Culture had returned several hours after his departure, coming to a tense atmosphere as everyone within the apartment tried to find things to occupy themselves wi

window, straightening and sighing as

s told him shortly. 'Drake is alive. He'

ve?' the aberra

visit him in the morning, but now,

night?' Lauralie a

s worry where you

ied shortly.

d I suppose the rest of you are st

'Here is where one of the philosophers stones are a

rning' Lucas said turning away

the room, before following th

, the other guardians all lay down on the sofas and armchairs to sleep. Except f

pered to the nigh

ay m

tment shortly after, Reuben, Lucas, Lauralie and Ebony walked together. Behind them th

o speak, hesitating

to the hospital' he suggested, speaking to Cultur

from Ebony to reply, he had

re informed him. 'And even if they could see me....there is no cur

em from the other side of the street,

en

early that morning informing him of what had happened, he had made his way quic

this point' Lucas told him. 'W

ans who stood a few steps behind them. 'What are they still doing

eply. 'I don't think they want to let Ebony out of th

said. 'We don't want

l they were surprised to find Eleanor waiti

mmediately, suddenly worried and wonder

looking from Reuben to Lucas; then to Lauralie

er tip toes and craning her head to see inside t

nor replied. 'He asked me

straight again and looking at Eleanor.

sked her, pointing to the ground they

acle' Eleanor said. 'His arms has compl

pered to the others. She

d, stroking his chin as he spoke to himself be

. 'She blames herself for what happened to him, s

to the presence of Ebony and the elder guardians, 'but when he comes out, do

Lucas nodd

ed' Eleanor added hastily, speak

Lucas asked

a proble

ok his head. '

ryone straightened in attention, all of

s, emerging out of the hospita

rlfriend, he briefly acknowledged the elde

smiled tentativel

s and Li sat hunched in the shadows between two buildings near

aster stated. No emotion

off?' Kreas asked excitedly,

atly. 'We have other th

back her pointed ears and twitching her ta

she is willing to help him. She must care fo

aker now, more vulnerable. Now is the time we catch her. It would take

leave' he voiced suddenly, as Ebony lifted her head and began to look around as if sen

atch?' Li asked as th

ster said casually. 'I wi

his magic before him. He vanished in a

oup before the hospital. 'We cannot waste too much time in chasing

swered simply. 'It's jus

ompanion. 'We need to get her before too l

said teasingly, nuzzling

tell me? What's wrong with him? I shouldn't have to

ou complaining

ing her arms and forcing herself to

t on. 'He's hiding something from me, I just know it. I

ked up from his brea

n't be

I am absolut

you want me to come w

prote

n have you needed someone to protect you?

the boats on the river sailing back and forth through the choppy waters. Her hometown was very different to the one Lucas came from; it w

asked her, returning his att

ow

ow

ian rep

just fi

in. 'We are

, and even Lauralie they managed to shrug off, admitting at last that she should probably be going as well. Though on this occasion, she l

lder guardians, glad to see Lauralie go at long last

ng nowhere. Not without her anyway' h

e her to leave'

ed' Indigo muttere

ndigo?' Shire as

stily, laughing and waving a

' Shire said, ignorin

en asked turning to her

no longer be of use here. I have no powers to protect now; I would

lright?' Siren

her daughter lovingly. 'But I have no powers to

Siren nodde

ay' Shire told her, 'to sav

mot

ughter, resting her ha

losopher's stones. And...' she added with a glance towards Indigo

' Siren whi

safe' Shire sai

l in their misty blue colour, so unlike her mo

ng to mi

s you' Shire s

pping his head to her. 'We may no

kno

d, 'to the Ancient World,

r head respect

wn, and to the same spot where they had first met Crystal. From atop the hill where the

smiled as she watched the guardian's sm

as the light from the sun glistened on her flawless skin. Her features were perfect, sho

indeed'

ning brightly through. Shire touched each of the three remaining guardians in turn, h

e were three'

from beside him. 'What day is it toda

warmly, tur

he said. 'I thi

, turning back towards the

red, '...has beco

Lucas told him, 't

other, her pink eyes shining. She looked back a

ll happ

ack to the apartment. The remaining three guard

eached the correct level; Lucas went to open the broken door. But before he could touch the handle, the door opened itsel

she said

rly bewildered to find her the

Sian turned her cyn

f expected Lucas to have a

he slowly began to slink away. Knowing she was completely invisible now to none-guardi

s if she owned the place. She cast her eyes critically over the badly repaired d

an' Lucas sai

ay to allow the brothers to enter. After them came the three elder gu

he table that had been utterly destroyed. 'Did you put your mug down too hard? And the

?' Lucas asked flatly. 'I'm no

ing on. You've been hiding something from me

er, looking her up and down. 'I like this one. Is she your girlfr

as if he had been burnt. Fearful he had been seen

hung on the edge of her consciousness, as she searched for what dist

ould leave' Luc

ng a seat in the middle of the sofa. She stared at hi

He grabbed her by the shoulders, lifting

your stup

g sideways, confused and unsure of what had just happened and who had hit him. Reuben immediately charged fo

before anyone else could

rly tripping him up. As soon as he was free from Kyle's g

ly touching the side of his head wh

er flaring almost beyond his control. He still held onto his

ticipation. He was a powerful and ta

ocked him. 'I could

na b

lm down everyone.' He straightened up, raising his head and taking his

a space, stood by the far wall, amazed at the

cing a hand on her hi