Seeing flowing energy, blues, greens, yellows, purples. Different colors filled the sky, plants growing, small animals roaming lush green meadows. Stars exploding breathing life into the night sky. Waves run smoothly over the sand of the Earth. Everything was at peace, death followed, but not tragic. Serenity danced back and forth. Plants decaying and animals passing peacefully under a blanket of stars. Waves crashed on the rocks. Life and harmonious death danced in her mind.
Eve slowly opened her eyes, looking around the room. The sun breaks through the window shades. A blanket tucked into her sides. Where was she? She wondered to herself. It was quiet. A TV sat on a desk in front of her. Noticing the IV in her arm, the last she remembered was waking up to David and a group of people she did not recognize. What happened? The door quietly creaked open. Clearing her throat as James’ few gray hairs on his brown head, poked out from behind the door. "Ah, Mija, Gabriel said you'd be awake." He pushed the door open wearing his work uniform, holding a tray with two meals on it. She was happy to see a familiar face. James walked over placing the plate on her lap.
"Where am I?" She asked him, looking at the plate of food, feeling like she had not eaten in ages.
"Home," James said smiling and placing the utensils on the plate. "Look, I'm not allowed to say anything but just know you're safe." He started to walk away. Eve grabbed his arm to keep him from leaving. James just sighed.
"I might need that second plate." She smiled up at him and chuckled.
"I wish I could." He smiled back at her, "This is for David." His smile turned soft.
"Where is he?" She asked him.
"Just relax." Eve released his arm pulling off her covers. And sliding herself over, wearing shorts and a tank top. She immediately felt embarrassed. "You should just sit still; someone will come to get you. Get dressed." James laughed heading outside the door and closing it behind himself.
Eve took it easy getting out of bed, not walking in days did not help with her balance. Walking, almost stumbling to the dresser. Opening it she found a black t-shirt and some navy-blue sweats. Slowly sliding everything on, the shirt had buttons on the side that didn't interfere with the needle and tube on the IV. Buttoning it up, she looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was neatly brushed, and her bangs combed. Eve's skin was soft and clean. Wherever she was, she was being taken care of. Turning around towards the window, all she could see was a courtyard where kids were playing with sticks and running around. A wall surrounded the courtyard and what appeared to be an apartment complex, vines growing up the dark red brick walls. A thick forest covered the outside walls. She wasn't in the city anymore.
There was a knock at the door, "Come in." She said turning around, arms crossed. Allison came into the room, wearing a white tank top and a pair of jeans.
"Miss Taylor, I'm Allison," She walked over offering her hand to shake. "You don't need this anymore." She pulled her arm in closer removing the needle. Eve released a grunt of pain; Allison covered her arm with her hand. A glowing pulse immediately closed the small hole in her arm.
"Woah." Eve said looking at her arm, "How did you?" Eve was fascinated.
"Come on." Allison smiled as she started for the door. Eve followed behind her. Starting down a long hallway, "This is the commune." She said, "This floor is for medical, anyone injured stays here for a peaceful recovery." There were drawings all over the wall, she even saw one of a girl who looked like her with blue hair. Allison turned towards a door, Eve looked at the plaque that read 'David L.' Eve did not know what to expect, everything was moving so fast, but she needed answers. Allison opened the door where Gabe had been sitting in a chair next to David, who appeared to be sleeping. Gabe turned around peeking his blue eyes up at Allison, smiling and looking at Eve. His smile faded as he turned back to his brother. A plate of food sat untouched on a table next to David.
"Is he okay?" Eve asked walking over to David.
"Yeah," Gabe muttered under his breath. Eve felt Gabe's eyes fixed on her. Allison slapped the back of Gabe's head.
"Don't mind him, he's just poopy face because of his brother." Gabe stood up and got in Allison's face.
"He wouldn't be in this state if it wasn't for her!" Gabe snapped. Eve watched as the two stood off.
"You know David as much as I do, He did this because he wanted to," Allison said.
"Look at you two fighting." James disappointed opened the door of the restroom, drying his hands. "David would be disappointed, he wouldn't want you to be fighting." James placed his hand on Eve's shoulder. "Now let your brother rest."
Gabe scoffed and walked past Allison into the hallway disappearing. "I'm sorry I didn't mean for any of this." Eve apologized to James.
