“There, that’s better. I clean up well, if I do say so myself. Oh, my apologies. Hi. I’m the Guardian. Pleased to meet you.”
It Is Me
“Um, hello – sir,” replied Jesse. He was excited but cautious in the same breath. He finally met the man face-to-face that he had heard about. The Guardian. The Legend. The man that most people in Hock City feared. His reputation preceded him.
The Guardian reached his hand out towards him and they shook hands.
“Nice grip, young man,” the Guardian said as he wiped his hand clean from the moisture of Jesse’s hand.
“No need to be uneasy. Everyone is safe and welcome in the Guardian’s mansion. Without the people, we are nothing, because the people always provide something.”
He reached out to Langston next, but Langston did not oblige as easy as Jesse. He remained quiet and unimpressed.
“You, sir – you must be… Langston, is it?” he asked. He pointed his index finger in Langston’s direction.
Langston sat with his arms folded and his legs crossed, stretched out in front of him. He turned his gaze to the Guardian, but then looked away.
“My name is unimportant.”
“Au contraire, my friend. Everyone’s name is important, for different and various reasons. We are new friends, right? And friends know each other’s name, and greet each other accordingly, correct? So,” the Guardian cleared his throat, “…with that said – shake my hand.”
Langston looked at the Guardian’s hand, then back at his face. The two of them locked eyes, for a short game of ‘who had the most power.’ A stare down contest of sorts.
“Tell you what – you shake my hand and I won’t kill you; how is that? Besides, I don’t want to stain that exquisite marble wall behind you. It took my men a long, long time – to gather the stones needed to make that. You know how priceless some things can be.”
“Why does everyone in this city threaten or expect violence? What is wrong with you people? I haven’t hurt anyone.”
The Guardian didn’t respond. Instead, he kept his hand extended, waiting for Langston to acknowledge and meet his order. Langston shook the Guardian’s hand, aware that he wasn’t making any strides with his argument.
The Guardian won this round.
“Excellent. I’m glad you agree. We have to work together, because together – we are better,” the Guardian clapped his hands once, “Mantis, I was told that we have another guest? Yes? Where is he?”
“To avoid any further troubles, we separated him from these two. He is in your reception room, Guardian.”
“Troubles, you say?”
“Yes, but nothing you need to concern yourself with sir.”
The Guardian studied the Mantis for, as if the Mantis had more to say. As if the troubles of which he spoke were more than just troubles. After this pinch of silence, the Guardian walked toward another set of doubled-doors. These doors led to the reception room of the mansion where Kinth waited.
The winged-women opened both doors; they bowed their heads to the Guardian’s presence.
“Well, now, who is our other friend?”
Mantodea soldiers, along with the guards in three-piece suits, stood watch around the room. They enclosed Kinth in a semi-circle, with every eye monitoring his behavior. He was treated as if he was the biggest threat to all of Hock City and Pineville. A bomb that was on the brink of detonating.
Kinth looked at pictures on the wall, and spoke with his back turned. “How have you been, brother?”
“Kinth?” The Guardian’s knees weakened, as Kinth’s voice resonated. He slid down the arm of a chair, and sat as beads of sweat started to form on his brow.
“Yes, brother. It is me.”
“Pearl!” The Guardian’s voice cracked, as he shouted toward the double-doors, “Go get Pearl; now!” Guards marched toward the doors, but stopped abruptly.
“I’m right here, you prick.” Pearl strolled toward the room leisurely, sipping on a second martini. “I needed to top off my drink. What is it? Can me and Jesse go yet?”
Kinth stood like a statue in the center of the room, with his arms crossed behind his back. Pearl noticed him after taking a sip of her drink. Then, her feet became like concrete.
“Oh sweet biscuits; I knew it.”
“Pearl,” said Kinth, “I see you haven’t changed since the last time I saw you, sister.”
Pearl walked towards Kinth slowly with one hand over her mouth and a martini glass in the other. She was stunned by his presence. Tears began to fill her eyes, as she got a closer look at his face. Hesitantly, she reached out to touch him. He pushed her hand away, frightening her, as her fingers grazed his sleeve. She yelped as she smacked him, and then forced a hug.
Security was alerted after The Guardian snapped his fingers.
“How could you leave us?!” Pearl asked, with her head on Kinth’s chest. Kinth stepped back, breaking the embrace.
“Leave you, leave you?” he scoffed, “I did not leave you. The actions involving our father forced me out.”
“What is he talking about?” Pearl asked the Guardian. “You told me Kinth left on his own accord.”
“Kinth, please brother,” The Guardian spoke with distress. “Let’s talk this out.”
“There is nothing for us to talk about, brother -other than what you did. What you did to this family. And what I am owed.”
“We can fix this,” The Guardian replied.
“No. What you did can’t be fixed. No more talk.”
“What is going on? I don’t understand. Please, somebody, tell me what’s happening,” said Pearl.
The Guardian looked at Pearl, and then back at Kinth. Kinth balled his fist, annoyed more with each second in the Guardian’s presence. His body filled with rage.
“Oh, you don’t, Pearl?” Kinth turned toward the Guardian, stunned, “Really, brother? You kept your own sister out of the loop? Your own flesh and blood. Does she even know about dad? What did he tell you Pearl, hmm? That dad died of old age, or something else? That he is out on another journey? Exploring? One of those journeys that kept him gone for many cycles at a time?” Kinth spoke to Pearl with scorn in his eyes. Then he looked back at the Guardian, “You killed our father! All so you can sit where he sat at the head of the table. I was the next in line to reign, and you robbed me of that! You robbed this city of the good it had! I want what’s rightfully mine. My father’s seat! You have a lot of explaining to do!”
The Guardian scoffed, “Rightfully yours. Ha! Explain what? I don’t have to explain shit.”
“Oh, brother, you will – you will explain. Eventually. There are many questions I have for you. Like, the human in the foyer. Who is he?”
“I care nothing for the circumstances involving him or that boy.” The Guardian snapped his fingers again. This time, the guards moved in closer to Kinth and put their weapons within an inch of his body.
“Like old times, huh, brother? What a great reunion this is. You haven’t changed. You have been violent all your life. Here we stand as men, amongst the same issues we had as kids. You destroy everything you touch.” Kinth spoke freely as guards stood nervously, unsure of what Kinth may do. They practically shook at his aggressiveness with each of his movements.
“Please, no! No, Franklin! No more of this! We are family for Pete’s sake! Embrace your brother! He came home! We can start over! We can fix the bond that was broken!” Pearl exclaimed. She showed a vulnerable side that many had not seen at all; and, for others, not in some time.