The Guardians of the Relic

He waited patiently in darkness. Glohone was sitting on the couch in Athena’s apartment rather than running around town looking for her like a damn puppy. He was smarter than that. She’d eventually have to return to her apartment, and here she wouldn’t be able to run. He made sure of it. When she walked through the door, there would be no way she could escape. She would have to talk to him and tell him the truth.

He wondered what she was really hiding. The mere thought of her turning on her family and friends out of the lust for power made him sick to his stomach. He didn’t want to believe it. Glohone was irritated that Erhan even put that thought in his head in the first place. He had let his temper get the better of him with Zugast, but he wasn’t sorry about it. Zugast had it coming for a while.

Athena was a good person. She loved her family and friends more than anything else, he was sure of it. He remembered the night he spent alone with her. She told him about the bond she shared with her mother and twin sister, and several of the stories she could remember from the time she was a little girl. They talked until the sun came up. He had told her it he had to stay to make sure she was safe. He pictured how she laughed when he had said that, and how her beautiful eyes lit up. She could take care of herself, she had told him. He really didn’t need to stay, but he loved the sound of her voice.

The sound of the key turning in the door brought him out of the memory. She opened the door and walked in. He sat very still until she closed the door behind her. When she switched on the light and saw him, she jolted in shock.

“Glohone,” she said.

“Hello Athena.” She slowly drew her hands inside her coat pocket. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he said

“What do you want Glohone?” she asked.

He stood and walked towards her. “I want you to tell me what’s going on with you?”

“Just leave me alone. Where I go or what I do is not your concern,” she said.

“I thought that we were friends. I thought you trusted me.”

She laughed. “Please, just because I shared some of my life stories with you doesn’t mean you’re my friend. You mean nothing to me.”

He didn’t like the way she said it. It sounded cold, and he didn’t believe her. “Really?” he asked.

She looked angry, but said nothing. She took off her coat and placed it on the hanger. He watched her carefully. She tried to ignore him and walk past, but he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him. He did it without even thinking. She didn’t try to break free. They stood in that position staring at each other for what seemed like forever. Her face was inches away from his. Slowly, he lifted his hand and caressed her face. The anger that showed in her eyes disappeared now. She became less tense. He felt her pulse start to quicken.

“Please Athena, talk to me. I want to help you,” he whispered. She stared at him, lost in his eyes.

After a moment she pushed his hand away and broke free of his hold. “You can’t help me.” She walked away from him to the window. “I am on my own now.”

He shook his head. “No. You’re not alone.”

“You will not agree with what I am doing or understand it,” she said and lowered her head. She seemed in pain. He didn’t understand it.

“So is it true then? Are you after the pendant for its power?”

Her eyes darted up to him. She didn’t say anything for a moment and the silence was killing him. Finally she walked toward him and said, “Of course I am. I deserve something after all. You don’t understand what it’s like Glohone. To be born into a family of witches and be the only one that has no power.”

“But how can you betray your sister Fay like this?” he asked, furious now.

She had a cold glare in her eyes. “I have no other choice now.”

“Don’t be a fool Athena. You know Alkron will kill you.”

“What makes you think that I don’t have help? As I said before Glohone, it is not your concern. Now leave.”

She turned around but he grabbed her arm tightly. “Yes it is, because the council must destroy it and stop Alkron. The pendant possesses evil magic. Such magic cannot be contained. Whatever you’re planning will not work.”

“Let go of me,” she screamed. A sudden noise from behind her caused her to turn around. Izdel sat crouching on the edge of the window sill.

“I heard shouting, so I thought I would intervene,” said Izdel and jumped down.

“Why are you following me?” asked Glohone, annoyed.

“Well, from the looks of things it is a good thing I did. What’s going on here?”

Athena pulled her arm away from Glohone and withdrew her blade from her coat pocket. She pointed it at Izdel and stepped back so they were both in full view. Izdel looked at her puzzled “Oh, you can’t be serious?”

“This blade may not kill you, but it will hurt like hell. Get out of my apartment now, both of you.”

Izdel looked over at Glohone for a signal, but he shook his head. “Okay Athena, no need to go crazy. We are leaving now,” he said.

Athena held the blade in front of her with both hands tightly gripped around the handle. She was prepared in case one of them tried to make a move. Glohone gave her one last look before they left.

When they were some distance away, Izdel stopped and turned to face him. “What are you going to tell Alastair?”

“The truth.”

Izdel put his hands on his head. “Have you given up on her already?”

“Since you eavesdropped on our entire conversation, I don’t feel I need to explain myself.” said Glohone, irritated. He was in no mood for this.

