BETRAYED EDNAH WALTERS Copyright © Ednah Walters 2011 Firetrail Publishing Logan, UT eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work. Reproducing this book without permission from the author or the publisher is an infringement on its copyright. This book is a work of fiction. The names characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to any actual events or persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental. Firetrail Publishing P.O. Box 3444 Logan, UT 84324 Copyright © 2011 Ednah Walters Al rights reserved. ISBN: 0983429731 ISBN-13: 978-0983429739 Edited by Melissa Maytnz and May Novack Cover Design by Margaret McFarland and Keary Johnson Landon. Keary Johnson Landon. Al Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission, except in the
case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. First Firetrail Publishing publication: August 2011
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DEDICATION This book is dedicated to my two older brothers, Dave and Arthur. Thank you for being there for me when I needed you the most. You are the best brothers a sister could ever have. Dave, may you rest in peace. Arthur, love you, big bro.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS To my editors, Melissa Maytnz and May Novack, and my beta-reader Suzanne Lazear for their wonderful catches, thank you. You guys are gurus at streamlining a manuscript. To the ladies at KWCritgroup—Dawn Brown, Teresa Bel ow, Katherine Warwick/Jennifer Laurens, you guys are amazing. To Mike and my wonderful children, thank you for your unwavering love and support. You inspire me in so many ways Love you, guys.
1. The Phone Call A yel ow Corvette shot past us and sped west on Grizzly Boulevard. I leaned forward and watched it as Remy parked his SUV in the lot across from Cache High. “What a moron,” Sykes said from the back seat. “Someone who totaled his car a few weeks ago shouldn’t be cal ing any driver a moron.” Remy spoke slowly while admiring his new moustache and beard in the rearview mirror. “I didn’t total my car,” Sykes retorted. “It’s just a little dent, something you could fix in your sleep if you weren’t such an ass.” He punched the back of Remy’s seat.
I hid a smile. The way these two traded insults, you’d never guess they were best friends. After knowing them for seven months, I’d reached one conclusion—they were more alike than different. They were single-minded and unstoppable when it came to hunting demons, and both were gorgeous. Sykes was your typical high school hottie— carefree, handsome, long blond hair, scruffily dressed in ripped jeans and tees to downplay his good looks so girls wouldn’t be al over him. His words, not mine. I thought he deliberately tried to be different from Remy, who was a meticulous dresser. Remy also took his job as the leader of our group of teen demon hunters too seriously to obsess over girls, but that didn’t stop him from taking advantage of the ones who drooled over his dreamy gray eyes and smooth goldenbrown complexion. Tuning out their testosterone showdown, my gaze fol owed the yel ow car. Didn’t the driver realize the road was icy? The weather in the Cache Val ey had been weird for months. It snows a lot during winter in northern Utah, but it was April now. We were having an unseasonal steady snowfal with sporadic freezing rain for weeks, creating the one thing I hated the most—black ice. Driving in the snow was a nightmare to begin with, but black ice was worse than a demon in the dead of night. Demons were predictable. They targeted humans to entice them into sel ing their souls and avoided us, the Cardinal Guardians, like the plague. Black-ice, on the other hand, didn’t discriminate. It defied al laws of nature, science, and…oh, no, my physics assignment. Heart racing, I unzipped my backpack and dove inside for the folder. Phew, I had it. I flipped through the pages to make sure I’d stapled them in the right order. Last time I misplaced a page, prune face Sorenson chewed my ear off. Not that he needed an excuse. That teacher had disliked me from day one. He must hate five-foot-nine redheads with unmanageable curly hair and green eyes, or maybe he could tel I wasn’t ful y human. Not that I had the word Nephilim tattooed on my forehead. Some humans, I was learning, were just perceptive. Panicked words slammed into my head and cut into my thoughts. What is he doing… What a douche… He’s going
to kill somebody... Oh man… The guy is nuts… Usual y I had to lock onto people’s psyche to know what they were thinking. This time, the streaming thoughts came at me from everywhere. “Something is wrong.” I didn’t wait to see if Sykes or Remy fol owed, just grabbed my backpack, rushed out of the car and ran toward the street. I tried to locate the source, and almost fel a few times. Cold stung my cheeks and my breath came out in Cold stung my cheeks and my breath came out in cloudy puffs. Then I saw them, students on the sidewalk gesturing wildly toward a yel ow car speeding along Grizzly Boulevard from the west. It was the same Corvette that had shot past us a few minutes ago.
Slow down. I projected the words into the driver’s head. “You were right, Sykes. The driver is a total moron,” Remy said from behind me. I ignored him and continued to send the driver messages.
Slow down before you hurt someone. There’s a stop sign coming up. Step on the stupid brakes. He must have pushed on the brake pedal but was going too fast. His wheels slid and spun. The car careened to the right, did a one-eighty and slid sideways toward the sidewalk. The driver wrestled with the steering wheel, but it was useless. The car kept sliding.
Don’t panic. You can still stop. Pump the brakes. Too bad that same move didn’t work on Grampa’s truck for me two weeks ago. Stay calm.
No matter what happens, don’t panic. “It’s not working,” Remy said. “She’l have to do more than mind-control,” Sykes added. “No, she can’t. Not when demons aren’t involved,” Remy warned. “Of course she can,” Sykes retorted. “When’s the last time the Council’s outdated code stopped us? Besides, the driver is a douche.”
“There are too many witnesses,” Remy snapped. “I can hear you two, you know.” Just because I was sixteen and they were eighteen didn’t mean they had to decide what I should or shouldn’t do. Using my psi abilities in front of people would land me in a heap of trouble with the High Council, the sour-faced Guardians who acted as our watchdogs, but I couldn’t just stand there and do nothing while Remy and Sykes argued. My eyes widened when two girls stepped out from a line of parked cars and started across the crosswalk. This could get bad fast. The girls had their heads pressed close as they giggled over a text message on a cel phone, oblivious to the out-of-control car.
Watch out for the girls, I screamed at the driver. He must have noticed them because whatever calmness my thoughts had given him evaporated. He shifted to ful panic mode, the four-letter curse word he kept repeating echoing in my head. I dropped my backpack. “I’m doing this,” I warned Remy and Sykes. “Fine. We’l cover you,” Remy growled, not sounding happy. Raising my hand, I locked onto the car. Even though I was a strong psi, I hadn’t ful y mastered my telekinetic powers and needed to use my hands to accomplish anything. Remy stood on my left, blocking me from any on-lookers. Sykes guarded my right. Traction increased on the wheels, and the driver’s head snapped backward as I curled my fingers and telekinetical y pul ed the car. Screams from the two girls split the air as they final y realized the danger they were in. Worse, they froze right in the path of the car. Students gawked and pointed as the car jerked and shuddered to a stop a few inches from where the girls cowered in fear. Within seconds, friends rushed forward and surrounded them. The driver’s knuckles were white on the steering wheel, his eyes wide as he stared over his shoulder at the rear end of the car, which was suspended in the air. I quickly lowered my hand until the back tires landed on the snowy gutter, but it was too late. Across the street, two guys pointed at me and whispered excitedly. My bel y clenched. We weren’t going to get out of this mess unless we acted fast. “We have witnesses,” I whispered.
“Take care of them while we do a sweep,” Remy instructed. I listened to the witnesses’ thoughts. They were confused, not sure whether to believe what they just saw. Did I real y stop the car? Was I a witch? Humans’ obsession with witchcraft was hilarious. If only they knew what we were.
Forget what you saw me do. It is not important. We were doing a silly dance. The driver is the hero here. He stopped the car and prevented an accident. Hydraulics caused his car to lift in the an accident. Hydraulics caused his car to lift in the air. Nothing unusual. Guys pimp their rides all the time. The guys’ attention shifted as though prodded. Like the other students, they hurried forward to gawk at the driver, who was getting out of his car. Ah, the power of persuasion at its best. It was my favorite psi ability. Immediately, I stopped feeling co*cky and grimaced. The Guardian Code dictated we use Nephilimic glamour to hide our activities from humans, and I wasn’t supposed to mess with people’s free wil when a demon wasn’t involved. My only hope was the High Council wouldn’t find out about this. Remy patted my back. “Good job. Search for other witnesses.” Pushing my concerns aside, I scanned the thoughts of students within our visual range. No one else noticed my telekinetic move. “I think we’re in the clear.” “I second that,” Sykes said with relief. “No, we’re not,” Remy said, and groaned. “Look behind us.” We turned and echoed his groan. Standing by Remy’s car was a tal skinny man with stringy white hair and beard, his lined face furrowed in disapproval. A flowing linen robe and matching pants barely covered his sandaled feet. He looked like a starved hobo. “Master Haziel,” I whispered and shuddered. This was the first time I broke the Guardian Code in weeks, and he just had to witness it. Way to go, Lil. Students passed the old man without staring or breaking their stride. Haziel’s body dimmed before coming into focus again.
“His astral image,” Remy said. Whether it was the real man or his projection, he instil ed fear in al of us. “I swear Leather Face sleeps with his psi energy tuned to everything we do,” Sykes griped. “Every time we use our powers, he’s there.” A week ago, Izzy, the Cardinal Guardian trainee with the ability to control time and our group healer, mended a kid’s crushed ribs on our way home from school. She saved his life before the paramedics got there, but Haziel stil chewed us out for getting involved. “So what do we do now? Go back to HQ for another lecture?” I asked, the knot in my stomach tightening. “I think he’s just trying to tel us he knows what happened here and that we can’t B.S. our way out of it like the last time,” Sykes whispered, sounding more hopeful than sure. “I’l head back to HQ and explain,” Remy offered, and a sigh escaped me. If anyone could placate the old man, it was Remy. As soon he started for his car, Haziel’s image grew hazy and disappeared. I couldn’t stand Master Haziel. Six months ago, he arrived in the val ey from Xenith, our homeland, with one goal in mind: to make our team the best Cardinal Guardians this world had ever seen. Funny thing though, the others only trained with him twice a week. I worked with him every single day, including Saturdays, and I wasn’t al owed to complain. Whenever I did, he’d bring up al the Cardinal Guardians he’d trained, including my grandfather, the present Cardinal Psi Guardian. How they never complained, were dedicated, blah-blah-this and blah-blahthat. I reached for my backpack from the ground where I’d dropped it. Sykes grabbed it at the same time. “I’l take it,” he said. “I can carry my own bag, Sykes.” “Not over that bulky coat. Just give me the darn thing, Red. I’m freezing my ass off out here.” “Oh, please. You’re no colder than I’d be without this coat.” I stil hated it when he cal ed me Red. My multi-shaded red hair wasn’t something I was proud of, especial y since it
was curly and resistant to flatirons. “So why wear it? There’s a big difference between what we’re supposed to do,” he indicated my bulky coat, “and what I can do.” He spread his arms to indicate his clothes. I scrunched my face at him and let him have his way. Despite the sub-zero temperatures, he wore an unzipped hoody, canvas shoes, and the fingerless gloves he and Remy used to cover their lethal hands. Granted our bodies adjusted fast to extreme temperatures, but we stil had to try and blend in. We started toward the crosswalk as Remy drove past. I hope he convinced Master Haziel I had drove past. I hope he convinced Master Haziel I had no choice. The old man would probably blame me for this. He usual y knew which one of us used his or her power but stil singled me out. The others insisted he picked on me because I was sweet and never talked back. I hated that description. Demon hunters weren’t supposed to be sweet. Besides, I often answered back…in my head. I had a theory why he picked on me—he saw me as the weak link, the youngest and the newest in the group, the one whose powers were stil emerging and was struggling to cope. In fact, the first time we were introduced, he listed every rule I’d broken since I became a Cardinal Guardian trainee several months ago— befriending a half-demon, fighting demons on my own instead of cal ing for help, convincing the trainees to teleport to Los Angeles to rescue my grandfather without the Council’s approval. He even knew I hadn’t wanted to be a Guardian when I first discovered my powers. Impulsive, stubborn, and undisciplined were some of the few words he muttered during training whenever I did something wrong. He should walk in my shoes for just one day before passing judgment. I had lots of things to deal with outside training—high school, boyfriend issues, girlfriend drama. We joined the other early risers hurrying across the street, hunched over to ward off the brutal chil , chins and noses burrowed under thick scarves. No one seemed happy to be back at school after Spring Break. The guy from the Corvette walked past us with the two girls he almost squashed. Listening to their conversation, I wanted to zap him. He just elevated himself to a Grand Prix driver. Although I was happy I prevented a disaster, it made me angry I would probably get an extra half-hour of hel tonight because of him.
Your zipper is down , I projected into his head and suppressed a giggle when his hands flew to his zipper. Now we were even. “You’l be fine,” Sykes said, interrupting my thoughts. I looked up at him. “What?” “You’re worrying and pulsing.” “Oops. Sorry.” I real y must learn to control my emotions. When my powers first emerged, I created a dry storm. I stil shot off pulses of energy whenever I worried. Good thing only the Guardians could feel them. Otherwise everyone in school would have a major headache within the hour. “That’s okay. If anyone can convince the old man we had no choice back there, it’s Remy,” Sykes added, grinning. “I know. I just wish…no, it doesn’t matter. How was hunting last night?” “Boring. We missed you.” He dropped an arm around my shoulders. “Whenever you’re with us, cool things happen.” That was an understatement. “You mean demons come out of the woodwork?” Sykes smirked. “But we get to have some fun smoking them. When wil you start hunting again?” “I don’t know.” I couldn’t mask the sadness in my voice. “Have you asked your grandfather?” I sighed. “He thinks I’m not ready.” Six months ago, we defeated queen of the demons, Coronis, wiped out most of her fol owers, the Hermonites, and left the demon world without a strong leader. Since then, no overzealous dark lord had tried to take over or fil the vacuum left by her death. No seemingly natural disasters kil ing hundreds and thousands of people had occurred either. According to my grandfather, even lowranked fiends weren’t going after human souls. It was weird. Hunting down the bad Nephilim, the evil branch of our race, or demons as humans cal ed them, was the reason we Guardians existed. We got back our own salvation and grace by saving humanity. Demons hope to get theirs by hoarding human souls and destroying humanity. To do that they needed
more power, more fol owers, so they even stooped to kidnapping Guardians and either brainwashing them or draining their powers. Coronis took it a step farther and created a new breed of demons by cross-breeding regular demons with various abilities. The results were the nature-benders, the meanest and baddest of the demons, the ones manipulating nature, making most hurricanes and earthquakes, wildfires and snowstorms. Stil , they were no match to us. We were more like Teen Titans to their Deathstroke, Superman to their Lex Luthor, Batman to their Joker, Wolverine, my al time favorite fantasy hero, to their Sabertooth. Sabertooth. But I had other things to worry about. As the wielder of the Nephilim’s sacred and most powerful weapon, the Kris Dagger, a demon lord could capture and use me to solidify his or her claim as the new leader. After I was targeted while hunting, Grampa put a stop to my covert activities. I wish he’d see that keeping me a prisoner wouldn’t stop a determined demon. Sykes squeezed my shoulder. “Listen, I shouldn’t have brought it up.” “No, it’s okay,” I said with an indifference I didn’t feel. Hunting was in my blood and I missed it. “But you do want to hunt with us, right?” He sounded hopeful, which made me feel nice. “Of course. Why do you think I train so hard? It’s not only to impress Leather Face.” He chuckled. “No one can.” “I miss daisensei Kenta.” Our former master trainer was now working with the new students at the Guardian Academy. I hadn’t seen him in ages. Sykes grinned. “Yeah, he was cool. Is that al you do while we’re gone? Train?”
“I hang out with McKenzie and Kylie.” They were my closest human friends. He nodded like some sage master. “Nice friends. A little on the slow side, but not bad.” “Disdain toward my friends wil get you blacklisted.” I tried to shrug off his arm. “You know what I mean. How can they not realize you’re different from them?” “Because they focus on what we have in common,” I retorted. I didn’t want them to know I was different. When training and Guardian duties became too much, I counted on my human friends. Their simple existence, teen issues, even senseless bickering added…normalness to my life. Reminded me I was more than a Guardian. I grinned. Actual y, having a human grandmother made me more human than most Guardians, something I rather liked. “What exactly do you have in common with a bunch of girls who worry more about fashion and the next episode of some contrived TV drama?” “A lot. Just like Bran and I do,” I added and gave Sykes a beatific smile, knowing he hated hearing about my boyfriend. “Trying to make me jealous, Red?” He narrowed his eyes. “Is it working?” This time, I succeeded in pushing his arm away. He made a face. “I stil don’t get what he has that I don’t. He’s anal, arrogant, a cheesy dresser….” Sykes continued to list more things he considered wrong with my boyfriend, which were al ridiculous. Bran was amazing. We were alrunes, soul-mates, the yin and the yang. It didn’t matter that until seven months ago he was a ful -blown demon. We completed each other. “And he has no sense of humor whatsoever,” Sykes finished with a smirk. I laughed. “Because he doesn’t laugh at your lame jokes?” “Lame jokes? I’m charming, witty. Ask any one of my girlfriends. He thinks I’m a threat. He knows you like me.” He tugged on a curly lock of my hair.
I pushed his hand away. “Quit messing with me.” “You like me, Red,” he said in a sing-song tone. Okay, so it was true Sykes was charming. With amber eyes that changed from yel ow to gold depending on his mood, and a body like a wel -oiled machine, he was gorgeous in his own way. But Sykes wasn’t Bran. Bran was super hot. He was six-foot-two with lean masculine body, long wavy hair the color of midnight and eyes that were nothing like my moss-green ones. Emerald green, I cal ed them. Once a demon, he was now the youngest Cardinal Guardian in the history of the Guardians. At nineteen, he already hunted with men and women ten times his age. His grandfather, a Cardinal Water Guardian, and grandmother were unfortunate enough to be captured by Coronis, who used their only son in her evil breeding program. Bran and his brother and sister were the result of that union. I loved that despite being born and raised among demons, he chose a different path and became a Guardian. I felt his psi energy brush against mine and looked up. My heart skipped a beat then thundered.
Bran. He stood to the far left of the school entrance, his hands in the front pockets of his pants, hooded eyes on us. Like Sykes, he didn’t bother with winter clothing, just a black turtle-neck under a matching clothing, just a black turtle-neck under a matching leather trench coat. The dark clothes and his luxurious raven hair only drew attention to his striking, angular face. Now I knew the reason behind Sykes’ behavior. He never missed an opportunity to try and make Bran jealous. Too bad his attempts never worked. Bran and I shared a bond that went beyond that of a normal boyfriend and girlfriend, beyond our Nephilim abilities or individual powers. Our psi energies were so perfectly matched we felt each other’s emotions no matter how far apart we were. I hurried toward him. Bran extended his hand to me, his eyes not leaving my face. Our fingers interlocked and he tugged me into his arms. I wrapped mine around his waist. Words weren’t necessary when there were so many ways we communicated with each other. His pine scent enveloped
me, making me excited, happy and nervous al at the same time. My reaction to him was weird, but it was something I accepted as a fact of life. He lifted my chin, brushed hair from my face, and briefly pressed his lips against mine. My lips tingled and butterflies danced in my stomach. He stopped kissing me before I could respond and searched my face, his emerald eyes swirling pools of concern. You okay? I grinned. I am now. I missed you over the weekend.
Where were you? He stroked my face with the tips of his fingers and tucked another stray curly lock behind my ear, a smile I couldn’t read playing on his lips.
Taking care of something. I missed you too, that’s why I’m here. He glanced over my shoulder, his eyes narrowing. “You can put her backpack down, Sykes.” “What? No thank you for my gentlemanly act?” His tone was sarcastic, making it hard to tel whether he was genuinely annoyed or faking it. Bran ignored Sykes, lowered his head and kissed me again, the way he usual y did when we were alone. Angling his head, he deepened the contact. I forgot about Sykes as the world tilted and I floated to a zone fil ed with sensations and warmth. I stopped caring about who might be watching as our psi energies mingled until it was impossible to tel where he ended and I began. A jarring ring resounded in my ears. That was unusual. But then again, each moment in Bran’s arms was different and more exciting than the last. My arms tightened around him. He broke the contact to whisper, “Your cel phone.” I didn’t care. Besides, it stopped ringing and Sykes was gone. Not that I had a problem kissing Bran in front of Sykes. Kiss me again. Bran chuckled. Later. I opened my eyes and searched his face, my heart pounding hard. “Does that mean I’l see you tonight?” I whispered in a breathless voice, which made him smile and me blush. I didn’t care. “That depends,” he teased.
I tugged at his shirt. “Stop teasing.” “Yes, you wil .” He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and picked up my backpack with his other hand. We started for the school entrance. “And at lunch if you’d like,” he added. “Of course I would. At the cafeteria?” He grimaced. “I don’t think so. I’l pick you up outside the school. We’l go somewhere special.” I grinned. “Our place on the eastern bench?” “Don’t you think it’s too cold?” he asked, a smile in his voice. “I don’t care. Somewhere warm?” He planted a kiss on my temple, and I felt his lips curl into a smile. “Your grandfather would dispatch me straight to Tartarus if I teleport with you outside the val ey.” Could Grampa real y do that? Tartarus was the dark pit where our forefathers, the fal en angels, were banished. Once a demon switched sides, could they be vanquished and sent there? That was something to think about. I pressed my head against Bran’s shoulder and sighed. “I miss our lunches on the beach… dinners at trendy restaurants.” He chuckled. “Using your powers on a clueless maitre d’ or hostess and getting us a reservation?” Breaking rules without being detected was my specialty, until today. I sighed, remembering al the cool places we used to visit. I never go anywhere anymore. I feel like a
prisoner here in the valley, Bran. I know, Sunshine. It’s only temporary. I know, Sunshine. It’s only temporary. My cel phone rang again. I reached inside the pocket of my coat for the annoying instrument and checked the identity of the cal er. The word Restricted flashed on the screen instead of a number. The only reason I owned the cel phone was to blend in, and I only used it to stay in touch with my human friends. None of them had a restricted number. I pressed the green button and brought the phone to my ear. “Yes?” “Good morning, Lilith.”
My heart dropped to the soles of my boots. Only one person used my birth name. I swal owed though my throat felt like sandpaper, my grip tightening around the phone. “I know you’re stil there, daughter.” “Lil?” Bran’s voice fil ed with concern, his gaze on the cel phone. “Who is it?”
Valafar. A powerful nature-bender and the one demon I tried not to think about, let alone acknowledge. The flash of anger in Bran’s eyes didn’t surprise me. He knew how much I hated my birth father. Valafar kil ed my mother and grandmother in a blind rage when I was three. Granted, he thought he was avenging my death at the time. Stil , I’d always hold him responsible. I moved jerkily from Bran’s side and hurried down the ramp and away from him, almost bumping into students walking toward the school entrance. I kept walking. My hand grew clammy around the phone. “How did you find my number?” “Why haven’t you cal ed me?” Valafar demanded. “Cal you? I don’t want to have anything to do with you.” “I put my phone number on the card with the gifts I sent you,” he snapped impatiently. “Your mother’s pictures, home movies she made before you were born and afterwards. Didn’t you receive them?” My heart skipped a beat. Mom. To actual y watch her, hear her voice would be the best gift in the world. I blew out air and shook my head. No, this was wrong. This was Valafar’s attempt to manipulate me, maybe create trouble between me and my grandfather by implying Grampa hid things from me. “What do you want? I already made it clear I don’t want anything to do with you. I chose to stay with my grandfather and work with the Guardians,” I retorted. “Decisions made when you are emotional y distraught are hardly ever sound, Lilith. I should know.” I could not believe he brought that up. “Don’t ever cal me—” “Tel your grandfather to contact me.” “No,” I snapped.
“This is important. He must stop searching for the List. It concerns your safety.” “Stay. Out. Of. My. Life.” I ended the sentence in a yel and closed the phone. My knees shook so hard I leaned against the wal for support I jumped when the phone started to ring again. It was him, again.
Leave me alone. I resisted the urge to smash the cel phone on the ground and crush it with the heel of my boot. Instead, I pressed the power button and shoved it inside my pocket. I felt the reassuring brush of Bran’s energy before his arms wrapped around me and pul ed me into his chest. I turned, buried my face into his neck, and held him tight. Whatever Valafar’s motive, I wasn’t going to be suckered into listening to him. No way. The phone started to ring again.
2. Medium I fished the cel phone from my coat pocket, my heart pounding. Yanking the battery out didn’t stop the ringing. “How’s he doing this when it has no battery?” I whispered. “He’s not.” Bran stopped scrutinizing the students near us like they were escaped felons and focused on me. “Let me take care of him.” I hesitated, hating to depend on anyone, even Bran, to take care of my problems. “Please,” Bran added softly, understanding my reluctance. I shoved the phone in his hand. Images of TVs turning on and phones ringing when unplugged zipped through my head. Spirits did things like that in movies, except I now know that in real life spirits were mainly demons causing mischief. Valafar could be using glamour to hide among the students. Or maybe he had the ability to become invisible. As a nature-bender, there was no tel ing what other weird powers he had. “Stop using a medium to spy on her!” Bran snarled into the receiver. Of course, mediums. There were no invisible beings playing with my cel phone. I real y must stop watching horror movies. I studied the students hurrying into the building and the ones
visible through the glass wal s. They stood in groups in the lobby catching up on holiday news. Others were on their phones, talking or texting. My gaze connected with a few and I lowered my shield and linked to their minds. Thoughts and emotions slammed into my psyche—worries about boyfriends and girlfriends, family and school, fashion, video games, sports, being too fat, too short, too tal …. I broke the links and exhaled sharply. Whoa, talk about major issues. My knowledge about mediums was limited, but I knew they weren’t easy to spot. No physical abnormality marked them as special. They weren’t evil either, just unfortunate to have the ability to act as a conduit for the supernatural world. People considered them seers or psychics. Unfortunately, demons also used the exceptional y gifted. “Leave her alone. She doesn’t want anything to do with you,” Bran shouted into the phone. My attention shifted to Bran. His eyes had taken the stormy green tinge of the North Atlantic Ocean, which usual y spel ed trouble. “You don’t have anything that I need, Valafar,” he added in a cold, harsh voice I heard him use only once—when I’d refused to help him after we first met. He yanked the phone from his ear, threw it on the ground, and stomped on it. “Hey! What are you doing?” I snapped. “I’l get you a new one,” Bran growled. Any second, I expected his eyes to glow red. Bran was usual y calm and in control, even when angry. “No, that’s okay. I’l tel Grampa I lost it or something.” He gave the phone one last kick and I knew I had to do something. I reached for his left hand and sandwiched it between mine. Fury mixed with fear flowed from him into me. I closed my eyes and let my energy overlap with his, soothing and showering him with al the love from every cel in my body until he was calm. The expression on his face, when he final y looked at me, was sheepish. He forked his fingers through his raven locks. “I don’t know why I did that,” he murmured. “I don’t know why I did that,” he murmured. “I do.” I interlocked our fingers and studied his face.
“Valafar brings out the worst in everyone.” “You can say that again.” A muscle ticked on his jaw. “He thought he could bribe me.” “Oh please. With what?” “Exactly. He has nothing I need.” Bran peered at me. “What did he say to you?” “He wanted to talk to Grampa about my safety. As if Grampa would give him the time of day. He also said he sent more of my mother’s things to the house. But I haven’t received anything.” Bran’s eyes grew stormier. He reached down with his free hand and plucked my backpack from the ground, where he’d dropped it then glanced at his watch. “I’l walk you to your class.” I didn’t feel like going to school. Buses were at the curb, dropping off more students, which meant I had less than five minutes to get to my class. Maybe I should ditch school. “You must tel your grandfather about this,” Bran said. “No.” I shook my head. “Grampa can never know about the cal .” “Why not?” A frown settled on Bran’s handsome face. “Because he’l tighten security around me, put me under surveil ance or something.” “And what’s wrong with that?” he snapped. Frustration gripped my throat in a chokehold, cutting off my breath. I hated it when we argued. Not wanting to break down in front of him and the entire school, I let go of his hand, crossed my arms, and glared. “Lil,” Bran sighed. “It’s not fair that I’m closely guarded and not al owed to hunt with the others. I might have been reluctant to be a Guardian in the beginning, but it’s al I think about now. I need to be out there. And you….” I narrowed my eyes and poked his chest. “You should know just how much I miss hunting without me trying to knock it into your head. You’re supposed to be in tune with my emotions,” I finished, speaking through clenched teeth.
“I am,” he protested, reaching for me. “Don’t.” My voice was sharp, but I didn’t care. I took a step away from him. “You don’t understand. The last three months have been a nightmare. I never go anywhere or do anything. Learning about Valafar’s cal wil only give them an excuse to keep me under lock and key.” “But it’s for your own good, and you stil need to train more.” He glanced at the students hurrying past us and lowered his voice. “I would rather you hunt after you master your powers so that you’re prepared and won’t be vulnerable to the overzealous demons seeking to claim the Kris Dagger and its wielder.” Why did he have to sound like Haziel? It made me want to scream. “I’l never be done with training,” I ground out. “No matter how hard I work or how many chal enges I pass, nothing I do is ever good enough for Haziel.” Bran didn’t speak. He just stared at me with a thoughtful expression as though trying to understand. “Don’t you dare take his side,” I added, kicking at the snow and spraying his polished boots. “You’re supposed to be on mine.” Bran swept strands of hair from my face then tipped my chin so I could look into his eyes. His gaze didn’t waver. “I’l always be on your side, Lil. Just like I’l always love you and do everything in my power to protect you.” My resentment melted. I was stil amazed at how he made me angry one second then turned around and took my breath away the next. Instead of going to school, I wanted to grab him and teleport home so we could make out. I hadn’t seen him in three days. Three, long, agonizing days. Maybe I could fake a headache. “Lil?” The warning in Bran’s voice pul ed me out of my daydream. I couldn’t remember moving, yet my hand now rested on his chest, just above his heart. Moving closer, I grinned. “I don’t like that look in your eyes,” he said, leaning back.
“I’m not feeling wel , that’s al . The headaches are coming back.” I got them before my powers first appeared and right afterwards, but not anymore. Bran frowned, studying me with narrowed eyes. Got him. “I haven’t had them in while, but whenever I’m stressed out, I get them. Valafar’s medium must be close by.” Bran chuckled, dimples flashing. My insides Bran chuckled, dimples flashing. My insides went mushy. Sunbeams after a stormy afternoon couldn’t rival that smile of his, or what it did to me. “I know what you’re doing, and it’s not going to work. You’re not ditching school.” He swung my backpack over his shoulder. “But wouldn’t you love me to?” He reached for my hand and pressed it on his chest. “You feel that?” His heart raced hard. It stil surprised me I had that kind of effect on him. I nodded. “That should tel you al you need to know, but we’re not going home. I have an errand to run,” he added, using the phrase we’d coined for going after a demon. “I could always zap you and change your mind for you.” Another smile lit up his handsome face. “Okay. Do it.” “Real y?” He burst out laughing. I elbowed him. He didn’t even have the decency to flinch, the tease. “Watch it, buddy. You’re close to joining the Council, Haziel and Grampa on my special list.” He co*cked his right eyebrow. “And what list is that?” “People trying to control my life.” “I’d never do that. Come on. I’l walk you to your class. And before you ask, I’ve cast glamour strong enough to fool both the security guards and the teachers.” Last time he forgot, he was busted by the school’s police officer outside my class. I had to step in and diffuse the
situation. Glamour shielded Guardians so humans only saw or heard what we al owed, but it took years of practice to get it right. Bran was so lucky he could already do it at such a grand scale—and didn’t have to go to school. “I wasn’t going to ask,” I said with a pout. “Yes, you were. You’re stubborn and a perfectionist, and when things don’t go your way, you throw a fit.” “Do not.” I elbowed him. He kissed my temple. “Do too, and I love it, especial y when it’s directed at Sykes.” He was right. I could be very stubborn when mad, but I drew a line at throwing fits. “Watch it with the veiled insults.” “Compliments.” I remembered the crushed cel phone, ran back, and scooped it up. It looked like roadkil and belonged in the garbage. I dropped it in the pocket of my coat. When Bran took my hand and tugged me closer, I sagged against his side and sighed. “And for the record, I refuse to add Valafar to that list. He’l give up once he realizes I’ve no interest in having a relationship with him.” “Don’t underestimate him. He’s not the type to give up easily.” I wrinkled my nose. “Thanks for making me feel better.” “I’m just being realistic. When I lived on Coronis Isle, I never heard anyone mention Valafar having children. Coronis didn’t al ow nature-benders to breed unless she authorized it, which is why Valafar kept you and your mother a secret. You might be his only child.” That would be weird, or maybe not. I always longed to be part of a large family. “And you’re tel ing me this because…?” “You need to know what you’re up against—a man determined to claim you. Using a medium shows just how desperate he’s become, which brings up something you must consider. The medium he’s using is someone close to you.” I stopped walking, shook my head. “No way.” “How do you think he got your number? How many people have it?”
“Four.” Al of them close friends—humans. Bran lowered his voice as he added, “Check with them and see if one has had blackouts, headaches, or heavy nosebleeds.” I blinked, a bad feeling washing over me. “What are you talking about?” “Symptoms of demonic channeling. Most mediums channeling for other beings tend to be okay, but the ones demons use usual y end up in a psyche ward or with a brain tumor.” The thought of something like that happening to one of my friends left me cold. “Are you sure?” Would I lie about something this serious? he telepathed. We continued inside the building. Sykes was long gone, and I didn’t see Izzy and Kim anywhere. long gone, and I didn’t see Izzy and Kim anywhere. Just as wel they were stil at home. I wasn’t ready to tel them about Valafar and the possibility that one of my friends was a medium. Psych ward. Brain tumor. I shuddered as Bran’s words echoed inside my head. I forced myself to focus on my surrounding. Familiar faces leaped out from the throng. Most were children of Civilians, Nephilim with just enough powers to join the High Council but not the Cardinal Guardianship program. A few of them were first year Cardinal Guardian trainees. They were al sixteen-year olds fresh from Xenith with new powers who attended the academy in the evenings. Here, in the regular human high school, they stood out in their expensive, new outfits and looked a little lost. I stil thought making us attend regular high school to learn how to blend with humans was ridiculous. They waved shyly at us. I nodded and smiled back. The hero-worshipping gleam in their eyes was unnecessary. The other trainees and I did what we had to do to rescue my grandfather and destroy Coronis. Somehow we’d been elevated to legends. I doubted they’d stil think highly of me once they learned about Valafar. For now, only a select few knew he was my father. Stares fol owed us as we headed to my locker, then my math class. The gawking didn’t bother me now as much as
it did when I was new. Then the draw had been my five-nine height, unusual, multicolored red hair and the gypsy clothes and accessories, which I loved to wear. Bran’s startling gorgeous looks were the eye-magnet now. I hugged his arm tighter. Outside my Pre-calc class, we stayed by the wal and ignored the students scuttling past us. “What are you going to do about the presents?” he asked. That was the one subject I didn’t want to discuss. “What else can you tel me about mediums?” “That was it, but the Academy library might have books on them. Someone hid the presents from you,” Bran added. I sighed. “Probably Grampa. But that’s okay because I don’t want them anyway.” “You love presents. I remember you hopping around like a bunny during Christmas.” “Bunny?” I pushed him with my shoulder. “I know Valafar said they were Mom’s things and everything about her fascinates me, but he’s only using them to get to me. If I accept them, I’l only be drawn into his web.” Valafar sent me a gypsy dress, one of my mother’s, right after the battle on Coronis Isle. I was tempted to keep it, but logic prevailed and I burned it. Bran squinted, and I wondered if he was thinking about that first present too. I tugged at his arm. “You’re dying to say something. Out with it.” “Are you tel ing Sykes and the others about this?” Despite his question, I knew he had something else on his mind. “I don’t know.” “Then talk to your grandfather. I don’t mind being your confidant, but the more people who know what Valafar’s up to, the less chance he has of surprising us. Besides, you want to know why he’s concerned about your safety.” “No…yes…I don’t know.” I would never forgive him for kil ing my mother, but at the same time, I understood he thought he was avenging my murder. I couldn’t trust someone so evil. “I’l think about it.” The first bel rang, and the students in the hal way filed into
their respective classrooms. I glanced inside mine. The teacher was already there. “I’ve got to go.” “I know. I’l see you at lunch.” He caressed my cheek then reached down and pressed a quick kiss on my lips. Be good, he added as he walked down the hal way.
Aren’t I always? No. Tell Sykes to fix his car. I shook my head. Are you jealous of him?
No. You’re mine. He’s merely a gnat I’d smash if I could get away with it. I grinned and watched him walk away. I loved everything about him. His graceful walk, the midnight black hair, cut short in the back and long in front. Those brooding emerald eyes that hinted at dark mysteries. He had the most beautiful lips in the entire world. Girls who passed him turned to check him out.
Eyes forward. He’s taken. He must have heard me because he chuckled. Go to class, Sunshine. His psi energy brushed against mine, lingered, then he teleported. I brushed against mine, lingered, then he teleported. I shook my head. Glamour or not, he took too many chances. One day someone would notice. I entered the class just as the second bel rang. Only then did I realize I hadn’t asked Bran where he’d been over the weekend. *** The morning dragged. I kept thinking about Valafar and what he wanted from me. I didn’t buy his claim that he was concerned about my safety. He wasn’t aware I existed until seven months ago. Nor did I know he was alive and a powerful nature-bender. Yet within a week of learning of my existence, Valafar lured my grandfather into a trap and kidnapped him to get to me. The battle that fol owed once we caught up with him and the way I almost lost Bran and Grampa stil gave me nightmares. At least we freed Bran, his sister Celeste, and his brother Gavyn from Coronis’ influence. How Valafar escaped the destruction of the island was stil a mystery.
Obviously, he forgot my grandfather’s warning to stay away from me. Not that I expected a demon of Valafar’s caliber to take an aging Cardinal Guardian seriously. My grandfather was two-hundred-and-seventy-something years old, middle age by Nephilim standards, but compared to Valafar, Grampa was old. Then there was the question of which one of my friends was a medium. I needed to find a way to ask them if they’ve had the symptoms Bran mentioned without appearing nosy and before they went crazy. I shuddered at the thought. Valafar must be stopped. “Earth to Lil Falcon...earth to Lil Falcon….” I cringed and peered at Mr. Sorenson. He was stil in front of the class, but it wouldn’t be long before he was in my face. The entire class turned to look at me. “Do you think you can pul your attention from your doodling and answer the question?” “What question?” The class snickered. Today was a real y bad day to mock me. I didn’t want to do this, but…. Shut up! Everyone stopped laughing.
Face forward. They turned away from me and faced the board. Power of persuasion to the rescue again. Hopeful y, the amount of energy I used was too low to be detected by our security, the Civilian Psi team, or Leather Face. I was already in trouble for the rescue I pul ed outside the school. “The one we’ve been discussing at length for the last fifteen minutes,” Mr. Sorenson continued. “Would you like to answer it or would you prefer to share the masterpiece you’re working on with the class?” He started walking toward me and I cringed. I couldn’t deal with another humiliating moment at the hand of this teacher. The page in front of me had drawings of demons with batwings and horns, raven heads, and black eyes. At the top, the name Valafar was underlined several times. I crunched it on the sly and slipped it in my pocket. “Can you repeat the question?” I asked.
“Why would a car traveling at a constant speed have different velocities?” I hadn’t the faintest idea. Trying not to panic, I located Christian, the class genius, and read his thoughts. “If it’s moving in a circle?” “And why is direction important when it comes to velocity and not speed?” I had no idea. Once again, I stole from Christian’s head. “Because velocity depends on direction while speed doesn’t? I mean, velocity is a vector quantity while speed is a scalar.” I held my breath then smiled in relief when he turned and headed back to the board. That was close. Seriously, the teacher needed to stop picking on me. One of these days, I’d zap him. My mind drifted to Valafar and the medium mystery. An idea about how I’d find answers started to form in my head. The problem was, once I found out which one of my friends was his channel, I had no clue what to do next. I couldn’t imagine opening up to humans about what I was, let alone my demonic father. Identifying the medium could prove harder than I’d thought. *** I put my folder away, grabbed my coat, and raced to the front of the school. Students fil ed the hal way, some heading to lunch, others to their next class. The ones who went home for lunch or grabbed something at nearby fastfood joints stood in the something at nearby fast-food joints stood in the foyer and stared glumly at the snow. Already a fresh blanket covered the ground. But the snow wouldn’t bother Bran. If he couldn’t drive, he’d teleport and come get me. Keeping vigil by the wal , I watched the street. Five minutes passed. Wind picked up, sending snow from trees and raised flowerbeds into the air. We were in for a nasty storm and Bran was stil a no-show. A psi scan of the val ey was fruitless. Wherever he was, he was physical y okay. I’d know if he were hurt. Five minutes passed. Another psi scan and disappointment trickled through me.
Grampa was gone, which meant Bran was probably out with the Cardinals, but that was no excuse. It took a fraction of a second to teleport in and out. He should have come to tel me he wouldn’t make it. I removed my coat and left the hal , occasional y glancing back, hoping Bran would appear. Nothing. First, he didn’t show up last weekend, now this. He’d better have an explanation. Dragging my feet, I continued on toward the cafeteria though my appetite was gone. Christian, my source for everything physics, and two of his geek friends stood near the cafeteria entrance when I walked up. They squeezed against the wal to let me pass. I smiled at Christian and waved. Inside the cafeteria, my friends were already eating. Kylie, looking more Gothic than usual in black, and her rocker boyfriend Cade were doing their usual lunchtime routine— cuddling and feeding each other. She went to L.A. to visit her aunt during Spring Break and had a nice tan. Could she be the medium? Kylie befriended me when I was new in the val ey. We parked our trailer next to theirs at an RV park when we arrived in Cache Val ey, before we moved to our house on the eastern bench. Later, she helped me when I couldn’t find my class on the first day of school. She was blunt and funny, but had a morbid interest in the supernatural. As did her boyfriend. I never gave Cade my phone number, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t have learned it from Kylie. Hmm, maybe I should put on my Sherlock Holmes hat and start investigating this medium mess. Feeling a little better about Bran not showing up, I studied the rest of my friends. Seated across from Kylie and Cade were McKenzie, Nikki, and Amelia. Nikki, a Korean-American, and Amelia—Kylie’s cousin—were geniuses and loved everything science, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t be mediums. McKenzie had undergone
another transformation as the semester progressed. Instead of baggy sweatshirts and loose jeans she’d favored after the near-rape by boys under demonic influence, she now preferred skinny jeans and flirty tops. I hoped self-defense lessons had boosted her confidence and not some newfound psychic ability. My gaze connected with Zack’s as I waited in line for my food. He and Nikki broke up months back, and he no longer sat with us even though he stil played in Cade’s rock band. He now ate with his skating buddies. He and Amelia liked each other a lot, but because Nikki was Amelia’s friend, they chose to do nothing about it. I broke my vow not to read my friends’ thoughts after I watched them play eye-tag during lunch. The jury was stil out on whether I should use my abilities and play Cupid. I might have to catch him alone before I exclude him as a suspect. He’d cal ed me a few times looking for Kylie and Cade. Squeals of “I missed you… How was Spring Break…?” fil ed our table when I joined the others. Everyone talked at once, and I lost track of who did what during the break. I sat beside Kylie and waited for my chance. The promise to never use my powers on them became harder and harder to keep. I was close to tel ing them to shut up when Kylie bumped me with her shoulder. “So, what did you do during break?” she asked. Trained and trained until I dropped, but her question gave me the opening I needed. “Nothing exciting, I was s—” “Nothing exciting? With Bran around?” McKenzie wiggled her brow. “We saw you two making out outside.” My cheeks heated. She was always asking about Bran. Her crush on him was so obvious and becoming a bit irritating. If she knew what he was, she’d run in the opposite direction. Heck, if anyone knew what I was, they’d run too. knew what I was, they’d run too. I realized the others were staring at me, probably waiting for a response. I shrugged. “We hung out.” “I’ve been meaning to ask,” McKenzie added, leaning closer. “What kind of a kisser is he? He has the most gorgeous lips ever.”
My jaw dropped at her boldness. “Shut up.” “He does,” Nikki added, giggling. “How does it feel to date him, you know, an older guy?” Amelia asked, pushing her glasses in place. “Seriously guys? Now?” Kylie nodded slyly toward her boyfriend. I sighed with relief when they stopped. Bran was my first boyfriend, so this crazy need of my friends to know everything about us was foreign to me. “Actual y, I was sick during the break,” I lied, seizing the moment. “It was horrible, especial y the headache.” “Sounds like flu.” Kylie said. “Remember when I missed school a few weeks before the break and I told you not to visit or you’d catch it?” I nodded. “I had it. Bad, bad, head-splitting headaches.” Not Kylie. I’d heard of flu, but since normal human ailments didn’t affect us, I didn’t pay much attention and had no idea what the symptoms were. Please, no nosebleeds and blackouts. “Any other symptoms?” “Fever.” “My mom had to sponge me down,” Amelia said, pushing her glasses in place. “I caught it from Kylie, my brother got it next, then my father. Mom lucked out.” I sighed with relief. Channeling wasn’t contagious, so what they had couldn’t be it. “So just fever and headaches. No nosebleeds?” “Gross, we’re eating,” McKenzie griped. “Wow, you must have real y been sick,” Kylie said, ignoring McKenzie. “I remember I used to have nosebleeds as a child and I’d freak out.” “Me, too,” Nikki piped in. “My little brother would say my brain was leaking.” “Yuck. I can’t eat this anymore.” McKenzie pushed aside her quesadil a. “You guys have total y grossed me out.” She got up with her tray and went to dump the remaining food. Kylie smirked. “For a doctor’s daughter, she’s anal.”
McKenzie’s reaction seemed extreme. Maybe the conversation bugged her because she’d recently had nosebleeds. I watched her as she came back to the table texting. I wasn’t sure about my next move. One thing wasn’t going to change though. Getting inside my friends’ heads wasn’t an option. Maybe I should consult with my Guardian buddies first, which meant tel ing them about Valafar. I kept an eye on Kim’s table. Although she and her entourage usual y arrived late, none of them showed up during lunch. They probably went somewhere nice to eat. Lucky guys. I hated being confined to the val ey. McKenzie’s cel phone rang just as we finished lunch. She had a new ring tone, a catchy pop tune. While she answered it, conversation shifted to ring tones. “Did you change yours, Lil?” Kylie asked. “Uh, yeah.” “To what?” she asked. I tried to think up a tune, but came up blank. “Something Bran got online,” I fibbed. “Let’s hear it.” She pul ed out her cel phone and punched in numbers. The familiar ring sent a jolt through me. I stared at my coat with wide eyes. I couldn’t believe I forgot to throw away the broken cel phone after I picked it up from the ground. That Kylie caught me in a lie was the least of my worries. My phone stil worked, which confirmed Bran’s suspicions— one of my friends was the medium. Amelia tapped my hand. “I think someone is looking for you.” For a moment, the change in subject threw me off. “What?” She indicated the other side of the room with a nod. Bran was here at last, was my first thought. I turned toward
the door with a huge smile. The smile died on my lips. It wasn’t Bran, just his sister Celeste. The terrified look on her ashen face sent panic through me.
3. The Vision Celeste’s pale skin contrasted with her long, raven hair. Her eyes, green like Bran’s, glistened with unshed tears. The floor shifted under me. Bran had better be okay. A psi scan showed he stil wasn’t in the val ey.
What’s wrong? I asked Celeste before we met in the middle of the lunch room.
I want to show you something. Not here. I led her out of the cafeteria and into the first empty classroom we found. With a wave of my hand, the door closed. “Show me what?” “You know how unpredictable and blurry my visions usual y are?” I nodded. “Yeah?” “I just had another one, and I’m not sure what to think. Two guys who looked like Gavyn and Bran were being attacked by a bunch of Mom’s friends. It didn’t make sense at first, but now I’m real y worried.” She swal owed and continued, speaking faster. “Bran said he’d be here with you, but he’s not. Gavyn was supposed to be at his club, but his manager told me he went to Seattle. He didn’t say anything to me about going to Seattle.” She grabbed my hand and pressed it against her temple. “See for yourself.” Please, let this be another false alarm. Celeste was so scared of losing her brothers she often had visions of them being attacked by a horde of Lazari, a subgroup of the shape-shifting race of demons known as Werenephils. The first time she told us about a vision of an attack on her brothers, we found Gavyn at a business lunch and Bran hunting. This was the third vision this month, and the tenth since we rescued her from Coronis Isle. Her clairvoyance abilities weren’t strong, but the possibility that they could be true this time gave me chil s. A Lazari attack wasn’t something to take lightly. “Do you see them?” she asked. I gave her a weak smile and fought the hol ow feeling intensifying in my stomach. What if I messed up? “You know
I’ve never retrieved an image from anyone’s memory except Bran’s. Maybe we should have a CP do it. They’re trained to handle that stuff.” “Not a Civilian Psi. If it turns out I’m wrong again, they’l never take my clairvoyance seriously.” Her voice rose in pitch. “Okay, okay.” A flick of my finger and the door locked behind us. I placed both hands on either side of Celeste’s head and stared into her eyes. Focusing wasn’t easy. Students’ voices and footsteps filtered through the closed door. Pressure increased in my head as my psi energy approached hers. Celeste squinted. “You’re fighting me. I know it’s uncomfortable, but try to relax,” I told her. She blinked, nodding. “Don’t blink either. It breaks the link.” Dang, I was tense, too. Deep breath. Exhale. “There’s a saying people use that I thought was weird, but now I realize it is very true. Eyes are windows to the soul.” “Why are you tel ing me this?” Celeste asked bel igerently. “To keep your mind off what I’m doing.” “It’s not working,” she said through her teeth. I retreated and the pressure in my head eased. When Bran and I merged, it never hurt or felt weird. That was the beauty of having matched energies. On the other hand, Grampa retrieved energies. On the other hand, Grampa retrieved images from my head easily and quickly yet we weren’t a match. “Maybe I’m doing it wrong,” I said and sighed. “No, you’re doing fine,” Celeste insisted. “It’s me. I’m tense and worried and can’t seem to relax. Please, try it again.” Cupping her head, I started al over again. Grampa’s instructions rang in my head. Find the sequence of events before the incident. Lock on the image. Retrieve. Get out.
“What happened before the vision?” I asked. “I was with Zoe and Kirsten at our cafeteria,” she started. “They were talking about some jock who’s supposed to be super hot but I think is ful of himself and a total loser. So I spaced out and my thoughts turned to Bran and Gavyn. They had another fight this morning.” I frowned. “About what?” “I have no idea. They’ve been fighting a lot, and it’s driving me crazy,” she growled through clenched teeth. Celeste’s voice mixed with the background noise. The room and the rest of her features became blurry as our energies met and our minds blended. I winced. It was uncomfortable, like my brain was being crashed by a bul dozer. The urge to disengage increased, but I fought it. Blurry grey and black shadows shifted and ebbed as though I were looking through an unfocused video camera lens. The pressure inside my head intensified and sweat trickled on my forehead. Snapshots of what Celeste saw whipped past my mind’s eye—the hal way just before we entered this room, me eating with my friends, students in the foyer of my school, the outside of the school, Celeste in a bathroom. Each memory locked in a frame. In each frame, people moved without sounds like old black and white silent movies. “You teleported to Remy’s car?” My voice sounded like it came from al directions, like an echo through a mist. “Yes.” Celeste giggled. “You sound funny. He told me to use it whenever. He’s so sweet and hot.” Her speech slowed down and became slurry. “I think I have a crush on him.” She chuckled. Her voice was even weirder than mine, like a ghost’s. The need to laugh hit me. As Celeste yapped about her crush and giggled like a psych patient, images of her school drifted past. A blurry vision, unlike the others, came up. I stayed with it, the urge to laugh overwhelming. I had no idea what was happening to me. The memory cleared a bit to reveal a building too tal for Park City, where Celeste lived with Bran and Gavyn, or Cache Val ey, my home. There was an outdoor terrace with tables and chairs, beautiful flowerbeds, and a water fountain. The terrace was tilted at an angle. I laughed, not sure why I found a floating terrace funny. Maybe Celeste’s amusem*nt was transferred to me.
The next image was just as blurry, but a chil crawled up my spine. There was no mistaking the man on the floor. It was Gavyn, his signature blond locks matted and dirty. Thick smoke coiled around him like a giant snake. His mouth opened as though he was yel ing. Tendrils curled from the swirling black mass and crept toward his mouth. The whole black thing flowed into his mouth like a torrent of nightmare. In seconds, his eyes became bottomless pits of hel . Hysteria bubbled through me and burst out of my mouth in a high pitch laugh. Bran appeared. He moved toward Gavyn and waved a serrated dagger and a spray bottle. A dark mass loomed over him, snarling and writhing like a big glob of goo. Bran looked so puny against the demon. I convulsed with merriment, stepped back, and the link between Celeste and me broke. My heart raced, but the urge to laugh disappeared. We looked at each other with wide eyes, both of us breathing hard. “What happened to us?” Celeste asked in a squeaky voice. “I don’t know, but we need to go to HQ. Now.” We teleported. *** One second we were in the classroom, and next we were in the charcoal-grey foyer of the underground offices of the High Council and the headquarters of the Guardians. The hal ways to our right and left were wide enough for people to walk side-by-side and appeared endless. Panels of fluorescent crystal, a power source from Xenith, ran along the steel ceiling and on inserts along the floor, providing enough il umination, yet my fear of dark providing enough il umination, yet my fear of dark spaces kicked in and my chest tightened. I reached up and clasped the protective amulet I wore around my neck. The core of the six-pointed star within a circle had jadeite, a green element found in Xenith. Usual y, it emitted a green light toxic to demons. Now it was cool against my palm, harmless. Touching it gave me an extra sense of security, like the old blanket I used to sleep with before Grampa gave me the amulet. We hurried to the main office and pushed opened a glass paneled door, the first of many offices. Mrs. Merkerel, a Civilian and the local coordinator, lounged on a leather recliner in front of a large cherry table, her slender legs encased in tan slacks. A holographic image of another Civilian shot from a black clairvoyant crystal in a box and
hovered above it. Opposite her desk was the visitor’s lounge with leather sofas and a coffee table. Visible through her glass wal s were the other Civilians and High Council employees conversing with their counterparts around the world or working on their computers, one of the few human gadgets they used. “Lil…Celeste…what brings you two here in the middle of the day?” Mrs. Merkerel asked without turning. “Bran is in trouble,” I said. “We need to talk to a CP.” The woman sat up and turned to face us. “How do you know he’s in trouble?” “Celeste saw it. Please, get Mrs. D.” Mrs. Merkerel had a brief telepathic conversation with the image above her desk before she linked with my English teacher. Lil and
Celeste need to talk to you or one of the CPs about Cardinal Llyr, Mrs. Deveraux. Mrs. D appeared beside us in a burst of light, red rhinestone glasses on the tip of her narrow nose, charm bracelets weighing down her skinny wrists, colorful scarf holding back her brown hair. “What’s going on, Lil?” she asked. I quickly explained what I saw in Celeste’s memories. “Tartarus nightmares!” Mrs. D gasped at the mention of the Lazari. Mrs. Merkerel clasped her chest. Behind her, the other Civilians stopped whatever they were doing and moved closer to eavesdrop. “Contact the Cardinals and tel them Bran needs them,” I said. Mrs. D shook her head. “I can’t, honey. They’re closing in on a den of powerful demons and can’t be interrupted. Where are Remy and the others?” I couldn’t believe she wasn’t wil ing to make an exception.
This was Bran we were talking about. The most powerful Cardinal Water Guardian in the world. Grampa could teleport in, nuke those fiends and be back hunting without missing a step. “They weren’t in the cafeteria during lunch. Why can’t you just contact my grandfather?” I insisted. “The Junior Cardinals went to Raphael’s place on Anna Maria Island,” Mrs. Merkerel explained, ignoring my question. “Contact Raphael and tel him to send them home,” Mrs. D ordered then gave me a stern look. “No, we can’t cal Cardinal Falcon. We should be able to handle this on our own, and you know that. Your friends might stil be trainees, but they have enough experience to undertake this mission.” My face burned at the talk down, which I didn’t deserve. My grandfather would want to rescue Bran. While Mrs. Merkerel faced her hologram table and communicated with a middle-aged man, Mrs. D beckoned Celeste forward. “Come here, young lady. We need to take another look at what you saw. I’m amazed Lil managed to blend with you. That was a very brave,” she shot me another censoring look from above her glasses, “and an extremely reckless thing she did. It takes decades to perfect image retrieval. The mind blend can affect your mental state if you stay even one second too long. You’l start feeling things, seeing things. In a snap, you can do irreparable damage to your mind that even the Kris Dagger can’t restore. So don’t you ever,” she wagged her finger, her glower unrelenting, “ever attempt it again.” Hysteria bubbled inside of me. She was lecturing me about some stupid link when Gavyn was already possessed by a demon and Bran could be next. “Mrs. D, I want to help,” I said. “No, honey. You’ve done enough.” Her voice gentled as she continued. “Go back to school. We’l let you know what’s happening once we send off the let you know what’s happening once we send off the trainees.” “I can’t leave. I won’t be able to concentrate without knowing Bran is okay.”
Mrs. D pursed her lips then waved toward the visitor’s lounge. “Then take a seat and stay out of the way.” “What is going on here?” A sharp voice asked from the doorway. Master Haziel. Maybe he could help. I turned to explain, but he wasn’t looking at me. He pinned poor Mrs. D with his sharp onyx eyes. “Get ready while we wait for the others,” he ordered and waved me over when she finished explaining. I blinked, not sure I heard right. “You want me to go too?” “Yes. You keep claiming that you are ready to hunt. Now is the time to prove it. Your friends wil need your help with the Lazari.” Mrs. D’s eyes narrowed at the trainer’s words. She and Leather Face glared at each other then she humphed and went to work with Celeste. I sighed with relief. Mrs. D and Haziel had never gotten along from day one. I didn’t know whether it was simply due to rivalry over who was the superior trainer or something more. Mrs. D had been my psi coach before Haziel arrived in the val ey while her boyfriend, daisensei Kenta, taught me martial arts. Mrs. D and Haziel’s methods of teaching were as different as night and day, yet neither ever openly criticized the other. At times, I’d catch her watching us while I trained with Haziel. Whenever she did, he’d push me beyond my limit. The few times she found me close to tears after a brutal session, she offered kind words, a hug or an encouraging smile. “Hurry up, Lil!” Haziel snapped. Racing out of the room, I headed along the east hal way. The weapons room was hidden down a short passage with no visible doors. I stopped and pressed my palms against the east wal . It dissolved with a gust of cold air to reveal a doorway. Stepping inside the room, I laughed and did a quick dance.
I’m back…I’m back…I’m really, really back. The timing sucked, but I was once more a hunter. Yel ow fluorescent crystals il uminated the myriad of weapons—ninja stars and knives, gloves with retractable blades, bows and arrows, cross-bows, daggers and
swords of different sizes, styles, and period. Taking up half a wal were replicas of the Kris Dagger, their signature wavy blades with ancient texts written in green glowing under the light. Hidden among them was the real Kris, the Guardian’s most powerful weapon. My dagger. It was impossible to tel it apart from the others and no one would dare steal it because it didn’t respond to anyone but me. A row of closets lined the back room—the Cardinals’ then the trainees’ section. Humming under my breath, I pushed open the door with my name and entered. Even the mundane task of pul ing on a pair of black pants, a matching tee, and a trench coat was exciting. I pul ed my hair back in a ponytail then reached for the calf-length boots. Last was the special black leather belt for the Kris. The ancient writings on the sheath glowed under the luminous light. Back in the main room, I raised my hand toward the wal with the daggers. Come. The Kris drifted from the wal and floated down to me. Lifting one side of my coat, I let the dagger slide into its sheath. I doubted that I’d need other weapons, but it never hurt to be prepared. A wave of my hand and a shurikens belt lifted from a hook and snaked around my waist. I added the ninja stars and pushed a couple of throwing knives into the special pockets inside my boots. The door opened with a gentle whoosh and in walked my friends. “Hey, little sis.” Izzy sashayed over to give me a hug. Her curly black hair was up in a high ponytail, her smooth, gorgeous chocolate brown skin glowing as she smiled. “Nice to have you back,” she added before disappearing into her changing room. Kim didn’t say anything, but she gave me a thumbs-up sign, the white tips of her manicured nails catching the light, blonde hair bouncing. “Perfect timing, Red. We’re about to face the peskiest of al demons,” Sykes added in a sing-song voice and did some fancy footwork while he punched the air. He tugged at my ponytail as he walked past. “Did you get some holy water?” “She doesn’t need it. And quit cal ing it holy water.” Remy paused long enough to ask, “How are you holding up,
kiddo?” you holding up, kiddo?” “Good,” I lied. He’d taken to cal ing me kiddo despite being only two years older than me. I had no idea why. “Are we using holy water now?” “No. He means piacol. Go on to the office and see if you can get us a point of entry.” I shook my head at Sykes’ twisted sense of humor. Humans performed exorcism by using water sanctified by their religious leaders. We used piacol, special juice from a sacred tree grown in Xenith. It contained a concentrated amount of jadeite, the same special element used in our weapons and the Kris Dagger. The two liquids were completely different, yet they had the same effect on demons— forcing them out of a person. Back in the office, a smal group of Civilians gathered around the holographic image of the building I saw in Celeste’s vision. “It’s Westlake Plaza in downtown Seattle,” Mrs. D explained when I joined them. “We believe the Cardinal and his brother are somewhere between the twenty-fifth and the top floor. Damien Corporation leased these floors three months ago.” She pointed at the upper stories as I moved closer for a better look. Damien Corporation was one of the companies owned by Damien, a powerful dark Lord the Cardinals had never been able to corner and vanquish. He always managed to slip away just as they closed in on him. I could see Gavyn associating with Damien. He hadn’t stopped his evil ways. But Bran’s presence there made no sense. The darkened windows made it impossible to see inside despite the image being clearer than the one from Celeste’s memories. The building kept shifting to show different angles and sides. “Is this a live feed?” I asked, already looking for a way in. Mrs. D nodded. “From West Coast CP team. The other floors are empty except the lower four. The fourth floor has a gym,” Mrs. D pointed at a few men and women on treadmil s, “a few conference rooms, and a terrace.” It was the same terrace from Celeste’s memory. People were seated around the tables eating lunch, making it an unsuitable point of entry.
