Boundary

By Jennifer Espiritu

It is not a safe time and place for eighteen-year-old Siana. Since the death of her father and the disappearance of her mother, she has to be kept hidden, while attempting to keep her sister, Breckas, secret safe from the unimaginable. But now things are happening that Siana cannot ignore. It seems there is always something dark emerging from the shadows of the crowded forest, trying to enter her home.

When a stranger from another realm shows up on her doorstep, Etreon threatens to unravel her past and take her sister to his realm because of her gifts. But everything changes when Brecka is suddenly snatched by a mysterious outsider. Now Siana must put her trust in Etreon, willing to do anything to get her sister back. As an ancient enemy threatens to rise and devour everything Siana loves, she must cross back into a land of legends, war, and betrayalsa land she wants to forget more than anything.

In this fantasy adventure, a teenager transforms into an amazing heroine who must rely on help from an unlikely partner to save her gifted sister from a dark destiny.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jan 18, 2017
• ISBN: 9781532012747

Jennifer Espiritu

Jennifer Espiritu lives in California with her two sons and two daughters. She found she had a knack for writing and telling stories, it is a passion of hers and that passion awaken when she wrote a simple story for her first born son, so she thought she’d try writing a novel. The Guardian: the Protector’s Secret is her first book published.

Book preview

Prologue

BIRDS THAT HAD been happily trilling half an hour previously suddenly fell completely silent. The air within the milieu of the woods became increasingly chilly. A twelve-year-old girl shuddered and tightened the sweater around herself. She sat on a branch from the tallest tree she could climb, looking up at the clear sky through three-dimensional glasses. She watched in awe and wonder as the moon slowly devour the sun. Her heart skipped with excitement.

Her neighbors told her the sight would be unnerving, yet she found it remarkable. She’d been impatiently anticipating for this day, and to finally experience an eclipse…

At last the sun was completely hidden behind the moon, leaving a white pearly ring, like the moon was crowned the ruler of the infinite sky. The girl leaned forward to give herself a more desirable view of the pearly crown. She held on to a flaccid limb, keeping herself from a fall to her wondering. She stared and analyzed, smiling at how amazing this event was. But, as she continually stare up, the halo grew brighter and wider, confusing her.

She jerked back, gasping–she nearly keeled over when her hand almost slipped. She secured her hand around the limb, straightening, and scrutinized the moon again. She examined it, and finally grasped she wasn’t at all imagining things: a cascade of brilliant light shone down a few miles to her left, towards the direction of her house, or as she assumes–it could have been directed somewhere else.

She removed the glasses that guarded her eyes. She’d been told if one stares up at an eclipse with bare eyes, one would be cross-eyed. They meant it as a quip, but she knew it would certainly ruin the eyesight, but in all her bewilderment she’d forgotten what she was staring at, as the waterfall of light continuously flowed down from the darkened moon.

But, then, the moon leisurely rolled away from the sun and the shaft of light moved with it. She leaned forward again, following the slow movement.

Unexpectedly, the tree swayed violently. She screamed and wrapped her arms around the flabby branch, securing herself from falling off. But, the stream of pearly light shot into her eyes, startling and dazing her. She impulsively loosened her hold and covered her eyes, and with another sudden jerk from the ground, the limb snapped and she went hurling to the crumbling ground. Her mouth flew open for a scream, but fear caught in her throat and it became a long rustle of air. Icy pain shot at her back, taking her breath away in an explosion; spit and blood sputtered out from her mouth.

Boulders and boughs plummeted, embedding her into the ground as the world preserved to quake. She screamed and screamed, until, finally, the earth stilled and the last of the falling rocks and trees ceased. She lay silent, breathless and in agony. Her head and back throbbed excruciatingly; her throat was dry and sore, and she could see nothing save the darkness that buried her. Tears slid from her stinging eyes as her body shook irrepressibly. She was scared of being trapped without any means of being found, but her fear overwhelmed the pain. She screamed at the top of her lungs despite the burning of her throat, hoping to be heard through the layers of boulders and trees…

Hours passed.

She’d given up on crying out when her voice came out hoarsely. She lay there, pinned by pain and rocks; waiting. She closed her eyes, trapping the tears from sliding down, and wishing someone would find her from all the piles of rocks and remnants of the fallen trees. She didn’t want her family to give up on her, thinking she was lost to them forever. This felt like déjà vu, like her dreams she’d had since she could remember and waking up scared from it, feeling trapped and abandoned. She never wanted to feel like that…

A light, chilly breeze grazed her forehead.

She shuddered. But, not from the coldness, rather from the faint voice that came, enclosed within. It was low, but it was like it was right next to her. Fear crept up and down her spine, sending a chilly trill up to her face. She told herself she was dreaming, but how could she be when she could feel the icy, hot pain throughout her body, alerting all her senses? Then she reflected it as a trick from the wind, although she was under the rubble, where air was thinning with every breath she took.

