Sacred Bloodlines (The Guardians) Read online

  Contents

  Title

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chaprter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twentry-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Title

  Sacred Bloodlines

  a novel

  by

  Wendy Owens

  Kindle Edition

  Copyright 2011 by Wendy Owens

  http://wendy-owens.com

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold. If you have not purchased this please visit amazon.com to purchase your copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to the love of my life, my husband, Josh. Thank you for pushing me when I felt this was impossible, you helped me see I am mighty.

  Acknowledgments

  I owe thanks to an amazing group of people for this book. Ashley and Tai, thank you for making my book even stronger with your editing. Samantha Young, a fellow author, thank you for your advice, your warmness came at a perfect time. And lastly thank you to my three kids, Zoe, Brayden, and Penelope who put up with a messy house and a lack of clean laundry so that mommy could write.

  Chapter One

  Gabe closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the cool subway tiles behind him. The pungent smell of urine and burnt electrical wires filled his nostrils as the loud roar of a passing train erupted in his ears. His social worker’s words replayed again and again in his head, “difficulties with home placement,” “past with such tragic incidents,” “more time needed to find the right parental candidates.” Gabe knew what that meant, after years of being shipped from one foster family to the next it was clear people felt he was cursed. “And why wouldn’t they,” he thought. It was even becoming obvious to him.

  The bustle of the station began to increase as the train squealed to a halt. Gabe grabbed his ragged black backpack and headed to the nearest set of open doors. He twisted and turned trying to make his way through the thick crowd. A chill came over him, one that was all too familiar and Gabe was suddenly filled with dread. Coming to a sudden stop he looked around at the sea of people. Just steps from the train doors he found himself unable to move. He was simply staring and searching. His breath was shallow. All the voices around him were instantly silenced as a pulsing white noise filled his head.

  Gabe’s hands had become clammy and he felt his legs weaken. “Are you getting on or what?” the man behind him shouted. The man was wearing a plain, tan trench coat and carrying a briefcase. Gabe looked back at him, not able to hear what he was saying for a moment, still distracted by the deafening white noise in his head.

  “Come on, some of us have places to be.” The man grumbled as he rudely pushed past Gabe and boarded the subway car. Stumbling to a nearby column, Gabe steadied himself and attempted to regain his composure.

  As sounds came flooding back, he heard the buzzer warning that the doors would soon be closing. Gabe looked up, prepared to make a dash for the opening. Before he could make his move he caught site of a young woman standing in front of the subway doors. She was wearing a long, black leather coat that was cinched at her waist. There was an odd grey color that surrounded her, creating a halo effect around her entire body. He had seen this before, actually more times than he cared to recall. He even saw the same grey aura the night his parents died.

  Gabe stared intensely at her back as she stepped into the subway car and she slowly turned around. Her black hair was short, cut just above the chin. She wore it slicked back and tucked behind her petite ears. Gabe thought she looked as though she were trying to remove the femininity from her small frame in any way she could. Her skin was pale; the color reminded Gabe of milk.

  He watched, frozen where he stood, as the girl lifted her head and looked directly into his eyes. She flashed him a small, wicked smile and as the doors closed, he saw her eyes flicker a hint of red. A moment later, the train pulled away. Gabe slid to the cold floor as the crushing weight of the impending doom filled him.

  Gabe had been plagued by these feelings and visions his entire life. He could remember being sent to at least a dozen different therapists all over the city in recent years. Their diagnoses were all the same however, ‘hallucinations brought on by depression caused by the tragic loss of his parents.’ Some had him writing his feelings in journals, but most of them found it easier to load him up on medication and send him on his way. He had learned a long time ago the easiest thing to do was to lie about the visions.

  Gabe wondered if the therapists were all right. Perhaps he was just crazy with grief. His parents had died when he was only five years old. He found it hard to believe such grief could plague a person for eleven years but what did he know, he was no...

  A loud explosion suddenly interrupted Gabe’s thoughts. He reached out his hands to try and steady himself as the ground under him shook violently. Gabe threw up his arms to cover his head. Plaster began to crumble and rain down from the high ceilings.

  He looked in the direction of the explosion. The tunnel, where just moments before, the train he was supposed to be on had been, had now become a huge cloud of flying debris. Gabe’s pale brown hair blew back from the rush of air. He had to squint his eyes as the ash clouded his vision. Larger pieces of plaster and tile began to fall all around him. He rushed to the bench he had been sitting on earlier and slid under it, taking refuge from the dangerous rubble.

  The one question all of those therapists could never answer for him was, if his visions were simply a result of grief, then why did a disaster follow each one? Gabe laid under that bench, listening to the overwhelming screams of panic swirl around him. He clenched his eyes tight, trying to make it all disappear, but it wasn’t working. It never helped.

