The Guardians of the Book: The Demon Stone

By S. LouRita Tingey

Elektra Simmons and her friends are now the Guardians of the Book, and they have been charged with the task of protecting the Book from anything and everything that may want to steal it. And now they must juggle their schoolwork, love lives, and duties as the Guardians. But some interesting changes are in store for our three young Guardians.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 19, 2015
• ISBN: 9781329229730

Book preview

The Guardians of the Book: The Demon Stone

The Guardians of the Book:

The Demon Stone

S. LouRita Tingey

For Becca Gutshall

You never stop supporting me and encouraging my crazy ideas! Here’s to all the late nights and long phone calls we’ve devoted to hashing out ideas!

Extend your wings, and soar.

Chapter One: Busted

Mel and I bound down the stairs. Drake! we yell together, and collide with my big brother, hugging him. Mel turns to plant a big smooch on his lips. I look at Joel and pretend to gag. Oh, hello, not in front of the baby sister, you two, I say. Gross.

Sorry, sis, Drake apologizes, as he pulls back from his girlfriend. You ready to go?

Mel frowns. Go where?

Not you, babe. Joel. Ready?

Yep.

Joel, I whine, where are you and Drake going?

He smiles and kisses me. Guy stuff.

Guy stuff? Mel and I repeat. What kind of an excuse is that? That is totally and completely lame.

Tuxes. Remember? The Summer Ball is only a week away, Drake reminds us.

Mel smacks his arm. You haven’t done that yet? The Twinzies’ dates got theirs two weeks ago! Get, get! And don’t forget your guidelines!

Wouldn’t dream of it, babe. Black, white, and green, right?

"Red, Drake. Black, white, and red! If you mess it up, I will kick your butt from here to China."

Joel –

Yes, Elektra. White, silver, and blue, he interrupts. We’ll get the right colors. The boys leave, arguing about something. 

Drake’s been visiting a lot during the weekends, because the college he’s decided to attend is only thirty minutes from Goldtip Academy. Although, he’s just finished all the paperwork to transfer to the new Goldtip University next year. 

Just a few years ago, about three hours from Goldtip Academy, they decided to build a university. It’s open to anybody who wants to attend, but it’s really hard to get in if you’re not supernaturally gifted. There’s a really strict set of codes on discrimination and all that. We’ll see if Drake can get in. It’s where Joel, Mel, and I all plan to study after graduation.

They’re up to something, I say to my best friend. And I don’t think it has anything to do with the Summer Ball. 

The Summer Ball is sort of like Goldtip’s prom. It’s held the last Thursday before our one month summer vacation. Freshmen through seniors are allowed at the Summer Ball. The Winter Ball, however, is just for juniors and seniors. It’s different from most high schools, but just as much fun. And you are allowed to have dates from other schools – if you get special permission from the headmistress. Mel had no trouble getting permission for Drake. Joel’s mom, Cameron, likes my family.

Mel shrugs, in response to my comment. Let them have their secrets. We’ll find out soon enough.

All right.

We make our way to the Grand Hall for our breakfast. Bri and Quinn are already there. Bri grins when she sees us. Can you believe that next week is our last week as juniors? When we come back at the end of the month, we’ll be seniors! At the top of the food chain!

I know. It’s so crazy. It’s been a little over a year since we found the Book. And nothing big has attacked us since the ShifterDemon, Mel points out. I mean, we’ve had a few little creatures show up here and there, but the word hasn’t gotten out that we have the Book. It’s been easy so far, being the Guardians.

I sigh. It’s been a great year.

Agreeing, Mel follows me to get our food. We eat quickly, and then spend the day relaxing. Well, half of it, anyway. 

I wish I knew what they were up to, I mumble, thinking of my brother and boyfriend. I know they’re hiding something. I mean, I’ve known Drake my whole life. I can spot a lie when I see one. And I’ve been dating Joel for a while now. I’ve gotten to know him pretty well. They are so not getting their tuxes. And not knowing what they are doing is just about killing me.

Mel only shrugs. Who knows? Hey, let’s go shopping! We can check and make sure those boys are doing what they’re supposed to be doing and do one of our favorite activities at the same time.

They’re probably playing pool or something.

Well, what do you say? There’s a little shopping center fifteen minutes away. I doubt they would have gone much farther than that. They’re boys.

