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Chapter 22
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Guardians of the Stones. Earth-Air Chapter 23
The room was spacious and generously furnished with office furniture. There were desks, comfortable high-back chairs, small sofas, and coffee tables with glass tops. At any one time, there could have been as many as thirty, maybe forty people working, but by late afternoon the building was completely empty. The security shutters on the large windows were down. Margaret and Megan were tied tightly to the chairs and sat next to each other. Their wrists were uncomfortably sore from where the rough rope rubbed harshly against the skin. The armed men, of whom there were plenty, stood quietly in various parts of the room and paid no attention to them. But Margaret knew that they were being watched closely and that if they tried to do anything, they would be subjected to ill-treatment by one of the indifferent-looking guards. The man she thought was the boss had been on the phone in the adjoining office for a long time. Margaret turned to a frightened Megan. “Don't be afraid. Everything w
Guardians of the Stones. Earth-Air Chapter 24
A beautiful, calm morning dawned. Here and there, the sound of birds waking up after the night was heard. The night sky glowed and the mysterious shadows of the night retreated until they would find their hour again. The last of the visible stars were fading and their yellowish light diminished into the vastness of the boundless universe. A regular summer day was about to begin, but for some, it would be no ordinary day. There was a physically palpable tension in the vast living room of the Thorn Villa. Everyone in the room had not yet slept. Last night, had been for most of them, the worst night of their lives. “Of course. I agree. We have a lot of things to talk about, a lot of…” said Nathaniel Thorne. His face bore the stamp of the night’s dramatic events, and his voice, usually rich and confident, had been replaced by a weak, at times barely audible tone of sadness. “Of course, neither of us will be able to sleep for a while, but I suggest that everyone takes a shower. I would
Guardians of the Stones. Earth-Air Prologue
There is an age-old legend about the four magical stones of the elements - stones that had limitless power, because all of the most powerful elements of the earth obeyed their will. Those who wielded these stones also wielded the most powerful weapon in the world, capable of changing the course of human history. Red like pulsating blood that runs through human veins, the ruby was able to wield the fearsome and terrifying power of fire. Shining like a crystal, the diamond, like a pure tear rolling down the cheek, could cause and quell the most terrible storms and whirlwinds because it was subject to the invisible power of the air. The hardest stones and the largest rocks, the boundless deserts, the sandstorms, and all the elements of the earth obeyed the enchanting power of the green emerald, glistening like the dewy grass of the morning. And the blue sapphire, as blue as the boundless blue of the sky, ruled over the irresistible element of water, which had the force to sw
Guardians of the Stones. Earth-Air Chapter 1
Thorne Corporation, Paris. “I apologise to you all for having to summon you so quickly. In other circumstances, I would not have insisted on meeting at such a late hour, but the matter is urgent and I’m afraid we have no other time to meet”, Nathaniel said to those sitting around the large meeting table. No one had thought of saying anything to him, everyone knew that if the Great Guardian had already called the highest council of the Brotherhood, the matter was urgent, in fact, nobody ever contradicted him. Nathaniel Thorne was a man in his mid-seventies, but not a man of his years, with a powerful and robust physique, one of the most influential and respected business executives, not only in France but in Europe. Nathaniel had also been the head of the secret Brotherhood of the “Guardians of the Stones” for thirty-five years. Despite his sturdy build and the harsh and commanding tone of his voice, Nathaniel‘s face bore the marks of fatigue and sleepless nights. His shoulders w
Guardians of the Stones. Earth-Air Chapter 2
Montserrat Monastery. Catalonia. Spain. A beautiful and sunny morning dawned. Looking at the blue sky, one could have predicted that another hot day at the beginning of summer was dawning although at this time of the year such weather was common. It would be much more surprising to look up in the morning and see dark, ominous clouds like evil shadows in the sky, foretelling rain and wind. Fortunately, it is the middle of May and the rainy season is still far away. This means the air temperature will rise with each passing day and soon every living creature will look up to the sky in the hope of seeing those dark harbingers of fresh rain. Montserrat Monastery has been bustling with life since dawn. After the daily morning service, the monks have been scurrying around the monastery‘s vast grounds like ants on a giant anthill. Although the monks are usually visited by travellers all year round, the beginning of the warm season is a different story. Millions of tourists from all over th
Guardians of the Stones. Earth-Air Chapter 3
Private airport. Cairo, Egypt. The sun had not yet risen when ”Aerion”, one of the world's few private supersonic aircraft, landed on the runway of the private airport. It is a luxurious and very fast business jet that could fly 1.6 times faster than the speed of sound. At that speed it meant you could fly from New York to Paris in four hours and across the Atlantic in just two. "Aerion“ had been designed to meet as many environmental, noise, and individual airport requirements as possible. So, unlike its predecessor Concorde, it could land in any corner of the world. A Land Rover with tinted windows was already waiting next to the giant hangar where four people had just disembarked. The hotel where the group was staying was half an hour away. The men hurriedly loaded their belongings into the boot of the car and wasted no time in moving towards Cairo’s city centre. They had to hurry, because there would be no time to rest. In two hours Darren would be at the City Commissioner‘s off
