The Prophecy (The Guardians)

The Prophecy (The Guardians) - By Wendy Owens


CHAPTER ONE



The squeal of the tea kettle sent Uri leaping from the make-shift bed on the floor. Gabe laughed at his friend. He had been so immersed in his solitude for the past five years that he couldn’t help but smile, reminiscing about Rampart Manor. No matter how much Gabe had tried to convince himself otherwise, it was comforting to not be alone, even if it was temporary.

He had forgotten what it was like just to hear someone else breathe. Being completely absent of any kind of companionship can play tricks with one’s mind; Gabe had been fighting off the madness of loneliness for longer than he cared to think about.

In an instant though, the five years that had passed seemed to melt away. It was as if he and his friend, Uri, had never been apart at all. The overnight visit had already turned into a three day stay. It was hard to say goodbye when it had taken them so long to find one another again.

Gabe would never have admitted it out loud, but he loved being entertained by Uri’s tales of ferocious battles each night. Rachel on the other hand, had not made much of an impression on Gabe. She was quiet and seemed to be more of an observer. She would occasionally snicker at one of Uri’s funny stories about the good old days, when he and Gabe were going to take on the world.

In particular, the story of Gabe’s tests to enter Guardian school had her in stitches. When Gabe faced those deadly challenges years ago, he never imagined he would laugh at the retelling of them, yet here he was, chuckling at the boisterous way Uri shared the tale.

After only three days together, Gabe was already used to having Uri around. They didn’t speak much about the war that was going on in the real world. Here, in this little hide away, both were content to simply enjoy reuniting.

“Where’s Rachel?” Uri asked, straightening his long arms out into a stretch. When Gabe looked back at his friend, he couldn’t help feel somewhat inferior. Though Gabe had matured and developed into a fit and lean man, in no way could his muscles compare to those of his longtime companion.

“She went outside.” Gabe replied, focusing on the kettle.

“For what?” Uri quickly replied, almost panicked.

“What am I, her keeper?” Gabe snapped. While Gabe enjoyed having Uri as a guest, he could not help but feel annoyed at the presence of Rachel. He had left Rampart with the intention of not meeting Rachel, and not looking after her. He was not about to be roped into becoming The Protector now.

“Wow, all this time alone hasn’t done much for your personality, has it?” Uri groaned while pushing past Gabe, and opened the front door to the small cabin.

“Uri I’m—” but before Gabe could finish the apology, Uri was outside calling for Rachel.

As thrilled as Gabe was to have Uri with him, he had a sneaking suspicion there was more to his visit. He couldn’t be certain, but he was confident in the assumption that Uri somehow thought there would be this magical connection when Gabe met Rachel. Perhaps Uri thought Gabe would feel compelled to step into his role as protector. Gabe in fact felt absolutely no connection to the girl.

As annoyed as Gabe was by her intrusion into his life, he was relieved to meet her in a way. He had spent so much time avoiding his destiny that it had grown into a fear that haunted him. The prophecy that was foretold to him by the Oracle was one of certain death for either him or the one he protected. Rachel would give birth to the child he was supposed to save, it was her destiny.

Now that Rachel was here, he no longer felt his own destiny was some mystical thing he could not escape. It was clear to him that he still held the power to choose his own path. Eventually, Uri would come to understand, nobody should be expected to die for a stranger, at least Gabe hoped he would understand.

Gabe sat at his empty table, in his empty cabin, running his finger tip around the edge of his cup of tea. He wished he had not been so short with Uri. It felt good that the home he had built not to be quiet, but to be filled with laughter. A thought had been on Gabe’s mind since Uri arrived, he wanted to ask him to leave the cause, abandon the Guardians, and come stay with him. He didn’t ask Uri though, because he already knew what his answer would be, of that Gabe was sure. Uri is not one who would ever run away from a fight, unlike myself, Gabe thought.

He was certain that everyone he had known in his old life surely now thought of him as a coward. He had told himself the reason he left was because of Sophie and his broken heart. Now though, after all this time, perhaps the others were right. Maybe the reason he now stayed away was fear. Maybe I am a coward, Gabe could not shake the words from his mind.

Several more minutes passed and still no sign of Uri or Rachel. Gabe suddenly felt an uneasiness wash over him. He knew his fortress of solitude was sound, at least he thought it was until Uri had found him. The scenarios began to run through his head. What if Uri and Rachel were followed? The magical alarms were not triggered, they have to be safe. Of course Uri had managed to not trigger the alarms either.