The garage underneath seemed equal y crowded. A bunch of children were visible through the glass wal s on the second floor. The thought of a horde of Lazarus demons so close to children sent a shiver up my spine. Demons possessing children was against the law set forth in the beginning of time. But from what the trainees and Bran had told me, there was a breed of Lazari out there that didn’t seem to care. I squinted at the first floor, studied the layout. It was busy with the lunch crowd in and around a restaurant. Mistral Kitchen, a sign read. Teleporting to the first floor was also out of the question. The garages, which the building appeared to have underground, might work, but chances of bumping into a car or ending up inside one packed with a family were high. Been there, done that. It wasn’t fun dealing with spooked people. “Can you zoom in on the twenty-fourth floor?” I asked. The image enlarged until I could see inside the rooms. It was empty and closer to the action. We’d also bypass the heavy security in the lobby. “It’s perfect.” The other trainees joined us, packing more black metal spray bottles of piacol than heavy-duty hunting weapons. “Let’s rol ,” Remy said. “You know the dril . Lil fol ows me. Sykes, you take the rear.” *** As usual, my landing was as graceful as a hippo doing a pirouette. But the utter silence of the twenty-fourth floor was odd and eerie for a demon’s den. The sulphur scent of the Lazari in smoke form was barely there, yet the jadeite core of my amulet lit up like a Christmas tree, indicating the presence of demons. The Kris Dagger vibrated in its sheath, eager for action. I assumed a fighting stance and braced myself. Clasping the hilt, I pul ed it out. Intense and exhilarating power surged through me. Pain fol owed as inky ancient scripts appeared under my skin, starting from the hand with the dagger and spreading throughout my body. I ground my teeth and bit back a sharp cry. The writings faded as the connection between me and the dagger solidified. The pain disappeared a little faster than our last blending. I shook my head to clear it and
looked up. The others had arrived and were watching The others had arrived and were watching me. I hated it when they did that. “You okay?” Remy asked. I nodded. The blending of my energy and the dagger’s wasn’t as painful as the first time I held it. Then I thought the pain would kil me. Ignoring the others, I started searching for Bran’s psi energy. “Am I the only one bothered by the silence?” Remy added. “Glamour, dude,” Sykes said. “I don’t care how powerful Llyr is. He can’t cast glamour this strong. I mean, despite the glowing jadeite,” he extended his arm to indicate the six-pointed amulets he and Sykes wore around their wrists, “we can’t hear a thing from upstairs. Something isn’t right.” I ignored the banter between the two and zeroed in on Bran’s location. Found him. I send a smal burst of energy to his psi. No response. No biggie. I increased the magnitude of the ping. Nothing. I closed my eyes and searched for his energy. It was invisible, which meant his shield just went up. “Locate them, Lil,” Remy said in a near-whisper. “I just did. They’re somewhere upstairs. Bran is unharmed, but Gavyn…I can’t tel .” “Tel him we’re here,” Remy added. “His shield is up.” “That’s not good,” Sykes mumbled. “But then again, we didn’t expect him to welcome a rescue with open arms.” Remy pointed at the doorway. “Let’s go.” Hands gripping weapons, bodies coiled and eyes alert, we headed along a short hal way; one at a time. The mandatory five seconds between us in case of an ambush. The clear glass windows had no blinds and light poured into the empty rooms and hal ways. It was a perfect day for walking bare feet on the beach, not sneaking into a demon’s lair to save someone who obviously didn’t want to be saved.
I couldn’t believe Bran hid from me. He’d never done that before. On the other hand, we’d never faced Lazarus demons together either. On the next floor, lights blazed on. The acrid scent grew as did my gag reflex. A door to our right ha d Damien Technologies written in bold letters and a lightning insignia above it. Through the glass, computer desks separated by partitions stretched between corner offices. Black blinds covered tinted windows, stopping light from seeping inside. No Lazari. No Bran or Gavyn either. Dread curled my stomach into a tight knot as we continued up the next set of stairs. Communication between us was limited to hand and head gestures, which was just as wel . The pungent stench made it impossible to breathe, let alone speak. At the next landing I froze, my eyes widening. There was a huge melted hole in the middle of the glass door. A woman’s lifeless body jammed between the door and the frame, propping it open. Remy hurried forward, pressed his finger to her throat then lifted her eyelids. “Human. She’s barely alive.” “She might make it if I teleport her to safety and take care of her wounds,” Izzy added. “There are more. Look.” Kim indicated the inside of the office. More bodies slumped over desks and glass partitions like rag dol s. Glass wal s and computer screens had burned holes, and desks were charred. Wal s and ceiling smashed in like someone played pingpong with a demolition bal . But bloody smears around the holes, and the tel -tale bloodied knuckles and fingers of the unconscious people told a different story. “Why would the demons possess these people and force them to ransack the place?” Even before I finished the question, my heightened senses picked up unease in the air. I turned to look at the others, but they were busy moving from body to body, checking for signs of life. Maybe I was imagining discomfort from my friends. If they knew why Bran was here, they would have said so by now. “They were probably searching for something only the employees knew about,” Remy answered.
Izzy winked at me. “But your man sure kicked some serious demon butt. Most of these people are alive, and their injuries are superficial. Kim, let’s teleport them to our entry point.” Kim made a face. “Do we have to? They stink.” Remy shot her a look. “The stench is in the air too, Larson. Help Izzy. And if one of them moves—” too, Larson. Help Izzy. And if one of them moves—” “Knock him or her out,” Kim finished Remy’s sentence with an eye rol . “If stil possessed, squirt the dew in their eyes to expel the demon and protect the host…yada…yada… yada…. We know the dril . Humans bring this upon themselves, you know. Demons don’t go where they’re not welcome. Sometimes I wonder if we’re doing people favors by running to their rescue then making them forget the experience.” “Real y, Larson? You want to start that rant now?” Remy snapped. Kim made a face. “I’m just saying.” Kim’s gripe with humans was nothing new. She, like the rest of the Guardians, put her life on the line every time she faced demons and was entitled to her own opinion. Sometimes I wish she would fal in love with a human. That would shut her up. Remy nodded at me, then Sykes. “Let’s do a quick walkthrough to see if they’re among the unconscious.” Moving from body to body, I searched until I was at the other end of the room. Bran and Gavyn weren’t among them. Bran’s anger trickled to me. They were close. I groaned in frustration and froze when someone, or something, echoed it. The hair along my nape rose. No, that wasn’t a groan. It was more like a whimper, which wouldn’t surprise me in this macabre scene. Angling my head, I fol owed the mewling down a hal way to a corner office. The door rested on its hinges and the light from the hal way fel into the dark room. Shards of glass were al over the place. A safe, or what once used to be one, had crash-landed on a large glass-top desk and
shattered it. Money and bearer bonds were scattered al over the floor. I couldn’t imagine thieves ignoring this much wealth, unless they were after something more important. The sniffles came again. My heart pounding, I reached inside the door frame for the light switch and flipped it on. Nothing happened. The sounds stopped. I tightened my grip on the Kris, using its light to see better, and approached the desk. For a moment, I thought the area behind the desk, crammed with a broken chair, contents of the safe, and glass, was empty. Maybe I was hearing things. Then the glow from the dagger fel on something smal and golden. A little girl, about ten years old with blonde pigtails, sat curled on the floor behind the chair, tears shimmering in her blue eyes. I couldn’t believe someone had brought their child to work. “Hey,” I said softly so as not to scare her. She blinked and her eyes became white. My fingers twitched around the dagger. Not just any child. A demon child. “Are you going to kil me?” she asked. The urge was there. One less demon to worry about. Hundreds of human souls saved. A few of our own would get their glory back. But the light from my blade didn’t seem to cause her pain. My vengeful angelic side fought with my humanity. I shook my head. “No, I won’t hurt you. What are you doing here?” “Searching.” She lifted a plastic bag fil ed with thumb drives. I snickered. “For thumb drives?” “No, sil y. For the List.” A memory teased my mind
then disappeared. “What List?” “The one everyone wants. If I find it, Solange wil let me go back to live with my Mommy on the island.” I frowned. Could she be talking about…“Coronis Island?” “Yes. How did you know?” She squinted at me, the dagger, and then back at me. Her eyes widened. “It’s you. Solange won’t be happy you’re here. No, no, no, she won’t. She pretends to work for Lord Valafar, but she doesn’t.” Her eyes darted around, and her voice grew squeaky. “Go before she knows you’re here. Run.” I didn’t run from demons. “How do you know who I am?” “Your hair…the dagger. Leave. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” The girl’s features grew hazy then dissolved into a grey smoke. The rest of her body fol owed. One second she was a thick mass hovering above the floor, the next she shot through the hole in the wal . Everyone knows who you are, Lilith, she telepathed me. You’re a Special, one of us. Before I could respond, a shadow fel inside the room. My heart leapt upwards. Hand firm on the dagger, I turned and faced it.
4. The Lazari A heavy-set man in tan pants and a navy-blue shirt stood in the doorway. Dark wraparound sunglasses protected his eyes, but I stil knew he was possessed. My amulet and dagger reacted to the demon inside him and glowed bright. “The dagger. You have the dagger,” he growled in a distorted voice, like two people talking at once, his pudgy fingers extended toward me. “It’s mine. Give it to me, dearest child.” In his dreams. I tightened my grip on the hilt of the dagger,
heart hammering inside my chest. I had no idea what the demon’s powers were or whether it was hindered by the body he possessed, but I wasn’t handing him my dagger. I must find a way to kil him without harming the host, which meant no weapons. “Give it to me and I’l protect you, little Princess.” “Protect me from what?” I squeaked, trying to buy time. “The others—my brothers and sisters who’d use you. The traitorous Guardians.” He took a step toward me then another, his stomach shaking with each step. I stepped away from him until my back hit the wal . Dang, there was nowhere to go but forward, which meant taking him down. Fat chance of that happening. Although he looked like he hadn’t seen inside of a gym in decades, he was built like a Sumo warrior. Maybe mentioning Valafar might scare him off. “Do you know who I am? My father wil hunt you down if you touch me.” “No, Lord Valafar wil thank me if I took you and the dagger to him. You belong with us, Lilith.” Anger replaced the panic. “I don’t belong with you! I’m a Guardian.” “Sil y child,” he said, sneering. “You’l come around soon enough. It’s only a matter of time.” He lunged at me. I jumped out of the way. He missed grabbing my arm by inches and lost his balance. Instead of going down, he bounced against the wal as though it was made of rubber, grabbed the tail of my hunting coat and yanked. I lost my footing and fel backward. Arms flailing, heart pounding, I teleported to the other side of the room and slammed my back against the doorframe. Pain shot up my spine. An attempt to break my fal failed because I stil held the dagger. I slipped and landed on my butt. Tears stung my eyes as broken glass dug into the palm of my hand. Heavy breathing alerted me that he was closing in on me. I scooted backward into the hal way, waved a hand, and ripped off the wraparound glasses covering his eyes. Bottomless black eyes caught the light and glistened at me. Revulsion and fear curled my stomach. It was now or never…now or never…. I aimed the Kris Dagger at him and blasted him with light. He screamed and covered his eyes, but it was too late.
Eyes were the windows to the soul, and the best way to force a demon from a human host. Light fil ed his body, making his skin glow. I scrambled to my feet, fingers digging into the textured wal for support. My gaze stayed glued on him. His screams became gurgles as he convulsed like he had an itch he couldn’t scratch. He dropped to his knees then plopped on his side, body twisting in unnatural positions. Dry heaves wracked his body. Then his positions. Dry heaves wracked his body. Then his mouth opened wide. The smoke demon shot out of his mouth like lava from a volcano vent.
Lil! Where are you? Remy’s voice resounded in my head, but I couldn’t look away from the man writhing on the floor, his face contorted. A continuous stream of evilness spewed out of him, then he went stil . The thick smoky mass rippled on the floor and crested like waves in the ocean. The edges spread toward me. Shuffling along the wal , my knees shook so badly I couldn’t turn and run. It rose and expanded. Tentacles flared from dark core. I was beyond terror, chil ed, frozen in place as it moved closer and closer.
Lil! You okay? Yes…no…. My teeth started to chatter. I was about to choke. Become possessed. Dragged to the dark side. I shifted to autopilot, Master Haziel’s words ringing in my head. When ambushed, go down fighting. When in doubt, use your instincts. When defeated, teleport. The instinct to survive kicked in. I lifted the dagger, my hand clammy and shaking, pointed and shrieked out a command. At least I hoped it was a command, or something intel igible. Light shot from the blade and missed the demon by inches. I aimed again, but arms grabbed me from behind and pinned mine down. Stil running on adrenaline, I buckled and twisted against my captor. When he didn’t release me, I turned the dagger and lifted it up to sink it into his thigh. A hand closed around my wrist like a vice.
Familiar scent and energy penetrated my terror. Words drowned out the blood roaring in my ears. It’s me…
me, darn it! Bran. Relief rippled through me, leaving me light-headed. I closed my eyes and went limp against his hard frame. An angry rumble rattled my bones and my eyes snapped open. The death cry rose from deep inside the dark mass and fil ed the room. The growl grew faint and hol ow as the demon sunk low into the floor and disappeared, leaving behind a charred carpet and the crumpled body of its host. I stared at the scorched marks, expecting it to rise again. “It’s gone. How?” Bran chuckled. “You did it.” “No, I didn’t,” I screeched. I turned and faced Bran. He looked like he’d been dragged to hel and back. Dirt and bruises covered his face. “You pul ed my arm down when I was about to blast him.” “You already ordered the dagger to send the demon to Tartarus. When the light hit the wal , it spread around the room and trapped him. Once he came in contact with the light, he couldn’t escape.” He grinned, his teeth white against his dirty skin. “Are you okay?” I nodded, shaken yet proud I had actual y vanquished my first Lazarus demon. “You did great.” Pride lurked in his voice. “Now do exactly the same thing upstairs. The others need your help,” he added in a serious tone and stepped away from me. I leaned against the wal for support. “And when you guys are done,” he continued, already running toward the stairs, “head home. I’l see you tonight.” Head home? Was he nuts? “Where are you going?” “To finish what I started.” He disappeared up the stairs. I stood there on wobbly knees, my confidence returning.
Lil! Remy cal ed. Coming, I yel ed and staggered past the main office area, which was now deserted, and almost lost my footing at the bottom of the stairs. Half-way up, screams and thuds slammed into me like a sudden downpour of hailstone. The
sounds were worse than those made by the demon I just vanquished. The sharp demonic scent assaulted my senses, and my eyes watered. That must have been some glamour Bran cast to block al this from reaching downstairs. More voices came from the top floor when I reached the landing, but the battle on my left held me transfixed. It was Exorcist ten times over. The possessed office workers were everywhere—crawling upside down on the ceiling and sideways on wal s, digging holes through the plaster with their bare hands. Men and women pounded on the keyboards, probably stil searching for their precious List. Al wore dark glasses to protect their eyes. My friends were outnumbered five to one. Stil , they were in their elements, butting heads, delivering knockout chops and punches Kenta would delivering knockout chops and punches Kenta would have been proud of. They pried open eyelids of the unconscious and squirted piacol into eyes. Two demons shot out from possessed humans and headed straight for the vents. More fol owed. Knowing what to do now, I pointed the dagger and yel ed, “To Tartarus!” Streaming light shot from the blade and hit the ceiling. It flowed down the wal s and spread along the floor, giving the room a green tint. The smoke demons smoldered as they came in contact with the glow. Shrieks and bel ows fil ed the air as one-by-one they fel to the floor and beyond. Everyone froze. Then the possessed people started for me, the light in the room not affecting them. They growled and gurgled as they attempted to push their way past the Guardians. Even the crawlers on the ceiling and wal s gunned for me. My stomach lurched even as I mental y prepared to fight.
Head downstairs and teleport home, Remy yel ed at me.
We have this covered now. No. I’m through hiding. If demons wanted a piece of me, let them come. I waved a hand and knocked the sunglasses off several faces. They covered their eyes but it was too late. The light in the room redirected into their eyes. Demons shot out of mouths only to ignite.
Remove their glasses, I yel ed to the others, churning the light so it coiled and streaked around the room. A woman in a black pencil skirt broke through the Guardians’ defense and raced toward me, her hand holding her sunglasses in place. As she got closer, I realized the growls she was making were actual y chants. “Dagger…mine…dagger…mine….” I slipped the dagger into its sheath, grabbed her arm, and pushed her hard across the narrow hal way. Her head connected with the wal , sunglasses flying from her nose as she crumbled to the floor. As the demon left her, a possessed man landed on my back from the ceiling, taking me down with him. I tripped over the fal en woman and hit the side of my forehead against the wal . Pain echoed inside my head, and my ribs threatened to cave in under the weight on my back. His breath, hot and foul, bathed my face as he too growled, “Dagger… mine….” Next second, he was off me. I rol ed up, and my gaze connected with Kim’s. She whipped him around and kneed him between his legs, a smug grin on her lips. He cupped his crotch and keeled over. Kim glared at me.
Get out of here, she snapped. We can’t finish this while watching your back. Protect yourself and the dagger. I didn’t argue this time, just jumped up and ran. Outside the battle scene, rage slammed into my psyche. I looked up the stairs, locating its origin. Bran. Fol owing my gut, I headed up. The top floor had the executives’ offices, torch sconces on the wal s, cherry wood floors and paneling. I fol owed voices to a slightly opened door. More opulent décor complete with custom cabinets, leather chairs, and black silk draperies.
I moved closer and heard Bran snarl, “I already promised not to kil you if you let him go.” “Then we’ve reached a stalemate,” a disembodied feminine voice retorted, but it had a familiar lilt. “I’m not leaving without him. Sending him to Tartarus would be merciful, and he doesn’t deserve any mercy. He must answer to the Lazari Tribunal. Your mother, Coronis, and our leaders would stil be alive if it weren’t for him. ” “They got what was coming to them,” Bran snapped. “Or are you forgetting that Coronis kidnapped my grandparents and tortured them for years.” “This is a war we’re fighting, not stupid games. Both sides play dirty to win.” The strange voice was fil ed with malice. “You’re a fool to join the Guardians and go against us, Bran. The path you chose wil be your destruction because my, uh, Lord plans to win this battle. Once he finds that List, you’l have no choice but to join us.” I realized where I heard the words, the List. From Valafar. He didn’t want Grampa searching for it. Bran’s laughter drew my attention. “Never,” he snapped. “I’l find it before he does.” “You real y think you can go against a nature-bender and win?” the voice asked. “He’l make you watch as he destroys your precious Guardians one by one, then turn your girlfriend into one of us. Al your sacrifice with be for nothing.” Her voice your sacrifice with be for nothing.” Her voice dropped down an octave. “Come back to our side, Bran. You and I could have what we once had.” Bran snarled something, but I’d stopped listening at ‘what we once had.’ The urge to push the door and see this woman —this Lazarus demoness —washed over me, but I couldn’t move. Bran never said he had a girlfriend in the past. The door swung open to reveal an unsmiling Bran. I told
you to finish downstairs then go home. So I wouldn’t meet your ex-girlfriend? I wanted to retort but bit the words back. I leaned sideways to peer into the room, but Bran moved and blocked my line of vision. Glaring, I thought of ways to force him to move. He was physical y stronger, so I couldn’t push him. Using my telekinetic powers against him was out. He had some psi abilities, but I was stronger and might hurt him.
He pushed his fingers through his hair and sighed, then stepped aside. Lazari might turn into smoke to possess humans, but like the little demon-girl I met downstairs, they also took human forms. I entered, expecting to see a girl of great beauty. Instead, Gavyn sat in the middle of the floor trapped by six jadeite crystals. Light shot from each crystal and connected with the other five, forming a cage around him. His eyes, blacker than a moonless night, told me what I should have expected if I hadn’t been consumed by jealousy. Gavyn was possessed by a female demon and was growing weaker fast. “Wel , wel , look at what the cat dragged in,” she said in the same disembodied voice, part the she-demon’s and part Gavyn’s, which explained the familiar lilt. What did she look like when she was not in smoke form? I approached the cage, going on a hunch. “Does my father know what you’re up to, Solange?” Possessed Gavyn blinked. “Who told you my name?” “Who do you think?” I said with a smug smile. “He wouldn’t.” “Wouldn’t he? He and I spoke this morning.” I glanced at Bran. “What did my father say he was concerned about?” “Your safety,” Bran answered, catching on fast. I smiled smugly at the demon. “Yes, my safety. And that was after we discussed the presents he sent me. What do you think he’l say when he finds out that instead of looking for the List, you’re busy running your own little revenge on the Llyrs.” “They’re traitors,” she snarled, “and deserve to suffer for their betrayal.” “Get out of Gavyn right now.” My hand moved to the hilt of my dagger. “Lil,” Bran warned. “You wouldn’t dare,” the demon said, her weird voice rising. “You’l kil us both.” She was right. The Kris Dagger wouldn’t differentiate between Gavyn and the demoness. It searched for demonic energy and kil ed demons, regardless of whether they were friendly or not. I let go of the hilt and telepathed Bran. Gavyn’s growing weaker.
So is she. I won’t let her take him. Anguish thickened his inner voice.
Do you want me to try? I asked. Bran shook his head. There’s nothing you can do. She
must come out of him soon or slip into a coma with him. A thought occurred to me. Let me try something Haziel
taught me. I waited until Bran nodded then raised my right hand toward possessed Gavyn. His eyes changed to gray and narrowed as though chal enging me. In that instant, I saw more of Gavyn than the demon and hesitated. A grin crossed his lips. “What are you going to do, little sister?” I trapped her psi energy and unleashed my power of persuasion. Don’t move. She attempted to defy me, but my hold was firm. A wave of my hand and the crystals scattered, breaking the cage. “I’m going to count to three. If you don’t get out of him, I wil use force. You won’t like it.” Possessed Gavyn smirked. “You’re not strong enough. You’re stil a trainee—” Out of him. His face contorted, eyes turning black. Pressure increased inside my head, but I didn’t let go. I tugged harder. I command you. Get. Out. Of.
Him. No-ooo.
Now, I ordered. Heaves racked his body, Now, I ordered. Heaves racked his body, mouth opening. The demon came out slowly, fighting to stay inside Gavyn. Body twisted, chest lifting and sinking, he dropped to his knees, coughing out the monster. Sweat covered my skin and my head threatened to split. She was strong and stubborn, and the battle seemed endless. With a final heave, she came out of him and flowed onto the floor. Gavyn’s body dropped to the floor like a wet rug. I curled my fingers and kept the demon down, reached for my dagger to finish her off. Bran grabbed my wrist. “Let her go….this time. Someone needs to report back to Valafar.” I hesitated, briefly questioned why he didn’t want me to vanquish the
demoness. Immediately, I felt horrible for doubting his motives and dropped my hand. The shapeless, gray mass rose from the floor. “You caught me when I was weak, little sister,” the words bubbled from her core, her voice low and throaty. “Next time, you wil lose.” She jetted out of the room, a little slower than the others had. I was tempted to zap her for cal ing m e little sister. I wasn’t one of them. My thoughts were cut short when Bran grabbed me and planted a quick kiss on my lips. When he leaned back, he wore his gorgeous smile. “That was amazing. Are you okay? No weakness?” My jealousy of Solange disappeared. “A little woozy, but the dagger wil fix that. She was strong.” “That’s because she’s an experienced fighter.” He bent down and lifted Gavyn in his arms. “I need to find him a healer quick.” I was dying to know about him and Solange, and what she meant by once Valafar found the List, Bran would have no choice but to join them. “Who?” Bran scowled as though not liking his thoughts. “The Brotherhood might help.” “With what?” Remy asked from the doorway as he and Sykes entered the room. “Gavyn’s energy was drained by a demon. If Bran doesn’t take him to Darius and the Brotherhood, he might not make it,” I explained. “He will make it.” Bran’s gaze connected with mine. “Thank you. I’l be back in the val ey later today.” I saw love and gratitude in his eyes, but I wanted answers. Every time he left, something always stopped him from coming back. “Why can’t we go with you?” I asked. “We have to take care of the people downstairs, Lil,” Remy reminded me. “Kim and Izzy are almost done with them.”
I’ll be back. Love you. Bran’s gaze didn’t leave mine as he cradled his brother closer and teleported. Silence fol owed. There was real y nothing to say. There was no love lost between Gavyn and the Guardians. He despised us and our work. Gavyn, like other demons,
believed humans should serve them, not the other way round. The only reason he stopped working for a dark lord was because of Celeste. Whether that was temporary or permanent was another story. “Why did Bran thank you like that?” Sykes asked. “Like what?” I got to my feet and started for the door. “Kind of hard to explain. What did you do?” I shrugged. “I expel ed the demon possessing Gavyn.” “You should have seen him tear through the room downstairs earlier. We heard you scream and the next second he was there. Where were you?” Remy asked as we headed downstairs. “Battling a three-hundred pound possessed man. The demons’ obsession with my dagger is ridiculous.” I rol ed my eyes trying to lighten the situation. Remy chuckled. “Considering its powers, I hardly think so.” “Especial y if it can force a demon out of another demon without frying them both,” Sykes added. Too exhausted to correct him that the dagger hadn’t expel ed the demon, I stayed silent. My mind replayed the conversation between Bran and Solange. With the identity of the medium hanging over my head, the last thing I needed was to worry about Bran or doubt his feelings for me. How were the List and Bran connected? *** English lit was halfway over when I walked into Mrs. D’s class. It was hard to believe an hour ago she used her position as Security Chief of North ago she used her position as Security Chief of North America High Council to send us after smoke demons. Now she was back to being Cache High’s beloved Mrs. Deveraux, English lit teacher extraordinaire.
How did it go? she smiled and telepathed. Bran is okay, but his brother got hurt, I answered and went to my seat. Bran took him to Darius and the Brotherhood. Celeste? She’s not doing so well. Bran’s sister was crying when I left, and I’d be doing exactly the same if I stayed. My empathic abilities would have made sure I felt her every emotion.
You didn’t have to come to class, Mrs. D added, cutting into my thoughts. I could have told the
attendance office that you’re ill. I’m fine. Mrs. D often faked doctor visits to explain our absences. When she couldn’t, Cardinal Hsia, the part-time student counselor and Cardinal Time Guardian, took care of things. On a different day, I would have accepted her offer. This afternoon, I needed to be distracted. I didn’t want to think about Bran and the List. Bran and that demoness. Even her name, Solange, sounded sexy and exotic. Unfortunately, the heart wasn’t so smart. I spent the next two classes dissecting everything about Bran’s past. His mother was a Lazarus demon. Maybe that was how he and Solange met. Maybe they used to hang out when they were little and she thought they had something special. No, Bran did say she was an experienced fighter. Maybe she was much older than he, like a big sister or a baby sitter who developed feelings for him. The way her voice changed when she mentioned the past, I doubted it. I hated feeling uncertain about Bran’s feelings for me. Worse, I couldn’t discuss it with Kylie until I ruled her out as Valafar’s medium. At least Grampa wasn’t in the val ey. He was such a powerful psi and an empath he’d know something was bugging me as soon as I walked through the door. Then I’d have to confess everything. When school ended, the snow had stopped fal ing and the city’s snowplows droned past, clearing the streets. A boy rol ed up a bal and pelted his friend, starting a snowbal fight. Snippets of conversations from other students reached my ears —upcoming sporting events. Reality T.V. shows. Parties. Funny, I used to envy humans their simple and uncomplicated lives. Now, I couldn’t imagine not knowing that demons walked amongst us or that my destiny as a Guardian was to hunt them down. Remy and Sykes were talking to two seniors, Merilee Ferguson and Hailey somebody. I waved and continued toward Remy’s car. I didn’t need to worry about being the fifth wheel. The girls often fol owed us in their own ride. Hooking up with Merilee and Hailey or some other stupid girls after a hunt was normal for Remy and Sykes. I guess I should feel sorry for the girls, but they never seem to mind, and the guys did buy them some cool stuff.
I pressed my hand against Remy’s car door and unlocked it. Settling in the front passenger seat, I sat back and faced the one thing I’d avoided thinking about since our little trip to Seattle. Valafar was up to something and it involved a List, Bran, and destroying the Guardians. If he cal ed again, I should ask him what he wanted, maybe reason with him. Reaching inside my pocket for my cel , I groaned. My banged up phone was stil in the pocket of my coat. I peered through the window and debated my next move. Students poured out of the school building and hurried to the buses and their cars. The thought of hunting down my friends to see which one of them took my stuff from the cafeteria was beyond impossible. Sinking back into my seat, I smothered a curse. “What’s wrong?” I blinked at Remy. The guy moved so quietly he hardly ever made a sound. “Can I borrow your cel ?” “Sure.” He pul ed it from his pocket and handed it to me. I punched in Kylie’s number and brought the phone to my ear. She answered after a few rings. “I forgot my coat in the cafeteria when I left with Celeste. Did you—?” “Got it.” Relief coursed through me. “Where are you?” “We just left. Cade’s taking me home, then to the bookstore for some comics, lattes and Wi-fi. I’l drop it off later.” I groaned. “When later? Remember, I have practice today.” “I’l cal first…oh my God, you won’t believe “I’l cal first…oh my God, you won’t believe this,” she screeched. “Your phone kept ringing while we were in the cafeteria and when I answered it, it was broken up and wet and the battery was missing. It was so weird. Cade wants to know if it’s the latest…just a sec, Lil.” Cade’s deeper voice filtered through from the background though I didn’t catch his words. Then Kylie returned to the phone. “Latest thing and whether it has an extra battery or power source.” Why me? Why was everything that could possibly screw up my life happening to me today? “Yes, it’s pretty new, but I don’t know anything about an
extra power source.” Except a demonic one and that wasn’t open for discussion. “Just drop them off whenever. If I’m not home, use the side door.” “Okay. See ya.” I gave Remy back his cel phone. “Thanks.” “You okay?” he asked. Nodding, I stared out the window. I didn’t want to talk or answer questions. Remy eased out of the parking lot, waved to Sykes, who was entering Christie’s car, and basical y left me alone. Winter in the val ey was just as breathtaking as the fal , yet the passing scenery bugged me. I wanted things to go back to normal with me not hunting, just training. No Valafar. No medium. No hot demoness after my boyfriend. No List, whatever was on it. We entered Center Street, cut through residential areas on the Island, the lowest floor in the val ey, then started uphil toward the eastern bench. The drone of snow blowers permeated the air when we reached the mansions at the top of the hil . After sixteen years of living in a trailer and moving from place to place with Grampa, I was stil getting used to living in a real house and having neighbors who cleared their driveways and sidewalks. Once we reached the homes along Sagebrush Drive, tucked between low-lying ridges and the gate that separated the Guardian homes from our neighbors, the absence of snow removers became glaringly noticeable. Not surprising. Snow on the footpaths and driveways were usual y cleared telekinetical y, while snow on the street was left for the city plows to keep up appearances. “Thanks for the ride.” I got out. “Hey,” he cal ed before I closed the car door. I leaned in and raised my brow. “Are you worried about Gavyn or is something else bothering you?” the ever perceptive Remy asked. Good thing I already decided to tel them about Valafar’s cal . “Are you guys hunting tonight?” I asked. “I don’t know. Depends on what Haziel says.
The Council and the Cardinals let him choose our missions now.” “Then let’s talk after I’m done with my homework and you guys….” Sykes and the girls pul ed up three driveways down the street. “Are not so busy.” Remy fol owed my gaze and grinned with anticipation. “Yeah, see you later.” He backed out of my driveway, stil smiling. I walked to the side door that led to the garage and the kitchen. The house was quiet, yet I felt Celeste’s energy. Bread, jel y, and peanut butter sat on the kitchen island counter along with the remnants of a sandwich. She often visited and knew her way around my house. “Celeste?” Placing my backpack on the side kitchen counter, I fol owed her psi to my bedroom, where she was fast asleep on the recliner. The T.V. was on. I switched it off, closed the door and went back to the kitchen for a snack and to do my homework—Pre-calc and Spanish, physics and reading Pride and Prejudice. Reading could wait. I poured myself cinnamon crusted cereal in a bowl and added milk then zipped through math and Spanish, leaving the hated physics for last. If Grampa didn’t give me grief over it, I would’ve dropped the subject a long time ago. ‘You don’t run away from chal enges, my girl. You conquer them,’ he often said. Easy to say when you were his age and wiser than Socrates. When the knock came, I was ready to throw the stupid physics text book across the room. I hurried to the living room to open the front door, but Celeste already beat me to it. From the scowl on her face, she didn’t like our visitor.
5. A Gypsy Trick Kylie and Cade stood on the other side of the door, a huge space between them. Usual y, they were glued to each other’s side, which was cute because he was as tal as me while Kylie was pint-size. She stared pointedly at Celeste, waited until the girl left then pushed the coat into my arms. “Your cel is in the pocket.” “Did it ring again?”
“Nope.” She inclined her head toward Cade. “I told him it was broken but he wouldn’t listen. Can he take a look at it so we can go home?” I wanted to say no. It was obvious they had fought over it, but Cade wore an expectant expression. Stepping back, I waved them inside. Cade looked around with interest, his gaze zeroing in on the circus paintings near the fireplace. He’d never been to my house before. “What happened?” I whispered to Kylie. She scrunched her face then glared at her boyfriend. “On the ride to and from the bookstore, al he talked about was your phone. When we got online, he Googled stuff and total y ignored me.” Cade heard her and came to join us. He was a lanky guy with the sad eyes of feigned boredom. When he took her into his arms, I scurried to the kitchen to give them privacy. After a few moments, his deep voice mingled with hers. Cade was a guy of few words but he loved Kylie, Brain Freeze—his garage band—and playing his iPod too loud. A laugh came from the living room, and I angled my head to catch their conversation. “See that? I told you her family’s been in the circus for generations,” Kylie said. I groaned. Maybe I shouldn’t have framed and hung up the paintings. They drew too much attention. I found them along with black and white photographs of my grandparents in a storage box under Grampa’s bed when we moved from our trailer. I couldn’t resist. According to Grampa, one of the paintings was done in the early 1900s by Picasso. I stopped rol ing my eyes whenever he told me such things because they might be true. Grampa lived with the circus Gypsies in Europe during that period. “This one is her great-grandpa, her great-great-grandpa, and her great-great-great-grandpa,” she said, repeating what I told her months ago. “And the one in the black and white pictures is her grandmother. She was a powerful Gypsy princess.” “Cool. Does Lil do magical tricks, too?” “Cade!” “I mean, she must know some.” Silence fol owed. “Hmm,
weird. Do you think they look like the same person? Look at the hair, the Van Helsing coat, hat, and boots.” Observant guy. In al the paintings, Grampa wore his favorite hunting clothes, a real y bad idea when you age slowly. “It must be some sort of circus uniform. Lil’s Grampa wears one just like it too.” That’s it. The pictures are coming down as soon as they leave. “Do you guys want something to drink?” I cal ed, hoping to pul them away from the paintings before they realized that one of the two women standing beside Grampa, or fake great-grandfather Falcon, resembled our counselor Hsia. “Nah, already had something,” Kylie said as they joined me in the kitchen. I removed the cel phone and the battery pack from my coat pocket and placed them on the dining room table. Cade gave placed them on the dining room table. Cade gave me a thumbs-up sign, pul ed out a chair, and sat. I hovered, praying the phone wouldn’t ring or start acting weird. Kylie touched my arm and indicated the counter where my homework sat. I hesitated, not wanting to leave her guy with my crazy cel phone. She grabbed my wrist and pul ed. “What’s up?” she asked. I frowned. “What do you mean?” “It’s obvious Celeste’s been crying. And she looked like hel when she came to the cafeteria earlier.” Guardian business was not meant for humans, but we had a policy about staying as close to the truth as possible. I shrugged. “She’s worried about her brother.” “What’s wrong with Bran?” “No, no, the other one.” I glanced over at Cade. He prodded the smashed cel phone as though it was a snake about to bite him. “I’ve never real y met him. What’s his name?” I glanced at Kylie and scowled. “What?” “Bran’s brother,
what’s his name?” Annoyance settled on her face. “Gavyn.” My attention shifted again. Cade snapped the battery in place then pressed the power button. I angled my head to catch the tel tale sound my cel phone made when turned on. “How come I never met him? Bran and Celeste are here a lot….” The phone didn’t turn on. Maybe Cade would lose interest and they’d leave. I wanted to search the house for my presents. Not that I cared about what Valafar sent, but I needed his phone number. Maybe he would tel me what the demoness meant by Bran would join them once they got the List. I also needed to ask him to stop using my friend as a medium. Kylie moved around the counter and blocked my line of vision. Then she leaned down to glare at me. “Does he?” “Does he what?” “You haven’t been listening to anything I said. You’re just like Cade, obsessed with that stupid phone.” Leaning away from her, I frowned. “I’m not.” “Are too.” She was real y angry. Kylie was about five-foot-four, but when pissed, she was a force of nature. Cade needed to intervene again. I tried to signal him, but she blocked me a second time. Her elbow hit the white plastic bowl I was using and sent it flying off the counter. Without thinking, I waved my hand just like I always did when I was alone. Stop. The bowl and the sloshed milk froze in mid-air. Kylie jumped back. “How—” The ripple effect hit her, caught her with her finger pointing at the bowl, eyes wide. On the other side of the room, Cade looked up then went stil , his mouth opened as if to say
something. For a moment, I couldn’t move, just stared at them with horror. Crap, I couldn’t believe I did that in their presence. Think, Lil. Think fast. I jumped up and chewed on my lower lip. I knew this day would come, the day I’d slip up in front of my human friends and use my powers. The problem was I had no idea how to deal with it. I closed my eyes and groaned. Then a thought occurred to me. “Celeste?” I yel ed. “What?” Phew, she was unaffected. I’d hate to escort Cade and Kylie to the door only to see a frozen Celeste. “Never mind.” I got up and moved around Kylie, grabbed the bowl, and placed it on the table. A gasp came from behind me. Celeste stood in the doorway separating the living room from the dining room/kitchen area, her gaze on the blob of milk stil dangling in the air. “What happened?” “She knocked over the bowl and I reacted without thinking. This is my worst nightmare.” I pul ed out sheets of paper towel, wrapped it around the milk then threw the wet paper in the garbage can. “I’ve wondered what I’d do if this ever happened. Now that it has, my mind is blank.” Celeste walked to where Cade sat and studied his face. She fingered his glam-rock teased hair, touched his cheek, the stud on his ear. “Tel them the truth,” she said in her usual blunt manner. “You’d get to know if they’re cool with what you are or not.” “Nah-uh. We have rules, and I swore to avoid breaking them.” Occasional mind control not included. “You’re who you are, Lil. You see what needs “You’re who you are, Lil. You see what needs to get done and you do it, which is why my brother is crazy about you. Even Gavyn respects your style.” I laughed at her attempt to manipulate me. Gavyn couldn’t stand me. “Nice try. And stop touching Cade. Okay?”
A sheepish expression touched her delicate features. “Humans fascinate me. They are complex, so unpredictable. We are simpler creatures. We are either good or bad. Guardians or Demons.” She glanced at me as though to check my reaction. “Bran is different, and so are you,” I defended quickly. “Am I?” “Whether you’re a demon or a Guardian depends on which side you support in this crazy war, not where you were born, how you were raised, or—” “What you did last month, last week, yesterday, or a second ago.” She rol ed her eyes. “We are al Nephilim.” “Ah, you’ve been talking to Grampa.” I smiled. She shrugged and moved away from Cade to where I stood next to Kylie. “Think about this for a sec, Lil. An opportunity has presented itself. Why would you want to blow it? Going by their unpredictable nature, these two might surprise you. I often wonder about my new friends too, you know. Wil they freak out when I shift in their presence or wil they be okay with it?” I frowned. “Shift?” “To a smoke form.” The encounter with the Lazarus demon earlier flashed in my head and I winced. “You don’t have that ability, Celeste.” “We don’t know that. Our mother was a Prime. Primes are equivalent to Cardinals, very powerful. What if I inherited her Lazarus genes?” She touched the choker around Kylie’s neck, studied the rings on her nose before glancing at me. When she spoke again, her voice was low. “They say the smoke form is addictive. It gives you the freedom to do as you please, go wherever you want to go and see things without being seen, different from teleporting. Right and wrong cease to exist. What if I changed and did something to my friends?” Celeste had never indicated she was worried about her abilities. She adjusted fast to life among humans. From her lingo to the way she dressed, she could pass for a human. Wel , except for her morbid fascination with people. I grabbed her wrist and stopped her from pul ing off Kylie’s
nose ring. “Demons don’t possess people without their consent. Now can you leave before the freeze wears off?” She rol ed her eyes. “So do you think we could see how they react to who we are? I wil help.” She was doing it again, trying to make me do things her way. I swore I’d never knowingly use my powers on my friends. There was another way. “I can’t, but I have a plan.” “What? Make them forget what they saw? You’l always wonder.” Not if my plan worked. “You need to go back to the bedroom now.” “Why?” I glared at her. She wrinkled her nose. “Fine. And while you’re at it, suggest to Kylie to stop with the dark clothes and makeup.” “She’s Goth.” “She’s Nosferatu bait,” she replied. I ignored her, picked up the white plastic bowl and held it where it had frozen before. “She’s lucky there are none here in the val ey,” Celeste continued. “I mean, Cardinal Moira doesn’t count because, you know, she’s half Neteru. From what Gavyn tel s me, Nosferatus own clubs frequented by people like Kylie in big cities. They drink their blood, heal the punctured wounds and make them forget, like you’re about to do.” Celeste could be so annoying. Nosferatus, or vampires as humans cal ed them, were a race among the Nephilim. We had a few, most of them mixed with shape-shifting Werenephils or Neterus— regular Nephilim. Making Kylie and Cade forget I froze a stupid bowl was different from Nosferatus’ feeding habits. I didn’t bother to answer her this time. “Oh, and if you need help with your physics homework,” she added, starting out of the kitchen, “let me know. Your answers to questions two and three are wrong.”
Smarty pants, I snapped. Sucky friend, she retorted back.
“And FYI, your power of persuasion doesn’t work on me,” I cal ed out. Celeste laughed. “I know, but it doesn’t hurt to Celeste laughed. “I know, but it doesn’t hurt to try.” I let go of the bowl. Freeze. It became stil . I nudged it until it was at the same spot as before. This had better work. I went back to my seat. Taking a deep breath, I waved at both Kylie and Cade at the same time.
Unfreeze. “Did you do that?” Kylie finished the question she started to ask before I froze her. “It’s a gypsy trick Grampa taught me. See?” I slowly swept my finger to the right, my heart pounding with dread. What if they freaked out and left the house screaming? I’d die. The bowl fol owed the invisible path. Kylie took a step away from me, her eyes like saucers. My confidence nosedived. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea after al . “Whoa!” Cade unfolded his lanky body from the chair and hurried forward. “Can I touch it?” He didn’t wait for my answer and tapped the bowl. It wobbled. He looked above and below the white plastic and shook his head. “How are you holding it up? Where are the hidden strings?” “Sorry, family secret.” I grabbed the plastic from mid-air and took it to the sink. Kylie stil didn’t speak. In fact, she crossed her arms and moved as far away from me as humanly possible. If there wasn’t a wal , she’d be across the street. Her reaction hurt. Cade, for once, was more vocal. “Come on, Lil. Tel us.” I shook my head. “Gypsy tricks are never shared.” I made a play of checking my watch. “I need to leave for practice.” I turned on the water and rinsed the bowl, hoping they’d just leave. I was bummed by Kylie’s response. “Okay. Uh, see you tomorrow,” she said. When I looked at her, she didn’t meet my gaze. I waited until the front door closed then turned off the water. Great. If my best friend couldn’t handle a little ‘gypsy trick,’ there was no way she could handle who I was. I walked back to my kitchen island and gathered my homework, slapping the text book on top of the folder. Just freakin’
great. “How did it go?” Celeste asked quietly from behind me. “She freaked out. Now we know.” I added my English book to the pile. Celeste walked to where I stood, put her arms around me and pressed her cheek against my shoulder. We were about the same height and age, but her skinniness and pale skin always made her appear younger and fragile. She also wasn’t the touchy-feely type. “What are you doing?” I asked. “Hugging you. Humans do it al the time. It makes them feel better.” I smiled but didn’t make a move to return the hug and spook her. “Yes, it does. Thank you.” “You’re welcome.” She stepped away and touched the edge of my physics textbook. “You want help with this?” “Maybe later. I need to find something first.” “What?” “Something,” I added in a tired voice, wanting her gone. “Why don’t you go to HQ and see if they’ve heard from Bran?” “I’ve been checking every ten minutes since you guys returned. Bran wil come to you first, so I’l just hang around here if you don’t mind.” I shrugged. “Okay. We have leftover meatloaf for dinner.” Her eyes lit up. “Yeah, my favorite. You do your thing, and I’l entertain myself.” Guilt washed over me as she walked away, but I couldn’t hang out and search for Valafar’s present at the same time. Besides, I also needed to B.S. my way out of training. Master Haziel was at the new HQ gym when I located his psi, probably waiting for me. He responded to my ping and lowered his shield. Where
are you? It’s five to four. Can I skip today? Why? I’ve lots of homework and a test coming up.
You skip once, it becomes a habit. But you hunted this afternoon, so I’ll give you an hour to study. Be here at five. He terminated the link before I could protest. I should have known Leather Face wouldn’t give me a break. I decided against pul ing down the paintings and headed to Grampa’s bedroom. Guilt at invading his privacy washed over me, but I pushed it aside. He shouldn’t have hidden the presents from me in the first place. me in the first place. His bedroom had the bare essentials, a double bed and a bedside table. One spiffy suit shared space in his walk-in closet with half a dozen dark-green and brown pairs of hunting pants and shirts, and several coats. The few casual clothes he owned, jeans and normal shirts, looked lonely and miserable on two shelves, the rest were empty. No sweaters, sweatshirts or rows of ties like you see in magazines. Footwear was limited to heavy-duty boots. The bathroom was equal y stark. Towels, a few cans of shaving creams and lotions and nothing else. I left his quarters and went through the cabinets in the kitchen. I hadn’t bought more utensils since we moved from the trailer, so most of the cabinets were empty. Or maybe the kitchen was just too big for the two of us. The only thing we had plenty of was spices. Grampa loved to cook when he wasn’t hunting. While digging through storage boxes downstairs, I heard a familiar chuckle. I peeked from behind the pile I already checked. Bran leaned against the doorframe, coat gone, arms crossed and a lopsided dimpled grin on his lips. Just seeing that smile made me feel better. Things must have gone wel . “Can’t find them?” he asked teasingly. “Can’t find what?” I made a show of pul ing the flaps and col apsing the box in my hand. “The presents. Unless, of course, you’re doing spring cleaning.” His lips twitched. “Spring cleaning. The boxes take up less space this way.” Bran laughed, dimples flashing. “You’re such a girl.” “Meaning what?” I narrowed my eyes at him. “You hear the word ‘presents’ and you become starry eyed.”
“Oh? Then what does that make you? I remember your excitement when we traded presents on Christmas.” “That was different.” He moved inside the room, picked a box from the stack to my right and shook it to see if there was anything inside, then threw it aside. “Your gifts were the first I’ve ever received.” I frowned. “No way. Not even on birthdays?” “My mother didn’t believe in birthdays. She cal ed it celebrating mortality, something her sons didn’t need to worry about.” Every time I heard about his bleak childhood, I wondered how much more he wasn’t sharing. “I like to think of birthdays as celebrating life.” “Only losers acknowledge they survived a year and hope they cheat death again.” His mother’s words, I was sure. Bran wasn’t that cynical. Or maybe he was just in a weird mood, like me. I wanted to know about Solange and the List, but first things first. “How’s Gavyn?” I asked. Bran pushed his hands inside the front pockets of his pants and studied me without speaking. Then his lips turned up at the corners, his emerald eyes guarded. Uh-oh, bad news. “The Brotherhood took him in.” He spoke slowly, another sign that he had bad news. I dropped the box and walked to his side, my eyes not leaving his face. “But?” “It’s going to take weeks. Their healer is old and not that powerful.” “Is there anything I can do to help? Link with him—” “No. Jeez, what a thought.” He cupped my face, pressed his forehead against mine. “In his weakened state, he could suck your powers dry.” “You’re forgetting one thing.” He co*cked his right eyebrow. “What?” “I have the dagger to heal me.” “No. We can’t chance it.” His voice was firm. “Besides, we have other things to worry about.” My heart
skipped a beat. “Like what?” “The Lazari,” he said. I shrugged. “By now word has spread about what I did to Solange. They won’t dare use hosts when I’m around. I mean, isn’t that why you asked me to let her go?” “Hel yeah.” He leaned back to study my face, his eyes puzzled. “You never said you could command demons like that.” “You never asked.” He chuckled and rubbed the side of his face against mine. His warm breath fanned my cheek. My breathing hiked, heart leaping with anticipation. He smel ed so good. I slipped my arms around his waist, gripped the back of his shirt, and pul ed him waist, gripped the back of his shirt, and pul ed him closer. He was pure muscles and warmth. I loved that he topped me by five inches. He nuzzled my neck. Smel ing my essence, he cal ed it. I forced myself to focus on our conversation. “Do you think Valafar sent her to hurt you and Gavyn?” I asked. Once again, Bran leaned away from me and frowned. “I don’t think so. Solange is very bitter. Most Lazari were loyal to Coronis, which reminds me… How did you know her name or that she works for your father?” I didn’t feel like explaining the little demon-girl now or the decision I made to spare her life. “I got it from one of her people. You’re sure Valafar isn’t behind this?” “I don’t know, but with the Lazari loose in the world, anything is possible. Nature-benders usual y despise the Lazari, yet Valafar teamed up with Solange’s group. It doesn’t make sense.” “Your ex-girlfriend has a group?” His eyes flashed. “She wasn’t my girlfriend. Just someone I hooked up with for a short period. Most demons tend to separate into groups based on loyalty to a Lord or a cause. Coronis had a way of dealing with that.” I didn’t care about Coronis. “Hooked up with?”
He pressed his forehead against mine again and sighed. “Lil, Coronis made us do al sorts of crazy things as part of our initiation. I had no choice in what happened to me on that island.” Sweet relief rippled through me. He didn’t choose Solange. “I’m happy we vanquished Coronis,” I said. “Am I forgiven?” He flashed that lethal smile of his again. “Only if you promise not to stop me from taking out Solange next time we meet.” He laughed, brushed his lips against mine. When he leaned closer for a deeper contact, I evaded his lips. He chuckled. “I promise.” Now you can kiss me. He did. Little nibbles designed to drive me crazy. “Tease,” I griped. He cupped my head and kissed me properly. Thoughts disappeared from my head. Sparks exploded from my lips and spread under my skin, making me feel energized. Nothing else mattered except Bran and how beautiful and wonderful he made me feel. When I came up for air, I couldn’t recal what we’d been discussing. “Are you working with Haziel today?” he asked, and from the twinkle in his eyes, it wasn’t the first time. “Hmm. Uh, yeah, five.” He looked at his watch. “Then we have time.” He led me to the L-sectional couch a few feet away, sat on the recliner end, and pul ed me down on his lap. “Tel me about your day.” I shifted until I sprawled on top of him with my head on his chest. I could hear his heart beating hard and steady. This was the highlight of my day. Lying on his chest and doing nothing or sharing the things we did apart. “Mr. Sorenson picked on me again. I came this close to zapping him.” I indicated with my forefinger and thumb. “Then Celeste came and I did the image retrieval thing, which I now know I shouldn’t have done.” I covered Bran’s lips when I felt them move on my temple. “Don’t say a word. Mrs. D already chewed my ear. It was weird, like I lost my head during the retrieval. Anyway, the rest you know
—we came to Seattle, kicked some demon butt, came back, and here we are. Now, I want to hear about the List. Why does Valafar want it yet insists we shouldn’t search for it? How does it involve you?” “You left out the part about your cel phone and Kylie.” His sister had a big mouth, and he was hedging. “What did she tel you?” “That Kylie hurt your feelings. What happened?” I skimmed over the incident. “She’s my friend. She’l come around.” Bran ran the tips of his fingers up and down my arm, but didn’t respond right away. I lifted my head so I could see his eyes. They were narrowed, as though he was thinking about something unpleasant. “Say something.” “She’s your friend and wil come around.” “Quit patronizing me.” I pinched his nose. “Just agreeing with you, Sunshine. Kylie is lucky to have you as a friend. If she can’t handle who you are, let her go.” He cupped my cheek and kissed you are, let her go.” He cupped my cheek and kissed me. I got sidetracked, but not for long. Putting my hand between our faces, I forced him to stop. “I can’t let Kylie go. She’s my best friend. I run to her when al this Guardian business becomes overwhelming.” He frowned. “That’s what I’m here for.” Ooh, he was jealous. How ridiculous and sweet. “You’re not around al the time. Anyway, tel me about the List.” He shrugged. “There’s nothing to it.” I searched his face. “It can’t be nothing. Not when Valafar warned Grampa not to search for it and Solange said you’d join them if they got it first.” Bran chuckled. “It’s not funny,” I scolded him. His expression became serious. “No, it’s not. The List contains damned souls, or names of people who sold their souls to Coronis and her minions. Whenever a person sel s his or her soul to a demon, they sign a contract, a special scrol . Their names appear on the List and stay there until they either die or fulfil their contract.”
“And the contracts?” “They go to their superior, a dark lord the demons serve, then to a warehouse.” My mind raced as I connected the dots. “Like where Valafar kept Grampa? There were hundreds of barrels and crates.” Bran nodded. “Exactly. From there, they’re shipped to secret dungeons around the world. When a person dies, the contract self-destructs. Coronis had the largest database of contrasts and she trusted only one person with her List, Damien. He was her accountant, her record keeper.” “So why aren’t we going after the contracts? Why the List?” “It’s easy to transport. Imagine mil ions of names in a rol edup parchment the size of a regular paper towel rol . Al a demon has to do is read out a person’s name or have the person touch their name on the List to retrieve the contract.” The image of possessed humans searching through computers, yanking out hard drives and wal s flashed in my head. “Then what were the Lazari doing in that office in Seattle?” Bran chuckled and tucked my head under his chin. “Trying to find Damien. He must communicate with his employees, who are al human. E-mails and wire transfers leave an electronic trail. This was the third office we raided in the last few weeks and the first time I encountered the Lazari. Valafar must think like us—find Damien, find the List. Unfortunately, no one knows where he lives. Not even the CEOs who run his companies. But I have an informant who knows how to track Damien’s movements.” I lifted my head to look into his eyes. “When you say we, do you mean Gavyn has been helping you?” I asked hopeful y. “Only this time. Your grandfather and the Cardinals directed me to find the List.” The inflection in voice indicated how much that meant to him. “I work with Remy and the others. Because I didn’t trust the last intel from our informant, I didn’t want the others involved. I was right. It turned out to be a trap.” His eyes narrowed. “When I catch up with Zedekiah, he’s going to be sorry he double-crossed me. He’s playing games and I hate people who play games.” So did I. “How do you contact him?” “We leave messages for each other with a concierge at an inn outside Vegas, but tonight, he’s in Vegas. Zedekiah’s a creature of habit. I even know where he’l be staying.”
That meant they were going to Vegas tonight. Would Haziel let me go too? “Just how many offices are owned by Damien Corporation?” Bran shrugged. “I don’t know, but there’re many al over the world. He’s into real estate and banking, manufacturing, and shipping, which probably makes it easy for him to transport the contracts. ” “So whoever finds these facilities can claim the contracts?” Bran nodded and smiled. “Imagine if we got the List. More souls spared hel and more Guardians get their glory back.” The smile disappeared from his lips. “But if a demon claims the souls, he or she wil succeed Coronis and become the new leader.” So it was us against powerhungry demons. No wonder Valafar didn’t want us going after the List. He wanted it for himself. “But what did Solange mean by if they found it you’l have to join them? What does this List have to do with you?” Bran shrugged. “Other than the fact that we want it too, I don’t know.” That didn’t make sense. I couldn’t explain the That didn’t make sense. I couldn’t explain the foreboding feeling brewing like a tempest in my stomach either. There was more going on here than we knew. Valafar was plotting something, I just knew it, but contacting him was impossible without his phone number. I real y needed to find that present.
6. Spirit Guides “When are we leaving?” Celeste cal ed from the foot of the stairs, interrupting Bran. “Five minutes,” he responded and went back to the passage in Pride and Prejudice without missing a beat. “‘Had Elizabeth been able to encounter his eyes, she might have seen how wel the expression of heartfelt delight diffused over his face became him; but, though she could not look, she could listen, and he told her of feelings which, in proving of what importance she was to him, made his affection every moment more valuable.’” “You said you were doing physics,” Celeste griped, moving closer. “Lil wanted to read first and do physics later.”
“And you are okay with it? You always insist I do the subjects I hate first.” “You’re my sister, pint. She’s my girlfriend.” He grinned when she glared at him. “He has a beautiful voice,” I added, sitting up. I could listen to him forever, but from Celeste’s annoyed expression, she wasn’t in the mood to hear that. “If you guys need to go…go ahead. I should be getting ready for my session with Master Haziel anyway.” Bran gripped my waist and stopped me from getting up. I had been sitting on the recliner between his legs with my head on his chest. “We’re not done yet.” He turned his gaze to Celeste. “Be a good little sister and wait upstairs. I’l be right up.” Celeste crossed her arms and jutted her chin. “No, you won’t. You finish whatever it is you plan to do and we’l teleport from right…here.” “Celeste,” he snapped, eyes narrowed. “It’s not like I haven’t seen you two make out or anything, or eavesdropped on your thoughts whenever you wear a dopey—” “Celeste!” “Bran,” she retorted. “And stop cal ing me pint.” I tried to get up again, but Bran wouldn’t let me. Be nice to her, I scolded.
She drives me nuts. He sighed. “Okay, pint. Stay and find a book to read to Gavyn.” “Why? He’s in a coma.” “Coma patients can hear.” Celeste glanced at me. “Is that true?” I nodded. “They say talking to them is good.” She looked at the two bookshelves that covered the north and south wal then back at us. “Gavyn doesn’t read anything but sports stats and comics. Cardinal Falcon doesn’t col ect comics, does he?” “No sports or comics,” Bran instructed. “Get something that
wil give him a reason to fight and come out of the coma.” I didn’t get his reasoning. I tilted my head to look at him. “What reason?” “To beat me to pulp. He’l know I’m behind the selection.” He grinned as though relishing the thought. “You’re mean.” Celeste stomped to the first shelf. “I agree with her,” I added. “You’re supposed to be nice to people in a coma.” Bran didn’t respond right away. He kept his gaze on Celeste until she sat cross-legged on the carpeted floor and started pul ing out books from the shelf to read the titles. “My brother doesn’t need nice now,” he explained in a low voice, obviously so his now,” he explained in a low voice, obviously so his sister wouldn’t hear. “He’s been moping around the house for months like his world has come to an end, lounging in bed watching ESPN and betting on teams instead of going to work. He even hired a manager to run his club. The Gavyn I knew would never give someone control over his business. Now the only time I get a reaction out of him is when we fight. I want to give him a reason to come back to us, Lil. I’d yel at him to snap out of it, but she,” he nodded toward Celeste, “would hate me.” “Tel him Celeste is in danger. That the Lazari Tribunal is after her and you can’t protect her on your own.” He grinned. “Bril iant idea, except I’d have to do it when she’s not around.” I wondered if Gavyn had any idea how lucky he was to have such a loving brother. Bran would do anything for his family. Turning and kneeling on the recliner, I took the book from his hand and threw it on the table. As if he knew my intention, a tiny smile lifted the corner of his beautiful lips and his hands came to rest on my waist. Slowly, I lowered my head until I was a breath away then stared into his emerald eyes. Everything else became blurry except his face. I could stare at his face forever. That was how much I loved him with every breath I took and every cel in my body. Not caring that the ever curious Celeste was probably watching us, I brushed my lips against his. Leaning forward, his hands left my waist to cup my cheeks. I closed my eyes with anticipation. He kissed my forehead, eyelids, nose, trailed tiny kisses
down my face until he reached my lips. The gentle nibbles on my upper lip, then my lower one, made me smile. We exchanged a breath, so sweet and intoxicating I thought I’d die right then and there. Then he angled his head and deepened the contact. Time stood stil , yet I soared to greater heights, heart pounding and blood rushing through my veins. I was lost in the moment, loving every minute, never wanting it to end. When we pul ed apart, an expression I didn’t understand crossed Bran’s face.
Don’t ever stop loving me. No matter what, he telepathed. His cryptic thought made no sense. Of course, I won’t. He pul ed me down and held me tight. I frowned. He was in a weird mood. “Wil I see you tonight?” I whispered. “Yes. I’l stop by after I talk to the Cardinals.” His voice grew grim. “They always need an update on our progress.” Celeste cleared her throat loudly and drew our attention. When she tapped her watch, we slowly got up. Bran squeezed my hand and let it go before walking to where she stood. “Found anything yet?” Celeste showed him the cover of a book. “Romeo and Juliet? Haven’t you read this, like, a gazil ion times?” he teased. She bristled. “It’s a beautiful love story, even the tragic ending. This one?” “Hmm, The Count of Monte Cristo. Not bad, but you need something that packs a punch. Something….” He peered at titles and pul ed out a different book. “Like this one.” Celeste gasped. “The Holy Bible?” She hit him on the arm with the book in her hand. “Okay, fine. You win. Choose whatever you like, and I’m sorry for teasing you.” He put the Bible back on the shelf and opened his arms wide. “Forgive me?” She glared at him.