She held her breath, afraid of making a sound. The voice pushed on in a woman’s voice, velvety and mesmerizing. It was calling out her name desparately, startling her, but she listened intently, trembling.

It’s time. Prepare, Siana, prepare for me.

Siana gasped for air rapidly, trying to will the voice away, and the plea and the warning did begin to fade away. Soon after, silence echoed. Siana held her breath for the second time, waiting, and when she was sure the voice wasn’t going to return she breathed, relieved. She was confounded. She didn’t know what just happened, or what it meant.

Siana!

She stiffened.

Siana!

It sounded louder. Closer. Familiar.

Dad.

She could have screamed out, but she didn’t. She waited for them, for she knew they would find her, knew because the voice told her they were coming.

Sia! her father yelled out again, apprehensive and sadness apparent in his voice. He sounded as if he was just above her. I’m here. I’m here, Sia! We’ll get you out.

Siana didn’t feel anything, but respite.

Movements above alerted her. Rocks, branches and trunks were being carefully removed–they’ve found her. She hasn’t a clue as to how, all she felt was an eruption of relief, nothing else mattered.

Her father kept shouting, assessing if she was unharmed, and she would yell in return despite the hoarseness of her throat or the fading of her voice, assuring.

For what seems like eternity she finally felt the breeze, wafting about her and the smell of the woodsy, piney scent of the forest all around her, and she was finally free to move.

But, she couldn’t.

Puzzlement forced her to remain stoic.

Sia, her father gasped.

She turned to the sound of his voice. She saw nothing. Absolutely naught a thing, save the continuous darkness.

Dad? she asked, her voice low and shaky.

Hands reached for her and she felt being carefully lifted up. Then hands started assessing her body and putting something around her neck that made it impossible to turn.

Don’t move, someone ordered–she didn’t know who it belonged to.

Dad? she tried again. What’s wrong? Why is it dark? Why can’t I see?

One

UNWANTED

Six years later:

A MAN, VEILED by dark cloak, stood before Siana. A sword raised above his shoulder, gleaming from the moonlight, a developed hold for a strike. The stranger quirk a brow challengingly, not bowled over to see her out in the middle of the dead night, pointing an arrow at his chest.

Siana didn’t betray any emotions, she stood focused, unflinching. Listening; prepared to hurl the arrow from the longbow if the man as much as twitched. The corn stalks around them that bended slightly from the persuasion of the summer breeze stopped without warning. Life abruptly came to a standstill. Even the crickets expected to continue to play their song to the night lay silent, with the lightening bugs, sending messages to one another, ceased their lights.

A frosty wave of fear clenched at Siana; something terrible was near, near enough to mute nature. It had nothing to do with the stranger’s presence.

What was this oddly dressed stranger doing in a corn stalk? She hasn’t a clue, nor she care, all that concerns her is the reason for the fear she felt. This was no time to play around.

As though the stranger sensed her resolve, he made a slight move of lowering his arms and sword.

Big Mistake.

Siana released.

The stranger’s eyes widened; not in fear, but in surprised confusion. He leaned slightly to his left, and the oncoming arrow passed inches from his shoulder.

Siana was a bit impressed by his quickness, but she didn’t show anything, she stood, lack of expression.

That was a bit uncalled for, the stranger growled, disdain clear in his deep, resonant voice.

A reflex. See an unusual character lurking in a field, kill him. Or perhaps it’s instinct. Who knows? Same thing really.

The stranger peered at her from under the hood, amused.

What are you doing here? she demanded.

Hunting. He turned, heading towards the center of the field, pushing stalks aside as he went.

The moment he was out of sight, Siana turned in the opposite direction, aiming for the roiling sense of fear. She looked around cautiously.

It was close.

Suddenly, she heard a bloodcurdling growl, and she spun around. A tall, skeletal figure took to the air from the center of the field and landed preternaturally a few feet away from her. A foul stench filled her nostrils, and the familiar fear washed over her again. Her stomach churned.

It was about seven feet tall. It had no fur, only gray skeletal skin, most of it had been decayed, its ribs showing through. It resembled a carcass of a jackal-like creature; its eyes were menacing, glossy yellow, like the moon; its black, thin lips pulled back into a snarl, wrinkling up its wet black muzzle; its jaw was sharp and crimson with dried blood. It had no ears but holes on each side of its head; standing on fours, at eye level with her; its long, rotting, scabbing legs bent nauseatingly backwards like that of a wolf, but rather than paws, it had long, thin talons on each of the four legs.

The beady, round, yellow eyes gazed longingly at Siana. It reached for her, but Siana, in a startled reflex, swiped its talons aside.

