Bound (The Guardians) Read online

  I laugh. ‘Wow…spoilt isn’t she?’

  Anrella giggles. ‘That’s an understatement! But deep down they’re totally in love, so I guess that makes it all right somehow.’

  ‘How did those two even end up together?’ I ask. He seems like a simple high school boy from what he’d said.

  ‘I actually don’t know much more than what he’s said,’ Anrella admits, sliding off the bed. ‘I think he’s in the same boat as us two, just a strange twist of fate. Come to think of it, have you noticed how this generation’s brides are all… normal? That’s never happened before.’

  Maybe this particular group of Montarus Successors have some sick desire for those who stand up to them or something. I don’t know.

  Anrella yawns and stretches over her head. ‘Well, I’d better be heading off too. Arin is getting home tomorrow from a project, so I should get my work done before he gets back.’

  As the door shuts behind her, I sit back on my bed and close my eyes. Both Anrella and Demmi are lucky. They seem to love their Successor partners. With Leo and I… that’s never going to happen.

  CHAPTER ten

  ‘Rise and shine, little bride,’ calls a voice in my room.

  It’s early morning and the bright light hitting my sleepy eyes blinds me. I roll in the bed to see chief-of-staff Elentia standing near me again. Thankfully this time not too close to my face. Poppy and Teri are walking around my room fixing things up.

  I start freaking out. I’d been sleeping so deeply that I didn’t even hear them enter. I mean, how long had they been in there?

  I watch Teri place thick books on the table with a thump and I turn my head to Elentia for answers. ‘Come on. Get up,’ she says.

  I rub my eyes. ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘It’s time to begin your studies of course!’

  I slowly slip out of bed and pull my hair over my shoulder. Elentia tells me to get dressed. ‘After breakfast you will begin reading these books and then there is going to be a test.’

  ‘Why am I doing this?’ I ask.

  Elentia impatiently sighs. ‘Do you think that a bride to a Successor sits around here all day looking pretty? Dancing carelessly through the fields, with your hair flying in the breeze, whilst waiting for your beloved to return?’

  I say with squinted eyes, ‘No…but you sure paint quite a picture there, Elentia.’

  She loudly says, ‘No indeed! A bride will one day walk beside the future Lord Guardian as Lady Guardian. You must know about politics, etiquette, social rank and the various regions of Selestia. You must be well educated, poised and beautiful.’

  She really gets into this… and that description sounds like the exact opposite of me.

  As Elentia straightens the books on the desk, I approach her.

  ‘You know, I wasn’t kidding when I said that can’t do this. I really can’t. And I don’t understand why I have to study anyway. I’m not going to unite with Leo. And even if I did, and that’s a big if, he’s the middle child. Arin is next in line to be Lord Guardian. Chances are I will never be Lady Guardian.’

  The moment I throw the idea of me and being Lady Guardian together in a sentence, I feel sick.

  ‘That is true,’ Elentia replies twisting on her high heeled feet. ‘But that doesn’t mean you can simply get out of studying by that logic. You will still be in the public eye and seen as member of the Montarus family. You need to present yourself as someone who would be worthy of the title Lady Guardian, if ever given it.’

  I say, ‘But “the public” will never know I exist! I’m going to be locked up in this stupid room all the time.’

  Elentia tidies her dark brown bun. ‘Once you prove your commitment through studying and hard work, your probationary period will end. Then you will be allowed to leave the Tower.’

  I excitedly reply, ‘Really?’

  ‘With escort of course,’ Elentia adds. I feel my smile drop. ‘It is for your own safety. As a future bride you are a target for those who oppose the Guardians. You would not be the first Successor bride-to-be that was killed before your uniting day.’

  ‘Oh, well great,’ I say sarcastically.

  ‘Enough chitchat. It is time to get on with the day. I will return later this afternoon to check your progress.’

  Elentia and the maids soon depart. I eat my prepared breakfast and change into another green dress provided for me. I think I’ve owned all of two dresses my entire life. I miss pants.

