ay m

man forms. Side by side they waited, silently observing the elder guardians, and the you

emanded, balling his fi

her long blond hair back. 'The others wou

ust resting' Kre

plied. 'Per

re' came a

r master approached the edge of the roof, his long whi

her master?'

orwards solemnly, h

eel her, she is breathing slowly;

m. 'The other guardians are sure to

lied, receiving curious looks fr

slowly away. 'Then there is a reason for them to remain.' His hand lifted to his c

ld we do?'

at do you know of her?' he

an attachment to the young guardian who

chment to any others?'

e not

ement' the master went on. 'Let's assum

brow furrowed in a cruel gleam then. 'Very

eir own who travels alone.' He raised his head to the expanse of land before them. The town grew wide, and just on the horizon, wild fiel

astly self alongside Li. They ran to follow their master

ound the room. Indigo and Shire were playing chess on the floor where the coffee table had been before it was broken. Siren sat cross-legged on the sofa beside Reuben, eating her cereal noisily and reading a magazine, the orb which she always carried around now sat on the floor before her. Cultu

' Ebony

voice, turning her head and staring right at her. 'Oh' she said i

ticed as Lauralie was to see her. 'Hello' sh

rl here; and one so pretty too. Oh relax' she waved at Ebony as she began to blush. 'I'm only teasing you. Reub

eated hesitantly as Lau

yesterday. I promise, for the life of me, that I did not see you.' Her eyes twinkled at that. 'Reuben's been trying to explain to me for t

rther, looking a

be good friends'

replied, looking up again

e went on, 'that you have

ally th

as if it were obvious. 'I

to growl then, causi

she said, her laughter dying down. 'You ha

speaking on his mobile t

is' he growled. 'This

at him. 'You hardly see me anymore and now y

e my r

lling me' she r

ing you don'

am I suppos

cas sighed miserably. 'You know I wouldn'

silence on

ia

replied. 'But now

plea

hung up

ring then at the sight of Lauralie who had been sneaking behind him on the way to the cupboard. She froze now as he stared at her, ret

ay from Lauralie. He walked past her, completely ignor

ght?' Ebony asked h

ickly, a smile cracking his

to the living room and sitting heavily in the empty space

then. Leaning forwards she grabbed the orb wh

my

cas asked, alarm

ir heads. Ebony and Lauralie returned to the l

e as she consulted her o

Reuben e

over him, heart r

in the prolonged and agoni

rdered, losing his patience and ri

nnot see' sh

f my friend is in danger I

er si

iren spoke. 'He is travel

cas asked.

girlfriend today?' Eb

him soon' Siren went

rt of the world. Drake saw only wide open fields through the windo

ession he rested his chin against his open hand, forehead pressed against the window, as the world outside went by. The sun came out from behind a cloud, shining

to the next carriage suddenly opened. Three figures entered

d only be

d, craning his head to g

e, with strong red eyes and long black hair. He wore a long

ith red boots, stockings and a red sash tied around her waist. Red shorts and a red garment that left her shoulders bare. The man by her side seemed to be dressed more casually. His face was hidden by a red hood and blonde hair that fell down around

ying the situation. The red hooded figure snarled like an animal, hi

t.

eming to completely see through the red eyed man. She hurried away with her head down, s

the carriage with the three strangers. He felt more afraid under the p

made his boots sound as if they were made of

lanked by the woman with the two coloured ha

sked nervously, his pa

yed man a

r' he purred in

o Drake lost in memory, repressed by the

him, asking him something, though Drake couldn't remember what it was. The master was shouting something back at her; then at the hooded man. The hooded man came

ng Siren by the shoulders and shakin

y back, holding the orb before her. 'He is

an't just l

firmly. 'If the others wanted to kill

to her feet. 'You mean those gh

y same.' She lowered her eyes to the orb ag

ded speaking to Shire. 'Wh

re told him. 'The same creatures that at

letting her fall bac

we can do?' Reuben said

ars of fear dampening her e

errant offered. 'It would do little goo

said. 'We'll wait h

Lauralie asked as Cultur

ed, 'is like me. I can feel h

lly through the broken

did this?' Reuben asked w

u; they've learnt that much it seems. Perhaps they are threatening you to try to force me to give myself up to them.' She hung her head

towards her in a comforting gesture as if

d, speaking aloud. 'I wonder how much about us

as if losing patience. 'This is getting ridiculous' he said shooting

this girl against her will! We are not kidnappers. We are

'If we just leave with the philosopher's stone, then there is not

of these young guard

silently as the elders decided their fate. Ebony stood im

told Shire. 'We risk more harm by remaining here. Culture's not got long to l

uardians did not choose to get dragged into this, and I will not leave this world until they and the philosopher's s

o asked her, 'and let the philosoph

t takes' Shire re

shrugging as if it didn't bother him e

uralie whined desperately.

r attention still turned to the orb. 'It see

mean?' Reub

, the first one we were chasing. She fee

uralie wh

n sm

ts to he

and the few passengers that we

rm, one among many who waited

r blue hair was dyed so dark that it looked almost black. She

all. Starting to fidget with her handbag, she tickled her earring when the passengers stopped arriving off the trai

wasn't

from carriage to carriage and

rake are

last compartment

erywhere. Drake wa

ent to find Drake collapsed, leaning

just below the left shoulder was th

ead lolling

t took many seconds for him to realise it was Eleanor.

..' he wh

ious was a white ceiling. He had been taken back t

his head to the s

ra

rushed his forehead with the back of her hand, weaving her fingers through his hair. Tears were strea

oor love...ho

, looking instead to th

rm had bee

god.

gan to gasp, breathing heav

eanor grasped his shoulder, shaking hi

e was

l in white, with long white hair and grey eyes. She stepped lightly across the room, her bare footsteps sounding loud

ou because of me, and because of

his shoulder. She closed her eyes, as the light be

The only evidence that she had ever been there, and the strange buzzing sound left behi