The beast barred its teeth, snarled, and lunged.

Siana reached back, fumbling with the arrows with her shaking hand. She tried to quench the panic that began to vex in the pit of her stomach. Talons made a swipe for her, but at that moment, the cloaked stranger jumped in front of her, assuming the claws into his chest. He grunted, and raised his sword. Silver flashed, and the head slid from the body.

Siana had been knocked down by the stranger’s sudden appearance. She watched the beast’s headless body stood briefly before it thudded to the ground, bending some stalks in the process. The head rolled to her. She grimaced and hastily raised herself off the ground. She scrunched her nose as an overwhelming, vile stench emitted from the carcass.

She turned to the stranger.

As his face was hidden under the cloak she couldn’t see his reaction, and he concealed his injuries by wrapping his cloak closely to him. If he didn’t want to be pitied then she would oblige, nor would she show gratitude–she had it under control, she didn’t need his help.

A smart person would shoot it in the head with an arrow, he said sardonically, nodding at the quiver resting on her back, not wait if it would give you a kiss.

Siana ignored his quip and veered to the route that brought her there, tightening her grasp on the longbow as anger swarmed her.

The stranger followed.

At the edge of the field, they stopped and faced each other, curious. Siana was worried about how deep those monstrous claws must have pierced through his skin. As he had been, he kept himself shrouded with his cloak. Siana frowned. But, before she could scoff at him for his bravado, he spoke before her.

Aren’t you a bit frightened? he asked, in a strange archaic accent she heard before, and had missed hearing.

She squinted at the shadow from under his hood. I was.

Was? His tone held surprise and uncertainty.

It’s dead, she said, matter-of-factly. I can’t waste my fear on something that’s already dead.

The stranger scrutinized her for a moment. Siana saw him clench his jaw, trying to do it discreetly, then he exhaled slowly. She held back a snort.

Men and their pride.

This is not the first beast that came upon you, he finally said. It wasn’t implied as a question, it was a surprised comprehension.

And, it’ll never be the last. She turned away from him and went for her house. She stepped into the lawn and the ward shimmered, allowing her entrance. Once she was safely in the border, the ward glowed crimson, guarding her. She paused and faced the road. The stranger nodded once, then wheeled about, walking away from her. Siana stared after him, until his silhouette dissipated into the darkness.

Siana entered the house, climbed the flight of stairs to her room, stepping over wood shavings and half-done arrow sticks; piles of shaved branches from an ash tree used to make arrows were placed along the wall linings; clothes splattered about as if some laundry monster threw up in her room. It was miserably chaotic. Between two jobs and guarding her house, she hasn’t the time to organize it. Besides, she needed more shaft for her bow and the best time she could make them was during her late night lookout.

Without hesitation, she unfastened the quiver, releasing the tension on her back, and threw it on her bed, along with the longbow. She bowed down and crawled out of her window. She needed to unwind, to still the energy. Meeting the stranger had driven her off course. With all her preparations she didn’t expect to be caught off guard. She assumed she’d be given a warning, or better yet, a notice.

She sat near the eaves and leaned back with her hands under her head. She gazed wearily up at the twinkling sky. In a world dependent on cars, haze filled the sultry night. Siana blinked, filling her eyes with moisture. The stars were distant and the waxing, crescent moon barely visible through the vapors. There was a time, Siana suppose, when the sky were obvious and velvety. It must have been when life was easier, and simpler.

Living near plantations and bordered by the forest of Tuskegee, one would assume the stars to be closer and overt. But as people of this world became greedy, so has Mother Nature.

Siana sighed irritably. She expected to be calm by now. This was her peaceful moment. She spends most of her non-guarding time watching the sun set and observe the moon rise. She loved the part when the moon shines above, guiding all through the dark. She’d always been fascinated with the moon and the light it radiates. She suppose it was Ben Rawen, her known father, who taught her to love it as much as he did. They were both intrigued, mainly when it was waxing and when the moon shone in full force.

Through her adversity–sometimes, less times than more, her advantageous–she could always count on it to perpetually be there as her constant companion, as it was to the night sky. That was said a lonely life, but so what? In the past six years that intricate her existence she preferred to be solely dependent. Leaning back on the roof of her house and staring up at the radiant moon compels her being to relax, but now, she was perturbed. For years she’d come to term that otherworldly, quadruped beings existed and she was forced head on to them. Nothing could shock, or startle her. But for the past three years, since Ben’s unnatural and untimely death, they’d been appearing unexpectedly, coming from the woods more than Ben fathomed. And now a stranger, dressed oddly and wielding a sword skillfully, shows up in her town. In front of her house no less. Ben warned her this day would come. She expected him to be alive when it had, but fate was cruel and had other plans. For the most part, he cautioned her to grasp the situation and see thoroughly with an open mind, and he warned her to remain hidden for a time until aid came looking.