Gabe couldn’t take it anymore; he had to ensure Uri was alright. He stepped out the front door and glanced around, they were nowhere in sight. Another twinge of panic hit him before he turned and rounded the corner of the cabin.

“Uri…. Uri?” Gabe called out, searching for any sign of his friend. He waited a moment for a response, but heard nothing. Gabe continued on the path to the creek, perhaps they had gone to gather more water.

Concentrating, he pushed the thoughts that they were in danger out of his mind. Dodging through the brush, Gabe picked up the pace. The sooner he found them, the sooner his mind could rest at ease.

He came to a clearing. Moving past the tree line he saw a figure near the stream. After a moment’s hesitation, Gabe realized it was, in fact, Uri. He was not yet used to his friend’s new physique and the image of a broad shouldered, muscular man had unsettled him at first.

Gabe approached Uri, a smile beaming across his face. Remembering how they had left things at the cabin, Gabe quickly tried to explain his attitude. “Hey man, about what I said back there… I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“Look at her.” Uri said as if he hadn’t heard a word Gabe said.

“Huh?” Gabe asked puzzled.

“She is always so blissfully happy.” Uri added.

Gabe glanced over to where Uri was directing his attention. There, Rachel stood in the stream, the water tickling her ankles. Her bohemian skirt was pulled up and knotted at her knees, one leg was locked straight and the other bent, the light bounced off the water illuminating her silhouette. Gabe’s eyes travelled up her curvy body. The white tank top clung to her torso, and for the first time, without the baggy sweatshirt to cover her, Gabe noticed her exquisite figure.

Rachel’s arms were out stretched, her chin raised to the sky, a colorful butterfly dancing on her fingertips. Gabe had not noticed how beautiful she was until that moment. Her large, almond shaped brown eyes sparkled in the light and her smile lit up her entire face. The sun traced her petite nose and her full lips glowed with a rosy color. Her dark hair crept down her arched back; the strands looked as though they were dancing in the wind.

Uri noticed Gabe’s sudden enchantment with her. Knocking the wind out of him with a blow to the stomach, Uri laughed saying, “Be sure you pick your jaw up off the ground.”

Gabe shook his head as if coming out of a trance. “What? No, I wasn’t… Sounds to me like you’re the one who has a thing for that girl.”

Uri looked back at Rachel and smiled. “She is special, that is for sure, but she and I are not meant to fall in love.”

“Oh yeah, and how do you know that?” Gabe questioned in a sarcastic tone before steeling another glimpse of Rachel.

“Let’s just say, I know.” Uri replied turning and walking back towards the cabin.

“Oh, that’s right. Now I remember, all the mysterious mumbo jumbo crap they would feed us at Rampart is coming back to me. It’s your life, Uri, how about you live it for yourself.” Gabe huffed as he turned to follow.

“You really have no clue what you’re talking about. It has nothing to do with Rampart. There is no room in my life to fall in love with anyone. Rachel deserves to be with someone that can love her back.” Uri explained.

“And what make you too busy to love her back?” Gabe goaded.

“Some of us are fighting a war, Gabe.” Uri replied coolly.

“Oh, now I get it. You’re all brave and noble; you don’t have time for love because you’re rescuing the world. Well, we cowards don’t have room for love either!” Gabe added defensively.

“Nobody called you a coward, what is your deal?” Uri questioned.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Gabe snapped.

“Yeah, whatever you say.” After Uri spoke, the silence lingered for a moment until Gabe continued at last.

“I know what everyone must think about me,” he added.

“None of your friends expected you to be anything more than yourself.” Uri said, attempting to reassure him.

“No, I’m not stupid. I know what people are saying, I wasn’t always alone during those five years. I heard things while I was traveling. I abandoned the Guardians, I was a disappointment, a coward, selfish, I even heard a rumor I had joined the demons at one point.” Gabe rattled off, frustrated.

“Those words did not come from your friends, none of the people who really knew you. Who cares what anyone else says?” Uri added.

“Yeah, well it’s not you they are saying it about.”

“Gabe, I’m sorry. You have to understand, people had a lot of hope for the protector. Even though all of your friends still love you, there is going to be a level of disappointment you just have to expect from everyone else.” Uri continued.