“We’re not leaving until I get one and you know I can wait for hours.” She sighed and hugged him. His arms closed around her in a bear hug. “You’re crushing my ribs, you big bul y,” she protested, but laughter tinged her voice. He gave her temple a resounding smack of a kiss, stepped back, and pointed to his cheek. “Give me one right here.” She shook her head and planted a kiss on his cheek, then playful y hit him again with the book. “You’re the best sister a brother could ever ask for, pint.” “And don’t you ever forget it, junior.” She ran out of the room when he growled and lunged for her. Bran hated being cal ed junior. The Cardinal Guardians used the nickname because Bran resembled his grandfather, Tariel, whom they hunted with for years before Coronis kidnapped him. Sykes tried to use the nickname once, but after one look from Bran, he stopped. Celeste was the only one who got away with teasing him about it. But then again, their relationship was special. Bran had again, their relationship was special. Bran had risked being vanquished when he sneaked into our val ey and sought the Guardians’ help to rescue her. That was how he and I met. I became a go-between for him and the Cardinals and fel in love with him in the process. Soon after Celeste’s rescue, they settled in Park City. I visited them regularly and got to know Celeste. Jumpy and scared of her shadow couldn’t begin to describe her then. She’s come a long way since. “You’re amazing with her,” I said, wrapping my arm around his. Bran stopped smiling. “She’s the amazing one.” “You helped too,” I insisted. “And you. She was intimidated by you at first.” He pushed his hands in the front pockets of his pants. “The girl who defeated Coronis…the wielder of the Kris Dagger…the one destined to unite the Nephilim.” I bumped him with my shoulder. “Quit with that.” He grinned. “But she now considers you her best friend.” Celeste was like the sister I never had. Even Grampa
treated her like she was his grandchild. I liked that she and I could talk about anything, including her brothers when she was pissed at them and boys in general, which I was no expert on. She didn’t understand why guys weren’t like characters in books and movies. “She hugged me today,” I added. Bran laughed. “That’s great. If only Gavyn….” Laughter disappeared from his face. “Gavyn wil come around too.” He snickered. “He’s a stubborn idiot.” “But so are you.” As long as he continued to show his brother good trumped evil, Gavyn would come around. “Come on. I don’t want to keep Leather Face waiting.” I angled my head as voices drifted downstairs. “I think Grampa is home.” Grampa’s deep baritone mingled with Celeste’s high-pitch giggles and Aunt Janel e’s husky chuckles. Janel e wasn’t real y my aunt, although I wished we were related. As the Cardinal Earth Guardian, she had worked side-by-side with Grampa for decades. Though she never married, she dated many men, most of them human. Lately though, I’d seen longing in her eyes whenever she glanced at Grampa. I wish they would hook up. They’d be great together. A whiff of something yummy drifted toward us as we took the stairs leading to the kitchen, where Aunt Janel e removed white boxes of food from brown paper bags while Celeste placed them in the refrigerator. Grampa sat at the end of the counter, eating from one of the cartons. “Hey, the lovebirds final y made it upstairs,” Janel e teased. My face warmed as I walked to her for a hug. She was about an inch or two shorter than I with an oval face and, despite being as old as Grampa, a body of a twenty-something dancer. Adding to her aura of timeless beauty were the coppery highlights on her brunette hair, which she wore short and stylishly. She winked at Bran. “And how’re you doing, junior? We missed you today. Hope you’re treating my Luminitsa right.” Bran grimaced. “I try, ma’am.” “Try?” She leveled him a stern look. “Young man, you do not try with a girl like Lil. You do.”
“Where’s the food from this time, Aunt Janel e?” I asked, hoping to distract her. Whenever they teleported in from a hunt, she often brought food from some exotic restaurant. “A little restaurant in southern Italy.” She col apsed the paper bags and placed them under the sink in the recycle bin. “We were helping the Guardians down there with a den of pesky Lazari. Coronis kept them under her thumb, but now that she’s gone, we have an infestation.” She shuddered. I went to hug Grampa, stopped, and held my nose. “Eew, Grampa!? You reek.” He grinned, popped a morsel of meat in his mouth. “So Janel e keeps tel ing me. Shouldn’t you be working with Haziel right about now?” His gaze swung from me to Bran, then back to me. “He gave me an hour off. I’l change.” I hurried out of the kitchen but could hear Janel e lecturing Grampa. “Let the child take time off, Ares. You read the report. She not only vanquished a Lazarus demon on her own, she used what Haziel taught her to command one out of Gavyn.” Grampa humphed. Grampa humphed. Oh, he wasn’t impressed, was he? I glared at him over my shoulder and caught him watching me with an indulgent smile.
Good job, sweetheart, he telepathed. You should have seen me, Grampa. A little humility, child. A little humility goes a long way, he added. I hid a smile. “How’s your brother doing, Bran?” Aunt Janel e asked just before I closed my bedroom door. When I came out a few minutes later, Bran and Celeste were gone. Grampa and Janel e had their backs to me near the dining room table. Seeing them side by side reinforced my belief—they were perfect for each other. At six-foot-three with a neatly trimmed beard and shoulderlength black hair sprinkled
with gray, Grampa’s tal body complemented Aunt Janel e’s statuesque one. I gulped when I realized what they were staring at. My cel phone was stil where Cade left it. When I joined them, they looked up with identical expressions—concern. “Bran said he broke it,” Grampa said. “I believed him. What I didn’t ask him was why?” “Valafar cal ed me,” I whispered. Aunt Janel e’s eyes widened while Grampa’s narrowed. He lifted my chin and studied my face. “He didn’t threaten you, did he?” “No. I refused to talk to him and hung up,” I said quickly to reassure him. “When he cal ed again, I removed the battery from the cel .” “That’s my girl,” Grampa said. “I hope he got the message you don’t want anything to do with him.” I shook my head. “He didn’t. The phone kept ringing. Bran took it and told him to leave me alone, then he smashed the phone. Later, it rang again.” Grampa exchanged a worried look with Aunt Janel e. “That’s the energy we detected on the device,” he said. “The people helping him are powerful,” she added, her brow furrowed. Dread washed over me. “There’s more than one medium?” Instead of answering, Janel e touched one of the pieces of the broken cel phone. It slid along the table and into place. As though the piece started a chain reaction, the other bits shifted and locked, crack lines blending until the cel phone was whole again. She picked up the restored phone and passed it to Grampa. “What did he say before you hung up on him?” Grampa asked. His voice was too calm for my liking. I expected him to get pissed.
My gaze vol eyed between Aunt Janel e and Grampa. They kept exchanging glances, which bugged me. “He, uh, wanted to talk to you about my safety and the List. He said you shouldn’t search for it, which is ridiculous. He also said he sent me presents. I don’t want anything from him. Is there more than one medium?” Grampa shook his head. “He lied to you, sweetheart. If he had sent anything, we would have received it and I would have given it to you.” “I know. And the mediums?” I asked again, getting frustrated by his lack of response. Once again, Grampa ignored my question. He pinned me down with an unflinching gaze. “I want you to go to the Academy library and check out a book on mediums. You need to understand what we’re dealing with. I’ve already told Haziel to cancel training for today. As for this,” he turned the cel training for today. As for this,” he turned the cel phone over and over in his palm, “I’l keep it for now.” I stared at my phone with a mixture of longing and revulsion. “Wil I get another one?” “Later, after we find the medium. Now run along.” He dropped a kiss on my temple. I turned to leave. “Ah, Bran and Celeste wil be staying in the val ey until Gavyn’s condition improves,” he added. My heart skipped. “With us?” “No,” Grampa answered. “They’l stay with me,” Janel e added. “That way, we keep an eye on both of you.” My face grew hot again. She worried too much about us. Bran and I had discussed our relationship and we were ‘okay’ with the way things were. For now. *** I teleported to HQ. With Civilians taking shifts doing business and conferring
with their counterparts around the world, the place never slept. Stil , my fear of confined places had me hurrying toward the newer part of the underground building and clasping my amulet. Once I passed the offices, the hal way split into two. One headed straight ahead to the vast, dark room where the Civilian Psi team monitored demonic activities on the Psidar—an energy source I’d seen only once and swore never to go near it again. Its tug on my psyche had given me a severe headache. The other passage led south to the huge, wooden double doors of the Guardian Academy. Battle scenes of Guardians fighting demons were etched on the wood and doorframe. The demons depicted were mainly Werenephils with human bodies and bat-like wings, horns, or black eyes, or heads of animals. Some showed fangs typical of the Nosferatus, and a few were Neterus— handsome and elegant in their red cloaks and black pantsuits until one looked into their rage-fil ed, malevolent red eyes. I waved and the doors opened before I reached them to reveal a rotunda with a dome roof. Built in less than five months by Civilians from around the world, it stil amazed me that humans had no clue of its existence. But then again, it was imbedded deep inside the mountains. The earth tremors that shook the val ey when the builders carved it were thought to be natural. Stone pil ars with carved battle scenes rose from the floor and soared up like ancient Roman columns. Torch-like glowing crystals dotted the wal s, il uminating beautiful paintings of the Circle of Twelve, our leaders in Xenith. Dominating the ceiling was a drawing of Goddess Xenia in a flowing white robe and huge white wings, glorious redhair tumbling down her back and the Kris Dagger in her hand. Her face was radiant, her pale skin unblemished. Below her on the floor was a painting of the six-sided star Cardinal Guardian amulet with the ancient symbols of the six powers. The administration offices to my left were closed with lights turned off, which wasn’t surprising.
The principal was stil trying to lure teachers from other Academies across the globe. The last group of North American Guardian Academy teachers was kil ed during a demonic raid years ago. A sudden surge of power drew my attention to the classrooms on my right just as I crossed the hal . I checked my watch. Quarter past five. Weird. The regular classes should be over and in the pit doing martial arts. I walked to the first door and peered through the glass panel. Mrs. D and about a dozen students were seated in yoga poses on mats, channeling their psi powers. I grimaced, remembering how I found the breathing exercise boring. Then we used the dojo in the downtown area. The dojo was no longer run by us. Whenever I tel Kylie and the others I had lessons, they just assumed I stil went there.
Want to join us? Mrs. D asked. Our gazes connected and I waved. No, thanks.
I’d like you to talk to them sometime. Would this week be okay? I groaned. I hate speaking in front of people. It served me right for peeking into her classroom. Do I have to?
No, but they’re new and would probably appreciate hearing from someone who’s gone through the process that it’s not as hard as it seems. Right, put it in such a way that I’d appear self-centered and unsympathetic if I refused. Okay.
Friday? Friday? Friday is great. Five-o’clock after your lesson. In the next room, Sykes had a giant alpha energy bal above his hands, the coiling core blue and the flares on the outside blinding. Considering the size of the orb and the co*cky grin on his face, he was showing off. I rol ed my eyes at the awe on the students’ faces. If they knew how lethal an alpha bal was, they wouldn’t be inching closer for a better look. I recognized a few of them from Cache High. The rest probably just arrived from Xenith and wouldn’t start going to
high school until next year. Izzy was talking to two boys in the next room. Cardinal Time Guardian Hsia must have found potential Cardinal Time Guardian trainees. The ability to control time was uncommon, so both students and teachers were in short supply. The time-instructor was one of the positions that hadn’t been fil ed yet. Izzy was trained by Cardinal Hsia. With her curly black hair held up in a ponytail and her brown skin free of make-up, Izzy looked about the same age as the two sixteen year olds she taught. She saw me and came to the door. “Going to the pit later than usual, aren’t you?” The pit was the special training room Haziel used for our sessions. “Not today. I’m picking up a book from the library.” “You want to step inside and help me teach?” she asked with a teasing gleam in her hazel eyes. I laughed. Control ing time wasn’t one of my specialties. “I think I’l pass. Mrs. D just asked me to talk to her students. Do you guys help out everyday?” “Nah. I fil in for Hsia whenever she’s hunting. I can’t wait for them to find her replacement. As for the others, the principal asked them to talk to the new students. Are you hunting with us tonight?” “Now that I know about the List, I think I am.” Her eyes widened. “You know about it?” “Yep. I don’t understand why you guys never mentioned it before. Even when I asked earlier in that building in Seattle, you al pretended you didn’t know what the Lazari were after.” Izzy closed the door behind her, furtively looked around the foyer then leaned closer to me. “Who told you?” “Bran.” “You’re not angry with him?” she asked slowly, enunciating her words. “No. Why should I be?” “He kept it from you. That’s the kind of secret that would make anyone go bal istic. Are you sure you’re okay?”
I laughed. “Please. Bran can’t keep a secret if his life depended on it, not from me anyway. When wil you guys be done here?” She looked at her watch. “About forty minutes.” “Can we meet at the guys’ place? I have something to share.” Her eyes narrowed. “You’re mad, aren’t you? That’s why you want to see us. You’re just holding it in because of where we are.” She waved to indicate the school. Shaking my head, I turned to leave. Her behavior was beyond weird. “Later, Izzy. Oh, Bran and Celeste are moving to the val ey until Gavyn gets better. They’re going to stay with Cardinal Janel e.” “Aah, that explains the stupid grin on your face,” she teased. Stupid grin or not, I was beyond happy. Bran would be living right next door. I stuck my tongue at her before she closed the door. I would’ve moved past the Earth Class without stopping if it weren’t for the girl. She stood in front of the other students with a cross-bow as though about to demonstrate how it worked, but her face was pale. I didn’t need to touch her and engage my empathetic abilities to know she was terrified. Mrs. D was right. We needed to reassure the new students that the training wasn’t bad.
Take a deep breath and exhale. You can do it. If you mess up, that’s okay too. We all did and still do. Take me, for example. I still can’t teleport without bumping my head or elbow on something. She looked around frantical y then our gazes met. Her eyes widened when I waved and added , yeah, it’s me yapping. A pink tinge colored her cheeks. She probably didn’t know how to telepath yet. I smiled and gave her a thumb-up signal. Her gaze went to my thumb. From her puzzled expression, she had no idea what the gesture meant. She gave me a shaky smile and faced her class. The metal and wood lost their shape and melted into a gooey, brown
mass that dripped melted into a gooey, brown mass that dripped through her fingers. The expression on her face was comical, horror mixed with amazement as the class broke into applause. Remy and his former teacher Neo came into view. Both men grinned in approval. I guess the rumors that none of the new students were powerful enough to become a Cardinal Guardian trainee had been false. That girl would be kicking butts in a few months. Looking at me one more time, a broad smile settled on her flushed face. I gave her the thumb-up signal again. She looked at her hand and imitated my gesture.
It means good job, I telepathed her. I moved on before Remy could see me, walked past an arched doorway leading to the other two classrooms and the pit—the huge theater-like room Haziel used when we trained. I wondered if Kim was talking to the air students tonight too and whether Bran had taught the Water Class yet. I would love to watch him teach. He’d be awesome. The door to the Academy’s library opened automatical y to reveal another round room like the lobby. The librarian’s desk occupied the center of the room. Shelves fil ed with leather-bound books fol owed the wal s al the way to the high ceiling. Comfortable reading couches and tables were scattered al around the room though the only occupant was the librarian, Rachel. She was a senior at my high school. “Haven’t seen you in here since we opened,” she said in greeting. “I’m stil not finished with the demonology books Mrs. D gave me. I’m looking for a book on mediums.” Her brow arched. “I believe we have two. One copy is written in the ancient language, which only the old geezers can understand.” I did too. I found out the night I met my father. He used it to speak to the Cardinals, not realizing I understood the language. Reading it was another story. “And the second one?” “Latin.” “I’l take the second one.”
Rachel swung around in her seat and wiggled her fingers like a dancer. A brown leather-bound book slid from the top shelf and floated down to her desk. “Here you go,” she said with a smile. “Thanks.” I selected the furthest couch in the room, curled my feet under me and started to read. *** “So this is why you missed training?” I nearly jumped out of my skin at Haziel’s voice. Leather Face always made me nervous. I wasn’t sure whether it was his curt tone, which never softened since he arrived in the val ey, or the fact that he never used contractions in his speech like normal people and disapproved of my use of slangs. Putting the book on the table while thinking up a response to his question, I gave him a tiny smile. “Mediums: A Treatise from Akashic Records,” he read. “Why are you reading about mediums?” I opened my mouth to tel him that Valafar was using a medium to spy on me, but I remembered he didn’t know about Valafar. Only a few people did and I wanted it kept that way. “It’s just something Gram… my grandfather wanted me to look up.” Haziel took the couch across from me and picked up the book. He checked the index then flipped through the book to a page and read aloud. “‘Many mediums have specific guides who work with them. They cal them spirit guides or just guides. A guide acts as the go-between to the medium and the supernatural world. They bring the supernatural entity to the attention of the medium; otherwise, the medium would hear many telepathic messages from many beings at once. Guides are highly evolved beings and are very protective of their mediums. When they believe their charge is in danger, they can take over the medium’s body and protect them.’” He glanced at me. “Did you read that part yet?” I shook my head, wondering if he knew about the medium at my school. He had that gleam in his eyes that said he knew a lot more than he was saying. But he gave me something to ease my mind, or worry about, depending on how I looked at it. “Are spirit guides general y good or bad?” I asked. “That depends on who or what the medium is channeling. If
it is an evil being, the guide would be bad, evil, a demon. If it is good, the guide would be good or a Guardian.” He closed the book and put it back on the table. “I saw the report on what happened in Seattle today. You did not hold the happened in Seattle today. You did not hold the sword when you commanded that demon to get out of Gavyn Llyr. Why?” “The light from the dagger would have hurt Gavyn had I removed it from its sheath.” “I see. And whose idea was it to let the demon go? Yours or Cardinal Llyr’s?” Did it matter? “Uh-mm, it was a joint decision.” “Why?” he shot back. “Because, uh, because we wanted her to tel her master that….” Think, Lil. Think fast. “That I can command any Lazarus demon from a body and that they better not use human hosts anymore.” Haziel’s craggy brow rose. He studied me intently as though he could see through the poorly worded lie. Not that it was a lie. Bran did say Solange would report what happened to Valafar and I agreed. When Haziel didn’t speak, I started to sweat. It seemed forever before he nodded. “That’s a good reason. It gives them something to think about. On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with the element of surprise. Next time, show no mercy. Let their defeat be the message. Demons do not deserve to live.” He got up. “I believe you wil be hunting with the others tonight. I wil see you tomorrow evening at four sharp.” As he walked away, my happiness at the news that I’d be hunting was brief. My mind went in circles trying to go over what he said about mediums and demons. That was one thing I observed among older Civilian Guardians—they had zero tolerance for demons. Maybe I shouldn’t have listened to Bran and let Solange go. Or the little demon-girl who told me about Solange. Then there was the mystery of the spirit working with the medium. A demon in the val ey was unthinkable. The Psidar would have locked on his or her energy eons ago. A thought occurred to me and I swal owed. The guide could be someone pretending to be good but was actual y evil. A chil crawled up my spine and I shivered.
7. Something Fishy I teleported home, and went for my favorite landing strip— my bed, and was greeted by laughter. Grampa and Aunt Janel e were stil home. I slid off the bed, threw the book about mediums on my reading desk, and fol owed their voices. They sat at the dining room table, eating and sipping wine. Childhood memories of the three us having dinner flashed in my head. I grinned. It had been awhile since we had eaten together. Grampa had showered and changed. He looked handsome in a navy blue shirt, his salt-and-pepper hair washed and brushed, his beard trimmed. Janel e glowed. Watching them, I reached a decision. It was time Grampa moved on, and he couldn’t with Grandma’s face staring at him every time he walked past the living room. Instead of joining the two Cardinals, I took down the black and white pictures of my grandparents and the circus ones, except the Picasso. I didn’t want the living room looking naked. Instead of storing them downstairs, I placed the pile inside one of the empty drawers and went to the kitchen. “Join us, hon,” Aunt Janel e said, eyes sparkling. “Sorry, we couldn’t wait.” They were eating the Italian takeout food they brought home earlier. “My fault. I decided to read over there. They’re not back yet?” I asked, eyeing the five place settings, which I assumed included Bran and Celeste’s. “They’l be here when they get here. Sit down.” Grampa raised his glass to his lips and sipped. It had been a while since I’d seen him so happy and relaxed. I sat, served myself and dug in, not missing a single word of their exchange. It amazed me how blind they were. They would make a perfect couple. “You should do this more often,” I said when there was a lul in their conversation. “What, dear?” Aunt Janel e asked. “Have dinners like this. Except ditch me and the lights,” I pointed at the chandelier above the table, “and use candles.”
“We’re too old for candlelight dinners,” Grampa said, chuckling. Aunt Janel e gave him a look from under her long eyelashes. “Speak for yourself, Ares. I stil have a couple of centuries left in me.” Her brown eyes twinkled and a teasing lilt entered her sultry voice. “And I won’t be around forever to keep you company, Grampa,” I added, liking Janel e’s boldness. She winked at me, laughing. Grampa had that look in his eyes, like he got hit on the head by a boulder he hadn’t seen coming. He didn’t stand a chance against Janel e. He cleared his voice and turned his attention to me, bushy eyebrows co*cked. “What did you learn about mediums?” “Ares, let her eat. The child’s been through enough today,” Janel e scolded. “It’s okay, Aunt Janel e. Grampa wouldn’t be Grampa if he didn’t chal enge me.” I gave him a toothy smile when he glowered. His habit of testing me on what I knew started way before I got my powers. Only then, I thought he taught me how to fight with my hands, swords, and daggers because he was stuck in the past. “Mediums have spirit guides. Whoever Valafar is using is not working alone. ” Laughter disappeared from their faces. They glanced at each other. Obviously they hadn’t glanced at each other. Obviously they hadn’t expected my answer. I studied them, realization dawning. “That’s what you meant by the people helping him are powerful. You didn’t mean two mediums. You meant one medium and a guide. Why didn’t you just say so?” I asked sharply, getting annoyed. Aunt Janel e touched Grampa’s arm. “Tel her, Ares.” Grampa drained his glass and put it aside. Then he made the one gesture that often warned me of bad news to come—he leaned forward and interlaced his fingers. “We hoped it would take you days, maybe weeks, to get to the part about guides.” “Why?” They exchanged worried glances. I pushed my plate aside. Grampa had obviously forgotten how I hated being kept in the dark about things. My gaze bouncing between him and Aunt Janel e, I tried not to let my
annoyance show. “You know who it is?” I asked hesitantly. He exchanged another worried look with Janel e. “Grampa! Just tel me what’s going on,” I snarled through clenched teeth, leaning toward him. He sighed. “The book may say spirit because that’s how humans perceive guides or our voices in their heads, but in our world, that usual y means one of us.” Master Haziel said the same thing. I made a face. “Do you real y think someone in the val ey is working with Valafar?” “I don’t think. I know. We mean to find out who it is.” “A demon?” When the thought crossed my mind, it seemed ridiculous. Having Grampa confirm it made me feel a little sick. Grampa didn’t hesitate this time. “No. With tightened security, a demon can’t enter the val ey without us knowing. It must be one of us.” Just like that, the thought of food made me nauseous. We had a traitor among us. He or she could be anyone. Our neighbor. The Civilian I smiled at every time I went to HQ. That meant Valafar knew about the new Guardian Academy, the number of trainees we had. This went beyond me and the medium. The entire Guardian enclave was compromised because of me. No wonder Grampa and Aunt Janel e were hesitant to tel me the truth. I promised to talk to the others. Now I had even more stuff to tel them. Would they blame me? “I think I’l go see Remy and Sykes.” My voice sounded funny, like I was feeling sorry for myself. I hated feeling sorry for myself. It was pointless. “What about your food,” Grampa asked. “I’m not hungry.” They didn’t try to stop me as I carried my plate to the garbage, threw out the food, and put the plate in the sink. As I walked away, Janel e’s lowered voice carried to me. “Why didn’t you let her eat first, Ares?” “The child needed to know the truth,” Grampa replied. “It could have waited.” She sounded angry. “It’s done now, so….”
I rol ed my eyes. “Stop fighting over it,” I yel ed, then stepped outside and banged the front door. The little outburst didn’t ease my worry. Valafar had a spy in the val ey. My breath came out cloudy in the crisp evening air. Piles of snow covered lawns, but I didn’t feel the cold despite wearing only a T-shirt and sweat pants. I headed down the sidewalk. Our gated community was al Guardians. Most stayed indoors though a few of the new students played in the snow. Like me, they wore the bare minimum. Some waved. I smiled and waved back then pinged Kim and Izzy and asked them to join us. Since I’d never visited Xenith, I had no idea whether they had snow there or not, but I knew about the portals in the Bermuda Triangle and the North Pole. Nephlings, halfbreed, like me weren’t al owed in Xenith. You’d think the powers that be, the Circle of Twelve, would make an exception for me. I was the wielder of their precious Kris Dagger. But no. The old goats. When I opened the unlocked door, sounds from the TV told me Sykes and Remy were downstairs. The black and white living room décor was stil as jarring as the first day I visited their home. Either it had grown on them or they secretly liked it but just refused to admit it. It was so sterile, unlike downstairs, my favorite part of their house. The pool table, gaming chairs between big-screen TV and L-sectional couch were al downstairs along with their arrays of gaming consoles and software. Having a house to themselves, with no parents in Having a house to themselves, with no parents in residence, they could decorate however they wanted. I paused at the foot of the stairs and watched Remy and Sykes cheer and carry on like lunatics as they watched TV. On the screen, two heavily tattooed men pounded each other’s brains out. It amazed me how Remy and Sykes enjoyed watching this stuff after al the violence they faced demon-hunting. As for their new toy, the screen was only a few inches bigger than their previous one. The one advantage of being a Guardian was the generous monthly al owance each trainee received when they enrol ed in the program. Since the High Council provided housing, furnished them and paid al bil s, most of Remy and Sykes’ money went toward clothes and electronics,
video games and girlfriends. Clubs and restaurants didn’t real y count because the ones they frequented were owned by Civilians and they didn’t need to pay. I, on the other hand, had a lower limit on my credit card. Grampa believed too much money corrupted young people. One man on the screen climbed on the rope, jumped off and delivered a blow to his opponent’s chest, then continued to beat the crap out of the guy. The poor bastard dropped to his knee then fel flat on the mat. The victor twisted his arm at a weird angle and sat on his back. I winced as the crowd on TV roared. Sykes pumped the air and yel ed, “Yes! Knew he wouldn’t fail me. My money, bro. Hand it over.” He wiggled his fingers to Remy. Remy grabbed a wad of hundred-dol ar bil s from the table, counted several notes, and slapped them in Sykes’ palm. “Sore winner. I’l win al that back tomorrow.” “But now it’s mine.” Sykes swept the notes under his nose and inhaled. My mood lifted. I laughed at his antics and drew their attention. “Want to celebrate with me, Red?” Sykes jumped on the couch then over it, one hand on the back of it to support his body. He sauntered toward me. “Doing what?” I asked. “Work slot machines, dine at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant, maybe catch a show at the Luxor.” He put his arm around my shoulders. “We’re going to Las Vegas, babe.” Bran had already taken me to al those places. Stil , I smiled like I was interested. “To meet with Bran’s informant, not to have fun,” Remy warned him. “Besides, Bran’s coming too. You may want to tone it down a bit.” “I’m not scared of him.” Sykes bounced on the bal s of his feet like a boxer and punched the air. “Just because he saw her first doesn’t mean he can keep her. He won’t always be her…her choice.
Right, Red?” he teased. “Wrong,” I retorted. “I can wait.” Sykes smirked. “So, what’s the big news?” He stopped goofing around and touched my hair. I swatted at his hand. “Let’s wait for the others. They should be here any—” Kim and Izzy teleported in right on cue. As usual, Kim looked stylish in designer navy blue sweat pants with matching jacket. I swear she must have a hair-Guardian or something. Not a single strand of her blonde hair was ever out of place. Izzy must have just showered because her natural y curly black hair was a riotous wet mass around her head. She tried to pul it into a ponytail, groaned in frustration, and made a lumpy bun on top of her head. Everyone found a place to sit on the sectional L-shaped couch and focused on me. Now that the time had arrived to tel them everything, I felt relieved. Almost. I could always count on the guys’ support. The girls were unpredictable. *** Silence fil ed the room after I finished talking. I studied their faces, not that I needed to in order to know what they were feeling. Anger, frustration, and fear drifted to me, though I couldn’t tel who was feeling what. “Dang, you downloaded images from Celeste’s head and I missed it,” Sykes griped. “Is that al you got from what she just said?” Izzy snapped. “How about her human buddy is a medium and a spirit guide is one of us?” “Or Valafar’s return,” Kim added, shuddering. Sykes shrugged. “We knew he would return. It was just a question of when. Right, bro?” He turned to face his friend. to face his friend. Remy nodded, a frown creating folds on his forehead. “As for the spirit guide, that’s not our problem. Let the Cardinals find him or her. We know it’s not one of us, unless one of you is holding out. Is anyone working for
the other side?” He studied Izzy. “Hey, Chocolate Delight?” Izzy’s eyes widened. She cursed him out in words I’d never heard her use, picked up a pil ow from a gaming chair, and threw it at him. Sykes ducked, his gaze shifting to Kim. “Yo, Goldie? It’s okay to confess. We’l stil love you.” Kim flung her hand in an imitation of a back hand slap and unleashed her ability to manipulate air. A gust shot past me. Sykes knew what was coming and tried to duck for the second time. The blast caught him and flung him backward. He went down. The middle section of the couch he had been sitting on went with him. Izzy snapped her fingers and the incident reversed in slow motion then repeated again and again. She and Kim convulsed with laughter. Covering my mouth, I tried to contain my amusem*nt, but the look of horror on Sykes’ face was too funny. A giggle escaped me. Remy’s lips twitched, but he managed to control himself. “That’s enough,” he said. “You bitch-slapped me!” Sykes’ hand went to his flushed face. His right cheek was pinker. He glared at Kim. “Do you want me to make it better?” Izzy offered. “No! You reversed time on me.” Sykes went back to glaring at Kim. “What’s your problem? Why do you have to be such a kil joy al the time?” He got, walked round and pushed the section of the couch back into place with more force than necessary. “You can’t blame me when you accused us of the worst betrayal,” Kim retorted. “I was just having a little fun, Kim. Try it some time.” Sykes headed for the stairs. This wasn’t what I had in mind when I decided to talk to these guys. We needed solutions, not people getting pissed at each other. “Where are you going?” I asked Sykes. “To get an ice pack,” he snarled. “When I get back, she had better apologize or she’l be sorry. You too, Izzy.”
He had a right to be angry. We weren’t supposed to use our powers on each other. “Is he real y going to retaliate?” I asked Remy. “Let him bring it on,” Kim muttered. Remy blew out air. “Real y, Larson. You’re not better than he is. You both don’t know when to back down. You two need to straighten this out before we leave tonight.” Kim made a face. “He did go too far this time, Remy. Didn’t he?” Izzy looked at me for confirmation. But before I could respond, I felt a familiar gentle tap on my psi fol owed by where are you? It was Bran.
At Remy and Sykes’, I responded. We’re downstairs. I’m on my way. Within seconds, Bran’s voice mingled with Sykes’ upstairs. The others were stil busy arguing about the fight and didn’t realize he was inside the house until he came downstairs. “Hey,” Bran said, nodding at Kim and Izzy, before turning to Remy. “What happened to your boy’s face?” “He had a little accident,” Remy responded with a straight face. Kim and Izzy snickered, but they moved to create room, so Bran could sit by me.
How’s Gavyn? I asked. Same. He leaned back, arm sliding around me. Celeste? I asked, sinking against him. She scolded him, cried, then read to him. If I hadn’t insisted, she would have stayed there the entire night. She wants to visit him every evening. Is everything okay here? Yeah. I sighed. Just the usual in-fighting. Sykes returned with a bag of unopened frozen peas pressed to his cheek. He sat on a side bench by the TV, his back to the wal , and glowered.
You okay? I asked him. I’m cool, but I plan to milk their guilt. Look at their faces. Sure enough, waves of remorse trickled to me, but I doubted they came from Kim. She was incapable of feeling sorry. Probably Izzy for the part she played. she played.
You did go too far, I added. Just trying to lighten the mood, Sykes said. You’ll have to apologize. Hell no! He made a face. You know I hate the tension, Sykes. Do it for me. Please? “Okay, enough with the private conversation,” Remy said, his gaze bouncing between Sykes and me. “We need suggestions on how to find this medium. Anyone?” No one spoke. Remy sighed. “How about we invite al of Lil’s friends over for dinner and monitor their psi energies as we play mind games with Valafar?” I shook my head. “Mind games? We’re talking about a nature-bender. You can’t play games with him.” “Oh yes, we can. You cal him, tel him you want to talk then hang up and turn the phone off or remove the battery. He would be forced to use his medium. Then you use your ability to see psi energies to locate the medium.” Remy looked at the others. “What do you guys think?” No one spoke. Sykes stil glowered. Izzy glanced at him, then away. Kim ignored him. “I think it’s a bril iant idea,” Bran said. “But a party would be better and less suspicious. And Lil shouldn’t do the cal ing. One of you…one of us should. Valafar claims to be concerned about her safety, so let’s use that against him.” His arm slid from around me, and he leaned forward. “We tel him he needs to talk to her because, uh, she’s in trouble with the High Council or something. While he’s using the medium, she can monitor the psychic link and trace it to the medium like Remy suggested. We might even identify the guide as wel . Chances are she or he must link with the medium for his guiding mojo to work. This way, we identify the medium and nab the traitor.”
Remy and Bran grinned, so pleased with themselves I hated to burst their bubble. “Guys, there’s only one problem with your plan. We have no means of contacting Valafar. He used a restricted number.” I sighed, frustrated that we had only one solution. “Until I find the presents Valafar claims to have sent, we can’t do anything.” “Then let’s find the damn presents,” Remy said. “Your grandfather probably received them.” “No, he didn’t. I already searched the house and found nothing. He confirmed it. In fact, he said Valafar lied about sending me anything.” My shoulders slumped in defeat. “What if a neighbor signed for them and forgot to bring them to your place?” Izzy chipped in. “We sign for each other al the time around here. Your neighbor on the right is Cardinal J and on the left is Kim’s uncle and aunt.” She looked at Kim. Kim shrugged. “I can ask my aunt and uncle, but I doubt they signed for something and forgot to deliver it.” Izzy turned to Bran. “I heard you and your sister are staying with Cardinal Janel e until your brother recovers.” Bran nodded. “So you can search her place,” Izzy suggested. Bran gave her a brief smile. “No.” The firm way he said it threw Izzy off, and she became quiet. I agreed with him, though he could have at least tried to explain. He could be so cut and dry sometimes. “Why not?” Izzy retorted, finding her voice. “Because it’s not cool, Izzy,” he said it slowly. Izzy’s eyes flashed as though she wanted to say something scathing. Our gazes connected, and I shook my head.
Please, let it go. She hesitated. Fine, but he’s pushing it with his arrogance, Izzy warned. I sighed with relief. In-fighting bugged me. Worse, Bran was under enough stress with his brother’s
condition without these guys giving him a hard time. I tried to count reasons why Aunt Janel e could have signed for the presents and kept them from me. She hated Valafar, knew I burned the dress he sent me seven months ago and didn’t want anything to do with him. Or she might have done it to protect me. “Not cool? What kind of half-baked explanation was that?” Sykes’ angry voice drew my attention. I should have known the peace wouldn’t last. Annoyance zipped through Bran and spil ed into my psyche. He sat up and sent Sykes a contemptuous look. “I’m not sneaking around her house after “I’m not sneaking around her house after she’s been kind enough to offer my family a place to stay. It’s rude.” Bran spoke scornful y. Sykes threw his icepack of frozen peas on the table and glared at Bran. “Rude? The only way to identify the medium is to contact Valafar. To do that, we need to find the presents. How about you put your sanctimonious attitude aside and think of Lil’s friend and the fact that we have a traitor here in the val ey.” Bran looked as though he wanted to leap across the space and slug Sykes. “I’m not going to dignify your rant with a response, Sykes. However, I do have another idea. We pay the shipping company a visit and find the name of the person who signed for the package. We might even get lucky and get a description from the driver. Beats sneaking around people’s homes, doesn’t it?” A triumphant look settled on his face as he and Sykes glared each other. The tension in the room shot up. There was no denying Bran’s idea was better, but he didn’t need to gloat. “I have a much better idea,” I added, hoping to ease the testosterone overload. “I’l ask Aunt Janel e if she signed for them. If she says no, then Bran and I can pay UPS a visit. Last time Valafar sent me a present, he used UPS.” I narrowed my eyes at Bran. Be nice. He grinned. He’s a moron. I elbowed Bran. Hard. He sucked in air, his groan exaggerated. “Looks like we have a plan,” Kim said in a bored voice.
“Can we leave and get ready for Vegas now?” Izzy jumped to her feet. “We’l stop by a restaurant for dinner afterwards, right?” “Try and stop me. I’m starved.” Kim stood. “Whoa, ladies,” Bran interrupted them. “Zedekiah has become very unpredictable. I told Haziel I can handle him alone, so you guys don’t need to go.” Silence fol owed his announcement, then everyone rounded on him, talking al at once. “After what happened in Seattle today, you need us glued to your side,” Sykes threw in the dig loudly and smirked when Bran cut him a frosty look. “Bran, until Haziel withdraws the orders he gave us, we’re coming,” Remy rushed in to ease the tension brewing al over again. Anger rippled through Bran and rol ed into me. “Fine. Let’s talk to him.” I sighed when they teleported. Somehow, the evening wasn’t going as I hoped. “Whatever their decision, we’re eating in Vegas tonight,” Izzy vowed before she and Kim teleported too. With just the two of us left, Sykes and I stared at each other. “Wel ?” he asked. I shrugged. “I think the evening went wel .” “You’re the queen of irony.” He lay on the bench and stared at the ceiling, one hand covering his face. “Get out of here, Red. In the mood I’m in, I won’t be responsible for what I might do or say next.” He sounded so sad. I didn’t know what to say to make him happy, so I got up and headed home. *** By the time we teleported to Las Vegas, we were al business. That was one thing about my group. No matter how often we squabbled, when it came to demon business, we were united. Haziel supported Remy, but Bran got to run the show. Bran wasn’t happy with the decision to let us go with him.
His attitude bugged me a little, but I kept it to myself. We landed in the living room of a female Civilian Guardian at a gated golf course community in the heart of Vegas. Using a Civilian’s home as our point of entry was normal as long as we fol owed the protocol—we notified her in advance of our arrival, just in case she wasn’t going to be home or had visitors, asked for a rental vehicle, not the Civilian’s, and didn’t leave witnesses behind who might question how we got inside a secured compound, which meant glamouring the security guards at the gate so they didn’t remember us. With Bran behind the wheel of the Suburban, we headed toward the Strip—the stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard South where the largest hotels, resorts, and casinos were located. The entertainment capital of the world pulsed with people’s hopes and dreams. Desperate faces stared out of taxis windows and disappeared into the flashy buildings. I reached up to touch the Cardinal pendant I reached up to touch the Cardinal pendant through my shirt. The jadeite core was warming up, typical of its behavior in Vegas, where demons mingled with humans in casinos and resorts. But my dagger lay calm in its sheath, which meant no strong demonic presence in our vicinity. The ravens were the first warning that things were not okay. The black birds perched on the Arc d e Triomphe replica at the entrance of Las Vegas Paris. More sat on their Eiffel Tower. Ravens weren’t nocturnal birds to begin with. They were also a rare sight in Vegas. “That’s interesting,” Remy said. Bran nodded. “Sykes and I can pay the ravens a visit.” He glanced at Sykes through the rearview mirror. Sykes and Remy had the rear seats. Izzy and Kim were in the middle. “That’s cool with me, Cardinal,” Sykes responded, his voice
serious. “Remy and Lil can find out which room Zedekiah is holed up in,” Bran continued. “He never uses his last name and the staff knows him wel . He’s also paranoid, which means he’s likely to book several rooms and move around, so you need to get al the room numbers.” “A demon that’s paranoid?” Kim asked. “That’s new. What’s he scared of?” “Actual y, Zedekiah is not a demon. He’s human.” As though Bran realized his last-minute announcement caught us al by surprise but didn’t want to explain, he quickly added, “Kim and Izzy, you watch Remy and Lil’s backs. If anything seems off or your amulets start glowing, contact us.” He brought the car to a stop, turned to make eye contact with everyone. “Everyone okay with the plan?” We nodded. “Then let’s do this.” Bran gave a valet the key, then he and Sykes left, their destination the gateway to the Eiffel Tower ride, a re-creation of the Alexander I I Bridge. I stared after them and wondered if I was the only one imagining things. Bran was overly cautious tonight. First, he didn’t want us to come to Vegas with him. Then he waited until now to tel us Zedekiah was a human, not a demon. Was he expecting trouble again? “They’l be fine,” Izzy said, misunderstanding my reason for staring after Bran and Sykes. “Does Bran real y speak raven?” I shrugged. “I don’t know. He said he could.” “Arrogant, hot, and ful of secrets, an irresistible combination,” Izzy added. Izzy often said Bran was hot, but not in an I-want-him sort of way. This time, however, something in her voice made me glance at her. I caught the look she and Kim exchanged, and became defensive. “I hardly cal the ability to communicate with ravens a secret. I mean, he grew up with Werenephils, including ravenshifters,” I shot. “But he didn’t tel us his informant was human until now,” Remy added.
“Does it matter if he’s human or demon?” I asked. “Bran’s worried about another ambush.” “Wel , he sucks at vocalizing it,” Izzy retorted. “What I don’t get is why do we trust this human again? The tip he gave Bran led him to Seattle,” Kim added. Remy shrugged. “He was right the first two times he gave us info. We barely missed Damien that second time. A few seconds early and our search for the, uh, our search would be over.” “Search for the List,” I said. Kim and Remy stared. “Yeah, yeah, she knows about it already,” Izzy said with an eye rol . “Bran told her.” The reaction to my knowledge about that stupid List was annoying. “And you’re not angry?” Kim asked. “No.” We entered the busy gold and ivory lobby and walked past people checking in and checking out. Some headed to the casino floor with its sky-inspired painted roof, to the stores along the cobbled streets of Las Vegas Paris, or to their rooms. Our hunting coats and boots didn’t attract much attention. The thoughts of the few people who stared indicated they assumed we were there for a comic conference. “Bonjour,” a hostess said as she walked past. I answered and kept going. Remy caught up with me before I reached a desk. “We thought you’d freak out when—” “I don’t want to discuss the List, Remy. I don’t understand why I keep tel ing everyone it’s no big deal and you guys keep staring at me like I’m crazy. deal and you guys keep staring at me like I’m crazy. A list of damned souls is nothing to get angry about.” I waved toward the men and women behind the slightly curved counters checking hotel guests in or out. “Can we get the room numbers now?” He nodded though he stil scowled. One desk manager, no longer busy, grinned and nodded at us. We walked forward and leaned against the desk.
“We’re looking for a guest in your hotel, uh,” Remy peered at his tag, “Edmund. His name is Zedekiah. We want his room numbers.” “Are you with his party?” He glanced at me then Remy. “Yes, we are,” Remy answered without hesitating. “I’l cal his room and tel him you’re here. What name shal I give him?” I got inside his head. Forget the name. Just print out his
reservation, Edmund. “Forget the name. I’l print out his reservation,” he repeated then went back to his computer and started typing. A stunning brunette with gorgeous hair walked through the door behind the desk and touched Edmund’s arm. “I’l take care of this.” She pointed at the desk to her left. “The couple from the red room is asking for you. They want to check out now.” Edmund stared at her. “You look amazing today.” He didn’t wait for her answer, just disappeared through the door, leaving us with the woman. No bonjour from her. In fact, she glanced behind her with wide eyes, clearly cautious, or afraid.
What’s wrong with her? I telepathed Remy. Don’t know, but you need to zap her now. “Zedekiah booked al the rooms in one wing on the 29th floor and asked not to be disturbed,” the woman said before Remy could speak. She printed out the room numbers, thrust the paper at me and said, “you’re Lilith, right?” Remy and I both reached for our weapons. Only demons cal ed me that. The woman didn’t even flinch. Instead, she glanced at the door through which Edmund disappeared. Remy frowned. How does she know your name? I shrugged. I’ve no idea. But she’s one scared human. “Before you head upstairs,” she said, then swal owed, “I, uh, I have someone who wants to talk to you.” She turned, went to the door behind her, and opened it.
A familiar girl in a princess dress with a wand walked past her. Blonde curly locks framed her rosy cheeks. A broad grin spread across her innocent face. My heart dropped. It was the same Lazarus demon-child from Seattle. “You again? What are you doing here?”
8. What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas “I came to warn you. Solange was here.” The girl’s eyes grew big and her speech rushed as she continued. “She tried to get Zedekiah but couldn’t do it. She was so mad that she went to get help.” She glanced at Remy and her voice dropped to a whisper. “Is he a Guardian too?” I didn’t dare look at Remy. Not yet, though the shift in his emotion from concern to shock to anger was tangible. He’d recognized her for what she was, a demon. As for the beautiful front desk manager, she pressed herself against the edge of the desk in a hopeless attempt to put as much distance between her and demon-child. My attention moved back to the girl. “Come out of there, uh, uh….” “Angelia,” she offered, smiling. A demon named Angelia? How ironic. I pointed at the black wrought iron gate beside the desk, but instead of using it, she teleported Bran-style—one minute there, the next gone. Remy cursed. Remy cursed. The woman whimpered. “How does she do that?”
Zap her, Remy ordered. Before I could react, the manager gripped my arm with a shaking hand. Acrylic nails dug into my skin even through the dense lining of my hunting trench coat. “Keep her away from me. When she first came to my desk I assumed she was just some kid. Next thing, she’s asking me if there was anything I’d wish for.” Her chin trembled. “I thought it was a joke, so I said clear skin and gorgeous hair. She…she asked me what I’d be wil ing to do to get my wishes. I had no idea she meant it. She was cute and she had the wand and I thought… thought it was al a joke,” she added defensively.
I nodded. “Go on.” “So when she asked me to lean closer so she could touch my face, I did.” Hysterical laughter escaped her pink pouty lips. Her wide-eyed gaze darted around the foyer in fear. “Then my skin tingled. My hair is usual y up…up…,” the woman lifted a shaking hand to touch her chin, “to here.” The chestnut mane tumbled in gentle waves and spil ed over her shoulders, and her flawless skin made even me envious. “I made her wish come true,” Angelia piped in, reappearing beside me. I jumped and ground my teeth. She was spooking me, too. “Solange said when you do that, humans owe you.” Angelia studied the manager. “Why is she crying? She’s been acting weird since I fixed her.” How I wished I’d never spared the little pipsqueak her life. “Don’t do that,” I snapped. “Do what?” she asked with wide-eyed innocence. “Teleport in and out. It scares humans.” “Everything scares them.” Angelia laughed, the playful sound echoing around the busy lobby and drawing attention.
Lil, Remy warned. I ignored him, my mind racing with ways to fix this mess. If I hadn’t spared Angelia’s life, she wouldn’t be causing so much mischief. The desk manager inched toward the door.
Stay, I commanded. She froze, her gaze darting around again as though looking for a way out. If she screamed or cal ed for help, we’d be screwed.
Don’t make a sound, I added then turned to the girl. “Listen to me, Angelia. First, you’re going to return her hair and her face back to normal.” “Why? She kept her promise and told you about Zedekiah.” She glanced at the cowering woman. “And she looks much prettier this way. Like a dol .” I ground my teeth, so exasperated I wanted to shake her. “I don’t care. Just do it,” I ground out through clenched teeth. “But I like my hair and face,” the woman whined. “Just make
her go away.” Her gaze moved from me to Remy, whose wave of irritation had reached tsunami proportions. “Listen, ma’am,” Remy spoke. “Whatever she’s given you come at a price. That’s how demons operate.” “Demons?” the woman sputtered, her hand clasping her throat. I glared at Remy, then Angelia. “Do. It.” She lifted her arm with an eye rol . “Bend over.”
Obey her, I added when the manager hesitated. Unable to resist me, she leaned forward until the girl touched her cheek. The change was instant. Smooth complexion became cakey, makeup covered skin with acne on her forehead and chin. Her hair shrank and lost its luster. Weak, thin and overprocessed hair, no wonder she resisted. I locked onto her mind. Now forget you ever met this imp.
Forget what she did and that we were here. The front desk manager blinked, jerked then looked at us with a gleaming smile. “Bonjour. Welcome to Las Vegas Paris. May I help you?” “No thank you, ma’am.” I gripped Angelia’s arm and led her to one of the pil ars inside the lobby. Remy fol owed, his expression dark, gray eyes flashing. Once again, I ignored him. “Now you listen —” “No, you listen,” Remy cut in, grabbing my arm. “We need to talk. Now.” He glared at Angelia. “You stay put. Don’t even think of teleporting anywhere or I’l hunt you down myself. And yes, I’m a Guardian. A very mean one.” Guardian. A very mean one.” Angelia pouted. “I’m pretending to play hide-and-seek with my brothers and sisters. I have to go, or Solange wil know I’m not in the house.” “Stay!” Remy snapped. He marched me aside, fingers like talons on my arm, and whipped me around. “Lil, what
the…?” I pul ed my arm from his grasp. “Can we discuss this later when you’re calmer?” “I’m calm,” he snarled through gritted teeth. “You’ve barely started hunting and you’re already buddies with some demon-girl? When did you have time?” I glanced at Angelia, who seemed oblivious to the mess sparing her life had landed me in. “When we were in Seattle, I heard a whimpering in one of the offices and went to investigate. I found her there crying. She was searching for the List. She believed if she found it, Solange would let her go home to her mother on Coronis Isle. We destroyed her home, Remy.” I hated to feel responsible, but there was nothing I could do about it. Remy rol ed his eyes. “With good reason. You can’t let her guilt you into not kil ing her.” “But the fact remains we left her, and children like her, without parents.” He cursed. “Are you listening to yourself? She’s a demon child, Lil. From the strength of her powers, probably a hybrid created specifical y to destroy us.” “She’s an innocent,” I retorted. “Is your jadeite glowing? Mine isn’t. Neither is my dagger.” Remy looked at his Guardian amulet. “That’s the first thing I noticed when I talked to her in Seattle, when I was getting ready to vanquish her. We could help these kids, Remy. Bring them to our side.” He shook his head and paced, which was something I’d never seen him do. “No. You cannot be thinking of adopting demon children just because one likes you. You can’t even trust her. Look,” he pointed at the pil ar, “the little imp’s gone again.” Sure enough, when I turned to look, Angelia was missing. I gave Remy an apologetic smile. “She’s playing hide-and seek. It’s actual y a clever ruse when you think about it. At least she’s not using people to hide in, which is what she could have done with the woman over there. Instead she made a deal.” “Typical demon,” he muttered, but stil not ready to compromise. “Listen. She mentioned the List before I knew it contained names of people with damned souls and she also told me
about Solange.” When Remy paused and raised his brow, I added, “That’s the name of the Lazarus demon that drained Gavyn. According to Angelia, Solange works for Valafar, but the demoness is running her own game. She’s after Bran and his family. Cal ed them traitors. If Angelia hadn’t given me Solange’s name or told me she was working for Valafar, I would never have caught her off-guard or forced her out of Gavyn.” I was stretching the truth, but I needed Remy to let this go. For now. He sighed. “I don’t think we should trust her.” “Why not? She just warned us Solange was here earlier and is coming back. Al we have to do is stay vigilant.” I looked around. “She might even….” Remy fol owed my gaze and saw what caught my attention. The other four members of our team just entered the lobby. “Tel us where Solange and her Lazari people are hiding,” I finished. “And she’s back,” Remy nodded at the pil ar, where Angelia, minus her wand, was glowering. “Get rid of her and I’l pretend I never saw her.” He turned to walk away from me.
Come on, Remy. He came back to me and took the computer printout with Zedekiah’s room numbers. “I mean it, Lil. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. I’l stal the others.” Pig-headed. Sometimes he was impossible to deal with. Sighing, I went to Angelia. “He doesn’t like me much,” she said with a pout. I shrugged. “He’l come around. Where do you live?” “L.A., but Solange said I can go home soon. The others, too, if we’re good.” I could just imagine what ‘good’ meant. “How many are there?” “Ten. But there are others in L.A. and al over the world. Daryl, he’s the oldest of us, said every Special is alive. We just don’t live together anymore.” I frowned. “Special?”
“Children like me who get their powers early. “Children like me who get their powers early. You’re a Special too, like us. Did you also train with others like you and live with people, who are not your mommy and daddy?” The similarity in the upbringing of the nature-bender kids and Cardinal Guardians was uncanny. The only difference was Guardians didn’t leave home until they turned sixteen. Coronis must have started training the Specials from infancy. “Uh, no. My grandfather trained me. My mom died when I was a baby, and I never knew my dad until now.” Angelia’s eyes widened. “That’s why you never visited him on the island. Solange said so. I don’t know where my mommy and daddy are, but Solange said we’l see them and Coronis when we go back to the island.” More like when the poor orphans got vanquished. It pissed me off that Solange was lying to these kids to get their cooperation. We could use that against her. On the other hand, there was no tel ing what Angelia would do if she realized her parents were gone forever and we were responsible. Angelia tugged at my sleeve. A frown tilted the corners of her eyebrows down. “I need to go now. If I help you again, wil that be enough?” “Enough for what?” “For you to take us home. You’re one of us. Solange said so.” I sighed, feeling helpless. “I don’t think I can do that.”
Lil? Bran. I couldn’t talk to Angelia with everyone interrupting us. Coming. “But I can take you to a better place,” I told her. “Somewhere you won’t have to do anything except play and go to school.” She pouted. “No training to use our powers?” “Not until you’re sixteen. You’l do cool stuff, too, like ride bikes and play in the park, have play dates and sleepovers. Would you like that?”
“Sounds like fun, but,” she made a face, “I don’t know. We trained a lot at our old school, but it was nice.” Maybe I wasn’t equipped to deal with her. Grampa might help me. “Where can I find you if I need to talk?” She shook her head, her eyes widening. “You can never come to where we live or she won’t send us back. I’l find you. One of us, a young boy with no eyes, can hear stuff.” Before I realized her intention, she’d wrapped her skinny arms around my waist and hugged me tight. Not sure what to do, I patted her curly locks. Then she disappeared, teleporting like Bran. One minute there, the next gone. I looked around to see if anyone noticed her exit. No one was staring at me, not even the woman whose face and hair Angelia had fixed. The trainees were having a heated discussion, but Bran looked right at me, scowling. Grinning, I started toward them. He didn’t return my smile.
What’s wrong? I asked. Is your dagger still there? Why was he asking—? I dove under the lapels of my coat, relief rol ing over me when my hand brushed the hilt of the Kris. I looked at Bran and grinned. Yes, I have it.
Don’t ever let a demon that close to you again. I wrinkled my nose. Nothing ever escaped him, but he didn’t have to sound so mean about it. Did I snarl at him whenever he made a mistake? Frowning, I studied him. What are you so worried about?
Everything. Could you be any vaguer? Instead of explaining, he waited until I was next to him then added, “Let’s get this over with and go home.” *** “Who was that little girl, Lil?” Izzy asked when we entered the elevator. “And where did she go?” Kim added.
I co*cked my brow, faking ignorance. “Who?” “The girl with you in the lobby,” Kim and Izzy said at the same time. I sneaked a peek at Bran, but he stared at the flashing numbers above the elevator door. Remy’s expression didn’t change when our gazes met. “She acted like she knew you,” Izzy added before I could answer. “Is she one of your gypsy friends?” “Or a Nephling,” Kim added and wrinkled her nose like she’d smel ed something rotten. “She’s not Gypsy, just some kid asking for help,” I answered, but ignored Kim. Her stupid prejudices didn’t bother me. I was proud of both my prejudices didn’t bother me. I was proud of both my Gypsy and Nephling heritage. I glanced at Bran, stil determined to find out what was bothering him. “What did you find out from the ravens?” “You should have seen Llyr,” Sykes said, grinning. “He whistled a tune and the ravens flocked around him like they missed him or something. You know, doing aerial loops, landing on his shoulder and arms, making weird sounds. It was quite a performance.” “It would have been nice if you told the people to stop taking pictures,” Bran grumbled. “Hey, I tried.” Sykes looked at me and smirked. “I told them he was the bird-whisperer and must be left alone. The crowd only grew. Some wanted his autograph. I was about to start charging them.” “Something bad was here earlier,” Bran said. “Ravens are sensitive to evil, especial y when concentrated in one place. We’l need to be on our guard just in case whatever drew them here returns.” More like when she returned. No wonder Bran was worried. He must have known things wouldn’t go smoothly. I was tempted to mention Solange, but then I’d have to explain how I knew she’d been at the hotel. I bit my tongue and stayed quiet. We exited the elevator on the twenty-ninth floor and the stench hit us hard. Everyone groaned and covered their noses. It was one thing to read about the pungent rotten egg odor of a hel hound and quite another to have it fil your lungs until you choked. I held my breath, my hand closing around the hilt of the dagger. For once, I welcomed the pain
accompanying the power surge. It gave me something to focus on.
Are they still here? Izzy asked. No, they’re gone, Bran responded. I checked my amulet and confirmed his words. The jadeite core wasn’t glowing.
I’ll get us some AC. Kim hurried to the beginning of the hal way and raised her hands. Slowly, she moved her arms in circles. Faster and faster she churned the air until her arms became blurry. She thrust her palms forward. A gale swept past us to replace the stale air she sent through the ventilation system. I thought I was the only one holding my breath until I heard gulps from the others. We looked at each other and grinned. It was nice to breathe again. “Thanks, Kim,” we al said at about the same time. “I don’t know what smel s worse, Lazarus or hel hounds,” Izzy added. “Hel hounds,” we said in unison and entered the hal way with Bran in the lead. He stopped outside the first door. A thick white line of a crystal ine substance covered the bottom edge. More were scattered over the floral navy blue carpet, probably the result of Kim’s wind-tunnel. We didn’t need to touch it to know it was salt. Someone had tried to keep a demon out, but no human presence registered behind the closed door. Six doors down the hal , grooves appeared on the wal s and carpet. The gouges were so deep that splinters from the wood underneath poked through the carpet. Ripped tan wal paper and chunks of drywal mixed with the salt. We exchanged uneasy looks, but no one spoke. Zedekiah must owe a powerful demon a soul. Only dark lords had the ability to train and use hel hounds. If Angelia was right, Solange must have brought them with her, which probably meant Valafar was behind this. Solange wasn’t powerful enough to own hel hounds. A feeling of impending doom rol ed through me and I shivered. I searched for human psi on the floor and found none.
Bran looked back and frowned. You okay? I nodded. Yeah.
Then why aren’t you moving? I didn’t realize I’d stopped walking. There’s no one here.
I know. He continued to stare at me with an unreadable expression and waited for me to catch up. Together we fol owed the others as they moved from door to door and conversed in low voices. The concentration of salt increased and peaked halfway down the hal way and tapered toward the end while the gouges decreased. Bran stopped outside the one with the highest pile of salt and turned the handle. It was locked from inside. He looked at me and nodded. I frowned. He should be able to unlock one door. He had some psi powers. Instead of asking him why he couldn’t do it himself, I focused on the bolts and moved them. A click and the door swung bolts and moved them. A click and the door swung open. “The others too, please,” he said, walking ahead of me. A wave of my hand to the right then left, and the snapping sounds continued up and down the hal way as the other doors unlocked. Inside the suite, lines of salt heaped behind the door and the window sil s. The view of the Strip was stunning, but I couldn’t appreciate it. I was busy worrying about Bran. Eyes narrowed, his body tensed as he stomped from room to room, searching for, I don’t know, clues or something, he didn’t speak. Moaning creeks fol owed thuds came from inside the wal s. “What’s that?” I glanced around and shivered. Bran didn’t answer. “Do you think the hounds got him?” I asked. “Yes…no…I don’t know.” He disappeared into the bedroom. I heard a thud as though he kicked something or threw an object across the room. Heart pounding, I joined him to find him pacing. The groans and squeaks grew in pitch, as though hel hounds were crawling inside the wal s and putting pressure on the foundation. Bran seemed oblivious to the sounds as
he searched each suite, even the ones the others already checked, anger shooting from him in droves, his movements jerky. He stopped inside the last room, gripped the window, and glared outside. “He’s gone, man,” Remy said. He and the others loomed in the doorway. No one looked happy. “We’re wasting our time here.” Bran stayed by the window, his back to us. “I know. Whoever came with the hounds got him.” “We don’t know that,” I rushed to add. “Maybe they spooked him and he took off. We can stop by that place you usual y leave him messages, Bran, and see if he left something for you.” “What is that creepy sound?” Izzy asked, glancing around. “Water pipes,” Sykes explained. “The water pressure must be off.” Realization hit me. Bran had the ability to control water. His frustration, cold and violent like a downpour, crashed into my psyche, but it was also affecting the water around us. The groans rose and reached fever pitch. Any moment, I expected the wal s to explode. Glancing over my shoulder, I linked with the others. Do you
guys mind waiting for us at the restaurant? We’ll catch up. No one moved. They had also reached the same conclusion about the origin of the sounds and wore worried expressions.
Please, I added. One by one, they left.