Has the time come? Was that stranger here to abet?

As Siana guarded herself, hardening her being to be chary, she couldn’t trust anyone. With every passing months, leading to years, the walls within her heart toughened, evolving to unbreakable and unyielding when Ben died. Trust is beyond her reach. And so, for now, the stranger was an unwanted visitor, one she needed to ward herself from.

A glow of seeming bright eyes snapped her from her reverie. A black Volkswagen Bug stopped before the driveway, a feet away from the ward. She heard three sets of giggles and music blaring when the door opened, and Brecka stepped out. The car revved off, splattering gravel in its wake. Brecka looked up, directly at Siana’s dark silhouette apologetically. Siana stared back, showing no emotions on her face, but she was definitely annoyed. There was no need to show what she felt, Brecka has always been able to know what anyone feels beforehand, most of all her. Perhaps it was because they lived together and Brecka knew everything about her, which frustrated her to no end. But, she had to ease up on her–Brecka doesn’t always know she’s doing anything at all. It would just go to her through a wave traveling from the ground, to her mind, allowing her to feel what others felt.

Brecka stepped into the lawn, and the ward shimmered predictably, rippling to grant passage, and once she was secured, red incandesced out and out the entirety of the property, covering all from danger. Siana nodded once, indicating they’ll be discussing her punishment later.

Brecka sighed, and sauntered into the house.

For a while Siana remained on the roof, willing herself to still her restive mind, barring it from the swiftness of the stranger’s maneuver and the stealthy way he walked, dangerously silent and evasive, and assure of himself. And, his damn pride.

Siana exhaled, and rose. She bent down and entered her room through the window. She snatched the quiver and longbow from the unmade bed, and stomped out of her room. She descended down the stairs vehemently, turning at the foot of the stairs into the kitchen. Brecka was bent down, her head swallowed in the fridge, searching for dinner, pushing aside the day old milk, empty carton of orange juice and unwanted leftovers.

You need to go grocery shopping, she said, without raising her head from the fridge. There’s no edible food in this house.

I’ll add that to my list, Siana murmured dryly. She continued on, stepping out through the screen door onto the back porch. As she stepped down the steps she raised the quiver over her head and secured it on her back, adjusting the strap from the chest comfortably. Without any means of light, save the faint light of the moon to guide her, she walked to the center of the lawn, stopping at her mark between a cherry tree and a peach tree Ben planted many years back before Brecka could even walk. She looked at the curve of her bow, caressing the smoothness of the flexible stick. Ben made it himself, as well as the quiver on her back. The said bow and quiver were the only things he brought from his birthplace, where he lived, but had abscond from there with her in his arms, crying and flailing.

The quiver and bow were crested with his mark; of seven unusual petals, surrounding a perfectly round circle with a red arrow through it. The petals were alien, one she hadn’t seen before, assuming it was from a flower grown in Ben’s birthplace. An oddity, beautiful nonetheless.

Ben was gifted in carving and creating, and with his skill, he taught her how to make the strongest arrow from any tree, and one that would not bend or break so easily.

He prepared her for everything. He gave her time to adjust to the truth that he concealed to his new life. He cautioned her, warned her and told her what to expect. But with all that, he didn’t prepare her for his departure, and in that after-effect, he had no time to inform her the meaning of the beast’s attack, or their reason. He left her alone in bewilderment and in desperation. And most of all, he left her alone.

You okay? Brecka asked. She stood on the porch and leaning on the rail, wearing a frown at Siana’s back. It was a face Siana was used to by her rage. Siana knew Brecka feared the wall she created, and scared at what it would do once her rage mushroomed out of her.

Siana turned fixedly ahead, right into the beginning of the woods, and pass that, at a deeper darkness against the darkness. She wasn’t sure how to answer Brecka. To her, Brecka was a normal, fragile sixteen-year-old, living in a small town of Shorter, enclosed with Alabama air and trees. She flirts. She pouts, and she definitely voice out her feelings, especially, when she disagrees with what Siana orders. But, she couldn’t trouble her with every hitch, or drawbacks. Brecka hasn’t a clue what she truly was, or how special it was at being her. Ben explicated what Brecka wanted to hear about her abilities, and allowed her to assume what she is, without attempting to correct her. Brecka had shrugged it off and believe her assumptions. She was as clueless as their neighbors, the way Ben preferred; hidden, until the right moment comes. But Siana hasn’t a clue when the right moment was. She wasn’t even sure if it already passed. All in all, she did promise to keep Brecka oblivious. It was a promise she made and will dutifully keep, and Siana will keep Brecka safe from the beasts and thwart them from breaking through the wards.

