• I was sitting on the swing set at the park not even a block from my house. I was thinking of my boyfriend (and soul stealer) Rayland, and what to do with the “secret relationship” we are having, because I being a guardian and allegedly natural enemy are in love. He isn’t like other Soul Stealers; he’s kind and very lovable. I love him and he loves me for who we are not what we are.
    “Hey Jamie!” my friend and also guardian Jenny called pulling me back to the present. What is she thinking? Her expression was like when she is determined to tell me something important.
    “Hey Jenny!” I responded.
    “Jamie, you need to stop, you can’t do this, it’s gone on long enough,” she said confidently.
    “Stop what? Do what? What’s gone on long enough?” I asked bewildered. What is she getting at?
    “You being with that damn soul stealer!”
    “H...ho...How did you find out about me and Rayland?” I stuttered.
    “Oh so that soul leech has a name? Anyway I first started noticing it when you were hesitant when we had fought those leeches last week, and when you balled your fists when the tutor was talking about them, also when you looked as though you were going to attack an elder when she mentioned that a battle was coming and not many parasites will survive. You were an open book,” she accused.
    “Jenny,” I sighed “I love him and He loves me, believe me he’s not like other soul stealers. Please believe me,” I pleaded.
    “Jamie he’s using you! He doesn’t love you. He’s a leech and nothing else,” she said. “Damn soul sucking parasite,” she mumbled.
    I snapped, “DON”T EVER CALL HIM THOSE NAMES! He does love me, more than you think! He is different from other soul stealers!” I exclaimed enraged.
    The next thing I knew I had sent a powerful energy ball at her. It hit her very hard; she was shot across the park into a wall. I ran over there in fury, she lay in a pile of leaves crumpled and injured.
    “Jamie,” she gasped trying to catch her breath.”Why are you doing this?”
    “You don’t want to know,” I advised her walking forward and crouching down and yanking the thin gold chain from her neck. “You don’t need this,” I said, turning and walking away from her and our friendship, and didn’t look back. I knew our friendship had eternally ended.
    “Jamie,” was all I heard then she collapsed on the ground.
    I kept walking, and then I started running. I thought of where I could go, I couldn’t go to the school, or my house, so I ran to Rayland’s house clutching the gold chain to my chest and started crying. I kept running my heart pounding in my ears getting louder and louder to where I couldn’t hear my sobs anymore.
    I rounded the corner and I saw him, my angel from heaven, Rayland. He was lying in the grass. He’s eyes were closed as though he was sleeping. He’s eyes snapped open when I wasn’t far away from him, I guess he heard my sobs. He sprang to his feet, He opened his arms. I ran in to his arms. He wrapped his arms around me. His arms were my cradle; they cradled me for a while. “Jamie, what’s the matter?” He asked concerned.
    I couldn’t speak; I sank to my knees in to another round of tears. Rayland followed to his knees holding me, soothing me. “I’ve lost,” I could only pronounce. I was still clutching the chain. I couldn’t prevent my tears.
    “Lost what?” He asked puzzled. He was still holding me, I felt like I was a two year old again in his arms.
    “I’ve lost my very best friend,” I said, I moved my hands holding the locket in my hands. I opened it; it had a picture of me and Jenny in it. It also had a little saying “Friends through thick and thin. Friends always,” I whispered. I then clutched it back to my heart. “I’ve screwed up really badly. She and I were friends since birth, we were always together and I just killed our life time friendship,” I wailed in Rayland’s chest.
    He didn’t mind my tears staining his shirt he just stroked my hair. “Jamie please calm down, I’m sorry,” He whispered in my ear.
    I was mystified on what he said. I wiped my tears in my sleeve. “Why are you apologizing, I’m the one who should be apologizing, I should have stopped myself from seeing you again, this would have in no way would have happened,” I said. I put my head against his chest. I heard him breathing, slow, steady, and very calming. I lifted my head and kissed him on the jawbone. “Although I would have most likely missed this,” I said kissing his jaw again.
    I felt his chest rising and falling he was laughing! I looked up, he was smiling, and before I knew it he had me in a back breaking hug. When he let go he set me on his lap. “You know it wouldn’t have mattered. We still would have ended up together anyway.” He said putting a finger under my chin and lifted my head up so he could see my eyes then he kissed me.
    The kiss was sweet in a passionate way. It was a kiss where you don’t know who will break first. I didn’t want to break but I had to. “Rayland, you’re probably right but Jenny still knows and she’ll probably tell the elders on me. I don’t want to lose you; I’d do anything to be with you. I’d even tell the soul stealers about the guardians. I’d even fight the elders to be with you,” I said quietly.
    Rayland cupped my face in his hand. “Would you become a soul stealer? Would you also tell the counsel of souls and other soul stealers about the guardians?” he asked, his face had a pleading effect, but the face didn’t matter I already knew my answer.
    I leaned in so my body would shape to his. I took his hands from my face in to my hands. “Rayland,” I sighed, “Like I said I’d do anything to be with you,” I reminded him kissing the base of his neck, then tucking a piece of his golden bronze hair behind his ear. “I love you too much to live without you,” I said.
    He cupped my face in his hands. “Me too, I can’t live without you. You’re my life and soul now,” he said leaning his face in to where we weren’t far away from each other. He stood up and offered his hand to help me up. I grabbed his hand and he pulled me up off the ground. He placed his hand in mine and led me in to the house and up to his room.
    Well he was searching for something; I walked over to his bed and sat down. When he found what he wanted he came over and sat on the bed and pulled me into his lap. He grabbed my wrist and when he let go I saw a very beautiful charm bracelet with a heart with I love you etched on to it. “Rayland, it’s beautiful,” I said gleefully.
    Rayland turned me in his lap so I was facing him. “A soul stealer always gives a piece of jewelry to their mate. Sometimes it even is helpful if they’re going to transform them in to a soul stealer,” he said playing with the charm. “Are you afraid?”
    I wasn’t afraid. I was ready. “No I’m not. I’m ready to be with you for eternity,”
    “Jamie look into my eyes. You won’t be hurt. I promise,” he said truthfully. I stared in to his blue green eyes. I felt our lips touch like magnets attracting to each other. It felt different from any other kiss. It felt as if we’ve never kissed before. My head was spinning. I fell against his chest. I took notice of his breathing unlike mine, his was slow and calm.
    “Rayland, thank you,” I said breathlessly. I lay against his chest feeling myself grow stronger. I pulled myself up to see Rayland smiling at me. I felt his arms around me; he pulled me to my feet still holding me around the waist. “Rayland, that angel just told those elders. They look disturbed because I was one of their best fighters,”
    “Then when they come we’ll fight them. Are you ready to fight by my side?” He asked grabbing my hand.
    I’ve been ready to fight them for months. “Of course, I’m with you and those angels will lose because like I promised I’ll tell the counsel of souls everything,” I said with a wicked grin spreading on my face.
    I grabbed his hand and we raced off to the counsel of soul’s hall to tell them about those angels. Rayland had stopped in front of the hall. “Rayland?” I asked.
    “Yes my love?” he replied, looking down at me.
    “When I was an angel was I as dumbfounded as them?” I pondered.
    “Jamie, love you were the smartest one the counsel of souls had ever seen. You knowing how to fight me and come out with not even a scratch on you. You were and always will be the smartest of that kind,” Rayland said turning around and scooping me up in his arms and our lips touched. For the first time I felt an electrical charge flow through me, making my blood boil.
    To Be Continued.........