Chapter Twelve

Luther stood in the entryway of his new home, freshly warded by some of the Council, glancing up at the chandelier hanging over the double staircases. The floor was some dark, expensive looking tile, with a large plant in between the bases of the staircases.

“You guardians spare no expense, huh?” Im murmured, voicing his own slightly more sarcastic thoughts.

“It’s fully furnished,” Rune remarked, probably for Noah’s benefit as Luther and Imogen had already been informed. “You may choose your rooms, if you wish. Cadence and I have claimed the two at the end of the hall.”

Luther wasn’t impressed, but he could see the awe on Noah’s face. His cheek was still a purplish color, and he looked haggard, but there was something about him that drew one in. He looked so…young.

“First dibs!” Im cried, racing up the stairs with a noise that resembled a war cry. Noah grinned at Luther, took one charging step toward the staircase, and then turned back when Luther didn’t follow.

“Come on, we can’t let her get the best room!” Luther shook his head, barely able to hold back a smile at Noah’s enthusiasm.

“I believe he is too dignified for that,” Cadence murmured, eyes dancing with amusement. Noah glanced at her face uncertainly, not quite used to the expressionless faces of the guardians, and then stepped to Luther’s side.

“Shall we?” he asked in a haughty British accent. Luther couldn’t contain his smile as he helplessly took the arm Noah offered and allowed himself to be led up the staircase. “It’s a quaint old place, to be sure, but I suspect we shall both find some rooms that are to our liking.”

“I’m sure,” Luther murmured, smile widening. Im’s head popped out of a door down the hall.

“Claimed my room!” she cried in a distinctly un-Im like tone, sticking her tongue out at them. “And it’s the only one with its own bathroom.

Noah shrugged, apparently unconcerned, but Luther could barely suppress a shudder. Never, in his entire life, had he had to share a bathroom. And now he was meant to share with Noah? Impossible!

“You are going to have to trade with me Imogen,” he said firmly. Im rolled her eyes.

“I don’t think so. I already claimed my room.”

“That’s not fair!” Luther shrieked. Noah pulled his arm away, watching Luther with wide eyes. In a calm voice, he continued, “It’s not fair, Imogen. I cannot share a bathroom with Noah.”

“Don’t be such a brat, Luth.”

“Imogen, I am perfectly serious. I will not share a bathroom with Noah!”

“Why not?”

“Because…because a bathroom is a highly personal space!” Luther was well aware that his voice was turning more hysterical with every word, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself. “It’s…it’s…it’s a very private room and no one should have to…to have it…invaded!”

“So you’re afraid of being caught masturbating?”

Luther screamed. He couldn’t help it. “No!”

“Luth, you’re being ridiculous. Besides, I’m a girl; I can’t share a bathroom with a boy.”

“I hate you Imogen!” Luther stomped to the nearest empty bedroom, slamming the door behind him. He could hear the muffled voices of Im and Noah behind him and quickly moved to the other side of the room so he wouldn’t be tempted to listen in. He already regretted his outburst, but there wasn’t much he could do about it now. He’d just…he’d panicked. He’d thought of sharing a bathroom with Noah, of sharing intimate moments, brushing teeth and getting ready in the morning. He had an image in his head suddenly, of Noah wearing nothing but a towel around his waist, water dripping from his hair and down his chest…

Luther shuddered, quickly turning his attention to the view out the window. It faced the street, and Luther calmed himself by watching cars drive by for a few moments. Lost in thought, he jumped at the sudden knock. He stood up slowly, opening the door to find no one there. He frowned and another knock sounded behind him. Closing the door to the hall, he opened another door on the side wall, to find Noah standing in a nicely-sized bathroom that apparently connected their bedrooms.

“Hi,” Noah said softly. Luther felt he should apologize, but no words were forthcoming. “I’m sorry about the bathroom thing. We could work out schedules if you want and I promise to knock before I come in.”

Luther shook his head and cleared his throat. “No, no that’s all right. I just…it’s a bit of an adjustment and that apartment might have been small, but it’s the only place I’ve ever owned myself and I’m a bit too attached to it, I’m afraid.”

Oh god, he was rambling incoherently again.

