ay mo

ther they stared inwards to its grounds and buildings within, and to the ot

ant' Lucas grumbled shaking

ings would be a lot different if that

Indigo said casually, standin

s time goes on I feel less an

teeth, and Siren leant back against a tre

back now is ther

w, what you have seen and learnt....' She tr

s it?' he spotted Lauralie, Venom and Ebony over his sh

egretfully. 'Venom would surely follow her. And Ebony....' he lifte

Reuben asked his br

from the others, crossing her arms and glaring at him. Her

ed to think

the Ancient World if we

..' Lucas b

accepted in the Ancient World than they are here. None magical fol

bt' Lucas co

ren went on. 'You never know, you

be fighting for

. 'They restore peace in times of strife,

uben echoed. '

magic poisoning. The air becomes thick and weakens our bodies, it is a gradual process, but you will learn much more about

ke fun' Lu

, staring at her wristwatch. 'I'm going to be

asked curiously turning

want to come along.

rtcut towards the town, the rest of the group stared curious

ffhandedly. 'But shouldn't she

same reason we won't' Reuben sa

s no

d, 'which one do you

smir

g about?' Ebony wh

o the two street dancing brothers' Venom e

Ebony gleamed. 'We shou

You guys should come too' V

ang happily ba

with you later

ha

ention drifting towards Sia

. 'Well...good luck. Seriously.' His

en. I'll cal

ction of the town, shadowed as had become the habit, by the elder guardians. Not yet had th

pproached Sian. She uncrosse

out this aren't yo

rivacy, slipping out of view. But

out what?'

ardians and magic. You say there is

ifted his eyes to meet hers. 'I t

she gleamed

ha

are, either you are crazy.' She came to a stop. 'Or' sh

I've told you is true?'

o believing you're crazy. Don't you think?' she brushed a strand of his black hair ba

as she moved b

serious again. 'I wa

ha

e you. I want to see magic as you do, see guardians,

can make that happe

forwards again, embracing him tightly. 'I just wa

feel a stir of emotions towar

re was

y I'm late' Lauralie s

he was leaning against and faced her

you're not late, you're just i

red streaked hair dramatically back, bo

he laughed, 'we know each ot

n I'm afraid' Adrian sighed dramati

so she wouldn't have to see his over dramatized misery. Diz took this opportuni

you' he squealed in

uralie giggled

he had to jump a considerable height in

of them a sceptical look, and Diz was smiling sweetly u

?' he off

w insanely cute he was, with his blonde highlights in his light brown hair, his little b

' Adrian told her. 'We'v

eamed, jumping up a

ralie a sly gla

you r

ide, flicking her hair back and r

ady' sh

teeth at her. 'I think we ma

's chest teasingly. 'If I impress the crowd, then we will know if you have

ng forwards. 'You're ge

achers' Lauralie

her. 'We wouldn't want to

th the brothers standing eithe

e the shops were, and already people were slowing down t

rs and her arms first she danced for a few seconds as the brothers remained still behind her. Freezing then she allowed them to copy her. The music lapsed, becom

dance. Venom watched Lauralie with longing, and the same desire for her as Lauralie had for the brothers when she had fir

Standing in a small huddle at the edge of the crowd and looking inwards, Siren as usual, ho

ce, their cheering and clapping was rolling and continuous. Adrian bowed to the surrounding audience a

muttered under his breath to A

d up, putting his

rrowed his brow at her.

uralie was a beautiful girl, all the guys wanted her, and all the girls

like it' Reuben said in

bony said clapping as

iasm. Instead he stared vacantly at L

nd turned back to the broth

s and whistles and the clapp

egan to turn grey, a

ound the orb, her knuckles whit

been fo

ildly at her, on her other side

we do?' Sir

ing over to him. 'They've f

r mouth and staring at Luca

...' She

ve' Indigo o

ou...?' Lu

hing that was out of place, his body stiff and jittery. He saw an aberrant claw its way over the roo

rection?' Culture

ucas fumbled. 'The abando

e that is' I

iren's voice was rais

and darted out towards Ebony

she cried out in panic

Crystal, but we cannot leave Ebony.' He took hold of Luca

ng bewildered. 'And yours' he said to Venom.' He grabbed the both of th

re they had not been to in so long. His feet touched the ground, eyes adjusting to the new light and environ

ia

tly sick. Culture who had travelled them from the town centre released them from his grasp. Exhausted from using

ndigo hissed nearb

owly rose, gasping and wobbling as if he was di

out of Lucas' face as he

shit

oing here?' V

igo said to

ing, and swiftly left

an with you'

ed her head upwards towards Ebony, gasping in shock

are y

ny hastened.

ping her mouth as she went. The two swiftly vanished from view, hidi

materialized herself be

y is

g' Indigo rep

ack at the three younger guardians, Lucas, Reuben and Veno

try' Reu

ly at her and Lucas

pressed. 'She is near.

