Chapter 6 Part 2

"Pleasure." He sort of whispered in the coldest voice I had ever heard.

But then that's exactly how I had I imagined his voice to be like. Icy.

The intensity of his grey gaze had startled me at first and my first instinct had been to lower my gaze but it was the way his eyes challenged me that made me stand my ground.

Then his gaze dropped.

It was then that I had noticed that he wasn't just a pair of eyes floating in mid air. His hair for instance, was jet black and a little overgrown and a little messy but organized kind of messy not just messy like dad's. If I were to take a guess, I'd say he was in his late 20s or early 30s.

He had strong facial features that I almost couldn't tear my eyes away from. He was brutally handsome - not those boyish goodlooks that Cedric had. He was the true definition of a handsome man. Even now when his mouth was set in a thin line and his brows knit, he was gorgeous.

His muscle built, unlike Cedric's ridiculously bulging muscles, was more reserved and acceptable though he was a lot taller than Cedric and Finn.

I had not even realized he was appraising me too until I lifted my head to look back at his face. I refuse to blush, I had thought as I felt color rushing to my cheeks.

His gaze clashed with mine one more time and this time, and again I wanted to look away but I couldn't.

I really couldn't. A compelling force was keeping my gaze locked to his and I felt like I was drowning in that grey icy pool. He was trying to take my guard down and he seemed to be succeeding. Challenging me to a silent match. I could feel my senses waking up and responding to his silent challenge.

"Er hem." Finn broke our visual deadlock.

My tormentor tore his gaze brutally from mine and threw Finn an angry glance before proceeding to Mr McLain.

He introduced us with a smirk firmly placed on his mouth.

"Like wise." I mumbled finding my voice somehow.

"I'm Finn." Finn decided to introduce himself.

Gabriel spared him a curt nod before moving to the sitting area obviously expecting us to follow.

I glanced at Mr McLain for an explanation for the cold behavior but he shrugged carelessly and followed the rigid back.

"You alright, mate?" Mr McLain said suddenly turning all English. All the time he was with us the only English thing about him was his accent.

Gabriel sat down and we all followed suit.

"I'm alright. You?" Gabriel finally responded his voice having relatively warmed leaving me to wonder what I had done to deserve that cold voice he had greeted me with.

"This is the new Guardian?" An accented voice interjected.

Naturally, we turned.

She was breathtaking. Wavy brown hair that grazed her waist, slanted eyes and full perfectly shaped red lips. She stood with hands on her voluptuous hips. My guess was she was Guatemalan but what did I know.

Her eyes were on me which was a good thing because Finn's mouth was hanging open.

"In the flesh." Mr McLain said in response to her question.

She scooped down low and brought her face so close to mine, I thought she was going to kiss me but thankfully, she stopped a few inches from me.

Well, this is awkward...I thought. "Er... Can I help you with something?" I muttered knitting my eyebrows wishing her to move away.

She hung around a little longer, just to irritate me, I guessed.

"Why is she so young?" The beautiful creature asked standing up straight. "Nothing good can come out of that."

"Why are you so rude?" I decided I wasn't going to be bullied here simply because I was the new kid. "Nothing good is coming out of your mouth."

This made Mr McLain chuckle and I could feel Gabriel's strong gaze on me. Finn nudged me in the stomach as if to warn me And i instantly regretted sharing a seat with him.

She smiled coldly at me. "I was being sweet." She told me. Then her gaze shifted to Finn and lingered. "And this?"

"I'm Finn. I'm a seer." He introduced himself with a cheerful grin that was at odds with the present atmosphere.

I was disgusted. Could he possibly make his crush on her more obvious?

"Mmm..." She turned to Cedric. "I thought you were only bringing the Guardian."

"That was before I knew her brother was gifted as well and besides, she was being difficult." Cedric said like a child who had been caught in a misdeed.

"She was being difficult?" She raised a perfectly drawn brow.

"You have no idea." Cedric sighed heavily as if I had given him such a hard time. If anything, he had given me a hard time.

"I could tell she's a brat." The gorgeous woman retorted. "How is she?"

I opened my mouth but Mr McLain beat me to it.

"Not very good. She didn't know anything until I came."

Up until now I thought they had been talking about my wellbeing.

"An incompetent pixie. This is going to be interesting. She's your hot mess to take of, Cedric." Gorgeous said her eyes on Gabriel who had been quietly listening to the exchange and smirking occasionally.

"Stop talking about me in third party. I'm right here." I complained fighting the need to pout.