We’ll be at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant, Remy said before he closed the door behind him. Taking a deep breath, I walked to where Bran stood, wrapped my arms around his waist, and rested my cheek on his back. At first, he didn’t respond, his body rigid, muscles taut. His frustration and the protesting water pipes assaulted my senses. In the bathroom, water hissed as the faucets and showers turned on fol owed by the gurgling sounds of the toilet draining. I held him tighter, for once wishing I could take his
disappointment away. We just stood there until the sounds disappeared. He covered my hands with his and sighed. “Sorry about that.” “That’s okay.” I caused an electric storm when I first got my powers, so I understood how crazy things happened when one of us got ticked off. This was a first for Bran, so I wasn’t sure whether to be worried or not. “This assignment means a lot to me,” Bran added. “I know,” I whispered. He might not have admitted it, but I knew this was a chance to prove himself to my grandfather and the other Cardinals. They trusted him with a task and he was determined to see it through. Personal y, I thought they were being unfair. “This is just a setback. You’l hunt Zedekiah down, get Damien and the List before the demon world knows what hit them,” I added. His shoulders dropped as he relaxed. He turned his head slightly and rubbed his cheek against my forehead. “How come you’re always optimistic?” “Because I believe in you.” I gave him a gentle squeeze. “I don’t deserve you,” he murmured. I hated it when he said things like that, but I hated it when he said things like that, but now wasn’t the time to lecture. “I know. You should adore me and kiss my feet every morning and tel me how you can’t possibly live without me.” He chuckled and turned to wrap his arms around me. “You’re impossible.” Thril ed I got him out of his mood and made him laugh, I added, “I’m that, too, but you love me anyway.” “I do.” He cupped my face and studied my features as though committing them to memory. “One day I’l be worthy of that love, Sunshine.” “You’re worthy, sil y. You’ve always been.” “One day…,” he vowed softly then leaned down and kissed me. His lips were gentle at first, tender and reverent. Then they became demanding, his hand cradling the back of my head. I pressed against him as a wildness I couldn’t explain
stormed through me. The turmoil he felt must have switched off the control over his passion because he was suddenly al over me. Hands. Body. Lips. I tasted and breathed him, and it was glorious. I wound my arms around his neck. He pressed my body against his. One minute I was in his arms, the next he was by the door, breathing hard, eyes wild. He forked his fingers through his hair and cursed softly. Frustrated, I sighed. “We need to join the others,” he said in a husky voice. Closing my eyes, I leaned against the window and tried to catch my breath. Knees a bit wobbly, heart racing, my body tingled in ways I never knew possible. I should get mad with him. It seemed like he always kissed me senseless then took off. One day he wouldn’t run away. Opening my eyes, I took a step and tested my legs to make sure they would carry my weight. Al was good. I walked to where Bran stood watching me warily. He opened the door and stepped outside before I reached him. Talk about being scared. He couldn’t even look at me. Big, bad Bran scared of little me. I never loved him more. Closing the door, I trapped him before he could move. Wel , trapped wasn’t exactly the right word since he was tal er and bigger. I merely wrapped one arm around his midsection while stil holding the door handle, forcing him to stop. “Lil,” he warned. “You’re always leaving me when things get interesting. Why?” His eyes narrowed. “Because I vowed never to rush you.” I let go of the door handle and drew squiggles around the middle button of his coat, al of a sudden feeling shy. “You made the vow to me, but now I say you’re not rushing me.” “I’m not?” his voice rose on the last note, a big frown on his face. He was so cute when confused. “No.” He swal owed and a weird expression crossed his face. In fact, he looked like he was about to take a plunge into a turbulent sea.
“I also made a promise to your grandfather,” he added, speaking slowly. My hand stil ed while my face warmed. “You discussed us with Grampa?” I squeaked. “He threatened me with bodily harm if we…if I….” He lifted his chin and stared at the ceiling, his cheeks turning pink. When he looked into my face, he wore a determined expression. Disappointed, I stepped away from him. I thought he always stopped because I wasn’t ready. I only took two steps before he grabbed my hand and pul ed me into his arms. “Look at me,” he whispered. Too humiliated, I looked at my shoes instead. He lifted my chin. “This is not easy for me either. I want to be with you in every possible way, but I gave my word.” A wolf-whistle resounded in the hal way. We jerked back and looked around for the source. A stunning girl with black hair and flawless skin stood at the end of the hal way. Dressed in black leather pants, a matching jacket and boots, a tank top that showed flat, taut abs, she could be a pin-up biker chick. With her were two kids, a young girl and a boy about ten years old. “That was quite a touching scene. A little nauseating, but touching nevertheless,” she said in a sultry voice I recognized right away. Solange. I glared, noting everything about her al over again, including her wel -developed chest. How I hated her. She had to be in her late teens or early hated her. She had to be in her late teens or early twenties, and imagining her with Bran sent a kil er rage through me. Worse, she just overheard our conversation, adding to my humiliation. “What is she doing here?” he whispered. “Angelia, the little demon-girl in the lobby, said she came after Zedekiah earlier and couldn’t reach him, so she went to get help. I guess the two kids with her are immune to salt.” “Don’t trust anything a demon says, even a young one.” He walked around to stand between me and his super hot ex-
whatever. I grabbed his coat and yanked. “You promised I’d take her down.” “Not today. Solange’s here to gloat. I bet she got Zedekiah, and I’m not about to let her get away with it.” Body tensed, his snapping eyes stayed focused on Solange. I hated that he couldn’t look away from her, even in anger. “You promised. Just one zap and you can take over.” Bran sighed. “Fine, but make it count.” The children, a pale boy with black, curly hair and a walnut-brown girl with a bushy ponytail, were already walking toward us. The salt didn’t bother them, just like the light from the jadeite hadn’t bothered Angelia. The next second, they dissolved into smoke form and drifted to the ceiling and toward us. As for Solange, she stayed put, grinning. I wanted to destroy her, watch her burn on her way to Tartarus. I moved to the middle of the hal way and found her psi energy before she realized my intention. Her eyes widened. Gotcha. As long as I trapped her energy, she couldn’t fight back. With a wave of my hand she went flying backward and hit the wal , cursing worse than a sailor. The children stopped and looked back. I hit her again, causing her to fal to her knees. She screamed in rage and cal ed me names. “Take that, filthy mouth,” I mumbled. “That’s enough,” Bran said impatiently. “Not by a long shot. I want her in position.” “For what?” he asked, clearly exasperated. “This.” I thrust my hand forward. The salt lifted off the floor and flew like a swarm of locusts toward Solange. Once it formed a circle around her, she’d be trapped and Bran could finish her off after getting whatever information he wanted. I grinned with anticipation, watching her scramble to her feet, her eyes wide. A needle-sharp pain speared through my head as she broke free of my hold. Bran’s hand shot out and a dagger sailed toward Solange so fast it was a blur. It imbedded in the wal where she last stood. Her laughter rang in the hal way. I stared at the empty spot. “Dang, she teleported!”
“It’s not your fault. We’l get her next time, but we have her minions. Get down from there now,” Ban barked, glaring up. The two sets of grey mass shot back along the ceiling then drifted to the ground a few doorways from us and coalesced, spinning fast like tiny tornados. Their little feet in sneakers formed first then their torsos and final y their heads. He started toward the kids. I dodged his footsteps. “They’re not her minions. Solange is using them. Their sister Angelia is my friend.” Bran didn’t slow down, a frown settling on his face. “Angelia?” “The little girl in the foyer. I promised her I’d help them get away from Solange.” He stopped, his voice ripping through me. “You what? You can’t be friends with a nature-bender, Lil. Even little ones. They’re the worst of the demons.” “I can befriend whoever I want,” I retorted, moving around so I blocked his path. “Take a look at them.” A glance over my shoulder found the boy holding the girl’s hand, both looking scared. I lowered my voice to add, “that boy could easily have been you nine or ten years ago. He has no one to love him except Solange, who’s tel ing him to do mean things and giving him false hope. He and the other children like him could be on our side instead of the Lazari.” “No, they can’t,” he snapped. “I lived with kids like him, their powers are al over the place because they get them too early and don’t know what to do with them. You can’t mold them or….” He looked over my shoulder and cursed. I whipped around. The children were gone. “Now see what you’ve done,” I screamed at him. “You were once like them, Bran. Alone and him. “You were once like them, Bran. Alone and needing help. I didn’t give up on you. How can you give up on them?” Turning, I marched to the elevator. Right this very moment, I total y hated Bran Llyr.
9. Demons’ Agenda “What took you guys so long?” Izzy asked as soon as the hostess, a Civilian Guardian, led me to the table where everyone else was already eating.
Bran and I looked at each other. We had a long talk during the elevator ride and the walk across the grounds to the tower. He might be stubborn, but he wasn’t unreasonable. I didn’t real y hate him. He just did and said things that drove me crazy. “Can it wait until after we eat, please?” I asked. Izzy shrugged. “It’s no biggie.” Whenever Bran and I ate at the tower, we ordered the same things from the Ala Carte menu— grand seafood platter for an appetizer, roasted rack of lamb, green asparagus, and potato gratin. We finished with soufflé or crème brulee. A waitress took our order, brought our drinks and appetizer as we settled into our seats. For the rest of the meal, conversation flowed smoothly. A singer performed in the background. The Bel agio fountain display visible through the glass window kept us entertained. I had missed this the last several months—the gathering after a hunt. Not that we hunted anything tonight, but the look on Solange’s face made the night memorable. Seeing everyone relaxed was nice. The mood felt so different from earlier, even Bran was relaxed. No worry vibes from him. Once we started on our dessert, I knew I couldn’t put off explaining what happened anymore. I took a deep breath and cleared my throat. Everyone looked at me. “I’l explain everything, but you have to promise not to interrupt until I’m done.” They nodded. “I’l start with Angelia, the little girl who hugged me in the foyer. She’s actual y a nature-bender, or like she cal s herself and the others, a Special. ” I didn’t leave anything out until I finished with, “we have to find a way to help them.” No one spoke. They just stared. I winced. “Say something, guys.” “First him,” Izzy waved to indicate Bran, “now Children of
the Corn?” Bran co*cked an eyebrow, grinning. “Children of Corn?”
“Know your horror movies, Bran. How could you trust the girl, Lil?” Izzy asked in a frustrated voice. Kim rol ed her eyes. “How could she not? The girl is a nature-bender.” The dig hurt. Just because a nature-bender’s blood flowed in my veins didn’t mean I trusted al nature-benders. I ground my teeth and snapped, “fine, I get it. I shouldn’t have let Angelia go, but my dagger didn’t glow. What was I supposed to do? The more she talked the more I realized I couldn’t do it. It’s a good thing I didn’t. The information she shared was useful.” “What happens if she finds out we vanquished her parents?” Kim asked in a scathing tone. This was one of those days when everything that came out of Kim’s mouth ticked me off. “I guess we’l cross that bridge when we get there,” I said through clenched teeth. Kim co*cked an eyebrow. “We?” I stil hated that she could lift one eyebrow like Bran. “I wil cross it.” “Not good enough,” Kim retorted. “After “Not good enough,” Kim retorted. “After Coronis, we agreed to vote on issues affecting our group. So we either agree to help them or not. What do you guys think?” She looked at the others. Who died and made her our leader? I glared. She stared right back at me, a smug smile on her glossy lips. “I say cut the little demon child loose,” Sykes said. “I second that.” Izzy looked at Remy. “You?” Remy cleared his throat. “I met the kid and talked to her. She’s co*cky and reckless. We have enough on our plate with finding the List and don’t need to take on more responsibilities.” He shot me a pained look and shrugged. “Sorry, kiddo. I vote with the others.” “Ever the diplomat, bro,” Sykes said then turned to Bran. “What say ye, Cardinal?” Bran glanced at me instead of answering Sykes. His loyalty was something I always could count on, no matter what, but now the others needed to
know the truth. “Tel them,” I said on a sigh. Bran grinned, probably anticipating contradicting them. “My first reaction was like everyone else’s when Lil and I had this discussion.” He glanced at me, probably remembering we didn’t exactly discuss it. I had yel ed at him. “But, she explained everything to me.” The others groaned. “You always take her side,” Kim muttered. Bran squeezed my hand under the table. “When she’s right, I do.” “Al the time,” Izzy griped. Bran just shrugged. “If the prophecy is right and Lil’s the one to unite the Nephilim, bringing these children to our side could be the beginning. Instead of fighting her, we should help her. I say, forget about voting and start thinking like the Guardians who wil help shape the destiny of our people. Lil can’t do it alone. She needs our help.” He glanced at Kim. “I know some of you might question this destiny thing, but you need to know the Cardinals believe in it…in her,” he corrected, nodding toward me. “The demonic world, as you already know, takes the prophecy very seriously. So what do you say we stop these internal squabbles and work together?” Silence fol owed. The others made eye contact and smiled uneasily. I cringed. Who cared that some old Guardian foretold of a united Nephilim race under a red-headed leader with powers over al elements like Goddess Xenia. My powers were psi, and that was it. Izzy threw me an apologetic look and spoke first. “I’d completely forgotten about the Chosen One’s destiny. I guess to us, Lil is just Lil, the newest member of the team who always seems to get in trouble.” The others laughed.
Bran nodded. “I understand that, but the fact is she’s not just the newest—” I gripped his hand and cut him off. I hated this Chosen One crap. “Thanks, Izzy. I like to be treated like everyone else and sorry for being…me, for lack of a better word. I don’t know anything about this destiny thing or uniting the Nephilim, but if helping Angelia and her friends is good for our side, I want to do it. But like Bran said, I need your help.” “How many Specials live with Solange?” Remy asked. “Ten, but Angelia said there are more elsewhere. She could be exaggerating, I don’t know. Whatever their numbers, they survived the attack on Coronis Isle.” “Bringing them to the val ey is out of the question,” Kim stated in a firm tone. “Why?” we al asked at the same time. “They can’t control their powers yet.” Her voice rose and several people at the neighboring table glanced at us. She lowered her voice as she continued. “How wil the Council ensure human safety?” I could imagine a kindergartener creating energy bal s or bending objects and spooking other children. Remy and Sykes stil wore their special gloves at school just so they didn’t cause accidents. “Kim is right,” I replied. “The Academy is too smal to accommodate them and the new trainees. They haven’t even finished the dorms.” “What about Xenith?” Izzy asked. “Coronis Isle was on the other end of Xenith, so sending them there would be like going home.” Sykes chuckled. “Hardly going home. Xenith is paradise. Coronis Isle was a frozen hel -hole.” “I could pitch the idea to the Council, but it wil “I could pitch the idea to the Council, but it wil take some convincing,” I said. “If they won’t let Nephlings like me and my mother visit, how wil they accept the Specials?” The discussion moved to Xenith and their archaic laws until Bran cut in. “Can we finish this discussion later? It’s getting
late and I stil have to leave a message for Zedekiah before we head home.” “What do you think happened to him?” Sykes asked. Bran shrugged. “I don’t know, but I hope he escaped the hounds if Solange wasn’t control ing them. If he’s out there, I’l find him.” As we left the restaurant, another thing I couldn’t control returned to haunt me—the medium. Hopeful y, it wasn’t Kylie, or McKenzie, or Amelia…. An idea popped in my head on how to get al of them together without arousing their suspicion. The more I thought about it, the more I liked it. “Guys,” I raised my voice to get everyone’s attention. We were the only ones in the elevator, so I talked freely. “I’m going to throw Bran a welcome-to-the-val ey party next Friday and you are al invited.” Bran shook his head before I even finished speaking. “No. I hate parties.” I hugged his arm. “You’l love this one.” He scowled. “Why?” “Because I am giving it. You also suggested we have one to catch the medium.” Bran closed his eyes and groaned. I gave the others a hopeful smile. “This is also going to be my first party, so I’l need some pointers from you guys.” Kim and Izzy grinned. Remy wore his usual poker face but nodded. Sykes smirked. I had no idea what he was planning. Whatever it was, I was sure it spel ed trouble. *** Grampa and Aunt Janel e were talking in the hal way outside the weapons room at HQ when we arrived back home. Going by their dark hunter clothes and weapons, they must have just arrived from a hunt or were about to leave. When Aunt Janel e teleported away, Grampa looked at his watch and signaled us to stop. I searched his face for signs of anger, and at the same time, tried to lock on his emotions. Nothing came from him, but that didn’t surprise me. Grampa’s empathic powers trumped mine by far. Wariness from my friends slammed into me before I lifted my shields and shut them out.
“We stopped for a bite,” I said, trying to buffer them in case Grampa was pissed. “I didn’t eat much because of the medium thing and my friends hadn’t —” “It’s okay. Seraphina told us,” Grampa explained. Of course she did. Seraphina, the Civilian hostess at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant probably reported our presence as soon as we got there. “There’s a meeting in the conference room,” Grampa added. “So change and join us.” We hustled inside the room, returned our weapons and disappeared in our closets to change back into normal clothes. I glanced at my watch and sighed. Ten o’clock. Physics and English lit homework awaited me. “Does anyone else hate these last minute meetings?” Kim asked. “Somebody needs to tel the Cardinals we need sleep.” “You want to volunteer?” Izzy teased. “No,” Kim retorted. “Hey, Remy? As our team leader, we can gripe to you and you forward our complaints to the old geezers. Right?” “As long as you take the credit, Goldie,” Sykes answered as he walked past my closet. “Wasn’t talking to you, smarty pants,” Kim snapped. “If you haven’t noticed, they hold these meetings when there’s an emergency,” Remy said in a calm tone. “Come on, let’s not keep them waiting.” Their voices grew faint as they left the room. For once, I agreed with Kim. The Cardinals hunted, ate and rested briefly to restore their powers, then went back to hunting. To go without sleep was an ability the Cardinals had but we didn’t. It came with age. Bran, dressed in black pants and a dark-green polo shirt, was waiting when I stepped out of my changing room. He grabbed my hand and hustled me out of the weapons room, the door sealing behind us. “What do you think is going on?” I asked. “Maybe the Cardinals discovered the identity of the guide.” My eyes widened, excitement zipping through My eyes
widened, excitement zipping through me. “That would be amazing.” We ran toward the conference room. The hal ways usual y buzzed with activity twenty-four-seven. They were deserted, the first sign that something was off.
I hope it’s the guide thing, I telepathed Bran. No more worries about a traitor. We can force him to reveal who the medium is. I was only kidding, he said. I tugged his hand. It’s possible, so don’t jinx…
oh my. We paused in the doorway of the conference room. It was packed. Cardinals and Civilians debated verbal y and telepathical y, the tension in the room obvious. Bran nudged me forward to sit beside Remy, Sykes, and… Cardinal Moira, the Cardinal Energy Guardian. If she was here then something big was going on. It had to be the guide thing. No more medium hanging over my head. Anticipation of the news sent my heartbeat into overdrive. I sat, looked around and fidgeted. My gaze connected with Cardinal Moira and I smiled. She winked back. Could she be the one? Even though she had a house in the val ey, across from ours actual y, we rarely saw Cardinal Moira. As usual, she outshined everyone with her black leather hunting clothes. The way her pale skin enhanced the white streak in her black hair was attention grabbing. Aunt Janel e and Cardinal Hsia hung on her words. I stil believed Moira released pheromones men found irresistible. Even now, several of the instructors kept looking at her with dopey eyes. Kim’s uncle, Cardinal Air Guardian Seth, conversed with Grampa to my left. Every time I thought of who could be in cahoots with Valafar’s medium, he always came to mind. Something about him rubbed me the wrong way. But he couldn’t be that relaxed if he were guilty. At the other end of the table sat the Civilians —Master Haziel and the trainers, the five members of the High Council including the chairman, Kim’s father. Haziel and the trainers rarely attended Cardinal meetings. Was one of them the traitor?
Grampa stood. Everyone stopped talking, eyes turned toward him. I swal owed, so tense I could snap. Bran took my hand under the table and squeezed. “Okay. Everyone is here, so let’s start. Cardinal Moira brought us some very disturbing news tonight, which we must share with everyone. The demon world has formed a council. Hermonite Council, they cal it. It has representatives from the four houses—the House of Neteru, which is made up of mainly naturebenders, House of Lazari, House of Nosferatu, and House of Werenephils.” Dang, the meeting had nothing to do with the guide. The let down made me want to cry. “Weren’t most of the Werenephils destroyed on Coronis Isle?” someone asked, yanking me back to the conference. Grampa nodded. “Some of the Werenephils were on the island when we destroyed it, but others live among humans. They just don’t show their true form.” Boredom settled over me as I listened to my grandfather. Most demons in religious books and mythology were usual y Werenephils—part human and part animal. They wouldn’t dare show their true forms to humans without causing mass hysteria. Bigfoot, Mothman, and Chupacabra tried with dire consequences. Lazari were a sub-group of Werenephils. Remy raised a finger. “From our encounter with the Lazari today, we know some of them are working with naturebenders.” Murmurs fol owed. “If the Lazari aren’t unified, chances are the other houses aren’t either. We can pit them against each other.” Grampa leaned forward and stared at the faces around the table. “Whenever demons become organized, the world experiences mass mortalities.” At his words, I sat up. The hated hol ow feeling settled in my stomach. “I’m talking about wars, genocide, famine, disease outbreaks. Unless we want another world war or an epidemic, we must stop them.” He looked down at Kim’s dad. “The chairman wil be in contact with the other High
Councils so we know what’s happening across the globe.” Kim’s dad nodded. Grampa glanced at Mrs. D. “We want the Psi team to ante up their surveil ance of demonic activity. team to ante up their surveil ance of demonic activity. Stay in touch with the field teams in our sector. If the teen Guardians are on an assignment, get them support in the city they’re headed without delay. That means knowing when and where demons are, how ma ny before we send anyone in, and continued surveil ance while they’re there. Organized demons are sneaky. They seduce and play on your sympathies. When those fail, they attack.” The hol ow feeling in my stomach grew. Thirteen years ago, Valafar and his minions came after the Guardians and massacred almost al our people. I lost both my mother and grandmother in that raid. “We cannot stop them without everyone doing their part,” my grandfather continued. He glanced around the table. Nods fol owed. “Now back to the reason for their new order. This concerns mainly our Junior Cardinals.” He fixed each of us with a deliberate stare. “The demons plan to choose a leader, an event we haven’t seen in mil ennia. From now on, you don’t just vanquish them. Interrogate them first. Don’t trust just one source. Verify everything one says before you bring that information to us. We need to know when and where this event wil take place. Understood?” We nodded. “Good. Questions? Comments?” He looked around. No one spoke. My friends looked at me and co*cked their brow, silently asking me to speak up. I knew what they wanted but shook my head. There was no way I could bring up Angelia and her friends now. The mistrust toward demons ran too high. I needed to work them in a conversation, starting with Grampa, maybe Aunt Janel e. Grampa nodded. “The meeting is adjourned.” Everyone started to talk at once. Several groups poured into the hal way, others remained seated while some teleported. Grampa stopped by Bran’s chair. “How was Vegas?” Bran looked up and swal owed. “We had some setbacks, sir.”
“Setbacks happen, just keep searching.” Grampa briefly gripped Bran’s shoulder. “Do you need help enrol ing Celeste in school tomorrow?” “No, sir,” Bran said, shaking his head. “I have that covered.” “Good. Hsia wil be there just in case.” Grampa patted my hair. Are you okay? I touched his hand and smiled. Yes, Grampa.
I’m leaving now. They were going demon hunting. I stood and pressed my lips on his cheek. Love you. Take care out there.
I always do, sweetheart. Always do. Love you, too. He kissed my temple then teleported. Bran and I skirted around the Civilians standing in the room. Once in the hal way, he pul ed me to the side to let Remy and Sykes pass. The two Guardians headed to our right, preferring to walk home instead of teleporting. They weren’t the only ones. Most houses had secret entrances in their basem*nts, which led to tunnels and connected with HQ. Because of my fear of confined spaces, I rarely used them, but I wanted to know what Remy and Sykes thought about tonight’s news. As though he noticed me watching the two Guardians, Bran hugged me closer. His display of jealousy was so groundless. No matter what he claimed, I knew he didn’t like me hanging out with Remy or Sykes without him. “I’m a bit disappointed this wasn’t about the guide,” I griped. “I know. But this is big, too. I’l check on Celeste, make sure she knows what’s going on, then come over.” The acrid scent of hel hounds stil clung to me and I desperately needed a shower. “Give me fifteen, twenty minutes. Oh, and I stil need help with physics, so come prepared to answer questions.” “I’m always prepared, Sunshine.” With a sexy grin, he teleported. Trying to catch up with Remy and Sykes, I zipped by people stil yapping about the meeting. I sucked my breath and clenched my fist as I hurried past exiting tunnels leading to various homes. After I passed the one to Aunt Janel e’s house, I realized I couldn’t catch up with the guys. I slowed
down and entered our tunnel. High enough for a grown man to walk upright and wide enough for two people to walk side by side, light sources on the ceiling and the floor il uminated it, just like the underground HQ hal ways. A rumbling from above and I stopped, my A rumbling from above and I stopped, my heart slamming hard against my chest. Then I remembered I was under Sagebrush Drive. “Someone just drove above me,” I mumbled. “Nothing to induce a panic attack.” Sheesh, now I was talking to myself like a demented fool. I laughed, and the sound echoed eerily off the closed wal s. Heart pounding, I sprinted the rest of the way. Pressing my hands on the sealed end of the tunnel, it dissolved to reveal a closet and an empty room with storage boxes. Home sweet home. A wave of my hand and lights flickered on. I stepped inside the closet and sighed with relief. No more using the tunnel for me. The wal sealed behind me before I left the room and started upstairs. Lights were on, but the house was quiet. The things Grampa had said replayed in my head as I showered and changed into my pajamas. No one in the demonic world could be trusted, now more than ever. Stil , I had to find a way to help Angelia and her friends. *** “You suck!” Bran ignored Celeste and angled the video game control er, making his avatar finish off hers in an avalanche of bul ets and grenades. The two had come to my place thirty minutes ago. She’d watched TV while Bran helped me with physics. Then the two played video games as I finished my homework. I hadn’t expected Celeste to come with him. From his apologetic expression when they teleported in, Bran felt bad about bringing her along, too, but the girl was an unstoppable force of nature. You either went along with what she wanted or she stewed
over it. She was stil getting in touch with her humanity, learning to deal with other’s needs, wants, and social manners. Celeste threw her control er on the floor. “Stupid game.” Bran and I exchanged smiles. “No, pint,” he teased. “You’re just a sour loser.” She scrunched her face and gave him the finger before teleporting. A second later, she reappeared and smiled at me. “I forgot. Goodnight, Lil.” “Night, Celeste,” I said. She threw her brother another mean look and disappeared. Bran switched off the game, got up, and walked to the desk where I sat working on my computer. Physics was done and tucked away in my folder. Just one more paragraph and I’d be finished with English lit, too. “I swear she’s picked up the worst behavior from watching television,” Bran said, sounding annoyed. I grinned, my fingers flying over the keyboard. “Too many reality shows. She’s always tel ing me what she watched, what the characters said and did. She does amazing imitations.” I gasped when Bran scooped me up in one clean swoop, one arm behind me and the other under my knees. “What are you doing?” “Distracting you.” He sat on my chair and settled me on his lap. “When are you going to be done?” “Soon.” Bran peered over my shoulder as I typed, his warm breath brushing the side of my face. Mmm. Minty. I wanted to turn my head and kiss him, but I knew I wouldn’t want to stop and I needed to finish my homework. His energy caressed mine and I caught my breath. It was so hard to resist him, especial y when I knew how badly he wanted to kiss me. “I can type faster than that,” he whispered. “Show off.” “Just stating a fact. You can link with me and tel me what to
write. Oops, spel ing error there,” he teased. I ignored him, finished the last sentence, and clicked save. Scrol ing to the top of the page, I reviewed the finished report. “Hmm, the opening paragraph is pretty good,” he said, lifting hair from my nape to plant a kiss there. The snappy retort I planned died when I looked at him over my shoulder. His wolfish smile dared me to seize the moment. I wanted to send him away until I completed my work, but his smoldering emerald eyes kept me rooted. Turning slightly, I leaned forward to taste his lips. He took over, forking his fingers through my hair to grip the back of my head. Homework ceased hair to grip the back of my head. Homework ceased to matter. Worries about the mediums flew out the window and into the cold night. His energy and scent wrapped around me like a cocoon. I wound my arms around his neck and savored the taste of him, the feel of him. One second we were trying to be as close as physical y possible with our clothes on, the next my back connected with the soft cover of my duvet. He’d teleported us to bed. I giggled, tugging him down. Our legs and arms tangled, lips dueled. We rol ed across the bed then fel off, landing on the carpeted floor with a thud. I squealed and started to laugh, but one look at Bran and my laughter died a quick death. He rol ed back to his knees. Fire burned in his eyes. My floral yel ow pajama bottoms and tank top, the navy blue robe and matching fuzzy slippers were nothing to brag about, yet the look in his eyes said I was the sexiest girl he’d ever seen.
Kiss me, I telepathed him. Always impatient. He ran a finger down my neck and paused at the neckline of my pajama top. My breath stal ed, heart pounding with excitement. Knowing exactly how he felt about me, what he wished we could be doing drove me more than a little crazy. Despite the promise he made Grampa, I wanted to fly with him and visit unknown territories. Maybe the meeting at HQ spooked him or something, but his thoughts matched mine. Everything else became blurred as I focused on Bran’s
gorgeous face. I wrapped my fingers through his, loving the feel of his large hands against my slender ones, loving the way his needs mingled with mine. My nerves wound tighter than a finely tuned musical instrument. One strum by his long beautiful fingers and I swear I would sing an aria. My eyes widened when pain shot from him and slammed into me. He appeared to fold into himself. A rip fil ed the air and a loud whoosh fil ed the room as his wings shot out. Oh, phew. The pain came from his wings ejecting not something else. So wide and magnificent, the feathers blocked the light from the chandelier. I reached up and ran my fingers over the soft tips hovering above me. Making out with his wings flexed would be different, exciting. I raised my arms to him. He shook his head.
We need to cool down. That was impossible, not with his magnificent wings spread out like an avenging angel. Before I could speak, he pul ed me into his arms and teleported. Stinging cold air replaced the warmth of the bed. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he shot up above the val ey so fast everything grew hazy. Wind whipped his raven hair until it lay flat on his head, his powerful wings beating the air in a fast, smooth rhythm. I laughed. Brilliant way of cooling off.
Happy you approve. Who said I did? I buried my face against his neck and kissed his skin. Bran chuckled. Quit messing with my head or I’ll drop you. He wouldn’t. I dropped kisses along his jaw. He laughed aloud and claimed my lips. Frigid air tugged at my pajama bottoms and nipped at my socked feet but heated blood shot through my veins. We were high up, the lights from the val ey and surrounding counties glistening like stars. It was a good thing our bodies adjusted to extreme temps, otherwise we’d be icicles. Bran steadied, his wings opening and closing. Blissful silence surrounded us. “Want to go on or go back?” My report needed one more review before I could print it
and I had school the next day, but it had been awhile since we went anywhere alone. “I want to watch a sunset, just the two of us,” I said. Bran chuckled. “What time is it?” I pressed a button on my watch to light up the LCD screen. “Ten-thirty.” “I know just the place. Hang on.” I tended to teleport with my eyes closed, but this time, I kept them open. Al I saw were streaming swirls and streaks of light, then blue skies and brisk winds replaced the moonless night. Below us, clouds hugged the base of a mountain range. Bran landed smoothly on the summit of the tal est inactive volcanic crater. I glanced around the rocky terrain. Weird looking plants dotted the barren slopes. An empty parking lot and some buildings were visible off to our far right. “Where are we?” I looked around. Instead of answering, Bran sat on an outcrop Instead of answering, Bran sat on an outcrop of rock and secured me on his lap. He tucked my head under his chin, and his wings closed around us like a cloak. “Watch.” My breath caught at the vibrant purple and orange hues streaking across the western sky. The landscape turned various shades of gold and red. I sunk against Bran’s chest and watched the sun float to the edge of the earth and sink out of sight. My eyes fil ed with tears as defiant daylight clung to the horizon. Bran pressed his lips to my temple and held me tighter. “We’re on the summit of Haleakala in Maui,” he whispered as the colors waned, chased by darkness. The wind picked up. “Few people brave the cold night chil or the treacherous drive back in the dark to watch the sunset.” “It’s beautiful,” I said with a sigh. “How did you discover it?” “By accident, but I keep coming back. I promised myself I’d bring you as soon as you were al owed outside the val ey.” “Thank you.” Bril iant stars appeared in the eastern horizon. Happiness wrapped around my throat. If only this would last forever. “Let’s make this our special place.”
I frowned. “We already have a special place, the ridge overlooking our val ey.” He brushed my hair away from my face and tilted my chin so he could look into my eyes. “But we won’t always be there. Guardians don’t stay anywhere longer than fifteen years. I want you to remember this place in case we’re ever separated.” “What are you talking about?” The seriousness in his tone and eyes had warning bel s going off in my head. My heart fluttered with unease. He scowled. “After the meeting today, I realized we need to be prepared. Anything can happen when demons are involved. It might be a war, floods, or nuclear disaster. It could happen tomorrow, ten or fifty years from now, it doesn’t matter. Promise me that if we’re ever separated, you’l come up here and leave me a message.” The thought of the two of us apart sliced like a knife through my heart. I swal owed, panic coursing through me. “I promise,” I whispered in a shaky voice. His eyes glistened. “And I promise to find you no matter what.”
10. Crazy Phone Calls The drive to school the next morning was different, and not in a good way. Instead of Sykes and Remy bickering about something or other, I had a brooding Celeste in the back seat spoiling my time with Bran. Guilt slithered through me. After moving and changing schools often, I knew exactly how nerve-racking a new school could be. I turned to glance at her. “You’re going to be okay. The students aren’t that bad once you get to know them.” She glared. “Don’t use your empathic ability on me, Lil Falcon. I’m al owed to be nervous without you nosing in.” I faced forward. Is she going to be all right? I telepathed
Bran. He shrugged, showing a surprising lack of sympathy. I reached for his hand and squeezed. You okay?
Yeah, he answered and left it at that. Usual y he asked why. I frowned, studying him from the corner of my eye. The vibes from him were off. I wasn’t sure whether he was preoccupied with finding the List, worried about his brother or stressed about last night’s meeting. Whatever the reason, he seemed distant. He must have felt my glance on him because he asked, “what is it?” “You’re worried,” I said. “No, I’m not.” He smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. When I continued to study him, he interlaced our fingers and pressed our joined hands against his chest. I squeezed his hand again to draw his attention then nodded toward Celeste. She’s really stressing. Maybe you
should talk to her. He glanced at Celeste through the rearview mirror and frowned. “Hey, pint,” he cal ed out, his gaze alternating between the mirror and the road. “Do you want me to pick you up for lunch?” Celeste glowered. “Do I look like I want my older brother holding my hand? I’l have lunch at the cafeteria.” Bran threw me an amused glance. She’s fine.
She just blew you off. “You can join me and my friends,” I offered. She growled. “You’re worse than Bran. I’l eat with my new friends. The ones I plan to make in the next,” she checked her watch, “three-to-four hours.” She looked out the window as we rol ed past Main Street. For the rest of the drive, an uneasy silence fil ed the car. Since we were early, Bran found a place at the curb in front of the school to park the jeep he borrowed from Janel e. He reached for my hand and we entered the school with Celeste walking quietly beside us. In the office, we found Cardinal Hsia talking to the
attendance office secretary. She made the registration process go smoothly, just like Grampa promised. Celeste looked around with interest, although this wasn’t her first time in Cache High. “I’l be waiting outside at lunch time,” Bran said, his gaze shifting from Celeste to me. His eyes were shadowed, and he fidgeted as though he couldn’t wait to leave. couldn’t wait to leave. “If you stand me up again….” I went on toes and kissed him.
I’ll make you regret it. He grinned. “I’l be there.” He tugged Celeste’s hair and received a baleful glare. “You know where to find me if you need me.” She rol ed her eyes. We stayed by the office and watched him take the steps leading to the hal two at a time. As usual, he drew attention and was oblivious to it. “Okay, enough with the dopey eyes,” Celeste snapped, waving her hand in front of my face. “You’l see him at lunch time.” I frowned. “I know. I love him.” “Duh,” she retorted. Gripping her arm, I led her toward the lockers. “I’m al owed to drool over him.” “Yeah, whatever. Where’s my first class?” she asked. “I’m also worried about him,” I continued. That got her attention. She frowned. “Why?” “He’s trying to find something but things are not going so wel for him.” “That might explain why he was gone last night.” I frowned. “We went flying after your game.” “No, after you guys came back, he left again. Alone and without the Cardinals. I know because Aunt Janel e and your Grampa were at home. Are they dating or something?” “I hope so.” On a different day I would be thril ed to hear
anyone reach that conclusion. Now, I was more concerned about Bran. Where had he gone? “They’re kinda old to be dating,” Celeste said with a giggle. I snickered, dismissing her words. “They’re perfect together. When did Bran get back?” “I don’t know. I was asleep, but he seemed okay this morning. A little quiet, but okay. Here it is,” she said, pointing at her new locker. I pushed the issue of Bran aside for later and tried to stay engaged with Celeste. It was my first day at school al over again except I consulted the map and walked Celeste to her classroom. Kylie had been there for me that first day. I’d hate to lose her as a friend over the stupid frozen bowl. Outside the classroom, Celeste exhaled sharply and peered inside. “You’l be fine,” I said, trying to reassure her. She threw me a disgusted look. “Of course, I wil . I’m having first day jitters. That’s al . Ooh, nice,” she added, her gaze going to a group of guys walking toward us. We moved out of the way for them to pass. One sized us up, his gaze lingering on Celeste. He was kind of cute in an artsy sort of way—long hair, scruffy clothes like Sykes’. “I think I’m going to like this school.” She played eye-tag with her admirer. “I’ve got to go. See you after school.” That poor guy didn’t stand a chance. Grinning, I headed to my class. Ahead, a familiar figure in skinny jeans and a body-hugging top weaved her way toward me. I waved. “McKenzie.” Suddenly, she whipped around and reversed directions. I tried to catch up with her, but by the time I turned the corner she was gone. Weird. She must have seen me, unless she had avoided me intentional y. McKenzie and I usual y sat in the back in English Lit class and chatted until the teacher arrived. She walked in late, gave me a tiny wave, and took her seat. Since I didn’t get inside my friends’ heads, I spent the better part of class trying to read her body language. When class ended I
walked to her side as she got up. “Hey,” she said, hugging her books. Her smiled seemed wary, or maybe my imagination shifted to hyper drive. I lowered my shield and my empathic ability confirmed it. “I’m throwing Bran a party next Friday and you must come,” I told her, pretending everything was fine. Her expression grew pensive as though she was thinking it over. “Uh-mm, sure.” “I should have invites by early next week. It wil be at my house, seven to midnight and beyond.” McKenzie nodded. “Okay. See you later.” Where was her enthusiasm? The McKenzie I knew would have squealed and asked for more details or offered to help with the preparation. Either I was being paranoid or something was bothering her. Physics was bearable, Mr. Sorenson more Physics was bearable, Mr. Sorenson more forgiving than usual. Stil , I sighed with relief when class finished. I telepathed Bran and told him I’d join him in a few minutes then swung by the cafeteria. The gang already sat at our table, talking and laughing. Cade saw me first and nodded. The others fol owed his gaze and waved, except McKenzie who was busy texting and Kylie whose smile slipped when our gazes met. As I drew closer, she took Cade’s iPod and pressed the ear buds in place. Okay, so I spooked her by what happened yesterday, but she was being rude. “Aren’t you eating?” Nikki asked when I joined them. I shook my head, smiled at her before I glanced at Kylie. She couldn’t even look at me. “I’m eating lunch with Bran. Just wanted to tel you guys I’m throwing a party for him next Friday, so I expect al of you to come. I’l bring the invitations sometime next week.” Amelia and Nikki looked at each other and gave me thumbs up signals. “Can I bring a date?” Nikki added. I shrugged. “Sure.” Kylie pretended to search for music. Cade looked at Kylie and realized she had headphones on.
He pul ed one bud out. “Did you get that, babe?” “What?” she asked in an annoyed voice. The others looked at her. “Lil invited us to a party,” Cade explained. Kylie glanced at me then away. “When?” “Next Friday, seven to whenever,” I said, my voice a little sharp. She pretended to think about it. “Sorry, I can’t make it. My mom and I wil be visiting my aunt.” Kylie had an aunt in the neighboring town here in the val ey. “The one in Hyrum or L.A.?” “Hyrum, so I don’t know if I’l make it. She hasn’t been feeling wel . I’l let you know.” Her smile cracked and didn’t reach her eyes. She replaced the ear bud Cade had removed. For a brief moment, I was tempted to knock the iPod from her hand. How could she be into the supernatural and freak out on me like this? The others had noticed her standoffish attitude and stared at us with round eyes. Even McKenzie, who no longer fiddled with her cel phone, shot Kylie a surprised look. It wouldn’t be long before they started asking questions. Kylie and I were usual y tight and shared lots of secrets, but I couldn’t tel the others about my background, let alone a stupid lie about gypsy tricks. I got up to leave, and the cel phones of everyone at my table started to ring and sing. Phones going off during lunch weren’t unusual. This time was different. The ringing started at my table then the adjacent tables fol owed and the next ones, the sounds increasing and swel ing like a giant wave at a basebal game. McKenzie looked down at hers and scowled. Cade cut off the rock ring tone, lifted his and said, “Yeah?” Kylie, Nikki, and Amelia pul ed out theirs. Every student with a cel phone was either peering at their LCD screens or putting the instruments to their ears. “Who’s Lilith?” a boy yel ed.
“How did she get my number?” another demanded. “Mine too,” a girl cal ed out from across the room. “Bonehead, this is not Lilith’s phone,” someone snarled. More cries of annoyance, shock, and insults reached my ears from every angle. Valafar. Only he could do this. A roar fil ed my ears as blood rushed from my head and dizziness washed over me. Contorted faces of my friends swam before my eyes, and then my gaze connected with Kylie’s. Her eyes were wide, her face the color of chalk. She said something I didn’t comprehend as hands grabbed my shoulders. Heart pounding, expecting a mob of angry students, I whipped around. It was Sykes. Behind him stood Remy, Kim, and Izzy, who had a phone glued to her ear. Relief coursed through me. The yel ing by other students grew faint then stopped as though someone threw a switch and turned off the sounds. It was downright eerie. Then a buzz fil ed the cafeteria as conversation resumed. “That’s strange…” “Total y weird…” “My phone just turned itself off…” “My phone just turned itself off…” “Mine wasn’t even on…” “Dude, I have no history of the hacker’s cal …” “Told you not to buy that cheap crap…” “Come on, Red. Remember our lunch date?” Sykes’s words drew the attention of everyone at our table. Before I could react to the blatant lie, he added, “I’m not taking no for an answer. Excuse us.” He gripped my arm and half supported me as we moved away from the table. I thought I heard Izzy snap, “Just hold on.” Hoping I didn’t fal flat on my face, we left the cafeteria with Kim and Izzy behind us. There was no escaping the outraged students even in the hal ways. It was like an invasion. Everywhere I looked, angry eyes met mine.
Get her out of here, Sykes telepathed in an authoritative voice I’d only heard him use during a battle. Bran is waiting outside. Remy and I will be right behind you. We headed toward the front entrance, passing students bitching about their phone or providers. Some resemblance of sanity returned along with a large of dose of anger. Valafar did this to me. He was ruining my life. As for the damage to the medium’s brain, I didn’t dare speculate or I’d be paralyzed by fear. “I told you she’l talk to you when she’s ready,” Izzy snapped, the phone clenched in her hand and pressed to her ear. “That’s not true…we have to get her out of here first before…look here…you have no right to threaten me, Valafar.” I extended my hand toward Izzy. “I’l talk to him.” She shook her head, looked up and down the hal way and whispered, “Here?” Looking around, I saw an empty class. “In there.” She exchanged a worried look with Kim then put the cel phone in my hand. “Make sure the room is empty and lock the door.” Under different circ*mstances, I would’ve laughed at her for stating the obvious. Now, I just wanted to snap at her for wasting my time. I bit my lower lip. There was no point in taking out my frustration on Izzy. Valafar did this, not her. Entering the classroom, I locked the door, took a deep breath and brought the cel phone to my ear. “I’m here.” “Aah, my dearest child—” “Why are you doing this? What kind of a monster would stoop so low to get his way?” I said through clenched teeth. “What did I do except try to talk to you?” he asked, sounding puzzled. “Don’t you dare say you don’t know what I’m talking about!” I yel ed. “You’re using my friend as a medium to reach me. She’s going to die if you don’t stop overloading her system.” “You’re not supposed to have human friends,” he said with an imperious tone, not bothering to deny my accusations. “They’re nothing but pawns in this game we play with the Guardians. What’s wrong with your grandfather? He al ows
you to associate with filthy beings. I asked him to discuss your safety and he sends you off on a hunt. What was so important in Seattle and Las Vegas?” An odd calmness settled over me, and when I spoke, my voice came out confident. “Humans are not pawns or filthy. We need them just as much as they need us.” He chuckled. “I choose to disagree, my dear. They’re the reason our kind split. Their insignificance in the order of things is something your grandfather’s people wil have to come to terms with before we al get destroyed. However, today is not a day for such a debate. Let’s discuss—” “My friend,” I said through gritted teeth, his arrogance getting to me. Taking a deep breath, I continued in a calmer tone, speaking slowly. “Please, stop using her as a medium.” He sighed as though my request was unreasonable. “As long as you and I communicate regularly and freely, I’l have no use for her services.” Services? He made it sound like we were discussing his servant. But considering his disregard for humans, it didn’t surprise me. Wanting so much to hate him, I closed my eyes and sought strength from the energies around me. I’d do just about anything to save my friend, even make a deal with the devil’s spawn. “Okay. I wil try and cal you whenever I can.” If this was a ruse to lure me to his side, it wasn’t going to work. “I don’t have a cel phone right now, but I’l —” “Buy one,” he said impatiently. “If you need money, I’l send you some. The al owance they give money, I’l send you some. The al owance they give you is mere pittance.” Another fact his spy guide shared with him. Presents and letters from him were complications I didn’t need. As soon as I identified the medium and the guide/traitor feeding him information, I’d think of a way to cut him loose. Demons weren’t to be trusted. “That’s not necessary. I’l get a new phone with my money,” I added in a defiant tone. “Did you tel your grandfather about my phone cal ? Is he going to discuss your safety with me?” Valafar asked. Not in his lifetime. “Leave him out of this. If you have something to say, say it to me. If there’s a situation, I wil deal with it.”
“I’m beginning to see that. Solange told me what you did in Seattle. I’m rarely wrong, but you, daughter, have shown me I’m not immune to such a flaw. I thought you were weak, ruined by the Guardians, but you’re a chip off the old block al right.” His tone dripped with pride, which didn’t make sense. “Of course I am. Grampa raised me,” I said. “I didn’t mean Falcon,” Valafar scoffed. “He might have reared you but my blood runs through your veins. You inherited my powers, my courage, and the wil to face adversity head on.” The very thought that I could be remotely like the nature-bender, cold and ruthless, made me want to gag. “Then you know I can take care of myself. I don’t need you or my grandfather treating me like a baby. What do you want with Bran and the List?” “The Llyr boy means nothing to me. I need the List to secure my position as the ruler of the Hermonites and the rest of the demons.” There was no apology in his voice. “Back to your safety. There are demons who think they can use you to seize power. They believe the Kris Dagger can show them the location of the List.” “Can it?” I asked hopeful y. “Of course not. Stil , they believe it and wil come after you if they can. Demons with the knowledge of your home have been taken care of.” Warning bel s jingled in my head. “Like who?” “The Goetz brothers.” Good. Without the twins tracking Bran to Cache Val ey, Valafar wouldn’t have known of my existence. “The Llyr family wil be next,” Valafar added. My heart skipped a beat. “What?” “Your safety is more important than their existence,” he added with indifference. Nausea twisted my stomach as I connected the dots. “Did you send Solange to kil them? Is that why she drained Gavyn’s powers?” “She has a problem fol owing orders, but I’l deal with her.” I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. “You lay a finger on Bran, or his sister or brother, and I’l make it my mission to hunt you down and destroy you.”
“Stop being melodramatic, Lilith,” he snapped. “You fancy yourself in love with the Llyr boy and are too blinded to see what’s right under your nose. Gavyn is untrustworthy. He’d sel your whereabouts to the highest bidder if it could get him what he wants—a powerful position in any house. His kind is expendable.” “He’s not,” I shouted into the phone. Once again, I forced myself to calm down before continuing. “Bran and Celeste are already under the protection of the Guardians. Gavyn wil be too once he’s healed. If you ever want to have a relationship with me,” my voice shook so much I paused to clear my throat, “you’l leave them alone.” There was silence as though Valafar was mul ing over my words. “Okay, Lilith. I know the Llyr girl and the younger boy already live with the Guardians. If you think you can convince the older one to do the same, then he wil be spared. I’l even send a healer to fix him up.” Wasn’t there anything he didn’t know about us? I must talk to Grampa about the traitor among us. He or she wasn’t just acting as a guide between Valafar and the medium. He was feeding him information about us. Who could it be? The only Guardians who knew about Gavyn’s condition were the Cardinals, our team, and the Psi security team. As for Bran, he’d never let any of Valafar’s people near Gavyn after what Solange did. “I can’t make that decision, but I’l ask Bran,” I fibbed. I remembered our plan to find the medium. “If you give me your phone number—” “Not yet,” he said curtly. “Find the presents I sent. Find the identity of the person who hid them. Whoever did this is someone you can’t trust. You Whoever did this is someone you can’t trust. You must choose your friends and al ies careful y, Lilith. As you grow older, you’l learn that Guardians are users. They don’t care about you. Al they want is you fighting for
them, sacrificing your life for their cause. Ask yourself why you must put yourself in harm’s way for hundreds of years so some Nephilim can get their redemption? Why aren’t they here on Earth fighting, too?” I swal owed, every word a barb on my psyche, each question planting a tiny doubt in my mind. Shaking my head, I pushed aside the suspicions. I couldn’t afford to listen to Valafar’s lies.
I’m a Guardian…I save human souls and bring redemption to my people… “I’l cal you on this phone later in the week,” Valafar said, cutting into my thoughts. “Since your grandfather doesn’t seem to care about your safety, I’l take charge of it. There are forces out here that wil destroy you, but I won’t let that happen. Do not leave the val ey until I tel you it is safe. Understand?” I frowned. Valafar might claim he cared about my safety, but he was a ruthless, power-hungry demon and couldn’t be trusted. On the other hand, I had no choice but to fake interest in anything he said. He could stil use my friend as a medium, or worse, storm the val ey. He knew where we lived. “Do you understand, Lilith?” He enunciated his words. “Yes,” I fibbed. “Good. Remember, this is for your own safety. And don’t forget what I said. Find the person who betrayed you,” Valafar repeated, but it sounded more like a warning. Dread snaked up my spine. We were already looking for the presents, though not for the reasons he stated.
They don’t care about you… They want you fighting for them… Sacrificing your life for their cause. His words, haunting and poisonous, crept into my thoughts. Feeling like crap for letting him get to me, I shook my head again. Lies. Everything that came out of his mouth was a lie designed to mess with my head. I wasn’t in any more danger than usual. The way the Lazari tried to get their hands on the dagger in Seattle was typical of their behavior. Grampa’s warning about the demons’ plan to choose a new leader flashed in my head. Maybe this historic event was bringing out the worst in them, Valafar included. From his words, he expected me to hide until the event was over,
to distrust my friends and superiors. There was only one problem with his reasoning. My grandfather and the Cardinals would never do anything to hurt me, and I was part of a wonderful team of teen Cardinal Guardians. They could never betray me. If they went demon hunting, I’d go too.
11. Good News and Bad News Kim and Izzy stil waited for me outside the classroom, but they weren’t alone. Along the opposite wal , Remy, Sykes, and Bran argued in low tones. They al looked up, concern and sympathy etched on their faces. My gaze lingered on Bran’s and I shook my head. I couldn’t deal with any of them. Not yet. I closed the door on their pity and teleported home. Resisting the urge to throw the cel phone, I dropped it on my dresser, curled up on my bed, and covered my head with a pil ow. The humiliation. The look on the faces of the students when they realized I was Lilith. No, I was never, ever going back to school again. Never. Grampa home-schooled me until I was ten. He could plan my lessons again for the rest of high school. What did a Cardinal Guardian need with a high school diploma anyway? We were demon hunters. The room buzzed with Bran’s energy the moment he materialized. His psi energy brushed mine, gentle and soothing. My grip tightened on the pil ow, not wanting him around yet lacking the wil to send him away. I hated depending on anyone, even him. One word out of him, just one word of sympathy, and I’d kick him out. The mattress dipped. His warmth and piney scent drift to my senses. More movements behind me, then his long body curled against my back. I stayed stiff even as his arm wound around my mid-section and his hand covered mine. He didn’t speak, just held me, his warmth seeping into my numb limbs until my hand opened and welcomed his. “Lil…,” Bran started “No,” I said, stil not wanting to talk. “I wanted to say lunch period wil be over soon. Are you going—?” “I’m never going back.” I burrowed deep under the pil ow.
“Your grandfather—” “Wil understand,” I finished, but inside I knew Grampa wouldn’t. He didn’t raise me to be a quitter, to run when things got tough or painful. Or humiliating. Bran became silent. After a while, he said, “talk to me, Sunshine.” “There’s nothing to talk about,” I mumbled. He slipped his head under the pil ow and whispered, “You know you’l tel me eventual y. We don’t keep secrets from each other.” “Don’t be too sure about that,” I mumbled. “Damn, you’re stubborn.” He sat up. “Are you hungry?” “No.” “Too bad. I got us sandwiches. I’l be back in a second.” He teleported, taking his vibrant presence with him. How could he think of food at a time like this? The whole school probably knew the cal was for me. Then there was the nonsense Valafar spewed about not trusting the Guardians. I hated the fact that for a brief moment I’d actual y listened and wondered if there was some truth to them. Bran returned and the scrumptious aroma of teriyaki chicken drifted to my nose. My stomach growled. There was the rustling of a plastic bag as though he was setting it down. “So? How long are you going to feel sorry for yourself?” he asked. Anger slammed through me at his Anger
slammed through me at his indifference. He knew I was hurting. Felt it, too, I was sure. I pul ed down the pil ow and glare at him. He stood with a bowl of strawberries cradled in his left arm. Casual y, he picked one and took his time bringing it to his mouth then ate it with exaggerated enjoyment. He knew how much I loved strawberries. I wasn’t going to ask him for one. “I’m not feeling sorry for myself. I’m pissed.” “At who?” “Valafar. Me. Kylie.” I sat up and drooled as he picked another strawberry and popped it in his mouth. “Oh yeah, Izzy mentioned you had a fight with Kylie in the cafeteria before the cal ,” he said in a casual tone. “Hardly a fight,” I said, wondering if he was going to offer me a strawberry. I swear he was getting a kick watching me fol ow his hand every time he picked one up. “I don’t want to talk about her either.” Bran sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze intent. “I don’t understand why you’re mad at yourself. You didn’t ask Valafar to cal you or Kylie to react to your powers the way she did.” “I let Valafar get to me. As for Kylie, she’s being a hypocrite. If she turns out to be the medium, serves her right.” Bran scowled, eating another strawberry. “You don’t mean that.” No, I didn’t. “Yes, I do.” “How is she a hypocrite?” he asked. “She reads vampire and werewolf books, and loves animè of people with powers. Yet now she can’t look at me without
seeing that stupid frozen bowl. She ignored me in the cafeteria,” I picked up speed the more I talked. “I mean, she hid behind Cade’s stupid iPod and lied about a sick aunt. She has one aunt around here, Aries…Arianna or Asomething. A sanctimonious tri-athlete who believes anyone who doesn’t exercise deserves whatever health problems they get. Kylie can’t stand her.” My stomach complained again. “Do you know how many times she used me to get out of visiting her aunt?” He squinted. “No.” “Gazil ion times.” “Hr aunt might actual y be sick,” he said “I guess so.” I sighed. “Stil , Kylie could visit her and stil have time to make it to my party, right? I just wish she hadn’t told McKenzie. Why am I the only one who can keep a secret? I didn’t tel anyone she went with another guy to the corn maze during Hal oween and that they kissed…how did you do that?” “Do what?” His innocent look didn’t fool me. “Get me to talk about Kylie.” “My charming personality,” he bragged, grinning. I narrowed my eyes. It wasn’t the first time he made me open up about something after I said I wouldn’t. “Yeah, sure. You know what I think?” I didn’t wait for his response. “I think I should have made Kylie forget the whole thing. Cade, too. Celeste suggested it, but—” Bran placed a red, succulent strawberry between my lips and stopped me from uttering another word. I bit into the juicy, sweet fruit, chewed, and swal owed. Before I could continue talking, he derailed my plans again with another strawberry then another. He had the gal to chuckle when I glared at him.
Celeste suggested I tell them everything then erase their memories, I telepathed him as I ate. I should have done it. Then I wouldn’t have this mess. Bran shook his head, laughing. I smiled. “You think I’m making a big deal out of this.” “Finish them.” Bran handed me the bowl, straddled the computer chair and scooted it closer to my bed then sat. His expression serious, he watched me demolish the rest of the fruit without speaking, as though he was contemplating his next words.
“I think we have more important things to worry about right now,” he said slowly. “If she’s the medium, she’s in for a lot more heartache than a friend who can freeze things. Read more on mediums, and you’l see what I mean. If she’s not, give her time to adjust to what she saw and how she feels about it and you.” “I told you I don’t care anymore,” I insisted. He just smiled, seeing through the lie. “Tel me what Valafar said. No matter how bad it is, we’l deal with it just like we dealt with our problems before.” before.” Put that way, it was hard not to share. “But first, we need to eat. I’m starved.” He removed the bowl from my lap and replaced it with a foot long sandwich wrapped in paper. He spread the rest of lunch on my dresser, pushing aside lotions and make-up. “I bought turkey and teriyaki with your favorite veggies.” I scooted to the edge of the bed and kissed him on the cheek. “You’re the best boyfriend ever.” “I know.” He winked, grabbed half of the teriyaki and took a big bite. “You might try being modest, too,” I scolded him, starting on half of my sandwich.
Why? I’m the best. You said so. I rol ed my eyes. Note to self, fewer compliments will make
a humble boyfriend. He chuckled. We kept up the telepathic banter as we ate. Bran knew exactly what to do and say to keep my mind off my problems. When he finished his teriyaki, I offered him the second half of my sandwich after removing the olives. He hated olives. When we finished lunch, he crossed his arms along the back of the chair and waited. I threw the sandwich wrapper into the trash can then reached for a can of pop and asked, “What do you want to know?” “Everything,” Bran answered. Where to begin? “He’s so domineering and arrogant, like
he’s a law unto himself, like he’s never wrong.” I hated Valafar for fil ing my head with nonsense. Bran reached for my hand and squeezed. “He went on and on about my safety again. ‘There are demons after you, and you must not leave the val ey until I say so,’” I imitated Valafar’s arrogant tone and rol ed my eyes. “Who died and made him my boss? And listen to this, to make sure they can’t find me, anyone who knows where I live must be eliminated. Isn’t that extreme?” “No, it’s not,” Bran said in a firm voice. I scowled, not liking that he agreed with Valafar. “I think it is. You know, in some cases.” Bran shook his head. “Either it is or it isn’t. You can’t have it both ways.”
Oh yes, I can. When it came to Bran, I was wil ing to bend rules. “He got rid of the Goetz brothers. I’m okay with that,” I added quickly. Bran grinned, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. “Good. They were slime bal s. What else?” I hesitated. He threw me a glance. “What?” “Your family came up.” Bran’s grip tightened around mine, his eyes darkening. “He said you must accept the protection of the Guardians, Gavyn too, or he’l send, uh, his people after you,” I said in rush, feeling terrible speaking the words aloud. “That’s a perfect example of extreme and uncal ed for reaction.” No shock or anger registered on Bran’s face. He nodded. I scowled at him. “Is that al you’re going to do? Nod? He threatened to kil your family and only relented when I threatened him.” Bran chuckled. “You threatened him? With what?” I snatched my hand from his. “This isn’t funny.” He gave me a solemn look. “It’s not, but I can see why he wants to tie up any loose ends. You’re vital in the war between good and evil, so your safety comes first. I’l make sure I’m not alone out there, and Gavyn will join us once he gets better.” Bran’s faith in his brother never failed to amaze me. The Gavyn I knew would never consider living with the Guardians. Should I mention Valafar’s offer to treat him?
Maybe later. “Valafar knows a lot about us—how much al owance I get, that you and Celeste are living here with the Guardians’ protection and even that Gavyn needs treatment. The guide he’s using must be spying on us, too.” Bran nodded. “Your grandfather thinks so, too. Did Valafar mention Solange?” “She was supposed to kil you and Gavyn in Seattle. He said in his annoyingly arrogant tone that she didn’t fol ow orders.” I scrunched my face. “I should have told him I plan to dispatch her to Tartarus the next time our paths crossed. So what did you do this morning?” I asked, not wanting to add the other stuff Valafar yapped about. “Did you hunt with the Cardinals?” “A bit. Then I visited Gavyn,” he said, sipping his drink. “How’s he doing? Is he getting any better?” Bran shook his head. “The Brotherhood Bran shook his head. “The Brotherhood healer is not powerful enough to replenish his energy al at once, so it wil take time. A long time.” His pain trickled to me along with his thoughts. He didn’t think Gavyn would make it. Should I mention Valafar’s offer now? I covered his free left hand. “There must be some other way.” “If there is, I don’t see it.” “I could heal him,” I offered again. He shot me a look as though I was crazy. “Told you before, that’s out of the question. I was tempted to visit one of my old haunts and ask an old Hermonite I know to find a healer for him.” His tone grew derisive, as though amazed he even contemplated such a thing. “Old Jethro has an ear on the demonic world, but I kept hearing your grandfather’s words in my head. I can’t afford to owe a demon a favor.” Valafar’s offer was definitely off the table. Sipping my pop, a plan formed in my head. “Can’t we kidnap Old Jethro, force him to help us, then vanquish him and the healer?” Bran choked on his drink. I thumped his back until he stopped coughing.
“It was just a thought,” I added when he stared at me with a co*cked eyebrow. “A diabolical one.” His shook his head. “I’d hate to have you as an enemy.” “Then you should try and be real y nice to me al the time,” I teased. His smile turned co*cky. “You’d never hurt me.” “Would too.” “If you’re into self-inflicted pain,” he added. I wrinkled my nose. He was right. We felt each other’s pain in a way that was difficult to describe. The discomfort tended to be dul and not exactly localized, but it was an effective way of knowing when he was hurt during a hunt or battle. Stil smiling smugly, he wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin and threw the pop can in the trash. A faraway look entered his eyes, the smug smile gone “The problem is Jethro isn’t worth the time or the aggravation. He’s the one who directed me to Darius and the Brotherhood when I wanted out. I didn’t have money to pay him, so I worked for him a bit. He’s not a col ector.” I winced at the word col ector. When we first met, Grampa suspected Bran of being a demon scout. Scouts didn’t sign contracts. They looked for vulnerable people and reported to their superiors, who sent in the col ector to negotiate the deal. Scouts weren’t real y considered evil, just a pain in the butt. Col ectors were the badass of the bunch. If Bran had been a col ector, I wondered if I would have vanquished him. From what I heard, col ectors were charming. “What is he then?” I asked. “A cliché. A stubborn and grumpy old man who runs a bar.” Bran’s eyes darkened. “He could have joined the Brotherhood and gotten protection, but he chose to be alone. There are quite a number of Hermonites like him living on the fringe of demon society, mingling with humans, but Jethro is in a class of his own.” He worried about Jethro, I could tel . “Is he the one you went to see last night?”
