Damon grabbed Jess’s arm to hurry her towards the house. “Who do you have to watch the farm for you?”

“What? No. You can’t just-”

“I can’t just what?” Damon was not only frustrated; he was on the verge of panic. He whirled around to face Jess, his eyes wide. “You obviously have no idea what you’re holding. You have no idea what will be done to you when Liam returns if we’re not gone.” His eyes blazed into hers, and the ring on his right hand began to glow.

“No. You’re right, I have no idea about anything that has happened in the last few minutes. But I refuse to be bullied or threatened by you or anyone else. Until you tell me what’s going on, I’m staying right here.” Jess planted her feet, and tried to pull away. She couldn’t see much in the darkness, except for the glowing egg, and the ring on Damon’s right hand glowing a brilliant green. “And why is that thing on your hand glowing? What is it?”

“It’s called a ring. Perhaps you’ve heard of them before?” Sarcasm was one of four languages Damon was fluent in. He started to pull Jess more forcefully towards the house with his left hand, while making patterns in the air with his right.

“Stop! Tell me what you’re doing. Some sort of voodoo?” Jess snorted a short laugh. “On second thought? Don’t bother. Get the hell off my property. Now. I’ll call-”

“Who? Did you see how Liam appeared and left? The only one that can protect you, and that,” with a gesture towards the glowing egg, “is a Guardian.”

By this time, Damon had Jess up to the porch, and was dragging her up the steps.

“You said you’d answer me.”

“I said I’d answer you inside while you get your things together.” Damon barged through the front door, pulled Jess in behind him, and faced her.

Jess took a moment to study him in the light. Wavy brown hair spilled across his shoulders, and every inch of him that she could see appeared to be solid muscle. She sucked in a breath when she noticed the intensity in his hazel eyes. A thin scar ran from somewhere beneath his hairline, down the left side of his face, almost to his upper lip. She thought if he would stop glaring, and smile, he would be almost handsome. As it was, he looked on edge, and slightly dangerous. And yet he had protected her. But from what?

While Jess studied him, Damon studied their surroundings. “Are you done,” he asked, breaking the silence.

Jess jumped. “Done what?”

“Staring.”

“It’s not that. Who are you?”

“You didn’t catch that my name is Damon?” His mouth quirked into almost a smile, and suddenly he didn’t seem as dangerous. “I’m sorry. Manners. I’m a Guardian. More specifically, I’m YOUR Guardian. Damon, at your service,” he finished with a mock bow.

Jess narrowed her eyes at him. “Don’t treat me like I’m five. You know what I mean. What is a Guardian? And Seeker, and Keeper, and rider. And what is this- this thing?” She gestured to the egg that she had set on the table. It was glowing faintly, nowhere near as brilliantly as had when she held it.

Damon held back a sigh. “If I answer you quickly, will you hurry so we can leave?”

She nodded.

“We don’t have much time, but here’s a short version. You’re familiar with fairy tales? Magic and dragons? Did you ever stop to think that maybe everything you thought was made up, really wasn’t?” Jess shook her head, curious. “What if I told you they were real, and have been right in front of you, your whole life?”

“Please.”

“Pick it up,” he said pointing at the egg. As soon as her hands touched it, the egg began to glow brightly, and she could feel the warmth radiating from it.

“So what is it?” she asked turning it over and studying it.

“It’s a dragon egg. The first Glenardius egg that’s been laid in over three centuries.”

Jess looked at him, trying to gauge whether or not he was serious. Reading her thoughts, he said, “I’m serious. According to the legends passed down by the Guardians, if this egg hatches, this dragon will be the one that is able to save the species. A Guardian is someone like me. I walk the path between the light and the dark. It’s my duty to protect Keepers,” pointing at Jess, “as well as whatever treasure they might keep. Seekers… Let’s say a Seeker is a Guardian gone bad. They are out to find the Keepers. They seek out and destroy whatever is being kept. A rider is one of the higher ranks of Seekers, meaning they have done battle and were victorious, more than once. They ride on…” He faltered, checking to see if she believed him or not. “They ride on winged stallions that are pretty much invisible to most humans. They can cover ground more quickly, which is why we need to hurry.”

“But why am I a Keeper? I didn’t even know this thing was there.” Jess shook her short black hair, and set the egg down carefully.

“Keepers often don’t know they are Keepers. On most occasions, a Keeper will keep whatever is entrusted to them, without ever knowing it, until a Guardian comes and returns it to its rightful place. This ring,” Damon held up his right hand, “is a form of communication between Guardians.” He gestured in the air, and Jess watched, breathless as the ring began to glow again, this time a deep red. “That pattern I just made in the air was a signal to the other Guardians that you are safe, and so is the Glenardius.” He glanced around. "At least for now. The ring changes color depending on the message, and if there is danger. Satisfied?”

“Not by a long shot.” Jess thought of the earlier thunderclap, flash of light, and the way her ears rang. Damon sensed it the minute she started to understand.

“You and the Glenardius are in danger. The Seekers will be back. It won’t take long for Liam to report to them, and gather recruits. Again, who is there you can call to watch the farm?”

“What am I supposed to say?”

“Do you have any distant family that could possibly be having an emergency that you need to leave immediately for? Maybe they’re deathly ill, for an unspecified length of time?”

“No, I don’t have family. I’m mostly alone-”

“Do your friends and neighbors know that?”

“No.”

“Good. Then call someone. Now.”

“What about my friends that were here earlier?”

“They will have no memory of it. The noise Liam made as he left is designed to erase short term memory. We all have our little tricks and secrets.” He handed her the phone. “Make the call, and pack quickly, only what you truly need. Food and clothing we can get along the way. But if there is anything you value that can’t be replaced, grab it.”

Jess started punching in numbers on her phone but hesitated before making the call. She stared at Damon, taking in his sense of urgency. She glanced at the egg, which glowed as she moved her hand toward it. That made up her mind, and she hit the send button.

To be continued