Page 6 of Guardian

His palm wrapped around my nape, tapping down on my skin. There was no need to present himself by gripping my neck; he had done so to cement his power because he believed that presence wasn’t enough.

Humans had a strong footing, their steps rough against the ground no matter the circumstances. A vampire's tread was light, once thought to be levitation. There was a moment in my life when I entertained the thought. While my beliefs were wrong, it was true that our footsteps were silent.

Vampires focused on sensing presence instead.

All living beings emanated a presence that stemmed from their true inner characteristics into an air that gave sight of one's company. Kaleb’s presence was thick enough to prove authority, his atmosphere suffocating the air with pure ego. It unsettled my stomach being near him, and whenever I was beside him, his self-esteem engulfed my throat.

Humans thought of it as magic. It was both a blessing and a curse to have such a skill.

I stood grounded in my place as Kaleb faced me. My routine continued, one of expressionless appearances and patience that transcended beyond the constraint of the morning. Under this household, we had all the time of day and night, and Kaleb ensured to occupy it.

He studied my face, my eyes fixed against his chest. Although I was slightly taller, I never met his gaze unless spoken to— one of his many dislikes caused by his ego-centric complex.

“Dear little brother, tell me, how have you been this morning?” His lips curled into a smirk, one that exposed the long protruding fangs. Around humans, we weren’t allowed to display our fangs with such confidence, but we rarely visited anything beyond the gates. None of my brothers cared to retract them if the guardians didn’t file the matter as obstruction of the common law.

“Fine,” I said, a lie rehearsed to always be swallowed as truth. “Thank you for asking, Brother."

“Good, good.” He patted my cheek, his rough skin dry against mine. He slowly parted and paced to the side of the pool. “You see, Alek, I’m sure you’ve already pondered why I’ve requested your presence.” He hovered before the edge, his body perfectly balanced.

“Well, to put it simply, the time has arrived for the CEG to send a new pesky babysitter. With the current course of That Man, I’m expecting this one to be no different than the rest. A mole with a fancy title. And we can’t have that, can we, Alek?”

“Of course,” I responded, my tone flat. Kaleb took notice of it at the same time I did.

His movements were quick, like a snake pouncing. A hand wrapped around my throat and forced me toward the nearest pillar, my back clashing against it and my head digging into the crevices.

The only moments he disregarded his own complexes were when he had the chance to cause physical pain. Amusement stemming from disobedience pleased him more than our mundane routine.

His lips neared my ear, his breath warm as he spoke. “Oh, dear little brother, you know I don’t like it when you don’t address me properly. Especially in such a tone.” From the corner of my sight, I could detect a blood-thirsty grin blossoming. “All I ask for is information to know who to expect. I hope my demands won’t be too much for you.”

“My apologies,” I muffled while his palm dug deeper into my neck, the pressure blocking entry for air to properly enter, “Of course. . . not. . . Brother."

His smile widened with my response. He released his hold, my knees tumbling to the ground as coughs escaped my lips. I tried to force myself to meet his gaze before he could use it against me, but Kaleb had gotten what he wanted: submission.

“Alek, be sure to tell Tristan that I require it by tomorrow morning. If not, then the penalty falls on you, I’m afraid, and we don’t want that, do we?” An eerie laugh trailed until Kaleb vanished within the depths of the household.

I suppressed my emotions as they bit my conscience. It was the only aspect of my life that I had a sense of power over. Yet, it was simply another lie I forced myself to believe through the years. Without my brothers around, I continued to withstand a fight within myself.

* * *

I strolled from the household entrance to the gazebo in the front yard, following the silhouette of a common pathway that fused with perfectly trimmed grass. It stood between the rounded driveway and trees, within an angle that was easily visible from the library’s first-floor window, in the direct frame of guardians inside the premises.

The gazebo’s metal structure consisted of antique white swirls, a matching chair, and a table stationed in the middle. Vines wrapped around the swirls closest to the ground and my chest was elated with the sight of it.

Sonia, the Senior Guardian, oversaw the household’s landscape, resulting in dull terrain. Tristan battled her on it on my behalf, the proof of his efforts before me.

Tristan loomed between the gazebo’s opening, his presence warm and inviting, unlike my brothers. He rested his arms behind his back as his gaze focused on what was ahead rather than below. Despite a guardian's mandatory uniform consisting of thick, broad shades with mirrored lenses, I could distinguish an allusive gaze as I took a seat and regarded his stiff stature.

“At ease,” I said while I settled into the chair and crossed my legs.

Tristan didn’t respond, and I abided by the silence between us. The guardians along the households surrounding gates waited in their positions. The minutes for their change of shift trickled in my mind.

Suddenly, a door creaked in the distance, and at a stroke, all the guardians that had once surrounded us vanished into the bordering forest.

Tristan heaved a sigh as he unbuttoned his formal onyx suit, the one for appearances, revealing a bulletproof vest that was part of their uniform. Below it was a guardian’s true full-body suit, the one designed specifically for fighting and swiftness.

“Thank you,” he said while a smirk played along his lips, melting away the stern expression he bore seconds ago. “I thought I’d be used to it by now, but this vest really weighs on my footing.”

“You always say so,” I said, my lips careful with their movements. Although we were truly alone, it had been a habit to maintain a strict expression due to prying snakes.

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