Your Guardian Angel (The Guardian Angel Series Book 1) (9 page)

As the ray of light glinted off the mirror, I couldn't help but to shed a tear as my emotions set in. Even my long black hair seemed more ‘alive.’ It flowed in waves, adorning my new glowing, porcelain-like skin. I rubbed my fingers over my teeth… no fangs. I was no longer a vampire. Never again would I crave blood every second of every day, suck blood from a bag, or pierce the flesh of a human. I'd have a normal life, a life where the only things I'll ever need to worry about would be sleeping or boys or food.

My body began to shake and a lump formed in my throat. I tried to fight back the tears that pushed against my eyes but I couldn't. Tears poured down my face, so clear and perfect. I don't know whether I'm happy or sad, maybe both. I’m happy I’m no longer a monster, but at the same time, I'm sad that I was lucky enough to get a second chance and my mother wasn't.

I leaned against the wall and slid down to the ground, angry at myself for this imbecilic reaction. Drawing up my knees, I rested my forehead on them. I felt the cool tiles against my skin; my body went into shock and suddenly everything overwhelmed me. I didn’t want to do anything but curl up into a ball on the cold tiled floor. It seemed that not long ago I was in more pain than anything I’d ever experienced; now, I’m normal, I should be happy… but I don’t know how I feel.

“Ruby?”

A deep, calming voice echoed through the bathroom. It was Eli. I didn't open my eyes to look at him; I probably couldn’t if I tried. His crisp aftershave and clean sweat wafted into my nose as he sat next to me, not saying a word, just providing company. He still smelt amazing even now that I couldn’t smell his blood. I waited until the tears slowed before I leant my head against the wall next to him.

“How long was I asleep?” I sniffled.

“Twelve hours.” His lips arched with a trace of a smile, and my eyes were drawn to his lips.

My heart pounded, he has such a sweet smile.

“How are you feeling?” he asked softly.

“Sore, overwhelmed, hungry, I think…” I wasn’t sure if it was hunger or nausea. I had forgotten what being hungry with a normal digestive system felt like.

“Hungry? Why didn't you say so?” Mila’s cheerful face peered into the bathroom. “I actually planned a picnic for us in the clearing not far from here; there’s a waterfall and everything!”

“Mila, I think we should give Ruby some time to adapt to everything,” Eli replied.

“No, it sounds great,” I blurted. “I want to go outside.”

His green gaze held mine and his lips formed an impassive line. He was not happy with my decision.

“Are you sure?”

“I feel like I need to get some air.”

His eyes searched mine, looking for something. Eli exhaled as he stood up. “Okay, we’ll leave when you’re ready.”

I sighed in relief; I didn't really want to go out but I needed a distraction. I just wanted to forget about what happened to me for the time being.

The shower was a godsend. The hot water rolled down the back of my neck and trailed down my spine. The cool air clung to my body when I opened the shower door and stepped out. It was strange, feeling all these new sensations that weren’t actually new. All these new feelings reminded me that I was alive, that I was me again.

Slight panic washed over me when I realized I hadn’t brought any fresh clothes in.

“Thank god.” I exhaled when I saw a new shelf had been attached to the wall.

Amongst the underwear and jeans that were stacked on the shelf there was a very pretty white summer dress, perfect for a picnic and catching some sun.

When I was a vampire, I would apply make-up so I could look more ‘alive’ and less, well, dead. Today, I didn't have to put any make-up on, my dark lashes and once again full red lips had already given me that natural beauty look. I grasped the handle of the bathroom door and drew in a big breath before walking into a room full of people. Whatever the discussions in the room were, it went silent as soon as I stepped into the room. All eyes fell on me. Gwydion, Mr Aleksandrov, Tay, and my teacher Lillian stared wide-eyed and pleased. My eyes rested on Eli, I seem to always find his face when I need reassurance, and it helped, a lot. Eli’s eyes glazed over with such astonishment and awe. When he realized my eyes were on him, his hard gaze returned. I approached Gwydion and hugged him.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

He simply nodded and smiled.