  Gabe had a trick he had learned long ago from his mother. She told him when he was little, that if he ever was scared of something, to count to a hundred and somewhere along the way the object of his fear would disappear. As a child, the fear would usually subside around fifty. He found that after his parent’s death, though, he would often exceed a thousand before he could regain his composure. Gabe stayed hidden and counting, completely losing track of time. Under that bench, counting his safe numbers, Gabe was leaving the world behind. The world that he had come to know which was filled with a wicked darkness. It was a fear he could not count away.

  As Gabe lay there, hoping to go unnoticed, he felt the bench rock. Glancing to his left he saw a pair of combat boots planted firmly on the ground. He wondered with all the screaming and running around, what kind of person would have a seat to watch the havoc unfold?

  “Are you just going to hide under there all day?” asked the cool, calm voice from above. Gabe decided staying quiet and playing possum was the best solution. He continued his counting.

  A few moments passed and the voice asked again, “Well?” An open hand reached down in an offer of assistanc
e to Gabe.

  The black mesh fingerless glove on the hand was unique, but what caught Gabe’s eye was the silver jewelry perched proudly on the ring finger, over the glove. On it was a serpent coiled around a tree with a dagger piercing through the serpent. The ring looked old and worn; hundreds of years old if Gabe had to guess. Realizing this person was not going away, Gabe took the hand and allowed himself to be pulled from his secure hiding spot out into the open chaos of the subway tunnel.

  Gabe pushed himself up from his knees to a standing position while studying the stranger in front of him. This stranger wore faded and distressed jeans - they were a straight leg cut that had been gathered and tucked into his boots. He wore a black v-neck shirt, the type that looked old even when they were new. Over his t-shirt was a heavy green military jacket, but the name badge had been ripped off.

  Looking at the boy’s face, Gabe realized that this kid couldn’t be much older than himself. He had thick, sandy blonde hair that twisted and fell in large chunks all around his face. There was slight stubble on his cheeks and chin.

  The boy smiled up at him from the bench. Gabe noticed his almost glowing blue eyes. Gabe’s eyes were eerily similar in color. He found this unsettling since he had always been told how unique they were. Gabe was overcome with a feeling of peace and serenity, not something he was used to feeling at all.

  The boy motioned for Gabe to sit down next to him on the bench. It was like he didn’t notice all the people around them screaming and crying for help. Gabe hesitated.

  “Look, it’s not like we’re going anywhere anytime soon.” The boy said motioning over to the cluster of cops streaming down the stairs. “You might as well have a seat. We have a lot to talk about.” The boy’s voice was calm as he stared directly ahead at the back wall across the subway tracks.

  “Do I know you?” Gabe asked anxiously.

  “No, but we know you, Gabe Harwood.” The boy replied with a mysterious tone as a mischievous smile flash across his lips. Glancing all around him nervously, Gabe wondered if he should make a mad dash for the nearest police officer. He had to give plenty of witness statements in the past and the thought of spending the evening at a police precinct did not sound like anything he particularly wanted to do. Rethinking his strategy, Gabe turned and sat next to the boy. He stared at the floor in front of him as if he were studying the detail in the dirt stained tiling. He focused all his energy on resisting the urge to climb back under the bench to his hiding place.

  “I know this is hard and it doesn’t make sense, but all I ask is that you listen to everything I have to say. Then you can make your decision.”

  The boy’s voice cut through all the chaos around Gabe. Suddenly he realized it was as if a volume knob in his head had been turned down on all the background noise. The chaos had become muffled and distant. Gabe stared at the boy with a look of disbelief, not knowing if he were even real or just another figment of his imagination like the girl on the train.

  “My name is Uri and I am like you.” Gabe looked up at Uri’s face.

  “What do you mean, you’re like me?” Gabe asked.

  “I understand where you are in your life right now because years ago, I was at the same place.” Uri answered.

  “Look, no offense,” Gabe started. “But I doubt you could understand anything about my life or where I am at.”

  “Oh really?” Uri smirked. “Let me take a wild guess. You feel like you’re cursed. Death follows you wherever you are and you feel completely abandoned. You wish it would all end for you. You think about how death is a release, yet something compels you forward.” The blood drained from Gabe’s face as he listened to Uri speak. “You’re not alone Gabe, there are many more like us and we want to help.” There was silence for a moment as Gabe processed what the boy said.

  “So what, my social worker sent you? She was worried that not being able to place me in a home would send me into a suicidal downward spiral?” Gabe scoffed as if the suggestion were humorous rather than the truth that it was. “Well, tell her not to worry, I’m fine. I don’t need anyone.” Gabe started to get up from the bench, but before he could, Uri reached out and grabbed his wrist. Suddenly Gabe felt an ache in his chest and a shortness of breath. He looked back at Uri who was no longer smiling, but staring intensely at him.

  “Gabe, I was not sent here by your social worker. I was sent here by someone more powerful than you can imagine. There are so many things we need to show you to make you understand. Listen to me when I tell you we are here to help.”

