I nod, and we move to sit on my sofa. He still doesn’t let go of my hand.
“I don’t know much about the Guardian,” my mum starts. “I could ask your father-“
“No!” we both cut her off and glance quickly at each other.
“No, Mum, please don’t mention this to Dad,” I ask, and after holding my stare for a few moments, she concedes with a nod, but I can tell she’s not happy about it.
I’m sorely tempted to use a memory loss spell so I can guarantee she won’t say anything, but I can’t risk using such a powerful spell. The magic emitted would create a beacon directly to me.
“All I know is there’s supposed to be one Guardian for every generation, and before the old Guardian dies, he trains his young replacement. Their existence has been whispered about in the night, but no one has ever known if it’s true. I guess if you’re the Guardian,” she states nodding at him, “it might explain why no one in our generation knows the truth. When we were young, the Guardian at the time would have been old and you’ve needed time to grow up.”
“What does the book say?” I question Jacobi.
“I don’t know. I haven’t read it,” he replies, and sighing, I get up and collect it from the sideboard near the front door where I left it when we came in.
I flick it open. “It’s not in English,” I complain, swiping through the pages and sinking back down onto the sofa.
Jacobi frowns, taking it from me. “I can read it,” he responds, still frowning.
“Custos,” my mum says, pulling the book from him. “It’s the language of the Guardians. I think maybe there was more than one of you, once upon a time,” she mumbles, looking through the book.
“Great, so only I can read it. So much for getting you to help me,” Jacobi complains, taking the book from my mum when she passes it to him. He drops his head back on the sofa and stares at the ceiling.
“I’m going to head out and leave you two to talk this through,” my mum says, getting to her feet.
“You don’t have to go, Mum,” I tell her, looking at Jacobi and expecting him to agree and maybe even offer to leave himself, but he seems too wrapped up in his misery as he continues to stare at the ceiling. I roll my eyes.
“I’m staying in the London flat for a few days, so we can catch up over the weekend,” she tells me in her ‘don’t argue with your mum’ voice.
I sigh, “Okay, we’ll catch up over the weekend.”
I see my mum out. She says goodbye to Jacobi as she leaves, and he waves at her limply, obviously still caught up in himself. I don’t know why I’m surprised.
On the way back to where Jacobi’s sitting, I get a glass and fill it from the tap in the kitchen. When I reach the sofa, I dip my fingertips in the water and flick them on his cheek.
“What the hell?” he blusters, getting up and wiping his face.
“What is with you?” I question, placing the water down and throwing my hands in the air. “Seriously, this is not the Jacobi who’s been a complete arse to me for weeks.” I’m not sure I want the other Jacobi back, but this melancholy one is scaring me. I feel like I’m in an alternate universe. “You’re like a damp cloth.”
He smiles, really smiles. It’s the first genuine smile I’ve seen from him, and it’s directed at me. I feel like I’ve won a prize.
“A damp cloth?” he teases me, and it feels like we’ve gone back in time. His smile drops, and he brings the book up between us. “I need to go home and read this book-“
He’s cut off as my phone pings with a text. We both look down to the coffee table at the same time when the screen lights up. I can’t see what the text says, but I can see it’s from Lucas. I frown, and when I look back to Jacobi, he’s frowning at the phone too.
“I still need your help.” His voice has changed, the other Jacobi is back. Suddenly I regret the teasing. “Stay away from Lucas,” he orders, striding out of my flat.
I stand blinking at the door for what feels like ages. I press my index fingers against my temples and rotate them slowly, hoping the headache he’s just given me will go soon.
“What do you want from me?” I shout to the empty room.
I don’t leave the house for two days. I barely leave the desk in my study except for necessary toilet breaks and to grab snacks and coffee. Lots and lots of coffee, espresso strength. I’ve read the book from front cover to back page twice, and on the third read through, I started to translate it and type it up on my laptop. I’m almost at the end now and am determined to finish, despite the fact I need the toilet again and am dizzy from exhaustion and too much coffee.
The last hour, I’ve been unable to see straight. My eyes are so tired the words are all merging into one. I’m going to have to admit defeat for now, get a couple of hours sleep, and then finish the rest of the translation with a fresher outlook. My reading’s been insightful. I’ve learnt a little more about what a Guardian is and the ancient language they speak.
Juniper’s mum was right. There are only two alive at any one time for the most part, one old, one young. When the younger Guardian comes of age, the older one passes on to his next calling in the magical world. The older Guardian teaches and advises the younger one, preparing him for what’s to come, but I don’t remember anything like that happening to me, and I’m not sure why. Something has gone wrong with the handover of power in my timeline; I don’t know what, but I’m determined to find out so I can start to control what I’m compelled to do and Juniper’s part in it. I’ve been a bastard to her, but mostly it’s been out of fear because I didn’t understand what was happening to me. I hope one day she’ll forgive me, but I’ll understand if she won’t. She’s still a part of this, though, and she’s going to have to help me put a stop to it whether she wants to or not.
Placing a marker in the page I’m on and making sure the document on my computer is saved, I get up from the seat I’ve been in for the last six hours and stretch out my weary muscles. I’m used to being active, so it’s been a shock to my system not moving around so much. With a twist of my hand, I turn the lights off in my study and make my way with a bit of a hobble to the bathroom.
I should eat something before heading to bed, but I’m too tired. I’ll probably regret the decision when I wake up and my stomach is screaming at me with hunger, but for now, I do my toilet business, clean my teeth, and staring at the mirror, I look on in shock at the facial hair which has grown in the last two days. It makes me look older than my eighteen years. I might leave it for a while. I’m sure it’ll be a hit with the ladies even though it probably defies numerous school rules.
Looking closer at my reflection, I notice the dark circles that have developed under my eyes. They scare me because I’m allowing myself to become obsessed with what is happening to me. This year was supposed to be special. I was meant to rule as the king of Caspian Academy, but instead, it just feels as though everything is falling apart, and all because Juniper Ambrose walked back into my life.
It’s like a curse has been placed on me because I once dared to develop feelings for her. I remember our first kiss so well. We were only fifteen, and it wasn’t a full on passionate affair, it was tender. We’d been to the cinema together to see a Harry Potter film, and we laughed at how humans would feel if they knew magic really did exist. I walked her home, and we held hands the entire time. It was probably the most beautiful evening of my life.