The protection was a great relief, and if Ben hadn’t thought of them beasts would have swarmed her house years ago, and they wouldn’t have been alive now. Thankfully, it held long after he passed. The wards were an unusual dark stone buried around the property, enchanted with a drop of his blood as well as hers.

You look scared, Brecka prompted uneasily, when Siana stayed quiet long enough.

Siana sighed, and finally faced Brecka, irritated that she can’t be left alone with her own feelings.

Those things, they’re coming out more and unpredictably. I’m terrified they’ll harm someone because I don’t know when they’re going to strike.

You still have no idea what they are or where they’re coming from?

I’m clueless. For years Siana followed and tracked the beasts, but it was hopeless. She doesn’t know what she’s doing at best, the bestial things could be playing ring-around-the-rosy around her and she wouldn’t know they were there. Her tracking leads her to a cold trail and by the time she reroutes the marks vanishes, hidden under crumbling leaves blown by the wind or scuffed away by someone or something. All those years of trying and she still has nothing to go by. She doesn’t know what those monsters were, but by the way they look, she’s referring them as beasts.

They’re after something and, from their impetuous attempt to rend through the indiscernible shield, they clearly want something covert in the house. Nonetheless, it was a presumption.

You’re trying, Brecka consoled. I’m not worried.

That’s not near good enough. Siana furrowed her forehead. Since when are you optimistic?

Brecka paused. Since you won’t allow me to help you, I’m going to be your cheerleader.

Siana smoothened her face, and sighed. We’ve already discuss the…

I know. Brecka rolled her eyes towards heaven. It’s what dad wanted. C’mon, let’s get some sleep, God knows you haven’t been. She retreated into the house.

Siana faced the woods again, at the dark figure within the darkness. Cold dread swam within her. She exhaled, omitting, and wheeled about, treading on her heels after Brecka. Whatever, or whoever, it was, couldn’t get through the inconspicuous bulwark.

Two

MET

SIANA WIPED THE stubborn, sticky remnants of coffee and sugar on the Coffee Center. She only just arrived from her shift at Dell’s Market. She assumed two jobs. Her first job was at Dell’s since she was sixteen, but it had been part-time. After a couple years, she worked full-time and was hired immediately at the gas station, where she was currently arranging the Coffee Center.

Siana was smart, she could have done anything. Everyone gushed about her since she’d been placed to a second-grade class when she should have been in kindergarten. She was advance, thanks to Ben, who taught her how to read fully at age three and she learned adding and subtraction when she should be recognizing shapes and colors. Being a teacher was apparently Ben’s many skills. He had the patience and the knowledge, and Siana excelled at what she was taught. But, however smart she was, she still ended up working as a cashier. It wasn’t because she was lazy, she just didn’t have any other options. When Ben died, his wife, Andrea Rawen, became dispirited. Their love was so deep she stopped facing the world and mourned in her room, losing herself. Eventually, she lost her nursing job at the hospital in Auburn. They needed a way to get by, the life insurance from Ben’s death was enough to pay the balance on the house, but they had to eat and needed electricity, and, so, Siana took up the gauntlet, taking up a part-time at Dell’s Market after the end of school day. Life was hard for Siana without the constant appearance of the beasts and a teenager with preternatural abilities. As if life couldn’t get any worse…it did. It became unbearable when Andrea suddenly vanished from them. It wrenched her heart just thinking about it. It was the loneliest time of her life. She’d barely turned eighteen, and when she came home from her shift at the gas station, she headed directly to the kitchen to cook Andrea something, for God knows she wouldn’t eat when she’s away at work. Brecka hadn’t been home yet, but she expected her home soon before the sun sets. After preparing everything, Siana went to Andrea’s room to force something down her throat; her daily struggle. But to her horror, the room was empty. She remembered being so scared her body trembled violently. She ran about the house, calling out for Andrea. She’d even searched the woods, the most perilous place for her. For hours she combed the forest, forgetting Ben’s warnings of the dangers within it. But when she had no luck, she succumbed and called the sheriff of Shorter, Brent McKenan. Brent was a close friend of Ben and he would have done anything for him. He spread the word and all of Shorter came to aid them in search for Andrea. For weeks they scoured the town and Tuskegee forest, and Siana wasn’t giving up. But Brent finally voice out what she dreaded: she left town. All and sundry finally stopped searching and rumors spread throughout the town. Andrea, known to be the kindest and wonderful person, now has a reputation of abandoning her daughters, sneering at her for being selfish. Siana didn’t believe any of it. She was angry at the town for turning their backs on Andrea. She sacrificed her time for this town, and the moment something terrible happens, she was suddenly a terrible mother. Andrea didn’t abandon them and she wasn’t dead either. She couldn’t believe it to be true, even now, after eight months from the day she vanished.