  Uri shifted in his seat, gave Gabe an intense stare and continued, “There is so much to tell it really would be best if we could just show you. Please, you must come with me.”

  Gabe felt caught in Uri’s gaze and seemed unable to move. He stared at him, trying to make sense of the conversation. He caught sight of a glimmer of white glowing light flash in Uri’s eyes. Startled, Gabe jumped back in his seat and Uri’s hand fell from him. Gabe had seen the red glimmer before, but this was new. “Who or what is this guy?” He wondered to himself.

  “I don’t know who you are; you could be an axe murderer for all I know. How am I supposed to trust you and follow you? For that matter, follow you where?” Gabe asked.

  “Gabe, search your soul, what do your instincts tell you?” Uri asked.

  “That you’re a crazy nut job and freaking me out.” Gabe snapped back.

  “We must go,” Uri said as he stood and looked towards the exit. Gabe noticed how the boy suddenly seemed mechanical in his movements. He had gained a sense of urgency about him. Uri stood and turned, reaching his hand out to Gabe. Gabe stared at the outstretched hand, still unsure what to do.

  “Seriously? I’m not going anywhere with you. Besides the fact I have no idea who you are even if I did agree to go how are we even supposed to leave? There is no way the cops are letting anyone out of here until they have been questioned.” Gabe asked.

  Uri quickly dropped to one knee to look Gabe in the eye, he leaned in close and brought his voice almost to a whisper; Gabe had to strain to listen.

  “I know you, I know who and what you are. I can show you amazing things that will change your life forever. At the place I want to take you there are people just like me and you. They all want to meet you, but it’s your choice, Gabe.” Uri jumped to his feet again and extended his open hand to Gabe once more.

  Even though Gabe’s thoughts kept telling him to stay planted where he was there was something deep inside that desired to follow Uri. He wanted to believe there was something else out there, a different life he could eventually hold onto. Taking a deep breath, Gabe closed his eyes and took hold of Uri’s hand. He finally reasoned that Uri couldn’t bring any worse horror into his life than what he had already seen.

  Uri pulled Gabe to his feet, whispering something under his breath. Gabe asked him to repeat himself, but Uri didn’t reply. He dragged him towards the nearest exit tunnel.

  Gabe stumbled behind Uri and realized they were headed directly for a cluster of officers. “Uri, they are never going to let us through. Wrong place at the wrong time only seems to go so far with them.” Uri didn’t respond and just continued to walk towards the tunnel.

  Five to six feet away from the officers, Uri stopped, never letting go of Gabe’s hand. Gabe watched and waited for one of the officers to say something, but realized they were not even looking at them. Uri studied the men, as if he were looking for a weak point. Gabe worried what Uri might be thinking.

  A moment later, Uri raised his free hand to his left and with fingers spread; he tilted his head back and mumbled a word Gabe could not understand. Gabe watched and wondered what type of insane character he was mixed up with. He jokingly thought in his head that this guy fancied himself some kind of Jedi knight, waiting for him to say, ‘these are not the droids you are looking for.’

  Just then, a woman’s shriek came from the direction where Uri had been lifting his hand. All the officers rushed towards the source, leaving the
exit wide open. Uri took a tighter hold of Gabe’s hand and led him up the stairs, out of the tunnel to freedom. It was as if the officers had not seen them even though they only stood a few feet away. “What was that?” Gabe asked, not realizing his mouth was still hanging open in shock.

  Uri shrugged, continuing up the stairs to the street, “Let’s get to the manor, Gabe, and I will explain everything, I promise.”

  “Manor?” Gabe asked clearly concerned, but at this point he was in such shock over what he had just seen, that he continued to follow Uri while replaying the last five minutes of their exit over and over again in his head.

  Uri didn’t answer. He led Gabe to a side street where he had an older motorcycle parked. Uri finally released Gabe’s hand and passed him a helmet. “Put it on.” Uri commanded while starting the bike’s engine with a couple of stomps. Gabe slipped the helmet on and climbed behind Uri. Within moments they were on their way. Gabe wondered, where this manor was exactly?

  Chapter Two

  Gabe nervously watched as they passed exit sign after exit sign. Having left the city behind miles ago, Gabe became increasingly worried about getting back to the group home before curfew. He tapped Uri on the shoulder and motioned for him to get off the highway.

  Uri pulled off the next exit into a dimly lit dingy gas station. The lights buzzed and flickered overhead as the gnats and mosquitoes swarmed in the humid summer air.

  Gabe wasn’t used to seeing so much undeveloped land around him. He squinted, searching to see if there was more civilization near this lone gas station. Much to his disappointment, he couldn’t see lights in any direction. Uri stepped off from his bike and walked around to the pump.

  Gabe slid the helmet from his head and took another quick glance around, then looked up at Uri. “Are we almost there?” he asked.

  Uri simply chuckled to himself.

  Frustrated by Uri’s dismissive attitude Gabe tried to explain, “Hey, can you answer me? I live in a group home, I have a curfew.”