dy out of the human,” she assures Marcus.

  “When you’re free what do you plan to do?” Jay asks.

  “Many of us will remain here in Adam City.”

  “Then what’s the point?” Jay pushes.

  “The point is we are beings like any other and we have the right to choose where we live,” Chance says clearly with an ice-cold certainty.

  “Chance is very passionate about our freedom. She can be a lot to take,” the youngest, Charity offers gently.

  “Who is this Godfather? We need to speak with him,” Marcus says.

  “He only speaks to those whom he wishes. You do not summon him. He summons you.”

  “We’re not going on a mission for someone we’ve never laid eyes on.”

  “I understand. Lakom will show you out,” she says casually, as the three sisters get up from their thrones and start to leave the room.

  “Wait!” Marcus leaps to his feet.

  “Yes, Mr. Cane?” all three say at the same time.

  “Are sure you can do what your father did and cast the Dy out?”

  “Certainly.”

  Marcus addresses her with a steely coldness.

  “If we get this Amulet thing and you can’t fix my girl, I will destroy you, your city, and every damn thing in it.”

  “Agreed.”

  ******************************

  Chance has her sisters give us a tour around Adam City. We follow them towards the back of the temple and through a set of double doors. Adam City looks just like any bustling metropolis. The only difference is, everywhere you go, you see people using their powers.

  Across the street from the temple, a lady disappears and reappears just in time to prevent her toddler from crossing the street on her own. A teenager uses his camouflage powers to leap out and scares his friends.

  A block away, a man effortlessly lifts up his car and squeezes it into a parking space. In a grocery store nearby, a clerk does inventory by suspending fruits in the air and counting them. And a school of kids spill out into the schoolyard making a game of throwing fire at each other and blocking it with their super-powered shields.

  As the sisters walk through Adam City, they are met with smiling faces. But when the Quos see the team walking along the streets, they all stop and stare. Most of their attention is fixed on the Guardian’s wings. Jay smiles at them but he gets nothing in return.

  “They take time to warm up to winged ones,” Choice explains.

  “It’s crazy to see how freely they use their powers here,” Miku adds.

  “It’s hard to get over the ‘no wings’ thing,” I tell the sisters.

  “When you have great powers, you don’t need wings,” Choice replies, with a slight disdain in her voice. Marcus and I exchanged a look. He caught her tone, too.

  “My sister means to say, we’re all gifted. Wings or no wings,” Charity explains.

  “Well, we know what Chance can do, what about you, Choice?” Rio asks.

  A smile creeps into Choice’s face. She stops walking and goes over to Ameana.

  She stands to the right side of Ameana, holds her hand out as if she is “calling” for something from inside Ameana head. A few seconds later, a stream of long silvery thread seeps out from Ameana’s temple and gathers in Choice’s palm. Then Choice throws the thread against a tree. The tree turns into a pile of ashes instantly.

  “Wow,” I whisper under my breath.

  “I collect thoughts. Anger. Hate. Fear. I take them and turn them into—”

  “A weapon,” Jay finishes.

  “Something like that,” she says coyly.

  Jay stares back at her hard. I thought I would defuse the tension by focusing somewhere else.

  “So Charity, what’s your power?” I ask.

  “Um…well, you can Glide, right?” she asks Jay shyly.

  “I can Glide and Convince,” he replies.

  “How far can you Glide in a second?”

  “About half way around the world.”

  “Take my hand, then try to Glide.”

  She extends her and Jay takes it. A blue spark ignites between their hands then Jay Glides. He comes back in a fraction of a second.

  “Yo, that was crazy!” he announces.

  “You went all the way around the world?” I ask.

  “Six times,” he says, too excited to stand still.

  “I’m an Enhancer. I add to whatever powers you already have,” she says dismissively.

  “That’s hot!” Jay says, clearly impressed.

  “I wish I could have my own power and not just make other people stronger.”

  “Charity, don’t be a downer,” her sister scolds. She hunches her shoulders slightly and lowers her eyes.