“Why? I never asked to be the protector. I never asked for any of this, so why do I now have to live in hiding? Why do I not get a shot at a normal life?” Gabe found himself becoming furious at the idea of it all.

“Gabe, you have been in your own private little world for too long. Soon enough, nobody is going to have a shot at a normal life. Not if Baal has his way.” Uri argued. Gabe fell silent, hanging his head as he considered his friend’s words. “Look, I’m running out of time. I have been needing to talk to you anyways, I suppose now is as good a time as any. I have a huge favor to ask you.”

“Oh no, here it comes.” Gabe replied in a snarky tone.

“Really? It just keeps coming with you, doesn’t it?” Uri barked in astonishment as the two walked into the tiny cabin.

“Just saying, I figured out a long time ago that’s how things work when it comes to Guardians. They tend to only come around when they want something from you.” Gabe explained, confident in his opinion. “When you need them though, they are nowhere to be found.”

“You’re a Guardian whether you like it or not. You left us, Gabe! We didn’t abandon you, we respected your choice. Do you think it’s been easy to stay away?” Uri was losing his patience quickly. “I thought maybe you would have grown up a little in these past five years.”

“Excuse me?” Gabe asked, not disguising that he was offended.

Uri walked over to the pile of bedding and sprawled his long body out, resting his head on his hands and forearms behind his head. “For your information, nobody else knows I’m here. There is no big conspiracy to pull you back in. Life went on without you just fine, and it will continue to. I came here because out of everyone I have left, I trust you the most for what I was going to ask. But it’s fine, if we are too much trouble to bother you with, I get it. When Rachel gets back, we’ll clear out.” Uri closed his eyes, the exhausting conversation taking its toll.

Gabe felt conflicted; on one hand, he regretted ever leaving Rampart. He was young, a child, his feelings were hurt, and he wanted to escape it. After he was gone for so long, he felt like he couldn’t go back, too much had happened for him to just slip back into that life. He also felt bitter towards the Guardians, used and now unwanted.

“I’m sorry, Uri.” Gabe said quietly. “I shouldn’t take my frustrations out on you. I know you’re a true friend.”

Uri opened one eye, and with a cocked eyebrow asked, “What? The great and mighty Gabe Harwood just apologized?”

“Come on, don’t be like that.”

Closing his eye, Uri didn’t move as he continued, “Gabe, you’re the one who left all those years ago. I’m not really sure why you have a beef with me.”

Gabe didn’t know what to say. He had thought Uri and Sophie were having a relationship behind his back at the time. He had been so wrong. There never had been anything between them, even though Sophie may have been interested in Uri during her confusion, Uri had been a true friend and not betrayed him. Uri had never done anything to deserve the way Gabe treated him.

“Just tell me.” Gabe urged, wanting to change the tone of the conversation.

“Tell you what?” Uri asked, opening his eyes and looking at his friend.

“What you need from me.” Gabe explained.

“Nah, just forget it.” Uri dismissed.

“Come on man, are you going to make me beg?” Gabe pleaded.

“Hmmm… Maybe, begging could be nice.” Uri laughed.

Grabbing a nearby towel and flinging it at his friend’s chest, Gabe bellowed, “Forget it then.”

Sitting up, Uri started laughing, the mood quickly shifting. Pushing himself back, he rested against the cabin wall and conceded, “Alright, alright. I’ll tell you.”

“Gee, thanks.” Gabe responded, halfheartedly.

“So you know why Rachel and I are here, right?” Uri asked.

“Well, I assumed it was because of what you told me. You two just needed a place to hide out for a couple of days.” Gabe began to wonder if he was in fact right, and there was more to this visit than Uri had let on.

“Yeah, that part is true.” Uri began. “I need to get Rachel to a safe house and the last three we have tried have been compromised. I’m not sure how Baal’s men are getting their information, but they seem to be one step ahead of us.”

“That really sucks, but I don’t see how I can help with any of that. I have no contact with anyone from that world anymore.” Gabe explained. He sincerely wished he could help Uri somehow. Part of him wanted to prove to everyone that he was not a coward, that him leaving had everything to do with not wanting to be told how to live his life.

“That’s just it, Gabe. You’re secluded, nobody knows where you are. Every time I take Rachel out there, I’m putting her at risk.” Uri explained as he watched Gabe fidget nervously.

“Like I said, I’m not really sure what I can do to help.” Gabe said, careful to not make eye contact with Uri.