His eyes narrowed. “How do you know?” “Celeste. You real y shouldn’t be going out there alone. I don’t trust Valafar not to change his mind, and Grampa said we have to be more vigilant.” Bran grimaced. “I know. I wanted to scout the area and see who hangs out at Jethro’s bar. I haven’t visited him since the battle on Coronis Isle.” He rubbed his eyes, sighed and looked me square in the eyes. “The fact is Jethro’s the only person I know who can tel us more about Damien and lead us to the List. Zedekiah has gone underground, so that’s a dead end. I checked the drop off at that motel last night and earlier today. He didn’t pick up his messages.” We were back on the List again. Finding it was beginning to consume him. No wonder his mood seemed off. “Then let’s talk to Old Jethro,” I suggested. “I was hoping we would tonight. The CP team is monitoring demonic activity in the neighborhood right now. If it’s safe, we’l go in. If not, I’l find a way.” I shook my head. “We’l find a way.” Bran shook his head. “Oh no. Until Valafar says it is okay, you are not going anywhere.” I stared at him with rounded eyes then the corner of his lips twitched. “You…you….” I lunged forward to grab him. forward to grab him. He dematerialized from the chair and reappeared by the door, a teasing grin on his lips. “So? Are you planning on going back to school anytime soon?” he asked. I made a face and stood. “Right now. No one real y knows me as Lilith, so maybe they won’t know the cal was for me.” I real y, real y hoped so. “Let’s use Remy’s car as point of entry.” Bran offered me his hand and pul ed me into his arms. We exchanged a sweet, long kiss. I wound my arms around his neck. How I loved him. With every cel in my body and every breath I took. Thank goodness he was there today to share my worst moment and joke about it. *** I made it to the second class after lunch. No one pointed at
me or yel ed, “Lilith! There she is!” I tried to blend into the background, which wasn’t easy at five-nine with an abundance of multi-red curly hair. After school, I kept a lookout for Kylie and McKenzie as I hurried to the entrance of the school. They were nowhere to be seen, which suited me fine. I didn’t want to deal with either of them. Bran was parked by Remy’s car, and from the way he smirked at Sykes, they were having another testosterone showdown. Maybe if I told Sykes that Bran and I were alrunes he’d stop flirting with me and hoping for more than friendship. I gripped my backpack and started toward the crosswalk.
Wait up, Lil, Celeste telepathed. I turned to search for her and hid a grin when she stepped out of the building with three boys. One carried her backpack and the other her folder. The third walked backwards ahead of them, occasional y glancing over his shoulder to make sure he didn’t bump into someone. As they neared, I caught snippets of their discussion— basebal . I couldn’t blame the guys for being besotted with her. Celeste had the same startling beauty as Bran. Her wavy black, glorious hair and green doe-like eyes against her delicate face made her appear fragile. Throw in her knowledge of sports stats gleaned from Gavyn, video games, and the tendency to dress like a tomboy, no guy stood a chance.
Aren’t they adorable? she gloated as she stopped where I waited.
If you like puppies. Jealous? “This is my friend, Lil. Lil, the guys,” she waved in their direction. They nodded, but I might as wel have been invisible, which wasn’t the norm for me. She linked our arms and steered me toward Bran. Her adoring fans trailed behind us. “Tel them to leave,” I whispered. “Why? The backpack is heavy and they offered to carry it.” She smiled at them over her shoulder. “You guys are the best.” They blushed. I rol ed my eyes. They had it bad.
Bran’s eyes narrowed as he watched us approach. Sykes said something and laughed. Even Remy grinned. It was obvious they were teasing poor Bran, who didn’t seem to think much of Celeste’s new friends. He yanked open the door of the jeep, pinned her with a glare and jerked his head, indicating she should get inside. Celeste’s grin widened. “Thanks, guys. In there,” she waved to the backseat. Bran blocked the path of the two guys. The third hovered beside Celeste. “Don’t mind him. He’s only my brother.” Who towered over the three guys and looked dangerous dressed in black. I walked to his side, slipped a hand through his and tugged. He dug his heels in.
Play nice, Bran. These boneheads shouldn’t be anywhere near her. Despite his words, he moved out of the way. Celeste’s guy friends placed her things in the backseat while the third shuffled in one spot a few feet away. She wiggled her fingers. “Thanks, guys. I’l see you tomorrow.” They nodded and dragged their feet as they walked away. She turned around and looked at us with an impish grin. “Hey, Remy…Sykes?” The two Guardians smirked. “What’s everyone waiting for? Let’s go home.” She jumped into the back seat. “I’m going to kil her,” Bran murmured through clenched teeth. My eyes widened. “Why?” “Because I’m sure she put some of her mind control mojo on them.” Frowning, I glanced at Celeste. Of course, Bran was a typical brother, unable to believe any guy Bran was a typical brother, unable to believe any guy would find his sister beautiful. Besides, Celeste’s power of persuasion wasn’t that strong. I shook my head. “I don’t think she needs to do that to get any guy’s attention.” “No, she doesn’t,” Sykes added, smirking. “Shut up, Sykes,” Bran growled. My gaze met with Sykes’ and I hid a grin. He just found a new way to torment Bran. Maybe he’l leave me alone and focus his attention on Celeste.
“Everything okay, Red?” Sykes asked, the teasing light leaving his eyes. He was probably thinking about the cal from Valafar. I shrugged. “Yeah.” “Let’s meet at our place in half hour,” Remy suggested. “Sure.” I didn’t want to discuss Valafar but couldn’t put it off forever. As the two Guardians walked away, Bran opened the car door for me, stil glaring at Sykes. “He messes with my sister, and I’l rip him apart.” “He’s just teasing you.” “He’s not funny.” He shot Celeste a stern look. “Don’t look at him, encourage him or play mind games with him.” She made a face. As he started around the car, I turned to Celeste. “Did you real y zap those guys?” “Of course not. Bran is just being…Bran.” Bran claimed his seat, started the engine, and took off, both hands gripping the steering wheel. No one spoke for most of the drive. We were half-way home when he said, “You’re starting Guardian Academy. Today.” For a moment I wasn’t sure what he meant. Then Celeste squealed, launched herself forward, and stuck her head between our seats. “Real y? I got in? Please, tel me I got in. That you’re not teasing or getting back at me for being mean to you last night or—” “You’re in,” Bran said. The car swayed when Celeste hugged him and gave him a resounding kiss on his cheek. “Whoa, watch it. I’m driving here.” When I looked back, she was sprawled on the back seat fighting tears. I had no idea how much she wanted to join the Academy. “Congrats.” She nodded and looked out the window, her chin trembling. I turned around to give her privacy.
Bran stared ahead, frowning. He should be happy he just made his sister’s day, but he wasn’t. It was that darn List, or maybe Gavyn’s condition. I slipped my hand through his. He squeezed mine and smiled. I might not be able to help his brother, but I’d make sure we found the List. Behind us, Celeste found her voice. “When do I start? What’s the schedule like? How many clairvoyants are there? Who wil be my teacher?” Bran shrugged. “The principal is expecting you at four. He’l explain everything.” Silence fil ed the car for the rest of the drive. Bran pul ed to a stop and waited as the gate opened slowly. Since when did they close it during the day? “Can you come with me?” Celeste asked in a timid voice as Bran pul ed up Aunt Janel e’s driveway. The request surprised me. Celeste might look delicate on the outside, but she was tough as nails on the inside. Bran and I shared a glance. “Sure, pint.” He pressed the remote to open their garage door, eased inside, and kil ed the engine. He turned to smile at her. “I’l be inside in a few minutes.” She opened the door, scooped up her backpack and folder then skipped to the house. Bran escorted me next door. He put my backpack on the kitchen island while I kicked off my winter boots into the laundry room, which was by the garage door. The house was quiet. Grampa must be out hunting. I hadn’t asked him about the party yet. If he said no, I’d be in deep trouble. “Hey,” Bran said to draw my attention. “After Celeste is done at the Academy, I plan to take her to see Gavyn.” “What do you think he’d say about Celeste joining the Academy?” Bran shrugged. “Probably get pissed, but she wants this.” “And you made it happen.” I stroked the back of his hand. He turned his hand and trapped my hand with his. “Celeste made it happen when she came to see you and you retrieved the images from her head. The principal wasn’t sure she was strong enough, but between that a n d a strong recommendation from Mrs. D, he couldn’t say no. She might even one day work for the High Council as a clairvoyant.” He work for the High Council as a clairvoyant.”
He smiled then pushed against the counter and straightened, eyes clouding. “I’d better head home.” “Don’t go yet. You just did something wonderful for your sister, yet you don’t seem happy. Are you worried about the List?” “Not real y,” he muttered. He was lying, but I let it pass. “Are we going to Old Jethro’s?” He shook his head. “No.” “Why not?” “First, we need to make sure it’s relatively safe. So far the surveil ance indicates the area has low demonic presence except for occasional gang activities. That bothers everyone.” “Gang?” He nodded. “New influx of demons after Coronis Isle was destroyed led to different groups becoming territorial. It’s like that in almost every major city in the country.” He tucked a curly strand behind my ear and gave me a brief kiss. “See you at the guys’ in a few.” For a moment I stood there and stressed about how the Guardians would react to everything Valafar told me. Sighing, I opened the pantry and removed a box of chocolate-covered granola bars. As for Bran and the List, the Cardinals shouldn’t give him such an unattainable goal. It wasn’t fair. I should discuss it with Grampa. *** Half an hour later, we gathered in Remy and Sykes’ basem*nt. I repeated the conversation with Valafar, focusing only on what he said about my safety, and finished with, “I tried to get his phone number, but he hedged as though he knew we planned to track his communication with the medium. He said he’l cal later in the week.” “He can’t know of our plans,” Remy said, speaking up first. “We haven’t discussed them with anyone else.” “Unless one of us is the guide,” Sykes added, smirking at Bran.
Bran ignored him. I’d already told him how Sykes implied the same thing with the others and how Kim zapped him. Sykes needed to watch it. “If you start with that again,” Kim warned, her eyes flashing. She glanced at me and added, “I’m not buying Valafar’s concerned father routine, Lil. Where has he been these past seven months? Why now?” I shrugged. “Just like you, I question his motives.” “But it’s the second time he’s cal ed and brought up your safety,” Izzy said. “Maybe he has a reason.” “Sure he does,” Sykes retorted. “He’s learned Lil can lock on demons’ psi and command them to do her wil , so he’s running scared.” “I agree.” Remy’s expression was thoughtful. “The timing is too convenient. Maybe having you out there wil screw up his plans to take over the demonic world.” “What if he has changed?” Izzy insisted then, scowled when the others glanced at her. “Don’t look at me like that. Even demons change.” She shot Bran a glance. “Valafar didn’t have to kil the Goetz brothers, but he did. Admitting his plan to eliminate Bran’s family also indicates he’s serious about keeping Lil safe.” “Oh, please,” Kim said. “You’re just feeling sorry for him, you softy. He doesn’t deserve anyone’s pity.” “That’s not it. I spoke with him, Kim. He sounded real y desperate. I mean he promised to hunt me down and every member of my family if I didn’t get Lil on the phone.” Even though she addressed Kim, Izzy’s gaze locked with mine as though she sensed my ambiguous feelings toward Valafar and tried to tel me she understood. “So I’m not just feeling sorry for him.” She made a face at Kim, who rol ed her eyes. “What do you think, Llyr?” Sykes asked, cutting Bran a sly look. “You have more experience with that world. Is he being genuine or demonic?” Bran chuckled, although my empathic reading indicated he wasn’t amused. Sykes was always putting him on the spot. “Anyone can change. Demons, too, so I understand why Izzy would like to give Valafar the benefit of the doubt. There are two ways to look at what he’s doing.” He leaned forward, his gaze bouncing from one face to another. “If his objective is to lure Lil to his side, he’l want her vulnerable and wil ing to trust him. The
only way to do that is to destroy everything she believes in. Look at what he’s doing. First, he tries to plant doubts in her mind about her grandfather’s loyalty by hinting the mind about her grandfather’s loyalty by hinting the Cardinal hid her presents. From there, he’l try to convince her that he and he alone has her best interest at heart. That her grandfather or the Guardians are not to be trusted.” I stared at Bran wide eyed and swal owed. It was as though he’d been there and heard every word Valafar said to me. “Needless to say, he wants my family out of the way too because of my relationship with Lil. That means planting more doubts about my love for her.” The way his heated eyes caressed my face left no doubt in anyone’s mind he loved me. My cheeks warmed and my heart expanded. “Or my loyalty,” he added, “which might explain why he sent Solange after me and my brother.” “Are you saying you and this Solange….?” Kim asked. “Have a history,” Bran mumbled then gave me an apologetic smile. Kim and Izzy exchanged a glance then co*cked their brows at me as if to say, “How are you dealing with that?” I just shrugged. “Let me see if I understand this,” Remy said, scooting forward in his seat. “You’re saying Valafar knew Lil would be in Seattle.” Bran nodded. “The guide helping him with the medium is also spying on us. At least, that’s the conclusion the Cardinals have reached. Based on his conversation with Lil, he knows way too much about her. The information had to come from one of the Guardians.” “We real y need to flush him or her out before we have another demonic raid,” Izzy said, fear glistening in her eyes. “The Cardinals would never let that happen,” Bran said, sending her a reassuring smile. “That’s wel and good,” Kim cut in. “But what are you going to do about your brother? I mean, there’s no way he’l ever agree to live in the val ey, right?” “He wil ,” Bran said firmly and leaned back against the seat, taking me with him. Silence fol owed his statement as the others stared at each
other with horror. It was no secret none of them liked or trusted Gavyn. Having him live in the val ey would be a real thorn in their sides. One of these days, I’d explain Gavyn’s story to them. Maybe then they’d cut him some slack. “You sure about that, dude?” Sykes asked, not looking pleased. “Yes. As Izzy eloquently put it, even demons change.” Bran smirked, clearly getting a kick out of their response. “He might even join the Guardianship program. He has energy abilities like you, Sykes. You two could team up.” Sykes’ lips turned up as though he swal owed something rotten. “You said there were two ways of looking at what Valafar is doing,” Remy reminded Bran. “What’s the second?” “He might have changed like Izzy said, which means he’s genuinely worried about Lil’s safety,” Bran explained. “Kil ing the Goetz brothers to stop them from leading a horde of demons here then makes sense.” “And coming after your family?” Sykes asked, eyes gleaming. Bran’s eyes narrowed. “Makes perfect sense, too, but that’s a non-issue. We are here to stay. Gavyn will join us as soon as he’s wel enough to be moved.” He got to his feet. “I’l let you guys finish here. I need to take Celeste to the Academy.” He leaned down and gave me a brief kiss. See you later. “So what does this Solange demoness look like?” Izzy asked as soon as Bran teleported. “I bet she’s hot,” Sykes said. “Most demonesses are total babes.” He and Remy banged fists. I shook my head. They real y had one track minds. “She’s okay, if you like big boobs and girls who curse like sailors.” “Me like…me like,” Sykes said. I glared at him. “Too bad. Next time we meet, I’m vanquishing her.”
Izzy grinned. “That’s the spirit.”
12. Lightning Bolts After our brief meeting, I headed home. Grampa must have grocery shopped because a bowl of fresh fruit sat on the side counter in the kitchen. He even got my favorite apples—Pink Lady. Funny how I tended not to notice things when Bran was around. I total y missed the bowl when he and I were in the kitchen earlier. Munching on an apple, I zipped through Math and English. When I finished, the clock on the microwave said threethirty, plenty of time before my session with Haziel. I headed to the bedroom to change into workout clothes. I pul ed off my T-shirt and aimed for the hamper. It missed and landed on the floor. For a moment, I stared at it, debating whether to leave it there until later or to scoop it up and put it away. The book on mediums caught my eyes as I kicked off my jeans. Unpleasant thoughts fol owed. Nose bleeds…headaches….sudden death. I shuddered. We needed to find the medium. Then what? How did we stop a medium from being a conduit? Pul ing on a pair of sweatpants and a tee, I settled on my bed and searched through the book for answers. Bran said if Kylie was the medium, she’d have more things to worry about than me freezing the bowl. Things like what? Nothing jumped out at me. This time, I didn’t skip the quotations in the text or the captions under the il ustrations showing humans in the throes of agony, hands gripping heads, blood spewing from nostrils, eyes wild. I gulped, looked away from the drawings and continued. The next subtitle threw itself off the pages. ‘Some Mediums Don’t Show Symptoms.’ News to me. Panicking, I read careful y. Arteries in their brain burst from
information overload during a session leading to severe hemorrhage and sudden death. That this only happened on rare occasions didn’t matter. One of my friends could keel over and die without warning. If we pissed Valafar off he could overloaded the medium’s system. This was worse than I thought. Damned if we didn’t do anything and damned if we did. Feeling like crap, I moved to the next chapter. ‘Cures for Mediums.’ I could do with some good news right about now. The more I read the more hopeless and bleak the solutions. The title might as wel be ‘Cures for Mediums Don’t Work.’ ‘Destroy the evil spirit channeling the medium’. Valafar was impossible to find let alone destroy. He already escaped being vanquished once. Hunting him down could take years. ‘Destroy the guide.’ The first sentence went on to explain how the evil spirit always found another guide, so the medium was basical y screwed for life. Great. ‘Destroy the object of the evil spirit’s obsession.’ Yeah, that would be… me. I laughed, hysteria bubbling to the surface and making me sound demented. ‘A Psi can drain part of the energy of the medium.’ This could erase memories or reduce the medium to a person with subnormal intel igence. In other words, my friend could become an imbecile, mental y chal enged. Not good. It took an experienced Psi to perform this procedure, the text added. Hope returned, lifting the load off my Hope returned, lifting the load off my shoulders. Grampa was experienced. After hundreds of years of kil ing demons, this should be a piece of cake for him. Al we had to do was find the medium. No, trick Valafar into revealing the medium. If we got lucky, catch the traitor, too. Deceiving Valafar
would take some planning. Feeling better, I grabbed a hoodie and left for the kitchen. The clock above the fireplace in the living room said fifteen to four. I scribbled a note about the party to Grampa with ‘please say yes’ in capital letters, added two Xs and Os to the note, and put it on the fridge door. If he said no, I’d be in trouble. Or maybe not. I could use Sykes and Remy’s place. If worse came to worse, Club New York, the dance club on Main Street, hosted parties for students al the time and was close enough to monitor the guide’s involvement. Stil , I’d much rather hold it at home. Teleporting to HQ to retrieve my dagger, I turned the corner and entered the hal way leading to the weapons’ room. The door was open and laughter came from inside. I recognized the voices of the three female Cardinal Guardians. Not sure if I should interrupt them, I checked my watch. I had ten minutes before my session. I moved from the door, leaned against the wal and waited for them to finish and leave, or teleport out. Their voices carried and I couldn’t help eavesdropping. “I cannot believe the mess we made of things, the poor child,” Cardinal Moira said with a sigh. “Maybe it was wrong to tel him so soon,” Hsia, the Cardinal Time Guardian added. She appeared to be moving toward the door. I took another step back just as Aunt Janel e spoke. “No. It was the right thing to do, but I wish Seth could have been more diplomatic.” Aunt Janel e sounded angry. “The poor boy has been through enough.” Bran? He was the only boy who hunted with them. Heart thumping, I angled my head to catch more. “No one knew how he’d react,” Hsia added, her voice distant, as though she was in the back of the room. “We must convince him to….” Cardinal Moira’s voice trailed off. “Come inside, Lil,” she added louder. I cringed. So much for eavesdropping. Nothing ever got past Cardinal Guardians. I walked to the doorway and gave them an apologetic look. Moira had one booted foot on a bench and her elbows on her raised knee. Hsia and Aunt Janel e were by the back wal storing their weapons. They al looked at me with
disapproval. Heat crawled up my face. “How long were you standing out there, Lil?” Aunt Janel e asked. That wasn’t good. Aunt Janel e cal ed me Luminitsa normal y, but she used Lil when angry. “I just arrived and didn’t want to intrude. I’m, uh, here to pick up my dagger,” I added quickly. Aunt Janel e didn’t look convinced. No surprise there. I sucked at lying. Moira dropped her foot to the floor and walked toward me, eyes watchful. “Stil training with Haziel every day?” I nodded. “Yes, Cardinal Moira. Four o’clock everyday unless we’re going hunting.” Aunt Janel e continued to study me with narrowed eyes. The ever chipper Hsia was the only who wasn’t watching me as though waiting for my nose to grow like Pinocchio’s. “I guess something good is coming out of putting up with his rigid rules. I heard you expel ed a Lazarus demon from Gavyn.” As usual, the air grew warmer with Cardinal Moira’s approach. I nodded, shifting from foot to foot. None of them looked ready to leave, and I hated an audience when I retrieved the Kris Dagger, even powerful ones like the Cardinals. Moira stopped beside me, reached out, and stroked my hair near my temple. Her touch was hot, and I tried not to pul back. “Did you know he taught al of us? That those were the days when the Academy was in Xenith, not here?” Before I could answer, she glanced over at Hsia and Janel e. “Remember how he used to pit us against each other?” Aunt Janel e chuckled. “We’d always lose to you, my dearest Moira.” “Because you were his favorite,” Hsia added with a pout. Moira shrugged. “I had more to prove, didn’t I? See you later, girls.” She tossed her streaked I? See you later, girls.” She tossed her streaked black hair and teleported. I resisted the urge to touch the area of my scalp where she stroked my hair. From the moment we met, she was fascinated by my unusual hair. Since I inherited it from my father, I often wondered if she
knew his identity before we did or was merely fascinated by the multi-red colors. “Why is she so hot?” I blurted out then blushed when Hsia and Janel e chuckled. “Does that mean we’re not hot?” Hsia teased, patting the side of her bun, a teasing smile on her lips. I covered my burning cheeks, mortified beyond words. “Of course you al look great, you know, for your age.” “Our age? How old do you think we are?” Hsia asked with mock anger, hand on her hip. “Uh-mm, uh…I don’t know. Old?” They bursted out laughing and right then, I decided not to say another word. Maybe I should leave and come back when they were gone. “Quit teasing the child, Hsia.” Aunt Janel e put an arm around my shoulder. “What did you mean by hot?” Not wanting to return to the embarrassing subject, I mumbled, “It’s nothing.” “You know that Moira being part Nosferatu releases potent pheromones that make people act the way they do around her. Isn’t that so, Hsia?” She glanced over her shoulder. “Yes.” Hsia removed her hunting coat and draped it over her arm. “Even my Emmanuel acts like an idiot around her.” “So what did you mean, Luminitsa? ” Aunt Janel e asked. I scrunched my face. “She gives off heat. Don’t you feel it?” Janel e shook her head. A quick glance at Hsia found her looking perplexed, too. My cheeks warmed with embarrassment as I struggled for words. “You know, like a furnace. I feel it whenever she’s close to me. When she touches me, I expect my skin to blister, yet it doesn’t.” The two Guardians looked at each other as realization dawned. Aunt Janel e squeezed my shoulder. “As an empath, you’re detecting the pheromones differently than the rest of us.” I blinked. “Even you?” “Oh, yes. Gives a new meaning to irresistible, doesn’t she?” She grinned.
“Grampa can resist her,” I added quickly to reassure her. “He finds others’ reaction to her amusing, so he must be just like me.” Janel e saw through my eager explanation and chuckled softly. “You’re a sweetheart. Get your dagger. I’l walk you to the pit.” “I’l head on home,” Cardinal Hsia said, then teleported in a burst of blinding light. Grabbing the sheath from my closet, I went back to the main weapons room to find Aunt Janel e waiting by the door. She watched as I commanded the dagger from its resting place into the sheath. Feeling self-conscious, I gave her a weak smile. “Does it stil hurt when you bond?” she asked as we left the room. “A little.” An understatement, but I didn’t want to discuss the dagger. I’d rather hear how she felt about Grampa. “Where’s Grampa?” “I’m not sure. Around.” She looped her arm around mine as we started toward the Academy. “How’s the search for your medium coming along?” “How’s the search for your medium coming along?” “Not so good,” I replied. She smel ed of the sea and cinnamon with a hint of lavender. “I know Grampa is convinced Valafar didn’t send me presents, but I’m hoping he did.” “Oh sweetie.” Aunt Janel e paused, forcing me to stop too. “I know you never knew your mother, but it breaks my heart to see Valafar manipulate you like this.” “No, Aunt Janel e. This is not about Mom. Valafar said he wrote his phone number and stuck it inside one of the presents. We plan to cal and force him to use the medium. Then I can study the psi energies and locate who it is.” I almost blurted out the other things Valafar said. They were lies, so no point in mentioning them. “We?” she asked, frowning. She tugged my arm and continued to lead me toward the Academy. “The trainees are helping. We’re searching for the presents in case someone signed for them but forgot to drop them off.”
She blinked. “Oh. And the person who signed for them might just be the guide we’re searching for. Bril iant.” A frowned crossed her pixie features. “Make sure someone asks the women who clean our houses. They might have signed for them and forgot to mention it.” Good thinking. “Thanks, Aunt Janel e. We hadn’t thought of them.” She smiled. “I’m happy to help, dear. If you need anything else, just let me know.” We stopped outside the double doors of the Academy. “Go on. Don’t keep Haziel waiting. Your grandfather and I are making dinner tonight, so work up an appetite.” She kissed my cheek then teleported. Grinning, I entered the Academy’s rotunda. Talking to Aunt Janel e felt nice. She and Grampa must have gone shopping together if she was making dinner tonight. When I was little and she’d visit us, they’d do that— shop together and cook. Maybe I didn’t need to play cupid after al . Halfway across the foyer, I noticed Celeste through the glass wal s of the Academy’s main office. Bran wasn’t with her, which was strange. My watch said three-fifty-seven, which meant I had less than three minutes to get to the pit, but I couldn’t ignore the dejected look on her face. Or the way she sat on her hands and tapped her feet, her gaze on the principal’s door. The others students were already in their classes. I changed directions, opened the main office door and peeked inside. “Hey.” Celeste gave me a shaky smile but didn’t respond verbal y. “Where’s Bran?” “He had to leave.” Her voice dropped, and her gaze kept darting to the principal’s closed door. Not again. “Leave? For where?” “I don’t know.” She shrugged, stil not paying me much attention. I fol owed her glance and frowned. “Are you here alone?”
She blew out air. “No. Grampa…your grandfather brought me. He’s in there now. What are you doing here anyway? Other than gril ing me, that is.” I bit back a smile. That was the Celeste I knew—testy when nervous. “I’m on my way to the pit. I’d better go. Haziel is probably pacing, looking at the clock and plotting my demise.” My attempt at humor didn’t seem to improve Celeste’s mood. “See you later.” She gave me another weak smile. Bran had been wil ing to escort Celeste to her new school, yet now he was gone. That didn’t make sense, unless he left to see his brother. Or to search for the List, a tiny voice added. I hoped not, especial y after our discussion. Crossing the rotunda, I took off along the hal way next to the library entrance, passed the first door to my right, paused and retraced my steps to watch. About seven students stood by a medium-sized pool, their attention on the teacher who had his hand extended toward the water. The clear liquid rose from the middle of the pool and shot toward the ceiling. The students laughed. I couldn’t wait to see them react to Bran’s ability. He could do a lot more cool stuff with water. The next classroom was rectangular and long. A dozen heavy-duty punching bags chained to the ceiling dangled on one end. A bunch of male students and one girl took turns thrusting their hands forward, palm out, as they tried to move them. Not even a sway. The air trainees had a long way to go. I was about to take off when a blonde appeared in my line of vision. Not just any blonde— appeared in my line of vision. Not just any blonde— Kim. The students moved to give her room. Flashing a smile, she said something and back-handed the air. Several bags went flying, looped, and came back down. But when she braced herself, legs slightly apart and arms moving in circles to create an air vortex, al twelve bags did three-sixty loops. They made a whooshing sound audible through the door. The students cheered. What was I going to show the psi students on Friday? I hadn’t even thought about it until now. It had to be something spectacular. I frowned, shaking my head. No, I’d
just be myself. Yeah, right. Clumsy teleporting wouldn’t earn me Brownie points. Neither would anecdotes about how I created a giant hole in the ceiling when I started learning telekinesis. I looked at my watch and groaned. *** “You are late,” Haziel barked when I entered the room. Since I didn’t have an excuse for my tardiness, I kept my mouth shut. Instead, I squinted against the blazing strobe lights from the ceiling and searched for him. He wasn’t alone in the middle of the room. I didn’t recognize the woman with him, but with the influx of new teachers and students at the Academy, that was no surprise. He beckoned me forward with a gnarled finger. I closed the door behind me and entered the pit, a domeshaped indoor arena with a high ceiling and a circular floor dominated by the painting of the six-sided Cardinal Guardian star. The tiered seating was steeper than most of those in human stadiums and grouped in private boxes. The glass panels made no sense the first time I saw them, but I later learned they shielded spectators from stray energy bal s or weapons during a tournament. We were yet to have intramural games since the Academy opened, but I couldn’t wait to watch students test their fighting techniques and powers. A clapping drew me out of my daydream, and I hurried to where Haziel stood glowering, a satchel in his hand. The woman he’d been talking with had long teleported. “Where is your focus?” he snapped. “You do not daydream in my class. You do not come in late.” I bowed, hands pressed together. “I’m sorry for my tardiness, Master Haziel.” He humphed. “Warm up time.” Was that a chal enge I heard in his voice? I looked up. Throwing knives floated from his satchel. I hated this type of warm-up. It was torture in disguise, but I didn’t dare complain. He had a right to chew me up and spit me out for being late. He rotated his finger in the air, sending the blades across the arena. Ninja stars fol owed from the bag, their polished surface catching and reflecting the light from the ceiling before they disappeared into the gloomy areas of the arena.
I peered at them and blew out air. They floated like birds of prey waiting for a kil . Me.
Message to self. Don’t piss off master trainer. Haziel teleported and appeared in the judges’ box to my right. Unlike the others, it had a bar with assorted drinks. He poured himself a glass of water and stretched out in his chair like he was about to watch his favorite TV program while my stomach churned.
Let me know when you are ready, he telepathed, his voice devoid of emotion. Bite me, I wanted to retort. I might hate Leather Face because of the way he pushed me, but I respected him. Not only was he as old as, I don’t know, death, he’d trained many Cardinal Guardians before me, including Grampa. I was sure it frustrated him I wasn’t a perfect student, but I tried. Closing my eyes, I took deep breaths like Mrs. D taught me. Haziel didn’t think much of pranayama, but the breathing exercises helped clear my thoughts. I focused on my surrounding. Every object had energy, some dul , others bright. Cal it potential energy or aura, it didn’t matter. Cardinal Psi Guardians had the ability to see them. Most of the time, I just ignored them. In this confined space, they smothered my psyche. I opened my eyes, locked my gaze with Haziel’s and nodded, I’m ready.
Go. The change in the air flow warned me a knife approached from my right. I raised my right hand, fingers together and straight as though blocking a kung-fu attack. The knife flipped, changed direction and flew back into the gloom. Another came from my left. I reversed it with a kick. Ducking to the side, one sailed by my nose, missing me by mil imeters. As I stared at it in horror, it slowed to a stop, whipped stared at it in horror, it slowed to a stop, whipped around and torpedoed toward me again.
Mind over matter…mind over matter….
I repeated Haziel’s famous expression like a litany and held my own. Kick…slice…whip around…
block…double kick…. The trainer stayed behind the glass panel and continued to control the knives and the ninja stars like a puppet master. Part of me wanted to tel him I was warmed up already. Sweat formed on my forehead and dripped down. It rol ed off my eyelid, blurring my vision, but I couldn’t afford to stop and wipe my face. Not when he hurled the knives faster, then two at a time. I picked up speed. Block…left…right…
double-handed thrust…split kick…. My chest bursting, heart pounding, I held my own until dizziness washed over me. I raised my arms and projected my need. Freeze. Everything went stil . I bent, hands on knees, panting to regain my breath as I peered at Haziel. He didn’t move from behind the glass. I glanced at the weapons, al at various positions in the air. I removed my jacket, wiped my face with it and threw it aside. Nodding, I signaled to Haziel I was ready.
Quit using your arms and legs to block the attacks. It is a deplorable human habit. Eyes round, I stared at him in horror. “What?” I yel ed.
You have it in you to control anything with your mind, Lil. Fear rushed through me. No. I’m not ready.
I will slow the knives down. He wasn’t listening to me. I marched to the box and yanked the door open. “I’m not ready. I can’t do it.” “You can.” His tone was firm and emphatic. He stood and pinned me down with narrowed eyes. “The word ‘can’t’ should not be part of your vocabulary. You can do anything, Lil. You have the power in you. Seize it. Own it.” His voice rose with passion and conviction. Too bad I didn’t have his confidence. “Can I, uh, at least start out using the Kris?” “No,” he snapped, obviously losing patience. “If you depend on the dagger for al your defenses, you
become useless without it. The dagger depends on you, not the other way round. If you snivel at every chal enge, you weaken it.” “But—” “Worse, you insult our exulted Goddess Xenia for gifting you the ability to wield it. You are a warrior, young lady. Start acting like one,” he finished coldly. I stared at him with rounded eyes and fought tears. I hated him. Real y, real y hated him with every fiber in my body and every breath I took. It wasn’t fair that he pushed me when I had so much to deal with —Valafar, a medium, little demon kids that need a home, Bran’s problems. When Haziel smirked, showing yel owed teeth, his lined face crinkling, rage slammed through me. If he wanted a warrior, he’d get one. I turned and marched to the middle of the arena. “Close your eyes and use your powers,” he commanded. “You’re a powerful Psi Cardinal Guardian. Lock on their energies and deflect them.” I’m a trainee not a full Cardinal, I wanted to snap back. Instead, I shut my eyes, stood stil , and weeded through energies until I isolated the ones belonging to the weapons. They floated in the air, dul white masses with little sparkle, typical of inanimate objects.
Ready, I telepathed him. One blade started for me. I locked on it. Suddenly, a ribbon of bright light appeared and speared toward the dul white mass of the knife. The two col ided in a burst of explosion like fireworks then faded. More knives picked up speed, and so did the ribbons. A shot of adrenaline and intense excitement washed over me. Let’s see how he liked this. Another bright light and I destroyed several at once. Pul ed that move two more times and finished them al . Opening my eyes, I gave Haziel a slow, satisfied smile. His face was pressed against the glass, his eyes owlish. A giggle escaped me. Feeling invincible, I exhaled and looked around. Ashes were al over the floor. I hadn’t just deflected the knives and the stars, I’d incinerated them. Oh no. Did I just use a power I inherited from Valafar? The
ability to create bolts of light was a nature-bender’s ability. The euphoria waned as panic roiled deep inside of me. I didn’t want this power. “Good work,” Haziel said. He left the booth and hurried toward me, bringing with him waves of and hurried toward me, bringing with him waves of excitement. I cringed. He should be repulsed or warn me against using such ability. Instead, he paced from one end of the floor to the other, studying the ashes, his hands behind his back, head bobbing with approval. “I heard the lightning bolt was how your powers manifested themselves the first time, but I didn’t believe it.” He walked toward me, his gaze intense. “They appeared out of thin air and destroyed each weapon without missing. Each weapon, Lil. That means you can control the bolts.” He grabbed the satchel from the floor and opened it. More knives and ninja weapons drifted out of the bag and into the air. “Do it again.” “I don’t know if I can repeat it. Both times I used that power, I was pissed.” He paused. “Pissed? What is that?” “Mad…angry.” “Then stay angry. Remember what I said. Seize the power. Own it. Imagine what you’ve unlocked.” His eyes narrowed on my face like he was daring me to say no. “Last time was the beginning of your psi abilities. This is the beginning of something else. Do it,” he ordered. A knot wound my insides tight. Memories of how my fel ow trainees reacted to my growing powers washed over me. I didn’t want to go back to being treated like an outsider. “Master Haziel—” “There is no time for conversation.” He hurried back to the box and closed the door. He stood by the door and gestured impatiently with his hand, his attention locked on me. I so didn’t want to do this.
Come on, Lil. Sighing, I closed my eyes and locked on their energies. When they moved toward me, I shot back.
The dul floating lights flipped and sped away from me. Again and again, I tried, but they didn’t disappear. I couldn’t repeat it. Haziel yel ed something and hurled three knives at the same time. Same results. Close to tears, I kept trying and trying.
Push…do it…do not give up. Haziel’s words final y penetrated my psyche. Giving up is for losers. Are you a loser, Lil? He was trying to piss me off. It wasn’t working. Frustrated, I opened my eyes. Freeze. The blades slowed down, but they didn’t stop. That was new. My gaze connected with Haziel’s. His narrowed eyes stayed locked on me, but I knew he control ed the knives. I might be a powerful psi, but he had a gazil ion years of experience. Fury churned my insides. I reached for my dagger to enhance my powers and three things happened simultaneously. Pain shot up my side as something sharp pierced my skin. The lightning bolts crackled into existence and shot out toward the knives. Green light from my dagger cut through the air and blasted the glass protecting Haziel. Cries of pain fil ed the room. Something was wrong. Very, very wrong. Darkness pul ed me under, and I welcomed it.
13. Secrets and Lies Light shone on my eyelids. Wincing, I turned my head and burrowed my face into something soft. I wasn’t ready to get up. The alarm hadn’t gone off, and I wanted to go back to the nice dream I was having. “Lil,” a familiar, harsh voice intruded. A foreboding feeling washed over me. I opened my eyes and squinted against the glare as I tried to find Haziel. I’d recognize his mean voice anywhere. Why was he in my bedroom? My gaze moved past a wet bar. Burgundy leather chairs and…a sofa, on which I was lying. My right hand clutched the Kris Dagger in a death grip. Memories rushed back—the lightning bolts, the pain. Panic roiled inside me. I jerked up, dropped the dagger on the sofa, and careful y reached over to my side, heart pounding. There was a tear on my T-shirt, though I felt no torn flesh or pain.
Weird. My fingers came away bloody. Nausea and wooziness swept over me. I’d always hated the sight of blood. “How are you feeling?” I looked over my shoulder, my chest tightening and fear threatening to induce another fainting spel . Haziel stood behind the sofa, his ancient face creased in concern. “What happened to my wound?” I whispered. “The dagger healed you.” He walked around to sit on the arm of the sofa, his black eyes wary. A memory teased my mind. Earlier, he had worn his usual egg-shel linen pants and matching tunic. Now he wore a light blue shirt. “The light from the dagger hit you, didn’t it?” Stil trying to remember and understand the sequence of events, my words came out hesitant. He shook his head. “No, it didn’t.” I wanted to believe him. There was not a single scratch on the glass screen, and yet I recal ed the light from the dagger melting a hole through it. Maybe I imagined everything. Even as the thought flashed through my mind, I knew it wasn’t true. My bloodied T-shirt was no hal ucination. “Master Haziel, the dagger created a giant hole on the screen, and you cried out after it hit you there.” I pointed to his right shoulder, and he stood and moved away. Swal owing, I dropped my arm and looked down. A hol ow feeling settled in my stomach. “It’s my fault. I pul ed out the dagger to stop the knives and hurt you instead.” “Look at me.” When I didn’t, he gripped my chin, turned my head, and pinned me down with wise eyes. “I’m fine. Remember, the dagger doesn’t hurt Guardians.” “But I heard you cry out,” I blurted out, my voice rising. “No, you cried out when the star dug into your skin,” he stressed in an uncompromising voice. I winced at the reminder. Wanting to believe him even though I suspected he lied to spare my feelings, I nodded.
My gaze looked around the box and stopped on the glass screen. “Who fixed that?” “It doesn’t matter.” He walked to the bar, poured some bottled water into a glass and offered it to me. “Drink it. You lost quite a bit of blood.” Don’t remind me. Dizziness washed over me again. I thanked him and guzzled the drink. My throat was tight, which made swal owing difficult. Life as I knew it was going down the toilet. I hurt a Guardian, and my energy powers were back. I hurt a Guardian, and my energy powers were back. I imagined the look on my friends’ faces when they would hear about tonight’s fiasco. The first time I caused a dry storm, they questioned the source of my ability and not in a good away. Only nature-bender demons had the power to create lightning. Now that they knew about Valafar, they’d be even more repulsed. Not that I’d blame them. I was repulsed. Haziel patted my shoulder, drawing my attention. “I pushed you hard when it was obvious you weren’t ready. We’l work on your energy abilities at a slower pace.” I choked on the water. He took the glass from my hand, said something I didn’t catch and slapped my back hard. For a scrawny old man, he was strong. My eyes watered though I couldn’t tel whether the tears came from coughing or frustration. I didn’t want to go back to being a freak. “Do we have to?” I mumbled. Haziel’s eyes flashed. “The ability to create lightning is a gift, Lil. Of course, you must embrace it,” he snapped. “I’l try not to push, and you must promise not to give up so easily,” he added in gentler voice. “We want to know what other surprises that mind of yours has in store for us.” The empty feeling in my stomach intensified. If only I could turn back the time to, I don’t know, an hour ago. Too agitated to sit, I stood. My hoodie was on the
couch by the dagger. Haziel must have placed it there when he carried me inside the box. I grabbed them both and turned to leave. “Not so fast,” Haziel cal ed out, forcing me to stop. “Put the jacket on, and when you get home, get rid of the T-shirt. No one needs to know about what happened here this evening. Not your grandfather or your trainee friends.” Relief washed over me, but it was short-lived. I couldn’t keep a secret from Grampa or Bran. No, that wasn’t true. I could, I just didn’t want to. There was so much going on in my life without hiding things from people I loved. Shoving the dagger in its sheath, I turned around to face Haziel. “I won’t lie to my grandfather.” “Lying and not tel ing him anything at al are two different things.” Haziel locked his hands behind his back and rocked on his heels. “We need time to work on your control without an audience. As soon as others hear that your energy powers resurfaced, everyone wil want to come and watch our sessions. Do you want gawking trainees and Civilians in here while you train? If you lose control of the dagger like you did tonight, they’l take it away from you.” Let them. I swore to be the champion of everything good and to protect the dagger from evil. If I hurt others with it because of a demonic ability I inherited from my father, then I wasn’t fit to wield it. I shrugged on my hoodie, zipped it and hugged myself, not liking my thoughts one little bit. The Kris Dagger was mine until I handed it over to the next wielder. “Can I work on my new powers without the dagger?” I begged. “Of course. The dagger is only as strong as its wielder.” He leaned back and smiled. His yel ow teeth and wrinkly face made his expression a little grotesque. “You’re the most powerful child I’ve ever trained, Lil. When I’m done, your name alone wil instil fear in the hearts of your enemies.” If I wasn’t busy trying to keep down the contents of my stomach, I would have sprinted out of there. The old man had lost it. “We’l show them what you can do later,” Haziel added firmly. I cringed. “Show who?”
“Everyone. I heard there wil be a contest here in a few months, a jousting tournament with students showing their abilities, Civilians and Cardinals too. A waste of time, I told them, but we’l put on a show they’l never forget.” This was bad. Only a select few knew about Valafar. Not for long. Everyone would know my secret, and I’d be treated like a pariah, the half-demon girl. Swal owing, I pivoted on my heel and rushed to the entrance of the pit, almost bumping into the students outside. They parted to let me pass. Whispers fol owed. Eyes dril ed holes into my back. I imagined going through that ten times worse in a few months and wanted to scream. Someone grabbed my arm, and I turned. Celeste. Relieved to see a familiar face, I smiled. “Hey.” “We’re going to the pit.” She grinned, eyes “We’re going to the pit.” She grinned, eyes twinkling. One would think she was about to teleport to Xenith. If everyone knew the truth about Valafar, I’d never set foot on the Guardian homeland. I real y, real y wanted to see it. My eyes smarted. “Have fun,” I whispered. Celeste gave me thumbs up and joined the others. “You know her?” one of the girls’ voices reached me as I walked away. “Oh yes,” Celeste answered. “She’s total y cool. Do you want to meet her?” Now Celeste wanted to pimp me to her new friends, but that would change too. For one second, I was tempted to break the Academy rule and teleport. Not wanting to get in trouble, I ran across the foyer, through the double doors and kept going. “Walk,” someone yel ed when I reached the HQ offices and almost bumped into Civilians. I continued until I entered the weapons room. Alone, I hugged the dagger, closed my eyes, and drew strength from its positive energy.
I’m a warrior. Warriors don’t cry or let fear paralyze them… warriors face challenges with courage…warriors let the light guide them….
Calmer, I returned the Kris Dagger to its resting place, teleported home and landed on my bed. Aunt Janel e’s husky voice and Grampa’s baritone filtered into my room. They probably sensed my teleporting energy. Not wanting them to see me yet, I closed the door, removed my hoodie and tee-shirt, and threw them both in the garbage. The cleaners would take care of them tomorrow, and the evidence of tonight’s accident would be gone. Except for the wound on Haziel’s shoulder. Then there was the person who fixed the glass. Haziel was a psi and didn’t have the ability to manipulate solids. Maybe Nero did it. He was an Earth Guardian and now taught students with that ability. He worked with Remy. I got in the shower and stood under the hot sprays, thinking and plotting, until the tips of my fingers looked like prunes. By the time I pul ed on a pair of jeans and a fresh T-shirt, I had reached a decision. Haziel was right. No one needed to know what happened tonight…unless it happened again. The problem was how to keep my guilt from Grampa. I sucked at lying, and he was a powerful empath. Maybe I should stay as close to the truth as possible. Leaving my bedroom, laughter and the spicy aroma of rosemary and garlic roasted chicken pul ed me toward the kitchen. Aunt Janel e was busy pouring a thick orangebrown mixture into pie plates while Grampa removed a large tray with two golden chickens and baby vegetables. My mouth watered. “Hey, sweetheart,” he said without looking up. “How was training?” “Tough. I think I hurt Haziel tonight.” Holding my breath, I watched his reaction from the corner of my eye. Grampa laughed. “I’m sure the old timer wil bounce back. We did worse, didn’t we?” He exchanged an amused glance with Aunt Janel e. Half-truths would do for now. Relieved, I walked to his side for a hug. He dropped a kiss on my forehead. I leaned against the counter, swiped a finger on the inside of the bowl, and licked the orange mixture. “Yum, pumpkin pie.”
mixture. “Yum, pumpkin pie.” Aunt Janel e pul ed the bowl away. “You don’t want to eat too much of that, sweetie.” I giggled. She used to tel me the exact same thing when I was younger. “How long do I have to wait before they’re ready?” “Two hours or so. Why don’t you set the table?” Aunt Janel e added. Childhood memories of the three of us in the kitchen returned. This was perfect. My gaze went to the fridge door, and I frowned. The note I left Grampa was stil there. I walked to the refrigerator and plucked it from under the magnet and waited for Grampa to finish transferring the chicken and the vegetables onto a serving plate. The baby potatoes, carrots, beets, and turnips looked yummy. My stomach growled. “Grampa, did you see this?” I asked when he was done, waving the note. “I certainly did, sweetheart. I could hardly miss the capitalized words or the Xs and Os.” He chuckled and looked at Aunt Janel e. They exchanged conspiratorial smiles. “Why do you want to throw a party?” he added as he carried the platter to the table. “You didn’t read it?” My voice rose in disbelief. “We want to see which one of my friends is the medium.” “Real y? Why don’t you just invite them over for tea and read them? A party is a daunting undertaking.” My heart sank. He was going to say no. I just knew it. “The others wil help. You know, Remy, Sykes, and the girls. Kylie and the others too.” Yeah, right. “It’s my first party, Grampa. Maybe the only party I’l ever give. Please don’t say no,” I begged. He walked to where I stood, ruffled my curls then opened the cupboards, and retrieved five plates. “When is the party supposed to start?” Yes! I hugged him. “Thank you…thank you… thank you. You’re the best grandfather ever. I’l take those, please.” I relieved him of the plates and took them to the table. “I didn’t say yes yet.” He looked over at Aunt Janel e, who was trying hard not to laugh. “Did you hear me say yes?” There was laughter in his voice. “You implied, Grampa. It wil start at seven. I haven’t written
the invitations yet, but I’l do it over the weekend.” I tried to take the knives and forks from his hands, but he held on to them. “Make sure everyone is gone by midnight,” he said firmly, his gaze unwavering. “And no alcohol.” Yeah, right. Like I was old enough to drink, let alone buy. “I mean it, Lil,” he warned in a hard voice. “Of course, Grampa. I’m only sixteen.” “I’l hold you to that, young lady.” He dropped a kiss on my temple. “Now run along next door and get Bran. He’s going hunting with us tonight.” “How come you won’t let us visit Old Jethro?” I asked before teleporting. “Because your safety, al of you, is more important than finding Damien,” he said then glanced at Aunt Janel e. “How long have we been searching for him now?” “Over a hundred years,” she answered. “I don’t think he exists.” My jaw dropped. “Then why don’t you guys tel Bran? He’s determined to find him and that stupid List.” They scowled at me. I stared back defiantly. “You shouldn’t have asked him to look for it. He’s obsessed with finding it and proving himself to you guys. It’s unfair.” “Who told you about the List?” Grampa asked. I rol ed my eyes. “Everyone…Bran, a demon I met in Seattle, Valafar. Remember? I mentioned it after Seattle. Does the List have anything to do with me personal y? Is that why everyone expects me to b e angry about it or why Bran’s obsessed with finding it?” “Or course not, sweetie,” Aunt Janel e said, laughing. “What a thought.” Something about her laughter didn’t ring true. Plus, she traded a worried look with Grampa. They’d better not be keeping secrets from me again. Grampa kept me in the dark about who we were until I turned sixteen and my powers started to show. I hated secrets.
*** For the next three days, I asked around as discreetly as possible. The List was exactly what Bran told me, names of humans who sold their soul to Coronis’ Hermonites. No big deal, everyone said. to Coronis’ Hermonites. No big deal, everyone said. Bran’s obsession with finding it didn’t lessen. I even explained to him Grampa and Aunt Janel e’s attitude toward Damien, but he just shrugged. Bran and I stil hung out in the evenings. I looked forward to our time together, though he’d become withdrawn. He worried about Gavyn, who wasn’t getting better. Often I wished I could sneak behind his back and accept Valafar’s offer to heal Gavyn. But I couldn’t do that to Bran. He didn’t trust Valafar, and neither did I. Besides, Valafar didn’t cal , and I stil had no means of contacting him. On Friday night, Bran was in his bedroom when I teleported to their place. He came and went into my bedroom al the time, but I never visited his, not even when he lived in Park City. Heart hammering hard in my chest, I knocked and peeked inside when he mumbled something. He was in bed, arms behind his head. “Dinner is ready,” I told him. We’d been eating at our house most evenings. “I’m not hungry,” he said in a flat voice. “Can I come in then?” I gave him a toothy grin. He didn’t return it. Instead, he studied me with an unreadable expression. “You already are.” Not exactly the invitation I was hoping for. I glanced around with interest. The once plain white room now had fern-colored carpet, lime-green wal s and a giant bed in the middle with a yel ow and green striped duvet. Despite Bran’s clothes visible through the open closet door, three trench coats on racks and shoes and boots on the floor, the room felt like a hotel suite. There were no personal pictures on the wal or side table, books or hand-held games like in Sykes and Remy’s rooms. No computer or Mp3 player on the desk to his right. Bran’s essence was missing. On the other hand, they just moved in, so maybe he hadn’t finished unpacking. “I’m over here,” he griped, drawing my attention back to him.
Hesitating by the door, I studied him. Was he worrying about his brother again? Bran sighed and beckoned me with a finger. When I reached him and bent over, he leaned up on one elbow, gripped the back of my head, and nudged me closer enough for our lips to touch. Something primal flashed in his eyes, exciting yet worrisome at the same time. Just as suddenly, he let go of me, flopped back on the bed and flung an arm across his face. “Are you okay?” I asked, concern coiling through me. Something wasn’t right. He looked like he’d hit rockbottom. “I’m done unpacking, and no, I don’t need pictures of those I love. They are in my head,” he mumbled as though talking to himself. “Games are a diversion I don’t need, so are music and computers. There. I hope that satisfies your curiosity.” Heat crawled up my face. Crossing my arms, I rocked on my heels and wished I hadn’t come downstairs. I’d hoped to talk to him about everything that happened with Haziel the last four days, but that wasn’t going to happen in his present, crappy mood. I’d put off bringing up my energy ability, not wanting to burden him with my problems when he had so much to deal with. “I wish you wouldn’t do that,” I griped. “Do what? Get inside your head?” He removed his arm and co*cked an eyebrow. “You do it to me al the time.” “I stopped months ago, and I apologized whenever I did it,” I added softly. “Yes, you did, didn’t you? But you and I are different, Sunshine. I do things my way, and you do yours your way. I’m damaged while you,” he swung his feet over the side of the bed and sat up, a derisive smile on his lips, “you’re perfect.” Not when he said it like that. “What’s that supposed to mean? Why are you being such a jerk?” I asked sharply. “Perhaps that’s who I am.” He stood. I took a step back and bit my lower lip, trying not to let his
attitude get to me. “What’s wrong, Bran?” “Nothing. How about this?” he continued, his narrowed gaze locked on me. “I promise not to get inside your head if you promise not to get inside mine. In fact, let’s not link for a while, okay?” He gripped the back of his tee shirt as though to yank it off and paused to add, “Now I’m sorry for being rude, but you need to get out of here. I need to change.” He pul ed his shirt off. My breath caught. I stared. Swal owed. The scar of the Cardinal Guardian amulet didn’t mar the perfection of his masculine chest. Instead it drew attention to it and to his taut stomach muscles. He attention to it and to his taut stomach muscles. He was real y a beautiful guy. My face burned when our gazes met. Something feral flashed in his eyes, setting my blood on fire. I fidgeted, feeling hot and cold at the same time. I fidgeted, not wanting to leave like this. “If this is about the List—” “Leave, Lil. Right now.” My first reaction was to do as he ordered, teleport, put as much distance between us. Something dark and out of control brewed inside him, but for some reason, I didn’t want to leave. Maybe it was because I hated double standards. Maybe it was something else. “You come to my room al the time,” I said, my voice uneven. He took a step toward me, then another. I took two back. “That’s different.” He continued to stalk me, and I kept retreating. “How?” I asked, my voice sounding strange to my ears. I took one more step. My heel touched the wal . Bran raised his arms, braced himself against wal , and boxed me in. The same wildness I saw earlier entered his eyes. “I’m in a very strange mood, Sunshine, and you do not want to be in here pushing my buttons.” He enunciated his words. I searched his eyes. “What happened? Is it Gavyn? Is he getting worse?” Bran closed his eyes and sighed, his shoulders dropping,
wariness drifting from him. “Why can’t you ever act like other girls?” he griped. “Why do you always ask questions and push for answers?” “I’m inherently curious.” Before I could stop myself, I reached up and touched the scar on his chest. He jumped back as though scalded and marched to his walk-in closet. I dropped my hand, my heart squeezing. “When Valafar cal ed me, you said we don’t keep secrets from each other. What aren’t you tel ing me?” There was no response from him. “I’m not leaving until you talk to me.” “I’m done talking,” his voice whipped out rudely. “Leave.” Ignoring the pain his words caused, I retorted, “Fine. But just so you know, you’re not the only one dealing with problems and not sharing, Bran Llyr.” He peeked out of the closet, his expression curious. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “I’m done talking too,” I repeated the rude words he spoke earlier then teleported home, landing on my bed. Appearing in the middle of my bedroom, his eyes flashing, he bumped against the recliner and almost tripped over his untied boot lace. Bran Llyr clumsy, ha! If I wasn’t so angry, I would have laughed. “Go away, Bran. Just like you ordered me out of your room, I’m ordering you out of mine. Leave.” I jumped off my bed, faced him, and tried to keep my voice low so as not to alert Grampa and Aunt Janel e. He swept a hand through his hair and glowered. “Listen, I’m sorry for the way I act—” “Too little, too late,” I said. Tired of fighting, I wanted him gone. Forever. “Get…out.” In the next second, my door swung open, and Grampa stormed into my bedroom, Aunt Janel e beside him. “What in Tartarus is going on here?” Bran didn’t respond. A muscle ticking on his clenched jaw indicated his anger. I looked at Grampa. His eyes were narrowed, but at least he didn’t look ready to send Bran to Tartarus. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “It’s okay, Grampa. Bran and I were having, uh…,” my breath hitched, “an argument, but we’re done. He was just leaving.” Grampa’s gaze vol eyed between us then stayed on Bran. “Wait for me in the kitchen,” he said in a firm voice that left little room for argument.
Bran didn’t even look my way as he stomped out. I glared at his back, wanting to yel at him. Grampa entered my room and stopped before me. The love and concern in his eyes sent a rush of tears to mine. I lowered my head, refusing to cry in front of him. Grampa lifted my chin and studied my face, his brow furrowed. “You okay?” I bit my lower lip and nodded. He patted my cheek then exchanged a look I couldn’t interpret with Aunt Janel e. Without a saying another word, he turned and left the room. I hoped he gave Bran hel . Aunt Janel e cleared her throat, and my gaze swung to her. She stil stood by the door. “May I come in, sweetie?” she asked. I nodded and plopped back on my bed, the I nodded and plopped back on my bed, the tears I held back started brimming. My breath hitched again, and I covered my mouth. Aunt Janel e closed the door and came to sit by my side. Without speaking, she put her arms around me and pressed my head against her shoulder. I couldn’t control my tears. Her murmured words of comfort only made me cry harder. “He’s such a jerk. I just wanted to talk to him, and he was so mean ….” I kept on talking and crying until my tears left a large wet spot on the shoulder of Aunt Janel e’s red, silk blouse. “I’m so sorry for messing up your pretty shirt.” She chuckled, brushed the sleeve of her blouse and black replaced red as though an invisible artist swept a giant brush across a canvas. Embroidered round neckline became V-shaped with fril y details. Her new top was even prettier than the one she wore before. “See? It’s nothing that can’t be fixed. Now go wash your face, then we’l talk.” One look at my face in the bathroom mirror, and I gulped. My hair, my eyes…I was a mess. I flushed my face with cold water, brushed my hair and let it down, too tired to tame it into a decent ponytail.
Next, I searched behind the mirror for an eye drop to remove the redness. When I looked decent enough, I stepped out of the bathroom and found Aunt Janel e waiting patiently. She patted the bed. “Your first fight?” she asked in a gentle voice when I sat beside her. I nodded, my eyes tearing again. “No, no, no, chin up,” Aunt Janel e said. “She-warriors….” “Don’t cry,” I finished her favorite saying. She used to tel me that when I was little. Only then I had no idea she was a demon hunter, a real warrior. “But I just did.” She dismissed my words with a wave. “Once in a while we’re al owed to indulge ourselves, but we bounce back and walk with our heads held high. I want you to go out there, be witty and charming and have dinner with a big smile on your face.” I shook my head. “I don’t want to see Bran, or sit anywhere near him. He’s a jerk.” She cupped my cheeks and kissed my forehead. “No, Luminitsa. He’s a young man who loves you but doesn’t know how to treat you right yet. You have to show him how. Show him that you can take what he dishes out without crumbling. That you’re beautiful and strong, and he should lift you up, not tear you down.” She’d never talk to me like this before. “I don’t know how. Even now I want to scream at him. I know he’s worried about his brother, but he’s become so moody, mean, and obsessed with finding that stupid List and….” “Shh.” Aunt Janel e shook her head. “Sweetie, she-warriors don’t scream. We wow our men with a look, tame them with a smile.” She stood, offered me her hands, and pul ed me up. “Go out there and show him what you’re made of and watch him eat out of your hands. The List and everything else means nothing when you have each other.” Liking the idea of Bran groveling, I nodded. “Can I flirt with another guy to make him jealous?” “Oh no.” She laughed, stil holding my hands. “That wil unleash something you can’t handle. You don’t mess with men that way. Besides, there’s only your grandfather out there and he doesn’t know the meaning of the word flirt.”