"We are not talking to you, pet. You will only speak when spoken to. Is that clear?" Gorgeous shot at me then she went to sit next to Cedric.

"Don't call me pet. And I would only speak when spoken to except, I am not a puppet so no can do." I shot back wondering why this woman's attitude was so sour towards me.

"Santana. Stop." Finn warned quietly

"Well, why is she being so mean?" I asked him equally quiet.

"Just relax, okay?" He said eying the other people in the room who were also eying us.

I released breath from my mouth in a puff and crossed my arms.

"He knows what he's doing. I like him." She said with a small cringe of her nose.

Finn blushed. He was absolute putter in this woman's hands.

"Ced," Gabriel finally spoke up. "Have you told her everything?" He was all business having clearly decided that he had had enough of our childish games

I was started to nod then I stopped midnod when Mr McLain started to shift uncomfortably in his seat.

"Mr McLain?" I muttered with a hint of a warning in my voice.

"I told her most of it.I was afraid she would absolutely refuse to come with me if I told her everything."

"What did you not tell us?" I asked feeling betrayed

"I thought you told us everything! Well tell us now." Finn put in with a frown.

Mr McLain glanced uncertainty at Gabriel then at Gorgeous.

They hesitated. I could tell that whaever they were hiding was huge.

"Tell us! Now!" I demanded.

"Well, this is a good time as any to tell her." Gorgeous said clearly enjoying my frustration.

For once, I agreed with her so looked hopefully at Gabriel but his hooded gaze unsettled me so I settled for eyeballing Mr McLain instead.

"Well?" Finn prompted after my look was greeted with silence.

"We will schedule a meeting for tomorrow. And there we will break it down to you." Gabriel did his whisper thing.

"Oh no! Tell her now. Maybe she will decide to leave." Gorgeous pouted at Gabriel.

"We want to know now" I bit out.

"I will tell you." Gorgeous leaned in.

"Gisele." That one word from Gabriel was so strong it sent all of us cowering in our seats. It was so powerful.

Silence followed that I knew instantly that he too was like me. A Guardian. It was overwhelming. And it was probably why I had felt so engaged when he looked at me.

"Are..." I drew a breath. "Are you a Guardian?"

"Of course he is. Are you thick?" The newly named Gisele said.

Gabriel ignored her. So did I. "You finally figured it out." He remarked his eye fixed on me.

"You are like me?" I whispered feeling a little emotional.

"No. I'm a lot better, stronger, faster than you. Don't fool yourself, we are nothing alike." He rasped coldly.

Jerk.

I clicked my tongue in annoyance all emotionalness having disappeared. I was tempted to get up and leave but I resisted. I only had to spend one night here and that was it.

"So how many people live here?" Finn asked to fill the silence.

"A bunch." Gisele replied. "I'm not certain how many exactly. It's like a zoo in here."

"So where is everyone?" I asked. I had not seen anyone anywhere. It was very quiet.

"They were told you were coming so Gabriel told everyone to lay low." She said in a kind of a whiny voice with a pointed look at Gabriel whose handsome face remained stoic.

Did he ever smile? He had not smiled once since I got here and I assumed it was because he didn't like me and I didn't care, but Gisele was clearly trying to her his attention.

And now everyone knew I was here and maybe they would want to see me. I rubbed my forearms nervously.

"I have to meet them?" I asked.

"They have been waiting forever for the third Guardian. You are the symbol of hope, Santana. So we can't disappoint them." Mr McLain responded then he probably saw the terrified look on my face because he added. "Don't worry, no pressure."

It was too late. I was already nervous. "The restroom?"

"Tamara, get in here." Gabriel said with the slightest raise of his voice.

No one outside this room could possibly have heard that but much to my surprise, a short, plump sweet looking elderly lady in a navy maid uniform appeared at the archway.

"Take Santana and Finn to their rooms." He told her then he turned to us. "If you want to join us for dinner, feel free to do so."

"But you don't have to." Gisele added.

"We will remember that." I said with no intension of joining anyone for dinner.

We followed Tamara up the stairs. If I thought the rooms I had entered downstairs were beautiful, upstairs was magestic.

I felt like I was in heaven.

Finn's awed face mirrored my thoughts.

"Wow." He whispered. Someone here was extremely rich.

"Your room, miss, is at the far end of the corridor. I will take you there in a moment." Was that an Australian accent Tamara was speaking in? "Sir, your room is right here." She opened the door to the room reached.

