The Guardian's Protector: The Chamber of Souls (40 page)

‘Ready.’

‘Your brother, sister-in-law and niece are now there. Your parents have told them everything. We’ll let you say goodbye and then…I’ll take their memories.’

Amy now felt even more nervous about the goodbye. With one deep breath for strength, Amy took Tom and Adaizi’s hands and they Light-Voided into the hallway of the cottage. Amy led the way into the living room.

On the sofa, Alicia held Frank’s hand, for he had been crying, and Francesca sat on her granddad’s knee in the chair, looking extremely happy. Looking at her beautiful niece, Amy’s heart gave another harsh pang. Joan had been in the kitchen and was walking back into the front room. Seeing Adaizi behind her daughter, she let out a yelp.

‘You’ve changed your mind?’ she said, panic-stricken. ‘You’re taking him back to the hospital, aren’t you?’

‘No, no,’ Adaizi said reassuringly.

Joan relaxed a little but still held contempt for her.

Thomas smiled politely at Adaizi as she entered the living room, but Alicia and Francesca looked frightened.

Frank sat up to meet the mysterious woman walking through with Amy. ‘So you’re a…Guardian…like Tom, are you?’ he asked.

‘I am,’ Adaizi confirmed. Amy suddenly felt panicked; she knew by the look on his face Tom had stored the word in his brain until later.

‘Please, have a seat, Adaizi,’ Thomas offered, who looked like he had never had a day’s illness in his life. He was being overly nice to the woman he thought was to blame for this goodbye.

‘Thank you so much,’ Adaizi said. As she approached the sofa to sit down, Alicia jumped up from where she sat as if she was about to be attacked, her shade dark grey.

Frank was more concerned with Tom. He kept his captivated eyes on his nephew the whole time. Tom caught his eye and smiled at his uncle, but Amy could see, with Frank’s shade deepening and brightening, there was no way Tom could make out how his uncle felt.

Thomas stood and coughed, a sign that he wanted silence. ‘I would first like to thank Amy for saving me,’ he began, trying to stop himself from choking up. ‘I always knew you were special, kiddo!’ he added, now only looking at her. Then he faced Adaizi. ‘But I would like to add that I would rather be dead than lose her so,
Adaizi
, I’m not accepting this!’

‘It’s none negotiable, Dad,’ Amy said with a truly sorrowful expression. She didn’t know how to break the news to them that they were about to lose their memories too. She didn’t want them to lose their memories of her and Tom, if anything, for the simple fact that for once, Tom was looked upon as special.

‘I’ll never get over it!’ he continued, more sternly.

‘You don’t have to,’ Adaizi said, her heartfelt words almost gave them hope, but her regretful and compassionate expression didn’t. Before they could ask anything, Amy interjected.

‘Adaizi’s going to take…to take…to take…’ Amy’s voice trailed off as she looked back to Adaizi to take over. Tom squeezed in between Adaizi and his uncle Frank. Alicia stood next to Joan, looking scared.

‘I need to take your memories about Tom being a Guardian, and about what Amy did,’ Adaizi said. The whole family shot worried and annoyed glances at each other.

‘Suits me!’ Alicia said snottily, a slight smirk appearing across her face. After being told how wonderfully gifted Amy was, and how Tom was a divine soul, Amy understood why she suddenly looked pleased.

‘I don’t think you understand,’ Adaizi continued. ‘We need to take your memories of them
altogether
!’ Adaizi’s glistening, magical eyes, although still remaining kind, dared Alicia to say another word.

‘But
why
?’ Frank asked, ignoring his wife.

‘I know it’s hard,’ Adaizi said sympathetically, ‘but it’s for your protection. Not only would the Dogod kill you given half the chance but…’

‘I don’t care!’ Thomas shouted, his shade turning darker than Amy had seen it, although his anger wasn’t lost on anyone.

‘You don’t care that he will kill your granddaughter?’ Adaizi asked, motioning to Francesca.

‘He’s going to kill my grand
son
, isn’t he?’ he said as if that somehow made it fair.

‘Yeah!’ Adaizi replied, matter-of-factly. Amy looked from her dad to Tom, but Tom looked more interested in what was being said than the facts themselves. Frank looked more concerned for his daughter. Alicia just looked confused. Joan was in turmoil; she could see there was no getting out of it.