“Well,” Noah murmured with an uncertain smile, “I’m sorry you had to give that up. But it’s not forever, right? Once the Litha are gone, you can go back.”

If I survive, Luther thought. He nodded, not sharing his thoughts. Noah probably wouldn’t appreciate it. Truly, Luther had never thought about what he would do if the Litha were destroyed and he was still alive. He couldn’t be a Guardian, with all the violence he’d already committed – besides which, he didn’t think he’d particularly enjoy induction into their complicated politics.

He had no particular talents – except, of course, his affinity with water. But it wasn’t as though he could let anyone know that outside of the Guardians. And anyway, it wasn’t a particularly useful talent when it came to working.

“Anyway,” Noah said quietly, studying Luther with dark, serious eyes. “Umm, I guess we’re supposed to be meeting in the kitchen or something.”

“Why?”

“Setting up house rules and all that.” Noah shrugged and smiled wryly. “Do you think we’ll have a curfew? You’ll have to tell all your dates to have you home by midnight.”

“I don’t date,” Luther said sharply, surprised by his own words. He fought back an urge to slap himself. He certainly deserved it.

“Oh?” Noah looked curious for a second, probably wondering what was making Luther act like a spoiled child with enough angst to fill a small country. Then the second was gone, and whatever question Noah had seemed ready to ask was never spoken. “Well, I guess we should go down, find out what all this is about.”

“Yes,” Luther agreed quickly, eager to save himself from, well, himself. Unfortunately, he was quite sure that it was a battle already lost.

“Tick-tock, tick-tock. Time is coming to an end, little dove.”

The voice is strange to Luther’s ears. It has to belong to a Guardian – no human has ever learned to say so much with simply a tone of voice – but he does not recognize it. He only knows that it sends shivers up his spine and leaves his hair standing on end.

He takes a timid step forward, unable to stand still. The room is dark, darker than anywhere else Luther has been, and the ground is wet and cold on his bare feet. Not a room at all, he realizes, as his hand brushes a cold, uneven wall. A cave then, but he has no idea what he’s doing there.

A sob comes from somewhere ahead, and Luther’s breath catches in his chest. It’s like choking on air, if only that were possible. He knows that sob, knows it very well.

“Tick-tock, tick-tock. You aren’t fast enough, little dove.”

Luther trips over his own feet in his rush, hitting the ground hard and wincing at the pain that shoots up his wrist. With a grimace, he pushes it aside and stumbles on, uninjured hand trailing the wall for some sort of guidance. The sobbing grows louder, and more desperate. Little gasps of breath fill the air, as though someone is struggling to breathe enough to manage a sob.

“Tick-tock, tick-tock. It’s far too late now, little dove. The world is coming to an end.”

Luther pushes himself on. There’s a bit of light now, growing brighter with every step. And then, suddenly, he reaches the room. He knows it well. His mother brought him there, once, when he was young, to show him what fate lay in store for him should he fail. The torches lining the walls in the circular cavern are lit, and a still form is sitting beside an open tomb. She wears a white garment that covers her head, frayed and yellowing with age. He knows her immediately, knows the tomb she sobs beside.

“The Third,” he whispers, his quiet words echoing in the chamber. Her sobs are growing fainter, weakening as the life leaves her. The empty vial beside her reveals the nature of her condition. Luther freezes in the doorway, unsure of what to do next.

Suddenly, with more speed than he thought possible of a dying woman, she is on her feet. A second more, and she is climbing into her tomb. She lays down in it with a quiet cry, her weak breath fogging the cold air.

“Wait!” Luther cries as the tomb begins to close with a loud groan. His feet are carrying him across the room without his asking it of them, but they’re too slow. The tomb is almost closed by the time he reaches it. He catches only a glimpse before it closes, and his heart stops. There, hidden forever by cold stone, is Imogen’s pale, lifeless face.

When Luther woke up, his hands were still clawing at a tomb that would never open.