Involuntarily, I peeped into to room and I wasn't disappointed. It was equally gorgeous and light gray and a bit of green too to brighten it up.

"This way, miss." She said with a gentle smile at my wide eyes.

I waved at Finn then followed her to my designated sleeping space. I held my breath as she opened the door.

I gasped.

The room was red. A rich consuming red. My favorite color. And there was also black but I barely noticed it.

I entered cautiously as if I expected it to disappear. The bed stretched on forever and there was a little TV on the wall opposite the bed. It couldn't possibly be bigger that my room at home but I was in love with this room.

"Is it to your satisfaction, miss?" Tamara asked and i turned back to her.

i hadn't even realized she was still in the room. she looked nervous.

"Its beautiful, Tamara. Thanks." I said gratefully.

"I have strict orders to ensure you like it so if you are not pleased, I can get you a better room according to your specifications." She informed me.

What? "No it's great I promise. Who gave you strict orders?" I asked curiously

She gave me a secret Mona Lisa smile as if she was keeping a huge secret. "Dinner is at 8 if you wish to join us."

She bowed and left the room

She bowed.

Someone here was old fashioned. My guess was that sour Gabriel. I scrowled. I had done nothing to offend him yet he regarded me with coldness. He had literally said only like five words directly to me yet I was his guest. But he was so hot he put Mr McLain to shame. It was a shame all those devastating good looks were being wasted.

And he was the idiot who was supposed to teach me about being a Guardian. I sighed heavily.

My life was complicated.

* * *

The sun filtered in my room slowly coaxing me from sleep. I shifted in the huge bed a perfectly contented feeling filling me. I really felt like I was right where i was always meant to be. I assume it was because I was with people of my own species.

I lingered in bed a little willing time to stand still. Mum had called last night and I told her we were sleeping over at Lola's. And Lola? She was still not answering her phone. I sighed.

I wondered if I should report her missing. When I go home today I will pass by her house and check on her, I thought.

Today, as promised, I was to be getting answers.

A sudden excitement taking over, I lept out of bed and hit the shower. Even the bathroom was heavenly. It was exactly the kind of bathroom I was going to have in my house.

Oh no no no! I didn't have my hair straightener! I thought after my shower. I run my hands through the hopeless mane of long curly hair.

A scrunchy. Yes, I would have to tie it. I walked out of the bathroom with a towel firmly secured around my body and I opened the wardrobe something I had neglected to do yesterday.

My jaw dropped.

The rack and the shelves packed with dresses, pants, shorts, Tee's, tops and shoes of all kinds.

What the hell was this?

Was this only put in place for me?

No, Santana don't be insane. I told myself. They couldn't have bought all these for me. They were all new, I could smell it.

Should I wear a dress? I hated dresses but these were just gorgeous. I was tempted to wear one.

No, go simple, I thought picking out a pair of denim shorts and a tank top.

There was also a vanity table but I didn't need all that makeup. I picked a strawberry pink lip gloss and applied that. Though mum offered many many many times to help me with makeup, I turned her down each time. I didn't want to put all that stuff on my face and then not turn out to be as pretty as one would expect. I didn't want the disappointment. So I just didn't do it.

Lola could apply makeup in her sleep she was practiced at it. And it suited her perfectly. I sighed.

I could hear activity downstairs so I guessed it was breakfast time. But first, I needed to find Mr McLain.

I put on a pair of strappy sandals and left the room.

The slightly darkened corridor was deserted. Where should I find him? The jerk still had not given me his number. I walked down the corridor and passed by Finn's room but I didn't stop. All the doors in my way were shut but I could see light coming out of the very first room in the corridor.

I slowed down when I got there fervently hoping it was Cedric's room.

I peaked into the room as quietly as I could. I didn't see anyone, just a white bed as big as mine. Everything was very neatly placed as of no one had been there in a while.

Curious, I pushed the door a little wider.

My heart slammed against my ribcage. I backed away from the door in fright. I wanted to scream but my breath caught in my throat.

It was that closet.

The closet from my dream. The closer we hid in. The closet that made me claustrophobic. The closet I knew well but had never seen...until now.

I couldn't breathe.

What was this place?

Was I in another dream?

I continued backing away until I suddenly hit a warm hard wall that gripped me by the elbows.

This time I screamed, but it sounded very weak to my ears. I turned to punch my assailant.

Gabriel.

But it was too late, my fist was already airborne.

He caught it in his huge palm.

