I hold my breath behind the door, trying to be one with the shadows, but the argument raging inside is impossible to ignore.
Draven's words are laced with concern, his deep voice is a low rumble that vibrates through the air
"She's not ready, she'll be signing her own death sentence if she attends St. Vladimirs, and u know it!"
" And you know as well as I do, she needs to be trained. It's time she learns to protect herself."
Mom's voice cuts in,firm and a steely glare in her eyes through the air, sharp as a whip
"You underestimate Baby's potential, and you forget what I was like at her age. I was stronger than anyone gave me credit for, and I trained her myself."
The air is thick with tension, the weight of expectations hanging heavy on my shoulders. I feel the walls closing in, the room shrinking as the argument escalates.
Draven's voice drops to a low, urgent growl, "You're playing with fire, and you know it. If anything happens to her..."
Mom's voice is a cold, calculated whisper, "I know what I'm doing, Draven. Baby will attend St. Vladimirs, and she will become a Guardian, no matter what it takes."
The sound of footsteps echoes through the door, getting louder, and you realize the conversation is far from over...
Draven's intense gaze sends a shiver down my spine as he brushes past me , his shoulder knocking me slightly off balance.
The door slams shut behind him, leaving me feeling like l'm staring into the face of a storm.
His words echo in my mind, "U fight inorder not to be killed,and make sure you don't return a corpse"
The unspoken question hangs in the air: are you ready to face the dangers of St. Vladimirs?
Mom's determined face appears at the door, her eyes locked on mine, and I know the decision's been made.
***†**†***
Mom's gentle touch sends a wave of calm through you, but your mind's still racing.
I force a smile, trying to hide the doubts creeping in. "I'll try, Mom,"
I whisper, more to yourself than to her. The airport's bustling energy is a stark contrast to the uncertainty swirling inside me. I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the what-ifs.
As I pull back, I notice Mom's eyes, shining with a mix of pride and worry. She hands me a small, delicate necklace with a tiny silver dagger pendant.
"This was mine when I was your age," she says, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It's a Guardian's charm. Keep it close, and don't hesitate to use it."
I feel a surge of determination. Maybe I won't be a legendary Guardian like mom, but I'll make her proud, and more importantly, I'll survive.
We finally parts ways.
"Ahem!!"
Someone cleared his throat behind me,sharp and impatiently.I turned to face a tall, brooding guy, dressed in black hood up despite the heat.Pale skin,jawline too prefect to be natural, and his eyes like storm clouds
"Do you mind?"
His tone is rough as his expression.I blinked stunned.
"Do l mind?"
"You're in my way"he said coldly"move"
I was taken aback by his rudeness "excuse me!,I was here first"
He looks at me like he'd rather be anyway else,his gaze trails up and down,like l was some kind of a pesky insect.
My eyes narrowed and nose flared up in irritation."you know, dude,in some places, people usually say 'excuse me ' and 'please '
A smile tuged at the corner of his lip"And in some places, people don't block the way"
He shot back,his tone dripping in annoyance.He slips passed me, brushing my shoulder,like l wasn't worth his time.
"What's his deal anyways"l scoffed "stupidly hot but rude"