"No Mija, you have nothing to apologize for." James said, "David is strong, he'll be back up and running as soon as he wakes up." James led her to the door. "I apologize for my son, Gabe, I ought to slap him upside the head." He chuckled.
"It's okay," Eve said softly, feeling guilty, nonetheless. She kept her emotions to herself as she headed out the door, looking to her left seeing Gabe and Allison bickering in the corner. Gabe stopped, turned his head towards Eve. Gabe's face was full of discontent before walking out onto the stairs. Allison took a deep breath and walked over to Eve, "If I'm a burden I want to leave." She said.
Allison put her hand up to her face, "You're not a burden, Gabe will come around. But for now, let’s go meet everyone else.
"Who are you guys?" Eve said, "Everyone keeps telling me to go places but doesn't have any answers, I get you're trying to be nice, but I'm tired of this." Eve clinched her fists as the floor cracked. Allison smiled and started towards the elevator. "Where are you going?" Confused, she had no care that Eve displayed her curse.
"Taking you to someone who has all the answers," Allison said walking inside the doors. Eve just looked at her and sighed. "Come on then." Allison pressed a button on the control panel after Eve had walked slowly inside.
"So, you're not going to answer any of my questions," Eve said looking at Allison with her arms crossed over her small chest.
"As much as I'd love to, I'm not going to be responsible for whatever you're told." Allison said, "I can't trust you, sorry to say, but that's just how it is, you have to understand." Eve understood her, the only person who even knew who she was is currently comatose.
The elevator arrived on the roof where the Osprey sat uncloaked. A group of guys gathered around. She recognized Ethan and Carlos who were sitting on the parapet with their backs facing the courtyard. Virgil was laying on a cart with a wrench in his hand working on one of the inner panels. Richard and Chris stood around him passing him parts or tools when he needed them. Kevin was laying on the ramp of the osprey sleeping, arms crossed, aviators over his eyes. Foo Fighters was playing on the small wireless speaker; Eve would call it dad-rock hadn't heard that band since she was close with her dad.
"Ah look who it is." Carlos said, hopping down and walking over to Eve, "Blue-haired girl. How was your nap?"
Eve smiled at him, "Who are you?" She asked.
"I'm Carlos. They brought you in all beat up." He said as he walked her over to the group of people. Allison pushed him away from behind.
"I'm her guide, I'll take it from here," Allison commanded as Carlos took offense taking his seat back next to Ethan. "That's Ethan, he thinks he's a romantic, but he doesn't know he's hopeless." She said. Ethan flipped her off in response. "Next to him is Carlos, he's our weeb."
"Weeb?" Eve asked, "As in anime?"
"Yeah, he's a degenerate," Allison said, Carlos raised his eyebrow to her.
"What the hell, you're just insulting us," Carlos yelled at her.
Allison just smiled and pointed at the bigger man wearing a black tank top and gym shorts. "That's Richard, I know he's big but he's actually a softy." Eve waved at him awkwardly. Richard just shrugged and agreed. Then she pointed at the scrawny guy with a scruffy beard. "This is Chris. He's the biggest red neck of us all." Chris just laughed and flipped Allison off as well. Pointing at Virgil, "And that's Virgil, he's our pilot, mechanic, the only guy I officially respect here." Eve remembered hearing his name.
"You were there the other night, weren't you.”? Eve asked as he looked up at her. His face smudged with oil.
"Yeah." He said, his words were short and deep.
"He doesn't talk much, not until he knows you," Allison said. "he’ll tell you the truth no matter how blunt." Eve turned her head over towards Kevin, who was sleeping. "Oh, and that's Kevin."
Virgil went back to work with the others. "Is he sleeping with all this noise?" Eve had asked.
"Kevin can sleep anywhere. He's the next in charge around here. " Allison said walking over to her and kicking his foot.
"What?" He said, eyes still closed.
"New girl is here." Allison said, "She's got questions."
"Tell her to wait for David."
"I want them answered now," Eve said to him.
“And she’s standing right here.” Kevin sighed picking himself off the ground. Reaching his hand out at the cooler as an energy drink flew out of it and directly to his hand. Yawning and stretching his arms out to his sides. "Come on. Let's go for a walk." Kevin opened the can and took a drink. Eve nodded her head following him at his side. Kevin was wearing gym shorts as well but was wearing a shirt, unlike the others beside Virgil. "Where do I start?" Kevin asked himself.
"Anywhere," Eve said desperately.