"You don't want to do that." He warned his eyes narrowing as he lowered my fisted hand but he didn't release it.

"You scared me!" I accused hotly still trying to compose myself.

"Are you always this snoopy? Some would call it invasion of privacy." He shot back in an angry accusing tone.

"I wasn't snooping." I flushed a deep red. This was beyond embarrassing. I made another futile attempt at snatching my hand away. "Is this you room?"

He smirked then he reached over to close the door. He was now too close to me such that I could smell his overwhelmingly masculine after shave. His scent filled my senses and made me momentarily forget where I was. It was like a drug and I wanted more.

I shifted closer but he chose that exactly moment to straighten thus, move away. My blush deepened and I applied more force in snatching my hand away and I succeeded.

We stood there staring at each other for a second then I realized he hasn't answered my question.

"Is it your room?"

He smirked again. "Wouldn't you like to know." He chuckled and headed for the stairs.

"Huh?" What was he implying, the imbecile!

He ignored me and continued down the stairs.

"Urgh!" I screamed in frustration. I was mad at myself for snooping, I wanted to slam myself against the wall for being caught and i especially wanted to shoot myself for it being Gabriel who caught me.

Oh, the embarrassment!

I shut my eyes, took a deep breathe then opened them again. It was too late to undo it so I just had to suck it up like a true Guardian.

That at least made me smile.

I then traced Gabriel's footsteps down the stairs while bracing myself for the onslaught of people I had never met before.

I had no idea where the dinning room was so I just followed the sound of steady chatter.

"We waiting, Gabriel. You tol' us to wait. Where she nou?" Someone said in some kind of a slur.

"Yah. I came down here fa dis." Jamaican?

I slowed down as I approached the door. Where they going to be disappointed when they saw me? What if they didn't like me?

"She will be here." Gabriel told them.

I paused outside to compose myself.

"Hiding, are we?" A young man I had never seen before caught me. He had on the the cheeriest grin I had ever seen. His cheeks were even red.

"Um...Hie...no, I'm not...um." I blushed.

"Come on in. They won't bite, well, some of them." He took my hand and led me in. "I found her!" He yelled over the noise in the dinning room.

The room instantly became quiet and I stood there cheeks burning.

Everyone is looking at you, own it! I told myself.

"Hie." I said in a small voice with a little wave of the hand.

Everyone started talking at the same time again and they all seemed to be talking to me or about me. I had no idea what to do.

I glanced around for a familiar face. No Cedric, Finn or even Gisele. Only Gabriel.

His eyes were already on me and he could see my panic.

"Settle down. Santana is joining us for breakfast. We can all talk to her on the table." He boomed over the noise.

He turned to me then motioned for me to go to him. I walked to him robotically. I jumped then tensed when he put his hand on the small of my back to guide me to a seat next to him.

It was only then that I noticed the full dinning table. I had never seen so much food in one place before.

My stomach growled but luckily there was a low rumble of chatter going on so no one seems to notice though there was a smirk on Gabriel's face.

I sat down and drew the chair in.

Do supernaturals say grace? I wanted to ask but I got my answer when one burly man dug into to food.

"Eat." Gabriel ordered settling himself next to me.

I didn't appreciate his tone so I opened my mouth to argue but he was faster.

"Eat before they start bombarding you with questions. They have been waiting for you for a while now."

I closed my mouth then began eating.

"So...Gabriel, we are expecting formal introduction." One elderly lady said from the other side of the table.

"Allow me to do the honors." Cedric suddenly appeared at the door.

I was immensely relieved by his arrival. I have never been more happy to see anyone in my life. I grinned at him and he grinned back. I immediately felt Gabriel tense next to me but who cared about him.

"She is finally here. The third Guardian. Santana Marino." Cedric announced ceremoniously. "And this," he waved towards the door and Finn entered with a sheepish grin on his face. "is her brother, Finn, a seer."

There was a rumble of murmuring in the room.

"Santana, this is the community I told you about but not all is are here, the vampires have gone hunting. Most of the supernaturals you see here are werewolves, werefoxes, a banshee, hunters, wisemen and some vampires." He smiled at me warmly. "Welcome home."

I looked around the table and most of the people were beaming, waving, winking and grinning at me. There were even children.

I was in a place where everyone liked me, where no one judged me. A place were I fit in. A place I could be a psycho but people would not throw food at me or give me wedges. A place with no academic hazards.

I realized pukeface was right, I was home. I looked at my brother and the expression on his face mirrored mine, we were home.