"May the Starlight gods bless you and grant you the powers within the Crystal of Foreshadowing. May it give you the ability to see all wrong before it turns into reality, and use thy power to protect and deliver justice to those who deserve the plague of punishment due to their crimes. I grant this role to you for as long as you shall live, until the day such power will be passed down to the next guardian. In stars, we trust."
I felt the energy flow through me as I finalized the spell. I sighed in relief, opening my eyes to meet Christian's purple ones.
"Wow. That's how it works, huh? How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Uh...I'm actually okay," I replied, realizing I didn't feel really tired. "Just a little winded, but I can just take a nap on the way back," I suggested.
We'd driven five hours along the desert freeway, heading towards an abandoned warehouse that held the third crystal. Ethan had found out Xerxes' lackeys had been snooping that area for a good week, but clearly had come back empty handed.
I didn't blame them for not finding the silver bracelet with its bright purple gem in the middle, securely hidden in a jewelry box that was tucked within a beautiful vintage wedding dress that had been neatly folded in a box in one of the smaller safes we found at the warehouse.
I hadn't experienced the whole time stopping time thing as I had with the other two jewels, which made me curious if I would later on. In the meantime, we decided to pack up and drive back so we'd get back to LA before sunset.
I'd placed the bracelet on Christian's left wrist, the words flowing into my mind as I activated the spell. He looked more energized than he had before the long drive. He and the others have been up all night, closing up another case that had happened the night Junho and I had been in the lagoon.
We still didn't have all the details of everyone involved, but we'd caught at least eight of the fifteen lackeys involved. They were being interrogated by Kendrick, with the help of Cece and Vinzent, so we hoped to get more information soon about where the last two crystals were.
"Hmm, okay. The drive is gonna take a bit, so why don't you close your eyes?" Christian suggested as he put his seatbelt on. I did the same and watched him start the car.
"I guess,” I replied, relaxing in the black leather seat of the black Range Rover Junho had let us borrow for the assignment.
Christian turned onto the road and we began our trip back. He reached out and held my hand in his, squeezing it gently. "Something on your mind?"
"Hmm. Just a bunch of thoughts. I’m just curious what will happen when we find all the crystals, and I kinda hope we get a break soon. I know the job is demanding and it's something we have to accept, but it just kinda takes a toll on me mentally at times," I confessed.
"I don't blame you. You're handling this a lot better than any of us expected. Hmm, I guess I can tell you, but try to act surprised when Jaxson and the others bring it up," Christian admitted.
I turned my head to give him a look. "Bring up what?"
"Junho and Jaxson convinced Kendrick that we seriously need a weekend off with no interruptions. Normally, Kendrick's an ass about it, but Michael and Ethan pointed out you were managing everything really well, but are still new to the team and our workload is triple the amount what we would have had prior to the bomb incident. He finally gave in, so we have this weekend off," Christian revealed.
"REALLY?!" I beamed, feeling like a little girl getting a gift on her birthday. I never thought I'd get so excited over a day off, but apparently today was the day.
Christian smiled, looking away from the road to meet my happy gaze. "You have to pretend you don't know, remember?"
"Yes. I will. I can act really well," I hummed. He chuckled, shaking his head as he returned his attention to the road. All around us was just sand and a few farms here and there, so the ride was going to be dull. It was nice to know, though, in two days we'd have Saturday and Sunday off.
"We're going to go to one of the resorts up north. Junho booked the entire property for us, so we can go and relax in the pool, or do whatever really,” he mentioned, and I caught the hint in his words.
"Whatever, hmm? You and me, alone doing couple stuff?" I suggested.
He side glanced me, those amethyst eyes growing dark with lust. "I think we're overdue for some much needed alone time, don’t you agree?"
"I do." I smirked, crossing my legs, hoping it would help the throbbing happening down under. I rested my head on Christian's shoulder as I fiddled with my phone. I wore just plain black jeans, a white tank, and a leather jacket while Christian had on a similar outfit with black jeans, a white t-shirt, and his leather jacket was in the back seat.