  “Charity, your power is like cash money. It’s always useful,” Jay says. She doesn’t bring her eyes up from the floor all the way but she does perk up and smile.

  “We need to go inside,” Ameana says weakly as she doubles over in pain.

  “What is it?” Marcus asks rushing to her side.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Does your power have some kind of side effect on the people you pull from?” Marcus asks.

  “It makes them weak. I should have mentioned that,” Choice says sweetly.

  “Yes, you should have,” Marcus warns her.

  Rio makes Ameana lean on him as we all head back to the temple.

  As soon as we enter, Chance is there to greet us.

  “What do you think of our city?”

  “Nice. But if we are going to get to Pyron, we should head back now,” Marcus informs her.

  “It’s late. The Port can only take you as far as Terra. And you should not travel there at night.”

  “We can take our chances,” he assures her.

  “Your teammate looks unwell; recharge then leave in the morning. We have prepared rooms for all of you.”

  Marcus is about to object but then he looks at Ameana. She is trying to put up a brave front but she has yet to stand fully upright.

  “Okay, but we will take off at first light.”

  “That sounds very wise Guardian.”

  Chance tells Charity to show us to our rooms.

  “Before you go, I think it’s only fair to warn you that Pyron will be extremely dangerous. Everyone always focuses on reaching Kairo but that’s a mistake. You will need to focus on how to get past the terrain of Pyron first. Then focus on Kairo in the castle.”

  “You have any suggestions?” the Twins ask.

  “You will need help from three beings. You need someone very familiar with Hun’s Market as Kairo has used many items from there to protect his land.”

  “Would a Seller do?” I reply.

  “That would be wise, yes.”

  “Do you know of one?” Charity asks.

  We all exchange bemused looks.

  “Yeah, we know one,” Marcus says regretfully.

  “Is he a friend?”

  Is Tony-Tone a friend?

  “He’s…well-meaning” I say out loud.
>
  “He will be important to your mission,” Charity says, concerned.

  “Next you will need someone who knows Kairo and how he thinks.”

  “I know a guy who is obsessed with all things Kairo. He’s studied him for many Cycles. He’d love to go with us.”

  “Good. Lastly, you will need a Para,” Chance concludes.

  “Why?” Ameana asks incredulously.

  “You will be invaded by darkness from all sides. The light of a Para will help to combat the ubiquitous evil around you.”

  “Do you know a Para?” Choice asks.

  We all look at each other and then at Ameana. She sighs softly and nods “yes.”

  “One final matter: we would appreciate it if you would not tell anyone about us until after your mission.”

  “You want us to keep all of this a secret, why?” Jay asks.

  “We would like to personally introduce ourselves. That will give us a chance to make a good impression on the Angel world. If word gets out about us before we’re ready, we can imagine the misgivings and rumors that will follow. So we feel secrecy is best. Do you agree Marcus?”

  He agrees to her condition.

  “Then, by morning you and your team should be off. If you fail to recover the Amulet—”

  “We. Won’t. Fail.” Marcus swears. Chance merely smiles and says that is her hope as well.

  Charity shows us to our rooms. Marcus tells Jay to contact the guy he knows and orders us to get some rest. We are to meet back in his room in a few hours. We all follow instructions. I give Marcus a quick kiss and head to my room.

  The minimalist décor makes the room an ideal place for meditation. I can’t help but think how happy Wolf would be in here. I laugh to myself thinking what awful things Ameana would do to me if she knew I was even thinking about Wolf. Even if it is an innocent thought.

  I look at myself in the circular mirror before me. There is a smile on my face. Outside of being with Marcus, I have found little reason to smile of late. Now I think there is actually a chance that I may be saved right along with the world. I never allowed myself to entertain such thoughts before. Now, I’m thinking about what college I may go to and where I will be in five years…

  We’re going after Lucy’s son and it’s been predicted that not all of us will make it back. Maybe you should hold off the long-term planning, Emmy.