He sucked in a deep breath and shoved off his covers, disoriented as he blinked at his unfamiliar surroundings. It took him a second to realize he was in the house the Guardians had chosen for them, in his new room. One glance at the clock informed him that it just past midnight. He’d only been asleep for an hour then before the dream came to him. He wondered absently if this was the sort of thing that the other Firsts had dealt with, nightmares of the Third ending her own life as her predecessors had before her.

One glance in the bathroom mirror convinced Luther that he was a mess. He quietly turned on the sink, splashing water on his face and mopping it up with a fluffy grey towel hanging from the bar on the wall. He glanced at the door on the opposite end of the bathroom and saw no light shining through. Noah was asleep then. It was just as well, as Luther felt struck by an odd compulsion to seek him our and he had a feeling he wouldn’t have resisted it had Noah been awake.

His throat felt dry and Luther flipped off the light as he made his way downstairs. Rune had given him a tour of the rooms earlier, so he knew where every door he passed lead. No light shone from behind any of them. Everyone was asleep then, he realized with a sigh. He wasn’t sure if he was appreciative or annoyed.

Noah had never been able to sleep his first night in a new place. He’d said good night to Luther with every intention of attempting to do so anyway, but he was grateful when Imogen talked him into a late night snack. They’d searched through the kitchen, finally deciding on ice cream floats. As they worked on their third and second servings respectively, Noah felt at ease in a way he hadn’t felt for a very long time. It seemed normal, to stay up late with a friend eating snacks that were deliciously bad for you.

“I’m sorry you have to quit school,” Im said suddenly, as she stood up to make a fourth ice cream float. Noah eyed her small frame and sighed. For someone so tiny, she ate a lot.

“That’s all right. I’m not really quitting, anyway, just taking a break.” Noah had felt a bit shocked at first by the idea that he’d have to leave school, but it made sense. He doubted he could keep up with it anyway, considering all that the Guardians expected from him.

“It doesn’t seem fair, does it? How they can just rip your life out from under you and expect you to be okay with.”

“I guess not, but it just feels…right somehow.”

“Annoying, isn’t it?” Im asked dryly. “I’ve thought about telling them they’re crazy a few times now, but I never could do it. Besides, I couldn’t do that to Luther.”

“You two do seem pretty close,” Noah said slowly, feeling a bit like a balloon that had just lost some of its air.

“He’s my best friend,” Im said, shrugging. She smiled wryly, adding, “My only friend. Besides, he’s not had an easy time of it. He’s been fighting to fulfill that stupid prophecy from the time he was child, and he’ll keep on trying even if we both bail out. But it’s impossible without the Three.”

“I feel like more of a hindrance than a help,” Noah said, feeling himself deflate a bit more. Imogen seemed to care for Luther just a tad too much.

“Ditto.” They both jumped at the sound of someone clearing their throat in the doorway. Noah couldn’t hold back a surprised gasp when he saw Luther standing there, back ramrod straight. He wasn’t so much surprised that Luther was there – he lived in the house too, after all – but at Luther’s general appearance. For someone who generally never had a single hair out of place, Luther was looking rather unkempt. He wore dark blue pajamas that looked remarkably like silk, and his cheek was still pink from where he’d been lying on it in his sleep. His hair was a mess, falling around his face in disheveled golden strands.

“You’re up late,” Luther said in his formal voice. Noah smiled.

“Couldn’t sleep. You too, huh?”

“I was thirsty,” Luther said, a tad defensively. Noah’s smile widened.

“Want a float?” Im asked, holding her own cup out in front him. Luther looked at it and frowned.

“Disgusting,” he declared, stepping into the kitchen and pouring himself a glass of water instead.

“Are you sure you don’t want a float?” Noah asked, as it appeared that Luther was going to say nothing more and Imogen wasn’t breaking the silence.

“Yeah, Luth,” Im added dryly.

“No,” he bit off, slamming his now empty glass against the counter. “I’ll leave you two alone, then.”

Luther was gone before Noah had a chance to wish him goodnight, or say anything at all. Im stared thoughtfully at the empty space where he’d stood before turning her gaze to Noah. Her eyes narrowed.

“He’s jealous,” she announced in an almost absent tone. Noah flinched. His balloon was utterly empty now.

“No reason to be,” he said lightly. “Well, that’s enough for me. I think I’ll go to sleep now. Good night, Im. Thanks for the floats.”

