Seer

Natalie’s

The horror of the moment in the library will be etched in my memory forever. The worst of it was not even being unable to stop my beloved from being assaulted and injured by the terrible boy. It was watching his Guardian goading him into it. It was as though the needs of the child mattered not at all to his Guardian. The Guardian greedily manipulated the boy, increasing the use of power tenfold to create an irresistible compulsion to attack Natalie. It happened so suddenly that I was helpless to do anything to stop it. I had barely started to warn her before she had already been struck and was falling backwards onto the bookshelf.

Even more horrifying, the resulting blaze in Jonathan’s soul created such craving in his Guardian, that they both wanted only to continue the attack. More precisely, the Guardian wanted it, craved it, lusted after it. And when the Guardian shouted the command “More! Again!” Jonathan immediately complied. It was as though Jonathan himself lost all agency, and was acting in that moment only as a tool of his Guardian. He was literally helpless to stop himself, even if he had wanted to.

This is unprecedented. A Guardian has forced a terrible act to be committed by the Guarded. I know of no prior time when a Guardian was the one who initiated the action of a human. This is not Guarding. This is using. This is depraved. This is evil.

How can it be stopped?

At least Jonathan’s Guardian has chosen to stop using the additional power for now, as it has become obvious that Jonathan’s mind is beginning to fracture under the constant assault he is unknowingly enduring from his Guardian’s use of power against him.

The Guardian has completely lost the way of Guarding. The well-being of Jonathan has ceased to be considered in any way. It is only the increasing brilliance of Jonathan’s soul that is being prioritized, and the sick pleasure that the Guardian has begun to personally feel as Jonathan is forced to commit ever more heinous acts.

This is dangerous. For Jonathan. For all humans around him. And particularly for Natalie, who has incurred the wrath of Jonathan’s Guardian, and has begun to be singled out for his increasing abuse.

I must warn her. I would not wait any longer even if she did not broach the topic, but she already has. She asked me silently on the car ride back from the library what was really going on with Jonathan. I told her that I would explain what I could, but I felt that it would be best to do so while Timothy was also involved in the discussion. So she has just been waiting for the opportunity to be alone with him, so they can ask their questions. She understands that first her parents must be satisfied in receiving answers to their own questions.

When her mother gave her the ice pack for her face, Natalie did not disclose that she has other bruises on her body, caused by her collision with the bookshelf. I asked her if she shouldn’t also mention this to her mother, and she dismissed that as ridiculous. She was happy to allow her mother to continue with the misapprehension that the bookshelf had been knocked over by the boys, not by Natalie’s own tiny body.

She is confident that her bruises will heal quickly, and is happy that she suffered no injury so severe that she cannot conceal it from her mother. Only the bruise on her face was detected.

Natalie does not understand, yet, that the speedy healing that she relies on is unusual. She assumes that all people’s injuries mend themselves as quickly as hers do. She does not know that is incorrect. I have long surmised that her unusual abilities include certain physical attributes that she does not yet know are exceptional. But those are not of concern at the current time. My priority must be to warn her about the danger posed by Jonathan and his Guardian. Even with her accelerated healing abilities, she is at substantial risk.

When we reach her room, and she has closed the door, she first turns to her friend. “Timothy, I asked Angel what is really going on with Jonathan. I’ve thought for a while that this is way worse than the way he normally acts. We know he can be a bully, but I can tell something else is happening. That was super obvious today. So Angel told me in the car over here that he would explain, but he wanted you to be a part of the conversation too. That’s why I’ve been waiting to talk to him more about it.”

Timothy somberly nods. “Thank you for waiting, Natalie. I’ve been thinking the same thing. Something has gotten into Jonathan that I don’t understand. Angel, do you know what it is?”

“Yes, my dearest children, I do comprehend much more than you about why Jonathan has been behaving in such a way. I have wanted to tell you, but I thought it would be best to observe events as they unfolded, to wait until you asked for more information.”

Natalie receives this information with some surprise and quizzically relays it to Timothy. He, as always, comprehends a great deal about what was said. He asks, “So, Angel, you’ve known for a while too that something else is wrong, but you decided to wait to say anything? Why?”

Ah, he immediately jumps to the heart of the matter.

“The situation is very complicated, and I asked for guidance from the other Guardians surrounding us. All of them have given input about how to proceed. Not just Timothy’s Guardian, but also those of Natalie’s parents and brother. Knight, and Lady, and Gabe’s Guardian. We have all conferred about what to do regarding Jonathan and his Guardian, who is also a part of this.”

Natalie is amazed as she repeats this to Timothy. “So,” she comments, “you’ve all been talking about this? All of our Guardians?”

“Yes, my dear, as it involves all of our Guarded, we wished to come together to try to assess the situation. It involves Jonathan’s Guardian. Gabe’s Guardian has been able to share information about how Jonathan’s Guardian has been interacting with him. Guardian has also been closely involved.”

