Chapter 2 - Arianna

Arianna walked up to the quaint but noble home site. The doors were tall and heavy, and the yard wasn’t a yard at all, just an endless circle of water and flowers around the house.

Meridian was in the library reading the ancient writings of the guides that had lived so many lives before. Meridian put the book down and locked eyes with her mother.

“Meridian, I know you are quite aware that you are a special being and that you understand that our family, along with the other guides here, have a job to look after humans. I know that we have just briefly started allowing you to come along, and it must be a lot to take in. It is always a lot for any new guide, but for a guide to be born into the realm has its own challenges as your father and I experienced. Guides become guides after living many lives, but for you being born a guide is a rare happening, which bestows many gifts and burdens. There are other things out there aside from the humans and us. Demons are real and not just folktales that you hear from the other guides.”

Meridian jumped in and stopped her mother from further explanation.

“I know all that. I have spent time with Relic, and he shared a lot with me in his travels. He said that one day you or dad would have this talk,” Meridian rolled her eyes.

“Relic! How dare he step in! He is not a favorite of the council and for things like this!” shouted Arianna.

“Calm down. I know you don’t like Relic, but at one time he and Dad were close, and he is like a brother to me.” Meridian was incredulous.

“Was all he told you about the demons?”

Meridian decided not to be honest with her mother at the time. She knew plenty, and she also knew about the other plane where humans with extraordinary gifts went to speak to guides and communicate with those who had passed on.

“Is there anything else that Relic told you that I missed?” Arianna asked sarcastically. “I mean, I would hate to step on his toes in sharing with my daughter the necessary life learning that is my job.”

“Mom, stop already. No, he hasn’t, but it can be arranged. I am going to hang out with him later while you and Dad are gone to the gathering.” Meridian perked up with a cool grin.

“I thought you would go with us. I mean you always go. What is it now?”

Being coy and playful, Meridian just grinned while she got up from the table to leave and said, “I am so bored with those. I mean, it’s always just the elders, and it’s always the same conversations: who is saving who, introducing new guides, and answering the same questions to the new guides. It is like a bad dream that keeps repeating itself. Why is it bad to go with Relic?”

“Which ones? The ones from the dark side? The newer guides that still have a little human left in them? I really wish you would spend less time with them and more time learning from the teachers,” Arianna scolded.

“I am nearing the time in my life when I am ready to do my work. I will be finished with the teachers, and I will be put to apprentice work with another guide for a while. What difference does it make if I spend a little more time with other guides? Besides, you and Father cannot be the only ones I do fieldwork with. You know this.”

Arianna sighed and looked away. “Okay just make sure that you are back early.”

Relic was always the socialite of the realm, always open to meeting new guides and hearing about their journey. The latest guide that came to gather a couple of months before was a guide who in his former life played in a band and lived a hard life of drinking. The usual life a rock star would lead, but not all rock stars die tragically from drugs and alcohol. His death came at the hand of an automobile accident at no fault of his own. He was survived by his wife. He was only twenty-six and on his fifth life, and when his time came, he chose to be a guide. Being a previous musician himself back a few hundred years ago, Relic was obsessed with the new addition, and they had already made plans to make music together. Music was a large part of a guide’s life.

Relic was fascinating to Meridian, he had lived all his lives before, and he was always excited to share his experiences with her.

“Relic! How many times have I told you not to do that! Just because we all communicate at the speed of light doesn’t mean you jump in here at that speed and scare the hell out of me!” screamed Meridian.

“Oh, you know I can’t scare the hell out of you because we can’t hold all of Earth’s bad people,” smarted off Relic.

“You just told me you were ready, so I came,” said Relic.

“I know, but it’s not fair that you know how to control your thoughts and what other guides hear in your mind. I feel like I am standing naked in the realm because I cannot always control my thoughts all the time,” said Meridian.

“Oh, now; yes, you can. You just were caught off guard. Now, let us go before they start without us.”

Relic gave a wink and a smile, and the pair left.

Meridian, as beautiful as she was, still did not realize the impact she made on those around her, but she was on her way to realizing just how powerful she was. Still naïve to her world and herself, she always chose to ignore the fact that Relic was deeply in love with her.

Many times, she had stopped Relic in his tracks, but as he stared at the bright being in front of him, he struggled to place what it was about her that had changed seemingly overnight. Most guides had an allure about them, but she was a little different in that her zest gave her that something extra. With Relic, they left the home site and went to congregate where there were libraries, meditation places and sites for the gatherings. A city of its own, all overseen by the Grand Palace that sat overlooking the city; a beautiful place of which humans could only dream. Full of peace, love, and a quiet retreat to come back to after trips to Earth protecting humankind from the demons who inhabited their world. To the spirit world, this realm was heaven, but unlike any heaven any human could imagine.

Caius had finally made it back, and Arianna did not have to tell him anything. Reading one another’s thoughts had its curses and advantages.

“Arianna, I am glad that you didn’t have the chance to say much to Meridian about the baby in the hospital,” Caius spoke up.

“Well, I don’t know much, and I was shocked to find out that Relic has been telling her so much. Why couldn’t I read those thoughts? I am so mad at him for stepping in like that,” said Arianna.

“You know when guides reach a certain age or level that they can begin to control their thoughts and disconnect from their parents or other guides. That is something you should have expected. Besides, Relic is harmless, and he is experienced and cares for her. You shouldn’t be so upset,” Caius stated coolly.

“I know that, but, Caius, you have to understand that she sees Relic as a brother and a friend. I know that Relic likes her more than that. I see how he looks at her. I also know you would love Relic to be with Meridian, and I am afraid you and he both will be disappointed. There is a new guide that came into Etheria. His name is Kieren. What do you know about him?” said Arianna, the worry evident in her voice.

Caius paused, shrugged it off a bit, and said, “I know Relic likes him, and Chance watched over him when he lived out his lives on Earth. I don’t know that much more about him. I have not had the time to ask.”

Arianna looked displeased and felt Caius was holding back.

“I know you stayed behind and talked to Chance after I left. Why didn’t you ask then?”

Caius did not make any eye contact with Arianna and was uncomfortable with where the conversation was going.

“He wanted to talk to me about the council and what happened. There are more important things to be worried about than which guides like Meridian,” Caius scolded.

“I am more concerned about the boy we watch over and the trouble we face over him than this right now,” Caius continued. “Chance seems to think the council’s suspicions are up more than we think. He wants to talk to me tonight at the gathering. We can have some time to visit about Meridian then and see how she is.”

“Good luck,” Arianna sarcastically replied. “Meridian took off with Relic and won’t be there. Unless you can read her thoughts, then not much will happen this evening.”

Caius kept it to himself that Meridian kept her thoughts open to him. Caius did not want to hurt his wife’s feelings. He already knew that his daughter was falling for the new guide, and he was worried. He just had larger concerns with the council and was afraid to let Arianna know too much.

The couple left and went to the gathering. As they arrived, Chance was in his normal place standing at the door of the palace. Warrick and the other council members sat and waited while what seemed like hundreds of guides gathered for their weekly session. Arianna whispered to Caius that she did not see that many fresh faces. Caius and Chance gave one another the nod, and Caius walked over to Chance. Arianna seemed frustrated at Caius as she knew he kept her in the dark on many things. Her gaze shifted and locked onto one of the council members, the leader of their realm. When their gazes met, Arianna had a sudden urge to walk over but did not.