“And thank you, Mr Aleksandrov. I’m finally me again and it’s all because of you.”

“You are more than welcome, Ruby. You will be a great asset for the school, I just know it.”

I nodded. I completely forgot that after this I would be attending SS as an actual student.

“We must leave,” said Gwydion. “We need to attend to that issue, Ivan.”

“Yes, very well. We shall see you shortly.” Lillian, Gwydion and Ivan left the Cabin.

“Time for that picnic,” Mila called. “Eli, can you help me carry the basket?”

Eli and Mila left the cabin, leaving Tay and me alone. Tay was sitting on the arm of the lounge.

“I’m sorry for all the mean shit I did to you. Since you’re no longer a child of Satan, I have no reason to kill you,” he said, approaching me.

“Thanks… I guess.”

“Are you two ready?” Mila’s voice carried through the open door.

I slipped on a pair of white flats and exited the cabin.

“Good, let’s go!” she called cheerfully when she saw Tay and I step onto the concrete path. Tay grabbed the basket off Eli and followed closely behind Mila.

“Who is that girl?” I asked Eli as we proceeded to walk.

“Mila is Mr Aleksandrov’s niece. She’s a good girl and a great friend for you to have.”

Mr Aleksandrov seemed a little old to be an uncle; a great, great, great uncle maybe; but not an uncle.

“Why was she there at my… thing?”

“She gave her blood. Without goddess blood, you could never be transformed back. She’s the only student at the school who knows what you were… it should make things easier for you when you make the transition.”

I faded off in thought. Do they honestly expect me to just go to a new school and continue on with my life, forgetting about my family in Bridgewater? Being a goddess was something I wanted, but after everything that had happened, I just wanted to be alone and take a moment to get used to everything.

We sauntered through natural avenues of trees; it was shady and cool against my skin. I couldn’t help but gape at the beauty of the world, everything seemed so much brighter, more alive.  Moments later, we reached a clearing. It was so beautiful; lush grass covered the floor of the open space. A lake had carved its way through the middle of the clearing, and as we stepped out into the sun, the air grew warmer, the sounds of insects became almost too loud and the sun bounced off the deep blue-green surface of the lake.

I spotted, not too far away, a waterfall cascading down through a medium pile of boulders in the lake. Words like trickle or small came to mind when I looked at it. Still, it was beautiful, peaceful, and it streamed effortlessly between the mossy rocks.

Mila and Tay already had the blanket laid down and they began setting out the picnic basket.

“Oh gosh!” Mila announced. “I forgot the knives and forks.”

“I can go back and get them,” I offered.

“We,” corrected Eli.

Of course, a young goddess couldn’t possibly walk three minutes back to the cabin to get some cutlery alone. Having a guardian angel was going to be so much fun. Not.

“No, no don't be silly, you relax. I'll go, Tay you’re going to have to come, uncle's rule and all,” she said.

“Uncle's rule?” I asked.

“When my uncle isn't here, Tay has to follow me everywhere. It’s annoying but—”

“Necessary,” Tay interrupted.

Tay and Mila set off back towards the house and I strolled over to the water and dangled my feet over the edge. The sun kissed my skin and the warm feeling made me happy, less stressed. I could smell it all, flowers, bark, moss and the grass. As a vampire, you can smell a lot of things, but you never appreciate the beauty of it, the only smells you care about are blood and sweat, things that shouldn’t matter.

A plopping sound filled my ears as a fish broke the surface of the water and splashed back down, causing ripples to widen out. Following that, I heard pebbles crunch and the grass move under heavy feet as Eli sat down next to me.

“Now that I'm a goddess again, can I control this water?” I asked.

A dragonfly caught my attention, landing on a cattail nearby.

“I… I don't know,” he muttered, spotting the dragonfly as well. “You can try.”

