Wilder: The Guardian Series (23 page)

“I could tell who he was by the way you looked at him. And
from how he couldn’t keep his gorgeous blue eyes off of you, I imagine he feels
the same way.”

Celeste blushed, hiding her face in the closet. “I wish it
were that easy Mom. Things are pretty complicated between Roman and me.”

“Because of our family ‘legacy’ you mean?”

“Yes, that and he’s a vampire,” she murmured, burying her
face in the closet.

“No Celeste! Please don’t tell me that you are in love with a
vampire? They are evil cruel creatures that our family has fought against for
centuries. And are you forgetting that it was a vampire that took your father
away from us?”

Celeste spun around in a rage. “I know that Mom, don’t you
think I know all of that? But he and Nico are different; they are not like the
others. They still have their humanity, and they are good.”

“So they don’t drink human blood?”

“Well yes they do, but not directly from people! And they’ve
saved my life more than once already.”

“Your life has been in danger?” Celeste’s mom asked
incredulously.

“I don’t want to talk about this anymore.” There was no way
she was going to tell her mother about Patrick, Magnus and especially not about
Fabian.

“Just because you’re the Guardian now, it doesn’t mean that
you’re not still my daughter. I’m still in charge around here,” Mrs. Wilder
said, her voice rising.

“I know, Mom.”

“I don’t like this one bit,” she continued.

“Well there’s not much that you can do about it.”

“Look, I know this is a big day for you, so I’m going to let
it go for now, but this discussion is not over.”

“Right,” said Celeste obstinately.

Her mother took a breath and walked over to her. “Are you all
right?”

“
It’s
just graduation. I’m sure I’ll
survive,” whined Celeste.

“You know that’s not what I’m talking about.”

“Yes, Mom I do, but there is nothing I can do about it. I was
chosen, I am the Guardian and now I have to live up to those responsibilities.
I was going to tell you after the ceremony today, but I guess there’s no time
like the present.”

“Tell me what?”

“Stellan has offered to let me stay with him for the summer
so that he can train me, and I will be safe with him in the meantime. I think
it’s the best idea for everyone.”

“I don’t think I like the idea of you spending the summer with
a complete stranger.”

“He’s not a complete stranger. He was dad’s trusted friend.
And if dad believed in him enough to train me, then you should too.”

“Are you sure about this? Is that really how you want to
spend your last summer before college?”

“Well, it’s not backpacking across Europe, but I don’t think
that’s in my future anytime soon,” she countered sarcastically.

“Oh Celeste…”

“Yes Mom, it’s what I want, and it will be for the best.”

Hundreds of white folding chairs had been arranged neatly in
rows on the green turf of the St. Alice High School football field, all facing
a stage with a table covered by stacks of diplomas. The graduating seniors,
donning navy blue caps and gowns, were beginning to file in as the A/V guy
completed a last-minute sound check. Celeste had left her mother with the
Kennedys, and she and Brian went to look for their assigned seats.

“Hey! There you guys are!” shouted Natalie.
 

“Yup, we made it,” said Celeste. “I can hardly believe it.”

“This is so exciting! In less than an hour, we will be
official graduates, and then we will have the entire summer to enjoy together!”

Celeste thought wistfully about a lazy summer where she could
lie out in the backyard reading her books and spend evenings hanging out with
Natalie and Brian at Ralph’s, maybe even go on a real date with Roman. She
knew, though, that wasn’t what the future held in store for her.

“Hello beautiful ladies, and Brian of course,” said Nico as
he sauntered over with two colorful bouquets of flowers.

“They’re gorgeous!” said Natalie, giving Nico a kiss on the
cheek.

“Yes, they really are. Thank you Nico,” said Celeste with a
warm embrace.

“Not as gorgeous as you two stunning graduates.”
 

Both girls beamed and Brian rolled his eyes. “Laying it on
pretty thick, huh Nico?”

 
“Why Brian I have
no idea what you are talking about,” said Nico smirking.

Looking around, Celeste asked, “Where’s Roman?”