"Peace, Justice, and Sacrifice. These are the words we live by." Kevin started inside the elevator; Eve followed him inside with Allison at her rear. "We are The Order, an organization, or society if you will, that originated from the 11th century. This is a hidden commune, no one can find us here." The elevator doors closed, and the elevator began to lower.
"Think we can trust her?" Virgil asked watching them leave.
"We have to," Gabe said sitting on top of the osprey.
"What are you guys specifically," Eve asked.
"We are the Watchers" Kevin said, "More specifically, we are Guardians. Our ranks from the bottom are Guardians, Knights, and Masters. At the top are the Council and the Grand Master, six of the greatest of our Order." The doors opened to a hallway that lead to the ground floor, Kevin began walking outside. "Maybe I'm jumping too far ahead." He laughed a bit. "Life."
"Life?" Eve asked, "What about it?"
"You don't feel it?" Kevin asked walking down the pathways outside the doors. "Everything is living, breathing, bonded together. All working in unison." Kevin said. Eve thought about what he was saying to her. She realized she always felt these things but never thought about it. Assuming everyone felt it. "But because of the spirits that have chosen us, we can control it." Kevin continued, "we can manipulate certain aspects in the world, speaking to the spirits and it listens," Kevin said.
"That's why you can do the things you can," Allison said to Eve as they passed the children playing.
"Because of magic?" Eve said. "I don't really understand."
"David explains it better than I can," Kevin said.
"So, you want me to join your cult order thingy?" Eve couldn’t believe anything she was being told. It all felt like something from a dream.
"That's entirely up to you," Kevin replied showing no offense. "Go back to your life or stay with us and become something more than yourself. Though, if you leave, your mind will be wiped of all of this."
"What about Liam?" She asked.
"Liam fell in love with selfishness." Kevin placed his hand on a tree. "The Brotherhood is a group who see themselves as all-powerful, wanting to enslave the world under their power."
"I see," Eve said dropping her hands from her chest. "Where are we anyways?"
"Somewhere secluded." Kevin said, "Still California, Knights are far and few these days. This place is connected to the West coast command. Leaving a lot of us Guardians to strive on our own, we chose David to lead, considering he's the closest to his trials. We have a master, but he’s always busy."
"Tell me, Eve." Gabe walked up from her side. "What is it you want to be?"
Eve looked around, taking brief looks at Gabe, Kevin, and back to Allison, "I don't know." She said everything was happening so fast, it felt as if her whole world, everything she had known was a lie. She barely just discovered who she was.
"David and I were young. Always moving from place to place, afraid of being found. Our mother was a guardian like us, the Brotherhood tracked us down" Eve looked up at him as he stood tall and strong. "A home invasion happened; we were outnumbered. The next thing I know, my dad picked us up and ran. My mother was killed trying to buy us time to escape. Our master had found us, discovering who we were, he had brought us here." Gabe continued. "David and I began training here, putting ourselves through rigorous training so we can save those who need it. Ever since we committed our lives to the Order. We joined not out of vengeance, but to save others as we were saved." Eve looked down, grabbing onto her right bicep.
"I need time to think, everything is happening so fast," Eve said to Gabe. He knew she was right, but he knew the Brotherhood was on the move. With Liam on their side, the Commune was not safe. Gabe was not going to stand and wait.
David's eyes opened, realizing where he was. He quickly pulled the IV out of his arm. Bloodshot from his arm onto the tiled floor. "Dammit." He said, jumping out of bed, having no balance falling to the floor onto his face. "How long have I been out?" David wondered to himself. He rolled over to his back and placed his hand on his arm attempting to heal the wound. After it was a small hole, and he should be able to. A green aura appeared around his palm as he covered the inside of his elbow closing the hole. Looking at his palm he noticed that there were some black and purple lines. The corruption had not completely left his body. David sighed as he reached his hand out to the bed, pulling his body across the floor. Pushing his body up off the floor, resting his back on the side of the bed as he starred at the wall. Thinking to himself, about Eve, he was not prepared to know if he failed or not. His mind wandered to Liam, his eyes closed, "You idiot." He said to himself, "It's my fault." David gritted his teeth, fingers forming into a fist. As he slammed his hand on the tile under him.
"David is going to need to know, the Brotherhood is on the move," Gabe spoke out at Eve raising his voice. "If you're with us, you need to begin to train!" Allison grabbed onto Gabe's shoulder. Gabe always struggled with impatience, but this time he felt he was right to do so.
