Protector of the Enchanted

Hangovers are horrible, for both the person experiencing them and those around them. At this moment, there is no doubt on my mind that I need to keep Gem away from alcohol. She just awoke not so long ago, being nothing but moody and irritable. When asked why she would drink that much alcohol, she diverted the topic with her pain.

 

In, what I call ‘hangover hell’, Gem keeps moaning about how bad her migraine is and then dramatically falls back into bed. Since she doesn’t have any available medicine, or painkillers, on her, I have to resort to remembering what little I can about natural remedies from a short course I took. It’s not much, but I do remember turmeric being able to help.

 

Finding it is a little more difficult to find herbs in nature, I pull out my phone to check the picture I took when I was doing the course. I’ve had it turned off since the internet doesn’t exist and I don’t want to run out of charging. Actually, the only use it really has is as a camera. Luckily, that’s all I need it for.

 

Checking the picture, it’s a little easier to find it, but not by much. After searching for what seems like hours but was probably only ten minutes, I find it. There’s some growing near the gate, surrounded by mint and a small plant of ginger. I mentally thank whoever decided to plant it here, before going back inside.

 

Using the herbs, I decide that the best way to get her to consume them is to use them in a tea. It takes a little while to find the kitchen but, when I do, it has all the necessary equipment. It’s a good thing this place is fully stocked, otherwise I’d have to go into town to buy the ingredients. It would have taken way too long.

 

“I don’t want to drink this.” She scrunches up her face at the smell like a child.

 

Sighing, I patiently hold it out to her. “Well, you have to.”

 

“Why?” I can feel my nose twitch, it’s hard to believe she’s older than me.

 

“Whining isn’t going to get you anywhere, this the best way to get rid of your headache.” And get her to stop being bitchy.

 

“It’s bitter.” Now she’s just grasping at straws.

 

“No, it’s not.” I smile wryly. “I added sugar.”

 

She sits there staring at the cup in silence before sighing loudly, only moving to drink at my pointed look. “Huh.” She whispers after a sip, “it really isn’t bitter.”

 

The smile becomes more genuine. “I told you! Now keep drinking.”

 

“Yes, my liege.” She says it so sarcastically that it makes me laugh.

 

Growing up like I did, learning how to look after yourself is a given. You wouldn’t survive long if you didn’t. One of the first things I learned was how to make taking medicine more tolerable. I remember a time when I’d had a killer migraine, no one was home, I’d had to take care of myself. At the time, I was in a foster home where they’d barely had enough money to support themselves, much less take care of a child.

 

Makes me wonder why they were even allowed to adopt a child, but then again, the facility owner did seem very shady. Luckily, I was transferred to a new home shortly after. As horrible as the experience was, I’ve had a lot worse. I’m not sure if I can even repeat those stories aloud. Maybe if I forced myself too.  

 

Not long after drinking the tea, Gem seems to be feeling a lot better, as she isn’t complaining anymore. “Don’t ever leave me.” She says, wrapping a hand around my wrist.

 

It’s unusual, when she does that, I don’t feel like throwing it off. Although, I do feel like teasing her. “Why not? Can’t you take care of a headache yourself?” For a twenty-one-year-old, she sure doesn’t know how to take care of herself.

 

“I can too! I just can’t make anything that actually tastes nice.”

 

A laugh escapes before I can stifle it, “What about the food you made at home?” I tease. Honestly, having lived with her, I know her culinary skills are limited to a few specific things. It’s why I’ve been doing a lot of the cooking.

 

My only answer is a mock glare, her twitching lips giving her away.

 

“Oh alright!” I sigh, dramatically falling onto the bed beside her. “I suppose I’ll just have to stay.” It earns me a small laugh.

 

We stay like that all morning, just lazing in bed. When afternoon rolls around, it seems Gem is feeling a lot better. “Do you want to go outside now? It’s not good to stay inside for long.”

 

I yawn, feeling the lazy haze we’d surrounded ourselves with slowly fading, “What did you have in mind?”

 

An impish smile crosses her face, “Shopping.”