As Siana was officially an adult, and thanks to Sheriff McKenan, she was allowed to raise Brecka and remain in their home. For weeks, after the stop of the search, her neighbors would come by her house and offer food and comfort. She wanted neither. All she wanted was to be left alone with the devastated and disheartened Brecka. Brecka never said anything for a couple of months; after the shock of Andrea’s disappearance waned Siana had seen Brecka five times since summer began and it was nearly over. Brecka was avoiding her and she understood–she blamed herself as well. Siana was the oldest, she had responsibilities. Ben instructed her and it was simple to follow.

Being the oldest is a big responsibility, he had said to her. We’re a family, Sia, and the four of us are the only ones we’ve got. We can’t depend on anyone and we shouldn’t count on anyone else. Heed me, my Sia, protect the family. Stay hidden. And most importantly, keep fighting.

I promise dad, I’ll take good care of my little sister, she told him.

She gave him her word and she failed her family.

Siana shook her head, snapping herself from her reverie. It was quiet and slow, and very easy to get lost in unwanted memories. It was expected in a small town and, in most times, she preferred it that way. She could reason out her thoughts this way, but she was growing irritated at the sound of Bobbi Jean’s whiny, high voice. Bobbi sat at the counter, flipping through a magazine with a picture of Angelina Jolie on the front cover, repetitively sounding her boredom or whining at how slow it was, and Siana–after being there for just ten minutes–had endured the vivid account of her break-up with her high school boyfriend, Steve. Siana couldn’t condole with Bobbi’s situation, not when they always break-up. It was a routine dance; predictable and unwavering. She’ll give two weeks–maybe three tops–for them to end up together again, one way or another. They’ll make up passionately and be lovey-dovey for about two weeks, but subsequently, it starts again: the arguments, the fights, the throwing of things. In a month’s time they’d be apart. Honestly, they should make a soap about them, or a comedy show. It was sometimes hard to pity them when she was trying very hard to keep her mouth in a thin line, forcing herself not to burst into laughter.

Bobbi was three years older than Siana. She had a big dream of being an actress. She left Shorter the moment she graduated to California. But, that big, smog of a town wouldn’t give her a break. The entertainment business thought she was bland and superficial, sneering at her for lack of talent and literally slammed the door on her face. After only two years of trying she returned home, with nothing, but debts to show for. Or, at least that’s what Siana was told. But, she knew Bobbi’s parents had been furious at how much she owed, and for her to continue living with them and to help with most of her debts she had to work, and now Siana was lucky enough to have her as a coworker.

Although, Siana couldn’t really judge Bobbi. Siana wanted to be a singer, and if that didn’t work out she could have been a journalist. At least Bobbi had the chance to chase her dream. For all practical purpose, Siana couldn’t leave Brecka alone to fend for herself against the beasts, and she couldn’t let her be to endure the heartache of a missing mother.

The door jingled, announcing, and a man entered. He paused behind the swinging door, scanning the area. He spotted Siana and he veered his way to the Coffee Center.

Hello, he said lowly, to Siana.

Hey, Siana returned, without as much as a glance. She finished sorting the sugar packets, and turned, directed for the cashier counter, oblivious to the man’s speculating eyes on her.

I mean it this time, Bobbi was saying, I’m finished with him.

That’s a damn shame, Siana said, giving her friend false sympathy.

He’s like a freaking child, Bobbi resumed, sighing dreamily. Her words has no meaning, nor anger, in them now as she followed the man’s every steps with her ogling eyes, seeing the coil of conspicuous, taut muscles that threatened to rip out of his black shirt. I’m not his damn mother. He expects me to do things for him and all he does is play video ga– she stopped suddenly when the man aimed for the counter with a hot cup of coffee in one hand and a couple packs of Twinkies in the other. Bobbi gasped when the man acknowledge her with a nod, then she beamed.

Siana forced herself not to roll her eyes at Bobbi’s immaturity. In many ways, Bobbi behaves like a teenager rather than the adult she was; jejune and hormonal. She needed to be slapped on the face with reality. Life would fall hard on her once she decides to finally grow up.

That’ll be four-oh-eight. Siana rung up the man’s purchase without a glance at him. The man handed her a five bill and she reached for it. She counted the change, tilted her head up when she held the change before the stranger, and frowned.

The stranger stared at her with an ocean of green; amazing and severe, and penetrating. His virile features were hard and disdainful. His strong jaw clenched and his full lips were pressed in a serious line, lacking any hint this man ever smiled. He stood tall and refined. Arrogance radiated from him like a veil of smoke. Taut muscles twitch from under the short sleeve of his shirt with every little movement.

As accustomed, she would repel from the stares by now. As though from perverse rule, men tend to gawk at her idiotically, constantly pestering her to spend time with them. It sickens her how men lust over her.