  I sit at the table, staring at the mountain of work before me. There are so many books on topics I haven’t even heard of. I pick up one and open the first page.

  ‘The history of the Guardians dates back to the Laprion era… when the first islanders of the west made their way to the mainland and discovered the crystal conglomerate that would be later hollowed and constructed into the Guardians Tower…’ I stop reading and moan loudly. The writing in the book is way too small and went on to use big words that confuse me.

  I flick through the books until I see one that is brightly coloured. It’s small with only few pages. The title is called, “The first Guardians”… Wait, this is a children’s book! What, does she think I’m stupid or something?

  I go to put the book down and then pull it back up. I slowly move my hands around it and open the cover.

  A long, long time ago there was a brave warrior from the Island of Fields to the south. His small home was under attack from a large island to its west. The fighting started over who should be the first to claim the Centreland and be the new leader of Selestia. One day after a battle at sea, the warrior’s ship crashed onto the mainland. Seeking answers and wanting peace, he journeyed with his men across many lands. They walked for seven days before finally reaching a big crystal tower in the middle of nowhere… I stop reading for a moment to admire the artwork. The characters are cute and brightly coloured. I continue.

  The man, tired and lost, was feeling scared. His people were becoming weak. They needed somewhere stable to rest. The man, all alone and desperate started to carve into the crystal tower. All of sudden, the fragile core collapsed and a light shined before him. He had unearthed a trapped deity who was waiting for The Pure One.

  I turn the page gently.

  The spirits of the other world saw his determination and decided that he was The Pure One they had been waiting for. He was the one who would lead Selestia and maintain peace. They then bestowed the man with great powers. The gift came on the condition that he and his family, for all time, must protect the peoples of Selestia. He accepted the great honour, and burden, and on that day became the very first Lord Guardian of Selestia.

  I shut the book.

  As ridiculous as it sounds, even adults true to the faith of Livolism believe that story. They believe that the spirits put a woman in a giant block of crystal, and the one person pure enough to set her free was the one they would intrust to be the mortal embodiment of their divine will.

  It’s total crap. As a kid I read the books my mother gave me about Livolism. She made a special effort to get me the kiddie’s version with the Guardians being ‘magical’, kind of like this one. As a little girl I wanted to believe that wonderful sounding story. But deep down I knew no one was really magic, it’s all smoke and mirrors. At least that’s what Da used to tell me. He is the ultimate dream killer.

  Since then Livolism, to me, has come to mean very little. It’s just another thing my parents used to fight about. Mother believed, Father didn’t and I somehow grew up wedged in the middle.

  I turn my attention back to the five page question and answer sheet Elentia has given me. I push the pen across the paper and for a moment, I smile. It’s almost as if I’m at university, like I planned a year ago. Maybe this isn’t so terrible. Maybe.

  CHAPTER Eleven

  Two weeks fly by faster than I could’ve imagined. I’ve been filling my days mostly with study and the completion of exams administered by Elentia.

  I’ve been given a little freedom - mea
ning I’m allowed to explore the Tower - but strictly no higher than level four. This sounds like a lot at first, until you realise the Tower has fifty levels. I’ve even found my way through the conference rooms in the second pillar and once into the library. However, a good portion of days are still spent locked up in my room.

  I can’t believe it’s been two weeks. Fourteen days and not once have I seen Leo. It eats away at me inside. Every time I hear the door open, or see a shadow flick around the corners of the Tower, I’m paranoid it’s him.

  But as the anniversary mark arrives, my fear has turned to anger. How dare he grab and then dump me here? He really is a selfish little rich boy. I’m not some toy he can keep in a cupboard until he’s ready to play with me again.

  The afternoon approaches and the light is soft in my room. I’m free from classes and my papers are all finished and handed in. I sit at my table, flicking through a magazine Poppy has snuck in for me. It’s a fashion edition, not my strongest social topic, but still better than textbooks. I turn the glossy pages until a knock taps on my door. I turn and call comfortably, ‘Yeah?’