He normally wore his sunglasses when he drove, but I guess because we were having a conversation, he didn't want to put them on so we could occasionally have eye contact. I lifted my phone, angling it so both Christian and I were in the picture.
"Cheese!” I called. He looked at the camera right when the shutter went off and I grinned happily. We took two more photos before I let Christian return to driving as I reviewed the pictures.
"Wait a minute," I mumbled when I looked at the third picture. In the back seat on top of Christian's folded jacket, I saw a familiar cat.
"What?" Christian asked. I turned my head to see Moonlight sitting quietly on the seat, his turquoise eyes staring at me in interest.
"Meow," he greeted.
"Moonlight?! How...no I'm not even going to ask how. Why are you here?" I questioned, reaching out to pet his head. He purred at my touch as his tail moved back and forth. Christian groaned, and I looked to see him roll his eyes.
I sighed, shaking my head. "Don't tell me you took his doll, AGAIN."
Christian gave a cute pout. "It's his fault. He stayed at my place last night ‘cause he wouldn't go with Jaxson and the others. Then he broke my lamp!" he accused.
"Meow." Moonlight stretched, licking my hand before nudging with his head for me to continue petting him. I sighed, moving in my seat so I was able to reach far enough back to pick him up and bring him up to sit on my lap.
"What kind of lamp?" I asked, having a feeling it was probably vintage and something Risuki had deemed as ugly.
"My vintage one," Christian grumbled, looking over to glare at Moonlight who looked like he just didn't give a shit.
"Meow meow." Moonlight curled up in my lap before staring back at the leather jacket with an intense expression.
I sighed, following his gaze and looked back at Christian. "Is his doll in your jacket?"
He remained silent and I shook my head. "You two act like children. You should remember he's just a cat," I scolded before looking at Moonlight. "And you need to stop breaking vintage stuff just because you think it's ugly."
Moonlight stood up and jumped out of my lap and made his way to the back seat again. I rolled my eyes. Risuki, I mean it.
"I'll stop when he leaves my doll alone," Risuki huffed. "And he's the one who cuddles me when he sleeps, so he should stop complaining."
Huh? Cuddles you? Why? Sure, Christian did like to cuddle when we slept together, but he gave off the impression he didn't like Moonlight.
"History history," Risuki replied, which didn’t answer my question but I knew he wouldn’t answer until his doll was in eyesight.
I watched his little paw begin to dig at Christian's jacket, trying to pull on the silver zipper. I watched him struggle for a good minute before he began to whimper, his sad eyes looking at me, which tugged at my heartstrings.
"You’re lucky that you're adorable," I mumbled, reaching out to get the jacket.
"I agree. Starlight gods being familiars are quite the sight to see."
I froze, my eyes growing wide as I lifted my gaze to see a strange woman in the back seat. She was older, looking to be in her late seventies with gorgeous red hair that looked extra bright from the sun's rays that came in through the sunroof.
She wore a pure white dress and had on a bit of jewelry, but her purple eyes were her most stunning feature. Her pink lips moved up into a welcoming smile.
“You're one of the sisters. The guardian of the crystal," I stated as a fact.
"Indeed. You catch on rather quickly, Elemental. You've survived Monako's and Esmeralda's trials. I wonder if my new replacement can survive the next task with a pinch of your help? My name is Aqua,” she greeted.
"Wait, survive the next task? Why are you testing Christian and not me?" I questioned.
"Oh dear, I am testing both of you. Right now." She hummed.
I opened my mouth to speak, but something from the left caught my attention, and then a scream escaped me. In a flash, our car was flying before it crashed and rolled over and over again. It got to the point I didn't know when it would stop, and it took everything in me to not pass out or vomit from the sickening sensation of my stomach flipping and tossing.
When we finally stilled, we were upside down and I coughed, trying to ignore the pain coming from my hands and feet. I quickly turned my head to Christian and another scream escaped me; Christian's dull eyes were wide open and blood dripped from his nose and mouth, a large chunk of metal sticking out of his chest.