 

Rolling my eyes, I sit upright. I don’t mind shopping, but I have a feeling this trip is going to be hectic than the last. Especially if that smile is any indication. Still, I let her drag me out of bed and out the door. I also let her shove my bag into my arms on the way out, I suspect I’m going to need it.

 

On the way, my thoughts keep wandering to a particular person. Namely, the man in the corner. Who is he? Why didn’t Gem see him? Why could I see him? So many questions, yet so little answers. I just hope I’ll get those answer at some point.

 

Her definition of ‘shopping’, it seems, is to drag me towards several vendors, buy the groceries and then move on. She wasn’t this bad the last time we came. Why is she suddenly in such a rush? Peculiarly, there are modern looking buildings right next to ancient ones in this street.

 

It’s as if the shopping district can’t decide what atmosphere it wants to project. The last one we went to was more ancient in its orientation. Another difference is where in the other Gem made sure to look at every stall, now she rushes past some without a glance.

 

More importantly. “Why are you getting so many groceries? There’s plenty back at the cabin.”

 

“Yes, but we’re not going to be staying there tonight.” I thought as much. She does have a habit of not being able to sit still. I doubt it’s due to anything good.

 

So, I decide it’s best to just let her take me wherever she wants. She tells me to stay outside when we get to the part with less people. I know enough to see it for it is. An escape strategy. So, I comply.

 

A loud scream, however, has me snapping my head back to look inside. Taking my eyes off of her for even a second was a mistake. It doesn’t take long to find the source of her scream, especially if the hand wrapped around her neck is anything to go by. Using all the combat skills I have; I manage to avoid an attack from behind.

 

The table sitting near the entrance is as good a weapon as any. It takes all my strength to throw it towards it hard enough for it to let go. I say it because what’s got a hold of her can’t be anything else. It looks like shadow come to life with slimy tentacles instead of hands.

 

Gasping for breath, Gem runs towards me, dragging me with her as she runs for the door. Unfortunately, the door is slammed closed before we can reach it. I watch with bated breath as it moves closer, a shiver running up my spine as it stops not a foot in front of me. I reach for the nearest weapon to me, a broken table leg, holding it in front of me like a shield.

 

Eyeing the table leg, it seems to cock its slithery head, as if questioning my judgement. Then it lunges forward, going for my neck with one of its tentacles. Another wraps around Gem’s hands to prevent her escape. My eyes shut. I wish I had a better weapon. Still clutching the table leg with shaking hands, I wait for the cold feel of its tentacle around my neck.

 

It never comes. My eyes fly open as I hear a ghostly screech and Gem’s shocked gasp. There on the side wall, is an arrow going through its abdomen, pinning it in place. It writhes in place for a couple moments before falling silent. Looking for the source, I find nothing but an empty space where our rescuer should be. The faint smell of trees on a spring day lingering in the air.

 

“Don’t get in his way!” Screeches another of those things before they all disappear right in front of my eyes.

 

“What was that?” I exclaim as soon as we’re out of there.

 

“That,” Starts Gem, “Is one of the henchmen of the Dark King.”

 

“Who?” I ask. Nowhere in the story she told me was his name mentioned. Even hearing it now seems ridiculous.

 

“Xavier.” She begins. “He’s the one who enacted this curse.” Ah. That explains the vacant look in her eyes.

 

I take a moment to steady my emotions before replying. “So, he must be who they said not to get in the way off.”

 

“Yes.” I feel like there’s something she’s not telling me.

 

“Any idea why they think we would do that?”

 

“It’s because you’re The Protector.” She whispers.

 

“The Protector of what?”

 

She gulps. “The Protector of this realm.” She doesn’t seem to want to say anymore. I think this encounter has shaken her. More than it has me.

 

Maybe I should change the topic. “Those things were super creepy.”

 

“Yeah…” She murmurs, rubbing her wrists, and then laughs, “You threw a table at it.”

 

Ok, so maybe that was ridiculous, “Did you have any better ideas?” I huff. “It’s not like I had any weapons on hand.” I wish I did though.

 

Shaking her head, she smiles, holding her hand out towards me. “Let’s go.”