“I don’t think he’s coming Celeste, I’m sorry. But he wanted
me to congratulate you on his behalf.”

“Thanks,” she said weakly, her heart plummeting. She thought
everything had been all right between her and Roman when he had left last
night. “I’m going to go find my seat.”

“Celeste don’t forget the graduation after party at Dani
Lynn’s!” Natalie yelled after her.

Celeste sat still, lulled into drowsiness by the warm summer
day, watching her classmates pass one by one to receive their diplomas.
Suddenly, a throbbing pain pierced through her head. She clenched her teeth and
buried her head in her lap to keep from screaming. A flash of pictures raced
through her mind, and she struggled to keep conscious. She saw an image of a
large group of people at what looked like a party, then she saw Magnus with
blood dripping from his fangs, and then Dani Lynn pale with eyes as red as
burning coals. A surge of panic gripped Celeste as the images continued to
flash through her mind on repeat. Then without warning, just as quickly as they
had started, the images stopped. She looked around nervously, hoping that no
one had seen her. Apparently there were some benefits to being the last one in
the last row, she thought ruefully.

What in the world was
that?

The rest of the ceremony flew by for Celeste, and before she
knew it the majority of her class had received their diploma, making it her
turn to walk up on stage. As she marched up to the front, she plastered a fake
smile across her face and attempted to enjoy the moment. As she walked, she
heard loud whistling coming from the audience and turned back to see Nico
jumping up and down, clapping and making a general fool of himself. A real
smile pulled at the corner of her lips, and as she spun back around, she caught
a glimpse of Roman watching from behind the bleachers.

“What a beautiful ceremony,” said Celeste’s mom. “I can’t
believe my little girl is all grown up.”

“Oh Mom, don’t you start crying on me,” Celeste said.

“I can’t make any promises,” she said with a smile. “What are
you kids planning on doing for the rest of the day?”

“Jessica’s sister, Dani Lynn is having a graduation party at
her place,” said Brian, “and we’re all invited.”

“Sounds like some good normal high school fun,” said Mrs.
Wilder, shooting Celeste a reproachful look.

“Yes Mom, I’m sure it will be, so no need to worry about me
or wait up. I’ll be home later.”

Her mom gave Brian a hug goodbye and said, “Watch over my
girl, okay?”

“I always do.”

Dani Lynn cheerfully greeted Brian and Celeste as they walked
into the
party which
was already well under way. They
found Natalie and Jessica, talking and laughing flirtatiously, surrounded by a
group of freshman boys from Oak Bluffs Community College.
 

“Come on Celeste, it looks like you could use a drink,” said
Brian.

“You read my mind - lead the way.”

At the keg, they found Nico chatting up one of Natalie’s
friends from the cheerleading squad. When he saw Celeste approach, he ran up to
her with a big smile, abandoning altogether the conversation with one clearly
disappointed girl.

“Can I steal you away for a second, Celeste?” Nico asked.

“Sure,” she said. “Brian, I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Nico led Celeste out to the courtyard of the apartment away
from the noise where they could actually hear themselves speak.

“What’s up?” she asked.

“I just wanted to make sure you were okay,” he said.

“I’m fine, why wouldn’t I be? I just graduated high school;
I’m at a party with all my friends. I should be ecstatic, right?”

“Look, I know you’ve been through a lot lately, and Roman
told me what Stellan said about keeping away from us, but I don’t think he’s
right. I wanted you to know that you can’t get rid of me that easily! Unless
you want to of course… I don’t want to get on a Guardian’s bad side,” he said
with a grin.

She giggled. “You always know what to say to make me smile.”

“It’s a natural talent,” he said, pinching her cheek
teasingly.

“Of course I don’t want to stay away from you
or
Roman. This whole Guardian thing is
just so new to me, and I don’t know what’s right and what’s wrong anymore.”

“You’ll figure it out. I have no doubts about you. But do me
a favor, don’t give up on Roman, okay?”

“Me? He’s the one who is giving up on us. Every time I think
we are making progress, he pulls back. He thinks he should stay away from me.”

