When people ask you how you are, they all want to hear the same thing, I'm fine. No one ever asks you "How are you" with the intention of you answering with a truthful answer. Everyone expects the world to be fine because they are too busy taking care of their own problems to care about yours. Everyone has their own problems, so why should I bother anyone with mine? That's everyones thought, however, for me, my problem is about to become your problem....Again.


The sound of clacking echoed in my ears followed by voices, a lot of them. The doors opened to a bar, it looked normal with a glance over everyone and everything. Men and women lined the bar holding onto multi-colored drinks talking to each other. Teakkin let out a sigh looking over at the bartender. I couldn't see her face, in fact, I couldn't see anything about her but the arm that was leaning on the bar. I took another glance over the bar as me and Teakkin walked in. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary here, well aside from the hooded figure I saw before walking in. I took a guess it was all in my head, I had been running on only coffee and was starting to feel the drowsiness of staying up for weeks on end.

Teakkin pulled up to the bar between two men. One of them had a hood on while the other continued to look over at Teakkin, flashing a smile when he thought she wasn't looking. I made my way around the small area that people used for dancing. Everyone here looked so dark to me, their eyes, the way they dressed, even the way they would say "Excuse me". It wasn't until I made my way back over to the bar where Teakkin sat that I began to know this was no ordinary bar. The man in the hood looked up for only a moment, a glowing red to his eye. I looked at it for a moment before watching him walk away. I took a seat next to Teakkin, the same seat he had just been sitting in, and looked around. It started to seem clear now, this wasn't just a bar, everyone here wasn't human.

Why did we come here Teakkin? I have better things to do than watch you drink your night away.

I'm not here to drink.

Then you want to explain why we are here because all I'm seeing is you sitting on your ass and making small talk with sparky over there.

I pointed to a guy who was constantly flicking at his lighter. He looked down at me, rolling his eyes, and going back to flicking.

Ada!

Ada? Who the hell is...

The bartender, still leaning on the bar talking, turned her head to Teakkin and myself. She look almost annoyed as she put her finger in the face of one of the men she had been talking to since us stepping into the bar. Teakkin smiled, almost congratulating herself. I let out a heavy sigh and leaned on the counter in front of me with my head in my hands.



Teakkin.

I need you to do me a favor.

Don't you always.

Ada looked over at me, her eyes seemingly looking right through me. I let my hands drop to the counter and my head lifted. She looked back at Teakkin and I couldn't help but feel like something was wrong the moment she did.

I need you to do the spell.

No.

Ada...

I had my ass on the line for week because you wanted me to bring back a pup. Besides, I don't dip into that kind of magic anymore, I get nothing in return but having to get talked to by you know who.

She may know who but I sure as hell don't.

How cute you brought your pet bird with you.

I rolled my eyes, still having the feeling something was up, I turned to Teakkin as she started to plead her case.

Someone has fallen in war and...

If you can't bring them back darlin' I sure as hell ain't tryin'.

It's Nerobel...

Ada's eyes shot up to Teakkin, then over to me. They grew cold, worried. She looked around the counter before leaning closely to Teakkin allowing only me to hear some of what she was saying.

Then that's?...

Yes.

She looked back over at me, her eyes still stained with worry. I watched her chest fill with air before her attitude changed. Her eyes shot away from me as she started to play with things on the countertop.

I wish I could help Teakkin, you know that, but I really can't.

She started to walk to the back, behind all the bottles of liquor. I watched as Teakkin dropped her shoulders, almost as if to show she had given up. I rolled my eye, pushing from the bar stool I stood up, another waste of time.

Wait, Ada.

Yes?

Theres something else I need you to help me with.

I started to walk by Teakkin, but she pulled my arm as she spoke the last word. I turned to look at her, then up at Ada. Their eyes were connected as if they were reading each others mind. I rolled my eyes looking to the corner of the room, a darkened shadow with no face. I started to get another feeling as if this was the worst place to be right now.

I will see what I can do.

My attention shot back to Ada and Teakkin, when I looked back for only a moment, the figure was once again gone. I felt Teakkin pull on my hand as she lead me down a small hall. Ada opened the door to a room filled with incense and other things pertaining to witchcraft. Me and Teakkin walked into the room and shut the door behind us before sitting down at a round table.



So now you're helping?

No, not with what you want me to.

Then with what?

To find your...

Just trust her and me please.

Teakkins words echoed in my head. I shot her a glance before looking up at Ada who was mixing something in a bowl. She walked over the table and sat it down.

Hold your hands out.

Excuse me?

Hold your hands up, palms facing upward.

I looked over at Teakkin, she had no expression like always. Looking back over at Ada, I crossed my arms and leaned back.

No.

Mandii...

For all I know she is going to shoot me up with something and I'm going to end up dieing. Sorry, I'm not Hansel or Gretel but I will push you into the little stove you have over there in the corner if I need to. Besides, I have an appointment for an Alien to kiss my Siren ass so ODing on voodoo isn't going to happen.

I'm not going to "OD you on Voodoo."

Well you aren't helping me bring back my sister either so you can kindly fuck off.

I started to stand but Teakin’s arm fell into my lap. She looked over at me, pleading with her eyes. I looked up at Ada before sitting back down and doing as she said. She began to draw symbols in my hand with a blue substance. Once she was done, she said something under her breath and pushed a blue stone onto my forehead.

Wait, this isn't...

My body ran cold, all feeling was lost below my neck as my eyes started to drift close. I felt cold, I felt...I felt dead. I could hear words cutting in and out.

What did you...

Not my....

How could...

Future...

Guardian...

