Seer

Ron

I should have seen this coming. I think I was so wrapped up in my own head, in my plans with Brenda, in my joy that she has taken me back, that I was ignoring what was going on with Gabe. I’ve seen Jonathan pull some stunts over the years, but I never really thought it was serious enough to pay much attention. Besides, Gabe is a big kid, and older than Jonathan, so I knew he could hold his own. Natalie seemed to have realized a long time ago that she should stay away from him, so I was never worried about her.

But then recently she has started hanging around with Jonathan too. I figure probably because he has that cute little puppy now, and it has drawn her to him. I should have given this more thought. I should have realized that with Jonathan’s history of pranks, Natalie would end up on the receiving end if she was spending time with him.

But not this. I never imagined that he would punch her in the face. Little Natalie, my tiny daughter, the kindest and gentlest person I have ever known. How could anybody ever want to do her harm?

And how could I have allowed it to happen?

I hated myself for so many years, for what I did to Brenda, that this feels almost familiar. Jonathan might have been the one who threw the punch, but I am her father. I should have found a way to protect her. I failed.

The only thing I can think to do at the moment is just separate the kids. It’s a good thing, it turns out, that we have a second house to retreat to. We’ve spent months dithering about which one we should land in, and going back and forth because we couldn’t reach a decision. So for today I’m glad that we could just pack ourselves in the car and drive over here.

I’m still fuming, though, ever since I realized what happened. Thank god Gabe was there. As upset as I am about Natalie being hurt, I am incredibly proud of Gabe for doing his best to protect her. He did the job of a man, my job. I’m so grateful to him.

I don’t know what will happen next, but I know that I have to pay more attention. I have to make sure the kids are all right.

They seem okay for now. Gabe is off playing ball with some kids who live here, and Natalie of course is up in her room playing with Timothy. They don’t seem any the worse for wear, thank goodness.

Natalie’s

It is an eerily appropriate name. Demon. For that is truly what Jonathan’s Guardian has become. A malevolent spirit, controlling Jonathan for his own sinister purposes. Demon has told himself all along that he is doing it for the benefit of Jonathan’s soul, is simply helping Jonathan to develop and grow strong. But that purpose has been buried under the greed for more that Demon feels when Jonathan’s soul is blazing with misdeeds. Jonathan is no longer his Guarded. He is Demon’s pawn.

The conversation pauses while the children absorb what they have learned, and while the Guardians contemplate the new name for Jonathan’s Guardian. Demon. All accept it as perfectly descriptive.

After a minute or two, Natalie asks, “So, what can we do about it?”

I raise my hands to demonstrate helplessness. “I do not know, darling. I only wanted to make sure that you are aware of the situation. It is dangerous, and you must be careful.”

Timothy has been rolling over all of the events of the day in his mind, and he chimes in after hearing his friend repeat my warning. “Natalie, he’s right. You said you would be safe, but that was before when you thought it was just Jonathan being mean. Now that we know his Guardian has turned evil and is controlling him, I think the Jonathan Project is too dangerous now. You won’t be able to change Jonathan. You’ll just end up getting hurt even worse.”

Natalie asks, “Is there any way for you Guardians to tell Demon to stop it?”

“No, my dear, that would be ineffective. Remember, whenever any of us are near Demon, he knows what we are thinking and doing. He already knows that we wish for him to change his ways, and return to simply being a Guardian. He does not care at all what we think. None of us can invent any plans for changing the situation, I’m afraid. I believe that Timothy is right, and the only safe thing for you is to stay away from Jonathan.”

Of course Natalie finds this completely unacceptable. “No!” she insists. “I can’t just leave Jonathan alone when I know that Demon is using him to hurt people! That’s hurting Jonathan too. I could feel it today. Even though part of him liked what was happening, he also felt terrible about it. He’s scared. He knows something is wrong, but he doesn’t know what it is. I have to find a way to help him.”

I am stymied. I have no useful suggestions to make. I have always known that I must be guided by my Seer, but I can see no safe path forward for her. I cannot imagine how she, merely a child, can formulate any plan that will help Jonathan without hurting her. Demon is the most important factor. There is no conceivable way that she can oppose a Guardian who has become evil.

Natalie

I don’t care what Angel says, I am not going to give up on Jonathan. Now that I know what’s going on, I know that he needs my help more than ever. Not just to make him nicer. But to actually save him.

