MAXINEI ducked between its legs, slicing its shin. It didn't react to pain and it confirmed my thinking. They couldn't die. They had to be stopped somehow.I looked around for any hints. A statue with a long sword approached me, lifting it above his head. I ducked, hiding behind one of the raised platforms they had been standing on. That was when I caught the writing."To stop the gatekeepers, you have to…" it stopped there. "I have to what?!"Another shorter statue with a club swung at me. I dodged running to the next platform. "...find the points…" this one said.The answer was scattered around their platforms. I was running from one to the other, "...that controls… …how they move… these points are… vital… strike where… it's true…and victory… will be… yours.""How helpful," I said, sarcastically. I was running out of energy and sweat was dripping from my head.I scanned the status for a sign of these points. I spotted one who had a black patch right above the heel of his feet."Her
GEMMAI couldn't describe what kind of creatures they were but the aura they exuded was enough to send a chill down my spine. The warehouse resonated with the sounds of the ancient guardian's footsteps as they surrounded us.Liam and I stood back-to-back, our weapons raised to defend ourselves. Each guardian's eyes gleamed with an unwavering resolve. They were massive, towering over one and a half of a grown man."We can't fight them all," I said over the chaos, my voice strained with urgency.Liam nodded grimly, his eyes darting between the advancing guardians and Gerald, who stood at the other end with a serious look on his face. "We need a plan," he replied.Gerald lifted his brows, catching what Liam said. "There's no reasoning with them," he said out loud. "Their sole purpose is to protect the artifact at any cost. And it's in my possession.""Then we get the artifact," Liam muttered. There was a look on his face and I caught Kris, Varis, and Harold nodding. He mind-linked them.
LIAMThe night air was crisp and cool as we emerged from the warehouse. The faint glow of dawn on the horizon showed that the morning had come.The pack moved with purpose, preparing to head back and transport Gerald so we could make our way back towards our territory.Maxine walked beside me, her whole mannerisms showing that she was exhausted. She probably mirrored how I was feeling."Gerald won't be causing any more trouble," Maxine said quietly, her voice carrying a note of finality. I wondered if she was convincing me or herself.I nodded in agreement, keeping a watchful eye on our new prisoner in the back seat of a truck. "Not for now, at least," I replied, my thoughts already turning to our next step: getting rid of the artifact."You did a great job. You saved our lives." I said in gratitude. "Thank you."I had not expected such fighting from her. Being the Beta's daughter, she must have had personal training to prepare her for days like these.We filed into our trucks, drivin
MAXINE"Very well. Come with me." Dennis said. He turned leading the way down twisting and turning shelves. There were other people here, dusting off objects in front of them, using magnifying glasses, and taking down notes.He worked as a team.Dennis took us to a private room. He glanced out the wide windows before pulling the blinds down and turning on the lights in the room."Okay, where's the artifact?" He asked.I glanced at Liam and he nodded. Gently, I pulled the artifact out of my bag, scared that if I turned it the wrong way, it might sort of turn on again, bringing the guardians back to life."Skies unmake me," Dennis muttered, taking the artifact gingerly from me and holding it to the light."Do you know it?" I asked. He walked over to his desk with it, placing it on the surface with the white linen cloth on it. There was a magnifying glass stand and he pulled it to stare at the artifact."It belonged to the goddess Sarinoa." He said. The tone he spoke sounded like he expe
MAXINEDennis was beyond appalled by Liam's suggestion. "Surely you must be kidding," he stuttered, letting out a nervous chuckle."Do I look like I tell jokes?" Liam replied with all seriousness.The smile left Dennis’ face and he frowned, looking at Liam. I could feel the tension in the air from these two men. I had to step in."Not destroy it, per se," I began, stepping between them. "Just hide it, so no one can ever find it for the rest of eternity."Dennis looked at me. "That's impossible. History can prove that. Whether it be a hundred or thousand years from now, it will still be found." He said."So what do you suggest? You're aware that this can cause chaos if it falls into the wrong hands.""Of course, I do. I would never suggest giving this to the government in the first place. They're always the first to lose something they claimed to have kept under the greatest lock and key," Dennis rolled his eyes and I took that as a good sign that the tension had faded."What do you su
LIAMI watched as the artifact exploded in a burst of bright light and hit Maxine, striking her in the chest. It was too quick and she didn't even have the time to react or scream. It hit her, sending her flying a few meters away and us to the ground.I looked at the center where the artifact once was. Instead of the strange wooden object, there was an ash burn on the grass. I glanced in Maxine's direction to see that she was still lying, sprawled on the ground."Maxine!" I yelled, getting to my feet and hurrying after her. Kris reached her before me and he gave me space as I took her head in my hands. "Maxine," I called shaking her.She trembled in my hands, her eyes closed, her teeth chattering from the impact."Get a healer!" I yelled, shaking her lightly. Varis came to my side, looking down at her. "What's wrong?" He asked."She got hit by that light," Kris supplied. I turned to Alaric, the spell caster."What happened?" I asked, unable to suppress the anger in my voice. He got do
MAXINEBefore I could question what Liam meant, he turned off the lights, leaving only the lamp on the bedside table. I heard the door opening."Get some rest, Maxine. I'll be in another room." He said. He closed the door, leaving me alone in his room with my thoughts.I wondered what he meant. Did the artifact do something to me that I didn't know? I had to admit, I was feeling energetic and better but that couldn't possibly be it.Soon, I dozed off, falling into a dreamless night. The days following the incident with the artifact were a blur of recovery. I was made to stay at home but I could only last a day.Even though I came back to work the next day because I was feeling okay, Liam and the others seemed to be monitoring me. They made sure I didn't overwork myself and nothing "strange" was happening to me. They told me that the spell caster said I had the artifact's energy in me and it would take a few days for it to wear off.It was a bit awkward getting monitored. They ensured
MAXINELiam's jaw tightened slightly, his mind probably racing with the implications of what this meant. "We need to understand what's happening," he stated firmly."I know," I replied, feeling dejected. "I just… I feel like something is happening to me."Liam thought about my words carefully. He met my eyes. "If that's the case," he began slowly, "we'll find out together. Whatever you're experiencing, whatever changes may come... you're not alone, Maxine. I want you to know that."His words brought comfort to me. I nodded. "Thank you," I murmured gratefully.Surprisingly, he opened his arms. "Come here," he said to me.I walked into his arms, hugging him for the first time. It felt weird, but it also felt good. I rested my head on his chest and wrapped my hand around his back."We'll figure this out," he assured me, patting my back. "Everything is going to be fine."That wasn't certain. Only one thing was certain—my life would never be the same again.Liam stayed all afternoon. Surpr