I wanted to try, I wanted more than anything to be able to move the water with my magic but I was afraid. I didn’t want to be disappointed; what if all this was for nothing and my magic was damaged or worse… gone?

“If I can't use my elemental magic, can you teach me how to fight?” I kept my eyes on the water, however it would have been interesting to see his reaction.

“Goddesses aren't meant to fight.”

“Goddesses aren't meant to be vampires, either.”

“No, but you didn’t have a choice in that.”

I plucked a small yellow flower from the ground and crushed it between my fingers and my palm.

“My mother told me that when a goddess's body recognizes the magic, her insides feel warm,” I explained to Eli.

I opened my palm and let the flower roll down into the middle of it. I closed my eyes and thought of my mother; nothing happened. I focused on the earth and all living things that inhabit it. The trees, animals, humans; I thought about the different smells and then it began. A warm sensation started in my chest and sent a tingling sensation throughout my body. The warm feeling travelled throughout my body, coming to a stop in the palm of my hand. I opened my eyes and the flower had healed. I looked at Eli; he was looking at me with the same awe and affection I had seen earlier. I extended my hand and gave him the flower; he took it and then leaned toward me. For the first time in a very long time, I felt my cheeks flush with self-consciousness. Our faces now only inches apart, he put the flower in my hair, above my ear.

“You did it.”

We were gazing into each other’s eyes with such passion and understanding; I felt as if he could make everything better. At this very moment he was filling whatever hole I had in my heart and whatever piece was missing from my soul.

“Where are you going?” I asked as Eli rose to his feet.

He didn’t reply; he kept on walking, disappearing into the forest, leaving me staring after him wondering what had just happened between us.

Daydreaming by a lake wasn’t how I imagined spending my first day as a goddess, but I’m not going to complain, either.

“How are you?” Mila asked as she sat down next to me, pulling me from my own thoughts.

“I'm good.”

“You must be nervous?”

“About?”

“School in two days.”

“Two days?”

“No one told you?” Mila's innocent smile faded.

I stood up and stormed over to Eli, who was engaged in a conversation with Tay. I thought about yelling at him and Tay, but I didn't want to talk to anyone right now, so instead, I stormed right past them.

“Ruby?” Tay called.

I picked up my pace, hoping to make it back to the house before everyone else had time to gather up the stuff and come after me. I turned instantly when I heard sticks and dry leaves crunching behind me. I knew it was Eli. Tay can’t leave Mila’s sight when her uncle isn’t there.

“When were you going to tell me?” I snapped.

I wasn’t angry, was I? I don’t know. My emotions were all over the place. How could they be so insensitive to my changes, to my feelings?

“When I thought you were ready.”

“I can’t do this.” I pleaded.

“You were against all odds Ruby, you were a vampire! Starting at a new school is nothing. You can do it; you can do anything.”

I dropped my eyes and fiddled with my fingers nervously. “I don’t think I can.”

Eli took a step toward me. He ran his index finger along my jaw line and under my chin, tilting my face towards him. I tried not to gasp at the electricity that tickled my skin.

“Trust me, you can.”

Tay and Mila emerged behind Eli as he brought his hand back to his side.

“Ruby, I'm sorry I didn't know—”

“That's okay; it’s not your fault,” I interrupted.

“So… no picnic?” Judging by her tone, she already knew the answer.

“I just want to rest.”

On the way home I ate an apple — I was enjoying it way too much. The apple was delicious; it was so fruity and fresh. I loved the way it crunched between my teeth and oozed a tasty liquid. It was strange having to eat actual food. I kept forgetting that I actually needed to chew it.

When we arrived home, I climbed into bed. Being outside in the sun and all the other drama that went on was physically draining. When I awoke, I was feeling refreshed and happy. It was the first time in a long time that I had fallen to sleep voluntarily, if at all. I suppose that’s another thing I have to get used to, sleeping.