“I didn’t eavesdrop,” Izdel protested. Glohone folded his arms. After a few seconds he said “Okay, fine, I did. But I did not hear the entire conversation. I only overheard some of it.”

“Athena is no longer our ally. That is all you need to know,” said Glohone. Izdel just stood quietly. It was the first time he had seen him lost for words. “Let’s go. Time is of the essence.”

Glohone understood Izdel’s shock. He couldn’t believe it himself. Actually, he didn’t want to believe it. He wondered how Alastair would react. He didn’t want to admit it, but Athena Morelli was now their enemy and they would have to stop her. He thought about that night he had seen her outside of Emily’s apartment. She was watching Emily. If Emily wasn’t already in danger before, she may be now.

* *

Emily patiently watched him work from across the table. She sat on a large chair. Anyone that sat in Ethan Cunningham’s office would instantly know that he was no ordinary man. The place was a clear indication of his affluence. The brown furniture blended naturally with the rich cream walls. There were some long leafy green plants on display on his side table along the wall. They added to the earthy theme of the office. To the right of his desk were giant glass windows. She couldn’t help but wonder how much of the room really belonged to him, but she guessed it was that particular kind of speculation that made him hate the family name in the first place.

The view from the office was spectacular. It was probably one of the reasons he chose that particular spot in the center of town. Despite all of its glamour, the place lacked warmth. She noticed there were no pictures of his family to be seen. There wasn’t even a picture of a dog, although he didn’t seem like a dog person. She watched as he stopped punching the keys on his laptop, jotted something down in his notepad, and glanced up at her.

“Sorry to make you wait Emily. It’s just been a bit hectic around here.”

“It’s okay. I should have called first. In fact, I should have. The sheriff dropped me off, and you might not have been here today with everything going on downtown.”

“Oh, you mean because of the parade? I usually don’t go. I think I only went once, when I was younger.” He paused. “Wait, why were you with the sheriff? Did he ask you more questions about the robbery?”

Suddenly she had his full attention. He leaned back in his chair and toyed with the pen in his hand. He seemed nervous. She regretted even mentioning the sheriff.

“First, we both know that wasn’t a robbery,” she said. He stopped tossing the pen between his fingers. She continued quickly. “But your secret is safe with me. Second, no, it had nothing to do with you.”

“How many other encounters have you had with the law recently? I doubt he called you in for a speeding ticket.”

There was silence. He waited for her response. “If you must know, it was about my parent’s murder.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know,” he said awkwardly.

“It’s okay.”

“Did they find out who did it?” he asked.

“No, the case was actually closed due to lack of evidence. The sheriff is a family friend, so he’s still looking for clues.” When he didn’t say anything she continued. “They might reopen the case with this new evidence.”

“What do you think?” asked Ethan.

“I’m not sure. It could be something, or it could be just another dead end. I don’t know if my brother and I can go through it again.” He was silent, but the look in his eyes said he acknowledged her pain. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be telling you all this,” she said.

“I don’t mind,” he said.

Emily realized he was actually softer than people perceived him to be. She decided to change the topic. “So any luck with the research?”

“Unfortunately no. I don’t know that there is much more to Alastair. What did you say was the color of the car that was following you the other night?

“It was white.” He rested his chin in his hand and narrowed his eyebrows. “Why do you ask?” she asked curiously after a moment.

“I think the same car has been following me for the last three weeks.”

She looked at him puzzled. “What? Why didn’t you say anything before?”

“Because I wasn’t sure it had any relevance. My name is popular in Elgin. Sometimes journalists trail me to get a juicy story.”

Emily thought about it for a minute. It didn’t make any sense. “But what do they want from you?

“Assuming it really is them, I have no clue,” he said. She stood suddenly and grabbed her bag. Startled, Ethan asked, “Where are you going?”

“I think I know someone that could help us. A friend.”

“Emily, I don’t think it’s wise to get anyone else involved.”

“But my friend is trustworthy,” she insisted.

He leaned forward. “It’s not about trust. It could be dangerous. I mean, we still don’t know yet.” He pushed his fingers through his hair in a nervous gesture.

She sat back down. He was right. She couldn’t involve anyone else. They still didn’t know who or what they were really dealing with. She looked at Ethan. “You know I think they’re all wrong about you,” she said.

“Who?” he asked.

“Everyone. They all think they’ve got you pegged. They all think that you’re just another self-centered, arrogant son of a millionaire. But I think, despite some of your flaws, that you actually make a good friend.”

He only smiled.