Chapter Two
Killian was about to head back to the bedrooms when Aiden and Bréagha walked out of the room on the right.
Aiden carried a small wooden trunk while Bréagha followed close behind, her hair still damp from the shower.
The scent of jasmine followed her into the room, and before he realized what he was doing, Killian took a deeper breath.
Before anyone could say anything, the air popped with a sharp crack and a bloom of pink light unfurled across the room.
When it faded, a five-foot-tall woman with translucent pink wings stood before them.
She had short, curly cotton-candy pink hair that seemed to float around her face of its own accord.
She had bright blue eyes, delicate facial features, and a giant smile.
“Rozengwyn to the rescue! Hello boys!” She smiled at the three Sentinels then turned to the two who had just walked into the living room. “And hello new peeps! So exciting to have new Sentinels! Not just one but two Sentinels born outside of the Garden!”
Aiden and Bréagha could only stare at the tiny whirlwind in front of them. Bréagha lifted her hand to wave but stopped halfway as her brain just couldn’t accept what she was seeing.
“Aiden, is there a tiny woman in our living room? And does she have wings? And did she pop out of nowhere?”
"It would seem so, yes," he said, bewildered.
“Doesn’t look like you needed my spiel after all, Killian.
Looks like they're ready to me. Did you give them the magic of a newborn’s laughter speech that I told you?
” Roz looked over at the formidable leader of this rag-tag team and grinned at his grimace.
“I’ll take that as a yes. Well, let’s go! ”
Just then, the living room lights dimmed, creating an eerie shadowy ambiance.
Dark forms started coalescing from the shadows in the corners of the room.
Bréagha, who was standing closest to the hallway, felt an arm wrap around her throat and start pulling her backward.
She thrust her elbow behind her and felt it connect to a soft area but the force around her neck just tightened.
She heard scuffling all around her and glanced up to see Aiden, as well as everyone else, in their own battles.
The shadows had humanoid forms without distinguishing features.
It was like looking through smoke to a blurry figure, just as her brain had almost figured out what she was looking at, the form changed.
Bréagha’s fight instinct kicked back into gear as she felt herself being pulled into the shadowy hallway.
There was a distinct chill in the air that sank to her bones and sent a shiver through her entire body.
She felt the air being constricted in her throat as she fought, making it hard for her to catch a breath.
Her vision slowly darkened as she struggled to get the shadow behind her to loosen its grip.
Panic clawed through her chest. I can't breathe.
Just as she felt herself weaken to the point of passing out, a silver knife flew by her face and sank into the figure behind her.
She heard an inhuman scream and then the arm that held her pinned, disappeared.
She fell to her knees and took gasping breaths as she crawled away from the hallway.
Just as suddenly as it had dimmed, the room lit back up.
A large hand came down in front of Bréagha’s face, and she grabbed it without hesitating, looking up as Killian helped her to her feet.
His hair had started to come loose from its manbun, and a thin cut ran across his cheek.
“Can we go now?” asked Liam from where he was helping Cathal up across the room. His blonde hair was disheveled and covering his face. He tossed his head to get it out of his eyes as he pulled his friend to his feet.
“Yeah, this place sucks. They’ll be back,” groaned Cathal. He was clutching his ribs and winced as he walked towards them.
“Are you okay man?” asked Aiden. He was the only one in the group besides Roz who didn’t look like they’d been in any kind of struggle. His dark hair was always a little disheveled anyway.
“Yeah, just a couple cracked ribs. Nothing too serious. Those damn things can pack a punch when they want to,” answered Cathal with another wince.
“Roz, get us out of here,” commanded Killian.
Rozengwyn wove an intricate design into the air with her finger, then pushed her pink magic into it, which created a swirling circle that expanded, until it was large enough for them to walk through.
Bréagha and Aiden’s jaws dropped, and they both took a step back.
Cathal and Liam walked up to the portal, stepped through without hesitation and disappeared.
Killian motioned to Bréagha and Aiden to go next, but they both shook their heads then took another step back.
“Nope, not going into the swirling portal to who knows where,” said Bréagha, her voice wavering a bit with her panic. “Can’t we take a car or something? Maybe call a taxi?”
“Nope, no taxis to the Garden. This is the only way in, or out,” said Roz, brightly. “Didn’t Killian explain it?” She glanced over at Killian, who crossed his arms and said nothing.
“The Garden is another universe, parallel to this one but on a different plane. There are eight altogether, however, all you need to know right now is that we’re going to the Garden where it’ll be safe for you.
This portal takes you there, and doesn’t hurt, it’s just like walking from one room to another.
My magic is strong.” Just as she finished explaining, Cathal’s head popped back through the portal, only his head.
“You guys coming or what? Do we need to come back through?” he asked. Aiden and Bréagha still didn’t move.
“Roz, you’re going to have to knock them out.
Cathal, grab Liam and come back. I can’t carry them both,” said Killian.
Bréagha was in mid-gasp when a flash of pink light hit her, and she fell to the ground, at the same time Aiden did.
Killian nodded approvingly then walked over to pick Bréagha up.
Cathal walked back into the room with Liam.
He grabbed Aiden’s legs and Liam went to grab his shoulders.
“Dude, this guy’s heavy. We may need some more help,” grumbled Liam as he struggled to lift Aiden.
Roz waved her hand at Aiden’s duffle and Bréagha’s trunk, lifting them with her magic and floating them through the portal.
She then moved to help support Aiden’s middle.
Instantly the weight was a lot more manageable and Killian huffed.
“Pretty sad when you need a tiny female to help you two.” He shook his head as he stepped through the portal with Bréagha in his arms.
“That man has to learn some people skills,” sighed Roz.
She looked up at Cathal and Liam then smiled.
“I may be tiny, but I’m mighty! Let’s go boys before we get ambushed.
It’s been too long.” The three of them stepped through the portal.
It closed behind them just as the shadows in the room grew and separated.
They lunged at the portal, but it sealed shut right before they reached it.