I think about my poor brother. I know that Gabe has been feeling a little sad lately, since Demon has started making Jonathan so mean. He’s even been mean to Gabe sometimes, but Gabe has tried to continue being his friend. I think if Gabe knew what was really going on, he’d want to help too.

Well, that’s it, isn’t it! I have to tell Gabe. Gabe is big, and strong, and he loves me and loves Jonathan. Gabe is the one who can help with Jonathan.

I still don’t know how, but at least I know the next thing I have to do.

I have to tell my brother about guardians.

Gabe’s

As my beloved enjoys playing a game of ball with the neighborhood boys, I listen attentively to the discussion between the Seer and the other Guardians. Her sorrow at learning about how Demon is afflicting Jonathan is profound. As is her determination to find a way to help.

“Angel,” she announces, “I know what I have to do. I’m going to tell Gabe about guardians, and about what Demon is doing. I know that he’ll be able to help.”

I am thunderstruck. I know that Timothy has long been aware of Angel, and has recently become aware of his own Guardian. He and Guardian have even devised a way to communicate with each other.

But I never extrapolated their situation to my own. I never thought that my own beloved would someday learn of my existence.

And now the Seer has announced that it is going to happen. Gabe will be told about me.

I feel myself explode in joy at the thought, then immediately feel deep concern. Natalie has been put into danger now by incurring the enmity of Demon. By drawing her brother into the situation, he might face similar risk. I know that by spending time around Jonathan he already has experienced some of his friend’s pranks. But if Demon decides that Gabe is a threat, I fear that the situation may escalate.

Angel hears my concerns, and decides that he must relay them to Natalie. “My darling,” he says, “I understand your motivation in wishing to recruit your brother to help Jonathan. But you should consider carefully before you do this. Demon has specifically directed Jonathan’s actions against you, because Demon feels threatened by you. He does not want to allow you to change Jonathan. If you draw Gabe into this, if Gabe is aware of Guardians and aware of Demon, it is possible that he will be targeted as well. I know you would not wish to bring harm to your brother.”

Natalie hadn’t thought of it this way. Her forehead wrinkles with concern. She looks to her best friend for guidance. Timothy worries more for Natalie’s well-being than Gabe’s, but he still wishes no harm to come to his friend’s brother. “I think,” he begins, then hesitates slightly, “I think that Gabe should know. If there was something going terribly wrong with you, Natalie, I would want to know about it. Jonathan is his best friend. I think he’d want to know.”

Natalie looks relieved, to hear Timothy affirm her belief. She looks to Angel for his opinion.

Angel reluctantly agrees. “Yes, darling, Timothy is right that Gabe has the right to know that his friend is in distress. Gabe has wondered what is wrong. He will want to know the truth. However, the news about Guardians may be difficult for him to believe. I suggest you proceed carefully.”

Natalie nods, determined to make this work. “Yes, I’ll figure out a way to tell him. I think I’ll do it tonight. You probably won’t be here any more, Timothy, but can you keep your mind open so Guardian can let you know if anything happens you should know about?”

“Yes,” Timothy says. He is still very worried about Natalie. “Natty,” he says, using a rare nickname, “after you tell him, if Gabe decides you should stay away from Jonathan, will you listen to him?”

She pauses for a moment, considering this. She knows how worried Timothy is, Angel is. She does not wish to cause worry. “Ok,” she says, reluctantly. “If Gabe knows what’s going on and wants us to stay away from Jonathan, I will.” She hesitates for a moment, then feels she must add, “Well, at least until I come up with a better plan.”

Timothy accepts this answer for now. He understands that Natalie will not readily give up on the plan to help Jonathan. In the meantime, his scientific side emerges. “Okay, Natalie, you have to have a plan for how to tell Gabe. Do you remember the first experiment we did on Angel?”

She considers. “You mean the one with the dice and stuff?”

“Yes,” he says. “Remember that I said we would need ways to prove it if we ever wanted to tell someone about Angel?”

“Oh!” she says, realizing where he is leading. “You’re right. I’ll need to prove it to Gabe, or else he’ll never believe me. All right, what do you think I should do?”

They revert to a place where they are comfortable, approaching this as though they are planning a new experiment. Timothy offers a number of suggestions, and Natalie takes some notes about what she should say to her brother when she introduces this topic later.

I can hardly believe that Gabe is going to learn about me tonight. I must prepare myself, and must try to prepare him. My whispers to him will be of acceptance, openness, discovery. He will be learning shocking news on many levels. I hope he is glad that this decision has been made for him. I hope he does not come to regret learning about me.