Free Birth of the Guardian by Jason Daniel Page B

gracefully from the edge of the cliff. In her heart, she was at peace. Her soul would be
free, and she honestly believed she would soon be reunited with her parents.
    “Stupid girl,” the man muttered as he turned
and walked away.
    The sound of wind rushed by Lillian as she
fell. For some reason, it was oddly calming to her; it was pure, peaceful and reminded her of an
afternoon storm. Then she felt it, a searing pain that burned like
fire throughout her entire body. It felt like
a fierce flame had consumed every inch of her. Hell…I’m in
hell , she thought. God, please , she prayed, forgive
me , Lillian begged, the sound of wind rushing past her limp,
falling body stopped.
    “Lillian, you are safe now. Put your feet
down.” She heard a voice drift through her
mind. Confused and dazed, she opened her eyes, and then screamed in
terror. She was twenty feet off the
ground.
    Oh, my
God , what is happening to me?
    “Not God.” The voice answered. “I am called
Ariel.”
    Calm came over Lillian
and she listened to the voice, putting her feet down as Ariel
lowered them to the ground. No! Dear Lord, not me , she
thought, seeing her reflection in the still water of the small
stream at the bottom of the gorge.
    “Be calm, my dear,” the voice said. “You are
safe now.”
    Lillian stared into the water, captivated by
the fierce eyes gleaming back. They were her eyes, but different in
every way possible; no longer were they a dull shade of brown, her
eyes had changed color; they were brilliant blue, the color of a
beautiful ocean. Then she noticed her chest. Her tattered shirt was
covered, covered by what looked like scales. Lillian looked closer;
she poked, prodded and picked at the diamond shaped pattern with
her fingers, but they wouldn’t give. Ariel’s scales were designed
by God himself. They served as protection,
like armor, and they formed an impenetrable breastplate when
Ariel joined with Lillian.
    “What are you?” Lillian stumbled back. “What
have you done to me?”
    “As I said before, I am called Ariel,” he
answered. “And I have done nothing. It is our Lord, our God, who
has joined our fates.”
    “God,” Lillian screamed as she spun around
and tried to pull Ariel from her back. “Get off me!” At once, Ariel
released his razor sharp talons from her ribcage and his arms
unwrapped from her chest. Lillian screamed out in agony as Ariel’s talons ripped through her flesh for the second time; Lillian’s legs buckled, her
body gave way and she fell to the ground , overwhelmed with pain. Resting on her hands and
knees, she looked up to catch Ariel landing on the boulder in front
of her. She was stunned. Stunned at how breathtaking and beautiful
Ariel appeared. Diamond shaped scales covered most of his small
body. They were the same colors of the eyes Lillian just saw
staring back at her from the stream. A spectacular array of
brilliant blue and emerald green scales that gave way to feathers
that swept down from his back, flowing to the tips of his wings
that folded neatly against his side.
    “Lillian.” She heard Ariel’s voice within her
mind. “Time is not our friend this day. Lucifer has consecrated
this land, both he and Armaros may have already felt my presence,”
Ariel lowered his head trying to appear less threatening.
    Your presence , she thought, rising to
her knees.
    “Yes, my presence.”
    “You can hear me?” Lillian asked aloud.
    “Yes.” Ariel’s words echoed in Lillian’s
mind. “I can hear you, and you can hear me.”
    “How is this possible?” She asked as she
leaned forward, her eyes wide with amazement.
    “I am truly sorry, but there is no more
time.” Ariel’s wings swept outward and with one downward thrust, he leaped twenty feet above Lillian. “He is
coming for us.”
    “Who is coming?” Lillian asked just as Ariel
dove towards her.
    Once again, Lillian screamed out in agony as
Ariel bonded to her back. His arms wrapped around her chest, his
talons sunk deep