The Guardian's Keeper (The Guardian Trilogy, Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

influence them when he was dead?” Claire looked for further clarification.
    Nikoli put his head in his hands, running his fingers through his brunette locks as he searched for the right words to explain it. Claire found herself wanting to run her fingers through his thick hair, and the thought both delighted and horrified her at once. She almost visibly shuddered while trying to shake off the thought, but still, this guy was not only a real vampire, but a handsome one at that. When did this happen? She asked herself. When did he go from terrifying kidnapper to nice, hot guy with fangs? Oh wait, when it turned out he was telling her the truth he was a vampire. Claire blushed slightly as she cast a quick glance at Nikoli. He caught her look and blushed himself but looked away quickly before they held eye contact.
    “ It is commonly referred to as an essence,” Nikoli went on, composing himself again, staring at the table in front of him. Joyce seemed not to notice the odd moment that had just passed between the two. “It was not his spirit, exactly, but more his will. He could not influence any of those he’d turned in any fashion outside of working to resurrect him. It’s as if his will became a separate entity when he died and could exert force over those beneath him in his bloodline. All of us vampires are somewhat connected to our makers- we can feel it if they are in extreme circumstances, for example, but we are unable to force those we have turned to follow our will. Stavros, due to the demi-God magic coursing through his undead veins, was able to call the underlings of his bloodline to do his bidding.” Nikoli turned his gaze back to Joyce, encouraging her to pick up the story again.
    “So, where were we?” Joyce resumed her narration. “ Circe instructed Nikolai that he was to take the remaining Fang down to a village half a day’s journey away. He was to find Agacio’s remaining son and tell him everything. Nikolai was to place the Fang in the son’s care, and the son was to be the Keeper of the Fang of Stavros, the human who safeguarded it. It was also Circe’s will that a vampire watch over and guard the Keeper in case the underlings of Stavros’ bloodline, or Myrmidons as she called them, came to reclaim it to raise their Master. Circe named Nikolai the Guardian of the Keeper, the vampire to watch over and protect the Keeper of the Fang of Stavros. To help protect the Keeper from the vampires’ power of persuasion Circe spelled the remaining Fang to protect whoever held it from persuasion. The job of Keeper, and also the Guardian, was to be passed down through the bloodline of both Agacio and Nikolai. It was Circe’s will and as a Goddess her word was law.” Joyce paused to sip her tea, watching Claire over the rim. She placed it down softly and leaned towards Claire.
    “ So of course Nikolai did just as Circe commanded and burned Stavros’ body. Circe took the skull herself, to hide away in a place only she knew of. Nikolai followed her command and gave the Fang, and the story, to Agacio’s only child, a son about 14 years old. Nikolai watched over him every night, working to fulfill his duty as Guardian of the Keeper. Do you know now how this pertains to you, Claire?” Joyce asked.
    Claire shook her head, feeling a sense of dread. She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear what came out of Joyce’s mouth next.
    Joyce drop ped her voice to a conspiratorial level and leaned further across the table towards Claire. “You, Claire Raymond, are the Keeper of the Fang of Stavros now, and Nikolai here is your Guardian.”

Chapter 5
     
    “Look,” Claire began, now feeling sorry for Joyce and Nikoli rather than afraid of them. “I don’t know anything about Keepers or Guardians and I don’t have this Fang. My family is dead- I need to go back home and begin making arrangements for their final services.” Tears began flowing freely down Claire’s cheeks but she did not give into a total emotional