Uri stood and walked up to Gabe. Getting uncomfortably close, he forced Gabe to look at him. “I’m not asking you to come back to the life, Gabe. That’s not what this is about. I just need time. I need time to find out who we can trust. I need time to find a place where she will be safe.”

“I can’t, Uri, don’t ask me to do this.” Gabe pleaded.

“I know you’re scared, but—” Uri hesitated, unsure what to say next.

There it is, Gabe thought. The fact that everyone thought he was a coward staring him in the face. He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs that he was not afraid. He wanted to shout for them all to go to hell. That they had no clue what it was like to be him. To be living your life, accepting you are an orphan, destined to be alone, and then people come into your life treating you with love and kindness.

They tell you that you are special; you have abilities many only dream of. What they don’t tell you is that your future is tainted. If you live out your days how they want you to, then you are destined to die young. A life where they dangle love in front of your face and then it’s torn away.

Gabe thought of Sophie and everything they had been through. He truly had loved her, as much as a boy could love someone. He was prepared to give his life to protect her. Like most things in Gabe’s life, that relationship had ended miserably. He gave his all and it wasn’t enough. She nearly died, and as a result of his trusted mentor, Michael, saving her, what they had together was lost forever.

Michael, another key player in the life Gabe had lost. As he remembered the man, it was hard not to think of him fondly. It angered Gabe that he still thought of him with such warmth. He felt most deceived by the father figure who had brought him to Rampart under false pretenses. He thought he was at the school to learn how to become a defender of good, but the entire time Michael had another agenda. One that involved Gabe fulfilling a destiny as the protector, and sacrificing his life.

At last, Gabe spoke softly, “Wouldn’t you be afraid?” He had never admitted to even himself that he was afraid, but in that second, with all those memories flooding back, he at last was truthful to himself. He didn’t want to die. Life had been far from perfect and held few joys for him, but it didn’t mean Gabe was ready to sacrifice it.

Uri thought about his question. “I suppose, but there are some things that are more important than our own fear and desire for survival. This is so much bigger than you or me. Do you know how many have died for the cause?”

“Uri!” Gabe yelled. “Don’t you get it? You don’t know you’re going to die. You risk your life knowing it’s a possibility, but you don’t know you will be killed as a certainty. The prophecy tells me I will die. I help, and I am giving my life.”

“That’s just it; I’m not asking you to do that.” Uri added.

Gabe shook his head looking at Uri with a puzzled stare. “I don’t understand.”

“I’m not asking you to protect the prophet. I’m not asking you to even stay involved. I just need to leave Rachel with you until I figure all this out and find a place to hide her. The prophet hasn’t been born. Hell, she isn’t even pregnant; there is no risk to you based on the prophecy.” Uri explained his reasoning.

“Except for the army of demons hunting her!” Gabe exclaimed.

“Alright, I admit, what I am asking is not without risk. I wouldn’t ask you if I weren’t out of options.” Uri explained.

“You found me, how safe can it really be for her here?” Gabe asked, doubting Uri’s reasoning.

“The only way I found you was the trinket Dina put on your bag when you left Rampart years ago. Had I not used that to track you, I don’t think I would have ever found you. What are the chances Baal or any of his followers will discover you? Think about it, it truly is the perfect hiding place.” Uri urged.

“I don’t know…” Gabe said. A moment later, the front door creaked open. Rachel stood there, clothes damp, simply staring.

“Rachel!” Uri gasped. “Are you alright?”

“I slipped.” Rachel replied flatly. The men looked to each other, each one unsure what to do.

Suddenly, Rachel burst out in a full and jovial laughter. The men soon followed in a similar fashion, all amused by the humor of the situation.

“Come over here and get warm,” Uri said while motioning to the nearby stove that was still warming a pot of water.

As she did, Uri looked over his shoulder to Gabe who simply nodded. With that unspoken agreement, Gabe would participate in the fight just a little longer. He would watch over Rachel at his home until Uri could return and retrieve her. Uri didn’t utter a response; instead, he walked up and patted his friend firmly on the back in gratitude.

Gabe could feel the joy in Uri’s presence. He hoped his friend didn’t misunderstand his level of commitment. He would make sure it was clear before Uri left. He was willing to watch over Rachel for a short time, just long enough for Uri to find a place safe enough for her. After that, he was out, for good.