I liked talking to Aunt Janel e. “How come you know al this cool stuff, yet you haven’t hooked up with Grampa?” She put her arm around my shoulders and led me forward, a tiny smile playing on her lips. “I’l let you in on a little secret. Your grandfather is very old-fashioned. He likes to do the courting, but I’m working on him.” She winked, paused before opening the door and touched my hair. “You should wear your hair down more often. It’s gorgeous.” “Okay,” I replied, smoothing it self-consciously. Bran liked it down too. She tucked a strand behind my ear and studied my face. “You remind me so much of your mother. The same smile, the same stubborn streak.” “Thanks, Aunt Janel e.” I loved it when she compared me to my mother. They had been close. I hugged her. “You’re welcome, sweetie. Come on.” Sure enough, Bran couldn’t take his eyes off me as soon as we entered the kitchen/dining room. Grampa was eating desert, a piece of an apple pie we bought from the store two days ago. Bran was stil on the main course. His eyes stayed glued on me. I sat, served myself, and started to eat. His foot me. I sat, served myself, and started to eat. His foot grazed mine under the table. No playing footsy when he’d been a bad boy. I tucked my feet under my chair. Our gazes met, and I smiled. He glowered. I savored the taste of a juicy turnip and victory, and swal owed. At first, I couldn’t think of anything to say. But Bran’s piercing stare gave me the nudge. “The food tastes great, Grampa.” Grampa smiled. “Thank you, but the cook deserves the thanks.” He reached over and squeezed Aunt Janel e’s hand. She beamed. My eyes popped. Wow, open display of affection. Progress. “I haven’t real y decided about what to serve my guests next Friday,” I added. Grampa’s eyebrows rose. “Guests?” “You know, the party I’m throwing for Bran. Didn’t I say it’s also a welcome party for him and Celeste? I
thought of using a restaurant from downtown, but I think I might just get pizza and dips. And as for music, I’m thinking of hiring a local DJ,” I said. My gaze met Bran’s. His eyes promised retribution. I grinned. Bring it on. “What’s a DJ?” Grampa asked, interrupting our game of eye tag. “Guys who use fancy music systems with, you know,” I indicated with my hands, “big speakers and flashing disco lights.” I had no intention of having that kind of party, but I enjoyed watching Bran squirm too much to stop. “Isn’t that a little too much?” Grampa said, frowning. “What about the little machine you play in your room al the time. That’s loud enough.” “My Mp3 player?” I giggled. “The speakers of the docking station can hardly entertain a roomful of people, Grampa.” He wore a bewildered expression as though he regretted the whole party idea. Aunt Janel e hid a smile. She was fast and caught on. “But if you think using a DJ is too much, I can talk to Remy and Sykes to hook up their audio system.” “What system? What’s going on?” Celeste asked, walking into the kitchen. For the next fifteen minutes, conversation moved from the party to the Academy. Celeste regaled us with stories of her new friends. Bran stopped glaring, and the fun went out of baiting him. Looks didn’t wow him, and my smile came nowhere close to taming him. Aunt Janel e’s advice didn’t accomplish anything except make things worse. Bran wasn’t like other guys. I wanted us to be alone, so we could talk. Maybe make up. When Grampa said they had to leave, I was relieved. Maybe I’d get a moment with Bran before heading to Remy’s for our pre-mission meeting. “Be careful out there, you two,” Grampa said, kissed my forehead and teleported. Aunt Janel e hugged me and then Celeste before she left too. Bran didn’t even look at me. He smiled at Celeste and said, “Sorry about today, pint. I promise to take you to see Gavyn tomorrow after school.” Celeste shrugged. “Sure.
Tomorrow is fine.” Then he left without saying a word to me. I sat there, feeling so miserable I could hardly breathe.
14. Coordinated Attack I pinged Remy and Sykes before teleporting to their living room. The voices of sports commentators drifted from the basem*nt. Downstairs, Sykes lay sprawled on the couch in front of the TV, eating spaghetti and meatbal s from a bowl. From his wet hair, he must have just gotten out of the shower. “Hey, Red. Want something to eat?” He got to his feet and offered me his bowl. “It’s hot and spicy.” “No, thanks.” I looked around. “Where’s Remy?” “He just left with Llyr. So what’s up with him?” “Uh, what do you mean?” I hedged, walking around the couch. Misery wrapped around my heart and squeezed. I didn’t want to discuss my fight with Bran. “He was more anal than usual tonight. I asked him a simple question and he nearly bit off my head.” Sykes waited until I sat before resuming his slouching position, legs on the coffee table, bowl propped on his chest. Instead of going back to his food, he studied me. “Depends on the question,” I replied. Bran barely tolerated Sykes. In a bad mood, his tolerance level dropped even further. “My question was just about his hair.” He smirked, hazel eyes twinkling. “I mean, it’s always perfect. What’s wrong with wanting to know how long it takes him to style it every morning and if it’s cut by a professional?” Bran had natural y gorgeous hair, so the question shouldn’t have set him off. Usual y, I trimmed his hair. In fact he was due for a trim, and I had no intention of giving him one. I hoped he regretted being a jerk. He deserved to be miserable. “Did you two have a fight?” Sykes asked, twirling his fork and coiling strands of spaghetti.
“N-no. Why would you think that?” I crossed my arms and gave him an innocent smile. “The sparkle in your eyes is gone. Want me to beat him up for ya?” Sykes’ eyes gleamed as though he relished the thought. I laughed, though the sound rang false to my ears. Sykes wouldn’t stand a chance against Bran. Ignoring his question, I asked, “So when are we leaving?” He stretched. “You’re talking to the wrong person, babe. I go wherever they tel me, whenever they tel me, and kick ass. Planning gives me a bel y ache.” Relief coursed through me when he went back to his food. I turned my attention to the game of basketbal on the screen. I hardly ever fol owed sports, so after a few minutes, my attention drifted to Sykes. He wore sweat pants, no socks, and a T-shirt that he must have retrieved from the bottom of his closet or hamper. It was so wrinkled. “Don’t get any ideas, Red,” Sykes warned. My gaze lifted to his face, but his eyes were on the screen. “What?” “You’re lusting after me, but you can’t have me,” he turned his head and smirked, “until you ditch Neanderthal Llyr. Usual y I don’t care what my girls do when they’re not with me. But you,” he winked, “I wouldn’t share you with another guy, especial y him.” My face warmed again. Half the time, the things that came out of Sykes’ mouth were so outrageous you couldn’t take him seriously. This time was no exception. “The only thing I’m wondering about is who “The only thing I’m wondering about is who does your laundry.” I got up, getting restless. “I’m heading home. Ping me when everyone is here.” “Whoa…whoa, don’t go.” His feet left the table and landed on the carpeted floor with a thud. “Come here.” I stood my ground and co*cked my brow. “Why?” He waved me over. “I want you to take a look at my hair. Remy said I have split ends.” He rol ed his eyes, lifted a
lock of his blond hair, and studied the tips with an annoyed expression. “Split ends, my ass. Because of him, I tried to trim it but did a crappy job. How about you level it for me?” He shook his head, hair flying every which way. I went to where he sat and lifted the wet locks. “It’s not bad.” He shot me a hopeful look. “You sure?” Before I could respond, Kim and Izzy arrived, teleporting in. Remy and Bran fol owed. My gaze met Bran’s, my heart skipping. His eyes narrowed on my hand, and I let go of Sykes’ hair. Immediately, I regretted the gesture. I had no reason to feel guilty. Bran didn’t own my hands. I could trim any guy’s hair if I chose. “I’l trim it later,” I said, touching Sykes’ hair again and contradicting my earlier statement. Pain flashed in Bran’s eyes, and my heart strings tugged. The urge to scream at him surged through me. His unpredictable behavior was driving me nuts. He shouldn’t be mean to me one minute then turn around and act like I was the bad one. It wasn’t fair. Remy must have picked up on the vibes between us because he watched me with narrowed eyes. As I walked to end of the sectional and plopped down, my heart pounded so hard I was sure everyone could hear it. The rest of the gang took their seats. Usual y, Bran sat beside me. He chose the other end of the couch.
Oh, he can go rot in Tartarus. As though he heard me, he glanced my way. “We’re final y going to Old Jethro’s Bar,” he explained, voice flat. “The plan is, we get in, find out what he knows about Damien and the List and get out. If he has a lead, we fol ow it. Chances are he does. Nothing gets past him. If he doesn’t, we stop by the motels Zedekiah frequents in L.A and Vegas to see if he’s back and then head home.” He glanced at his watch. “Questions?” “I hope this bar is nothing like the last one you guys dragged us to a few months ago,” Izzy griped, frowning. Last time, Izzy and Kim had to do an exotic dance routine. Since I was stuck in the val ey at the time, I only heard everyone’s version of the event.
The guys hadn’t minded, but the girls, wel , detested would be an understatement. Izzy complained about it for days. Bran smiled, though his eyes remained cool. “It’s not that kind of bar, Izzy. More like a bikers’ hangout. Besides, Old Jethro doesn’t consider himself a demon, or a Guardian, or even a member of the Brotherhood. He’s in the business of sel ing information to the highest bidder and doesn’t apologize for it. He’s an upstanding guy.” A few snickers fol owed his words. “Where’s the bar?” Sykes asked. “Downtown L.A., West Second Street. The CP did a sweep, and the area is free of demons. They’l continue to scan even after we leave. We’l teleport in twos as usual.” He looked at me. “Lil goes with me. Kim and Izzy fol ow our telegate. The guys take the rear. We’l land in the al ey behind the bar.” He frowned. “Jethro tries to keep it free of hobos, so no need to look like you’re about to throw up, Kim. Any other question?” Everyone shook their heads. I didn’t want to teleport with Bran, but I couldn’t complain or the others would know we’d fought. “Let’s do this. Feel free to stop by the office if you want to see where we’re headed. The CP has a live feed of the neighborhood,” he added, then teleported. We fol owed and appeared outside the HQ offices. I hovered in the doorway. Bran was with the others around the holographic-like image and waved me over. I ignored him and hurried to the weapons room. Maybe I’d be ready before they arrived. As a rule, we left our squabbles behind and presented a unified front whenever we left the val ey on a hunt. The others would notice Bran and me not speaking to each other if we were in the same room for too long. Remy already suspected something was wrong. Bran arrived behind me, paused as if to say Bran arrived behind me, paused as if to say something, but I turned my back to him, not wanting to talk. “It looked grimy,” Kim whined as she and Izzy arrived. “Probably crawling with rats.” Izzy shuddered. “And mangy
strays.” “There are worse things than rats, stray cats, and dogs,” Sykes said, entering the room. “Like what?” Izzy and Kim asked in unison. “You two when you whine,” he retorted. Disappearing inside my closet, I tuned them out. When I reentered the main floor, everyone was strapping on their weapons. This was our first trip outside the val ey since Grampa warned us to be vigilant, so everyone packed extra everything. Izzy even wore an elbow length glove of leather and steel that launched blades when she bent her wrists. I’d seen Grampa use them on a few occasions but didn’t know we could too. I walked to the wal with the Kris Dagger and gathered my stuff. Feeling eyes on me, I turned. Bran quickly glanced away, but not fast enough. He’d been staring at me. He wore the coat with two slashes in the back for his wings over his dark clothes. I noticed he favored those in the evenings. “Here,” he said, appearing beside me with eight shuriken, his face expressionless. He didn’t have to bring me the ninja stars. Was this his peace offering? I hope not. He’d have to beg for me to forgive him. “Thanks,” I said a little ungraciously. “Careful.” He placed two in each of my hands. “Put those away first.” I slipped them in the special y lined inner chest pockets of my coat then added the next four from him. My cheeks warmed when I caught Remy staring at us. He nodded and smiled. I made a face. Bran stayed as I slipped two knives into the pouch hidden inside my boots and an extra dagger on a waist belt so that it hung opposite the Kris Dagger. Only then did he leave to check something in the office. When he returned, he said, “CP team confirmed the coast is clear. The neighborhood might be rough, but it has low demonic activity.” Izzy groaned. “I’d much prefer zero demonic activity.”
“We’d al like that.” He offered me his hand, his gaze intense and unnerving as though he wanted to say something more.
Go ahead. Say you’re sorry, I said to myself since I couldn’t link with him. He didn’t speak. Two could play the silent game. I stood and placed my hand in his. He glanced at the others. “See you in L.A.” *** We landed in the al ey between two brick warehouses. If it weren’t for Bran gripping my arm, I would have landed in a pool of inky liquid of questionable origin. The putrid stench of stale beer combined with the musty reek of urine and rotten garbage hung in the air. A single yel ow security light flickered to our right then died, plunging us into total darkness. I let go of Bran’s hand, pushed aside the lapel of my coat, and grabbed the hilt of the Kris Dagger. Pain and power surged through me, but I sucked it in. “Are we in the right place?” The silence was unnatural. I expected noise—a blend of loud music, people’s voices, and wheels on tarmac. “Yes.” Bran peered up the al ey. We were way in the back. “The place has gotten rundown. It wasn’t this bad the last time I visited.” I frowned. “Didn’t you teleport here when you scouted the place?” “No.” Even if the grounds had been cleaned, the hulking warehouses gave the al ey an ominous feel, like demons lurked in every shadow. Ahead, by the front, neon lights flashed red and blue, the only sign of normalcy. No pedestrians were visible from where we stood. I should have studied the live feed before we left. Teleporting here completely blind had been a bad idea. Something scurried and brushed against my legs. I swal owed a scream, flung a hand in its direction and sent it flying into the darkness. The yelps of a frightened dog fil ed the air. I cringed and cal ed out, “Sorry.” “Shh. I don’t like this.” Bran sounded worried.
“The others should have arrived by now.” We waited a minute, maybe two. The others stil didn’t appear. Darkness smothered my senses, my phobia for dark, tight places kicking in. my phobia for dark, tight places kicking in. “Maybe they didn’t fol ow us?” My grip tightened around the dagger. “Why wouldn’t they?” he snapped. “You don’t have to snap at me,” I retorted. “Sorry,” he mumbled, but he didn’t sound sorry at al . “Maybe they hopped on a wrong telegate. It’s possible when two paths cross. Let’s head toward the front of the building.” Walking gingerly beside him, I imagined al sorts of gunk every time I put my foot on the ground. Better I focus on something else before I threw up. I sent short burst of energies and tried to locate our friends. Pinging was like tuning in to frequencies. After a while, your energy just knew how to find a particular frequency. Tonight, something jammed my signal. Frustrated, I closed my eyes and focused. Nothing. No Guardians’ radiant orbs. Instead, red globs with black patches and flaring edges were everywhere. Demonic psi energies. Several seemed to be moving toward us. Heart pounding, my eyes snapped open. “Demons are coming this way. Fast.” “How many?” Bran pul ed out something that looked like a short stick from his waist, pressed a button and three, serrated blades sprung out. “At least a dozen, maybe more.” My voice came out uneven, anticipation and fear zipping through me. After taking out Coronis, we al became a bit co*cky about our abilities, but only an idiot faced demons without fear. Guardians weren’t invincible. I pul ed out the dagger. “I thought you said there were no demons here.” “Who’s snapping now?” he retorted. “The CP said it was safe, not me.”
“You confirmed, like, a gazil ion times.” “If it makes you feel better to blame me, go ahead,” he snapped. “I don’t need to deal with your attitude now.” “Oh, I hate you,” I mumbled. “Good. You’re going to need that anger to fight off these demons.” He pointed his blades toward the flashing neon lights, urgency lacing his words. “The entrance to Jethro’s is to the left. Go… go. Run.” I took off, sprinting over debris and squishy goo without caring what I stepped on. “Why can’t we just teleport home?” I yel ed, jumping over something lumpy. “Heading home would only give them a telegate to fol ow,” Bran said, not even breathing hard. “The last thing we need is demon invasion.” The Kris Dagger lit up like a fal en star giving us the first warning we weren’t alone. Bran’s amulet imbedded in his belt buckle glowed brightly, too. Mine, buried under a black shirt and heavy trench coat, warmed my chest. We stopped, looked around. My mouth went dry and blood rushed through my ears with the roar of a waterfal . Bran peered behind us then tilted his head to look up. A curse escaped his lips. I fol owed his gaze and gulped. Standing on the edge of the roof of the warehouses, silhouetted against the smog-fil ed sky were over a dozen dark figures. Covered from head to toe in black ninja-like suits, their only visible body parts were their red eyes, which gleamed wickedly under the Kris Dagger’s glow.
Keep going, Bran telepathed, his free hand pressing on my back. Surprised by the silent communication after what he’d said in his bedroom, I moved forward, measuring my steps, counting the demons. There were fourteen of them. Nothing to stress about. They didn’t carry weapons of any kind. On the other hand, nature-benders didn’t need weapons—if they were nature-benders. Five of them reappeared in front of us, blocking our path. They were huge up close, nearly taking up the space between the two warehouses. My heart racing now, I tried to think of a plan of attack.
Retreat and stay close to the right wall, Bran ordered. Why? I asked even as I obeyed him and retraced my steps, my feet sinking into stale water. Sloshes mixed with the evil chuckles from the demons fil ed the air.
We need to be directly below the ones above us, Bran explained. They’ll make better targets when they lean over to see us properly. I looked up. Only three demons remained on the roof of the building to our right, one of them crouching. Sure enough, they kept scooting closer to the edge to look down at us. the edge to look down at us. “Where do they think they’re going?” The pointed canines of the squatting one gleamed as she laughed, her evil cackle bouncing off the wal s. Nosferatu. Behind us, six more were on the ground. Swal owing, adrenaline pumped in my veins. It was hard to explain the rush, the excitement of fighting demons. I gave up trying a long time ago.
Listen, Bran said urgently. When I say ‘now’, blast the laughing fiend and her guards out of the sky while I take care of the ones on the ground. Was he crazy? There was no way I was letting him face eleven demons while I focused on only three. “I wouldn’t plot anything if I were you, Llyr,” the female above us yel ed. “Come with us without a fight and we won’t hurt you and the pretty princess.” “Who are you?” Bran cal ed out. “You’l find out shortly, darling. Just play nice. Defy me and I’l break every little bone in her delectable body while you watch,” she warned. I was tired of every demoness threatening to hurt me while Bran watched. Did I have victim written on my forehead? My mind raced, searching for a solution. Even though the demoness stayed crouched in the same position, her people on the ground slowly drew closer, forming a grid
around us, probably confident in their victory. Giving up without a fight wasn’t an option. It wasn’t the Guardians’ way. Bran stopped moving, so did I. “What did you do with our friends?” he cal ed out. The demoness chuckled and answered, but I didn’t pay attention. My eyes fol owed the dark figures moving toward us. Something about being boxed in from al sides seemed familiar. My mind screamed at me to remember. Remember what? I caught the tail end of demoness’ explanation, “…keeping your friends busy. They won’t get hurt too badly, but that’s the nature of our dealings, isn’t it? We battle and live to fight another day.” Bran retorted something, but al I heard was the cold bite of Haziel’s voice in my head. Stop flapping your hands…
you’re a psi…use your mind…. Everything clicked. The scene reminded me of my last session with Haziel when he surrounded me with daggers and I stopped them without lifting a finger. Just locked on their energy and manipulated them. When Bran tensed beside me, ready to charge forward, I clasped his arm.
No. Not yet, I telepathed. Why not? Bran snapped. I have a plan, I answered. At the same time, I released the Kris Dagger. Go…distract them…don’t attack, I ordered the dagger. The dagger floated away from us, a dangling beacon of hope in a dark al ey fil ed with demons. As hoped, the demons stopped moving, their red eyes reflecting the green light from the blade as they looked at it. Awe, or perhaps fear, held them spel bound. I didn’t care which. Their obsession would help us escape.
Up. The dagger lifted higher. The demoness above us stood. Her eyes glazed over as she too moved closer along the edge of the roof, the two guards trailing behind her. I had them exactly where I wanted them, but there was only so much damage the Kris Dagger could do out in the open
without affecting every demon in a five mile radius, good, neutral or bad. The dagger didn’t discriminate. Reaching inside the breast pockets of my coat, I pul ed out the ninja stars Bran had given me earlier. My gaze not shifting from the dark figures staring at the dagger, I stuck my hand in front of Bran.
Give me all your shurikens, I whispered. He didn’t question me, just shoved his hand in his coat pocket, removed more stars and pressed them in my hand. Heart pounding, palms a bit sweaty, I almost dropped the sharp blades. The demons were stil mesmerized by the Kris, which moved and vibrated. Closing my eyes, I locked on the ninja stars in my hands and directed them away from us, keeping them low so as not to draw attention. My hold wasn’t as firm as I would have liked it. As a result, the blades bobbed like giant snowflakes caught in a whirl wind.
A sneak attack, Bran said, catching on. Good idea. I know. Blend with me. I know. Blend with me. His energy flowed and meshed with mine, making me feel powerful and invincible, enhancing my powers as fast as the Kris. Taking a deep breath, I sent the shurikens flying toward the demons on the ground and the Kris Dagger toward the three above. My eyes snapped open when the demoness on the roof cried out a warning. Too late. The deadly stars sunk into the torsos of her minions on the ground before they realized they were under attack. They burst into flame, black holes replacing eyes, screams fil ing the al ey as their bodies smoldered and sunk to the ground. Above, the Kris found its targets. Bran and I jumped out of the way as two bodies tumbled down, their screams chil ing. Where was the third one? “I did it,” I whispered, so amazed a giggle escaped me. “It worked.” “That was awesome,” Bran mumbled, staring at the smoldering remains.
I grinned. “Yeah. Haziel showed me….” My voice trailed off as more demons appeared. There were only six of them, three on either side of us. This time, they came prepared with serrated knives and knuckle blades.
Now. The Kris Dagger raced back to my hand. Bran and I turned so we were back to back, bodies tense. I pul ed out the second dagger as I sized up the three demons. They were bigger than me, and their eyes promised retribution for what we did to their friends. “She said to bring them in alive,” the female who’d escaped screamed from above. “But she didn’t mention in what state. Break every damn bone in their bodies for the brothers and sisters we lost tonight,” she egged them on. The demons lunged at us. Bran charged. I swung my Kris at the ones closing in on me. The demons teleported out of the way and escaped the blast from the dagger. Anticipating their reappearance behind me, I whipped around. The first one materialized. With a flick of my wrist, I plunged the blade into his side. He went down in flames. There was no time to savor the kil . I locked on to the psi of the next one. Freeze. I sunk the dagger into her chest just as the last one landed a crushing blow to my side. I heard rather than felt my ribs crack. Pain shot down my spine, and I sucked in stale air. The ache became dul and disappeared, the Kris Dagger cushioning the pain as it healed the wound. Bran yel ed something I didn’t understand, his hand extended toward me. The next second, a demon reaching for me froze, his body shrinking and his clothes becoming looser as water drained out of him. The visible skin pinched, his red eyes bulged until they popped. The mummified remains of the demon crumbled to the ground and disintegrated. More Nosferatus arrived to replace the ones we vanquished. Jumping back into the fray, I used every skil my grandfather and Haziel ever taught me to fend them off. We were outnumbered but better trained. The demented one on the roof kept up her nonstop cackle. I tried to blast her a few times with the Kris but she always teleported out of the
way. One came from behind and locked his arms around me, crushing my ribs. Wooziness washed over me at the pain. With shal ow breath and sweat dripping down my face, I elbowed him and tried to break lose. Another grabbed my wrists and twisted my arms at an unnatural angle. Something snapped, but thanks to the cushioning effect of the Kris Dagger, I didn’t feel the pain.
I’m coming. I heard Bran clearly this time. No, I yel ed back. I have this
covered. Hands wrapped around my ankles and lifted me off the ground. I writhed and bucked, focusing hard on locking on their psi. Their thoughts flashed in my head. They planned to teleport with me. I let go of the Kris and commanded it.
Attack. Within seconds, I landed face down in the muck, embers of burning demon clothes around me. Needle-sharp pain shooting from every part of my body, I lifted my uninjured hand and closed it around my dagger. Immediately, it dul ed the pain and infused me with more energy. A glance at Bran told me he was handling himself. He was a mess, but had a broad grin on his face. I staggered to my feet and started toward him. More demons materialized and cut me off. Didn’t they get it? There was no way they Didn’t they get it? There was no way they would win this. Taking a deep breath, I gripped my dagger. A sharp cry from Bran yanked my attention. I couldn’t see past the line of hooded demons. Rage rushed through me. I yel ed something, I don’t know what, and lightning bolts materialized. They leveled the demons blocking my path. Heart pounding with dread, I searched for Bran. Three demons had pinned him on the ground. I zapped them so hard nothing was left but smoking boots. Bran jumped to his feet, looking around. Did you just— A force of some kind propel ed him backward, slamming him against the wal . I turned, trying to find its source. Something knocked me sideways, and I rol ed on the ground. When I looked up, I was surrounded. There were so
many of them, their red eyes gleaming. Bran yel ed out a curse just as bolts of lightning came from nowhere and seared through the demons. They were reduced to burning heaps amid screams as their remains sunk into the murky muck of the puddles fil ing the various indentations on the al ey floor. I blinked. Did I do that too? Even as the question crossed my mind, a man materialized to my left. He moved closer, hand extended. Bolts of lightning shot from his fingers and zapped the demons near Bran. Cries of agony fol owed. Shrieks came from above, then everything went silent. A sinking feeling settled in my stomach as the figure approached. He wore a dark suit and a weird trench coat with pointed shoulders, a light-colored shirt and a tie. Diamond studs winked in his ears as the glow from my dagger bathed his smooth toffee complexion. If the other demons appeared huge, this one was humongous. His shoulders were broad, hair long and curly. He didn’t look like any demon I ever met. Gripping my dagger, I raised it and struggled to my feet. Something flickered in eyes the same color as his skin. Whether it was fear or wariness, I couldn’t tel , but he stopped. “I would not use that if I were you, Lilith,” he said, his voice ominous in its softness. “Who are you?” My grip on the Kris Dagger stayed firm, but I didn’t move. Couldn’t move was more like it, even though I wanted to. His eyes stayed on the dagger as though he didn’t trust me not to use it. Bran appeared in my periphery, right hand extended. He stood to my left just a little bit ahead as though ready to dive between me and the newcomer. “One step, and I’l mummify you, Dante,” Bran snarled. “I did not come here to col ect Lilith or to play games with you,” the demon said, sounding both amused and insulted. Then he turned his massive head and looked up. Another figure dressed like him appeared on the edge of the roof and glanced down at us with lime-green eyes. Or maybe it was a trick of the green light from the dagger. Silent communication fol owed. Al I managed to get was…
she got away.
Dante’s gaze returned to us. He pinned me down with a glare. “When Lord Valafar tel s you to stay at home, young lady, you stay at home. We might not be around to rescue you next time.” “We didn’t need rescuing,” Bran bragged. “We were doing just fine.” Dante’s gaze stayed on me. “Do you understand, Lilith?” I swal owed and nodded. “Good. Now go home.” Then his trench coat bel owed out like a cloak, and I gasped. It wasn’t a coat at al . They were wings, bat-like wings with bones jutting at odd angles. He shot skyward and was joined by the one on the roof. Lightning speared across the sky, and they were gone.
15. Rejects “Come on,” Bran whispered, taking my arm. I shivered, my grip on the dagger so tight I doubted I’d ever let go. “Those were…those were….” “Valafar’s men,” he finished for me. “Dante was his right hand man on the island. I guess he escaped, too, when we destroyed it.” “They came to our rescue,” I whispered, staring ahead, putting one foot in front of the other without caring where I stepped. “We didn’t need them,” Bran said through his teeth. “You created lightning bolts. How?” I heard him, but my mind couldn’t focus on an answer. Meeting those two winged demons rattled me more than the battle we had with Cackling Demoness and her minions. “You didn’t even have to use your hands like Dante, which means you can smoke him,” Bran added with glee. I doubted it. They were huge and intimidating, their wings massive. Worse, they’d come to our rescue. No, change that, to my rescue. What did it mean? “How are your wounds? My side is kil ing me,” Bran said, though he didn’t sound like he was hurting. “I think my ribs are cracked, too. I can hardly breathe. Look at this.” He turned his wrist. Two puncture wounds were visible. “One of them bit me. Who in their right mind bites during a battle? An
undisciplined Nosferatu bounty hunter, that’s who, which explains why they went to such lengths to cover their bodies. They knew we’d recognize their markings. Damn fanged fiends.” Bran succeeded in distracting me with his mock-tirade until we left the al ey. The building was one of five at the end of a street, but there appeared to be very little traffic near it, except for the Harleys parked outside. The blue and red neon lights came from a sign that read THRO’S BAR. J and E were missing. A green and black canopy covered the front and underneath it was a white metal rail that could use a fresh coat of paint. Several chipped enameled metal chairs and tables behind the rail looked uninviting and pitiful. Even the dark and dreary entrance was unwelcoming. I pushed the dagger in its sheath but didn’t release the hilt. Most Guardians self-healed minor cuts and bruises. Deeper and internal wounds were treated by our healers. Since Izzy was missing, the Kris Dagger would patch me up as it cushioned my pain. Bran wasn’t as lucky. If his ribs hurt as much as he claimed, he had internal injuries and needed to be healed, too. No matter how mad he made me, I didn’t want him to suffer. Instead of heading toward the entrance, Bran stopped. “I’m taking you home so I can search for Remy and the others.” “Why?” Scowling, I faced him. I hated when he used that arrogant tone, like he knew what was better for me. “Demons are after you, Lil. I had no idea how badly until tonight. Soon, Valafar won’t have Dante on the sidelines watching over you. He’l send Dante to come for you, and there’s no way I’m letting that happen.” “You? But you saw what I can do. What we can do together. I’m stronger and keep getting better at control ing my powers every day. The demons don’t know that. Even Valafar’s people don’t. That’s why they keep acting like I’m helpless, like I’m why they keep acting like I’m helpless, like I’m someone who needs to be protected al the time. I don’t expect that from you, too,” I griped in an uneven tone, so annoyed I could zap him. He needed to stop treating me like I was helpless. Bran took a deep breath and winced. “Forgive me for seeing you as the girl I love first and the Chosen One second.” He didn’t fight fair. When he winced again, I touched his
arm. “You’re hurt.” “I’m fine.” “The dagger is healing me, Bran. Maybe if we blended our energies, we could share its healing power.” He took a step away from me and shook his head. “No, we can’t blend or link.” “We did back there.” I waved toward the al ey. “That’s because you needed me, and we had to use telepathy to avoid being heard.” “So it’s okay to link when I need you, and not when you need me?” I asked, trying to mask my annoyance. “Yes…no.” He sighed, a lost puppy expression on his face. “Let it go, Lil. Just accept that we can’t link or blend for now.” I blinked, throat thickening at the rejection. “Why not? What’s going on?” He forked his fingers though his hair and grimaced. “I can’t explain it now.” “Don’t you mean you won’t,” I retorted. “Not now, Lil,” he said impatiently, glancing around. I took a deep breath, anger churning inside of me. Why couldn’t he tel me what was going on? Blending energies was the purest form of connection, especial y for him and me because our energies matched. It was more intimate than kissing or anything we’d ever done. I clamped down on the anger and the pain. “You know what, Bran? Fine,” I snapped. “Keep your stupid secrets.” “Thank you,” he answered flippantly. “Lil! Bran,” a familiar voice cal ed out from behind us. Izzy. I whipped around, wincing at the slight discomfort from my ribs. Kim and Izzy ran out of the al ey, laughing. Remy and Sykes fol owed them out. So happy to see them, laughter bubbled through me, too. One more second alone with Bran, and I would have zapped him.
They were okay, alive, though in a sorrier state than us. Kim’s blonde hair was caked with mud. Sykes looked as though he’d tangoed with a hel hound, the sleeve of his shirt shredded. Izzy’s coat was burnt as though it had caught fire. Only Remy looked like he just stepped out of some animè demon-hunter poster, clothes and boots spotless. “What happened to you guys?” I asked. “You look like hel .” “Look who’s talking,” Kim said with a grin, trying to remove some of the gunk from her hair. “We landed in some demon-infested al ey and had to blast our way through them.” “Woo-hoo!” Sykes hooted and draped an arm around Kim’s shoulders. “That was fun. It’s been a while since we kicked demon butts like that.” “Yeah.” Kim smiled then lifted Sykes arm from her shoulders with the tips of her fingers. “But it doesn’t mean you should get close and personal.” Sykes grabbed her face and planted a kiss on her lips. “Lighten up, Blondie. Let’s celebrate.” He left a sputtering Kim, moseyed over to Izzy, and scooped her into his arms. She screamed, waved her arms, and kicked as he twirled her around. We al just stood there grinning and filthy, watching them carry on like a couple of kids. When Sykes put her down, he planted a kiss on her lips, too. Izzy stopped smiling. He smirked. “I’m an opportunist.” He turned toward us and opened his arms. “Lil?” Bran stiffened. “She’s injured.” Just like that the mood of the reunion changed. Izzy rushed over. “Where?” “Her ribs, right arm, and her ankle,” Bran said. “The dagger is healing her, but we don’t know how fast.” Ankle? I looked down and moved my foot while Izzy checked my arm. Not even a pinch. “Bran is injured too,” I said out loud and received a glare from Bran. I gave him a toothy grin. “Of course, he won’t admit it.” Izzy chuckled. “Mr. Tough Guy, huh? Don’t worry, I’l deal with him. Your arm is almost al healed. I’l take a look at your ribs when we get inside. I’m assuming
we’re stil visiting Old Jethro.” assuming we’re stil visiting Old Jethro.” “I don’t know,” I replied then raised my voice to add, “are we visiting Jethro or going home, Cardinal?” Bran’s eyes narrowed. Instead of answering me, he focused on the others. “How did you guys end up blocks from here?” “We have no idea,” Remy answered. “Someone bent the telegate or something. Probably naturebenders.” His eyes ran over me and Bran and he laughed. “Looks like you guys met demons, too.” By the time Bran finished explaining, everyone stared at me. “Valafar’s men came to your rescue?” Izzy whispered, her eyes round, arms crossed as though she was chil ed. “Interfered with our battle,” Bran corrected. “We didn’t need rescuing.” I hated their varied expressions, which ranged from amazement to worry. “They ordered me to stay at home, which I’m not going to do. Could we get in there,” I pointed at Jethro’s, “so Izzy can fix me up? We stil have to talk to Jethro.” Grins fol owed. Sighing with relief, I turned toward Bran. He didn’t look happy. I didn’t need to link with him to know he wanted me home. He’d made that crystal clear. Sykes slapped him on the back. “Lead the way, Llyr. Let’s meet this Old Jethro.” Bran’s gaze didn’t leave mine, concern in his eyes. “Are you sure about this?” I wasn’t, but having my friends walk on eggshel s around me because they were worried about my safety wasn’t an option. Being the wielder of the Kris Dagger meant being strong, showing them I wasn’t afraid to stand up to any demon, including Valafar and his men. Bran would always be protective of me. I accepted that, but he and everyone else, demons included, needed to see me as a force to be reckoned with, not someone to be protected. “Yes,” I said. “Let’s do this.” The others grinned with approval. Bran moved to my side. “We’l do this your way on one condition. You do not let go of the dagger until you are healed,” he whispered through clenched teeth, stressing his words. “If we’re attacked again, you head home.”
Bul y. My grip tightened around the hilt of the Kris, as I glared at him. “Yes, Cardinal. Anything else? Maybe shackle me to a wal once I get home?” Something flickered in his eyes—regret or anger, I couldn’t tel —then he turned and looked at the others. “Okay. Let’s go.” “Not so fast.” Kim blocked his path. “I’m not going in there looking and smel ing like I just swam through the sewer.” Bran opened his mouth, probably to argue, but she shushed him. “We’re Guardians, Bran. We’re supposed to look invincible, not like drowned rats.” “Especial y after we smoked those demons and left them begging for mercy,” Izzy added. Sykes chuckled gleeful y, obviously enjoying Bran’s predicament. Bran shot Sykes a cold glance then turned to Remy. “Got it covered,” Remy said, turned and placed a hand on Izzy’s shoulder. Mud rol ed out of her hair and skin and floated away like dust in the wind. The fabric of her coat shifted as each thread rearranged and realigned. When he stepped back, her curly ponytail was as glossy as when we left home, her face free of mud, her coat and boots pristine. The ability to control solids had its perks. “Me next,” Kim said, pushing Sykes out of the way. Another sigh escaped Bran when it was his turn, but he stood stil . “Happy?” he asked Kim after everyone got a turn. “Very.” Kim saluted him and gave him a cheeky smile. I laughed. Kil ing demons definitely became her and the others. They were al in high spirits tonight. *** Bran pushed the door with his booted foot and led the way into Jethro’s. The place crawled with Nephilim, the glamour, if he used it, didn’t work on us. The ones in human form wore leather, tattoos on arms or creeping up necks from under jacket col ars. Horns jutted out of hair or scaly foreheads of some Werenephils; while others were so hairy al I saw were canine teeth and yel ow eyes. It wasn’t often we say demons in their true form. It was weird. At a table to our left, a gorgeous woman with cat-like ears and to our left, a gorgeous woman with cat-like ears and slit eyes watched
us warily, nails sharp and pointed like talons tapping rhythmical y on her slender arms. I almost stepped on someone’s tail, broke eye contact with her and stared ahead. Pitchers with and without beer floated to and from the tables. Several bartenders sat behind the long counter seeing to things, but none of them fitted Bran’s description of Jethro. The interior was surprisingly wel lit and clean —wooden floor, old car plates covering every inch of the wal s and part of the concave mirrored ceiling. TV screens showing a basketbal game lined the wal behind the bar while nice brown leather stools lined the front. More colorful chairs and booths around wooden tables ran the ful length of the room. My stomach growled at the aroma of fried food. Some of the customers munched on onions rings, and one sang karaoke on the stage at the end of the bar. The occupants of the table closest to the door noticed us first and stopped talking. Silence spread to the back fast. The singer stood speechless behind the mike, his wings closing protectively around him. Pool players left their games and approached the doorway that separated the bar from the game room. Our glowing amulets identified us, but it also indicated the presence of demons in the bar. My grip tightened around the hilt of the dagger. I real y didn’t feel like fighting until I was healed. “What are you staring at, you bunch of no-good Hermonite rejects,” a cranky voice bel owed from way down behind the stage. I craned my neck to find him. People moved out of the way as an emaciated old man stepped into the aisle between booths and dining tables lined with chairs. The tap-tap-tap of his walking stick on the wooden floor echoed around the silent rectangular room. Tal like most Guardians, his hair was long and white, skin tan and leathery. He could be Haziel’s twin. “There is no need for an introduction,” the old man continued, his teeth startlingly white against his skin. “Most of you would stil be slaving away for Coronis if it were not for these brave young men and women.” I liked him already. He stopped before us and offered me
his hand. I shifted the dagger to my left hand and shook his hand, grinning. He was tal , topped me by at least a foot. “Ah, little one,” he said. “What an honor to final y meet you.” “We need to talk, Jethro,” Bran said in a low tone. “Stop posturing and lead us to your office.” “Arrogant pup,” Jethro murmured and smacked Bran on the leg with his walking stick then shook the hands of my friends, taking his time, studying them as though memorizing their faces. Done, he turned and faced the staring customers, some of who rushed forward to shake our hands. “Not now. Shoo. Can you not see they are here on Guardian business? Go on. Back to your tables.” When everyone resumed their seats, he added, “Brethrens, I want you to show these young Cardinal Guardians they wil always be welcome here.” The clapping started in sputters then picked up momentum until a deafening rah-rah accompanied by metal mugs pounding on wooden tables fil ed the room. Beer splashed on tables then dripped down chins as the customers guzzled their drinks. Jethro waved his stick, and the room fel silent. “Next round of drinks are on the house.” He turned to Bran and smacked his leg with the cane again. “Fol ow me.” Bran winced. I hid a grin. I real y liked this old man. A lot. We fol owed his slow gait past the bar and stage, down a hal way that ran alongside the gaming area and into a room with a huge desk, a lumpy plaid sofa, and a side table. Piles of dusty books and magazines hugged the wal s, leaving little room for al of us. Jethro pointed his stick toward the sofa and nodded at me. “You can use the sofa. Who is the healer among you?” “Me.” Izzy moved forward, grinning.
Jethro looked her up and down, his brow raised. “Are you the one who controls time, too?” Izzy’s eyes widened as she nodded. “Funny, most healers control time. Wonder why? Go on. Do not keep the little one waiting. Then you are next,” he added, leveling Bran a look before turning to Remy, Sykes, and Izzy. “As for you three, head to the bar. Drinks are on the house.” Kim, Sykes, and Remy looked at each other Kim, Sykes, and Remy looked at each other then shook their heads. “We prefer to stay here if you don’t mind,” Remy said. The others nodded. Jethro chuckled. “You do not trust me, do you? I understand. She is a precious one.” I doubted my friends’ thoughts were on me as much as they were on how we were separated earlier tonight. They wouldn’t chance it again. I made eye contact with them. “Guys, we’l be fine. Just give us a moment.” One by one, they filed out. Izzy waited until they left the room then came down on her knees beside me and started removing my boot. Bran sat on the arm of the sofa near my feet, his gaze not leaving my face. He studied my ankle, which was neither swol en nor pinkish. When I let go of the dagger, there was a little pinch of pain on my ankle and arm, and more throbbing from my side. Izzy held my foot in one hand and let the other hover above it. Sparkling light leaped from her palm to my skin. Within seconds, the pain was gone, my ankle healed. “You fought hard and wel tonight before the nature-benders arrived,” Jethro said, drawing my attention. I blinked. “You heard us?” “No, I heard them. Their screams,” he clarified. “And chose to do nothing as usual,” Bran said in a censoring tone. “You real y should be ashamed of yourself, old man.” “I do not apologize for my choices, pup,” Jethro retorted. “And you need to watch your mouth. It was not long ago you were sleeping on this sofa and eating my food for free.” “You worked me like a mule, you self-righteous old goat,” Bran griped. Jethro threw his head back and laughed. “I did, didn’t I?
Happy to see you settled down though.” It was obvious their back and forth snipes were al in fun. Jethro continued. “When we heard the screams, we assumed the minion gangs were going after each other over stupid old feuds. They have been doing that a lot since Coronis died. Usual y, we stay out of their way and let them slaughter each other.” Bran squinted at him. “You don’t happen to know which ones dress like Ninjas and are led by a woman with an annoyingly screechy voice.” Jethro chuckled. “I do. Let’s talk after your healer is done with both of you. That looks bad.” He nodded at my side, which Izzy just exposed along with my bra when she finished unbuttoning my shirt. I pul ed my shirt and coat together to cover myself, my face burning. “I can’t check your wound when you’re being modest,” Izzy said and nudged me sideways, so I faced the back of the sofa. It smel ed of smoke and mothbal s. “I may need to remove your bra,” she added. “No.” I’d never removed my bra in Bran’s presence. There was no way I could do it now with Jethro watching either. He might be ancient, but he was a stranger. “I wil leave. Cal me when you are ready to talk.” The tap of Jethro’s cane on the floor echoed his movements across the room, then the door opened. “Oh, keeping guard,” I heard him say. “The offer for free drinks is stil open. What are your powers, pretty Guardian?” The door closed on his question. Bran changed positions and sat by my head. I glanced over my shoulder to glare at him. “You, too. Leave.” “I’ve seen you in less,” Bran said, laughter in his words. My whole body grew hot. “A swim suit. I mean it. Go.” “I’m not going anywhere,” he said stubbornly. “Are you tel ing me you two have never…?” Izzy left the suggestive sentence dangling. I closed my eyes, wanting to die. This was the most humiliating moment ever. “None of your business, Izzy. I’l turned around,” Bran added. When I checked, he was facing the door.
With some maneuvering, I helped Izzy remove my shirt and trench coat. She unhooked my bra and lifted my hand above my head to get better access to the patch of skin that stil looked pink. Hanging on to the front of my bra for dear life, I braced yourself. Heat swel ed around the wound as the energy sealed the torn vessels, bones and skin, then it was gone. I moved and smiled. No pain. I sat up to re-hook my bra and button my shirt. I sat up to re-hook my bra and button my shirt. Usual y, Izzy couldn’t heal my wounds completely because of my demonic blood. Just one more thing Bran and I shared. But the dagger had done its share. Bran wouldn’t be so lucky. Served him right for refusing to blend our energies. “Done,” I said, lacing up my boot. “Your turn.” Bran turned and studied me intently then nodded. “Okay. Move over. No, get up and turn around,” he growled. I rol ed my eyes and got up. I thought he was joking about turning around until he swirled his finger, indicating I turn. Grinding my teeth, I did. Izzy laughed. *** We al sat or stood around the cluttered room and watched Jethro sip beer from a bottle. Everyone had returned to his dingy office, and Bran just finished explaining about the List and the problems we encountered with Zedekiah. “Do you know anything?” I asked. Jethro put the bottle on the side table. He sat on the other end of the sofa, his cane resting between his legs. We al stood in whatever little space we could find. Remy and Sykes stayed by the door. “We’l pay for the information.” Bran pul ed out a bundle of hundred dol ar bil s and placed it on the side table. Jethro glowered at Bran. “I do not need your money, pup. Bringing her,” he pointed at me, “and them,” he waved to indicate the Guardians, “to my bar is payment enough. From now on, everyone wil know that if they mess with me, they mess with the Cardinals.”
“We haven’t offered you protection yet,” Bran warned. “You do not have to, smart mouth. A bar ful of witnesses saw you come into my office. That is al it takes.” Jethro nodded his head and closed his eyes. “I heard about the List. That is al every Hermonite talks about these days. The List…the List…as if owning a few poor souls would guarantee them power.” He chuckled. “Idiots. There are a lot more souls out there than Coronis’ cache, yet everyone wants hers.” Right at that moment, I loved Old Jethro. Bran frowned. “So what do you know about it and Damien?” Jethro’s wrinkled brow furrowed. “Damien is a recluse. Even an old goat like me has never set eyes on him. For a long time I suspected he did not exist, that he is merely a figment of Coronis’ imagination created to keep her fol owers in line. You know, the keeper of records, the one who knows how many souls each demon acquired and the tal y of favors received and owed. But by the way he has the lot of them riled up, I say he is very real.” He lifted his drink from the table to take a sip. “To hear them say it, it was his idea they elect a leader. The heads of the houses were going to divide the world up into four sectors. The Nosferatus even wanted their hunting grounds in Romania. But Damien told them no. They must do things the old way, have a mortal combat.” We al moved forward, our gazes locked on his wrinkly face. “A mortal combat?” Kim whispered. Jethro nodded. We leaned back with varied expressions. He chuckled gleeful y, obviously getting a kick out of shocking us. He’d make a great storytel er around a camp fire. “A representative from each house gets in the arena and is chal enged by someone from the other houses,” he said, gesturing wildly with his hands. “Powers pitted against powers, weapons against weapons until there is but one last demon standing, the king or queen of the demons.” He chuckled again. “When and where is this mortal combat going to take
place?” Remy asked. Jethro turned his head and blinked at Remy. His mouth opened and closed, then he snapped, “That, son, is something you should not concern yourself with. None of you should even consider going to such an event. It wil be fil ed with Hermonites.” “Our superiors might find the information useful,” Bran pushed. “Then let them run around the country and ask about it,” the old man retorted stubbornly. “Only the heads of the houses are privy to such things, and they are not talking. You kids stop meddling in things that can get you kil ed,” he mumbled and glared at al that can get you kil ed,” he mumbled and glared at al of us. My empathic antennas went on alert. He was lying and scared. “Does that mean you know where it is taking place but choose not to tel us?” I asked. Jethro waved his stick. “It means I do not know, little one.” “At least tel us when it’s taking place?” Sykes asked. Jethro narrowed his eyes. “So we can be prepared,” Sykes added, grinning. “New leadership means more mayhem for us.” Jethro shook his head. “You must be the charming one. I guess there is no harm in giving that information. It is a week from tomorrow. Damien’s List is the winner’s prize along with the headache of being the new ruler of the demons.” “Have you heard anything about Zedekiah?” Bran asked. Jethro laughed. “He is Damien’s man, or so I hear. I tried to find out who he is, but there are no records of his existence.” “What do you mean no records?” Izzy asked. “He’s human. There must be a birth certificate somewhere, an address, tax rec…ooh. You probably need a computer to get those.” Jethro laughed. “Think me too senile to use human gadgets, young Time Guardian?”
Izzy winced. “Uh, yeah.” He laughed harder. “The body might grow old, but the Nephilim mind stays sharp. Believe me when I say, there are no records of this Zedekiah. I am not surprised though. When a human signs on to work for a powerful demon, the demon makes sure he or she becomes invisible, untraceable. That is what Zedekiah is…a ghost.” “He led us to believe we could find Damien and the List,” Bran said. “Just like he did minions from the other houses,” Jethro said. “Like I said, everyone wants that List and wil do anything to get it.” He drained his drink then stroked the side of the bottle. The glossy hard surface shifted and became thin like paper. Then he crumpled it and threw it in a recycle bin. “We must do our part to save the earth,” he added sadly. “It is our home.” I stared at him, his loneliness so deep and vast it hurt to feel it. “Where was I?” he asked, looking around. No one spoke. Bran cleared his throat before he spoke. “Zedekiah promised the List to us and the other houses.” Jethro nodded. “Yes. He did that, but I hear he has been talking to the House of Nosferatus. The gang that attacked you tonight comes from that house. They must be trying to eliminate the competition.” “We weren’t attacked by vamps, just Werenephils,” Izzy said. The others nodded. “We had to deal with Nosferatus. They bite during battle.” Bran turned his arm, but the bite marks were healed. “Anything else?” Jethro grumbled. “I have a bar to run. Damn ingrates might drink me out of business if I do not watch it.” He struggled to get to his feet, leaning heavily on his cane. Bran reached over to help him. As soon as he got to his feet, he pushed Bran’s hand away. “I can get up by myself, pup. Been doing it for five hundred years without your help,” he added proudly.
Bran studied Jethro with a frown. It was obvious he was concerned about the old man. “Where can we find the gang that attacked us, Jethro?” “At a club plying humans with drinks and pil s and feeding on them. Their leader is Lottius, a waste of good breeding. Her father is Gabreel, a member of the council in the House of Nosferatus. But what does she do behind his back? Runs with that no-good crowd.” Bran’s gaze didn’t shift from Jethro’s face. “Where does she hang out?” “It changes every night. Ask one of my boys. He might know. Come along.” Jethro led the way out of his office. The others high-fived each other while I gave the room one last glance, trying to imagine Bran sleeping in it. I couldn’t. What he must have gone through to leave his former life. The noise went down several decibels when we re-entered the bar. Someone turned off the music. Another got off a stool and offered it to Jethro. He sat and beckoned one of the bartenders, a buffed up young man. “Where’s Lottius’ party a buffed up young man. “Where’s Lottius’ party tonight?” The shook his head, eyes darting around. “Jethro, I…I….” “Stop wasting my time, boy,” he snapped, brow creased with annoyance. “I know where you go when you are off the clock. The Guardians need to know where Lottius and her gang are tonight.” The bartender looked at us, swal owed visibly, and reached under the counter for the newspaper. “A missing person’s ad is placed in the local paper with the location of the rave party. Only those who know what to look for understand it.” He ran his finger down the ads then stopped at a missing daughter ad with contact address and phone. “You switch the streets and the phone numbers and…it’s at Ravens, a club in West Hol ywood.” He scribbled the address down on the edge of the paper and ripped it off. “They don’t let just anyone in.” Bran smiled. “We’l find a way. Have you been to this club before?” The guy’s eyes widened. “Yes, but I can’t go with you. They’l know and…and….”
“We don’t need you to take us,” Bran reassured him. “We just want to know the layout of the club and maybe a description of Lottius.” “I can link with him and get the image from his mind,” I offered. Bran looked at me like I had lost my mind then shook his head. He turned to the bartender and tapped the edge of the newspaper. “Sketch it here.” The bartender sketched the outline of the floor, putting Xs at the key places Bran asked him though I had no idea why he’d want to know where the bathrooms were relative to the bar. “Lottius had a table reserved for her and her friends. It’s on the left side of the bar.” He reached under the counter again and pul ed out a VIP pass. “Sorry, I have only one.” “No problem.” Bran took the pass and gave it to Remy. Remy palmed it between his hands, raised his arms like a magician performing a card trick then let the pass float to the counter. Another fol owed then another. After about ten, he stopped and returned the original to the bartender, whose eyes were like saucers. Bran picked up six of the passes and handed the rest to the bartender with a few hundred dol ar bil s. “Thank you.” “One more thing,” the bartender said. “The place wil be crowded tonight, but Lottius is easy to spot. A streak of white runs through her black hair.” We looked at each other, grinning. A Nosferatu with black and white hair? Was that a coincidence or what? “Like Cardinal Moira’s,” Izzy whispered. The bartender shrugged, but Jethro chuckled. “Yes, just like the Cardinal’s.” He shook his head. “The things children do to rebel against their parents. Are you teleporting there?” “No,” we al said in unison then laughed. After what happened earlier, no one wanted to chance being separated. “Then you need transportation. Taxis don’t pick up people around these parts.” He pushed a set of keys across the counter to Bran. “The bike is stil out there where you left it.
Wel , not exactly since I ride it on occasion, but it is there.” Bran grinned. “And for my friends?” Jethro faced the bar and bel owed, “We’l be needing rides to West Hol ywood, my brethren. Volunteers step up.” Chairs scraped across the wooden floor as al of his customers scrambled to their feet. Impressive. I liked these rejects more and more, but I had only one question. “Uh, haven’t they been, uh, drinking?” I whispered to Bran. Jethro heard me and chuckled. “They are Nephilim, little one. Alcohol goes through our system like water. It tastes good, but alas, the intoxicating effect humans enjoy is sadly missing.” Then why did Grampa tel me not drink? There was no time to ask because Remy and Sykes already had already chosen female riders and were heading out the door. Izzy took the arm of an old geezer, who grinned like he found gold at the end of a rainbow. Kim, typical, found herself a handsome younger guy. He had so many tats he looked like a walking canvas. One looked at me, but Bran shook his head. “She rides with me.” “Says who?” I slipped an arm through the man’s. “Let’s go.” “Lil?” Bran warned. “Lil?” Bran warned. “Sorry, sweetheart.” The man disengaged our arms and pushed a helmet into my hands. “He’s a formidable opponent, so just do as he says.” He walked away.
Chicken. I glared after him then turned to face Bran. “Fine. Let’s go.” He co*cked his arm, a grin on his lips. Narrowing my eyes, daring him to say something, I slipped my arm through his. I was stil angry with him for keeping secrets, but I couldn’t stop imagining him in Jethro’s bar or on that lumpy sofa in the back room. He’d gone through so much to become a Guardian. Why was he pushing me away now?
16. Father Knows Best
Bran and Jethro spoke briefly. Something exchanged hands, and then they hugged. It was so sweet and touching. It made me feel bad for being mad with Bran. He was an amazing guy, and I loved him to death. I just wished he’d stop being so overprotective and secretive at times. “How are your wounds?” I asked, settling behind him on the bike. “Fine.” He could be bleeding but stil say fine in that tough-guy tone. “Where are they? I don’t want to hold you too tight and make them worse.” “I don’t want you to fal off the bike.” He took my arms and looped them around his waist. “Hold on tight.” Why did I bother worrying about him? Sighing, I hugged him and rested my cheek against his back as we took off. Nearly the entire bar escorted us, which was way cooler than teleporting. Some rode in twos, others solo. Drivers and pedestrians alike stopped to stare at us. In less than half an hour, we pul ed up outside the Ravens Club in West Hol ywood, a stretch of building with security lights shooting from its base. The arrival of over fifty bikers drew attention. The plan was for no one to notice us in a group of rowdy riders. While the front riders revved their engines and did loops around the cars dropping off clubbers, we slipped away to the neighboring parking lot. Bran gave his bike key to one of the passengers on another bike with instructions to return it to Jethro. The line to get into the club was long and winding, but it wasn’t the only club on the strip. Ravens appeared to be for al ages. Music pulsed in the air, rising in volume whenever the bouncers opened the doors to let someone inside. We huddled under a tree on the grassy lawn of the building neighboring Ravens and studied the people mil ing around. The clubbers wore crazy hair styles and very little clothing. Some Goths wore black like us, boots and trench coats with studs, chokers and metal stud and rings al over their faces. Sykes studied a girl with blue glam-rock hair, an itty-bitty
piece of cloth for a top, and tattoos that could rival any of Jethro’s Bar’s clientele. “Do we go in, snatch this vamp chick and get out? Or hang around and have some fun?” He stretched the last word then licked his lips. “Why?” Izzy asked with a sneer. “One caught your fancy?” “So many to love,” he whispered, his gaze fol owing another girl, “and so little time.” “Man-whor*,” Kim said. “A proud card-carrying member,” he said absentmindedly, his eyes on another girl. “And I don’t apologize for it.” Kim, Izzy and I laughed. Remy and Bran didn’t seem to be aware of our conversation. They were busy studying the bouncers at the entrance. One with a head like an egg was tal and barrel chested. After our encounter with Valafar’s men, I didn’t feel like dealing with overgrown demons. A quick psi scan indicated he was human. In his hand was a weapon scanner. The stuff we carried could set off alarms louder than the sirens at a fire station, but glamour should take care of the guard and prevent that. “What’s the plan?” I asked, looking at Bran. Bran pul ed out a colorless, smooth stone from his pocket. He turned it over in his hand and from his pocket. He turned it over in his hand and frowned as though something about it made him uneasy. “We’re going to use this to persuade Lottius to help us.” I looked from the stone to his face. “What is it?” “A harmless gel infused with salt crystals.
Hellgel. When placed inside a demon, the salt leaches out slowly, making them very sick.” “Can it be removed?” “Yes, but there won’t be any need to. The dosage in this one isn’t lethal. The difference is Lottius doesn’t know that.” He pushed it back in his pocket and beckoned the others closer. “We have to split to make the plan work. We’l meet back here in exactly ten minutes. Walk, run, teleport, I don’t care. This tree is our rendezvous point.” He nodded at Remy. “You and Sykes guard the entrance from the inside. Anything out of the ordinary, let us know. The girls come
with me. Once we locate Lottius, Lil, you lock on her psi and lure her away from her friends to the bathroom. Izzy and Kim,” the girls nodded, “Lottius knows Lil, not you two. Wait for her in the bathroom and take her down.” “What if there’re girls in the bathroom?” Izzy asked. “Lil wil clear it and make sure no one goes in.” Bran looked at me. “Stay in contact with them and the guys. You’l be our eyes. If anything goes wrong, they’l let you know and you’l inform Kim or Izzy.” “Do we teleport Lottius here for interrogation?” Kim asked. “No. I’l join you in the bathroom. What I plan wil take about a minute. Questions?” “Do we stay afterwards?” Sykes asked. We groaned. Bran ignored Sykes. “We’l probably need to teleport through two or three places before we head home just in case someone is fol owing.” He nodded toward the entrance. “Let’s go.” Eyes fol owed us as we passed the people waiting in line, or maybe paranoia kicked in and I imagined it. No demons, I noted. “Back of the line,” the egg-headed bouncer bel owed when we reached him. “VIP passes,” Bran said, showing him the gold tickets. The man scowled, looking us over. He was probably thinking our lack of piercings and tats didn’t exactly go with the Goth-like outfits.
Let us in now, I projected in his head. No security checks either.
He stepped back and waved us in. Inside, techno-music pulsed through the air while dry-ice smoke coiled and hugged the floor like Lazari. Strobe lights streaked red, green, and gold, cutting through the dancers hopping and grinding on the floor. My amulet warmed up against my chest and the Kris vibrated in its sheath, but the flashing lights camouflaged the glow from the blade. I fol owed Bran to the left, circling the large dance floor. When I glanced back, Remy and Sykes lounged by the entrance trying to blend in. A zombie-looking girl wearing heavy black make-up bumped into me and frowned. She probably felt the hard edge of my swords. Someone grabbed her arm and they lunged into the frenzied sweaty bodies gyrating to the rhythm. Like a shield, Bran stayed close to me. People were everywhere— at the seating areas downstairs, on the balcony upstairs, and at the bar, which seemed to take up an entire wal . To the right was Lottius’ corner, but she wasn’t there. Bran communicated with Izzy and Kim. Al I caught was Izzy’s response— Okay, we’ll be back— then the two girls took off, hands pumping the air as they imitated the rave dance everyone was doing. They headed toward the section of the floor closer to Lottius’ table. We went in the opposite direction. I listened to thoughts.
She’s on the dance floor, Izzy telepathed us, coming from behind us. Kim is keeping an eye on her. Follow me. Lottius, flawless skin, delicate features, and gorgeous, was your typical Nosferatu. She wore a white mini-skirt and a matching tube top, her lips and nails blood red, hair teased to showcase the Moira-inspired dye job. It must kil her father to see her imitate a Cardinal Guardian. Within ten minutes, I zapped her and lured her away from her friends. Standing outside the bathroom, I listened to more thoughts and turned clubbers away before they even started toward the doors. Bran said he needed a minute. My watch said a minute and fifteen seconds had passed. a minute and fifteen seconds had passed. “Want to dance?” a voice asked from behind me.
Go away. I didn’t bother to look at the guy, my eyes vol eying between the door and my watch. A minute and twenty seconds. More dancers approached the bathroom. Annoyance washed over me. At this pace, girls would relieve themselves on the dance floor without understanding why. A minute and thirty. What was taking Bran so long?
Are they done? Remy telepathed. Something in his voice set off alarms in my head. Not yet.
What is it? Two demons just walked in, Remy said. So? This place is crawling with them. I glamoured more girls. One minute and forty-five seconds.
No, these ones are huge and in custom-made suits, Sykes added. They walk like they own the damn place. Might be Lottius’ people. Huge. Suits. My heart skipped a beat. Does one of them
have long curly hair and wear diamond studs? Yes, Remy answered. How did you know? Sykes added. They’re Valafar’s men. Keep an eye on them. I’m going in to see what’s keeping Bran and the others. I raced toward the bathroom, bumping into dancers headed in the same direction. You don’t want to use the bathroom, not when your favorite song is playing. They turned and went back to the dance floor. I unlocked the door, slipped inside, and pul ed out my dagger. Just in case someone had the key, I pointed the dagger at the door and sealed it. It would take a demolition bal or a police battering ram to bring it down. At first, I didn’t hear anything. The bathroom was spacious and curved to the left. A sharp cry fol owed by curses bounced off the metal ic grey stal wal s. Heart hammering in my chest, my hand tightened on the hilt as I approached the curve. “I’ve already told you I don’t know anything, you bastard,” a girl screamed.
Lottius. I recognized her annoying screech. “The location of the mortal combat and where your people are meeting with Zedekiah or this goes inside you,” Bran snarled. “You can slice me open as often as you want, but it won’t make a difference.” Hysterical laughter fol owed. “I can’t give you what I don’t know.” Frowning, I peered around the corner, and my eyes widened at the scene. Izzy and Kim held Lottius down beside a sink while Bran paced in front of her, occasional y moving back to avoid the tip of her boots as she tried to kick him. Blood dripped on the Nosferatu’s bare arms and down her legs to her high-heeled boots. Both her white mini-skirt and top had red spots, and bloody smudges caked her face though there were no visible wounds. “My father wil hunt you down for this and suck you dry,” she sneered, showing the two pearly fangs where her canines should be. I shivered. Nosferatus gave me the heebeegeebees. Bran looked at his watch and cursed. Taking a step forward, he flung his right hand across her stomach and she moaned. I gulped when a gash appeared and blood dripped out. He tried to push the hellgel inside the wound with his left hand with little success and cursed. little success and cursed. The girl bared her teeth and snarled in agony, the sound bouncing off the wal s and fil ing me with revulsion. Kim and Izzy winced, but there was no sympathy on their faces. I couldn’t see Bran’s expression but his frustration was palpable. It seemed weird that I felt sorry for her when she had ordered her minions to break my bones. I opened my mouth to stop him when he made another cut, but then I realized something. Lottius’ skin healed so fast it closed as soon as he made the incision. “We can do this al night, Llyr,” Lottius bragged, her expression defiant. “I’ve been taught to withstand pain, and my superior body wil not let you poison me.” “Maybe Lil can help,” Kim suggested. Bran paused and pondered the question then shook his head. “No. She’s not ready for something like this.”
