omfortably, but no more than his new injury, which now became nothing more than a dull throb. The strange being was running his hands along

much anymore, in

emoved his shirt on command and the stranger began to wrap around Lucas' waist a roll of bandage. He wound it around and around his torso until he cam

feel?' Cul

d' Lucas replied

anger g

is mostly healed. I suggest you keep discrete about it until it's healed fully. You would have a hard time I'm sure explaining to others how you got

r and to the skate park around them. Despite all that had happened

as thought

ve not often met a guardian so young.' He g

I assume

hospital. He studied the black skinned man before him, and saw that his wings were folded n

y. 'Where did you get these?

bjects from afa

od of you

is pace, continuin

d have done the sa

are you?' Lucas said.

rrant p

of them look a lot like myself, like a human. Others look like beasts,

ny aberrants?

ulture rep

nterrupting them. 'I froze up, it was weak of me...you

, speaking in a calming t

pid' Reube

mistakes' his b

at could have

a verbal attack. Reuben forced himself

ng to be ok?

ben. 'Just take it easy' he said to Luca

turned

ing now; I've got t

nded on him. 'You mean

group' the abe

exchanged a gla

e there?' Re

luding myself' Cultur

Lucas

ng away before Lucas had another

erstand Luc

f any bird, he soared over the town, quickly growi

me' Lucas trailed off i

n turned to him. 'Are you

e. And don't

er slow breath. '

hink

s brother, helping to su

be f

euben retorted. 'You have t

slowly and carefully, and putting most

you're rea

and laughing. His mirth quickly subsided into tense moans as h

sing?' Reuben asked, giving him a

tures in this world now, and we'

ed shaking

y were doing wheelies on their skateboards and sp

with a glare. 'After all that and

ng' Lucas replied. 'We wouldn't wa

think though

es

aberrants?' Reuben voiced aloud. 'They must

after all' Lucas sighed as they shuffled along, so

uess

his shirt, reluctant to be seen with these bandages on, especially by somebody he knew. Loo

on't want to be seen walking around bleeding ev

walked very slowly back home. Reuben

ow with the aberrant and the mother. All four of the guardians were present now. The aberrant seemed to be telling the other two a strange story, of two young guardians he had met

d he noticed Siren. The mother and the abe

her head r

oke in a gentle vo

r. 'We have her trapped here.

for it though?' Si

for w

pped for a moment......she had

escape?' Cult

; she used some of her magic on me. I remember seein

uldn't use her ma

But only in very small amounts co

mirth. 'Having so much power and not even being able

ill be caught. It's only a matter of time. Let's

snacks as well as little gifts and trinkets, and one was selling masks made of the most fabulous and colourful designs. Lauralie danced past stall after stall, eyeing up its merchandise, skipping past a figure wearing a plague mask, and sparing it only a glance. There were dream catchers and candles on one stall, another that sold all

el!' Lauralie suddenly

, amazed by her sho

every year' he said i

weaving in and out of the crowd of people. 'I keep forgetting how busy it gets' Laural

ook at everything. Her excuse was that she was attracted to things that shine. Little trinkets, cut glass in the shape of tiny animals, earrings with too many digits, she even found a silk scarf that sadly didn't match her hair colour. Drake

uralie was saying. 'She should be there somewhere. Bu

heel were tents of red and yellow, blue and white, and green and white. Some of them were hosting sid

with its insufferable and repetitive music. They paused a

said at last when they had finished.

get a better view of the town from the Fe

u'd say that' Drak

had finished, Lauralie leapt from the carriage and ran to meet her. She was greeted by several other friends that Alice had brought with her. And

ons were over, Alice led the group

e show's nearly sta

with smiles and winks. Drake came after them, moving

ood in a row side by side as the perform

r the performa

ollar. His ears were pierced and on the left side of his neck, was a tattoo of a beautiful rose with its petals unfurled. His hair was spiked downwards

o the side, sliding his whole body, arms and legs and head and neck in perfectly graceful motions, moves perfectly co-ordinated. Then he suddenly turned stiff, robotic. He pushed himsel

ed, clapping

admitted to Lauralie

hed position, holding a comical face, his body slow

d back, not entirely impressed

ite simple, the music

ey began, it was at that moment; her heart was taken, beati

st a boy-Lolita look about him. He had blonde highlights in his light brown hair, w

ssive as his brothers. Lauralie was fixated on him, taking in his every f

others, using their arms, using their legs and moving their heads, they t

beautiful, but all t

had been holding. She gathered herself again,

in love

about?' Lauralie flu

nudged at her arm playfully

ed, and was surprised at what she felt. Was it perhaps because s

r that she didn't quite hear; then he left her side. Lauralie craned her head,

aky littl

t her th

ow' she said as the brothers mov

od' Lauralie answere

. 'Let's go look at

walking with Alice before they had left the town. He didn't say where he went or why, which annoyed Lauralie

