****Paradise Sagas:  Book 1: Warriors of Paradise****

 

Chapter 8

 

     He was Adam.  Warrior of--.  Who was it again?  He shook his head.  It didn't matter.  He looked darkly at the person in front of him.

     "Soon.  You will not be alone."  The female whispered, "Soon."

     Adam smiled.

~*~*~*~

     Lexa shook her head and she heard Kendra shift silently.  They weren't doing any good just standing there.  She had to do SOMETHING.  She took a step forward.  Kendra's hand landed on her shoulder.  Lexa didn't look at her.

     "Remember, you are our leader."  Kendra whispered, before letting go.  Lexa nodded and headed down the hill.

     Kendra was right, she was their leader.  It was time she took her place.  Kevin rose to greet her.  Daenna looked at her blankly.

     "Lilith is playing games with us."  Lexa's voice was calm.  "There is nothing we can do tonight.  Let's go home.  Come to my place tomorrow.  Maybe we'll be able to think clearly."

     Daenna nodded and began walking away.

     "And guys?"  Lexa said, her voice breaking slightly, "I mean it, be careful."

     Kendra gave a sad smile as she walked over to Daenna, "Let's go."  She whispered.  Daenna nodded, gave a weak smile to Lexa and Kevin, before turning and walking away with Kendra.

     "C'mon."  Lexa pressed on her stone and de-transformed.  "I'll take you home."  She now felt the cold whip around her in her white tank top, which stopped above her bellybutton.

     At her jeep, she saw Daenna, climbing into the passenger side of Kendra's small car.  She turned to unlock her jeep's door.

     "What the HELL is that?!"  Daenna screamed.  Lexa swung around to face the redhead that approached her.

     "What's what?"

     "Turn around."  Lexa obeyed, "Why didn't you show us this before?"  Lexa felt Daenna's fingers trace along her spine.

     "What?  The tattoo?"  Lexa looked over her shoulder, "I didn't think it would matter."

     We have to keep her safe.  Lilith can't have her.  If Lilith got her hands on Lexa..."  Daenna said to Kevin, "She has the mark of the Ultimate Guardian.  The vines of life, surrounding the symbols of her warriors."

     "WHAT?!?"  Kevin came around the front of the jeep to look at her back also, "When did you get this?"

     "I've had it since--well, since I can remember."  She turned away from the two, just as Kendra appeared, "What are you talking about?  The 'Ultimate Guardian'?"

     "The Ultimate Guardian was prophesized centuries before the first time we fought Lilith.  It was said she would end her world--so it would begin again.  She would carry the vines of Life on her back, that would guard her and her warriors."  Kendra said, "Your tattoo matches that.  I saw it on you before, but I can't believe I didn't think of it!"

     Lexa thought of the tattoo.  It had been there since she was a baby.  It was a green vine-style that started at the base of her spine and spun upward to stop in the shape of a crescent moon, just below her mid-back.  Entwined had been four symbols, Earth, Fire, Stars, Sun.  All similar to the ones that had been carved into the mounds, back in the cavern.  That thought sunk in.  That was where she had seen those symbols.

     "They disappear when you transform," Kevin said, "I wonder why?"

     "C'mon.  Let's go.  We'll see you two in the morning."  Kendra tugged at Daenna.

     "Yeah, see ya."  Lexa turned back around and unlocked her jeep.

~*~*~*~

     "What did you mean, back at David's house?  'I never knew his mom cared'?"  Lexa asked as she turned back into town.

     Kevin looked at her, "His parents are divorced.  His mom neglects him.  That's why he's quiet sometimes and loud the others.  And why he's smart."

     Lexa nodded, "That explains it."

     "His mother fell apart after the divorce.  He was five years old.  We became friends a few days after the divorce."  Kevin looked out the window, "His father re-married.  I don't think he ever forgave his father."

     "Why?  What for?"

     "His father is my step-father."  Kevin closed his eyes.

~*~*~*~

     Lexa dropped Kevin off at his large house, then drove home.  His stepfather is David's Dad?  No wonder they never met at Kevin's house.

     Poor David.  Where was he, anyways?

~*~*~*~

     Kendra locked her car before starting up her driveway.  She yawned as she pulled out her house keys.  She was tired.

     The bushes that lined the driveway rustled.  Kendra glanced at them, nervously.

     "Excuse me?"  A voice asked behind her.

     Kendra turned around and gasped.

~*~*~*~

     Empty.  A void, growing larger.  Nothing she could do.  Not now, at least.  So dark and lonely.  So empty.

     Lexa flew into an upright position, gasping for breath.  She was in her room.  She was safe.  But one of her friends wasn't.