His high-handedness was becoming real y annoying. I stepped out from behind my hiding place. “I’m here and ready.” He whipped around. “What are doing in here? You’re supposed to keep an eye—” “I know,” I said with a sigh, too tired of his overprotectiveness. “Just tel me what to do, so we can get out of here. Valafar’s men are in the club, and it won’t be long before they find us. Remember, they want her, too.” I moved closer and studied Lottius, who cringed from me like I was the devil’s spawn. “Keep her away from me,” Lottius screeched. Her amethyst eyes stayed glued to my dagger. “I don’t want to die.” I stared at Bran but asked, “How can I help, Kim?” “Freeze her, and her ability to heal herself freezes, too,” she explained. “In theory, it’s supposed to with most demons. Don’t know if it wil work on Nosferatu.” Bran’s eyes narrowed. It was obvious he hated me being involved, but it was time he stopped shielding me from things. He wanted the salt in her body, and I’d put it in myself just so we get this over with. Pushing the dagger in its sheath, I ignored Lottius’ plea and trapped her psi. Don’t move. She froze, though her amethyst eyes darted around and bloody tears dripped from the corners. Izzy and Kim stepped away from her. “Now,” I told Bran. He leaned forward and made an incision across her stomach with a pocket knife. The wound started to close but at a much slower rate. He pushed the gel in and held it down until only a smal cut remained then he removed his finger. The skin closed, not leaving a scar. For a moment, there was a bump under Lottius skin, and then it disappeared. I released her and stepped back. Lottius jerked, her hand going to her stomach.
“No. Get it out of me.” She kneaded her flesh frantical y. “It’s going to poison me.” “Not for forty-eight hours,” Bran said in a hard voice. “The salt wil leach out slowly. You’l feel uncomfortable, gassy, but after two days, the chil s and the sweats kick in. Another forty-eight hours and the convulsions start. By the end of the week, you’l be in so much pain you won’t be able to use your powers. That gives you four to five days to find where your people are meeting Zedekiah and the location of the mortal combat. Leave a message for me at Paladin Hotel & Suites in North Las Vegas. The room is registered under the name Damien. I’l check with the hotel every day, starting tomorrow.” Loud banging came from the bathroom door. “The sooner you give us what we want, the faster I’l remove that poison.” The pounding at the door grew louder. Lottius glared at him with hatred. “I’l make you pay for this, Llyr. Al of you.” She pointed at us. Bran smirked. “After what you did to us behind that bar, count yourself lucky I didn’t vanquish you tonight. Give us what we want and the crystal comes out. Don’t and you’re going to die a slow, painful death.” The sound of wood splitting fil ed the air. Bran nodded at us. “Looks like her rescuers are here. Let’s go.” The security and a flurry of girls rushed inside the bathroom. Bran glamoured them, and we walked out without anyone realizing we’d been inside. Luckily, Valafar’s men were nowhere near the bathroom. “Where are they?” I asked Remy and Sykes when we joined them. Sykes nodded toward the balcony. I fol owed Sykes nodded toward the balcony. I fol owed his gaze. The two demons from the al ey walked down the stairs, their eyes scanning the crowd. “They make bad look good,” Sykes added with a tinge of envy. I shook my head at the things he found cool. We took off toward the entrance. Within seconds, we were outside the club. No one fol owed us. “You got her to talk?” Remy asked. “No. She didn’t know where Zedekiah is,” Bran said, “but we got the gel inside her. Whether she delivers is another
story. Ready to head home?” “No clubbing?” Sykes asked, looking around. Everyone shook their head. “It’s been one hel of a night, so I’l play nice. Next time we stay. And I’l hold al of you to it.” We teleported to several different places, even looped a few, before heading home. *** I woke up the next morning to yel s. Frowning, I checked my watch. Nine o’clock. The voices rose again. I recognized Grampa, Cardinal Seth, Aunt Janel e…. What were they doing in our house so early on a Saturday morning? I angled my head and frowned. I recognized the voice of the chairman of the High Council, Kim’s father. He never came to our house. Not since we moved in. Rol ing over, I jumped off the bed and moved toward the door to eavesdrop. The words were jumbled as several people talked at once. I turned the handle, opened it wide enough to peek out. I had a clear view of the dining room table. Al the Cardinals, including Bran, Kim’s father, and Mrs. D, sat around the table. Careful not to make any noise, I pul ed the door back until it rested on its frame. Even though I couldn’t see them, the words came through loud and clear. “There’s no excuse for such negligence, not when it comes to those children,” Aunt Janel e said. “We demand the names of al the Civilians who were there when the link was broken and the live feed turned off.” “There was a lot of movement at the time, Cardinal,” Mrs. D said, her voice so soft I had to strain my ears to hear her. “But as the head of the Civilian Psi-Team, I take ful responsibility for this mishap. I was in charge and let the Guardians down.” “I’m not sure it’s right to punish you for using the restroom, Azure,” the chairman said, speaking slowly as though choosing his words careful y. “You worked tirelessly for days to make sure the area was safe and to connect the link when it was broken. Maybe we should seek the advice of the Circle of Twelve before we proceed.” “No, we wil deal with the traitor,” Cardinal Seth interjected,
his voice cold. “Whoever did this is also the one spying for Valafar.” “Maybe Lil should stop hunting while we figure out who the traitor is,” the chairman suggested, sounding pained. “Then we’l play right into Valafar’s hands,” Grampa said, sounding a lot calmer than Aunt Janel e and Cardinal Seth. “That’s exactly what he wants. As long as she has the dagger, she’s a threat to him and the other demons out there no matter how powerful they are. You heard the report from Llyr. They faced over thirty demons and triumphed, and the others faced even more,” Grampa finished, voice fil ed with pride. “She’s part of a team now, and splitting them wil only damage their morale.” “I agree with Falcon,” Cardinal Seth added. “Interfering with the young Cardinals’ field training is counterproductive. We find the traitor and punish the bastard.” “How?” Cardinal Hsia asked. “We can’t send him or her to Xenith without involving the CT.” “Not Xenith,” Cardinal Seth snapped. “Tartarus. The dagger wil do it if ordered. Then we find out where the demons are holding their mortal combat nonsense and level it.” Who knew Cardinal Seth could be so pissed at the thought of a spy in our midst. I couldn’t believe I thought he might be the one. I’d forgotten he lost his only child during the last raid and had a score to settle with Valafar and his fol owers. “What if we identify the traitor then make him or her a counteroffer?” Cardinal Moira asked. “What do you mean?” Aunt Janel e asked. There was silence, then Grampa said, “Just a minute. Azure and Barbiel, wil you excuse us?” I opened the door a little wider to peek out just when Mrs. D and the chairman teleported from the table. The others leaned forward in their seats the table. The others leaned forward in their seats and spoke in low tones. It became impossible to hear a single word. Maybe if I moved to the living room… Bran lifted his head and looked straight at me. Placing a finger on my lips, I took a step outside.
He shook his head. “Why?” I mouthed. His eyes narrowed, and he shook his head again. I stuck out my tongue at him, stepped back into my room and closed the door. Kil joy. What offer could they possibly give a traitor? I was with Cardinal Seth on this. Send whoever it was straight to Tartarus. Looking at my clock, I jumped into the shower. Haziel was expecting me at ten. The sound of a pop tune greeted me when I left the bathroom. Frowning, I gripped my towel and looked around for the source. My computer was off, and my iPod sat on the side table with the ear buds and not on its docking station. The sound grew louder as though someone hiked up the volume. I fol owed it inside my closet to the pocket of my coat and pul ed it out It came from Izzy’s phone. I had it since Tuesday. My heart skipped a beat when I saw “restricted” on the screen. Valafar. He was the only person who blocked his number, and he said he’d cal later in the week. I hated talking to him. Gripping the towel tighter, I brought it to my ear. “Yes?” “Good morning, daughter.” “Morning. Just a sec.” The last thing I needed was someone eavesdropping on my conversation. Feeling like a traitor, I walked to the door, opened it and checked the dining room. Empty. Good. A psi scan indicated Grampa wasn’t in the house either. “You disappointed me, Lilith,” Valafar said. “I guess Dante told you about last night,” I said closing the door. “That you disobeyed me after I specifical y told you not to, yes. Dante didn’t just stumble on that little scene. He fol owed my orders to watch out for you. Are you okay?” Concern, real or feigned, tinged his words. “I’m fine.” I walked to the bed and sat. “No serious injuries from last night’s excursion?” he asked.
“No. The dagger healed me, and Izzy took care of the rest.” Why did I tel him that? He was the devil’s spawn, and I shouldn’t be having a normal conversation with him. Keeping my voice pleasant though wariness zipped through me, I asked, “So what can I do for you?” “Since it’s obvious you’re determined to act like a typical teenager and go against my wishes, Dante is yours.” I scrunched my face. “Mine? What do you mean?” “It’s simple. Every time you go hunting or whatever you young Cardinals do, he’l keep an eye on you.” “I don’t need a bodyguard,” I said, frowning. “I can take care of myself.” “Yes, you can. I heard you can retrieve images already and create lightning bolts without lifting a finger. I didn’t do either until I was in my twenties. Dante was very impressed by your fighting skil s. Between us,” he added and chuckled, “I think you scare him a little.” I scoffed at the idea. “Me? Dante’s built like a tree.” Valafar chuckled again. “His wings are massive and…” Once again, I caught myself and put a lid on my enthusiasm. “No, but thanks. I don’t need a bodyguard.” “Sorry, my dear, but you have no choice in the matter. He offered, and I approved it.” The authoritative attitude I came to expect from him returned, making me grind my teeth. “Just one more thing. Did you ask Llyr why he took on such a mission when he knew the neighborhood was dangerous?” he added. Taken aback, I frowned. “Bran didn’t know we would be attacked,” I said sharply. “Someone did something to separate us from the others.” “Are you sure about that?” “Yes! Even the CP team double checked….” My voice trailed off, remembering who I was talking to. “It wasn’t Bran’s fault.” “He scouted the place every day for three days straight. If he loves you, he shouldn’t gamble with your life like that.” Speech deserted me. How dare Valafar imply Bran would intentional y put me in harm’s way?
Bran had only gone to that place once. The few Bran had only gone to that place once. The few times he wasn’t around, he took Celeste to visit Gavyn. Or did he? No, I shouldn’t think like that. I couldn’t afford to. Bran’s love and loyalty were the two things I could always count on, and Valafar wasn’t al owed to screw with either. Taking a deep breath, I spoke calmly in a cool voice. “I need to go now. I have practice.” “I’m not questioning your friendship with Llyr. I want you to see people realistical y. Everyone has a motive for doing things. It could be power, greed, pleasure, or redemption. We al are guilty of being selfish now and then. For instance, I’ve told you why I’m searching for the List. I haven’t lied about it. I intend to lead my people. Since they believe possession of souls once owned by Coronis is necessary in order to lead them with power and authority, I wil acquire the souls in order to claim the leadership. Has your grandfather told you why the List is so important to him?” I swal owed, not liking the direction the conversation was going. “Of course he did. He tel s me everything,” I fibbed. “That’s good. Then I give you my word that when I find it, I’l make sure Llyr gets his contracts and those of his brother’s. Al I ask is for both of you to be careful and to not take chances.” Contracts? What was he talking about? I opened my mouth to ask him and closed it without speaking. No point revealing to him I was in the dark about some things. Confusion churned my insides. Bran’s refusal to blend our energies, Valafar’s words, what was I to think? “I have accepted that you made your choice to be with your grandfather and fight for the Guardians,” Valafar added, speaking slowly, “but remember one thing. Everyone has a reason for the things they do. Don’t trust people because it is what you are supposed to do. Trust must be earned.” Anger coiled inside me. “So what’s your reason for having a spy among the Guardians? Why should I trust anything you tel me?” He sighed. “Am I wrong to want to keep an eye on you, my youngest child? If someone offers me information, why should I turn it down? This person approached me, not the other way around.” I had stopped listening. “Youngest child?” “Hmm?” “You just cal ed me your youngest child,” I said my voice rising. “I have siblings? A sister…a brother?”
He chuckled. “I consider al my fol owers my children.” Relief mingled with disappointment coursed through me. Not that I wanted a demonic sibling. “So who is your spy?” He chuckled. “I can’t tel you that. Shouldn’t you be getting ready for your lessons with your master trainer?” I real y hated that he knew so much about me. What did he mean by Bran’s contracts? I didn’t dare ask and listen to another lecture on trust. “Yeah, I’ve got to go. Bye.” “Not so fast. Don’t forget to buy the cel phone and keep looking for the presents. Your mother loved to make videos. Quite a number of them are of you as a baby. My offer to heal the older Llyr stil stands. Just remember, I’l always put your interest first. We’l talk again soon.” The urge to throw the phone across the room stole through me, but it wasn’t mine to destroy. Besides, without it, Valafar would be forced to use the medium. Putting it on the bedside table, I yanked the pil ow, covered my face, and screamed until my voice hurt. Bran needed to stop keeping secrets from me. I didn’t care whether they were for my own good, my safety, or whatever. It had to stop now.
17. Down Time. Bran wasn’t in the val ey by the time I hung up the phone. He must be avoiding me. It was the only logical conclusion. I missed him. No, I missed us— the things we did together, the way I felt when with him. Last night, he disappeared as soon as we arrived back from L.A. and didn’t stop by to wish me goodnight. Today, he took off right after the meeting with the Cardinals. Celeste was gone too, which meant they went to see Gavyn. Sighing, I got dressed for my Saturday morning practice session with Leather Face. Master Haziel was grumpier than usual when I found him in the pit. He paced, hands behind his back, and barked orders before I greeted him. “What happened last night?” I blinked. “Excuse me?” “I want a report of last night’s events,” he added impatiently.
Frowning, I shook my head. “I don’t report our missions, Master Haziel. That’s Bran and Remy’s job.” He glowered. “From now on you do. To me. That way I know exactly what you did from your point of view. Starting now. Go.” I wanted to resent him, but I couldn’t. Despite the bite in his voice, there was pride and approval in his eyes as I talked. He paced, paused to ask questions, and nodded or humphed. “So is it true you used your energy powers during a battle and did not even need to raise a finger?” he asked. “Yes,” I said slowly. “Did you have to dig from deep inside to create the bolts?” I shook my head. “No. Bran got hurt and cried out. I was scared and worried, and, uh, lost it.” His onyx wise eyes sharpened. “Lost what?” “My cool.” He scowled. “Cool? What kind of expression is this?” I sighed. “It means I became angry.” He pursed his lips. “Speak English like it is meant to be spoken, young lady. We need to work on that, starting now.” “My English?” I asked. “That too, but I meant unleashing your energy abilities without getting angry or scared or worried. It should be as easy as that.” He snapped his gnarly fingers. “Come on. Warm up.” We went through regular warm-up exercises then worked on control ing my reflexes when I blended with the dagger. When I first started training with the Kris, it would take a minute or two for my body to adjust to the power surge and the accompanying pain. Now I could cushion the shock and recover in less than twenty seconds. “What’s going on today?” Haziel asked halfway through our workout session. “Why? Did I do something wrong?” I wiped sweat from my brow, my breathing even despite the hectic pace he set. “You seem more focused this morning.” Guess I should
have boy issues more often. “Must be because of last night’s successful hunt,” I said with a grin. Master Haziel grunted and looked at his stop watch. “It took you fifteen seconds to bond with the dagger. At this pace you wil have it down to ten in no time.” time.” If I were to believe him, someday I wouldn’t feel anything but pure, raw energy. Then I’d be the mistress of the Kris Dagger, comparable to the judan of Japan, the gold dragon of China, or the ninth degree black belt of Korea. Too bad. By that time, I’d probably be ready to hand over the dagger to the next wielder. “Do it again,” Haziel ordered. I did until sweat glistened on my arms and poured down my face. With fifteen minutes left in our lesson, Haziel did something unusual. He projected his image around the room. Twelve of them. It was the coolest thing ever, especial y since they looked solid and acted exactly the same. Usual y, he created only one and it shimmered. “Which one is the real you? How is this possible?” I turned, studying each image. “You made it possible,” the projections said at the same time, the words echoing around the pit. “The light from the Kris Dagger did hit me that day we had a little accident. It enhanced my powers.” Ha, I knew it. No wonder he’d been pushing me at a crazy pace lately and had so much energy. I prodded one of the images. My finger sunk into his chest. He scowled at me, and I stepped back. “Is it normal for the dagger to do that?” “Of course. The dagger not only enhances your powers, it can do the same thing to your fel ow Guardians’ when they weaken during battle. Why do you think it is so important to both Cardinals and demons? Your friends wil depend on you when they’re most vulnerable.” It made perfect sense. The dagger rejuvenated Bran and the others during the battle the night we defeated Coronis. The moment had slipped my mind until now. “Stop that,” the images reprimanded sharply when I poked at the next one. “It is important that you differentiate between a projection and the real thing without touching.
During a battle, demons— especial y the more powerful nature-benders—can confuse you with their projections while their real selves come from behind and finish you off.” I shuddered at his brutal narration, imagining Dante….no, many Dantes in a battle field. I’d probably drop down in a dead faint. “I want you to find the real me,” he added. “Like this?” I reached out to touch an arm, but the image stepped back. Al of them did. “Not physical y,” he said in an exasperated tone. “Touching, touching, touching, stop that deplorable human habit. Use your mind. Close your eyes and study the psi energies.”
Touching…deplorable human habit…blah blah blah…. No, paying attention to his rants saved me last night, so I’d better listen and learn. I closed my eyes and moved from one orb to another. There was no difference in their psi energies. It was as if Haziel had split into twelve. Stopping where I started, I scowled. “I can’t tel the difference,” I griped. “Of course not. You did not put much effort into it,” the voices scolded. “Try again.” After several loops, I pul ed the dagger from its sheath. It vibrated briefly, the ancient words etched along the blade glowing. I couldn’t read them, though I understood the language when spoken. Haziel said there was no need to learn, but the way I saw it, one must understand what went into one’s body. The words dimmed on the dagger as they inked under my skin, bringing with them the extra oomph of angelic power. Eyes closed, I studied the psi energies one more time. One shone steady and bright like the North Star while the rest flashed and ebbed like the mirage they represented. I fol owed the bright one, stopped, and lifted my eyelids. Haziel glared at me with disapproval. Then he shook his head and smiled. A genuine smile, yel owed teeth flashing and skin crinkling. I grinned back. The other images disappeared in thin air. “That was cheating.” He wagged a gnarled finger. “However, I wil let it pass because last night you made us al proud. Now let us work on your lightning powers.” The bolts became easier to create though I had to find the anger from somewhere—my frustration with Bran and the
way he kept avoiding me. Once again, I fought the excitement surging through me when I created the bolts. The ability made me feel invincible, like nothing could touch me. As I passed the rotunda, Mrs. D left her class and signaled me to stop. She seemed more serious than usual. Hopeful y, she wasn’t planning to discuss than usual. Hopeful y, she wasn’t planning to discuss last night and the surveil ance mishap. I didn’t hold her responsible. “Hey, Mrs. D,” I said cheerful y. “Hi, sweetheart. You missed yesterday’s class,” she said, crossing her arms. I co*cked my brow, not fol owing. “You were supposed to talk to my students,” she reminded me. “Oh no!” I covered my mouth with my hand. “I’m so sorry.” She smiled. “That’s okay. You had a lot going yesterday. You’re okay though, right?” “Oh yes.” I looked toward her class and felt ten times worse when I saw students peeking out of the glass panel at us. “Can I do a make-up class?” “Sure, sweetie. Any time next week wil do. Just ping me with the day.” “Thanks, Mrs. D.” I waved and headed toward the exit hal way. Something Valafar had said teased my mind, but I couldn’t grasp it. In fact, now that I’d burned off my frustration at the pit, I could look at our conversation objectively and see through his attempts to manipulate me. Bran said Valafar would try to destroy my trust in everyone I loved. If Valafar stopped messing with me, he and I could even have a relationship of some kind. He was an interesting character, and I enjoyed talking to him today… until he started fil ing my head with stuff about Bran. I real y needed to talk to Bran. A quick psi scan made me sigh. He stil wasn’t in the val ey and neither was Celeste. Back at home, I fixed myself a sandwich and tried to stay
busy with laundry and searching for an invitation template for my party. Nothing seemed right. Or maybe it was my sour mood. Usual y, I spent Saturdays with Bran or my human friends. Since McKenzie blew me off, I refused to cal her first. Kylie stil wasn’t talking to me. I missed her. She and I would have discussed the problem I was having with Bran and laughed about it. A few months ago Cade kept things from Kylie and they almost broke up. I didn’t dare cal Amelia and Nikki. They rarely went anywhere without Kylie, and her name was sure to come up. Restless, I pinged Izzy and Kim to see what they were doing. No answer. Everyone had something to do except me. Feeling a bit lonely, I tried reading, but the book on mediums was depressing. None of my usual fantasy books held much appeal. As a last resort, I tried the guys. A psi scan indicated they were around. Maybe I could hang out at their place and play a few video games.
What are you guys doing? I asked Remy. Sykes is out, and I’m in the kitchen. My mouth watered at the thought of Remy in his kitchen. The guy cooked mouth-watering dishes. Why hadn’t I thought of talking to Remy before? He was an amazing listener, the perk of being the only boy in the middle of four sisters.
Can I stop by? Sure, kiddo. He sounded preoccupied. I teleported to their foyer, and the sweet aroma of cinnamon and sugar greeted me. I licked my lips as my mouth watered. A female voice from the kitchen made me pause. I’d die of embarrassment if Remy had some girl with him and I intruded. “Remy?” I cal ed.
Kitchen. He sounded annoyed. I grimaced and debated whether to leave. Discussing Bran with him was wrong to begin with and….I was bored out of my skul . If he had company, I’d hate to be a third wheel.
Remy appeared in the doorway separating the living room from the kitchen. He had on his Kiss the Earth apron and a cloth hung over one shoulder, which he used to wipe flour off his hands. His peach-fuzz and beard were gone, leaving behind clear golden-brown skin. He looked much better. I often wondered if I would have fal en for him or Sykes if Bran hadn’t come along. Both guys were cute in their own way. While Sykes made me laugh, Remy was dependable. His gray eyes narrowed. “You coming in or leaving?” he asked in a pleasant enough voice, the one in the kitchen quiet. “I haven’t decided yet.” He chuckled. “When you make up your mind, you know where to find me.” How like him to never push. I fol owed him, the scrumptious scent pul ing me in more than the need to talk about Bran. The female voice came from the TV, and Remy’s gaze kept shifting from the screen TV, and Remy’s gaze kept shifting from the screen to the bowl in his hand. Flour and baking paraphernalia littered the kitchen counter. On the side counter cooled two trays of mouth-sized, freshly baked pastries. Not only did they look appetizing, they smel ed great. “Try them,” Remy said as though aware of my hungry gaze, but his concentration didn’t shift. He pressed the remote to stop the program, scooped a spoonful of the mixture from the bowl and dropped it onto a baking sheet. A wave of his hand and the lumps changed shape, becoming stars with different sides. I moved closer, picked one of the cooling snacks, and took a bite. It was flaky, the creamy fil ing sweet and tart. I hummed as I chewed and swal owed. “What is this?” Remy chuckled. “I don’t know. You know how it is. I try something new, it becomes a number in my recipe book and I move to the next one.” Without breaking a beat, he whipped around with the uncooked treats, opened the oven, and placed the tray inside. He was such a contradiction, an Earth Cardinal Guardian trainee who shaped lethal weapons in seconds, yet those same hands created the most mouth-watering treats. He made cooking seem too easy. Leaning against the counter, he crossed his arms and studied me with speculative eyes. “What’s up, kiddo?”
Now that I had his undivided attention, I didn’t know where to start. Instead, I brushed crumbs off the counter and mumbled, “You shaved off your moustache and beard.” “It was an experiment. Are you real y here to discuss my facial hair?” I hadn’t come to eat either, yet here I was. “What did you think of what happened last night with Valafar’s men?” He raised his brow, obviously surprised by my question. “Does my opinion matter that much to you?” I shrugged, my cheeks warming. The question just popped in my head because I had no idea how to bring up Bran and the List. “I want to know what you’d think or do if you were in my shoes.” His expression grew thoughtful. “Sending his men to watch over you is a nice gesture, but I’d stil question his motive. He’l probably cal you and reprimand you for disobeying his orders.” “He already did this morning before I went to the pit.” Concern flickered in his grey eyes. “What did he say?” Great! He just gave me the perfect opening. I rested my elbows on the counter and gave him a tiny smile. “He said Bran knew about the danger in that neighborhood and stil took us anyway.” Remy frowned and leaned back against the kitchen island. “That’s bul . Llyr would never put you in danger. The guy is nuts about you. From what I heard, he was the one who insisted we don’t go unless the CP kept up surveil ance while we were there.” I grinned. “He did?” Remy scowled. “Haven’t you spoken with him about this?” I shook my head, feeling bad for letting Valafar get to me. “He’s not around.” “His brother’s getting worse. Talk it over with him. Don’t let Valafar jerk you around with lies and innuendos. The last person who could ever betray you or the Guardians is Llyr.” He shook his head. “Is everything okay between you two?” I started to nod then ended up shaking my head. “He’s stressed out about everything—the List, his brother. And now he’s always snappy.” My throat closed. I had to clear it before continuing. “I just want the old Bran back. He’s always gone and when he’s around he’s never real y here. Am I being selfish?” Remy nodded. “Put yourself in his
shoes. He has a brother who might not make it, a List he must find, and the girl he loves has problems a mile long.” Trust Remy to give it to me straight. I pursed my lips. “You’re supposed to be the nice one.” Remy sighed, took a step that brought him to the other side of the counter where I leaned. He covered my hands with his and squeezed. “That was me being nice. Both of you have a lot to deal with and fighting is not going to make them go away. Do you want to lose him?” I shook my head so hard my gypsy earrings danced and brushed my cheeks. “Of course not.” “Then give the guy a break and let him sort his problems.” He patted my hand and went to the his problems.” He patted my hand and went to the sink.
Should I take the plunge and bring up the contracts Valafar mentioned? I chewed my lower lip and watched Remy plug the sink and turn on the water to soak the dirty utensils. Aware of my scrutiny, he stopped cleaning and co*cked his head. “What? I do clean up after myself.” I laughed, needing the comic relief. Remy and Sykes had a system that worked. He cooked while Sykes washed up. Bran and I had a relationship that worked, too. I should learn to trust him more. If he wanted me to learn about the contracts and the reason we couldn’t link or blend our energies, he’d tel me. After al , we were soul mates, which meant we’d be together forever. “Do you believe in alrunes, Remy?” I blurted. He chuckled. “Where did you hear that archaic word?” My face burned. “I stumbled on it when I was in the library the other night. I guess no one uses it anymore.” “Or believes in it,” he added. “Why not?” My annoyance must have shown because he looked up from the sink and frowned. “Our forefathers, the fal en angels, took many human wives. To discourage that practice among her fol owers, Xenia came up with alrunes. Every Guardian had a soul mate, someone they’re destined to be with. They have synchronized energies—feel each other’s pain and emotions.” He shuddered as though the very thought repulsed him.
“Why the interest?” “Just thought I’d ask,” I said with fake indifference. “So you real y don’t believe in soul mates?” He shook his head. “I believe you choose who you love and work hard at making the relationship work.” Laughing, I rol ed my eyes. “You’re the least romantic person I’ve ever met. I’ve got to go.” I scooped two more of the pastries and teleported to my bedroom, landing on my bed. *** That evening, the doorbel rang when I was in the middle of printing the invitations. Hopeful y, it was Bran. A psi scan proved me wrong. The person on the other side of the door was human, not a Guardian. “Don’t you answer your cel anymore? I cal ed, like, a gazil ion times,” McKenzie snapped as soon as I opened the door and she stepped inside. I stared at her in disbelief. Where was her forgive me for being a sucky friend, or did I have a sign on my forehead that said crap on Lil week? “My cel isn’t working. What are you doing here?” My tone was unwelcoming, but I didn’t care. In fact, I refused to close the door, just turned to study her and hoped she’d explain whatever brought her to my house then leave. She slammed the door shut. “Brrr, cold. Come on. I need to ask you something.” She led the way to my bedroom, where we usual y hung out, removing her gloves but keeping her jacket on. “Remind me to never, ever walk to your house in this crazy weather.” I refused to feel sorry for her. She wore a shirt dress with black leggings, and unlined boots total y unsuited for cold weather. Even her jacket was light. Crossing my arms, I studied her with narrowed eyes. “You blew me off the last time I saw you, McKenzie. Why?” She scowled and slipped her gloves inside the pocket of her jacket. “What are you talking about?” “You saw me in the hal way and took off in the opposite direction. Later in English lit, you didn’t even want to talk to
me. Then for three days, you weren’t at school. I mean, where have you been?” Her mouth pinched, and the sparkle in her eyes dimmed. “Oh, I’m so sorry. You see…” she hesitated then sighed and sat on my computer chair. For a moment, she stared at her hands. She looked real y miserable. “What is it?” I asked, moving closer and feeling her pain. She looked at me. Her eyes swam with unshed tears. When she spoke, she sounded bad. “I might as wel tel you everything. My parents have been fighting a lot this past year, and Dad final y moved out last weekend. The day you saw me, my brother and I went to talk to him during lunch. If you saw me in the hal way, I was probably going to talk to Kean or something. I haven’t been feeling wel . You know, dealing with everything. Things are just…bad.” know, dealing with everything. Things are just…bad.” Feeling guilty for jumping to conclusions, I sat on my desk and touched her arm. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.” She shrugged. “You couldn’t have, and there’s no need to be sorry. I mean, it’s not your fault. They’l work out their differences, and we’l be a family again. Dad promised.” Her face lit up though her smile was forced. “Now, let’s talk about your party. Who’s coming? Have you printed the invitations? Do you have an outfit yet?” “I thought I’d just wear a pair of jeans and a shirt,” I said in a quiet tone, stil trying to mul over what she just told me. Her parents always looked so happy whenever I visited their house. “Are you nuts?” McKenzie said, cutting into my thoughts. “This is your party. Use it as an excuse to get a new outfit. Your grandfather wil understand. I plan on buying something.” I frowned, seeing her forced cheerfulness for what it was, an attempt to cover her pain. “When?” “Now. Let’s go shopping.” She looked around as though she expected Grampa to appear and derail her plans. “I want to buy something sexy, hook up with someone hot,” she added in an excited whisper. Her enthusiasm got to me. Maybe shopping was exactly what we needed to get me out of my funk. “Have you eaten?”
She rol ed her eyes. “No-oo. It’s not even six yet, sil y.” “Then let’s eat out, too, my treat. I’l drive.” I opened my desk drawer and removed my keys, driver’s license, and my credit card. In no time, we parked outside Cache Val ey Mal . Inside, we headed to the only restaurant and ordered stir-fry entrees from the menu. Since the food court was at the front of the mal , we ate and checked out people as they came and went. “He’s hot,” McKenzie said for the tenth time as a bunch of guys walked past. “The one in a green hoodie?” I asked, studying the five teens in skinny jeans and hoodies. A few looked familiar. “Yeah. Too bad he’s gay.” She sighed dramatical y and waved at the guy. “He lives down the street from me.” Checking out guys at the mal was a senseless but fun pastime. We usual y did it at least once a month. McKenzie got a kick out of it, so did Kylie and the other girls. I enjoyed the break from Guardian duty while pretending to be a normal teenager. “Ohmigod, look at that one,” McKenzie squealed and gripped my arm. “He’s super hot. I think I’ve seen him at school.” “Which one?” The three guys striding confidently past the indoor kiddie rides did look hot. Not Bran or even Sykes hot, but hot nevertheless. Two wore varsity jackets and a third, Jake something or other from my math class, wore a trench coat. Like Bran’s. He wasn’t the only non-Goth guy I saw around school in a long, ankle-length trench coat. “Shaggy hair, skinny jeans. Should we fol ow them?” she asked in an excited voice. I sighed. “Okay. Let’s finish and go.” McKenzie removed a make-up compact from her purse, reapplied her gloss, and fluffed her hair. She glanced at me from above her little mirror. “You look amazing with your hair down. You should wear it down more.”
“Thanks. Bran likes it, uh, never mind.” I twirled the last noodles with my fork, refusing to talk about him. “You can wear a sack over your head, and he’d stil think you’re hot.” She sucked on her soda pop. “I want a guy to look at me the way he looks at you,” she added in a low voice fil ed with longing. I smiled, feeling a bit self-conscious and curious. “How does he look at me?” She rol ed her eyes and exhaled sharply. “Don’t get me started. Like you’re the hottest girl… ever. Have you guys done it?” My jaw dropped. “No,” I said with as much outrage as I could master. She giggled. “That explains the heated gleam in his eyes. Like he wants to…you know.” My face burned. “Shut up. Have you?” She stopped teasing and wrinkled her nose. “I’ve got to have a boyfriend first, and from the looks of things, that’s never going to happen. My mother is weird about things like that. She only lets me come to your house because, wel , she thinks you’re a good influence.” She rol ed her eyes. “Whatever. Because of you, I decided to take a self-defense Because of you, I decided to take a self-defense class…because of you my math grade improved. You walk on water, and she likes your grandfather.” Everyone who ever met Grampa liked him. He insisted on meeting the parents of al my friends, which was so embarrassing. I pushed my drink and plate aside. McKenzie jumped to her feet. “Phew, final y done. Let’s catch up with the guys before they disappear.” They were not in any store between the food court and a department store where we tried on clothes. I found a cute gray tank top with beaded ruffle detail on the shoulders and a low-cut neckline. The draped-overlay barely made it decent, but it was sexy. To go with it, I selected a tiered, lacy mid-thigh black skirt. My Gypsy skirts were down to my ankle, so this was something new.
“What do you think?” I turned around, studying my side then my back in the mirror. “Phooey. You look gorgeous,” McKenzie said with a tinge of envy. I stopped preening. “You haven’t found anything yet?” “Not under fifty,” she said on a sigh. Another round of searching on the sales racks, she found a unique one-shoulder black dress with a white half overlay that wrapped around the bodice. I found several cool things for Bran. Just because I was pissed at him didn’t mean I’d forget my promise to get presents. After paying for our purchases, we ducked into a little accessory shop so McKenzie could buy earrings. I had plenty of Gypsy accessories for any outfit and occasion. On our way out, we bumped into Jake and his friends. “We’re heading to a bookstore,” Jake said and mentioned a popular local hangout for teens. “What a coincidence, so are we,” McKenzie fibbed. Not wanting to disappoint her, I went along. Hanging out at the bookstore wasn’t bad. If I got tired of flirting, I could always read. By the time I got home, it was nine-thirty. Grampa wasn’t home and neither were Celeste and Bran. Where could they have gone? *** Something woke me up later. No, not something, a nightmare, yet I couldn’t remember it. But the echoes of my screams stil lingered in the room. Bran appeared by my bed, shirtless, shoeless, hair disheveled. Maybe I wil ed him or was dreaming. His eyes darted around the room as though searching for an intruder as he moved toward the bed. “Are you okay?” he asked. Something shifted in my chest. “It was just a nightmare.” He sat on the edge of my bed and studied me under the glow of the streetlight fal ing into my room. I swal owed and
strained my eyes to see his, which were in the shadows. His scent teased my senses, and his warmth leaped across the space separating us to envelope me. “I’ve missed us,” he whispered. My heart squeezed. “Me too.” “I don’t want to fight anymore,” he added, reaching out and touching my face with the tips of his fingers. “Me too.” I repeated my words and sat up, wanting to kiss and hold him, and never let go. “I’m so sorry for cal ing you names and forbidding you to come to my room.” The words tumbled out fast. “Shh, it’s okay. It’s my fault.” He leaned forward, and we exchanged a breath, so sweet and intoxicating. “I love you, and I always wil , no matter what happens to me.” An alarm went off in my head. “What do you mean—?” He cut me off, our lips meshing like two parts of a whole. The yin and yang. I flung my arms around his neck and pul ed him closer, getting lost in the kiss. Tingling sensations shot from my lips to every part of my body. Goosebumps spread on the surface of my skin, but underneath heated blood accelerated through my veins. I had no idea how much I missed the way I felt when with him, the way he completed me. Then he was gone. I blinked, wondering if he’d real y been in my room or I’d dreamt the whole thing up.
18. Everyone Gets Scared I don’t want to fight…it’s my fault…I love you…I always will…. As I stared into Bran’s unsmiling face, I doubted he’d been in my room two nights ago and whispered those words to me then disappeared. Words that should fil me with happiness, yet every time they echoed in my head, panic fol owed. It made no sense. For two days, I tried to figure it out to no end. I crossed my arms, leaned against the door frame, and bit my lower lip, hating the insecurity I now felt in his presence. “Were you, uh, in my room on Saturday night?” I blurted out. Bran co*cked his right eyebrow. “Why?”
“You said stuff.” He shifted his weight on the welcome mat in front of my front door, sighed, and said in a tired voice, “Like what?” I couldn’t repeat some of the disjointed words I recal ed or tel him how hot the kiss we shared was. My face warmed. “You were sorry and…,” I paused, hoping he’d jump in and finish. No such luck. “Forget it. Where have you been?” “L.A.” I studied his face, feeling his pain. “With Gavyn?” He nodded. I wanted to hug him. “How’s he doing?” “Not good. We need to go,” he added impatiently. I looked behind him and saw the jeep. “That’s okay. I mean, I’m not ready. I’l probably hitch a ride with Remy or drive myself to school.” “We’l wait.” Bran crossed his arms as though he wouldn’t move an inch unless I left with him. His misery was heartbreaking and annoying at the same time. Part of me wanted to wrap him in my arms and take away his pain, but another part wanted to scream at him. Beg him to talk to me. Apologize for al the real y bad thoughts I had while he was gone. The tension between us seemed to have returned, worse than ever. The jeep’s horn broke my internal rant and signaled Celeste’s growing impatience. “Okay. I’m coming.” I disappeared into my bedroom, fixed my hair and returned with my backpack to find him stil waiting. Together, we walked to the jeep side by side, but the Grand Canyon might as wel have been between us. I wondered what he was thinking about, but after he told me to stay out of his head, I didn’t dare attempt a link. An angry Bran wasn’t someone I could deal with right now. The drive to school was the worst ever. Although the car was warm, I felt cold inside.
Uncertain. Worried. Scared. Even Celeste remained glum in the backseat, until Bran dropped us off and left. “Okay. What’s going on?” Celeste demanded. “Nothing.” I hoisted my backpack and started for the school building. “Whoa. Wait up.” Celeste caught up with me in a few steps. “Bran said exactly the same thing, yet he’s miserable. Two days of being cooped up with him in some guest house at the Brotherhood compound, listening to him pace up and down in his room like some caged animal at four in the morning room like some caged animal at four in the morning is al I can take. And he doesn’t eat anymore.” “Quit exaggerating.” Celeste co*cked her head, eyes wide. “My brother, the one with a humongous appetite, has been staring at his food for days, food I slaved to prepare for him. Whatever the problem is, fix it,” she finished with a bite. I gawked at her. “Me? Why blame me? I didn’t start—” A few students brushed past us and turned to stare. I grabbed Celeste’s arm and pul ed her from the sidewalk and onto the grass. “I didn’t start this fight.” “I don’t care who started it. You made it worse.” She jabbed her finger at me. Her green eyes narrowed. “On Friday at the dining table, you total y ignored him. Why would you do that to him now?” The way she asked the question set off warning bel s. “What do you mean now?” “Gavyn might not make it.” Her voice broke. “The last two days were horrible. Worse, I think Bran’s in trouble with the Cardinals.” My stomach dipped. “What do you mean?” “I don’t know what’s going on, but it started before dinner on Friday. Someone pinged him. He left but when he came
back, he was with your grandfather, arguing. I mean, he yel ed at Cardinal Falcon.” That was the day he was so mean. “Did it have anything to do with me?” “Oh, please. Not everything is about you.” She waved to someone behind me before adding, “Your name wasn’t mentioned. Okay? I couldn’t eavesdrop because I don’t like people fighting. As soon as I heard them, I went to my room, closed the door, and ramped up the volume on my iPod. Your grandfather actual y teleported inside my room and pul ed the buds from my ears to get my attention. He wanted to know if I was okay. By then Bran was gone.” “Did you ask Grampa what was going on?” “You bet I did, but he said it was…Cardinal business.” She rol ed her eyes. “Bran said the same thing when I asked him later except he snapped at me. You claim you know nothing, too, yet you’re treating him like…like the island kids did after Dad was kil ed. No, this is worse because he loves you. I want my brother back.” A slight tremor shook her voice. “I want al of them back.” I rubbed my eyes, raising my shield to block her cresting frustration and pain, and her thoughts. She was scared. With Gavyn in a coma, Bran was al she had. Guilt stole through me even though I had no reason to feel bad. Taking a deep breath, I exhaled slowly. I couldn’t tel her about the List without Bran’s consent. “Look. I admit Bran and I had a blow up on Friday, but I didn’t start it. I went to your place to tel him dinner was ready, but he blew me off. I mean, he was real y mean.” Celeste scrunched her face. “Something happened on Friday to put him in such a bad mood.” And push me away. “I’l ask Grampa.” “Please, make up with Bran. No matter how bad things get, he’l always have you. That’s what he told Gavyn last time they fought. Before they went to Seattle.” Celeste’s attention drifted to someone behind me again, and I turned to look. It was the artsy guy from last week. “I’ve got to go,” she added. “Find out what’s going on and tel me.” “I wil . Take this.” I offered her an invitation card. “Let me know how many friends you’re bringing to the party.”
Scowling, she looked at the card then my face. “You’re stil having the party?” “Yes.” No one had told her about the medium, just that it was a welcome-to-the-val ey party for her and Bran. Grabbing the card, she took off. I secured my backpack over my shoulder with a snap of my hand and stomped after her and her new friend. Inside the school, misery shrouded me, lack of sleep adding to my irritation. Someone cal ed my name, but I wasn’t in the mood to chat and didn’t bother to respond. Near my locker, some guy bumped me as he passed, and my backpack slipped down my arm. “Hey, watch it,” Sykes voice reached me from behind, and I turned. He rescued my backpack, carried it in one hand and draped his arm over my shoulder. “Why the gloomy face, Red? Party plans not going wel ?” His gaze touched the box of invitations in my hand. “Feel free to use me. I can pass out invites and screen people. In fact, several of my friends want to come, but I told those losers you’re friends want to come, but I told those losers you’re the boss.” For once, Sykes’ stress-free smile and sunny personality was what I needed. I leaned against him and sighed. “I’l do that.” “Which one, use me or screen people?” I was already using him for comfort. We reached my locker, and I turned to face him. “This is my first party and I could use pointers, so I guess that means use you?” Grin broadening, he spread his arms. “Then I’m yours, anytime, anywhere.” He winked at two girls a few lockers away who whispered and giggled at his antics. What a flirt. I scrunched my face and opened my locker. “Can you be in charge of drinks? I know we’l need punch or something.” “Definitely something.” He grinned, hazel eyes twinkling. “No alcohol,” I warned. “I promised Grampa.” “Of course not.” His eyes widened as he faked an innocent look. Not buying the act, I shook my head. “We’l shop tomorrow or Wednesday after school.
Together.” “Oh no, drinks wil be my contribution to the party.” He tagged one of my curls. “What’s your plan on music?” “We’l shop together,” I repeated. “As for music, I plan to ask Remy to loan me his entertainment system.” “Consider it done—his contribution.” Sykes leaned against the next locker and checked out girls as they passed. His inability to focus could be annoying at times. “I’l ask him later.” I shoved the books into my locker, irritated though I had no reason to be. Sykes wasn’t my boyfriend; he could ogle whoever he wanted. My main concern now was Bran and what the Cardinals told him on Friday. Somehow I knew it had something to do with me. I slammed my locker and drew Sykes’ attention back to me. “Did you hear what I said?” He smirked smugly. “Yeah, Red. I’m good at multi-tasking. There’s no need to ask Remy. He’l do it. Check with the girls about food. They’ve thrown a few parties and know stuff. See you later.” He tugged another curl of my hair and swaggered off. “Oh, and you owe me a trim,” he added over his shoulder. Sighing, I headed in the opposite direction. I had a feeling my Guardian buddies would hijack my party but didn’t care. Whatever food, drinks, or music they suggested would be okay with me. “Pizza,” Amelia suggested during lunch. “Weenies and veggie dips,” McKenzie added. “I hate weenies…too salty.” Amelia made a face and pushed her glasses back in place. She glanced at her cousin. “What do you think, Kylie?” The petite Goth shrugged with indifference. “Sounds okay. I stil don’t know if I’l make it.” “Fine,” I snapped. Cade shot me an uneasy look, the invitation card I slid toward Kylie in his hand. I lifted the box with the remaining cards. “See you guys later.” McKenzie grabbed my wrist before I stood. “I’l come over to help. Just say when.” “Me too,” Nikki added.
“Me three,” Amelia added, pointedly looking at Kylie. Kylie glared back. Once again, I tried to stand, but McKenzie’s grip tightened. “Don’t go yet. What’s going on with you two? You have a fight or something?” Her gaze vol eyed between me and Kylie. Amelia nodded. “Yeah, you’ve been acting crazy weird. Not you, Lil. Kylie.” Kylie took a deep breath, exhaled sharply, and got up. She hurried toward the cafeteria doors. Cade jumped up, too. “I’l talk to her.” “Don’t make her come if she doesn’t want to,” I reminded him. “No, we’l be there. She’s just a little, you know, scared.” Cade hurried away. The others exchanged curious glances while I ground my teeth. “Scared of what?” McKenzie asked. I shrugged. “I have no idea. See you guys tomorrow. I’l let you know what I’ve decided about food.” “What do you think is going on?” I heard Amelia ask as I walked away. Celeste’s original idea seemed like the only solution—make both Kylie and Cade forget what they saw that night. Before the entire school heard that she was scared…of me. Stopping by the geek table on my way to Kim’s, I slipped three invitations next to Christian, my Kim’s, I slipped three invitations next to Christian, my source for everything physics. I owed him a status bump. “I’m having a party on Friday night. Here are the invitations for you and your friends.” His shocked expression was comical. “Uh, thanks, Lil.” “You’re welcome.” My good deed of the day done, I smiled and left. Kim watched me with narrowed eyes and jumped on me as soon as I sat. “You didn’t just invite those pimple-faced boys to your party.” I was in no mood for her cattiness. “My party, my rules.” “A disaster waiting to happen,” she retorted, making a face liked she’d swal owed something rotten. “At least tel me
you’ve made an appointment with a caterer to bring food.” “I have.” That eliminated more put downs, but as I placed the box with the invitations in the middle of the table, I wondered if she might be right. Maybe I needed to contact a local restaurant to bring food. “Take as many as you can. I’ve already set aside the ones for some Guardians students. I’l deliver them later this evening.” I waited until they emptied the box then turned to Remy. “Can you help me with the music?” He shrugged. “Sure.” “Told you so,” Sykes quipped. I wrinkled my nose at him. “About the reason for this party, Aunt J…Cardinal Janel e suggested we talk to the house cleaners in case one of them signed for the package.” Silence fol owed. “You told her our plan?” Izzy asked in disbelief. “Everyone is guilty until proven innocent.” The others nodded. “That’s ridiculous. Aunt Janel e would never betray me, and anyone who suspects my grandfather is nuts.” “Those closest to you are usual y the ones you watch for,” Kim said in a sing-song voice while examining her perfectly manicured nails. “Or as Michael Corleone said, ‘keep your friends close, but your enemies closer,’” Sykes added. “Sun Tzu said that,” Celeste corrected, appearing beside me. She sat and placed her tray down. “Or was it Niccolò Machiavel i.” She beckoned her friends, the artsy guy and another girl, to sit. Kim glared at them, kil ing any hopes they might have for joining us. The two moved to a different table. I glanced at Celeste and groaned. Her cheeks were pink and her murderous eyes leveled at Kim. She wasn’t going to let this pass. “Why did you do that?” she snapped. Kim studied Celeste like she would something that crawled from under a rock. She co*cked one shaped eyebrow. “Excuse me?” “Why did you shoo my friends away?”
Kim shrugged. “Because I can.” I covered my face. “We decide who sits at our table,” Kim added. Celeste rol ed her eyes. “That’s stupid.” “Says the half-and-half fresh off Coronis Isle,” Kim retorted. “Trust me, freshie. You want to keep humans’ at an arm’s length. It’s bad enough we have to put up with Lil’s ragtag group of friends. And FYI,” she leaned closer and pointed at Celeste, “you sit with the other Civilians. We discuss important Cardinal business during lunch.” After this morning, I was sure the words ‘Cardinal business’ were like a red flag to Celeste. Before I could warn her not to say another word, she was in Kim’s face. “Like what?” she snapped. “How to be the baddest biotch around here?” Kim’s eyes narrowed. The guys grinned. Izzy muttered, “I like her.” I just wanted to slip away but couldn’t without intervening. “We were discussing a package Valafar sent me. We think someone took it. Maybe you could help, too, Celeste.” She didn’t even glance my way, but I caught the tail end of the words she telepathed Kim… you think you are?
Don’t mess with me, freshie, Kim retorted. I will sweep this floor with you and send you on a one way ticket to Tartarus. I dare you to try. I’m the daughter of a Lazari. I’ll get inside your head so fast, make you dance naked on this table and destroy your reputation like that! Celeste snapped her fingers. Empty threats, but Kim didn’t know that. A flicker of uncertainty crossed her pretty face, giving me the chance to grab Celeste’s arm. Let’s go, I told me the chance to grab Celeste’s arm. Let’s go, I told her.
She has no right to talk to me like that, Celeste snapped. Who crowned her the queen B? The answer to that was obvious. Kim crowned herself, of
course. I pushed the tray into Celeste’s hand. Please. Just
go and sit with your friends. She took the tray, threw Kim a kil er look as if to say, this is not over, and al owed me to walk with her to the table, where her friends sat. “We’l talk later,” I said and left, hurrying past Kim’s table without slowing. Kim and Celeste were too much alike, if one looked beyond their fashion styles. Both were fearless and spoke their minds without pausing to see who might get offended. It never crossed my mind that they’d start off like this. On the other hand, it was time someone knocked Kim off her high horse. I dumped the empty card box on my way to the entrance. Bran wasn’t parked at the front of the school, not that I expected him. My gaze went to Remy’s car, parked at its usual spot. Kim and Izzy teleported to and from school using it as their entry point, like Superman’s telephone booth, but I never tried it before. Glancing around, I hurried across the street and unlocked the door, slipped inside, and teleported to Bran’s place. Sounds coming from his room indicated he was home. Not sure how he’d react, I hesitated, took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. Maybe surprising him wasn’t a good idea. The last time I was in his room flashed in my head. Heartbeat unsteady, I approached his door and knocked. No answer. Frowning, I tried again. No response. “Bran?” I cal ed out and gently pushed the door open. The room was empty, which didn’t make sense. A psi sweep indicated he was no longer in the house. Change that to val ey. He must have teleported when I arrived, which meant he deliberately avoided me. Disappointed, I went home, warmed a can of soup, and ate it. Alone. *** As students poured out of the building in groups, the noise level grew decibels higher than usual, or maybe it was just my state of mind. I stayed inside the main hal and studied Bran through the large glass windows. My heart fluttered at the sight of him. Arms and legs crossed while leaning against the jeep, he occasional y glanced at his watch.
Today he wore aviator sunglasses, which made him look even hotter. But they also meant I wouldn’t be able to see his eyes. I hated that. He’d changed into a white T-shirt and blue jeans under his black trench coat, instead of his usual dark colors. Maybe he was going somewhere special this evening. Without me. Once again, I wanted to communicate with him telepathical y but couldn’t because his stupid shield was up. I wanted us to talk. Needed him to tel me about the fight between him and Grampa, what contracts he wanted from the List and why. Maybe even convince him to let me help his brother and ease his family’s suffering. What was the point of having powers when you couldn’t help those you love? There must be something I could do to make Bran open up. “Pssst?” someone hissed behind me. I jumped and turned. Izzy. “Sheesh, don’t sneak up on me like that.” “Hiding?” Annoyed, I made a face. “From who?” “Him.” She pointed at Bran. “You’re in here staring at him on the sly, and from the looks of things, he’s getting irritated. You have a fight?” I cringed. “Why would you say that?” “You’re usual y in his arms right about now making al of us envious. Instead you’re in here … scowling.” Plotting was more like it. An idea popped in my head. “I’m waiting for Celeste.” She chuckled. “Aah, little Llyr. Love that girl. I think things are going to get interesting around here. I’m so looking forward to talking to her at your party.” “Don’t encourage her, Izzy. We’re on the same team and should al get along.” “In Xenith maybe, but this is the real world,” she said in a sing-song tone. “See you later.” Izzy blew hot and cold so often I stil couldn’t figure her out even after seven months. When someone broke one of the Cardinal rules, she bit off someone broke one of the Cardinal rules, she bit off their heads without missing a bite. Yet she often got a kick out of
meaningless squabbles. Her fashion style was also diverse. One week she’d wear trendy preppy outfits, the next jeans and tees. And even though her hair was often blown dry and styled, at times she let the curly mane down or had it in single braids, like now. Could Izzy be the guide? Even as the question crossed my thoughts, I knew it was wrong to think like her and the other trainees. They put that crazy idea in my head during lunch. If the Cardinals were suspect, so was everyone else. Maybe Izzy’s contrary attitude hid something sinister and Kim’s incessant complaints about demons and humans were just a front. Bran’s odd behavior could easily explain everything if he were the spy. No, I had to stop believing someone close to me would betray me. As it was, I had enough to deal with without alienating my friends on groundless suspicions. “Were you two gossiping about me? I swear I heard my name mentioned,” Celeste said, stopping beside me. I sighed. It must be sneak-up-on-Lil day. “Kinda. Izzy likes that you chal enged Kim, which doesn’t make sense because they’re best friends. Can you hitch a ride with Remy and Sykes?” “Why?” I pointed out the window. “I need time alone with Bran.” Celeste fol owed my gaze and grinned. “Consider me gone. And no need to ask the guys. I’l teleport.” A bunch of Civilians walked past and waved. “No, I’l take the bus with the others. Bye. ” I fol owed them, my gaze on Bran. The closer I got to him, the more I liked the plan I hatched. “Hey,” I said, smiling. Instead of answering, he extended his hand toward me, gripped my elbow, and pul ed me into his arms. I tried to resist, real y did. Stiffened every muscle in my body and gave myself a pep talk about how we needed to talk first, but my traitorous heart trembled and melted. With a sigh, I sagged against him. His warmth and scent fil ed my senses. For a moment, nothing else mattered but being in his arms. “I’m so sorry for the way I’ve been acting,” he whispered in my hair.
His regret was sincere. He might lock me out of his mind, but he couldn’t block my empathetic abilities or stop the flow of his emotions to my psyche. Not ready to leave the comfort of his arms, I leaned back and studied his face. The corners of his lips lifted, dimples flashing, but the devastating effect of his gorgeous smile was dimmed by the sunglasses. Just as wel . That lethal smile of his tended to screw with my thought process. “We need to talk,” I said. The smile disappeared from his lips. “I know.” “I understand you’re worried about Gavyn and the List, and I’m with you on those.” Ask him about the contracts, a tiny voice whispered in my head. I ignored it. “Can you tel me what happened on Friday? I heard you and Grampa got into a fight or something.” He sighed, hands dropping to his side. Cold replaced the warmth, and I shivered. “What did you fight about?” I pushed. “Nothing that I didn’t already know.” He turned and opened the door. “Get in.” “We promised to never keep secrets from each other.” “I know.” He scowled, his gaze going to the school building. “If you’re looking for Celeste, she took the school bus home with the other Civilians.” I settled in the passenger seat and hugged my backpack. Bran frowned. “Why would she do that?” “Because I asked her to.” His jaw clenched. He pushed the door shut with exaggerated care, walked around, and settled behind the wheel. Uneasy silence fil ed the car as he took off. A few times he glanced at me, but since I couldn’t see his eyes or read his mind, I stared straight ahead. An apology without an explanation was meaningless. Time for Plan A. Even as I implemented it, guilt fol owed. “Stay out of my head, Lil,” he warned in a low tone. “Why?” I griped, trying to find a way around his shield. “It’s invasive.” His hand flexed on the steering wheel. “I can’t explain everything yet. Just give me time.”
Something close to panic raced through me. Something close to panic raced through me. “Time to do what? If you can’t tel me what’s going on, I’l ask Grampa.” “Don’t,” he snapped. “Why not?” Frustration bubbled to the surface. “Because I’m asking you not to. Why can’t you just be patient?” he asked through clenched teeth. “I would if you weren’t scaring me. You’re not acting like yourself. First you tel me never to link with you and kick me out of your bedroom, which by the way I’l never, ever forget. Second, you refuse to blend our energies to heal. Then you appear in my room in the middle of the night because I had a nightmare and won’t admit it.” I paused to give him a chance to deny it. He didn’t. My anger shot up. “And now you’re asking me to give you time, and I’m supposed to be okay with it?” His anger peaked and crashed into my psyche. “Yes. Because I love you, and everything I do is to protect you.” As though he’d said too much, he clammed up, lips pinched. “Protect me? Is that what you and Grampa fought about? How is not linking with me or blending our energies protecting me?” “I can’t explain now,” he said through his teeth. Time for Plan B. My empathic abilities weren’t invasive. With just the two of us, I didn’t even have to worry about sensory overload. I focused and opened my senses. At first, al I got from him was frustration. Then something else trickled through. As though he realized my intentions, he floored the gas pedal. The faster he drove, the more I probed and absorbed, my heart pounding with the effort and…guilt. Muttering something under his breath, Bran brought the jeep to a screeching halt on the curb outside his house. I braced myself against the dashboard to prevent being pitched forward. He jumped out, leaving the engine running, and rounded the hood of the jeep. The sunglasses were clenched in his hand, and his eyes flashed dangerously.
Heart palpitating, I unbuckled my seatbelt, pushed down the button that locked the doors and scooted to the driver’s seat. He tried to open the door, realized what I did and glared at me as though I’d gone mad. His attempt to use his limited psi abilities to unlock the door was fruitless. I was a stronger psi. He drove his fingers through his hair, a tel tale sign of frustration, and yel ed something. I didn’t hear a single word over the droning car engine, or was it the blood roaring past my ears. Then he leaned against the car and started to laugh. My mouth twitched, but I watched him like a hawk until he stopped. Slowly, I lowered the window a few inches. “I know you’re scared of something, Bran.” “Open the door, Lil.” “Not until you talk to me. The only time you were this scared was when Celeste lived on the island and you wanted to rescue her. You were scared for her and of Coronis. Since you claimed your mean behavior is for my protection, are you afraid for me or of me?”
19. An Impasse “Why would I be afraid of you?” Bran asked in a tone more puzzled than annoyed. I had no answer for him. Maybe he was scared of Valafar and his influence on me. Maybe it was my resurfacing nature-bender powers. “Does that mean you’re afraid for me? How is it connected with us linking?” He ignored my question. “Why would I be afraid of you?” he repeated. “Because of Valafar. It’s hard to know what to believe when everything he says makes sense.” Concern flickered in Bran’s emerald eyes as he studied me. “Like what?” Let’s see if he liked me keeping things from him. “I’d like to share, but….” I shrugged. Annoyance crossed his handsome face. “That’s not funny. I was directed not to say anything yet.” “Hmm, interesting. I was directed not to trust anyone yet.” I opened my eyes wide and gave him a sweet smile.