  When I see Leo’s tall frame and soft features sliding through the entrance, my heart twists with anger and panic. I stand from my seat and run around to the other side of my bed for safety. Last time I underestimated his power to intimidate me. Today, I’m not taking any chances.

  Leo heads my way. I don’t take my eyes off him. He’s wearing a purple long sleeve shirt and dark grey pants. I think that even if he was wearing a brown sack, he’d still look like a model. My eyes carefully drift to meet his. They look tired and red. He’s exhausted. His face is pale like the day we first met.

  ‘What’re you doing here?’ I snap.

  The tall boy stands directly across from me, the double bed acting as a shield between us. I see a brown paper bag in his arms. He steadily reaches forward and places it on the bed. He then pushes it towards me, then a bit more and then again…and again.

  ‘Stop that,’ I say, annoyed.

  Leo replies strongly, ‘Accept the package, and I shall.’

  Anger is bubbling under the surface of my skin. It feels like he’s talking to me as if I’m a child. I can safely say I’ve never hated anyone more in my life. He treats me like crap and then, what, tries to buy me? I reach over the bed and smack the bag away. It flies onto the carpet beside him, a small box tumbles out mid-air.

  I shout, ‘There is no way I’m accepting your bribes.’

  ‘I do not understand,’ Leo says softly.

  ‘That!’ I point at the bag. ‘Do you seriously think I’m as shallow as the rich girls you hang out with? You can’t buy my friendship and trust. That’s something you earn.’

  ‘Then what can I do?’ Leo asks loudly. ‘I have given you the space you clearly wanted. I have extended a hand to you in apology and you quite literally smacked it away! Tell me how to earn your favour so we can move past this issue as quickly as possible.’

  I let out a low tone scream. ‘There is no one way you rich brat! Every person is different and it’s something you need to figure out for yourself. It’s a process of elimination and a long road of endurance.’

  Leo makes a long, annoyed sound back. ‘That will take forever. I do not have the time or patience for that sort of task.’

  I roll my eyes downward. ‘Well then, you will never have my trust or even my respect because clearly you don’t care enough. If someone is really special to you, then you do those things without thinking. You don’t moan about it how much effort it will be.’

  I perch on my side of the bed. There is a long silence. I figure if he isn’t going to say anything, I might as well keep going. ‘If you can’t tell the way I’m feeling or understand why I’m upset with you, which evidently you don’t, then we will never get along. I will never be happy. All the space in the world, all the gifts…they won’t fill the void that I have inside, because these trivial acts aren’t important to me.’

  ‘Then what is?’ Leo asks.

  I sigh. ‘You need to figure that out for yourself by listening to me and picking up on the subtle hints I drop from my words, and my actions. Making a new friend is all about self-education. But it’s not supposed to feel that way. It’s supposed to be fun.’

  When I glance back at him, I see Leo’s shoulders drop. He seems deep in thought as if everything I have said is completely new. He reaches down to the bag and puts the gift back inside. Carefully he places it on the bed.

  ‘I know you do not want this. But please at least open the gift. It is not a bribe… I thought you might like it. Perhaps…it can be a start.’

  He strides towards my door and turns the knob. Like that, he is gone once again.

  When silence falls around the room, I tap my hands on my knees gently. Curiosity gets the better of me and I reach over to the bag and pull out the gift. Inside is a metal music box with a tiny handle. It’s the size of my palm. The instructions from the seller are attached to the side. It’s handmade. I walk over to the window and hold it up to the light as the directions tell me. As the sun shines on it, the handle winds and a small tune starts to play.

  I’ve never heard the song before.

  It’s strange, but when the music plays it makes me feel safe. The tune is gentle and soothing, a nice choice and perfect for me. When the winding stops completely, I remove it from the light.