"I just wanted a normal life, y'know," Eve said eyes beginning to well up. "I'm not ready to commit to something like this." Eve turned away staring at the forest that lead up to the mountain range above. "Just give me a couple days, please." Gabe rolled his eyes and broke free from Allison's hand, walking off back inside the building.
Kevin sighed, "Allison, can you take Eve to the single woman's studio?" Allison nodded, "Eleazar will be here today. I'm going to make sure everything is in order." Kevin said as he walked over to Eve. "Take as much time as you need." Kevin was not one for being nice but understood how to read a situation. Walking back to the building after making a face at Allison, aggravated he was put second in charge.
"Why did this happen to me?" Eve asked herself. She dreamed of just being herself on the road, being alone, maybe with friends. Touring the world. Nothing holding her down, but as time went by, that dream fleeted away. With every incident with her powers, she craved wanting to know what she was and how to control it. That way she would never use it again.
"Come on, let me show you, your room." Allison took her hand. "This life, you have a duty, it's not all bad. We're a family here." Eve followed behind her back inside the building. Eve thought to herself, they all seemed like they were close, closer than what she had back home in Washington. Maybe destiny brought her here.
"Where're my parents?" Eve asked, "Where's my phone?" She asked as she became panicked.
"Your parents are here; your phone is locked up until we can trust you." Allison led her into an elevator. "But you can see your parents on the third floor on the family quarters of the building."
Eve gritted her teeth, "I don't want to see my parents." Eve said to her.
"And you don't have to." Allison pressed a button on the control panel as the elevator lifted. "Us Guardians stick to ourselves, typically on the roof or the single quarters."
"Why is that?"
"Because we're teenagers." Allison chuckled. as the door opened on the fourth floor. "This is the single women's floor. There's a lot of empty rooms here, so pick any room. Only four rooms are taken. Mine is the first one here to the left."
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Eve looked down the hallway, seeing a room with red tape on it. "Whose room is that?
Allison's smile faded, "That was Kaitlyn's room." Allison paused and took a deep breath. "She died a year ago." Eve stood quiet, where had she heard that name last?
"I'll take this third room to the left," Eve said changing the subject not knowing what to say. This was serious, people were dying in a secret war that no one even had an idea of.
"Oh, yeah." Allison walked over to the door and opened it. Eve watched as the room opened to a large window in the back. A closet with drawers at the bottom next to the window. A view of the mountain range and tops of trees for miles sat through the window. To the right of the window, stood a shower with clear screens. A twin-sized bed lay against the wall with black blankets neatly folded at the foot. To her right was a television screen mounted on the wall. Under it sat a small fridge and sink with a mirror. Next to the door was a desk with a simple computer.
"Woah," Eve said looking around. "I wasn't expecting anything like this." She admitted as she walked in stepping on a carpet with an intricate design of different colors and a circle in the middle.
"Yeah, The Order does its best to keep us comfortable," Allison said. "The key is on the desk. It's yours now. Just some rules." Allison stood at the door as Eve began looking more in-depth into the room. "Nothing too loud after nine at night to seven in the morning. No males are permitted on this floor. If you're going to shower, try to conserve water, and I recommend you shut the window." She smiled. "Your TV will tell you food hours, and you're free to walk around and do as you please." Allison handed Eve her phone. "Between us."
"Thank you." Eve said softly, "I really appreciate it."
"Of course." Allison said as she began to turn around to leave, "I recommend talking to the people around here, finding out more about us couldn't hurt. You never know, you might like it here." Eve smiled and nodded as Allison left the room and closed the door behind her.
Eve picked up her phone and turned it on. sitting down on her bed. A dozen missed calls from her family, and one missed call from her friend Jessica. Maybe a hundred messages. Eve took a deep breath and set her phone down. What was she going to do? Eve turned off her phone and put it under her new bed. She took off her shirt and laid it on the bed, she stood up taking off her bra. Sighing in relief, heading over to the shower. Passing the mirror, she noticed a couple black and purple scars on her chest. Touching it brought her a flashback of being electrocuted by Liam. She turned away shaking off the memory. Removing the rest of her clothes, she stepped inside the shower.