‘Well then, we’ll all be in danger together,’ Thomas said. ‘I want to help protect them!’ Amy couldn’t believe how brave he was being. His love for her standing out above anything meant the world to her, but she couldn’t believe his naivety. He truly thought he could win. It reminded her of her own naivety.

‘We don’t want to put you in that danger!’ Adaizi said, her voice still kind. ‘You’re saying this out of obligation but, although this is noble, you don’t need to. Amy thought she would one day say goodbye to you when she entered the Chamber for this mission. She chose parents she believed were strong enough to handle the loss.’ Adaizi looked at Amy proudly. The rest looked at her in confusion.

Amy had a sudden flash of being inside her Omni-Pod trying to choose parents suitable from all who were in the first stage of pregnancy at the time. She vaguely recalled picking Joan because she remembered her saying that her pregnancy wasn’t planned and that she was happy with just the one child. She had said it without hatred or upset, but Amy knew from the way she had said it that Joan would be okay without her when the time came. She then realised she’d made the decision to leave before she even been born. She was then suddenly confused to whether Nevaeh had influenced her into protecting them instead of her coming to the decision herself.

‘I’m not strong enough to lose her!’ Thomas said.

‘The fact is,’ Adaizi continued, ‘you don’t need to be strong enough to handle the loss…just strong enough for each other after. Strong enough as a unit without Amy.’

‘I don’t want to be without her,’ Thomas shouted. ‘She’s my daughter!’

‘She’s the Protector, Thomas!’

‘She’s still our daughter!’ Joan cried.

Adaizi, as well as everyone else, turned to Joan. ‘Sure,’ Adaizi allowed, noting Joan’s obvious pain.

‘And my sister!’ Frank added, trying to keep his temper under control. Alicia remained silent. Her shade was flickering lighter now, although Amy couldn’t distinguish why from her cold expression.

‘I know,’ Adaizi said, again sympathetic. ‘When you pass your Test you’ll see her again. You’ll remember you were a part of this mission and you will feel proud that Amy chose you and it will add to your points.’

‘I don’t care about points in this damn
Test
you’re talking about. I care for Amy!’ Thomas screamed, then looked at Tom. ‘And Tom. My word, how I care so much for Tom!’ he said, his eyes filling with tears.

‘The fact is, Thomas, whether you care for it or not, you
are
having the Test right now and this information has affected it! Even though this experience has awakened you to the fact there
is
something higher than yourself, not only does all the information you’ve been given go against everything you believe, you didn’t find it out yourself. It was forced upon you. It has left you feeling like your beliefs have been stripped away.’

Thomas hung his head and began to cry. ‘You mean I have to lose my daughter and grandson and stay as ignorant and…and as closed minded as I…I…’ He clenched his fists in anger at himself then lifted his head and looked at Tom. ‘I’m so sorry, Tom! I’m sorry I never believed you even though I wanted to. You’re my
laddo
and always will be!’

‘It’s okay, Granddad,’ Tom said.

Thomas turned back to Adaizi. ‘Please don’t take them from me. I won’t treat him like I did before. Like he’s crazy. I’ll love them and appreciate them both. Please. I’m so sorry.’

‘Oh, Dad,’ Amy cried in floods of tears. Tom was now tearful too and, surprisingly, Francesca; she had never seen her granddad cry. The last she heard was that her granddad was going to die. She ran to Alicia, who held her close to the side of her leg.

Thomas turned back from Adaizi and looked back to Tom.

‘Come here, my laddo,’ he invited, his arms open. Tom let his granddad pull him onto his knee. ‘I want to say thank you, Tom,’ he said with tears rolling down his cheeks. ‘A
big
thank you for trying to save me even though you didn’t have your true powers yet, and I hope you know that I mean it and…I love you.’ Amy knew Tom had just clocked up more information; the fact that he hadn’t got his
true
powers yet would definitely be brought up at a later date.

‘I can feel that!’ Tom smiled. ‘And you’re welcome. You’re my granddad and I’d do anything for you, including saying goodbye, because I love you too.’