Siana had the type of body that blossomed overnight. Skin perfectly tanned evenly, smooth and golden. One look at her and people would assume she spends her time lying under the sun’s deadly rays, when truth is she hasn’t the time or the patience. Lying under the sun? Not likely, not for Siana. Besides, the heat from the sun itself irritates her skin. She doesn’t stay under the rays more than necessary. Her hair was sleek, long and midnight black, and her eyes were the color of the clear sky. She never really thought herself as someone as beautiful. She was just Siana. The wary, suspicious, unrelenting girl. She was nothing special, nor important. The affect she has on men, as well, with women, puzzles her to no ends, and it compelled her to never look directly at men again.

But, this man before her, this unusual character, wasn’t gawking. He didn’t have that inane look that men tend to give. He was merely staring as though weighing his curiosity.

Have I seen you somewhere? Siana wondered, finally letting the change fall into the man’s waiting hand.

"We have met," the man replied, emphasizing on the word. He pocketed his change, turned and walked out, without waiting for recognition or response from Siana.

Siana composed herself and feigned indifference. She’ll weigh the oddity of the man subsequently when no eyes watch her.

Bobbi continued to stare dreamingly after the door.

You want me to wipe that?

Bobbi blinked, and resolved her attention back to Siana. She knit her brows. Wipe what?

That drool running down your chin, Siana ribbed.

Bobbi rolled her eyes to the sky, and grinned. Was that guy cute, or what? I mean, yum-my.

Siana shrugged. I suppose, if you like that murdering type.

Oh, c’mon! Bobbi cried out incredulously. Did you see how his eyes keep darting to you? I mean, if he stared at me like that, I would have jumped on him immediately.

Siana laughed. You would have jumped on anyone that glances at you.

Bobbi tossed her platinum blond hair, and sighed, ignoring her ribbing. The way men want you, I’m jealous. If I was you, I would use it to my advantage; let them pay my bills, buy me an expensive car or a house. Whatever. As long as I never work again, I will milk every bit of it until they bleed dry, she shrugged, or become broke.

Be careful what you wish for, Siana murmured, the mirth gone from her that instant.

She shuddered.

It had been Ben’s great reputation and the town’s respect for him that this town let her be, but there had been an incident with one of her friend’s brother when she was about fourteen…

She shook that thought away before the nightmare returned. It was luck Ben appeared where she was before the puff of air evolved into a hellish thunder. The blank, foreboding stare frightened her, and that one occurrence forced her to declare to save herself until love finds her and when the man in question truly has deep feelings for her, enough to lose sleep over her or lose focus when she was near. That type of thing. But, it was very difficult to find that type of thing when men ogled and yearn over her.

The giddy from the man’s presence ebbed and Bobbi resumed on about Steve. Siana suppressed an irritated sigh and feigned listening, all the while, wondering if the gun in the safe had any bullets. But, that would be too cruel, she’ll just have Brecka shoot her through the head with one of her arrows, this way she’d be spared from listening to one of Bobbi’s many problems honorably. Ben did say honorable men prefers to die with an arrow…or was it, an insane man thought honorable would die rather with an arrow? Whatever. She’d be spared from Bobbi’s high-pitched voice.

Suddenly, and gratefully, the door rang, announcing entrance. Siana turned to the door and smiled at the welcome interruption. A man entered. He paused at the door, scanned, and when he saw Siana at the counter he veered to her.

Siana’s smile faltered.

The man’s frame was hidden by an emerald cloak, but as he walked it bellowed behind, allowing Siana view of a scabbard hanging from the man’s belt, without fear of being exposed of who, and what, he is.

Siana didn’t keep her eyes off the stranger, she watched his every move and action.

Hey, Bobbi, she interrupted the latter from her blabbering, without any notice of Siana’s sudden rigidness or the odd man’s presence. She kept her voice even. Go home early. I can handle everything. I’ll clock you out when your shift’s up.

Bobbi bolted up from the stool. She grabbed her purse, then rushed pass her, hastening around the counter to the door as if she thought Siana would change her mind, and brushing against the man. He paused to let her by, but his dark eyes didn’t leave Siana’s.

See ya! The door jingled, and Bobbi was soon out of sight. For a brief moment, the man turned to the swinging door, and Siana took that moment of distraction to wrap her hand on the thin end of the steel baseball bat she hid under the counter.

The stranger turned his attention back to Siana and resumed advancing towards her.

You know where I’m from, he said, in an archaic accent. Hand over what I seek, and I’ll let you live.

Siana quirked her brow, and scanned the threatening man before her. His feature was as severe as the first stranger, however, this man emitted out vile danger. His nose looked crooked, as if it had been broken once, or twice, and hadn’t set right. His face was pale and sunken, protruding out his cheekbones. He must have been good-looking, but his foreboding mien and disdainful sneer made him altogether horrible.

