The Guardians (The Awakening #1)

Chapter One

The heavy oak door slammed behind Bréagha Aria as she took a deep breath.

She leaned back, letting the night close around her.

She appreciated the darkness after the lights of the bar, the stillness of the night after a day spent bustling back and forth serving rowdy customers.

She looked across the street to the military gardens, where a statue stood for every war and armed conflict the United States had been involved in.

The cool night air mixed with the warmer ground created a clinging fog that gave the soldiers, in their eternal vigil, a more haunted image than usual.

Bréagha shuddered as images of zombies creeping out from behind those statues ran through her mind.

“No more damn Walking Dead before bed. Aiden will just have to find a new bedtime story.” She shook her head and laughed at her ridiculousness before straightening and locking the door behind her.

The Phoenix Rising Bar started as a childhood dream shared between two orphans who only had those dreams and each other to get through the nightmare foster system.

The door, hand carved by Aiden, featured a phoenix in the foreground with a beautiful garden and numerous other beasts behind it.

Bréagha ran her fingers over the phoenix’s feathers like she did every night, then turned to walk up the stairs on the side of the building.

Just as she reached the steps, she swung around when movement flickered in the corner of her eye, but all she saw was the normal shadows.

Seriously, no more Walking Dead. She thought as she started slowly climbing the wrought iron steps, her mind on a hot shower, slipping between cool sheets, and resting her head on her pillow.

Halfway up the steps, she felt movement behind her and turned just as a shadow peeled away from the darkness and rushed her, clawed hands outstretched.

Bréagha let out a gasp and a scream as she turned to run up the rest of the steps.

As she reached the landing, Aiden flung the door open in response to her scream and she tried to run inside, just as the shadow grabbed her hair and pulled her back.

She spun and kicked out like she was taught in the self-defense courses Aiden made her take.

She caught something solid and heard an oomph as the shadow fell back but all she saw was deeper black against the night sky.

Aiden grabbed her, pulled her into the apartment, and slammed the door behind her.

There were several bangs against the door, as whatever that thing was, tried to get in.

Suddenly, there were three distinct thumps as if something had landed on the steps from above, followed by more bangs, some groans, one very loud “Motherfucker!” then an eerie silence.

Aiden and Bréagha stared at each other wide eyed, neither wanting to move in case whatever was out there heard them.

Aiden put a finger to his mouth before slowly inching toward the door to look through the peephole.

Just as his eye got to the small hole, a knock rang out.

He screeched and jumped back into Bréagha who pushed him off her, causing him to stumble back into the door just as another knock sounded.

Bréagha couldn't help laughing as Aiden jumped again and landed on his ass.

“Bréagha Aria?” A gruff voice sounded from the other side of the door, and it was Bréagha’s turn to screech.

Aiden climbed to his feet and pressed his face against the peephole, giving a gasp when he saw the three big men standing on the other side.

He turned from the door with a deer in the headlights look, and Bréagha tiptoed over to see the cause.

She too gasped when she saw who was on the other side of the door.

She turned to look at Aiden with the same confused-terrified look that he wore.

It was her turn to put her finger to her mouth and make the shh sound as they both backed away silently.

Another knock sounded. “Bréagha Aria and Aiden Michaels? We aren’t here to hurt you and would really appreciate being let in before those things come back.

” This voice was slightly different than the other had been, not as deep and gruff but still demanding.

Aiden stepped towards the door and Bréagha grabbed his arm, shaking her head vehemently.

“Seriously, you guys. Those shadows are a bitch to fight on stairs and can literally come from any shadow.

Since, hello, all of this is shadow, it's not a great place to be.” That must be the last one, his voice was a lot milder with a hint of an accent.

Aiden moved in front of Bréagha and eased her behind him before opening the door.

The three men hurried inside, and Aiden slammed the door closed behind them, hurrying to put all three locks in place.

Then he and Bréagha turned to face their visitors.

All three men wore black fatigues and combat boots.

The biggest one was obviously the leader of the group.

He wore a long-sleeved black shirt with his fatigue pants.

He was at least six and a half feet tall with black hair pulled into a low manbun at the back of his neck.

He had piercing silver eyes that flickered over Bréagha and Aiden, then surveyed the rest of their surroundings.

The man standing to the right of the leader was also over six feet but a few inches shorter.

He had wavy blonde hair and bright green eyes.

He wore a black leather jacket over a black t-shirt with his fatigues.

He moved to stand by the window to the back of the apartment that overlooked the river behind the bar.

The last guy was just as tall as his companions, but he had short auburn hair, long on top for unruly curls and dark chocolate brown eyes.

He smiled at Bréagha and Aiden before heading toward the windows overlooking the front of the bar and the military gardens.

He wore a t-shirt with his fatigues that showed his broad chest and biceps. All three men were built like soldiers.

“Who are you?” Bréagha finally found her voice and asked the leader, as she stepped out from behind Aiden, who still stood by the door.

He stood with legs shoulder width apart and his strong arms crossed against his chest. He looked relaxed but she could see the readiness in him to move at any second, his lean body coiled like a panther ready to leap.

“Names Killian, the blonde is Liam, and the other is Cathal. We’re here to make sure you’re safe and to take you back with us, to keep you that way.” His voice was the first one they heard outside the door, deep and gruff like he didn’t speak often, or his vocal cords had been charred.

“I’m sorry, what?” Aiden stepped up beside Bréagha and looked at each of the three men who had invaded his living room.

He was a large man as well, over six foot tall with black wavy hair that fell to his shoulders and golden eyes, but he knew he couldn’t take all three of them if they proved to be the threat instead of the help.

“We aren’t going anywhere. Especially with strange men we’ve never met. ”

Bréagha crossed her arms against her chest, mimicking Killian and nodded her head in agreement.

She felt tiny next to these giants, standing at just 5’6”.

“Yeah, not happening. Look guys, thank you for helping with….” She turned and motioned to the door and the landing just outside.

“Whatever that was, but I’ve had a very long day, and tomorrow is another long one.

All I want is a hot shower and a comfy bed. ”

“Neither of you are safe here. They know you’re here, and they’ll be back with reinforcements.

The sooner we get you back to the Garden the better for all of us,” called Liam from the back window where his green eyes flickered back and forth searching the darkness for more shadows.

He hated fighting those freaking things and wanted to be back somewhere safe far sooner than this was likely to take.

He glanced over his shoulder at Bréagha and sighed.

He could see the stubborn tilt to her chin, the fire in her blue eyes, and knew it would take Killian a minute to explain, which Killian was sooo not good at doing.

He shot a glance over at Cathal who was watching Bréagha as well.

They shared a look and Cathal grinned making Liam sigh. No help from that corner.

“Who knows we’re here? Why do they care where we are? Where do you want to take us? And who are you guys?” Aiden asked then waited for some answers.

Killian scrubbed his hands across his face and growled a little.

He was a warrior, a soldier…not a teacher or a “people” person.

Give him something to punch, kick, or slice and he was in his element.

Tell him to explain, cajole, or convince and he was at a loss.

He sighed deeply, took a breath and recited.

“Before Earth. Before good or evil. There was the Garden. From it came the magic that shaped every realm and allows them to weave through time.”

“Magic? Like hocus pocus and abracadabra?” Bréagha arched her brows and smirked up at Killian who scowled back.

At the look on Bréagha’s face, he rolled his eyes. “Not the Abracadabra magic but the everyday magic that mortals take for granted; like falling in love, conceiving a baby, the laughter of a child, or the simple act of the first bloom of a rose in spring.”

“Killian, that was beautiful.” Cathal placed his hand on his chest and fluttered his eyelashes. Killian shot him a flat look.