Natalie tries to repeat all of this, but she frowns. “Hold on,” she says. “This is too confusing, you saying ‘Guardian’ over and over. Guardian is Timothy’s. We should have names for everyone, like for Knight and Lady, so it’s easier to know who we’re talking about. Don’t you think?” she asks me.

I smile at the dear child. “Of course, darling, if it will make it easier for you to follow our conversation, you should assign names. Gabe’s Guardian is listening, as are Guardian, Knight and Lady. Gabe’s Guardian would be perfectly happy to have a name assigned by you.”

She thinks for a moment. “You know how you said that Guardians can be any shape? What shape is Gabe’s Guardian?”

My little Seer is so endearing, wanting the tangible description in order to best create a moniker for her brother’s Guardian. “Gabe’s Guardian has assumed the form of a young man, more or less,” I tell her. Like most Guardians who have assumed a human form, it is a general outline, without a great deal of detail. The purpose of the form is not for the human’s benefit since it will never be seen, but for the Guardian to feel more at one with the human they are Guarding. Details are not needed for this purpose.

Natalie nods, and closes her eyes, and begins to consider what name to assign to the Guardian of her beloved brother. Especially after today, she appreciates how protective Gabe can be, and how much he supports her. As when she named Knight and Lady, she considers her recent reading. At that time, she had been reading tales of medieval history. More recently, she has finished reading the children’s bible. She considers stories of brothers in that book, and her mind settles on one. She opens her eyes. “Gabe’s Guardian,” she says, addressing the Guardian directly, “there is a story in the bible of Aaron, who was a good helper to his brother Moses. The story I was reading said that the name Aaron means ‘strong’. I think Gabe is strong, and he is a good helper. Does Aaron seem like an okay name for you?”

Gabe’s Guardian is overwhelmed with emotion at being included in the group of named Guardians. What is more, he is profoundly moved by Natalie’s careful consideration of a name to give to him. I tell her, “Gabe’s Guardian would be very grateful to be known as Aaron, and believes that it is the perfect name. He thanks you for choosing a name for him so carefully.”

Natalie smiles. “Okay, now that that’s done, please tell us what’s going on with Jonathan.”

I am pleased to know that I will not have the time to do so at this moment. Jonathan is nearby with his Guardian, who although focused on Jonathan at the moment, is also aware as always of our conversation taking place in the house down the street.As when the other Guardians and I discussed the situation previously, I would prefer to have this conversation at a sufficient distance to not be overheard. Therefore, I need only hesitate a moment before answering Natalie, knowing that her mother is about to interrupt.

“Kids, come on downstairs,” Brenda calls. “It’s lunchtime.”

Natalie and Timothy glance at each other. Natalie sighs and looks over at me. I smile placidly at her. She knows we will resume when she and Timothy are alone again. She does not yet know that there will be a further delay, because her parents have decided to return to her mother’s house right after lunch, rather than remaining for the rest of the weekend. They have discussed the situation regarding the children, and felt that having some distance between Gabe and Jonathan for a couple of days would benefit them.

As the children sit down to their sandwiches, Ron explains this to the children. “Kids, it turns out we’re going back to the other house after lunch. We called Timothy’s parents, and they are out for the rest of the day, so Timothy can still just hang out with us until they get back.”

Gabe is somewhat relieved, because he had been worried that he would need to see Jonathan again today or tomorrow, and did not know what to say or do. Gabe is extremely conflicted about Jonathan, but mostly he is very angry with him for harming Natalie. Gabe’s Guardian, or Aaron as I should now call him, has of course been whispering to Gabe, trying to bring him calmness and clarity.

Timothy and Natalie wish that they could resume their conversation sooner, but are glad to know they can do so as soon as we all arrive back at Brenda’s house. The brief delay will harm no-one.

I continue to monitor the activity at Jonathan’s house, and am pleased that his Guardian has reverted to a normal volume in communicating to the child. Jonathan is very shaken by the manipulation he has been experiencing, feeling that something is fundamentally wrong with him that is causing him to be cruel to Natalie and others. Before his Guardian began using power to control him, Jonathan enjoyed his petty injuries to smaller children and creatures, and thrived with the unheard positive reinforcement provided by his Guardian. But now that his Guardian has discovered a way to actually control Jonathan’s actions, forcing him to commit increasingly violent and harmful acts, Jonathan senses the loss of control over himself. The feeling of powerlessness over his own actions is deeply disturbing to him. The ability to time his antics to avoid detection was an important part of what appealed to him so much about his cruel games. Now that he finds himself impulsively acting without caution, he simply feels powerless to stop himself. The game no longer feels fun to him. It makes him feel desperate and unhappy.

Furthermore, he has grown to value and enjoy Natalie’s company since she launched her effort to help him. As a result, he does not wish to harm her. The fact that he has continuously felt the desire to do so, against his own will, is creating unhealthy confusion and turmoil in his mind. He does not realize that he has been torn between her wishes and those of his Guardian.

I do not know how this can end well for him.