If you leave now I won’t kill you, Siana hissed, tightening her grip around the cold steel.

The stranger narrowed his eyes and it grew significantly darker.

Don’t test me, girly, he jeered. I have no patience for your hollow threats.

A threat? Perhaps. Hollow? I think not. Siana was proud her voice was steady and firm, and promising.

The stranger’s upper lip curled and a faint growl resounded from the back of his throat unnaturally. He didn’t move, but Siana knew when someone was about to attack. She jerked her hand upward, but before she could withdraw the bat and swing it at the stranger’s head, the door opened, ringing. She paused, her eyes widened when Jake Townsend entered and headed directly to her without hesitation, a curious lift of a brow at the back of the stranger’s attire.

The stranger bent slightly to her. You have been spared, girly. Fear me. Toss in your bed as you dream of me, for you have met your end. My pets will get through your wards, and when they do, I will watch happily as they nibble on your bones. For now, you remain breathing to live a lie within these common people. He turned abruptly, bumping into Jake.

Siana shook in relief, but kept her attention on the swinging door.

After all these years she could finally put a face behind the beasts and confirm they were searching for something. He’d been desperate. If he wasn’t, he wouldn’t have let her live.

But, why now? After the years of trying to thwart her, why did he finally decide to show his face? And, who was that other stranger? Were they working together?

Who the hell was that guy? Jake asked, frowning at the door. Is he going to some kind of weirdo convention?

Siana jumped. His deep voice startled her back from her speculation.

Jake chuckled. You all right? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.

Siana composed, and smiled. Jake wore his cop uniform, it brought out his blue eyes. He turned down the voice on his left shoulder to hear her over the cackling of the female operator and other officers; she discerned Brent’s voice.

What are you doing here?

How’s your day? he asked, rubbing his recently faded hair.

Siana loved the way he looked. He was gorgeous, with an ample proportioned lips and his features were soft and friendly.

Siana shrugged. Slow, but I think I have a headache now. Jake stared at her with confusion at her sly smile. She resumed and added, I was honored to hear the account of the latest Bobbi-Steve-drama.

Comprehension dawned on his face, and he chuckled. How is Bobbi?

Irritating and whiny as ever.

Jake chuckled again.

Why are you here? she asked again.

Brecka is in the cruiser with the twins.

She frowned. Why?

The girls are planning to go to the mall in Montgomery, he explained. Alisa’s car’s in the shop. I wanted to pick her up rather than have her walk, and I get the honor of being their chauffeur.

Siana laughed. You need to toughen up and stop being a sucker to your sister’s pouting.

That’s me: a sucker.

You’re a great friend Jake, thanks. She paused and sighed. Am I making a mistake with her? I mean, she’s been downcast since school ended, and I don’t know why.

Jake frowned. He was hesitant to answer, and Siana gave him a stern look. He sighed. I promised I wouldn’t say anything. My family is planning to go to Florida for a couple weeks, with the twins. Mom asked if she could go…

She said she couldn’t, Siana grasped. Because, we couldn’t afford it.

Jake nodded. I’m willing to pay for her plane ticket, he said slowly, without any sign of hope. He’d offered to help before, but Siana would never take it. It’s not that Siana was proud; she didn’t need it. She was grateful for his attempt, she just has trust issues. With the one incident, and all men wanting her just so they could say they have her, she couldn’t.

I’ll figure out something, she said. Thanks anyway.

He sighed. They leave at the end of July. He turned around. She’s waiting for you.

Siana paused at the counter. She was suddenly unsure. Now that she met the man that caused so much fear and pain in her life she wasn’t sure of letting Brecka go anywhere. If the man knew who she was he must know who Brecka is as well. Brecka needed to be protected.

Jake turned from the door, and when he saw her uncertainty, he rushed back to her and paused from reaching for her hand, knowing how she hates contact. I’ll keep a hawk’s eye on her, and I promise I’ll have them home before sunset.

Siana swallowed her fear. His words were comforting, but it was empty. The ominous stranger would kill anyone that gets in the way to the object of his rage, by the looks of him. Jake’s gun wouldn’t even graze him, she bet. But, Brecka was relentless. Siana dreads Brecka’s tantrums more than the stranger’s threats. Brecka won’t accept being ordered from spending time with her friends at the mall when she couldn’t buy anything anyway. Brecka wanted a bit of a normal.

Jake turned for the door again. Siana followed him out to the front parking lot where his police cruiser was parked, scanning around anxiously for any signs of lingering threat.

Brecka must have seen her fear; she jumped out of the cruiser and ran to her.

What’s wrong? she demanded.

Nothing. The town’s just getting a bit crowded, that’s all.

Brecka didn’t believe her, and she clearly showed it.

Siana sighed, and grabbed Brecka’s elbow, maneuvering her