building, Culture leading the way.

master held her by the hair. The vile beasts Kreas and Li we

coming to a stop as the other

e? You'll kill us quickly? Spare me your worthless

th his own weapon, twin gun blades. Either side Kreas and Li transform into their human selves. Li summoned forth a mighty scythe, powered by magic. Startling red in colour with a great eye at its head, and what looked like veins pulsing to the tip of the blade. Siren arched her body, swinging her head back and throwing her arms out. The orb she held grew and divided,

s that he wore over his knuckles, exaggerated in length flew about the air wildly. The two dancing around each other and the blades, each already suffered slashes over

he fighting. Crystal was too close to danger; one of the enemies could

e the body

way. Coming to her level and glancing nervously ba

yst

bing into her hands, her whit

nd roaring like an animal. His face seemed to grow, his eyes glowing red and his teeth sharpening.

him by the wrist, dangerously close to the flames. Culture made to attack with his free arm, aiming again for the master as he still choked. But blocked again by the master's other arm Culture coughed violently as he was released. Able to breathe now but with both his wrists held by the master he was trapped, staring back at his opponents red eyes that glinted wi

er smiled in satisfaction, and Culture, after several minutes of struggling, dropped his weapons. No longer able to hold them, they slipped from his fingers. He was too weak to wield the magic and so they vanished into thin air. Culture collapsed. All his old symptoms, suddenly magnified by ten. He fell forwards and retched, throwing up the entire contents of his stomach. When he looked up next, the master was before him, though his arms were relax

ad tone as he watched the aber

ed, and he fell to the side. The life left him, and he became utterly

down to him. 'You are

wards the sky. He then turned his attention menacing

saw the master approaching. He grabbed Crysta

have to get

his grip. Reuben barely heard her. 'There is nowh

leapt over Crystal's body, caught by a sudden surge of madness and bravery and foolishness. Fearlessly he charged towards the master, bri

back, brushing his cheek tenderly. There was only a sing

y then, suddenly

. 'The spell sho

' he said. He furrowed his brow, and then he

as Venom rose to meet the master, shooting balls of lighting his way. His magic now as familiar to him as a friend he had known for years, and as easy to summon as it was to breat

each of the three younger guardia

ordered him. 'We're

replied curiously

hed, holding his stomach where he had been hit. Reuben with a great effort stra

e' the master said, 'we

back. He struck the brothers upon their head with magic simultaneously, nearly knocking them out. They stumbled back dizzy and in pain, leaving only Venom to face him alone. The master summoned one of

uel grin as Venom moane

mad. 'When I hear a man scream...my stomach lifts, and

reak' Veno

from him, pushing him backward

master advanced towards Venom, no

a stop, easing his sights towar

tense. From his back, something grew

g his head. 'Of this I have never seen befo

. They had grown slowly from his body, their sharp edges cutting slits in the fabri

thed. 'Fascinating, but

dn't know how he did so, but he was struck with a blow to the head by a spell cast out by the master who remained on th

er, watching their approach from a distance could not be caught off guard as he had been with Lucas. He now knew what to expect. He danced with them,

from the others and closer to safety. But his unconscious dead weight coupled with his wings rendered him

' She tried again, pausing in wonder to see Reuben now fl

he same powers'

hed them

and fought in mid air. He moved as if he stood on the ground, fighting with Reuben as he flew. And as Crystal stared up helplessly, the master met Reuben with a blow. Crystal saw in the sunlight a glin

reamed in desperati

e air towards the master, and towards his brother as he fell. Lucas managed to grab and hold onto Reuben b

elief; coming back down to earth

ht brother?' L

lay on his back. 'I feel fine.' A smile tweaked his

other, seeing the wound

hined. 'You've p

ing his head to the sid

n' Lucas

groaned, 'just g

l him' Crystal uttered coming

of movement to his side. Sian ran t

doing...?' Lucas a

she stared down at Reuben, w

ring the wound with both her hands. She closed her eyes as a light began to grow fr

n wavered from the young guardians, and towards the beasts Kreas and Li that f

as if made of water. The atmosphere turned grey, Li's movements slowed, and she struggled to steady herself. Siren directed her orbs, smooth and steady she was, her movements controlled. Li then screwed her eyes tight shut, she stumbled. Dropping her scythe and throwing her head back in a scream of agony. Siren sent anothe

ht that was Kreas. She joined Indigo in the fight. Kreas spun round at the sight of her, swinging both his arms. In seconds he transformed to his animal self, screechin

he called down to Kreas in a short sharp whistle. Kreas broke away from the two guardians, turning he fled, howling in pain at his injuries, and at the sight of Li, who lay there dead in his sigh

till alive. The wound in seconds had been fully healed by

as Siren and Indigo knelt by the

ed him, and b