Aurora's POV
On the drive home I looked to see if Peter was still walking , stupid girl, I told myself.
He was nowhere to be seen on the road, did he know a short cut or maybe live nearby. Everyone was very unhappy with the way I was driving, very slow, not my usual.
"What happened?" Ella asked
"Did you get another ticket?, because I would love to dive." Ethan followed reaching to grab the wheel from the passenger seat.
"Is Uncle Ryan gonna make you stop driving if you get another one?" Ella continued.
"No, I just don't know this road that good yet." That worked, a reasonable excuse, right, even if that wasn't the case.
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Peter's POV
She just passed me, I thought I just saw Aurora's car go flying down the road. I was sure if I went a regular pace she would stop and ask me if I wanted a ride, she didn't. She must have been told by that Uncle Ryan guy to stay away from me, her Uncle Ryan seemed angry. I didn't like the idea leaving Aurora alone with such an angry man, what if he hurt her, maybe I could sneak over and check on her later just to make sure, that's not bad just a concerned friend from school thing to do, right.
As I got home Matt was waiting for me as well as our sister Becca and our mom. "What took you so long, bro, you still chasing that new girl?" Matt teased
"Shut up." I said and grabbed a chair and plopped down at the table "Mom I starving, what's for dinner." I wined I seem to do that a lot and without care when it comes to food, and with my Mom.
" You are just going to have to figure it out Becca and I have a meeting tonight." My sister worked for my mom at her interior decorating business, but they didn't usually see clients together.
I pouted my lip out and said "Please."
My mom loves me and whipped up some super yummy burgers before she had to leave "You are such a baby." Matt shook his head at me. It's true though I am the baby even though Matt is only 7 months older, see Matt, Becca and I we are all adopted my mom, she has a heart of gold, and like Matt said I am the baby.
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Aurora's POV
I got ready for the meeting. These meetings are customary and very boring, but when moving to a new gate an angel and a demon will show up explain a little about the gate, blah, blah, blah. This should be a big deal this is "the gate" not the one that Manson guy talks about, although that's where we were for our last assignment. No this is the gate told about in the Ancient Egyptian book of the dead, this is "the" portal to hell. It is the largest gate there is and protecting it is vital to keeping the peace between the two sides. The last time this gate was even watched after was over 200 years ago, it's fairly self sustaining, it's hidden well, so really I do wonder, why it need Keepers now.
Soon my family arrives at "the gate", it looks like a pile of dirt just off the road, and there is a barbed wire fence behind it marking someone's property line. We can see it, my family and I, the tall arches that look alive with black billowing smoke, not rising up just twisting around its self framing the door. A big wood looking door stained in dark red a dark cherry wood finish, the seams of the wood seemed to pulse with something, I wanted to get closer, I always want a closer look, but my uncle as if having the same thoughts said. "Don't get too close we can ask about it soon."
As if on cue two women appeared from seemingly nowhere. One women was tall maybe even taller then me at 5'10", and quite lovley, but looked older maybe in her 50's, I could see right away angel. The other women was young maybe late teens early twentys with blond curly hair and perfect make-up and perfect clothing, demon
"Hello, I am very glad you have accepted our invitation." The older women said
"Yes we are." The young girl repeted.
"As we are glad to have such an honor bestowed to our family." Uncle Ryan stated.
"Who is this?" the angel demanded directing the question to Aurora, "she is the leader after all she needed to say something."
"He is our guardian," I motioned to my Uncle. Keeping my voice steady and strong. Each group of keepers has a guardian until they are ready to take on all of what it means to be a keeper, or really for us become actual adults, since none of us had reached the age of 18 yet. Guardians are usually retired keepers, keepers are retired when members of their group die and they can't or will not be put with another group, or they are too old to continue, that doesn't happen often keepers usually have short lifespans, you know constant danger from angels demons and crazy cults.
"Good." The lovely demon girl stated moving just a little closer, she made me feel just a little uncomfortable and I did my best not to back away. "We can now continue. You are here for two reasons, one to of course protect the gate." She said motioning to the gate this time I noticed Ethan leaning closer to the gate, memorized just as I had been by what that door had oozing on it, or did he hear something, I can't tell. The lovely demon girl moved quickly to Ethan's side she touched his arm very softly and quietly wispered. "Don't listen to them." She then moved back away next to the angle. Well that question is answered.
"And the second," the angel continued as if nothing had happened "You will find and protect the Four Horsemen." So plan and matter of factly stated. I looked around to make sure everyone else was as shock as I was.
"I don't understand, aren't the horseman already in hell?" I asked
"Silly girl the houresman are not the same as other demons they have life spans and die and are reincarnated, most of the time we find them at a young age, but we have only been able to find 1." The demon girl spoke so funny to know she is a demon she really is quite pretty and you could say she looks like an angle, I glanced over to see Ethan had his eyes locked on her, and I couldn't quite read the exprestion on his face. I think I need to ask about this later.
"Wait," Uncle Ryan couldn't help but interject, "we have never had to protect demons before." He was angry he is the kind of person that is not very into change. For example our last 5 houses have all been decorated the exact same and everything in its very exact place, hence the massive remodeling when we first move, but at least I can always find things.
"I know this is not something you or very many other keepers have had to do, but it is requested of you by both sides." The angel's voice was calming like she turned on a switch and it made everything ok. Still Uncle Ryan, Lola, and I looked to the twins for verification, they both nodded in unison confirming that indeed both sides were ordering this new mission.