Guardians of the Stones. Earth-Air Chapter 4
Khan al-Khalili Market is the largest not only in Cairo, but throughout Africa. It dates back to the 14th century and is set in narrow, covered streets. Today, Khan al-Khalili is a conglomeration of markets and shops, where you can buy everything from blankets of all sizes and colours and multi-coloured scented soap bars to the most precious stones and handmade jewellery of undoubted authenticity. Millions of people swarm here all day long. Everywhere you turn, you hear the calls of “Hey, madam, sir, come and see for free”, which are used by the vendors to lure tourists in for a profit. The traders in this market are probably some of the best salesmen and persuaders you will find in Africa. People are constantly amazed that you can buy anything your heart desires here and if one of the vendors doesn‘t have what you need, just wait a minute and he will find another shop that has the item you need. Not only in this market but in any Egyptian market, you can buy spices or herbs that you
Guardians of the Stones. Earth-Air Chapter 5
Montserrat Monastery. Catalonia, Spain. The first opening day of the summer season was at an end. The monastery courtyard, which had been teeming with people all day, had emptied out. The last tourists were taking selfies and heading towards the monastery gates, sharing their impressions. The sun setting in the west had painted the mountain panorama in a warm pink colour, and the sky was adorned with bright stars filling the space like millions of tiny fireflies. Looking out from the monastery courtyard and the surrounding mountains, at the inevitability of the coming night, you can feel as if you are standing on the threshold of another magical world. Kate watched the sun go down and as she gazed at the brightening lights in the sky, she felt the magnificence of this magical place. Looking longingly at the distant mountain peaks, she saw once again how many unknowns are hidden there, how many secrets are still unknown to mankind. For up there beyond the millions of stars, lies an
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Guardians of the Stones. Earth-Air Chapter 24
A beautiful, calm morning dawned. Here and there, the sound of birds waking up after the night was heard. The night sky glowed and the mysterious shadows of the night retreated until they would find their hour again. The last of the visible stars were fading and their yellowish light diminished into the vastness of the boundless universe. A regular summer day was about to begin, but for some, it would be no ordinary day. There was a physically palpable tension in the vast living room of the Thorn Villa. Everyone in the room had not yet slept. Last night, had been for most of them, the worst night of their lives. “Of course. I agree. We have a lot of things to talk about, a lot of…” said Nathaniel Thorne. His face bore the stamp of the night’s dramatic events, and his voice, usually rich and confident, had been replaced by a weak, at times barely audible tone of sadness. “Of course, neither of us will be able to sleep for a while, but I suggest that everyone takes a shower. I would
Guardians of the Stones. Earth-Air Chapter 23
The room was spacious and generously furnished with office furniture. There were desks, comfortable high-back chairs, small sofas, and coffee tables with glass tops. At any one time, there could have been as many as thirty, maybe forty people working, but by late afternoon the building was completely empty. The security shutters on the large windows were down. Margaret and Megan were tied tightly to the chairs and sat next to each other. Their wrists were uncomfortably sore from where the rough rope rubbed harshly against the skin. The armed men, of whom there were plenty, stood quietly in various parts of the room and paid no attention to them. But Margaret knew that they were being watched closely and that if they tried to do anything, they would be subjected to ill-treatment by one of the indifferent-looking guards. The man she thought was the boss had been on the phone in the adjoining office for a long time. Margaret turned to a frightened Megan. “Don't be afraid. Everything w
Guardians of the Stones. Earth-Air Chapter 22
The hot summer sun had disappeared under the dark clouds. Somewhere in the distance, thunder was angrily rumbling, as if it were thundering down on the earth’s warm inhabitants. The light rain fell in cold, heavy drops that refreshed and revived the dry grass and caressed the colourful, thin blossoms springing up from the earth. It was the perfect calm before a storm. In contrast to the calmness around her, Megan was in the midst of a real storm of emotions. Sat on the pavement, her whole body was shaking as if it had been electrocuted. What she had just witnessed kept flashing through her mind. Mysterious armed men, Jake’s voice telling her to run, gunshots, and a woman appearing like a bolt from the blue. Megan was sure that she had seen the woman somewhere before, but could not remember where or when. This woman had saved her by jumping on top of her attacker. And she knew her name. How? Why? It was all so hard to take in. And then there was Jake... Megan shuddered even more at t
Guardians of the Stones. Earth-Air Chapter 21