“That may be what he says, but I know that’s not how he
feels. Trust me, I’ve known my brother for a long time, and I’ve never seen him
like this before. What you two have is worth fighting for.”

“I just feel like that is all my life is ever going to be
– fighting for Roman, fighting with my mom about being a Guardian,
fighting for the good of all mankind against the forces of evil. It’s all so
overwhelming.”

“It won’t always be. When I was first turned, I felt the same
way. I was constantly fighting my bloodlust, my darkest urges, but our mother
helped us through all the bad, so that with time we learned to control it. You
will too. Stellan might be wrong about not wanting you around us, but he has
your best interests at heart, and he will make an excellent Guardian out of you
yet.”

“I hope so,” she said, not entirely convinced.

“Come on, let’s get back to the party. It looks like you
could use a refill on that beer.” He put his arm around her and gave her a
reassuring squeeze and led her back up to join their friends.

“Have you guys seen Dani Lynn?” asked Jessica, popping up
next to Brian and Celeste.

“No, not since we first got here,” said Brian.

“That’s so weird, I can’t find her anywhere,” she said and
hurried away to continue the search.

Brian turned to Celeste, “So, how are you doing Cel?”

“I’m good. Why?”

“I don’t know, I mean we kissed again the other day, and now
you’re acting like nothing ever happened.”

Celeste felt her cheeks redden, and she paused to take a sip
from her cup hoping it would help. “I’m sorry Brian, I’ve just had so many
things on my mind lately.”

“Things that you can’t tell me, right?”

“I wish I could, I really do.” Brian turned away, but Celeste
held onto his arm insistently. “Wait –”

 
“I don’t know if
I can do this, Cel. You’ve always told me everything, and now you’re keeping
secrets from me and acting all distant. Is this just because I kissed you?”

“You guys kissed?” asked Natalie, barging in on the
conversation.

“
Shhhh
!” said Celeste nervously.

“Oh nice, Cel. Wow, now I get it. Are you embarrassed about
this? That kiss obviously meant way more to me than it did to you,” said Brian,
walking away angrily.

“Brian, don’t go!” she shouted after him, but he didn’t even
turn around.

“Whoa, what was that about?” asked Natalie.

“Ugh! I don’t know, Natalie. I guess you were right about how
Brian felt about me, and now I don’t know what to do.”

“Well how do
you
feel about him? Was he a good kisser?” she asked, eyes filled with mischief.

“That’s the problem, I just don’t know how I feel. Obviously
I care about Brian a lot. He’s my best friend. I could even say I love him, but
I don’t think I’m
in
love with him.
And I refuse to answer the kissing part.”

“Well then you need to tell him that Celeste. He’s never
going to move on if he thinks he still has a chance with you.”

“I know
,
I just don’t want to lose
him. I need him in my life.”

“I don’t think you’d ever lose him, but you should probably
set him free,” she said.

“That was a pretty wise thing to say, Natalie.”

“Thanks! Every once in a while I come up with a good one.”

Celeste reached out for her arm, “And Natalie, I’m sorry, I
know you kind of liked Brian.”

“Nah, no worries, do you see how many cute guys are at this
party? There’s no point in being tied to just one!”

Celeste knew there was a reason she loved Natalie.

Celeste started weaving through the crowd of inebriated
students looking for Brian. She knew that Natalie was right, and as much as she
wished she felt the same way about Brian as he did for her, in her heart she
knew that she didn’t. She had searched the entire apartment and Brian was
nowhere to be found. She headed outside, taking the emergency stairwell to
avoid the rowdy crowd waiting for the elevator. As she rounded the corner of
the second floor, she heard a muffled cry coming from the trash room. Celeste’s
senses turned on overdrive, and the intense ominous feeling took hold of her
like a tidal wave, swallowing her whole. A sharp, metallic odor permeated the
air and made her gag. She walked into the trash room, treading lightly trying
not to make a sound. In the corner she saw a dark figure huddled over a girl’s
motionless body. A small gasp escaped from her mouth, and the figure spun
around looking straight at her.