“Night,” Im said, but Noah scarcely heard her as he made his way up the stairs. He fell heavily onto his bed and moaned into his pillow. Honestly, he was supposed to be grown up by now. He was not supposed to be lusting after – and he was unwilling to call it anything other than that, even in his own head, for fear that would only make it more real – something that was completely unattainable. He couldn’t have Luther, no matter how much he wanted him.

Noah was sloppy and plain and only moderately smart. Luther was neat and perfect and gorgeous and absolutely brilliant. Even his stupid, annoying arrogance seemed attractive to Noah, and the funny look in his eyes when he blushed. And Noah couldn’t even think about his smile without sighing wistfully. It was absolutely absurd that he even liked Luther, and here he was, unable to think about anything else. It seemed harmless enough at first, having a crush on the man when he hadn’t known that Luther and Imogen were so fond of each other, when he’d still thought he had a chance.

Now he knew better, and it was absolutely crushing.

Council meetings, Rune reflected with an odd sort of detachment, were not supposed to be so eventful. Cadence was staring emptily at the figure on the ground at their feet, but Rune could sense the emotions that lay behind her blank gaze. Inside, she was pacing like a caged animal, feeling just as helpless as he did. And there was absolutely nothing either of them could do to fix this.

Eric was dead, of that much Rune was certain. Solace, when she’d burst into the council meeting, had screamed as much, her face ravaged by her own furious, bloody tears. It broke his heart, to see her in so much pain, and his first reaction was to lend her comfort. Only Cadence’s hand on his arm kept him in his seat; she knew, as he did, that Solace was beyond saving by then. He had to remain silence, to let her condemn herself, and hope that by remaining a trusted member of the Council he could make her death mean something.

If he’d been human, the very thought of it would have him choking back sobs. As it was, he felt an inexplicable urge to grin, something he hadn’t felt since he’d been a very small child. Not the pleasant smile of joy, but a wild, bitter thing that was unbearable even to think of. Part of being a Guardian – the part that Rune had always understood from some place deep within his soul – was the belief that purposefully inflicting pain on another was so fundamentally wrong that it should completely burn away one’s soul. If part of adhering to that belief had meant giving up smiles as well, Rune had been fully prepared to so.

Solace had screamed at the Council. What she hoped to accomplish, Rune didn’t know. He imagined she was simply so overcome by grief that she wasn’t thinking rationally. She seemed intent on destroying Amelia, though even through the fog in her mind she must have known that wasn’t possible. She must have known she was sacrificing herself for no purpose whatsoever simply because she’d loved her cousin. But perhaps that’s what love did, when it was broken. It had certainly driven Miriam to madness.

Amelia allowed Solace a moment to rant, and then bound her with scarcely any effort at all. Solace looked fragile, crumpled in a heap on the floor, and it was almost unbearable to look at her because Rune knew very well that she was anything but weak. He’d known, before Amelia had announced it, that the only possible punishment for a Guardian who betrayed their vows was death. They weren’t allowed to use the wasting curse, though Rune had no doubt they’d used it on Eric. Instead, Solace was to die by poison.

She wouldn’t take it willingly, not that Rune had expected her to. Amelia had shaken her head sadly at Solace’s refusal and bound her again, pouring the contents of the small vial into Solace’s mouth herself. She stroked Solace’s throat until she was forced to swallow and then sighed as she stood up.

“You may say your last goodbyes,” she announced, lifting the bind as she left the room, trailed by most of the other council members. Rune stayed, Cadence by his side, because he could do nothing else. If he could stand by and allow his friend to be condemned to death, then he could damn well watch as her sentence was carried out.

The moment she was free, Solace rolled onto her stomach, making a strange gagging noise. She didn’t vomit, however, and collapsed onto her back again. Her onyx eyes, once so vibrant, were dull as they searched the room. She caught Rune’s gaze, and a strange smile crossed her features. She turned her gaze to the ceiling.

