Good afternoon! It’s the last Sunday in January so I decided that since I haven’t don’t very many snippets this month, I would share one on the last Sunday. This is a continuation of the My Guardian Angel snippet series. You can find the previous snippets here. This one is shorter, but I hope you enjoy! Be sure to tell me what you think in the comments.

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The world was a haze around me as I slowly came to. My body felt weak, too weak to move. A bright light flickered in front of my eyelids. My head ached. Every muscle in my body throbbed. I tried to move, but the motion only sent a jolt of pain through my body. I moaned. 

Somewhere beside me, a chair cracked. “Stella?” A man’s voice drifted into my haze. 

A familiar man’s voice. 

My guardian angel. 

Suddenly, it all came back to me. The forest, the man , the dragon. Running. Liam and Ethyn’s swords. The magic they wielded. The magic I wielded. The electricity meeting flame. Molly’s tears as she hovered over me. 

A panicked spark burst to life inside me, and I’m moving despite the pain. My eyes bolt open, and I struggle to sit up. Liam’s voice echoes again, but I can’t hear him. All I can hear is the pounding of my heart as pain engulfs my limbs. Gasping, I reach out for something to hold onto, which just so happens to be Liam’s arm. 

“Breathe.” Liam’s voice comes into focus as I gasp for breath. 

“Molly?” I wheeze, grasping his arm with both my hands. 

“She’s fine,” He replies. “She’s safe. Asleep in the other room.” 

I let out a breath. My hand goes to my side, and I wince. The pain wraps around my chest like a vine, squeezing. 

“Here.” Liam shifts the pillows behind me so I can lay back. 

“Where…are we?” It hurts to talk. My voice sounds hoarse, and my throat is dry. 

Liam stands, and I hear water being poured. “Here.” He says, coming back into view. He lifts a cup to my lips. “Drink this.” 

I chug half the glass before I pull away. The cool liquid soothes my aching throat. 

“We’re still in New York. A hotel in downtown Manhattan to be more exact.” Liam explained, setting the glass back on the side table. 

I looked out the window and heard the sound of a busy street for the first time. The sun was setting, casting shadows on the skyscrapers and the room. It was a beautiful sight to see. 

Liam was admiring the scene too. I studied him. He was no longer wearing his armor, but his sword was still strapped to his hip. His long, black hair was pulled into a bun at the back of his head. He seemed relaxed, but his body was tensed, readying in case something were to happen. The light coming from the window cast shadows on his features. The shadows played with the strong line of his jaw. I couldn’t help but stare. 

When Liam turned back and his eyes met mine, I asked the question that was burning in my throat. 

“What happened?” 

Liam stared at me, as if he was trying to decide what to tell me. 

“Back at the cabin, there were things I didn’t have time to explain to you. What happened in the woods was one of them.” He paused. 

“What about it?” 

He hesitated. 

“Liam.” My voice was full of steel. 

“As I said at the cabin, your father was of our world. He was what we call a Stone Keeper or a Gate Keeper. He possessed a piece of a stone that could open the portal that separates our worlds.” He paused again, letting his words sink in. 

It only took a moment for me to realize what he meant. “The necklaces Gael wanted.” 

He nodded. “Yes, that was the stone. It’s what we call a Key. Your father was its Keeper. He protected it and when needed, opened his half of the Portal to let people in or out.” 

I blinked, turning away from Liam’s gaze. I stared at the blankets instead. 

“So that…” I couldn’t find the words. “what I did was–what exactly?” 

“As a Gate Keeper, your father had the ability to wield magic. Much like Ethyn and me but more powerful and without the use of a vessel to channel it. As his descendant you have inherited your father’s abilities. And his job as Gate Keeper.” 

I stared up at the ceiling, letting that last sentence soak in. Inherit my father’s job? 

No way. We’re talking about a world I have been told didn’t exist for my entire life. A world I was called crazy for believing in. Why on earth would I believe this now? And why hadn’t Dad ever told me any of this? Why did he and Mom treat me like I was insane too? There were too many questions bouncing around my head. It only made my headache worse. I put a hand on my head, grimacing and turned back to Liam.  

“Why didn’t my father tell me or Molly any of this?” 

“Your mother was a mortal from Earth. She believed it was best to hide this part of the world from you two until you and your sister were old enough to understand. But fifteen years ago, Gael started speaking out against the humans hold on Earth. He kept saying he had a plan, but no one took him seriously. No one except your father.” He paused, watching me closely. 

I sat still, my eyes on the wall across from me. There was a beautiful abstract piece hanging there. Multi colored waves connected in the center of a circle. It was beautiful. My eyes were glued to it like it was the only thing keeping me sane. Liam continued. 

“Your father tried to hide here on Earth to protect the stone and his family. He tried to erase every aspect of our world from his life. That’s why he pretended you were seeing things. He did not want the war from his world to take over yours.” 

A part of me was screaming at me not to listen to a word he was saying. 

You’re dreaming. A voice kept shouting. Over and over again. 

But there was also a part of me that believed him. Everything he said made sense, at least a little. I mean, a dragon attacked me! Twice! Not to mention that power I had felt in the forest. The pulse of energy that felt like a jolt of electricity. And the very real pain I felt now. How could I not believe him? 

Still, this is a world I had no knowledge of besides what I read in fairytales and books. I did not want a part in this story. In this war. I did not want my father’s job or the power that came with it. My father was right to keep this from me. There was no way I could do anything to help these people.

But that small part of me that believed him would not be quiet. I’ll admit. I was curious. I wanted to see what this world was. What it was like. I wanted to feel that magic again. That strength it had given me. I wanted to explore this new possibility. And if this world was real, that would mean I’m not actually insane.

I became very aware of Liam’s eyes on me. When I locked eyes with him, his deep brown eyes seemed to pierce my soul. They studied me, searching. For what I didn’t know, but I couldn’t look away. His eyes were captivating. 

A knock on the door broke our gaze. Liam stood, turning towards the door. I couldn’t help but notice his hand resting at the hilt of his sword. 

The door cracked open, and Ethyn popped his head in. He smiled when he saw me. He turned back to the other room as he said, “She’s awake.” 

Molly was suddenly rushing into the room. She jumped on the bed beside me, engulfing me in a hug. Her weight seemed to crush my chest. I wheezed as pain erupted in my lungs and the rest of my body. 

“Molly!” I gasped. 

She jumped back, releasing me. “Sorry.” 

I raised a weary hand to my chest. “It’s okay. I’m fine.” 

It was a lie, but one Molly believed easily. She sat beside me, gently taking my hand in hers. 

“Has Liam told you about Dad?” 

I nodded and glanced up at Liam and Ethyn. They were whispering to each other, their words quick. They seemed to be arguing about something. 

Molly started talking about Dad and her thoughts on the matter. I could barely make out a word she was saying. Things about “adventure of a lifetime” and “those people need help”. I nodded along anyway, too tired to keep up with her. 

Liam and Ethyn seemed to come to some agreement. Ethyn left the room, his steps silent and quick. 

Liam turned to me and Molly. “You two get some rest. We’ll talk more in the morning.” He silently walked to the door. 

“Are you okay, Stella?” Molly’s question drew my attention back to her. “Are you in pain?” 

Yes. Everything hurts. My body. My brain. My heart. But I couldn’t tell Molly that. 

“No, I’m fine. Just tired.” 

Molly nodded, satisfied with the answer. She laid back against the pillows, continuing her long rant. She was always talkative, especially when she was stressed or tired. 

My eyes briefly met Liam’s as he left the room, closing the door behind him. 

And I swear he could see right through me.