David stood up and got dressed once he regained his balance. Throwing on a pair of black sweats and a white tank top, he started outside the door. Opening the elevator at the end of the hallway, Allison stood, smiling at him. "About time you woke up." She spoke. David chuckled a bit. "Do you want me to tell anyone you're up?"
"Not really." David said, "I'll be in the cavern."
"Your new girl-" David raised his finger to her. She stopped in her tracks, "I can stall maybe till lunch." David just nodded thanking her.
Once the Elevator opened on the ground floor, Allison left to the courtyard. David quickly pressed a button as the doors shut and went into the basement. David needed time alone, he had only one thing on his mind at the moment. The cavern was underneath the commune that lead into the mountain, carrying a spell that blocked any energy from coming in or coming out. Gabe felt David's presence disappear as he walked through the forest. Knowing where he was, Gabe turned around and began his return to the commune.
"I don't get it," Chris said as he lifted a part as Virgil tightened it down with a wrench.
"You don't have to get it." Virgil replied, "It's her life, if there's one thing, we have the right to, is the freedom to make our own choices." Virgil released the bolt from the wrench as he rolled out from under the osprey.
"Virg is right, it's a big commitment," Richard said looking down off the balcony. "David will convince her regardless."
"What makes you think that?" Virgil replied.
"He can convince anyone to join him," Richard replied.
"Yeah, he can convince people to join him, just not to stay," Kevin said with his hands behind his head, laying back on the ramp.
"That's cold," Ethan replied, "Liam was too far gone."
"Should've been Liam but we lost Kaitlyn instead."
Ethan stood up from the wall, "How dare you?"
Kevin looked over at him. "We all think the same thing, I'm just not afraid to say it. It was selfish of her; she knew what type of person Liam was."
"Maybe she knew Liam was strong enough to come back."
"Tell that to David."
"Alright, that's enough," Richard said sternly.
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David swung his broadsword quickly and then thrust inside Liam, straight through the heart. Liam's lifeless body fell onto the floor. David looked down at him as he turned back into pixels. Retracting the blade back into his hilt, letting a deep breath from his sweat. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough." A man broke out from the shadows along with Jasmine who was wearing a yellow cloak over her right arm. She stayed quiet as she walked past David and to the elevator. Her short black hair touched her shoulders as she walked by. David looked back at the man. They were in a cavern, lined with lights that illuminated the dark cave slightly. David was standing on top of what appeared to be a light blue grid, a simulator that allowed them to train against different situations. There were different glass rooms built along the walls. Some with computers, however, there was one room, which was completely locked. The morgue.
"Master Eleazar," David took a knee bowing to him. Eleazar had recently become a master, though being forty was older for a typical master. He was a knight for a long time, dealing with his unethical methods of being a member of the Order. His hair slicked back and gray, wearing silver armor and a red sash that wrapped around his waist, connected to a short red cape. A wolf's skin lay over his left shoulder. His eyes were strong from many years of war. Scars covered his fair-skinned face. He removed his gloves.
"Rise, boy." He said, "The council isn't happy with you."
"I apologize," David said standing up to his feet. "I don't understand, I can beat the simulation easily, but I can't bring myself to kill him when I faced him.”
"Do not blame yourself, it was my fault for putting you in a situation you weren't ready for."
"I don't understand how killing him is an end all be all. Why kill someone when you can bring them back?"
"You're a shield, your heart is green." Eleazar set his gloves down on the table. "Not a sword or a spear. Liam is too far gone in the dark, maybe he isn't."
David looked down at the corruption scars on his palm. "Next time will be different."
"There won't be the next time," Eleazar said turning around to David. "You can't be expected to chase after a ghost, your focus is now to prepare for the trials." David looked up at his mentor. "Despite this recent shortcoming, you did save the girl, Evelyn."
"I haven't convinced her to join us," David said.
"You won't have to," Eleazar said taking off his chest plate and setting it down. "War is coming, the council may not see it, but I do."
"To be fair, you've been saying that for years," David said sarcastically.
"And I have the council convinced you're ready to be a knight." He turned around drawing his broadsword from his waist, with a battle-worn hilt. Having a beautifully designed hand guard. "Are you ready to prove that to them?"