“I could not live,” she said in a weak, shaky voice. “Not knowing what they did to Eric. But I know…” Solace trailed off, crying out in pain. “I know,” she continued determinedly, though her voice was barely a whisper, “that in the end, everything will fall into place as it is meant to. Those who deserve punishment will receive it, and those who deserve reward will find it. The prophecy will be fulfilled this time.”

Solace was still smiling as her eyes fluttered closed and her breathing slowed into nothing. Rune stared at her, unable to move. He didn’t know how long he was there, only that by the time Cadence gently touched his arm, the rest of the watchers had disappeared.

“Let’s go,” his twin said softly. Rune nodded slowly and followed his sister to the house where they’d placed the Three, appearing in the entryway only seconds after she did.

“I cannot believe she came,” Rune whispered, and Cadence took his hand again.

“It was foolish,” she said, but her voice wasn’t harsh so much as hurt. If he’d been human, he would have smiled bitterly at it. “I’m going to find Marcus. He was supposed to keep her calm.”

“No one could have stopped her.” Cadence shook her head, her eyes now blazing with fury.

“He could have at least warned us of what she was planning.” Cadence squeezed his hand and pressed a kiss onto his cheek. “Stay with the Three. I’ll be back later.”

Rune nodded, even though she’d already disappeared.

He heard footsteps approaching and straightened his stance. His thoughts were still scattered, but he tried to force some semblance of calm into his eyes. He and Cadence had agreed that worrying the Three with the Council’s troubles was unnecessary. Of course, that had been before Eric and Solace died. They hadn’t had a chance to discuss it again since.

“Oh, it’s you,” Imogen muttered as she stepped into the room. Rune nodded once.

“Yes,” he agreed, as surprised as Im by the sorrow in his own voice. The Third cocked her head to the side, her grey eyes wide as she studied his face. She turned on the light and took a step closer to him.

“You’re bleeding,” she said, eyes on his face. Rune lifted a hand and brushed it across his face, surprised when it came back red. He choked out a laugh.

“No, I’m crying,” he corrected. He hadn’t even noticed. He wondered if Cadence had seen, and that’s why she had been so eager to leave. Seeing him cry would have bothered her more than her own pain.

“Crying blood?” Imogen looked confused, following as Rune walked into the small bathroom next to the kitchen.

“It is a part of the vow which Guardians take, not to allow human emotions to affect their decisions,” he explained as he ran a washcloth under the sink water and wiped his face clean. “We are not meant to cry, and if we do so enough, it will drain us of our blood.”

“That’s horrible,” Im whispered. Rune could see her face in the mirror and knew she meant what she said.

“No, it was my choice.” He closed his eyes and willed away any lingering desire to cry. “Solace was a friend I had in childhood, long before I made my vows as a Guardian, and so I have an attachment to her that is still remarkably human.”

“What happened to her?” Rune shook his head, hoping that would clear his thoughts; he hadn’t meant to mention Solace at all.

“She died today,” he said simply.

“I’m sorry,” Im murmured, though Rune thought she looked more confused than sorry. “Was she a Guardian too?”

“She was.” He turned around, facing Im instead of her reflection in the mirror. “It’s late Imogen; you should sleep so you’re well-rested for training tomorrow.”

“Yeah.” Im scowled. If he’d been human, Rune might have smiled at her reaction.

“If you didn’t worry so much, you would feel better. It takes a lifetime to acquire the skills you expect to have right away.” Im’s scowl grew darker.

“I’m finishing my float,” she said sharply before turning on her heel and marching away. Rune gave himself a few seconds to complete his composure before he followed. He found her in the kitchen, sitting on the counter with an ice cream float in her hand. He watched her in silence, until she finally looked up to glare at him. “I’m sorry,” she growled, and Rune wasn’t sure exactly what she was apologizing for, but he nodded anyway.

“There’s no need,” he said.

“You really are boring,” Im muttered. Rune laughed helplessly. He certainly wished he could be boring. “If you’re supposed to be devoid of human emotion, then surely you shouldn’t be allowed to laugh.”

“No, probably not,” he agreed easily. As a matter of fact, he wasn’t supposed to laugh; he and Cadence had never been good at following that rule. But Imogen didn’t need to know that. “The Council recognizes that it’s impossible not to retain some human emotions despite our vows. At first, we were allowed none of it, but it was rather difficult to produce children without it, as I’m sure you can imagine.”