"Christian. No, baby, no! Christian! Wake up! Christian?!" I sobbed, reached out to stroke his cheek before lowering my fingers to his neck to try and find a pulse. No, please, no, no, no. RISUKI!
I quickly turned my head to look at the back seat and froze. Moonlight's little cat figure hung from the edge of the broken window, glass shards of different shapes and sizes sticking out of his little body, which was drenched in his blood that continued to drip down the door.
"Risuki..." I whispered, struggling to breathe as I lowered my gaze to the little Nightmare doll that was in the back seat. The white fur was drenched in blood and Christian's leather jacket was covered in rips and tears.
"What a pity..."
I lifted my shocked eyes to Aqua, who looked at Risuki. "I guess this is your chance to prove to me your power, Elemental. If you could reverse this, would you?" she asked, her purple eyes meeting mine.
"Of course! Tell me how! I beg you!" I cried, tears rolling down my cheeks as I stared at her upside down figure. I couldn't live without Christian or Risuki. Our team would fall apart. My heart would be torn into pieces, just like how it felt now, leaving me in a desolate situation I knew I wouldn't be able to heal from. Just in a flash, one of my lovers and my precious familiar were dead. I'd do anything in my power to change it.
"Even if it may cost you your life in exchange?" she questioned, raising an eyebrow at me.
"YES! Even if it means I have to die for them to live, I'll do it," I snapped, not caring about my life. Team Seven was created before I came along. Risuki was a god who only stayed here because of me. If I left the picture, it would hurt them, but they would at least be alive. They would eventually move on, but I knew that there would be no way I could live without Christian and Risuki. I'd rather die in their place.
Aqua smiled; kindness glistened her eyes. "Selfless. Not a hint of hesitation and you're willing to die for them, even though it will hurt the people you love."
"It will hurt them, yes, but my team is strong. They're the strongest group of men I've ever known, with pasts I may never get to find out about. But their troubles helped mold them into the individuals they are today, and they were a team before I arrived. I'm not a part of their puzzle," I whispered.
She sighed and snapped her finger. In the blink of an eye, I was back to the time when I was reaching out for the jacket. I quickly looked around me, the car still frozen in place, and turned to look at Aqua.
"You'll soon realize, Scarlet, you are more than just a piece of the puzzle. You are right in the center of it and I pray that you survive this challenge. Good luck,” she whispered, and just like that, she was gone and time began once more.
"Scar, what's wrong?" Christian asked.
"Meow?" Moonlight looked at me curiously. "Scarlet?" Risuki questioned in my mind.
I quickly sat up, looking to my left just in time to see the oncoming truck.
"WIND!" I screamed with all my might. The element came to my aid in a swift movement. A large magic circle appeared from my outstretched right hand and I aimed my left hand to Moonlight who looked stunned. "SHIELD!" I screamed, a gold magic circle forming in a second. I watched as Moonlight was wrapped in a protective gold bubble.
Christian looked to his left just as I did. "Shi-"
He didn't finish, attempting to swerve our car out of the way of the oncoming vehicle, but it was unavoidable.
The front of the large truck crashed into the wind barrier I created, sending our car into a series of rolls.
I screamed but maintained my concentration, keeping the image of the wind cocooning Christian while using the shield to hold Moonlight in a safety bubble that I knew was probably bouncing up and down in the back.
This left me wide open as the car continued to spiral in a rolling motion. I could feel the shards of glass cutting into my arms and legs, but I didn't care.
I'd do anything to prevent that image of my dead Christian and Risuki, and that's exactly what motivated me to keep holding on, to keeping putting in as much energy into their protective holds at the price of my safety. As long as they made it out of this, that's all that mattered.
Our car slammed into something hard, denting my side. Something sharp stabbed into my right side, but I held in my scream, knowing if I gave in to the pain, I’d lose my concentration. The car came to a forced stop.
With that last impact, my head hit something hard, knocking me out.