an hour she g

Lauralie sighed, sitting on a low wall

more beautiful by night. Multicoloured electric lights on strings, the dim lights of the stalls, the tents now silent and desolate for the most part sat with the

rising and pulling her with her as they wa

ff the wall, following

h the empty town square, heading

led up to the base of the Ferris wheel, which now sat st

said glumly, taking a seat beside Alice. 'It would

s tomorrow' Al

em. 'It's getting late, we had better

teased nudging Lauralie's arm. 'I don

rate voice sharper than she intended. She had had qu

eel?' Reuben

ht I g

behind his head. It was the first place he chose to rest as soon as they got back. Reuben proceeded to bo

taking the bowl of steaming soup his brother handed him. A

, I'm sorry I ju

et it' Luc

d have died b

ld have, bu

the soup from his bowl. After a while Lucas

day.' Lucas began to laugh. He tensed suddenly, holding his side. Im

taking the bowl back. The two of th

ying but what if'' Lucas began. 'N

kno

ght hit him. 'If you want to do something fo

en nodded eagerly. 'Wh

know...just

O

ther' Lucas went on. 'I think i

off, I mean fly off

euben a scep

't anything

kno

ing different and living half a life in secret. We need to convince

uben said rising. 'Are you sur

as droned in

itated; and then m

n...um.

ed again;

brother's foolishness. He sat back against the

he received a call on his mobile. Not re

el

female voic

l to hear his girlfriends voice.

another. Anyway I just thought I'd check on

ver forget

ot' she answered.

m f

ng to r

op

n are you coming

s admitted. 'I have

about I come d

ay

t like th

ing a bit

I'll speak to you later then. Don

n the clingy type, most of the time if anything she was

pping it back into his po

Reuben had still not returned. Lucas sat there growing bor

ng, catching Lucas by surprise. Its call wa

towards the phone, holding his side and moving gin

re it, and pick

el

' a female voic

es

Golden Heart Hospital, your

crowd in the town centre had begun to break itself up. He wandered now through one of the parks on the edges of the town, thinking he would never find

still fairly busy. The sun was beginning to dip, and the park was gr

eve I actuall

were stupid enough

e of bread and turned on

you going?' Reuben

t continued to walk,

ai

an to ca

e me

e that, I just wa

, pausing only briefly an

. 'Well there's

atch up wit

this' Reuben demanded,

well I

tated; he struggled to keep up

you're upset and confused

her head towards him i

sure you kno

ed her marc

don't have to talk just listen ok,

ng. 'I'm perfectly fine on my

th us, my brother is a guardian as well, l

d again, con

I'm a different spe

didn't mean

nybody.' She ma

dy needs

fuming and puffing her

need anyone else and I certainly don't need these worthless powers!

back as hard

ad no time to stop, and Reuben h

ht into him, screeching

disinfectant and emptiness. Its hallways and floor wer

puter; she was pleasant but stiff in her words, point

painful

he building of sickness, keeping his head straight and not lo

device on the wall extracted a tiny squirt of some strange soap that r

of which were elderly. Lucas felt apprehensive as he approached Reuben, who lifted his head as he came closer.

.1

-past' Lucas told him. 'I'v

d you came' R

his bed, pillows stuffed

d in bad

s cheek, and all over his left shoulder. His left arm was in a c

Lucas replied, '

ng hours, they wouldn'

of pansy nurses and doctors st

always count on his brother. Lucas had a

e bed, watching his brother

dy aw

himself higher

to where it is.' He touched his cheek tenderly, then his bandaged head. 'And I've got a concussion;

ened?' Luc

ushed me int

ntion. 'This bed isn't

going to do?'

to find her

didn't

g something out of his

partially squashed,

....wha

Miners apparently used to take it down when they worked. It's like a whole meal in one, meat

you get fo

' Lucas

ly eaten today'

aten anything at a

s. I'd offer you something from here, but

han eat from this place.' Lucas sigh

if the tingling in my fingers stops I

re

open this

d tore the packet open,

s Reuben began to eat. 'He

es anybody

N

th relief. 'I'd hate to

ning why you have a ca

a feeling of dread slo

cas reassured, 'don

ng me someth

y I f

gged. 'It's just that it'

back to

dden sound of a

said rising from the bed,

obile open and quic

are almost over and the nurses get really ratty if

button and snapped

his brother. 'I'll be back again tomor

rnoon, then after that six

s at him. 'I'm going to sell the TV tomorrow

ou tom

the hurt of his brother, and the thought of having to leave him here. He realised how

have asked

fell asleep, waking several hours later in the early hours of the morning,

on the sofa, waking this time when Drak