David looked at the blade and infused his green blade. "More than ever." He smirked. David took his defensive stance. His left foot is slightly in front of the other. His arms locked to defend anything that came his way. Eleazar took his stance mirroring him. David knew his master was extremely skilled in all forms of combat, many years of battle and training let him be that way. After standing awhile, waiting for the other to strike. David switched his form to form five. Taking a heavy right swing at his master. Immediately blocked, his master took a chance to retaliate. David blocked the attack quickly. As instantaneous as the swords connected, David retaliated, the two went back in forth for a while in this pattern. The signs of great duelists. Almost as if they were dancing, they spared. Eleazar and David's swords locked, in an effort of strength. David used his left hand to push harder with his telekinesis, struggling while his master appeared effortless. "You're letting your guard down, master." David released from the lock of their blades, switching to an acrobatic style, sliding committing a flip overhead of Eleazar. It was time for David to test his new Eagle strike. As he was airborne, David swung his broadsword, against his master, barely slashing at his pauldron. David rolled forward, turning around quickly to look at his master. "I got you."
"That you did boy." Master Eleazar looked at the scratch on his armor. "But don't be so certain of victory." David was confused, what did he mean. Looking down he has seen his shirt held together by the back. A large slash was at the belly of his shirt. David took a deep breath in his defeat. "Dropping that lock is dangerous. Be mindful before taking a heavy risk like that." Eleazar and David both holstered their blades. David’s sword bore an Eagle’s head on the pommel.
David looked at his shirt, or what remained of it. How did that maneuver not work? Maybe it would have worked on someone with less experience. Perhaps it needed more development. "Thank you, Master." David bowed his head to him.
"Let's go eat boy, it's lunch time." Eleazar smiled as he tossed David a bottle of water. Eleazar was a hard man, but he still cared for his students. He had a big heart, after seeing so much pain and suffering, David understood why he built walls of toughness. David watched as his master left into the darkness towards the elevator.
Looking around, David watched as memories filled his eyes as if it were yesterday. He has seen Gabe standing in combat against Richard and Chris. Virgil would be in the back near the crates fine-tuning the electrical output on his hilt. Carlos and Jasmine would be arguing in the corner about something petty. Kevin laying on a couch, pretending to read a book so that Eleazar would not catch him sleeping. Allison and Ethan would be testing each other on the command pad, trying to see whose strategy was better. David looked over to the corner, watching as Kaitlyn sat on Liam's lap perpendicular as she helped him study. Liam's smile was wide with every word that came from her mouth. David blinked, it was all gone, nothing but an empty cavern. The group barely went down there anymore, so much sadness and better days were not just memory there, they lived.
David turned away from there and started into the darkness following his master. He did not cry, he felt joy. Knowing at that point in time, they were happy.
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Eve was sitting down on a cobblestone wall with a paper tray of food on her lap. She would have eaten inside the facility but was packed with people. Mainly because she did not want to risk having to see her parents. She was thinking about everything, maybe she was destined for this. How did she not want to feel like a hero like in the movies? She started to feel she would regret it for the rest of her life if she hadn't followed through with this opportunity. "Seat taken?" A familiar calm voice behind herself.
Turning around her eyes widened in anxiousness, it was David. No one had told her he was awake. She couldn’t help but be cold with him. "Yeah, I mean no," Eve said turning around. Why was she feeling this way? Eve had always been socially awkward. Now there was someone who saved her life, how do you even talk to someone that did that?
David bent down at his knees and planted down on the cobblestone wall, sitting about a foot from Eve. "What happened to your shirt?" Eve asked after seeing the tear across his shirt.
"Oh yeah, that's nothing," David said as he began poking his sandwich with his finger. "How are you liking it here?" David asked her.
"It's beautiful, is everyone so closed off?" Eve asked him.
"Not typically, to be fair you are new here." David said, "And they don't really know you. I could ask you the same question." David took a bite of the sandwich. It had been the first thing he ate in a while. She ignored his remark about her.
"Your brother is Gabriel, right?" Eve asked him, "Yeah, he's a real ass."
"Gabriel takes a while to come around, he doesn't trust much," David said, swallowing his food.
"He has every right too." Eve understood, remembering what Gabe had told him earlier. "What's up with Allison, she's almost suffocating with giving attention."
"Allison likes new friends. Why are you asking me all these questions?" David asked smiling at her. "Why not try talking to everyone on their own, you can ask them all the questions in the world." David laughed.
"I don't want to come off as rude," Eve said smiling. Looking around and up the building with all the vines. "How old is this place?" She asked.