I fought back, my body wanting to shut down. Suddenly, a small wind broke the yelling and brought silence. My eyes watched the blanket on the wall dance to the rhythm of the wind. Teakkin tried to pull me up but was pushed away by Ada. I watched them fight more, until my eyes drifted to the blanket again. There was something behind it. I fought to keep my eyes open until the moment I saw a dark figure move behind the blanket.

Suddenly, my body ran with heat again, it was no longer hard to hold my eyes open. My body sprang from the seat charging for the blanket that hung on the wall. Teakkin and Adas voices grew faint as I disappeared into a hall of darkness. My eyes were trying to adjust to the darkness as I ran, my body filling with heat. Suddenly, the figure in front of me disappeared into light. I stopped running, taking in a breath, and ran after it once more. Somehow we were back outside, I was standing only feet from the thing I had been seeing all night.

Who are you!

I made out a smile under the hood as the body darted for me, sending me to the ground. I pushed up on the figure and pushed them over onto the ground. Holding them down with one of my legs, I reached to pull the hood off. I was interrupted by a hit to my jaw forcing me over to my side. Blood ran out of my lips as I looked to the ground, trying to understand why I couldn't heal. A growl rumbled in my voice as I was pulled up by my hair and tossing into the near by trees. I felt and heard a crack as my back connected to the trees.

Mandii!

Teakkin’s voice called out to me. I didn't pay any attention as I climb to my feet, wiping blood from my lips. I looked on at the figure before seeing a red glow come where eyes would be. A smile inched on my lips as I moved closer, limping almost with every step.

My my, what are you?

My walking turned into a dart as I knocked over the figure and sat on top. I pulled out a small knife I held in my boot forcing it into the hooded figures chest. I heard a gasp for breath before feeling whatever it was below me tense up. I smiled, going to pull the hood off.

No..Way...

Mandii, it's a fury!

My body seemingly was tossed into the air. When I hit earth again, I looked up to two figures standing before me. My body seemed to be weak as if I was human again. I closed my eyes for a moment before feeling by body being jolted up. My eyes shot open, fire eyes looked back at me. My mind started to feel hot, then it was as if fire was being set to my brain. I called out, yelled in pain. Teakkin pulled the figure off me but was shot to the ground herself shortly after. I held onto my head, still feeling like my brain was frying. I could hear the footsteps of the figure walking back.

We've been waiting for you to come back out Mandii, you've been lost inside your own head for far too long. I was starting to wonder if we were even needed anymore.

Who...Are...You...

I looked up, my head in pain and by body filling with heat.

Who are we? Just your justice Mandii.

I could make out a smile on the other figures face as they picked up a rock. Suddenly, the rock lit on fire and was thrown to me. I pushed up from the ground, using what was left of my might, and grabbing the rock throwing it back at the figure. I felt heat running on my hand, different than it does on my body. Teaching voice called out. My vision faded on the black figure burning as they fell to the ground.

-----------------------------

My eyes opened to light hitting the ground next to me. A slight rain seemed to be hitting the window as I looked up from a mattress laying on the ground. I was back in the house, Teakkin laying at my side. I blinked a few times, making sure I was fully awake. A bandage covered my hand and my ribs were tapped up.

You're awake...

Teakkins voice faded. She sat in front of me, her eyes filled with worry but no emotion hung on her face. I started to pull at the bandages but was stopped by her hand. She looked to the ground.

I made Ada reverse the spell, however, I don't know if it's fully worn off.

So a spell made me weak. Told you, OD on Voodoo.

I sat up fully and pulled off the bandages wrapped around my ribs and chest. I looked to the side where I shirt laid and pulled it over my head. Teakkin sat next to me, looking over the cuts that were slowly beginning to heal.

Her life was at risk.

So she knew about the fire twins.

They threatened her, that's why she did what she did. I'm sorry.

Ya. Wonder who I pissed off to have those two want me dead.

I pushed up from the ground, my body feeling sore but I could still walk. I turned back to see Teakkin looking to the ground. A sigh left her mouth as she stood to her feet.

Theres something I need to tell you. I didn't come to you because I wanted to see how you were doing with the book. I was sent here by the originals to find out who your guardian is.

Confusion covered my face as I looked at Teakkin.

Guardian?

When you became a full Siren, you took on the role of an original.

How does this have to do with a Guardian?

Mandii, when you awoke the full Siren blood in your body and you change completely, someone was awaken as a Guardian.

And why is this so important to the originals?

I don’t know, I was never told, what I do know is they want me to find out who it is. They didn’t want me to tell you.

I rolled my eyes. While I thought two of the three originals were here to help me, I couldn’t help but feel as if Helen was always against me. I still wanted to see her blood on the ground, not because she is trying to brush off the war, because she chose my future for me.

So that’s all then? You came here because you were sent here to find out who this link to me is? Sorry, I don’t know who it is and I don’t give a shit who it is. All I care about right now is finding a way to get Nero back.

I turned away from Teakkin and looked down at my hand. I started to unwrap it, revealing burns. The touch of the air to my skin burned uncontrollable. I looked up, my eyes closed. I could feel the pain from it and the pain it was taking to heal it.

What about your brother?

I stopped. Turning to Teakkin I looked down at my hand before a scowl was on my face.

You won’t tell me what you know, so, I’ll get Nero back and me and her will find my brother. I only need you until Nero is back, then you can go back to watching me from afar and I can go back to living this lie.

I turned away from Teakkin and pulled Jasons Jacket, the book, and the dagger from the glass and left the room. As long as Helen was still alive, I still wished her dead. As long as Jason was missing, the more I seemed to focus. The longer Nero stayed dead, the harder it felt to get her back.




But I WILL see Helens blood spill, I WILL watch my brother come home, and I WILL find a way to bring back Nerobel.



To Be Continued....