~*~*~*~

     He watched her as she slept.  She had weird dreams.  Adam was slightly confused.  What kind of person dreamed of emptiness?  He disappeared the instant she woke.

~*~*~*~

     Kendra threw herself at the door again, trying to force it open.  It didn't budge.

     "Let me out!"  She screamed.

     "Do be quiet."  A familiar voice said from the shadows.  Kendra turned around, pressing her back to the door; "I'm getting a headache from your racket."

     "You."  Her eyes widened, she placed a face with the voice, as blue eyes filled her vision.

~*~*~*~

     Kevin arrived at the apartment at 9:00.  Lexa hadn't slept since the nightmare, about 6:30.  She made a pot of coffee while they waited for the others.

     There was finally an angry knock about 10:30.  Kevin opened the door and was shoved out of the way by Daenna.

     "Where's Kendra?"  She asked as she stormed into the kitchen.

     "Not here."  Lexa poured another cup of coffee, "I thought she was giving you a ride over."

     "So did I."  Daenna sat on the counter, "She said she'd pick me up at 9:00.  I waited and waited.  She didn't come, I called her house and no one was home.  So I waited 10 more minutes, then I walked over here.  I thought she might have forgot."

     "Nope.  She isn't here.  You don't think-” Kevin looked at Lexa, then at Daenna.  Without a word, the three rushed out of the apartment.

~*~*~*~

     Kendra’s car was in the driveway.  But no one answered when they knocked.

     "They keep a spare key by the back door."  Kevin stepped away from the door.  "For emergencies."  He and Daenna headed around back.

     Lexa eyed the car, Kendra's blue Geo.  There was nothing suspicious around it.  As she started to turn back to look at the house, something in the bushes caught her eye.

     Kendra's keys.

~*~*~*~

     Kendra screamed as they strapped her down.

     "It's not that bad."  He said from above her.

     "You're a TRAITOR!"  She yelled as he punched a button.

     "You will be one too, soon."  Another voice said.  A wave of warmth rushed over her, and Kendra's next scream died in her throat.  They were going to brainwash her, she realized-just as another wave washed over her.  But she wouldn't, COULDN'T forget-forget-forget-who?

     She closed her eyes.  And she felt an emptiness settle over her with the next wave.

~*~*~*~

     Lexa picked up the keys.  They were definitely Kendra's.  She knew by the bright pink key chain in the shape of a cross.  Lexa gripped the keys as Kevin opened the front door.

     "There's no one here."

     "I know."  Lexa stood.  She opened her hand to show him the keys before closing her grip around it again.  "Lilith has her too."  Lexa felt helpless.  She felt the tears gather in the corners of her eyes, and she quickly brushed them away, not looking at Kevin.

~*~*~*~

     Kevin looked at her as she brushed away tears.  He wanted to reach out to her.  To tell her it'd be alright.  But he didn't want to lie to her, especially since he didn't know.

     He heard Daenna close a door somewhere in the house.  Stiffly, he turned and went back inside.

~*~*~*~

     She felt the bow in her firm grip as she took aim at the target, the silvery arrow pointing away from her.

     She let the arrow fly.  It hit its target and blasted into a dark light.  She smiled.

     "Very good."  She heard HIM say from behind her, "Very good indeed, Eravia."

     She straightened, "I thought so too, Adam."  She brushed aside a strand of hair, before firing an arrow into the darkness.

     "Yes." A female voice hissed, "You are both becoming stronger."

     Both people dropped to their knees, "Lady Lilith."  Adam said, without looking up.

     Eravia felt a burst of coldness, before a figure appeared in the shadows, depositing the silver arrow at Eravia's feet.

     "You are strong.  But, you have yet to determine targets.  You will learn.  Pure!  Evil!"  She yelled.  Two figures appeared behind her.

     The female stepped forward, "You wanted us?"

     "Yes, Pure."  Lilith looked at the arrow on the ground, "Take your brother and train these two better.  I will complete phase three."

     "Yes, Lady."  The male, Evil, snapped his fingers and everything faded from Eravia's view.

~*~*~*~

     Lexa strained to hear Kevin's voice, as they walked to English together, over the loud voices in the crowded hallway.

     Kevin gave up talking about the time Lexa gave up listening.  She gave him a helpless, forced smile as they pushed their way into class.

     ~Too loud.~  She sent the thought to him.  He nodded as his eyes fell on his desk, then on Kendra's empty seat.

     Lexa took her seat and closed her eyes.

~*~*~*~

     At lunch, she couldn't stand it anymore.  She spotted Daenna and Kevin talking in the doors of the building.  Lexa stopped where she was as Kevin looked at her.  And Lexa couldn't take that sad look in his eyes.

     Lexa ran.