"Ok,"Lola spoke up, "where are the horsemen?"
"We don't know, aside from the one, that is part of your jobs." The demon retorted "and by the way", she looked at my uncle, "they are most certainly not demons." She made sure to add as if calling them demons was an insult
"What can you tell us?" I inquired
"Are they male or female?" Ella asked
"Are they old, or young?" Ethan added
"Do they look different then human" Lola chimed in
"WAIT, I can tell you we believe them all to be teens because of the one we know about, they should all be about the same age, which is why you", she gestured with her hands toward us, "were chosen, we are unsure if they are male or female, and we know they do look very human, but possess ability's. We are fairly certain none of them know what they are yet. It is very important that they do not come into full power before knowing and being trained."
"Don't forget the other important thing," the demon girl nudged the angel. It's funny I have never seen a demon and angle seem to work together so easily
"Oh yes, when you find them protect them and teach them and report only to us." The angle added " Now you" ,she pointed at me, "you are the leader so you will come and meet the one we know about he is the white rider, he is pestilence, or victory, depending on who you talk to. He is also my adopted son, and Becca's adopted brother." Now that is different working together once in a wile was one thing for angels and demons but living and pretending to be a family for who knows how many years now that's commitment.
"Do you accept this assignment?" the angel asked using that calming voice once again.
Like we really have a choice but I guess it's nice to be asked "We accept." My family looked at me a mix of emotions on everyone's faces.
"Good, come to our house tomorrow after school you can meet the white rider." the angle said handing me a piece of paper with an address on it, and then they were gone just as suddenly as they had appeared.
The ride home was completely silent. I wondered if I had been too hasty in accepting this mission, a mission that is not what keepers normally do, or have ever been asked to do, as far as I know. I asked Uncle Ryan if he knew of keppers having to protect the horseman before. He didn't have and answer and pretended to not hear me. When we got home he just went to his room without a word slamming his bedroom door.
This was an honor everyone should be able to see that. I knew I would be successful. I wonder what had happed to keepers who turned down such a task. I had assumed that my family had been asked to guard this gate because of our families reputation, we have never been reprimanded and always did as ordered. In truth it stung just a bit to learn it was our ages that had been the reason for our assignment, no matter we would do this job just like the rest. We will be known as a strong and respected keeper family.
I thought about meeting the white rider pestilence the next afternoon, and about how to go about finding the others and even more perplexing how do you train them. I was sitting at the desk in my room that I share with my sister Lola, the desk was against the only window, so you could look outside while on the computer, Google search save me, I looked up as much as I could on the horseman. I found out we still need to find War, Death, and Plague. Other than that everything else was not necessarily true, for instance I already knew the horseman were reincarnated and born again on earth, there is no such mention of any such legend that I could find, away thing talks about the riders rising from hell.
Tack Tack. I looked up suddenly alert. I glance out of the window and saw a male figure. Crap I almost went to wake Lola but hesitated. I was pretty sure I knew the figure in the dark.
"It is ok child, I just need to talk with you." That voice I knew it, so calming it's the Angel from our last assignment, Dalquiel.
"Why are you here Dalquiel and why did you just summon to me and not the rest of my family?" I inquired
"I do apologize for coming to you in this way my dear, but there is more that I need to inform you about without outside interference," did he mean my uncle. This just became a very secretive meeting. Dalquiel stood in front of me for a long moment and just stared at me.His eyes glowing even in the darkness of the night. He took a deep breath in and exhaled while nodding his head.
Finally he said, "Take my hands." He held out his hands and I wasn't really sure I wanted to take them, but curiosity got the best of me. I stepped closer to Daquiel, he was very well dressed and a handsome angel. As soon as I stepped close enofe he reached out and grabbed my hands.
Then I could see what Danquiel was thinking, or at least what he was projecting for me to see, and hear, I still never fully trust angles or demons. The voice of God was telling all the angels to keep the four horseman safe because there would be a time when they would be needed. He also told them that a piece of each horseman still resides in hell so until those pieses are united with their physical form there is no threat. Then a clip to and angel almost an opposite to Danquiel was saying that it is dangerous to leave the horsemen roaming around earth too dangerous for humanity. Then another angel saying that the horsemen needed to be set out to cleanse the world of what humanity had done to it's self.
As quickly as I had been pulled into Danquiel's thoughts I was back in my yard, still holing his hands. I released Danquiel's hands, the motions making me feel dizzy and I stumbled. Danquiel caught me by the waist and steadied me.
"Are you ok," Danquiel asked looking me in the eyes giving me the chills.
"I'm fine, what was all of that." I was still a little dizzy but I didn't like this angle being so close to me so I stepped away. I noticed Danquiel's shoulders sag just a little as I moved away from him, but he quickly recovered.
"I have shown you all of the knowledge I have on this matter, and want you to know the reasons for keeping the identities of the four a secret, only the two you met have been given authority in knowledge." I had suspected as much that there were people on both sides that wanted more than what they were getting. "I knew you would be the one to bring this to."
I looked down at my feet a little embarrassed, and humbled. "Why me?" I asked. But when I look up he was gone just as before. How confusing, but I did feel a sense of pride that I had known what was as stake, and that I had been chosen, well and my family. Even as young as they are they were thought to be good enofe to do a job no one else could, really it was not just that there age fit the requirements, they were a trusted keeper family.
I headed inside, head held high, a big smile on my face.