Hey, Joel once came to the mall in my hometown, and that’s almost three hours away.

Yeah, well, he was flying, and so it only took him half that time.

Still, an hour and a half, Mel.

I’m sure he just didn’t want to get caught. He’s still a boy, which means that he’s lazy. That’s how all boys are.

We tell the Twinzies our plan, but they decline to come with us. Truly a first, I believe. Those two have never turned down an offer to shop in all the time I’ve known them. So, Mel and I climb into her car and take off. We make it to the center in ten minutes, park the car, and start walking past the shops. There are three formalwear shops here, and one tux shop. We don’t see the boys anywhere, but they could just be out of our vision range.

I close my eyes and concentrate. After nearly five minutes, I open my eyes with an irritated sigh. "Okay, Joel is not here. Our boyfriends went somewhere else." Mel and I can sense Joel whenever he’s nearby. A cool Guardian thing.

Whatever. Let’s just have fun.

You know where I would have the most fun?

Mel grins. The bookstore?

Oh, yeah.

We make a bee-line for the nearest bookstore, and then we wander in there for close to two hours. You know, it’s funny, I’ve always spent a lot of money on books, but since transferring to Goldtip? Yeah, way less on clothes and jewelry and junk, and way more on books. A good investment, in my opinion. Goldtip’s changed me. I’m not obsessed about what other people think about me anymore. Well, not nearly as much. If they think I’m a freak, fine. They can think that.

As we’re heading back to the car, to drop off our book purchases, something in a shop catches my eye. Oh, Mel, look! On display in the window is a beautiful gold charm bracelet. There are twelve charms in total. Four white diamonds and four golden pearls. There’s a charm with an owl engraved on it, an ornate G, and a sun charm with an N on the front. And then, the coolest one on the whole bracelet is an actual owl feather. It’s been shrunk down, probably with magic, but it’s there. It’s a Goldtip charm bracelet! Oh, my gosh, that’s so cool!

I lead her into the store, which seems to be a Goldtip Academy gift shop. Everything in here has to do with our school. Holy crap, Mel mutters.

May I help you girls? a silky voice says right behind us. We shriek, and jump. A woman cackles. Not scared of a wee little thing like me, are we?

We turn, and look down. This lady’s short, I’m not kidding. Seriously like four-nine or something. She’s wearing multiple skirts, all in different shades of blue, all different lengths. Some of the skirts have fringe, others have little bells, and some are patterned. She’s wearing one of those black corset thingies, and her billowy shirt underneath it is a bright yellow. My eyes hurt just looking at all those colors.

Now, when I’d heard the cackle, I’d been expecting some old and ugly hag, not this gorgeous and young woman. Her brown tresses have been braided with beads and ribbons and fall to her waist. Her bright blue eyes are surrounded by thick black lashes. She has some heavy eyeliner and shadow on. Multiple piercings are in each ear, one on her right eyebrow, and one in her nose. Bangles in all sorts of colors cover her wrists and ankles, and her feet are bare.

Mel grins, noticing the woman’s feet. I’m guessing that you don’t refuse service to people who don’t have shoes.

Oh, no, child.

Joel would love it here, I say.

The woman laughs again. Young Mr. Ravenscar would at that. Welcome to my place of business, Melanie Fern, and Elektra Simmons.

How do you – Mel begins.

I see all, child, the woman interrupts cryptically. I am Mistress Tanya.

Nice to meet you, I say, a little uncertainly. She’s kind of freaking me out, actually.

She smiles, showing straight, white teeth. Ah, yes, you came in here for something, didn’t you, child? This? She pulls a gold bracelet from a pocket in one of her many skirts, same as the one in the window. In fact, it is the one from the window! How did she do that? It’s a one of a kind, dear.

Yes! It’s beautiful. I want to purchase it, please.

She nods. Anything else, dears?

Mel and I shake our heads, and follow her to the counter. Cash or credit? she asks, ringing up the bracelet. 

Credit. 

I swipe my card. As I sign, Tanya grins. Would you like nuts with that? she asks, glancing at Mel. The two of us exchange confused glances, which only makes her cackle again. What in the world? She puts my purchase into a bag, winking at me. "If you hurry, you may be able to catch