Guessing she didn’t mind being rude to him, however. "Ever since the Bear Flag Revolt. Our origins push all the way back to the crusades." David took another bite of his sandwich. "Interestingly, a lot of the wars in history have been influenced by the Order and whatever dark enemy arose."
"So, you're telling me, everything in history has been a holy war?" Eve chuckled a bit in disbelief.
"Well not everything, just a lot of it." David said, "There are many branches of the Order, we fall under the West Coast branch. Which is kind of stupid considering we can get involved in Seattle, but New Mexico which is closer? Absolutely not."
"Seems like it is, I don't think I understand completely," Eve said rubbing her head. David took his eyes off the wall, turning his head toward Eve, looking at her blue hair and following his eyes down her body. "What are you staring at?" Eve asked, not sure if she should be flattered or annoyed.
"I don't understand why you're being so rude to me?" David said turning away from her. "All I’ve done is be straight with you.”
Eve swallowed her throat and looked at him, "I couldn’t tell you.” Eve felt bad, she did not know that he felt that way. "I don't find you annoying, just, I don’t really know how to react to this at all. None of my friends cared about my wellbeing, even after my family disappeared. I don’t know why I take it out on you."
David chuckled not knowing exactly what to say, he kind of understood how she felt. David never cared about making new friends, he already had his family. Eve never truly found hers. David scratched the back of his head. "Don't worry about me, I was just wondering." He forcefully laughed. His laugh faded away and fell into silence. Noticing Eve was silent on the matter. "Look, maybe you just weren't as much of a friend to them as they were to you. Trust me, I know the feeling." David started to think of Liam and quickly brought his mind back.
"How do you use the spirits?" Eve asked him to change the subject. Perhaps he was right, she just was not ready to admit it.
David choked on his food, "What do you mean?"
"Like how Allison can heal, Liam was able to use lightning, or how Kevin could move things to his hand?" Eve said starting to sound excited. "Apparently you and Gabriel are the most powerful with it."
"It's not about power." David smiled looking at his hands. "It's about control." David looked over at a dandelion growing from the wall. Reaching out his hand, taking grip of the small weed and pulling it out from the wall of vines. He slowly brought it to Eve, laying it on her lap, where her knee was exposed from one of the tears.
"I see." Eve smiled at David picking up the dandelion in her hand. Spinning it around in her fingers. "I've used it before, only through anger before." Eve looked up at David as he watched her.
"That's dangerous."
"I know." Eve said, "If I’m honest, I always hated myself for it." She said looking away from him. Eve rubbed her forearm in nervousness, she never had talked about her powers with anyone before.
"Well tell me about it." David said looking at her, "There's nothing you can tell me that'd make me think of you any different. I already think you’re a little crazy." He joked.
Eve chuckled a bit, "Yeah okay." She did not believe him for a second.
"Look." David said smiling at her, "I'm serious. There was one time as a kid, there was this lady who stole Gabe's blanket in a shelter we were staying in. I untied her shoes and tied them to each other, she went running away when I chased her. She smashed her face on the concrete. Busted her nose and teeth." David laughed a little. Eve laughed in return thinking about the situation.
"Yeah, but you did that because Gabe was mistreated." Eve said, "funny to think of him being helpless." She said. David just stared at her as if he were trying to pry. "Fine," Eve said. Her tone softened as if she felt regret. "My ex-boyfriend, I was sixteen at the time. We were making out in the back of his van. That he lived in." David smiled.
"Gross, He lived in a van? How old was he?"
"That's beside the point, I always had a thing for older guys."
"Sounded like a pedophile to me," David said in a bit of sarcasm.
"Anyways back to what I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted."
"Sorry." David interrupted again. Eve looked forward, widening her eyes, and taking a deep breath.
“Like I was saying," She raised her finger at David before he could interrupt again. "We were making out"
"Gross."
"He started getting handsy with me. Like normal, but this time was a bit more forceful. I wanted him to stop and he did not. I wasn't ready, y'know."
"I'm sorry, Evelyn." David felt bad for interrupting her story.
"I shattered all the bones in his hand. I tried to push his hands away."
"It sounds like to me that the asshole deserved it," David said turning towards her.
"He didn't deserve that level of punishment."
"And you didn't deserve to be treated that way."
"Aren't you a protector, y'know, be good and do good?"
"Sometimes, people deserve to be punished for what they do to others."