  I feel myself smiling. I’m not so stubborn that I refuse to recognise that he’s attempted to do something nice for me. I know it must be hard for him to understand the concept of friendship. I doubt he has had many friends in his life, especially if this is how he treats them. But I don’t think I’m emotionally strong enough to keep tutoring him. I’m barely holding on myself.

  All I want is to go home.

  Chapter Tweleve

  The next day brings harder tests, one of which I fail. It’s the first one I’ve stuffed up since coming to the Tower. Elentia scolded me for not trying hard enough. I did try, I really did. But for some reason, after Elentia informed me Leo was back in the Tower for meetings, for at least a week, my concentration started to lapse. I keep thinking about what I’m going to do when I see him next. Or wondering what he might do to me.

  I put my pen down on the table. I close up the textbooks. My eyes fall to the music box before me. I poke it.

  Desperate for some fresh air, I pack up my books and step out of the room. I turn my head, left and right. No Leo, so far so good. I make my way directly down to the bottom level foyer.

  On my way across the large circular floor, I pass a few Sentry officers and keep my eyes down. I duck into the second pillar and down the hallway of meeting rooms. When I reach the end, I push on a set of doors and descend into the underground; I’m heading for the kitchens, a little place I discovered in my travels.

  I walk causally past the chefs and non-executive day maids, nodding my head to them. This has become a common occurrence and they’re getting used to seeing me around. Technically, I’m not supposed to go into the staff areas. But that’s where the normal people are and the place I feel most comfortable. I rush up to the older maid Teri, who is making a giant pot of soup. I jump up and sit on the silver bench beside her. She grins at me.

  Whist stirring Teri asks, ‘How’s the studying coming along? All done for today?’

  ‘Yeah good… I finished an interesting chapter in the “Guardian’s antiquity”. It’s about these people called the MECHs. Do you know about them?’

  Teri shakes her head.

  I frown. ‘I know right? It’s strange. I took a couple of history classes in high school and not once did they come up. In fact there are a lot of confrontations with people all over the Centreland and Stray Islands of the Coasts that are all news to me.’

  Teri tastes the soup. Making a disturbed face, she starts shaking in more salt. ‘Matters involving the Guardians’ battle for survival are left out of the common peoples’ text books. It’s so they appear consistently unchallenged. I know ab
out a few battles, but the MECHs… that’s a name I’ve never heard. Who are they?’

  ‘The book said that about sixty years ago, people from one of the Stray Islands to the south, called Laboran, planned an uprising. It said that Laboran was always cloudy and dark. The soil and food lacked essential nutrients and over time people began losing arms and legs. Sometimes they were born without them at all. So a pioneering Laboran resident “Doctor” invented cybernetic technology to replace the limbs. But the residents quickly became addicted to the feeling of being cybernetic. They got cocky and decided that with their power they could expand beyond the island and take the Centreland too. They planned to force everyone to become a MECH and those who didn’t conform would be killed.’

  Teri glances at me. She is now somewhat engrossed in the story.

  I lean forward, telling the story like a campfire horror tale. ‘Sir Macal, Sir Dorkarn’s father, set out to Laboran to stop the MECHs before they reached the mainland. When they arrived on Laboran a fierce battle broke out. The Guardians were outnumbered, unaware of how big their forces truly were. Dorkarn, simply a Successor at the time, was ordered to leave by his father after sustaining an injury. It must be how he lost his left eye, it doesn’t say for sure. Sir Macal then set a detonator that extinguished all life on the island in a terrible fire, including his own. To this day a MECH has never been seen again.’

  Teri’s face has become a bit pale. She forces a grin. ‘I’ve heard a lot of strange tales, but that one truly sounds fictional.’

  ‘No, it must be true. Elentia left the book on my pile for today. She would never leave me anything fun during class hours.’

  Teri nods. ‘Well at least there’s some excitement coming into your readings.’ I hear a buzzer; more food is ready across the room. ‘Sorry I can’t talk more, love. But I have to get this finished.’

  ‘I’ll get out of your hairnet then,’ I say with a smile.