 

Giving her a smile in return, I take it, letting her lead me to wherever it is she’s taking me. Truth be told, my hands are shaking a little as well. But for different reasons.  The scene from earlier was a little too familiar for comfort.

 

Cold. It was very cold in the basement. A little girl, not much older than ten, sits huddled in the corner. The pitch blackness of the room doesn’t bother her as much as the cold. Her clothes, already left in tatters give no comfort, no escape, from the frostbite slowly forming.

 

She doesn’t understand why this is happening. She hadn’t stolen their stupid bracelet. ‘I don’t even know what it looks like.’ She thinks, desperately rubbing her hands together for warmth. They hadn’t listened to her. Hadn’t minded her protests.  Just tossed her into this hellhole with no mercy.

 

Still, she would never give them the satisfaction of seeing her cry out. Wouldn’t let them see her be so weak. A small, self-mocking, smile adorned her face. For a moment, she found herself thinking that it’d have been better if she’d been crushed by that wall. Instead, she’d gotten off with a broken hand and bruises all up her body.

 

Just as all thought was about to be numbed, the basement door opened, bringing light and desperately needed warmth with it. Heavy footsteps trudged down the stairs until the hulking mass of a man stood not a foot in front of her. There was no kindness on his ugly face, just a sense of receding satisfaction as he took in her smile.

 

“Give back the bracelet!” He hollered, obviously trying to get a reaction out of her. Steeling herself, she doesn’t flinch, continuing to smile.

 

“Give back the bracelet now, or I’ll throw you out on the street!”

 

‘Maybe it would be better if you did just that. It’d better than living with you.’ She thinks, not realising she’d whispered it out loud until his face contorts into a furious scowl.

 

He didn’t give her a chance to say another word as he wrapped his hands around her neck. He squeezed them tight, cutting off her breath at an alarming rate. In her weak state, she knew that it wouldn’t be long until she stopped breathing completely. She desperately tried to get his hands off her, clawing at them with all her remaining strength.

 

The loud exclamations and the sirens outside were what saved her. Just as she was at her limit, a police officer tackled the man to the ground, another carrying her outside. A thick warm blanket is wrapped around her fragile body, a medic examining the bruises around her neck and the fading ones on her body.

 

All words are hazy in her mind, only the returning warmth in her body eliciting any reaction as she huddled in closer. She keeps her expression blank, fighting back the tears that try to escape. ‘I will not let them see me break.’ She thinks, a shuddering breath muffled by the blanket. ‘I will not break.’ Although the experience had most likely scarred her, hope still remained because someone had saved her.

 

Unsurprisingly, the house we come to is also in the middle of nowhere. However, this time I understand it a lot more. After facing those things, I’d want to avoid people as much as possible too. Apparently, they had the ability to possess people as well.

 

Lovely. I did not need that image in my mind. The fact it’s sentient is unsettling enough. I don’t need more fuel being added to my nightmares.

 

Deciding this train of thought is pointless, I walk into the kitchen to help Gem put away our groceries. If we’re keeping busy, there’s less time to think. Lifting the bag of potatoes unto the shelf, I feel an ache in my arms. Oh. That’s right, I threw a table.

 

Although I’ve built up muscle from a range of self-defence and combat courses, it still isn’t enough to be able to throw a heavy wood table without consequence. I’m definitely going to feel that in the morning. Still, I glance at Gem, I can’t say it wasn’t worth it.

 

Living in crappy environments did have one benefit. I’d come to realise that when it came down to it, everything was a weapon. When against a wall you use whatever you can get a hold on. I do want a real weapon though. The longing for one has grown infinitely stronger.

 

Leaving Gem to put away everything else, I go to lay down on the couch. My eyes growing heavier as more time passes. This has been another long day. However, before my head can hit the cushion, a loud sound interrupts.

 

“Knock! Knock! Knock!” It has me wide awake. Walking after Gem as she opens the door, I catch sight of two willowy beings standing on the doorstep. It has my muscles relaxing a little, but I’m still on guard. Something’s off.

 

The words they speak as they step inside confirms my suspicions. “We’ve got a problem.”