“Mmm.” Im blushed. Rune hadn’t thought she would.

“It was generally agreed that we were to train ourselves to keep our faces empty at least, though it’s impossible to do so in the eyes. Eyes are the windows to the soul.”

“That’s deep,” Im said dryly.

“It’s true,” he said lightly.

“Why would you want to give up human emotion?” she asked slowly. Rune leaned against the fridge and sighed.

“The powers we are gifted with were never meant to be taken lightly. When placed in the wrong hands, they are destructive, as the Litha clearly demonstrate. They were made dangerous by human flaws, anger and hurt and the desire for vengeance.”

“Yes, but giving those up means giving up happiness and love.” Im blushed again the moment the words left her mouth, and Rune had a feeling she hadn’t meant to speak. People often said things they normally wouldn’t have when he was around; it annoyed Cadence to no end.

“It is because humans love that they feel the less desirable emotions that cause violence. I, and the other Guardians, believe that it is our responsibility to reign in our own emotions so that it does not lead to violence. It would completely destroy our existence not to do so. Everyone would use their gifts for the wrong reasons, as the Litha do.”

“But what about the Three? We aren’t supposed to take your vows, and we are still human.”

“If you’d taken our vows, you would not be allowed to destroy the Litha,” Rune said quietly. “It was human emotion that caused the Three to fail each time before now.”

“So you think we should give up emotion in order to succeed?”

“No.” Rune knew she wanted a better answer than that, but he couldn’t explain it to her. His own opinion was all but treason against the Council.

“What does that mean?” Im asked, annoyed. Rune shook his head.

“Perhaps,” he said slowly, choosing his words carefully. “Perhaps I simply think you should show us that it is possible for humans to make the correct choices despite their own emotions.” And, thereby, prove the Council wrong. But he couldn’t say that aloud.

“So you aren’t allowed to love?” Im asked, abruptly changing the subject and surprising another laugh out of Rune.

“We are allowed it, I suppose, but it’s preferred if we do so calmly. There are some bonds that cannot be severed by our vows. I, for example, will never stop loving my sister. She took her vows when I did, and even the Council seems to view us as a one.”

“Well what about when Guardians have children?” Im seemed to have recovered from her embarrassment, to be replaced by fervent curiosity.

“It’s rather impossible not to love one’s child.” He paused, seeing the question Im obviously wanted answered but wasn’t quite willing to ask. “Occasionally, Guardians even love the person with whom they have the child.”

“And you loved Solace?” she asked, scowling immediately, though Rune knew it was at her own impertinent question and not him.

“It was difficult not to love her.” And, he knew, it was his love for her that almost caused him to betray himself to the Council. If Cadence hadn’t been there, he would have forfeited his position if not his own life in defending Solace.

“Mmm,” Im mumbled, determinedly focusing on her float. Rune watched her in silence. He thought her something of an enigma, with an almost overwhelming amount of anger inside her warring with an equally powerful kindness. It was not a gentle kindness, as one might expect of the Third, but rough and untamed and no less powerful for it. She hadn’t trusted Luther when they’d first met, but it hadn’t taken long for them to forge a rather impressive bond. She had every reason to be a bitter, furious person – Rune knew enough of her past to understand that – and yet she wasn’t.

She was angry, certainly. There was more anger in her now than Rune had ever felt in his entire life, even before he’d taken his vows. But Imogen managed it well, forging the anger her childhood had left in her and the kindness that might have ruled her otherwise into a remarkable combination. She was a prime example of Rune’s secret ideology – a human with the powers of a Guardian who did not allow her emotions to control her actions.

“You need sleep,” Rune said into the silence, and Imogen glared fiercely at him.

“So do you,” she snarled, dropping her now empty cup into the sink as she propelled herself off the counter. “You look like shit.”

“Yes,” Rune agreed slowly as Im stalked away. He could hear her footsteps stomping down the hallway and into her bedroom. She closed the door forcefully, stopping just short of slamming it, probably in deference of her sleeping friends.

Rune found himself fighting back a very human smile.