Mira fell on the chair and was about to throw hands,
" Who are you? Where are we? "
She looked around Yvonne's tiny enclosure.
" You are safe. Your friends will be joining you soon. I am Yvonne. I believe you came looking for me. "
Mira sat up.
Could it be the Guardian they were so desperately searching for, was actually standing in front of her. But why did he take her away from the battlefield and run away? Were they not equipped enough to ward off those things?
Yvonne thrust a bottle towards Mira and ordered, "Drink. You need it. "
Mira had not noticed but she had been staring at Yvonne's jugular vein. One sip from the bottle and her thirst disappeared. She bowed at him with gratitude and then went straight to the point.
" Since you know me, you might also know why I am here. "
Yvonne nodded.
" Do you know my mother, by any chance? I mean she was the one who asked us to find a Guardian... What's a Guardian? Where are you from? Are you from earth or somewhere else? " She asked as Yvonne smiled and sat down beside her.
" I knew your mother. I know many Chemorian. And if you ask me about my nativism, well, I am afraid I will not be able to answer that. "
He turned around and pushed what seemed like a wall but it twirled around and morphed into what looked like a potion rack.
" I believe what you are looking for is a masking potion?"
Mira nodded as he walked towards her with a knife and an empty cup.
He grabbed her hand and straightened it,
" May I? " he asked, placing the knife over her vein but not yet slashing her wrist.
Mira immediately pulled her hand back.
" What are you up to ? " Yvonne could see her jump up on her feet and look around, probably looking for a way to escape.
He couldn't help but smile.
"Relax Mira. I just need a little bit of your blood to make a customized masking potion that will keep your aura well hidden. I am not here to claim your life. " he chuckled, as if amused and the next words tumbled effortlessly out of his lips. " You are as skeptical as your father. "
Mira sank back in the chair.
" You know my father? "
She asked with labored breath.
Yvonne smiled back.
He pulled Mira's hand and slashed her wrist while talking, as if distracting a baby during vaccination.
" The correct tense to use would be, knew. Once upon a time, I used to know him. We were almost like friends. We worked together towards a common goal, till... "
" Till? " Mira didn't care about her wound being bandaged.
" Till things took another turn. It's a long story Mira. " he smiled again at Mira, his eyes sparkling with wisdom and compassion.
" Tell me about him. Please. Where is he? What is he like? Where did you meet him? "
Yvonne gently placed his hands over her head and right at that moment, Martha walked in with the rest of them.
" They are here, " Xen gasped.
" All around the place. Why are we still here? " Kian looked paranoid.
" Mira... thank goodness you are safe. " Braze literally jumped at her and was about to pull her by her hand when his eye fell on her bandage.
" What happened? " His eyes grew wider as he stepped closer to her.
" Nothing much.... he managed to save me right before those creatures attacked me again. And guess what, he is the Yvonne we came looking for. " Mira explained as if she was giving a performance. " And he is making some masking potions with our blood. "
" What nonsense! How can he be the one we were looking for? The address we were... "
Xen shoved Martha aside and walked forward but Yvonne immediately stopped him, by putting his hand over his chest.
" The address you were headed towards, was a false lead to confuse others who might come across the postcard. We Guardians have our ways of calling the ones we want, towards our den. I am sure you, of all people, might be well aware of the phenomenon. "
Xen stopped.
" Now, if I may, please lend me your blood. I need to mask your scents as soon as I can, before they are able to track you in here. I have been moving around for ages... I am getting old, you know. It doesn't feel right to pack my stuff and leave again. "
The man did not look a day older than thirty. One by one the boys got their cuts drained and dressed as they waited beside Mira, watching how Yvonne prepared the potion.
" Oh by the way... "
Mira suddenly turned around, startling all three of them .
" George was here. "
" George? "
They asked in unison.
" Yeah, the Watcher guy and there was another Watcher. They came in between me and the Dark Mages. He recognised me but I think he completely forgot about Uncle Kilian and everything else that happened back in the cave. "
" How are they here? "
" Have they been tracking us? "
Yvone cleared his throat.
" Well, Watchers have an intricate network. They have technologies that allow them to monitor alien activities and they can even pinpoint the location and nature of their power source. The case with the Dark Mages might not be brand new but I think they are still in the learning process. The Dark Mages never operate or gather in one spot, unless it's a dire emergency. Today, there were too many of them in one spot. I bet the Watchers didn't even know there were so many of them already inside Earth's perimeter. They are under a lot of pressure, it seems. "
Yvonne was almost brooding when suddenly Mira asked.
" An emergency you say... But all the time we saw them, they came in numbers... Never alone... I did not see any dire situation in these scenarios... I think you might be wrong here. " Mira observed.
" My Master Yvonne wrong? Dear girl he is never wrong. This indeed is a dire situation for them. They are on the verge of extinction. They are here at their master's order. They cannot leave without getting... "
" That's enough Martha... Why don't you go make some cookies for these kids while I talk to them? "
Martha clearly wasn't done saying what she began but she bowed nevertheless and went in the other direction.