Kate stood on the observation deck and breathed in deeply the clean, cold, mountain air. The Montserrat Monastery was still asleep, immersed in a thick mist falling from the high mountains. All was quiet and peaceful. Somewhere in the vastness of the sky, a lone eagle’s cry announced that the royal predator of the skies had risen for the hunt. Kate’s gaze was wandering around the breathtaking, mystical landscape of Catalonia when the sound of soft footsteps could be heard nearby. A moment or two later, the silhouette of a man emerged from behind an opaque fog curtain and stopped just a few metres away. Every muscle in the girl’s body tensed up. Holding her breath, she waited for the man to take one more step towards her. As the fog cleared, the girl took a more calmer breath and tried to smile. “Hello, beautiful,” said the man in a low voice. “Geoffrey…” she burst into tears and was about to rush out and hug her friend, but he reached forward and stopped her. Kate was a litt
Guardians of the Stones. Earth-Air Chapter 20
As the day drew to a close, the rain stopped and the thick, dark clouds faded into the distance, like shadows being forcibly chased away. The air was fresh again and nature was coming back to life. It was a little chilly, but the air was slowly warming up again. “I think it’s time for dinner. Katelyn, my child, will you invite Marie to join us?” asked Nathaniel. “Of course,” said Kate, and walked across the courtyard towards the guest house, where Marie was still working, trying to arrange the things she had brought with her. They had all spent the entire day at Thorne’s villa, behind the fence that separated them from the outside world. Nathaniel had been locked in his office for a long time because of urgent business matters. Meanwhile, Kate and Vincent had walked around the fragrant garden, under the cover of a giant umbrella, chatting and leaving the newcomers alone. Vincent spoke clearly and consistently about the power that has been in the diamond for centuries. He thought t
Guardians of the Stones. Earth-Air Chapter 19
“Ok, ok. I agree that it’s pretty good,” said Jake, tucking into his second steak. They had been in Paris for just over two days, and Megan was in love with the romantic city. She was fascinated by everything around her: the people, the architecture, even the sky seemed different from what she was used to seeing in Cairo. She succumbed to this new fascination and spent the morning arguing with Jake that they should stay longer and see what happens. “We could rent a small and cosy apartment near the Old Town. The prices are not as high as I thought,plus, I think I could easily find a job here.” “Meg, take your time. Yes, we can rent an apartment, but let’s get settled first. We’ve only been here for two days,” said Jake with a mouthful of food. “Great. I’ve already found a few noteworthy rental ads. Later this afternoon, we could look at some apartments not far from here,” Megan said happily. Jake didn’t argue. He liked Megan’s happiness and Paris seemed like a good place to live.
Guardians of the Stones. Earth-Air Chapter 18
The rescue operation was smooth and successful. Darren knew that the evening’s events would cause chaos, but he had no choice. He had to act with lightning speed. For years, the two opposing camps had walked a fine line, but had always tried to show each the respect they deserved, and as far as the circumstances demanded it. Unfortunately, in the end there were no limits. Things were changing very quickly. The eternal struggle between good and evil, between light and darkness was inevitable. Darren gave instructions to prepare for the flight home. His men cleaned their weapons thoroughly and laughed with each other, discussing the mistakes made during the invasion of the villa. Vincent was lying in the hallway with his eyes closed and breathing heavily. After showering and changing into new clean clothes, the monk felt very weak. He was struggling to breathe from the bruises and the stress of his injuries, and his chest was aching with pain, which increased with each weak breath. D
Guardians of the Stones. Earth-Air Chapter 17
“Get up! Get up! How long can you sleep for?” and Jake jumped out of bed, almost deafened by Megan’s loud voice. “What... What happened?” he was scared. “Have I ruined something again?” “No, at least not yet. But you sleep too long. Get ready and let’s go and have breakfast. We’re in Paris!” Megan was obviously in a great mood. Jake didn’t say anything and just smiled. He liked that Megan was finally in a good mood. He liked that she wasn’t thinking about him putting her in such a horrible situation. Without even thinking of contradicting the girl’s order, he dragged himself towards the shower. Within an hour, they were sitting at a small outdoor café in one of the older parts of the city, enjoying strong coffee and fresh croissants. Megan was studying a map of Paris, intently plotting the route she had already planned for the day. Jake showed no interest. In his mind he was trying to move the spoon on the table. “Jake, stop it!” said Megan in a commanding tone. “Your superpower
Guardians of the Stones. Earth-Air Chapter 16
Paris, France. Paris International Airport was deserted. A dozen or so tourists sat in the lounges, immersed in their smart devices and oblivious to their surroundings. The shops, with their array of accessories, were also closed, with only a few small kiosks selling coffee, tea, and delicious-smelling pastries. It was from one of these that Jake had bought two cups of cappuccino and some fresh doughnuts. “Here’s a coffee,” said Jake, returning to Megan, who was studying intensely the pocket map of Paris she had picked up on the plane. “Don’t you feel strange? Because even standing here, I still find it hard to believe that we were still in Egypt just a few hours ago. Megan took the coffee. “Yes, it’s a bit strange. But for some reason I think we did a good thing,” Megan smiled. “Yes, I guess... Well, what next? Rent a room in an airport hotel or go into town? It’s getting late, I don’t know if we could find a hotel this late, we don’t even know Paris at all,” Jake asked, stuffi