Thomas became more choked up. ‘But I want you to know
always
that I love you very much and I don’t know why my daft brain won’t accept things, even if I see something with my own eyes!’ He shook his head in shame again.

‘I understand why, Granddad,’ he said. ‘I can understand all of you,’ he added and looked around. Alicia turned her lip up in anger at this, but Frank was now tearful. Joan was crying as much as Amy.

‘Never be afraid to be yourself,’ Thomas advised. ‘Not for anyone, do you hear?’

‘Yes, Granddad,’ Tom answered. Tears falling from his eyes, he lifted up glowing hands and placed them over his granddad’s eyes.

Frank gasped in awe, then looked to Amy. ‘I’m so sorry, Amy. For all I’ve said and…’ He stared back mournfully at Tom. ‘…If
we
can’t learn from this experience, then your granddad’s right.
You
should learn from it. Learn that in the end when the truth comes out, and you are totally yourself for all to see, that you are nothing but loved. I hope you will always remember that it was ignorance that made us like we were.’

‘I love you too, Uncle Frank.’

‘Look after your mum. Look after each other!’ Frank added. He then turned to Adaizi. ‘And
you
make sure you look after them too!’

‘I will,’ Adaizi promised, with a slight bow.

Joan began to howl. She ran to Amy and hugged her tight. ‘Please no, I can’t let them go, please…not my
daughter
. Not my daughter!’ she yelled as if Amy suddenly meant more to her than Frank.

‘I’m so sorry, Mum,’ Amy said, hugging her tight. ‘I’ll miss you so much.’

‘I’m sorry too,’ Adaizi added, standing up and making everyone suddenly nervous.

‘What will we believe has happened to Thomas, then?’ Alicia asked, like this was her only concern.

‘Nothing,’ Adaizi answered. ‘In everyone’s minds he will have always had his health.’

‘It’s going to be Tom’s birthday soon and he’ll have nothing from any of us!’ Frank exclaimed, acting like the brother Amy loved, concerned for his nephew’s feelings.

‘I have more than enough,’ Tom said sincerely. Alicia mimed gagging, but she was caught in the act by Adaizi and immediately looked frightened.

‘I was going to get him a poetry book,’ Joan admitted, looking at Adaizi inquisitively.

‘A poetry book,’ Tom said, as if she’d just handed him one. ‘How thoughtful.’

‘I was going to get him a basketball set for outside in the garden at their place,’ Frank added, reaching in his pocket and pulling eighty pounds out. He handed it to Amy. ‘Buy it for him, will you, sis?’

‘I will,’ she promised, tucking the money into her pocket.

‘Thank you, Uncle Frank,’ Tom said. Frank gave him a tearful smile then they all gave each other long, tearful hugs and kisses goodbye, telling each other how much they loved each other. All except Alicia, who was as cold as usual.

Amy squeezed Francesca hard, trying to get as much love out of her as she could. It had to last forever. She wanted so much to see her grow into a stunning young woman. She knew there was no point telling her anything—she was never going to remember what had been said, never going to remember the hug nor Amy herself.

As if her mother had realised the same, she grabbed Amy and turned her to face her. ‘You’ve always been my favourite! That’s
why
I spoilt Frank more! Even if I don’t remember you, I will always miss you!’ Amy broke down as she hugged her mother. Never before had she shown her such love. The love and gratitude her whole family were showing her and Tom tore Amy’s heart in two.

‘Okay then,’ Adaizi began, with a solemn smile. ‘Can you all sit down together, please? Amy and Tom, stand here with me,’ she added.

All five of her family sat with upset and terrified expressions just before Adaizi swiped her hand in front of them, making them all freeze. Thomas mouthed one last time: ‘I love you.’

Feeling as heartbroken as her family, Amy grabbed Tom’s hand for support. It was the lost and defeated look on her dad’s frozen face that hurt her the most. His expression would remain in Amy’s mind forever like a scar.

Adaizi placed her hands out in front of her and began to make conducting gestures. Sounds, visions and scents from Amy’s past drifted from each of her family’s minds and filled the room as Adaizi swept her hands through the air. Like an orchestrator of dreams, the dull, fading echoes encircled the room, carrying away their memories like a ghostly motion picture, giving way to a cold, sterile silence.