I stood in front of the seemingly endless hallway.
It’s long golden carpet going on for days; it’s startlingly beautiful silver chandlers, its many rows of tables with bright crimson table clothes and blue roses lining the room.
And the many smiling and or frowning, envious faces of those I know.
My name is Alexandra crownwell and I’m about to be branded…marked for forever.
Mr. Jameson; a friend of my fathers and also the leader of this ceremony approached where I stood on the stage, I wore a sterling silver dress that fell a little beyond my knees but clung to my body quite nicely. I wore my long dark hair down, gracefully parted over both my shoulders and my makeup was glittery and silver to accommodate my dress.
I wore heels for the first time in a long time; the long silver straps went half way up my leg and the heel on it made me at least three inches taller.
The music that was being played by a pianist in the background stopped and the room hung silent. I looked straight back, trying to ignore the hundreds of people now staring at me and Mr. Jameson ushered me towards him. I swallowed hard and hesitantly walked over to the middle of the stage, and stood on his left, many cameras flashed and I was surprised the glare didn’t blind me.

“Friends, family, and fellow members of this earth” Mr. Jameson started with, he mused at the chuckles he got from some of the audience “We are all here on the glorious day to celebrate a day we’ve all be waiting for” he turned to look at me and smiled, the smile didn’t exactly creep me out, just made me uncomfortable. “We are here to celebrate Alexandra becoming a guardian at long last” the crowd started to erupt into applause and I felt blood fill my cheeks. “Now because of her morals she inherited from her mother” My own eyes as well as lots of others fallowed my mother in the middle of the room, she blushed scarlet and gave a simple wave “She refuses to have her mark done by her former instructor, instead she has chosen to have a friend, a lover if you will and also the person she will be guarding, do her marks for her” he smiled at me again and raised his voice so everyone could defiantly hear him “Mr. Jessie Ashford” one of the spotlights averted from me and landed on him…the utter perfection that was my best friend…my forever.
He wore a crimson dress shirt that matched the table cloths and black dress jeans, his hair was swept back over his eyes and he walked towards the stage, the blood burning in his cheeks.
“Now as I mentioned; Mr. Ashford is going to be Alexandra’s charge after tonight, she has been training as a guardian for almost two years now and gained her charge earlier this summer” this was true. Jessie and I have been best friends for a long time, and became romantically entangled recently, he was an Ashford, which was a powerful, magical family which meant he would be assigned a guardian at a young age, I on the other hand…had guardian blood running threw my veins.


Mr. Jameson handed Jessie a small dagger; its diamond incrusted handle, sterling silver blade, and white light shine, Has done its part to give many guardians there marks.
Jessie stood behind me; gently running his finger tips down my spine with a smile, “Now Mr. Ashford, I want you to repeat after me as you slowly give Alexandra her mark of promise”.
Jessie swallowed and nodded his head; he slowly swept the hair away from my neck and positioned the tip on my skin. “I Jessie Alexander Ashford”
Jessie Gulped and gently stuck the daggers tip into my skin; I whimpered gently and in the corner of my eye I’d seen Jessie’s face go Pale “I Jessie Alexander Ashford”
“Promise to always in trust you with my life”
Jessie brought his lips to my ear as he dug the next line into my neck; his voice turned soothing…he was trying to subside the pain “Promise to always in trust you with my life” his voice was determined and I felt his other hand come to my own and rub gently.
“Now Alexandra, repeat after me” the room went silent for a while and I felt a drop of my blood drip down my neck into the back of my dress “I Alexandra Nicole Crownwell”
I swallowed back tears as the wound burned “I Alexandra Nicole Crownwell”
Mr. Jameson nodded to Jessie as he dug another line into my neck, the mark wasn’t big but it had to be done slowly “Promise to care for and protect Jessie Alexander Ashford with my life”
This part I didn’t have trouble saying; even before finding out I would be Jessie’s guardian I promised to protect him, I caught his gaze in the corner of my eye “Promise to care for and Protect Jessie Alexander Ashford with my life” Jessie cut another little line into my skin and I felt another drop of blood run down my dress.

“Now being this is a romantic doing, I want you both to repeat after me” me and Jessie both gave small nods.
“I will always remain in your life”
Jessie added another line and I squeezed my eyes shut for a small moment “I will always remain in your life” We said in synchronization and my heart thumped at the words.
“I will never go away” Jessie finished and brought the blade away from my skin to replace it with a cool towel.
“I will never go away” we said again together as I was turned to face Jessie, His eyes looked sickened about what he just had to do, but they also burned with passion…desire.
“I will always remain by your side”
Jessie bit his lower lip and grabbed my hand; lacing his fingers with my own.
“I will always remain by your side” we repeated robotically as we held each others gaze, another guardian came to and took the cool towel from my skin, and my new mark burned against the air.
Mr. Jameson smiled “And I will remain yours forever” this wasn’t said at every initiation, only ones like my own and my mothers…who had romantic partners do their mark.
Jessie smiled and squeezed my hand softly “And I will remain yours forever” we both repeated and I bowed my head. Luke warm water wash over me causing my hair to go limp and wash the blood off my skin.
Mr. Jameson nodded and the crowd went into heavy applause; Jessie…Normally being the shy one, pulled me up against him and pressed his lips softly to mine. Forgetting about the newly burning mark, and the hundreds of people staring at us. I kissed him back, gently caressing the side of his face. With the crowd still going crazy Jessie brought his lips to my ear with a smile, I felt his hand trace my arm and he whispered “Forever” the smile was contagious and spread across my face, he squeezed me in his arms “Forever you are mine”