"I guess," Eve said, now that she had thought about it. David and Gabriel did kill two people on the first day she met him.
"I understand that you feel like a monster or that you just want to be normal. You have to see it as a blessing. You have been granted the opportunity, by God or whatever you believe or don’t, to be chosen to save and help others." David said to her. "There are times where I wonder what it would be like to be a normal teenager, get married, have kids someday." David looked around, "but this life chose us."
"Maybe I need to stop running away from who I am," Eve admitted, she hated the idea. This was the first time she ever felt like she was loved for who she was, genuinely. She felt like she could love herself. This terrified her, never had trusted anyone before.
Gabe was standing on the roof looking down at the two. Virgil walked up behind him. "Who are we spying on?" Virgil asked. Gabe rocked his head forward. "Oh, David and the new girl."
"It doesn't sit right with me," Gabe grumbled.
"It doesn't have to; this is David's life too." Virgil understood that Gabe and David have always been at each other’s sides. "What could possibly go wrong?"
Gabe glared up at him from the corner of his eye. "Liam?"
"Ah, I see what you're worried about." Virgil stood right next to him. "David is different, you could do whatever you wanted to him, and he'd still choose what is right." Gabe nodded his head in agreement.
"It’s her, I don’t trust her," Gabe said.
"Neither does David." Virgil said, "we all have trust issues, it's part of the job. Who knows, she might impress us." Virgil grabbed onto Gabe's sun burnt shoulder, "Come on, let's go vibe to music and fix the Silver Arrow."
"Sound's good to me," Gabe said turning around. Gabe knew this issue would continue with himself, but he knew if his brother was anything, he was honorable.
David just smiled, "This is your life Eve, you choose what you want to do with it. There are plenty of us who left the Order to be on our own. And that is okay, I just ask that you stay with us until you're eighteen. If you want to leave, that is up to you. Just let me show you how to control it." David said standing up and stretching his arms to the sky.
"Where are you going?" Eve asked him. "I still have questions."
"I know." David began walking away with his trash in his hand. "Now it's your choice. Follow me and I will answer any question you have. Or go back to your room." David walked off, not hesitating. He knew she would not sit idle for long.
Eve stared at her chucks on her feet. Looking up at the sky the sun-kissed her face as she leaned back. Looking at David, she saw the green energy rolling off his body into the world. Seeing all around her, she began to see the energy rolling off the vines that covered the walls of the building. She instantly shot forward, grabbing her trash, and running to catch up with David. "Where to first?" She asked excitedly.
"Well first, we're throwing away our trash," David said pulling out his phone, hitting send. "And then, we'll start."
"Okay." She stuck next to him. She never noticed how much taller he was than her. David was only five foot nine, but Eve being five foot four made the difference.
Everyone on the roof felt their pockets vibrate in unison. "Well, down to the training hall we go," Gabriel said as he picked up his energy drink off the wall. Everyone smiled as Virgil finished installing the panel on the side of the cockpit.
"Should we wake up Master Eleazar?" Allison asked.
"Nope." Kevin stood up, "We are to train her until she is accepted in the Order."
"Now we're breaking rules," Jasmine said standing up.
"That's what rules are for." Carlos laughed.
"Let's stop taking our time and get there before they get there," Richard said.
"Last one there has midnight watch," Chris said as they were heading off to the elevator. No one liked the midnight shift, knowing they would not get a full night's sleep. Gabe instantly shot his head to the side choosing the quickest route. Carlos and Ethan followed right behind Gabe as they took off in a dead sprint. Lunging over the wall and falling off the building.
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Liam laid on his knees before three dark hooded figures. Wearing his white tank top and black jeans. Skin covered in dry dark blood. Surrounded by torches glowing dark flames, illuminating enough to see others standing around him. Liam kept his eyes closed pulling a cloth bearing the same hexagonal pattern as the guardians, from behind himself. Laying it at his knees, unrolling the cloth. Three sword hilts sat, some damaged from battle. Liam opened his eyes, his pupils bloodshot and all yellow color faded from his iris. He reached his hilt out in front of the three figures. A raspy manifested voice broke the silence. "Commit your service and guardianship to the Brotherhood." Liam pulled out his hilt from his hip, igniting his crimson broadsword. The crystal in his hilt bled all yellow color from itself. The black-hooded man raised his hands as the fires of the torches shot into the sky, revealing hundreds of hooded figures standing in a circle around Liam.