The Mexican Stand-off

"Introducing the Host, Her Excellency; High Guardian Nara."

Nara walked in to find the crowd staring at a group at the other end of the room. Upon introspection, she saw that it was a group with Yara and Cyprian.

"Are these assholes trying to steal my spotlight?"

Nara wanted to make a grand entrance, which is why she waited so long to come in. She wanted to be fashionably late and have all eyes on her. She wanted the men to want her and the women to envy her. She was looking gorgeous in a long red dress. She honestly didn't like wearing armor; it was heavy and uncomfortable. There was one thing that made her look different from everyone. Although her skin was chocolate brown with a pitch-black woolly afro, she had light grey eyes with a touch of sky blue.

The eyes illuminated her face like lanterns, but not in a scary way. It created a weird contrast that made her more dashing and mysterious.

At this point, people started to notice her and look, but the mood was already ruined for her, and she was really pissed. She just wanted to know what was more important than her.

"Yara, Cyprian. Care to explain why you are stealing my thunder?"

Yara was yanked from her thoughts. He could tell that Nara was angry, but at this point, he had bigger fish to fry. He took his gaze off of her and looked at Mhlengi.

Nara could feel anger boiling from within her; she was ready to attack at any moment.

"Repeat what you just said," Yara said to Mhlengi.

Mhlengi was in an awkward situation. He looked at Nara, who had murder in her eyes, and back at Yara, who was waiting for an answer, then at the stupid face of the Brown-Eyed Demon.

"How can this fool have that expression in a situation like this? Does he not fear death? Or is he too stupid to understand the gravity of the situation?"

"Well?" Yara inquired again.

"H-He is the Brown-Eyed Demon. I will never forget that face." He pointed at Sizwe's lazy face.

"When did I become a demon?" Sizwe was very confused. He just wanted to get some food.

"Are you sure?"

"Everyone just calm down," Cyprian said with a calm tone. "Nara, we are sorry we rained on your parade. You look dashing as always."

"Don't try me, Cyprian. What is going on, Yara? Answer me before I give you some divine punishment."

Nara's playful mood was washed away and replaced by a serious face with sharp eyes.

"This is a serious matter, Nara. This concerns the Citadel, and I can't ignore it," Yara responded. He was serious as well. More than the regular serious he usually was.

"Spit it out then, what is going on?"

"I think there has been a misunderstanding. Sizwe is not the Brown-Eyed Demon."

"Mhlengi? Is he?"

Mhlengi toned down his beating heart and calmed himself.

"He is. He killed my men and an Enforcer. I don't forget faces."

"There must be a mistake," Cyprian tried to refute.

On the other hand, Sizwe's face turned serious. He didn't realize he was dubbed a nickname, but now the cat was out of the bag, and he was deep in the hornet's nest. He was surrounded by the people of the Citadel. The lucky thing is that they all had no weapons on them, but still. He was only one man. What could he do against an army?

"This man killed guardians?"

Nara's eyes gleamed with a dangerous light. She began to walk towards Sizwe with an angry expression. She wouldn't tolerate any killings of her subjects; the man had to be punished.

"What do you think you are doing, Cyprian?"

Cyprian was startled. He hadn't moved an inch, but Nara turned towards him with her glowing eyes. Although Cyprian had not made a move yet, he was about to. He wanted to save Sizwe and absorb every knowledge he could get from him. The situation was dangerous; Nara was dangerous.

Nara had a unique evolution. She had future vision; she could see seconds into the future. Finally experiencing it creeped Cyprian out. It was like having someone in your head; it was unsettling. He felt sorry for enemies who had to face this monster. He didn't want to be her enemy, but now he had no choice.

Cyprian stepped up and stopped Nara's advance towards Sizwe.

"What do you think you're doing, Cyprian? Even you can't be this crazy."

"I am afraid I am. This man is more valuable to me than anything in this world."

The crowd gasped. After this, many thoughts started to float in their heads.

"Are they lovers?"

"Cyprian doesn't want to give up his lover?"

"How brave of him. Love is so beautiful." Most ladies in the room had this thought.

"Just to clarify, we are not lovers," Sizwe broke the silence.

Nara's eyes went straight to him. Although her future sight was good, she could only see seconds into the future and not other senses like hearing or touch.

"You have a second to explain yourself, Cyprian."

"Okay, I think we should lis-"

His second was gone, and Nara had bypassed Cyprian and headed for Sizwe. Yara appeared in front of her.

"What is it, Yara?"

"Unfortunately, elder sister, I need this man alive. You can't kill him. I'll be taking him with me."

"You won't be taking him anywhere." Cyprian appeared in the stand-off.

"He killed my man. I have to get revenge, or the name of the Guardians will be sullied."

They looked at each other, ready to pounce.

"You talk as if my life is yours to take," Sizwe said, calmly taking a few steps away with folded arms.

"I belong to neither of you. The men you praise so much are killers and tyrants. There I was, sleeping, and here your people came and tried to kill me as soon as I woke up from my cryo-sleep. Did you expect me to accept death and praise your god for salvation?

"You fucking hypocrites. You go around killing and terrorizing people and expect them to be grateful. Come then, take my life if you dare."

Nara's face twisted upon hearing words of ridicule. She pounced at Sizwe, but Cyprian stopped her. From behind Cyprian, Sizwe appeared with a swing.

Whoosh!

Nara dodged the punch as it nicked her in the shin. She was surprised, but she had no time because a fork was already coming her way. Yara blocked the fork that almost ended Nara's life in an instant.

Cyprian was shocked at Sizwe's sudden attack. The situation was no longer salvageable.

Nara, on the other hand, had never been this close to death before. Nara had survived four assassination attempts; she could always see them coming. But today, she felt what true fear was. This man did not hesitate even a little. He was a madman who moved to kill a High Guardian in a room full of Guardians and Men of God. The hubris.

He almost succeeded too. If it wasn't for Yara, she would have been dead. She felt her limbs go numb for a second but quickly regained her cool. She was well trained, granted she was sloppy because of relying on her powers for far too long.

"Are you okay?" Yara asked. His face was calm, but he was shocked.

"I'll live."

"Is this what you want, Cyprian? That man is dangerous; can't you see?" Yara spoke with anger, standing on Nara's side.

"That is why he is valuable. I can't give him up."

"Then you will die here with him," Nara said.

Cyprian turned to Sizwe, "That lady in the red dress is evolved."

"What the f-ck? She has powers?"

"Yes, and she can see into the future."

"WHAT THE HELL? Why is this world so unfair?"

"Relax, everything has limits. She can only see a few seconds into the future, and it can only be something in her line of vision."

"Really? Say less."

Sizwe took the fork and threw it at the wall.

The whole room got dark. Sizwe had hit the switch on the wall. When he came into the ball, he was intrigued by the electricity in this place and studied it a little. It was not that different from the systems from the old world. There was even a switch on the wall. Hearing what Cyprian said, all he could do was blind them all.

"Someone turn on the lights and lock all exits."

Many sounds were heard: footsteps, bodies bumping against each other. Until finally, the lights came on again. Sizwe and Cyprian were nowhere to be found.

"I found them!"

Someone shouted from outside. Yara and Nara rushed outside and saw them running away.

"Go, make sure they do not escape. Close the gates and notify all guardians," Nara gave out orders.

"Get me my armor and divine weapon."

Yara was beside her, looking at Sizwe. That man was dangerous. He had his share of sleepers, but this man was different. He could be a great asset, but also a great threat. He didn't know whether to kill him or take him alive.