definitely of the Light, Gabriel. He is very protective of him. He came to see me this morning, told me to keep a careful eye on him and that he was making sure Antony stayed out of trouble and was kept safe.” Nicu paused to listen, and I contemplated the thought of Max being here, and warning Uncle Nicu. “He doesn’t trust your daughter. She has a new talent, did you know of it?”
He must be talking about Jillian and her flame-throwing hands. I frowned.
“I don’t know where she learned it! It wasn’t something I taught her. She’s been keeping company with another Guardian, Brice Cale.” Nicu paused again. “You know about him? He is a Spell-maker, he taught her…yes, I know. You could have warned me beforehand…right, need to know. Very well, I will do what you ask… I know, keep your enemies closer… I will be watchful.” Nicu hung up the phone and started toward the door.
I quickly slipped out into the club before he could see me and out the front door. I had no idea where I was going, just that I needed to get away and think. I began to jog, without any real destination. I wished I had my iPod with me, it would have drowned out all of my thoughts. I turned left on Central Park South and headed toward the Circle. A run always made me feel better, but as I was passing by the Mandarin Oriental, an odd little shop next to it caught my eye. Mirabella’s Trinkets and Oddities, the sign read, but technically it was the items in the shop’s glass front window that had me pausing to take a closer look. As I stopped to gaze more fully through the window, I noticed a mortar and pestle made of jade sitting off to one side of the spell books that had first drawn my attention. It made me think of Jillian and I smiled. The shop was closed, so I figured I’d have to come back another time. A moment later something flashed in the glass and my heart started to race. I worked to calm myself, hoping not to call the attention of the creature to me. I’d stupidly left my swords back at the club. My eyes searched for a make shift weapon as I stood staring into the window. Anything I could use to defeat the creature…er… make that group of creatures… making their way toward me.
My eyes finally lit on something that could work, it was an odd choice, but I’d have to make it work. I slowly moved toward the vender cart a few feet away, keeping my eyes on the glass, while watching for the creatures. Their beady red eyes were definitely focused on me, as if they knew I was going to fight them. I made a grab for the umbrella that topped the cart, and the metal pole slid out easily. I quickly shut the blue and yellow canvas part, and spun just as the creatures’ scaly talons swiped out toward me. The pole hit the creatures, knocking them back toward the shops and they roared. It was almost like a sonic boom, as all of the glass front windows of the shops shattered.
The umbrella pole was not going to hold them off for long; I had to get to the Faerie Mound before they got any closer. The creatures were definitely after me specifically and I took a moment to wonder exactly why. Then, decided it didn’t matter at the moment, ‘cause I had to get out of there. I pushed the pole at them, knocking them off balance on their thin, bird like feet, turned and ran. Around the Circle, toward Central Park West, and then into Central Park itself. The creatures were slow, their build cumbersome, making it difficult for them to keep up with me. I ran for all I was worth toward the Mound. The creatures were getting frustrated, and I could hear it in their squawks. Another sonic boom like roar rolled over me, uprooting trees and knocking me off my feet. I glanced behind me, and saw that they were gaining momentum. I had to move! I scrambled back up to my feet and took off again. I could see Thane, and I shouted to him.
“Thane! Swords, I need swords!” I said running.
“Light Bearer! What are you doing here?” Thane called to
He must be talking about Jillian and her flame-throwing hands. I frowned.
“I don’t know where she learned it! It wasn’t something I taught her. She’s been keeping company with another Guardian, Brice Cale.” Nicu paused again. “You know about him? He is a Spell-maker, he taught her…yes, I know. You could have warned me beforehand…right, need to know. Very well, I will do what you ask… I know, keep your enemies closer… I will be watchful.” Nicu hung up the phone and started toward the door.
I quickly slipped out into the club before he could see me and out the front door. I had no idea where I was going, just that I needed to get away and think. I began to jog, without any real destination. I wished I had my iPod with me, it would have drowned out all of my thoughts. I turned left on Central Park South and headed toward the Circle. A run always made me feel better, but as I was passing by the Mandarin Oriental, an odd little shop next to it caught my eye. Mirabella’s Trinkets and Oddities, the sign read, but technically it was the items in the shop’s glass front window that had me pausing to take a closer look. As I stopped to gaze more fully through the window, I noticed a mortar and pestle made of jade sitting off to one side of the spell books that had first drawn my attention. It made me think of Jillian and I smiled. The shop was closed, so I figured I’d have to come back another time. A moment later something flashed in the glass and my heart started to race. I worked to calm myself, hoping not to call the attention of the creature to me. I’d stupidly left my swords back at the club. My eyes searched for a make shift weapon as I stood staring into the window. Anything I could use to defeat the creature…er… make that group of creatures… making their way toward me.
My eyes finally lit on something that could work, it was an odd choice, but I’d have to make it work. I slowly moved toward the vender cart a few feet away, keeping my eyes on the glass, while watching for the creatures. Their beady red eyes were definitely focused on me, as if they knew I was going to fight them. I made a grab for the umbrella that topped the cart, and the metal pole slid out easily. I quickly shut the blue and yellow canvas part, and spun just as the creatures’ scaly talons swiped out toward me. The pole hit the creatures, knocking them back toward the shops and they roared. It was almost like a sonic boom, as all of the glass front windows of the shops shattered.
The umbrella pole was not going to hold them off for long; I had to get to the Faerie Mound before they got any closer. The creatures were definitely after me specifically and I took a moment to wonder exactly why. Then, decided it didn’t matter at the moment, ‘cause I had to get out of there. I pushed the pole at them, knocking them off balance on their thin, bird like feet, turned and ran. Around the Circle, toward Central Park West, and then into Central Park itself. The creatures were slow, their build cumbersome, making it difficult for them to keep up with me. I ran for all I was worth toward the Mound. The creatures were getting frustrated, and I could hear it in their squawks. Another sonic boom like roar rolled over me, uprooting trees and knocking me off my feet. I glanced behind me, and saw that they were gaining momentum. I had to move! I scrambled back up to my feet and took off again. I could see Thane, and I shouted to him.
“Thane! Swords, I need swords!” I said running.
“Light Bearer! What are you doing here?” Thane called to
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