“By who? Valafar?” He spat out the name like it was something vile. I shrugged. A calculating gleam entered Bran’s eyes. Then without saying another word, he turned and walked up the driveway. I gawked. Rol ing down the window, I yel ed, “Where are you going?” “Home,” he cal ed back. “We’re not done talking.” “Yes, we are. Drop off the keys when you’re done throwing a tantrum.” He disappeared inside the house. Tantrum? He made me want to scream. Seriously, there was something wrong with him. Didn’t he understand the meaning of the word compromise? Meeting halfway. Give and take. Aunt Janel e was right. He needed to learn how to treat me right. We couldn’t always do things his way. Let him keep his stupid secret. We’ll see how he likes the consequences. Sighing, I knew I was deluding myself. We had reached an impasse and could either move past it or stay deadlocked. Through the rearview mirror, I watched the school bus stop outside the gate and students hop down. Several Guardian boys and girls walked by and waved. I nodded, switched off the engine and stepped down just as Celeste and three other girls walked up. I forced myself to calm down and act natural. Celeste introduced her new friends, but I sucked at names. Faces, on the other hand, were my specialty. It was a good thing the girls were unforgettably beautiful and not carbon copies of each other. That was something I got used to, the startling beauty of the Guardians. I frowned when they refused to meet my gaze. I hoped they weren’t shy. Guardian business had no room for shyness. I should know. One had long pale hair, fair skin, and a pert nose. It gave her a distinct elfish look. The name Elfin would do for her. The second one, a brunette with big gray eyes like an
anime character and freckles across her nose, deserved the name Freckles. And Dimples was the only way to describe the third girl with curly hair, smooth mocha skin, and round dimples. “Are any of you girls a psi?” I asked. “Are any of you girls a psi?” I asked. They al nodded, stil refusing to meet my gaze. Maybe they found me intimidating, which sucked. “I guess I’l see you in class soon.” “You’re coming to talk to us?” Freckles asked as she made eye contact and blushed. She looked even prettier blushing. Whenever I did, my cheeks matched my hair. “I promised Mrs. D. I would, but I haven’t decided on what to do or the day. But it’l be sometime this week.” As they walked away, one said, “She cal s the teacher Mrs. D., just like us.” They giggled. Celeste rol ed her eyes. “You could stand in front of the class and do nothing, and they’d stil think you’re amazing. It must be cool to be you,” she teased, bumping me with her elbow. I elbowed her back. If she only knew. Being me sucked big time. We used the side door of my house and stopped in the kitchen, where I dumped my backpack and Bran’s keys on the counter. Celeste picked up the keys. “Were you driving Cardinal Janel e’s jeep?” “Nope.” I opened the pantry door. “Then what are you doing with these?” She shook the keys. “Long story. Do you want something to eat?” I removed a box of chocolate covered granola bars and offered her one. “Thanks. So how did it go with Bran?” “I’m working on it. There’re certain things the Cardinals don’t discuss with even us trainees, but I’l get it out of him,” I finished, faking confidence I didn’t feel. Celeste gave me thumbs up. We finished our snacks and
washed them down with milk. When I pul ed out my homework from my backpack, she said, “I’ve got to ask you something, Lil. During lunch you said you were searching for a package your father sent?” “Valafar,” I corrected in an irritated voice. “Just because he fathered me doesn’t make him my father.” She made a face. “Okay. So what’s the package about?” Her eyes widened as I explained the medium, the missing package, and our plan to use the party on Friday to identify the medium. “Oh man, I feel like a total jerk now,” she said. I shook my head. “Why?” “I had no idea you were going through so much. You always seem so upbeat, everyone’s little princess.” “Little princess? Please. That doesn’t explain the total jerk comment though.” She wrinkled her nose. “I was mean to you earlier, you know, yel ing and stuff. I wouldn’t have if I’d known. I mean, you seem to have a lot going on right now. But,” she stood and picked up her backpack, “I’l make it up to you by finding the person hiding your package. Most of my Academy friends live with Civilians, which means they have access to their houses. If they search—” “Oh no, no.” I shook my head. “You can’t tel anyone about this. In fact, I shouldn’t have told you. If the others find out, they’l kil me.” The doorbel rang. I checked the psi energies of my visitors and groaned. “Kim and Izzy are here. Don’t mention the medium or the package, and please, please, don’t fight with Kim again. She’s a Cardinal Guardian.” “A Cardinal Guardian trainee,” she corrected. “Same difference, so show her some respect. They are also my friends. We might not get along al the time but we watch each other’s backs when it counts.” Celeste looked like she was about to argue then shrugged and gripped her backpack against her chest. “Fine. I’l play nice. I’l even leave to avoid another fight. But if she says something nasty about me, you tel me. Okay?” Like I would ever tattle-tale. “Okay.” She teleported in a burst of tiny sparkling lights like Guardians, unlike Bran who
was usual y there one second and gone the next. I must remember to ask him about that, if I ever talk to him again. Hurrying to the door, I wondered what Kim and Izzy wanted. Usual y, they fol owed the standard protocol—pinged to tel me they were on their way then teleported in. They rarely walked, except across the school’s parking lot to and from Remy’s car. Not that that short distance counted. Besides, the ridiculous high-heeled boots and shoes they favored were total y impractical for walking. I opened the door and stared, taken back. I opened the door and stared, taken back. They weren’t alone. Maria, the co-owner of the company the High Council hired to clean our homes, stood behind them. Nervous energy poured from her, and she looked like a prisoner heading to the gal ows.
What’s going on? I telepathed Izzy and Kim at the same time. “Mrs. Maria has something to tel you,” Izzy said.
It’s about the package, Kim added. We want to know if she’s telling the truth. They actual y took Aunt Janel e’s suggestion about the cleaning crew seriously. I waved them inside, closed the door, and led the way to the living room. Kim and Izzy took the sofa adjacent to where I sat with Mrs. Maria. The High Council had a strict policy about who entered our homes and performed regular psi scans on the cleaners and the gardeners in case they saw or heard something. From the way the woman sat on the edge of the couch with her knees pressed together and wrung her hands, I wondered what she might have seen. “What is it, Mrs. Maria?” I said, keeping my voice pleasant. She looked nervously at Kim, who nodded and gave her an encouraging smile. “Ms. Kim said the UPS package my daughter signed for is missing.” I blinked and glanced at the others. I hadn’t expected that. “Your…daughter?” “My wrist was hurting, and I needed help with the cleaning. It was only for one day,” she added quickly, her voice rising. “Mrs. Larsen warned me to never add an employee without checking with her first. I know I shouldn’t have, but I had surgery and—”
“I understand.” I gripped her hands. It’s okay.
Everything will be fine. She was afraid of losing her contract with the High Council. The moment she became composed, I said, “Go on.” “I was next door while my daughter finished in here when the UPS driver drove up. By the time I found out she signed for the package, the truck was gone.” “Where did she put it?” I asked. “Outside the door.” I frowned. “Why?” Her anxiety crept up. “It’s my fault. She put it inside, but I told her to come back here and put it outside so your grandfather would see it when he came home.” That part was a lie. She was scared of getting in trouble for bringing an unauthorized person into our homes. “She put it out there.” Mrs. Maria pointed at the door. “I saw it when we finished cleaning next door. But it was gone when we drove past later. I thought…,” she swal owed, “I thought you or your grandfather took it.” I squeezed her hands and did my best to keep her calm. Most of the things she said were true. “We’l find the person who took it. Thank you for tel ing us the truth.” She gave me a weak smile then glanced at Kim. “You won’t tel your mother—” “I promised I wouldn’t. You can go back to work now.” Kim dismissed her with a wave of her hand. “Thank you, Ms. Larsen. Thank you.” She turned away from Kim, gripped my hands, nodded at Izzy and disappeared through the door as though hel hounds were chasing her. I waited until the door closed behind her then looked at the others. “She’s tel ing the truth, except for the part about why her daughter put the package outside. They hoped we’d think UPS people just left it out there. She’s scared of losing her job.” Kim sighed and looked at Izzy. “You have to do it.” “I know.” Izzy sighed and stood.
My gaze vol eyed between them. “Do what?” “Go back in time and catch the thieving guide,” Kim said flippantly, as though discussing a teleport to her favorite boutique. “Won’t we get in trouble?” I asked. “Only if we get caught,” Kim added. “Izzy is pretty good at this.” “But secretly hates it,” Izzy mumbled. Kim pinned her with a glare. “Remember the rules, don’t let anyone see you or get trapped in the past.” Izzy rol ed her eyes. “I know. Mrs. Maria told us the daughter signed for the package around one o’clock on December nineteenth.” Izzy glanced at her watch. “The person pilfered it before two-forty-five, watch. “The person pilfered it before two-forty-five, the time we usual y get home from school. If I can get there just as she puts the package outside, hide in your room and wait, I should be able to see the thief.” I stared at her with wide eyes, gratitude making my voice thick. “I can’t believe you’re doing this when you hate to time travel.” She wrinkled her nose and gave me a dirty look. “Don’t you forget it. If I bump into the past-you while I’m over there, I’l give you a kick in the butt for getting us into another mess. You know how good I am with kicks. You’l remember the pain four months later.” Laughing, I threw my arms around her, tears fil ing my eyes. How could I have thought I didn’t understand her? She was unpredictable and a pain in the butt, but very loyal when it counted. Both of them were. Kim watched us with a feigned bored expression. I let go of Izzy, dropped down on the couch beside Kim and hugged her too. At first Kim stiffened then relaxed when she realized I wasn’t letting her go. A tear fel on her shirt. “Whoa, Lil. Prada. That means no tear stains.” “I’l save and buy you a new one,” I said laughing. She and Izzy rol ed their eyes in such a way that told me the top was unique. From the way Grampa rationed my al owance, I probably couldn’t afford it if I tried. “Are you sure about doing this?” I asked. Izzy shrugged. “No, but it needs to be done so we don’t
have this medium slash traitor thing hanging over our heads.” She glanced at the clock above the fireplace then the watch on her wrist, which was intricate but used by al Time trainees. It had regular second, minute, and hour hands, a smal digital window for the year and two smal er faces with letters and numbers for the month and day imbedded in the rhinestone background. Biting her upper lip, Izzy moved her finger in circles above the clear glass surface and adjusted the smal er faces so that the dial of the first pointed at December and the second pointed at the number nineteen. Another finger swipe and digital numbers changed to last year. Final y, she worked on the hour and minutes hands and set them back to one o’clock, the time the package was delivered. Only then did she look at us. “I plan to get there at exactly one on December nineteenth. Assuming Mrs. Maria’s daughter is talking to the UPS man, she won’t see me teleport into your bedroom.” She looked at the clock one more time, then at me, and final y at Kim. “It’s three-fifteen now. If I’m not back here in an hour, get Cardinal Hsia and tel her something is wrong and I need to be rescued.” “That’s not funny,” Kim retorted. “I know.” Izzy grinned. She took a deep breath and exhaled sharply. “Here goes nothing.” She shimmered and disappeared in a burst of lights. Silence fol owed her departure. The turn of events was unnerving to say the least. I didn’t know what to say to Kim, especial y when she sat back, crossed her legs and arms. It was obvious she wasn’t going anywhere. Soon, she started tapping her fingers on her arm. “You don’t think she’l be okay,” I said. Kim didn’t even look at me, just kept staring into space. “I don’t know, but I hope so. Izzy pretends to be tough, you know, but she’s not. Two years ago when she moved in with us and we started training, she cried almost every day for a month. She missed her family and didn’t particularly like it here. If anything happens to her….” she pursed her lips then looked at me as though surprised she confessed so much. “Can I use your computer?” She jumped up and started for my bedroom without waiting for my response. I dogged her footsteps, not wanting her in
my room but unable to see a way out of the situation. “I might as wel browse and see what’s hot while I wait for her return. Hope you don’t mind,” she added. I rol ed my eyes. Like she’d leave if I minded. Every time she came to visit, there was always something about my room she had to criticize or complain about. I didn’t care what she thought about my taste in draperies or furniture, but I didn’t want her to see my room in a mess. Bran had arrived way too early this morning to take me to school, and I missed the chance to clean up a little. Maybe we should do something outside the house. “I plan to take the invitations to the other Guardian students. You can come with.” “No, thanks.” She paused at the entrance of my bedroom and looked around. “Hmm, you should my bedroom and looked around. “Hmm, you should ask Mrs. Maria to do your house twice a week. She does ours.” Gingerly lifting a towel from the back of my computer chair, she passed it to me using the tips of her nails then sat. She was right this time. My room looked like it was hit by a tornado. Printer papers with different invitation designs were strewn on the floor around the desk along with several tops and my PJs. A cup of cold cocoa and granola bar wrappers sat beside the computer. Kim pushed them aside then fired up the computer. Ignoring the papers, I threw the clothing in the hamper and removed the drink and the wrappers. “What’s the name of the caterer you used when you threw your party?” She chuckled, picked up a pencil, and scribbled on one of the printer papers. “I kind of had a feeling you might need her. Izzy said to let you run things your way. How ridiculous. I don’t understand why she keeps forgetting reputation is everything in high school.” “It’s stupid,” I retorted. “Unfortunately, what you think doesn’t matter,” she said in an absentminded tone, her attention on the screen as she clicked the mouse. “That’s how it is here, and there’s nothing you can do to change it.” She glanced at me, a frown on her face. “You might want to talk to Bran’s sister about the way she dresses. It looks like she shops at a garage sale blindfolded. I hope she has something decent
to wear to your party.” Okay, I had enough of Ms. Perfect. She liked to hear the sound of her own voice. “I’ve got to go. Thanks for this.” I waved the piece of paper with the name and phone number. “Tel Ursula I sent you. She knows what we like, which includes pizza that’s to die for. You might also want to talk to Remy about covering the bookcases downstairs. Some of your grandfather’s books belong in the museum, and you don’t want drunken high school boys around them.” “Oh, there won’t be any drinking,” I replied. She co*cked her eyebrow at me. “Grampa’s orders,” I added defiantly. Kim laughed, and not in a nice way. “Whatever. Just remember, al they care about is music, booze, and hooking up.” She started typing. As I stood there, I was certain of two things. First, there would be alcohol at my party whether I wanted it or not. Second, my human friends would kil me if they didn’t help me with this party. I needed to involve them somehow. Turning, I went to the kitchen to cal the caterer. *** Later, I left practice only to find Bran waiting for me outside. Sitting on the hal way floor, arm propped on one bent knee, his back to the wal and head tilted upwards, he stared into space. His eyes were shadowed and lips pressed together as though he was thinking unpleasant thoughts. I’d never seen him so miserable. My heart squeezed, the urge to sit beside him and hug him washing over me. Since I decided on leaving him alone, I held back. He noticed me, and his emerald eyes lit up, lips curling at the corners and dimples flashing. The smile didn’t fool me. I’d seen the misery first. Our fight was taking a tol on him too. “Hey,” he said and jumped to his feet, his gaze not leaving my face. I gave him a tiny smile, crossed my arms, and hugged myself.
“I came to watch you train, but the old man had the pit locked down tighter than Tartarus,” he teased, but shadows stil lurked in his eyes. “He doesn’t like an audience. What are you doing here?” “I’d like to walk you home,” he said. Cute but not exactly what I wanted. I started toward the entrance. He fel in step with me, uneasy silence settling over us. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye and caught him studying me, too. We both looked ahead as though we were doing something wrong. But my heart lifted. Maybe he regretted keeping things from me. I missed him. We entered the rotunda foyer just as students poured out of their classes. Some walked in groups toward the pit while a few ran into the library. They al wore black sweat suits like mine, the standard uniform. Celeste saw us and waved. “Have you talked to the psi class yet?” Bran asked as we left the Academy behind. I shook my head. “Tomorrow maybe or Wednesday. I’m not sure what I should show or tel them. What if they’re not impressed? What if they them. What if they’re not impressed? What if they laugh? I watched the others teach, and they were awesome.” Bran laughed softly. “You worry too much. Just be yourself.” Easy for him to say. Al he needed to do was flash his gorgeous smile, and they’d love him. “Have you taught a class?” “Every week since the school opened,” he bragged. I rol ed my eyes. “Show off.” “Not,” he retorted playful y. “I’m just good at it. Maybe one day I’l be a teacher.” The thought of Bran as a teacher was hilarious. I couldn’t see him in any position except a Cardinal Guardian. “Have you heard from Lottius?” He shook his head. “No.” “Are you worried she might not contact you?” He frowned and appeared to think about his answer. “Not real y.” As we continued toward the HQ offices, we fel into a pattern of uncomfortable silences fol owed by stilted
conversations about school, Kylie, hunting, Gavyn. We usual y shared our day while in each other’s arms. Now we walked stiffly, stealing glances and looking away. The awkwardness between us was so foreign and hard to bear that I wanted to teleport home and nurse my hurt feelings in the privacy of my room. What could the Cardinals have told Bran that he would risk hurting me like this? The gap between us seemed to be growing every day. He stopped and I looked around in confusion. We’d passed the offices and now stood at the entrance of one of the tunnels, a number seven written in black on the gray wal . Seven led to Remy and Sykes’ home, not mine. “What are we doing here?” I asked, frowning. Bran indicated the tunnel with a wave. “The others are waiting for you. Izzy is back.” “Izzy?” Then everything came rushing back. “Why didn’t you say so? We could have teleported instead of walking. What did she find?” “I don’t know. She pinged and asked me to get you, but to give her time to get everyone together.” I hurried ahead of him, my heart pounding with excitement and dread. For once I didn’t let fear of tight places slow me down. “How did she sound? Excited? Worried?” “She sounded…like Izzy.” I threw him a disgusted look over my shoulder, pressed the wal at the end of the tunnel and a door appeared. Low voices reached me first though I couldn’t hear what was being said. Sounded like an argument, but I could be wrong. We went through the secret door, moved inside the room and then into their gaming slash entertainment area. Sykes, seated on his favorite side bench by the window, saw us first. “They’re here,” he said, though it sounded more like a warning. Everyone stopped talking and turned to watch us. I noted the worry etched on their faces and my mouth went dry.
There was no package on the table, which meant Izzy didn’t bring it back. Bad news hung in the air like rotten garbage. I felt it from the others. Smel ed it. Tasted it. Swal owing, though my mouth had gone dry, I sat on the end of the couch. Bran settled beside me. I wished I could lean against him and draw strength from him, but the way things were between us, I didn’t dare. Didn’t want to. Exhaling sharply, I braced myself and looked at Izzy.
20. Betrayed “Who is it? Who took the package?” I asked when no one spoke. Izzy looked at the others first, bit her lower lip, then exhaled sharply. “Cardinal…Janel e.” Blood accelerated through my veins and buzzed past my ears, leaving me faint. I shook my head to clear it with little success. It couldn’t be true. Aunt Janel e directed us to the cleaners and didn’t say anything when Grampa claimed Valafar lied about sending the presents. Why would she do that when she had them? Everything became surreal, like I was having an out of body experience. I was there, yet not involved. The others talked, their mouths opening and closing, but not a word penetrated the shroud of detachment surrounding me. Images flashed in my head. Aunt Janel e holding me while I cried, talking to me about Bran and Grampa, standing protectively between me and Valafar the day I first met him, rage on her face as she told him I belonged with the Guardians, not him. She never missed any of my birthdays when I was little, stopped by whenever Grampa was gone and helped me with my homework. There had to be an explanation for why she did this. “Do you guys think she’s the guide?” Kim asked, her words yanking me into awareness. Silence fol owed her question. I held my breath as I glanced at her wide eyed, then at the others. They couldn’t possibly think Aunt Janel e was the traitor. The very thought was ridiculous. She might have hidden my present and lied to me, but there was no way in hel or Tartarus she could betray the Guardians, or Grampa. “No way,” Sykes said as though reading my mind. I sucked air into my lungs and exhaled, relief washing over me.
“I don’t think the present has anything to do with the guide,” Remy added. Izzy shook her head. “Me neither. She’s nice, always has a kind word. When I was new here, she talked to me every chance she had. I’m sure there’s a perfectly good explanation for what she did.” Izzy turned to Bran and asked, “What do you think, Bran?” “I think the Cardinal probably thought she was protecting Lil from Valafar’s influence,” he spoke slowly, choosing his words. His words hit a raw spot. He kept things from me to protect me too. Both of them were wrong. I was capable of taking care of myself. Granted, four months ago when I joined the Guardianship program I was naïve, but Aunt Janel e had a chance to tel me the truth now and didn’t. She knew I was worried about one of my friends being the medium. We would be further ahead in locating the medium instead of running in circles chasing that stupid package. As for Bran — “Do you want to go home?” he whispered in my ear. I glared at him. Learning about Aunt Janel e didn’t make me forget his behavior from the last few days. He was no different from her. “Izzy,” he cal ed out to draw her attention. “Thanks for doing this. I know it must not have been easy.” Izzy shrugged. “We’re a team, Bran. I had to do something. The party is in a few days and Valafar stil won’t give her his number. Now we can get the stil won’t give her his number. Now we can get the package from the Cardinal, get the phone number Valafar claimed he sent Lil and set our plans in motion.” “Nevertheless, thank you.” His hand pressed into my back as though urging me to get up. I didn’t want to leave with him, yet I couldn’t open my mouth to tel him. My numbness faded and anger seeped in, building up slowly like a train taking off. “Are you going to talk with Cardinal Janel e about this?” Izzy asked. “That’s up to Lil,” Bran answered. “Actual y, I was asking Lil,” Izzy explained.
“Yeah, Lil. You haven’t spoken since Izzy mentioned the Cardinal’s name.” Remy added tentatively, very unlike his usual forthright way of speaking. “What do you want to do next?” I shook my head. If I answered him, shared with them my pain and sense of betrayal, the hold I had on my anger would slip. With my re-emerged energy powers, there was no tel ing what I’d do. Probably fil the room with bolts of lightning and hurt someone, if not al of them. The thought sent me to my feet. “I can’t think right now. I’m going home,” I said in a high-pitched, rushed voice. “Alone,” I added firmly when Bran stood. Heat blazed in his eyes then dimmed, but I knew what that meant. He was going to be difficult. I narrowed my eyes at him, my jaw clenched tight as I turned to the others, who watched us with concern. It was our first fight in front of them. “Are we hunting tonight?” I asked no one in particular. Remy shook his head. “No.” “Good. I’l see you guys tomorrow.” I teleported, their worried faces imprinted in my mind. I landed on my bed and stayed there, heart pounding. Images from the past zipped through my mind, haunting and taunting me. Grampa kept secrets from me, too, and I lost it when I found out. Aunt Janel e was family, and I refused to go through that again. Even as the thought flashed in my head, a bolt of lightning materialized and fried the floor lamp by my reading desk. How ironic. Aunt Janel e gave it to me as a housewarming gift. Without warning, Bran appeared inside my bedroom. His glance darted around the room until he found me. He exhaled sharply as though relieved. “What do you want?” My voice was hostile, but I didn’t care. I wanted to be left alone. “I want you to change out of your gym clothes,” he said in a firm voice. “Why?” I retorted. He crossed his arms, looking every inch the Cardinal Guardian. “I’m taking you out. I won’t let you lock yourself in
here and wal ow in self-pity. I’l even let you pick the location. We can have brunch in Melbourne…breakfast in Paris… lunch in Brazil…or dinner at any one of your favorite restaurants in New York or L.A.” On a different night, I’d jump into his arms. Today, his arrogant tone alone set my teeth on edge. I wouldn’t go with him if he got down on his knees and begged. I sat up and swung my feet to the ground. “No. I don’t feel like going out. What are you doing in my bedroom anyway? You didn’t ping for permission.” My voice rose as I slowly stood, my eyes not leaving his. “Oh, I forgot. You can’t link with me anymore therefore can’t even ping me.” “This is not about us,” he interjected. “Oh, but it is. I’m in a very strange mood tonight, Bran, and you do not want to be here pushing my buttons,” I repeated the words he said to me on Friday except mine were accompanied by two bolts of lightning. Bran teleported to the end of the room and cursed, the charges missing him by inches. They blasted the wal behind him, leaving holes and charred drywal . Grampa was not going to be happy to see that. “I know you’re pissed, but do you mind aiming elsewhere?” Bran said, his calm tone managing to piss me off further. “I deliberately missed you, you bonehead,” I yel ed. “Next time I won’t.” His eyes narrowed. “I didn’t hide your presents, Lil.” “No you didn’t, but you keep stuff from me,” I said through clenched teeth. We stared at each other across the room, both of us breathing hard. He moved closer, taking one measured step at a time. I moved back. “I know one measured step at a time. I moved back. “I know you feel betrayed, Sunshine, but don’t shut me out. I’m not leaving. If that means you blast me with that lethal mind of yours, fine. I’l recover.” The fight sizzled out of me, leaving me weepy.
I plopped back on my bed. “Then talk to me. Don’t let me get my information from your sister and Valafar,” I said in a self-pitying voice. “What did he tel you?” He moved closer. “It doesn’t matter. Don’t you see? What you tel me matters. I need—” My voice broke. I took deep breaths and fought tears. “I need you to be honest with me, to share everything with me and to stop treating me like I don’t have a mind of my own.” “That’s not it. I only want to protect—” “Don’t.” I meant to order him, but the word lacked heat or bite. “If you say one more time how you do things to protect me, I swear I wil use the last of my strength to zap you again. And this time, I won’t miss,” I vowed softly. “Okay.” He sat beside me, his movements hesitant. “Come to dinner with me, so we can talk.” “Yeah, about Valafar and Cardinal Janel e, I don’t think so.” I jumped up and started for my bathroom. “I’l see you later, Bran. Don’t forget to knock the next time you decide to pay me a visit.” He fol owed me. Entering the bathroom, I turned to face him. The pleading look on his beautiful face almost got to me. Almost. Just because he offered dinner at some exotic locale didn’t mean I had to forgive him. “Go away.” Once again, my words came out soft. “When you’re ready to share everything with me, and I mean everything, then you can come see me. If not, leave me alone.” I slammed the door in his face. The tears didn’t come until I stripped and got under the steamy water of the shower. I blocked my mouth with my fist to stop the sobs from escaping. A memory flashed in my head. I was eight when a boy from Grandma’s tribe made fun of my red hair and cal ed me a gadje. I had no idea it meant an outsider. It was the place and way he said it—in front of other children and with disgust. After I jumped on him, pul ed his hair and scratched him, I ran and hid to cry. Aunt Janel e was the one who found me hiding in the woods, a fist blocking my mouth. How could she do this to me now? She owed me an explanation, and my presents. It was my right to refuse them, to dispose of them if I chose to. I did the same thing with the Gypsy dress Valafar sent, didn’t I? I made the choice. Me. No one else.
Bran was seated on my bed when I came out of the bathroom, my mom’s picture in his hand. Gripping my towel, I gawked. “What are you stil doing here?” I asked in a screechy voice. He stood, pushed his hands in his pockets, and rocked on his heels. “Waiting for you.” “But I said—” “I heard what you said, Lil,” he interrupted, his eyes begging me to listen. “Did you listen to what I said?” He co*cked his eyebrow. Cold crawled up my bare legs while heat suffused my face. I rubbed my toes together to warm them and went over our conversation. He did mention talking. My grip tightening on the towel, I lifted my chin and looked at him through narrowed eyes. “I’m listening.” “Thank you.” He sounded relieved. “We’l talk about everything. Okay?” I swal owed and nodded. “I’m going to leave now, but I’l be back.” Happiness gripped my throat while worry fil ed my heart. He was gone the entire weekend. What if he didn’t come back? “Promise?” “Promise.” His gaze swept me then he flashed a smile. “That’s a nice outfit, but I think I need to give you space to change.” He teleported and left me with a sappy smile on my face. My eyes smarted, but I blinked the tears away. I wasn’t going to cry, even though they were tears of happiness. Quickly, I changed into a pair of black skinny jeans and a dress shirt. Then I remembered he was about to tel me everything. Little men started doing jumping jacks in my stomach. When the doorbel rang, I jerked. *** Taking a deep breath, I headed to the door and opened it. Izzy beamed at me. “Hey, Lil,” she said, rubbing her hands as though cold. “What are you doing here?” I didn’t realize how rude my
question was until she raised her brow. “I mean, what’s up?” “Nothing. Thought I’d stop by and say hey.” “Nothing. Thought I’d stop by and say hey.” “Hey.” I frowned and checked behind her for Bran. Where was he? I didn’t want to talk to Izzy now. She probably wanted to discuss what she saw in her backto-the-past trip. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings but the last person I wanted to discuss was Aunt Janel e. The hurt was too fresh. She smiled. “Can I come in?” “Maybe later? I just can’t talk about Aunt… Cardinal Janel e now.” She frowned. “Oh.” “I know I should be angry and disappointed,” I glanced behind her again and searched for Bran, “and yes, I am disappointed, but I can’t stay angry with her forever. She’s family. Wel , not exactly family, but I hope she and Gramps wil hook up or something. Do you understand what I’m saying?” I laughed uneasily, starting to worry about Bran. “I don’t think I’m making sense right now?” “You are.” She smiled and there was something different about it, yet I couldn’t put my finger on it. “I’l stop by later.” Bran appeared on the short sidewalk between our driveway and door. Not taking my gaze off Bran, I said, “Bye, Izzy.” She turned and saw Bran. “Hey, Llyr.” “Izzy,” he said. “I’l leave you two, uh, lovebirds alone. Are you going anywhere special tonight?” she asked. “Maybe,” Bran said, but his smile was forced. She waved, and I saw her bracelet. It looked familiar, but I didn’t have time to place it because Bran stood in front of me. He had changed his white tee for a green one that made his eyes incandescent. The thin material hugged his masculine chest and arms. His coat was stil missing. He never went anywhere without a trench coat. I stepped back inside the house and left the door open for him.
“Do you want to talk or eat first?” he asked, fol owing me inside and closing the door. “Talk.” Food was the last thing on my mind. “You sure you’re not hungry? I’m starving.” He gave me a lost puppy look. He was procrastinating. I shook my head. “We talk first.” He sighed. “Okay.” He offered me his hand. “Where are we going?” “My room.” He leaned back and squinted at me. “I’m sorry I was a total jerk the last time you were there. I don’t want it to be an issue between us anymore or for you to feel you can’t visit whenever you want.” “Does that mean—?” “You have an open invitation to come and bug me whenever you feel like it.” He shoved his hand in his pocket since I hadn’t taken it. “It’s also the most private place I can think of right now for us to talk undisturbed. That’s not to say your room isn’t,” he added hastily, giving me an apologetic look. “People tend to stop by to visit, like Izzy just now, and your grandfather is around while I don’t have that, uh, problem. So what do you say?” He was nervous. It was hard to tel whether the cause was having me in his room or the looming talks. I slipped my arm in the crock of his and gave him a reassuring hug. “Your room is fine.” He smiled in approval. Together, we teleported to his place. His bed was nicely made with the striped yel ow and green duvet, his shoes paired up by the closet. Seemed like he’d picked up a bit, which was sweet, but the room stil looked sterile, like a hotel room. He waved toward the bed. “Sit. Put your feet up.” He plumped and piled pil ows against the headboard and stepped back. I tucked my legs under me and supported my back with the pil ows. Instead of sitting, he stayed standing. His eyes not meeting mine, he wiped his hands on his pants, shoved
them in his pockets, and rocked on his heels. The non-stop fidgeting made me nervous. “Aren’t you going to sit down?” I asked, waving at the bed. He shook his head, removed his hands from his pockets, and rubbed his nape. “You can tel me anything,” I said softly, watching him with concern. “It won’t change the way I feel about you.” He forked his fingers through his hair. “You don’t know that.” Annoyance sliced through me, and I scrunched my face. “Don’t tel me how to feel about you, Bran Llyr.” you, Bran Llyr.” He grinned. “You’re real y something else when angry, you know that.” “And when you procrastinate and squirm, you scare me. Just tel me what’s going on.” His emerald eyes grew stormy, but this time his gaze didn’t leave mine. “I’m losing my wings.” I frowned. “What do you mean?” “My feathers are fal ing.” I’d noticed a feather or two on the ground whenever he took me flying, but I thought that was normal. “Is that bad?” He nodded. “Very. Do you remember Dante’s wings?” How could I forget the humongous, bat-like wings with weird ridges? I shuddered. “Yeah.” He shoved his hands in his front pockets and started talking, slowly at first, then faster and faster. “They didn’t have a single feather on them. That’s what happens to demonic Nephilim. From Lucifer to the present fal en angels, when they fal from grace, they lose their feathers. The unlucky ones to cross paths with Guardians or avenging angels get their wings chopped off. But the first step in the process is the loss of feathers.” He swal owed visibly. “I’m losing mine and turning demonic. It’s supposed to be a gradual process, but with me, it’s happening fast. I’m slowly losing control of my abilities. That’s why I can’t link with you anymore. If I do, I can contaminate your psi energy.” No, this couldn’t be happening. I shook my head, tried to free myself from the terror coiling in my chest, but a creepy tendril wound tighter. Bran’s face appeared hazy as my
tears crested. “You can’t be turning.” “Shh.” He cupped the back of my head and pressed his forehead against mine. “I didn’t mean to make you cry,” he whispered. I leaned back and swiped at the tears, annoyed I was crying now instead of being strong and coming up with solutions. It just wasn’t fair. “But you work with the Cardinals. That must count for something.” He shook his head. “It’s not enough. Do you remember when we were in Vegas? When the water in the building threatened to burst through the pipes?” I nodded, recal ing the creaks from the wal s and water gushing in the bathroom. “Things like that have been happening around me. I’m losing control of my powers, causing mayhem without even trying. I tried to control it in Vegas but couldn’t.” He paused, sat on the edge of the bed, and looked into my eyes. “You calmed me, Lil. Having you there that night, feeling your energy, helped me control it.” “That’s good, but there must be something we can do to permanently reverse it.” I slid off the bed and started to pace. His room was spacious with only the bed and the nightstands, leaving plenty of floor space for me to move. “Talk to Grampa and the Cardinals, petition the Circle of Twelve.” “Lil.” He grabbed my arm and interrupted me mid-stride. “The Cardinals and the CT already know.” “What did they say? What are they doing about it?” I cried. “There’s not much they can do.” His eyes became sad. “If I stay here, I’l only continue to contaminate your energy.” “Continue? What do you mean?” “We were in Vegas on Monday. On Tuesday, you hurt Master Haziel with the Kris Dagger. The Cardinals told me. It wasn’t a coincidence. The dagger is not supposed to hurt Guardians. That’s proof that I’m already messing with your energy. On Friday, they told me to stop linking with you. I asked your grandfather to al ow me to explain to you what was going on, but he said not yet, not when there was a chance of reversing the process.” “There is?” “I’l explain, but first, I want you to sit down.” He indicated the
bed. Hope washed over me. I sat, but fear and frustration col ided inside of me. The Cardinals had better fix this. Bran couldn’t turn demonic. He mustn’t. Something about the way he stood before me with a calm expression penetrated my psyche. “Why aren’t you angry? How can you stand there and be so calm?” His hand moved to his chest. “I’ve known about this for months, Lil. Gavyn and I fought a lot over what to do. He wanted me to cut ties with the Guardians and join our mother’s people. I thought differently.” His brother was a moron. To think I offered to His brother was a moron. To think I offered to heal him. I frowned. Bran wasn’t touching the amulet. His was part of a belt buckle. He was rubbing his scar, the little present his mother left him after he and his father tried to escape the demonic enclave on Coronis Isle, a reminder of the darkest period in his life. A shudder raked my body. “Does this… what’s happening to you have anything to do with her…your mother?” His lips lifted at the corners, though his emerald eyes remained sad. I hated that smile. It usual y preceded something bad. I braced myself. “Yes and no. Do you remember what I told you about her?” Every ugly detail. “She was one of Coronis’ confidants. Mean, cold, and ruthless, like Valafar.” Bran shook his head and sat on the edge of the bed by my bent knees. “No, not like Valafar. He, at least, loved your mother enough to keep her things even after she died. My mother was incapable of loving anyone. Not my father nor us. Coronis’ breeding program produced future warriors, not parents.” “I know.” A surge of his pain flowed through me. I wanted to wrap my arms around his waist and make the pain go away, but I needed answers. Hugging a pil ow instead, my throat closed as I fought tears. Every time he talked about his mother, it hurt. Him and me.
“With Mom’s Lazarus background and energy powers, and Dad’s ability to control water and see the future, Coronis hoped for a more powerful offspring, someone like you. Instead she got us. Gavyn’s energy powers were no stronger than Mother’s. Celeste’s clairvoyance is weak, her visions sporadic and unclear.” “Celeste barely turned sixteen, Bran. She’l get stronger.” He shook his head, rested his elbows on his knees and studied his hands. “I doubt it. And I—” “You’re a powerful Water Guardian,” I interjected, going on defense. He glanced at me and scowled. When he spoke, his voice was flat. “I’m not a Guardian, Lil. Just because I’ve been accepted by you guys doesn’t make me one.” He wasn’t making sense. I threw the pil ow aside, scooted closer to him and searched his face as though it would give me a clue. His eyes were so sad my heart squeezed. “You are not just a Guardian, Bran. You’re a Cardinal, the youngest in our history. You pul double duty working with Grampa and the others and joining us whenever we need you. It’s not fair. I’ve told Grampa to stop pushing you so hard.” He sat him, frowning. “You shouldn’t have done that. I had to prove myself, show them I changed.” “From what?” I hated that he spoke in past tense as though he already gave up. “You don’t have to prove anything to anyone. You are here. Defying everything everyone believed.” He smiled and briefly caressed my cheek. “And what is that? My feathers are stil fal ing.” “Just because you were born on Coronis Isle doesn’t mean you’l end up a demon.” He sat beside me and took my hand. When he didn’t speak, I squeezed his fingers. “Please, tel me how to fix this. When you stop talking, you scare me.” “I didn’t mean to scare you. Al I ever want to do is protect you.”
“I know,” I said quickly, impatient for him to go on. Now was my turn to protect him. “Do you recal what I told you the day you met my brother?” His gaze was expectant, but it was months ago. I sighed. “We talked about many things that night, Bran.” “I told you after Dad died, I was angry. I did terrible things. I think I went a little crazy. I blamed my mother for his death and hated her for it, but at the same time, I loved her.” He scowled as though he didn’t understand the paradox. But I did. My relationship with Valafar was twisted. Part of me wanted to know him better, but another part didn’t trust his motives. “I wanted to show her I didn’t need special skil s to be cold and ruthless, that I could beat her at her own game.” His voice lowered as he continued, his pain ebbing and surging. “The other part wanted her to be proud of me.” My throat closed. I pul ed my hand from his, scooted closer, and wrapped my arms around him. He gripped my arms and closed his eyes. Silence fol owed as my love for him soothed the turbulence in fol owed as my love for him soothed the turbulence in his heart and he grew calmer. “When she sent me to join Gavyn’s den in L.A., I became a col ector.” My stomach sank. “I visited hospitals, bars, and cesspools in the underbel y of L.A. and bought souls.” I wanted to tel him to stop. His past didn’t matter. Not to me. But it did in the grand scheme of things, or he wouldn’t be losing his wings. I held him tighter and mumbled, “You should have told me this earlier.” “I didn’t want to bother you with my problem.” He turned his head so he could look into my eyes. “I thought I could handle it.” His expression begged me to understand. “I real y did.” I nodded. “The Cardinals told me the only way to stop my wings from fal ing was to find the contracts of the people who sold their souls to me and cancel them. I started searching, found a
few here and there, but the bulk of them were kept by Coronis. Then we heard about the List.” Everything Valafar said made sense now. “How many are there?” My voice was barely above a whisper. I was stil trying to wrap my mind around Bran as a col ector. “Now? Five hundred.” “Five…holy crap!” I gasped, leaned back to look into his eyes. A pained look crossed his features. “I know it’s no excuse, but most of them were scumbags and crooks, and in the last two years, they’ve dropped even lower into the cesspool.” “It’s going to take forever to cancel that many contracts.” My voice sounded calmer and stronger. As long as I focused on finding a solution for Bran’s problem instead of on the possibility that he might become ful y demonic, I wouldn’t lose it. “What are we going to do?” “Find the List,” he said. Or get help wherever we could, I added silently. I bit my lower lip, debating whether to tel him about Valafar’s offer. I searched Bran’s face. He looked sad, like he’d given up already. “Valafar cal ed me on Saturday,” I said. Bran stiffened. “What did he want?” How much to tel him? Better wade in slowly. “He offered to heal Gavyn.” “No,” Bran answered without hesitation. “Do you remember that first cal last week?” “Yes.” “Valafar offered to help me find the contracts if I arranged a meeting between you and him. I told him no then. I want Gavyn healed, but it can’t happen through Valafar because the end game for him is you.” So many things had happened since that first cal , but I never forgot Bran’s rage after he hung up the phone. “Is that what you meant by he tried to bribe you?”
He laughed, though his voice lacked humor. “Yes. He actual y thought I’d put my interest above yours.” There was no way I could tel him now that Valafar’s offer was stil open. Not with that ridiculous attitude. How would he like it if I put his interest above mine? Somehow I must teach him that anything that affected either of us had equal importance. But how? I put my arms around him and rested my chin on his shoulder, my mind racing with possible solutions until my head hurt. After a while, I moved back and curled up on his bed. He joined me and for a while we lay there, his arms around me, my back to his front. “Are you hungry?” he asked after while. “No. You?” “I’m starving.” His stomach growled. “Do you mind if I make food?” We went upstairs, and I sat in the kitchen and watched him prepare an omelet. He added a breakfast meat patty then made three fat sandwiches with cheese and whatever else he found in the fridge. When he insisted I eat one, I somehow managed to finish a half. I had no appetite. Bran, on the other hand, demolished the rest. We ended up at my place afterwards, where I changed into my PJs. The thought of Bran leaving, our being apart, never seeing him again translated into passion. Our make out was intense, reaching amazing heights fil ed with new discoveries. For the first time, we kissed and touched in places we never did before. I wanted more, but nothing could make Bran break his vow to Grampa. Not my pleas or anger or the guilt trips I laid on him. anger or the guilt trips I laid on him. “I’m never going to leave you, Lil,” he vowed. “My wing situation is nothing but a temporary thing.” I wanted to believe him. Desperately needed to, but our future together seemed bleak. It was close to midnight when I final y asked him the question I’d put off for hours. The two of us spooned under the blanket, his arms tight around me. Grampa wasn’t home yet. Not that I wanted to talk to him. Ever. “What happens if Lottius doesn’t contact us, if we never find the List?” I whispered.
“Lil,” he warned on a sigh, his breath warm on my neck. “Bran,” I mimicked his tone. “We have to think of al possibilities.” Bran didn’t answer me right away, but his arms tightened around mine. “Then I’l find another solution. You and I are alrunes, Lil Falcon. You’l never lose me.”
21. The Ultimatum The snowstorm hit us that night. Winds howled and whipped fragile flakes into the many trees and gutters. Snow plastered the side of the house until none of the original siding showed. For two days straight, we stayed indoors, schools closed and businesses…I had no idea whether they were open or not. I didn’t care. Fear, pain, and anger became my companions. They shrouded me during the day, stared at me when I looked in the mirror and haunted my dreams at night. It hurt to think or breathe. I couldn’t look at Bran without my chest hurting. Al our time together felt like our last. His firm belief that things would be okay didn’t ease my growing despair. Bran was gone a lot with the Cardinals, though he spent the evenings with me when they got back. I stayed away from Remy and the others; I couldn’t stand looking at them without feeling betrayed. They knew about Bran’s situation but chose not to correct me when I told them the watereddown version Bran shared with me. At times, I wanted to let go and cry, but that would be admitting defeat. There was stil time to save Bran. Grampa tried to talk to me several times. Al I heard were responsibility, the wielder of the Kris Dagger, and the Chosen One. Not once did he mention Bran or his wings. They’d already given up. I saw it in his eyes and in Aunt Janel e’s whenever she talked to me. It only made things worse.
Training became an outlet for my pain and anger. Leather Face was the only one who didn’t bring Bran up. Either he didn’t know or he was too pleased with my progress to care. Lightning bolts materialized out of thin air with little effort on my part. I didn’t even have to close my eyes—I wil ed them, and they appeared. On Wednesday evening, I got home from the pit and had barely changed when Remy and the others teleported into my foyer without pinging. They had pinged me earlier, but I raised my shield and blocked them. “What do you want?” I asked rudely from the doorway of my bedroom. “We’re sorry you found out like this,” Remy said, looking pained. Sykes moved closer, his hazel eyes remorseful. “We were only trying to protect you, Red.” If anyone else said the P-word one more time, I’d zap them. The closer they got to where I stood, the angrier I got. “Friends don’t hide things from each other. You guys knew the truth and chose not to correct me,” I snapped. “We knew you’d be upset and hurt, and we needed your help to find the List. Maybe if you talked about it you might feel better,” Izzy added, her voice apologetic. Kim’s eyes flashed as she pointed at the window beside my front door. “For crying out loud, stop causing that mayhem.” “What?” I snapped. “The freakin’ storm, that’s what,” Kim added in a firm voice. “Or did you think it just started by itself?” I blinked at her, anger coursing through me. “I didn’t do that,” I yel ed. “I may have caused an electric storm when I first got my powers, but electric storm when I first got my powers, but snowstorms are not part of my abilities. I can’t believe you’re trying to make me feel bad, Kim Larson. You’re the ones at fault here, not me.” “Actual y, she’s right about the storm,” Remy said. The fight fizzled out of me. I stared at the white flakes
swirling outside my window, horrified beyond words. “Are you sure?” They nodded. Why hadn’t anyone told me? I hugged myself, tears threatening to fal . “I want you guys to leave now.” “We told you not to tel her right away,” Sykes scolded Kim. “She needed to snap out of it,” she retorted. “You guys coddle her too much.” “Leave!” I screamed. One by one, they teleported. I walked to the window, the lump in my throat swel ing. A white sheet covered everything. It was so bad that I doubted the snowplows could brave it to clear the streets. And for once, our people didn’t remove theirs either. Why was I such a freak? Just when I got used to a power, another appeared—and not in a good way. I turned and stomped to my bedroom. The tune of Izzy’s cel phone played. I fished it out of my coat pocket in the closet. Restricted number. Valafar. “Good evening, daughter,” he said. I was his daughter in every way, and it made me feel like a total freak. The urge to cry increased. I hadn’t shed a tear since Bran and I had the talk, and I refused to do so now. “What are your powers?” I demanded. Valafar chuckled. “I have varied abilities. Why do you ask?” “I need to know, so I won’t be blindsided again.” My voice caught in a sob, which only pissed me off. “What happened?” Tears threatened to fal . “I’m a freak.” “You’re not,” he snapped. “Who cal ed you that?” “I caused a snowstorm and didn’t even know it. How can I not know it? Did you know I could do that?” I asked, voice shaking. “Of course,” he said, pride lacing his words. “Your powers wil continue to grow and evolve, Lilith. Storms are just the beginning.”
“I don’t want destructive powers,” I griped, calming down a little. “What you do with your powers is up to you, my dear. But you can’t change who you are. I hear the pain in your voice. What’s wrong?” The need to vent exploded through me. “You were right al along.” I told him everything, the present and Aunt Janel e without giving him her name, Bran and his wings. I talked until my voice grew hoarse. “Is there anything I can do to ease your pain, my child?” Valafar asked in a voice fil ed with concern. At least he didn’t say I told you so. “Find Bran’s contracts for me,” I begged, crossing the invisible line between Guardians and demons, and not caring. It was one thing to talk to Valafar because he cal ed me, but quite another to wil ingly seek his help. “I don’t care what you do, just find them.” “I’l do that. If you need anything else, cal me. Here’s my number.” After I hung up, I stopped moping around, and crept into the kitchen to find food. I’d avoided eating with Grampa and Aunt Janel e the last two nights by staying at Bran’s and eating with him. Tonight, he and the Cardinals were gone. I knew I should feel guilty for asking for Valafar’s help, but I didn’t. Maybe Bran didn’t contaminate my psi energy and caused me to hurt Master Haziel with the Kris Dagger. Maybe the nature-bender blood running through my veins was the cause. After al , I did hurt Haziel after my energy powers reappeared. Bran woke me up later at midnight. “The storm stopped,” he whispered, kneeling by my bed. “You should have told me I was messing with nature,” I scolded him, half asleep, peering into his face. The stupid night light was behind him. “We al tried. The more we did, the worse it got, so we decided to let your pain run its course.” “We?” I asked. “Me, your grandfather, Cardinal Janel e…” He gripped my hand and brought his head closer to mine. “Listen, we’ve
decided to do something about the List instead of waiting for Lottius to contact us.” I peered at him through the glow of the I peered at him through the glow of the nightlight. “What?” “Scoot over first.” I scooted toward the wal and created space for him on my bed. He crawled beside me, so we faced each other, me under the blanket and he on top of it. “I talked it over with Remy and the others,” he explained, his breath warm on my face. “We’re going to stir things up a bit and see what happens. You know, hassle companies Damien owns and cause enough mayhem until he agrees to meet with us.” He chuckled, obviously relishing the thought. I smiled. “That’s a bril iant idea. When do we start?” “Tomorrow,” he whispered. “I’l start the bal rol ing first thing in the morning.” “You mean tel the CP team to beef up surveil ance?” He shook his head. “No. Valafar’s spy has access to our security team. We decided that when we go out, we go blindly. We don’t tel the CP or the Cardinals. I need to get the list of businesses owned by Damien and other dark lords who do business with him. I should have everything ready by lunch time.” Part of me wanted to tel him I spoke with Valafar, but I knew how he’d react. We needed al the help we could find even if it meant depending on a father I didn’t ful y trust. I turned so we spooned, but inside I debated whether to tel him my conclusion. “Bran?” I mumbled a little while later. “Hmm?” “What if the reason I hurt Haziel has nothing to do with you contaminating my psi energy? What if it’s me?” He stiffened. “What do you mean?” “The night I hurt him, my energy powers had just returned. Nature-bender powers. Since Valafar is evil and his blood —” “Don’t,” Bran said curtly. “Please, don’t start thinking like that. I might not be a strong psi, but I can see your psi energy, Lil. It’s bril iant. Pure.” Demonic psi energies were
reddish with dark spots. Bran’s for a long time was bright but with dark spots. I hadn’t checked it recently. I hadn’t needed to since I learned to link and ping without first finding energies. Now I searched for his, but he had his shield up. “Can I look at yours?” I asked. “No, Lil. Go to sleep,” he said gently and stroked my hair. I scrunched my face. “Why can’t I?” “Because,” he said softly, a smile in his voice. Closing my eyes, I let his touch soothe me. For a long time he didn’t speak. I must have asked him again before sleep sucked me under because I swear I heard, “I’m afraid it wil repulse you.” *** When I woke up in the morning, Bran was gone, but I had a new attitude. The sun shone brighter. Snow started to melt, and snowplows cleared the streets. At the back of my mind, I wondered how Valafar planned to get Bran’s contracts. I knew I should feel guilty about asking for his help, but I couldn’t afford to second-guess myself. This was for Bran. I refused to watch him turn evil. Celeste assumed Bran and I had made up and talked nonstop about how she hoped we never fought again. It was obvious she had no idea Bran was losing his feathers. With one brother going demonic and another in a coma, she’d lose it if she learned the truth. Bran agreed to meet me outside the school at lunchtime. We kissed and hugged before I fol owed Celeste into the building. Inside, I turned a corner and bumped into Kylie. Not wanting to deal with her, I stared straight ahead and kept going. “Lil, wait up,” she cal ed. For a moment, I thought of ignoring her, but we both needed closure. I stopped, pressed against the wal , and let other students pass while I waited for her to catch up. “Yes?” I said. She gripped her books tighter. “Can we, uh, talk?” she begged in a soft voice.
Glancing at my watch, I shook my head. “Now is not a good time.” “How about later, during lunch,” she added. I shook my head. “I can’t. I have to go somewhere with Bran.” Her face fel . “Oh. I guess I understand if you don’t ever want to talk to me. I mean, I haven’t been much of a friend. I’m real y sorry. Please, let me explain.” I hadn’t expected an apology from her. “I’m I hadn’t expected an apology from her. “I’m real y going somewhere with Bran during lunch, but you can come to my house after school.” Her eyes widened, and she hesitated. I was not in the mood to pacify her. “Forget it. We can talk tomorrow during lunch.” She grabbed my arm. “No, today after school is fine. I’l have Cade drop me off.” “Fine. See you then.” I took off without looking back. Not wanting another storm, I used school to distract me from my worries about Bran and the List. Whether or not we’d identify the medium and the guide became secondary. If Kylie demanded an explanation, I’d zap her and make her forget the whole thing then take care of Cade later. Mrs. D asked me to stay behind after her class. She studied my face, her brow furrowed. “How are you doing, sweetie?” I shrugged. “Fine.” “Good. Do you think you’re up to talking to my students? Tonight or tomorrow wil be good.” Didn’t she know about Bran’s wings? I had no interest in talking to students. Besides, we might go hunting tonight and tomorrow was the party. I sighed. Her expression was expectant, making guilt streak through me. “Tomorrow night.” I’d use the party as an excuse to make my presentation short. She squeezed my arm. “Good. Things may look bleak now, but everything wil be okay. I promise.” “Thanks, Mrs. D.”
Mean old Sorenson could learn a thing or two from her. The old goat started on me the minute I walked into physics class. This time I wasn’t his only target. He picked and chose who to humiliate— Ginny, a mousey girl with zero self-confidence, Tim who was smart but had a terrible stuttering problem, the not-sosmart fat jock Randy everyone cal ed stupid behind his back. The list was endless. The more he tormented them the more unbearable the class became. The other students just laughed. I had a choice to either let him continue to humiliate us or put an end to it and suffer the consequences. The Council discouraged messing with humans’ free wil unless it was in order to save a soul. From reading his mind before, Sorenson’s story wasn’t pretty. Maybe I’d spin it so it seemed like I saved him from himself. “Come on, Ms. Falcon. Even you should be able to answer that.” His voice was fil ed with malice as he walked toward me. He got the usual snickers and giggles from the other students. “I don’t know the answer, Mr. Sorenson,” I answered with defiance. He opened his mouth to say something else, but I got him first.
Stop being a bully, Mitch Sorenson. Stop picking on students who are weak and helpless. Be nice and helpful like a teacher should. They are NOT the ones who bullied you and made fun of you when you were in high school. They’re not responsible for your marital problems. Tell Tracy the truth about your gambling addiction, and maybe she won’t divorce you like she’s been threatening. Maybe then you can raise your sons together like you want. Mr. Sorenson stopped before he reached my desk. His eyes grew sad, and his lips curled down at the corners. Oh no, maybe I went too far.
No, no, no. You don’t want to break down in front of your students, not when you just had an epiphany. All you have to do is stay positive, be nice to students and tell Tracy the truth. He lifted his head, his eyes lighting up like someone who just experienced a revelation. Instead of continuing toward me, he turned and looked toward the board.
For the rest of the class, he was actual y pleasant. My guilt for zapping him lessened. He nurtured students instead of torturing them. In my defense, that should count for something. When class ended, I put my books away and ran to the front of the school, where Bran waited. *** “I’m sorry for everything, guys,” I told the Guardians when we arrived at Remy’s. They already had their weapons. Remy snuck into the weapons room at HQ, reduced the weapons and hunting clothes to miniature sizes, and brought them out without getting busted. “No time for apologies,” Izzy said. “Get the Kris Dagger, so we can get out of here,” Bran added. I teleported to the hal way outside the I teleported to the hal way outside the weapons room. The door was open, which didn’t make sense. It automatical y shut when we left, which meant someone was inside. A Cardinal perhaps. Heart pounding, I peeked inside, but there was no one. I angled my head for sounds in the changing rooms. No sounds. Strange. I hurried to my closet for the Kris Dagger’s special belt, opened the lapels of my winter coat so the dagger slid into place then zipped up. Turning to leave, I froze. Mrs. D. stood behind me. I hadn’t heard her come in. “What’s going on?” I asked, heart pounding. Civilians weren’t al owed in the weapons room. “I thought I heard strange sounds coming from here,” she said, eyes narrowed. “What are you doing in here in the middle of the day?” Explanations ran through my head but none were plausible. “I planned on training with the dagger during lunch, but changed my mind.” I walked toward her, praying she wouldn’t ask me to open my coat. She studied me. “Why? Thirty minutes for lunch is hardly enough time to eat, let alone practice.” “That’s why I changed my mind. Not enough time,” I
mumbled and tried to pass her, but her hand shot out and grabbed my arm, her bracelets jingling. “Show me what’s under your coat, Lil,” she ordered. What was her problem? She was treating me like a thief. My eyebrows rose, spine prickling with apprehension. “What are you doing?” I screeched and tried to move away from her when she felt under my coat. “You took the Kris Dagger, didn’t you?” Her hands closed around the sheathed dagger. “Why? Where are you taking it?” My mouth opened and closed. I couldn’t think up a response. How dare she search me? I moved jerkily away from her, my heart pounding. “I asked her to bring it to me,” Master Haziel snapped from the doorway. “Unhand her, Azure. Come along, Lil.” Swal owing, I fol owed. She fol owed us. If she thought I’d talk to her students after the way she just treated me, she’d better think again. I hurried after Haziel, pinging Bran. I don’t know if I can
make it. Mrs. D busted me. There was silence then Bran spoke. We can’t wait. I
arranged entrance spots and rides, but we have to be there on time. Please, wait, I begged. Give me a few minutes and I’ll be there. If Leather Face heard me, he didn’t show it. With short but quicker strides, he hurried toward the Academy. I tried to get his attention a few times, but he shushed me. I never visited the school during the day and was surprised to see students in the library and in the classrooms working on their abilities. A few watched us. I pinged Bran again to make sure they hadn’t left.
Two minutes then we’re leaving, he warned me. Why did I have to run into Mrs. D and Haziel? I looked at my watch. I had one minute-fifty seconds.
Inside the pit, Haziel closed the door and indicated I fol ow him to the booth, where he paced. “What’s going on, Lil?” “I real y need to go, Master Haziel.” He pointed at the sofa I used last week when I got hurt. “Sit! You’re not going anywhere with the Kris Dagger without an explanation.” I unzipped my coat and undid the belt. “Fine, then I’l leave it behind.” He pinned me with his dark gaze. “Sit. Down.” Something in his voice told me to do as he bid or there’d be hel to pay. I lowered myself on the seat and sat on the edge, tension coiling deep inside me. “Why do you need the Kris Dagger in the middle of the day? Are you going hunting?” He leaned against the back of the chair in front of mine and crossed his arms, his lips pinched in disapproval. I glanced at my watch. A minute-thirty. “I’m going out to lunch with the Guardians and we never leave the val ey without weapons. This is my dagger. I feel safer when I have it with me.” He nodded. “Did you inform the CP you’re leaving the val ey?” There was no time to explain about the guide spying for Valafar. “We never had to before. I real y must go, “We never had to before. I real y must go, Master Haziel,” I begged him. He pushed against the chair and straightened his scrawny body. He paced back and forth, hands behind his back. “Guardians talk, Lil. Civilians, Cardinals, it is a smal enclave we live in here. Some of us know what’s been happening. The Cardinals tried to keep it quiet, but with the storm and everything, we know. Does this have anything to do with the List and Cardinal Llyr’s wings?” Time was up. My ping went unanswered. Al I could do now was cover for my friends. “No. We were going to eat, and that’s it. Now I have to settle for soup,” I griped. Haziel smiled. “Nothing’s wrong with soup. I, myself, enjoy potato soup. It’s a delicacy we don’t have in Xenith.” Why was he discussing some stupid soup? He just derailed my plans. Disappointed, I glared.
“Master Haziel….” “What was Azure doing in the weapons room?” “I don’t know.” My voice rose. “I turned around, and there she was. Can I leave now?” I asked rudely. Haziel peered at me. “You know you can talk to me about anything that bothers you, Lil. I’m always here for you.” The offer was unexpected, and the thought of discussing anything with him was…weird. “Thank you.” “Go on. Get out of here. Return the dagger before you leave.” I hurried out of the pit. When I glanced back, he stood by the door watching me, a glint in his eyes I couldn’t explain. He could be so creepy at times, yet I knew I could trust him. Ignoring his orders, I left the Academy, teleported home, and hid the dagger inside one of my drawers. I tried not to think about the others as I ate. They’d be okay. They must. Using our truck, I drove to school after lunch. *** I performed a psi scan as I left the school building at twothirty-five. Bran and the others were not in the val ey. Should I begin to worry about them? Grampa and the Cardinals were seated around our dining room table when I arrived home. They turned to look at me, and I swal owed. They’d been using our home as a meeting place since we learned about the guide, but today their eyes seemed to judge me. Grampa’s were narrowed. Cardinal Seth’s seemed to say, “You’re in big trouble, young lady.” Cardinal Moira’s smile held secrets only she knew, but hers were cooler, too. Cardinal Hsia’s sparkled, and she fidgeted as though she wanted to speak up. I didn’t bother with Aunt Janel e. I stil couldn’t look at her without remembering the presents. Were they here because of the storm? Bran said it passed without anyone getting hurt. If this was about the Kris Dagger, they’d better think again before lecturing me. The dagger was mine. I should be able to bring it home if I wanted without them breathing down my neck. Or maybe this was about Bran, whose wing problems they chose not
to share with me for months. Clutching my backpack, I nodded. “Cardinals.” They nodded back. Without another word, I started for my room. “Luminitsa,” Aunt Janel e cal ed out. I turned and gave her a tiny smile. “Yes?” She frowned. “Join us, please.” I opened my mouth to tel her I had homework, but from their expressions, it wasn’t a request. Licking lips suddenly gone dry, I walked to a chair, pul ed it out, and sat. “Do you happen to know where Cardinal Llyr and the others are?” Aunt Janel e asked. Giving them a defiant look, I shook my head. “They went out to lunch. I was supposed to go with them but got delayed by Mrs. D and Master Haziel. Can I leave now? I’m expecting Kylie.” I started to get up. “Sit down, young lady,” Grampa snapped. I glowered and slouched on my chair. “Your friends are not back,” Cardinal Seth snapped. “They didn’t consult the security team about leaving the val ey. Now we’re hearing reports about businesses owned by Damien Corporation shutting down al over the country.” “The world,” Cardinal Hsia corrected. “Employees in their London office found their hard drives fried. They claimed a power surge led to the computers self-combusting. No arrests made. Another one of their buildings col apsed in Amsterdam. The
security guards said the fire alarm Amsterdam. The security guards said the fire alarm went off first, so they left the building. They’re blaming it on unsound structure. In the Paris office, the water damage was so extensive water flowed out the windows. Al those happened at night because of the time difference.” She studied me, smiling though I doubted her amusem*nt. “Fire also broke out in their New York headquarters. No one was hurt, but it destroyed the entire executive floor. Their L.A. and Seattle branches had extensive water damages after a fire started. No casualties. To round it off, several of their ships capsized during sudden strong winds, but al the crew were accounted for. In al the cases, someone warned them to get out several hours before the incidents.” In other words, Izzy traveled back in time before the remaining four caused the damages. I missed al the fun. “I don’t know why you’re smiling. This is not funny, Lil,” Grampa said in a frosty voice. “Are they doing this?” I shrugged, not worried anymore about my friends’ absence. I wasn’t tattling on them though. “Maybe demons are turning on each other. After al , the mortal combat is in two days.” “Are they searching for the List?” Aunt Janel e snapped. I co*cked my brow. “I don’t know, but I have a question of my own.” I glanced at their faces. They looked intimidating, but I refused to cower. “If this is about the situation with Bran—” Grampa started. “No, it isn’t,” I said sharply. “What’s done is done. Al we can do is move on. That’s what you always tel me, right?” I glared at Grampa. He pinned me down with his own. “That’s right.” “Then I’d like to move on.” Taking a deep breath, I exhaled slowly. “Do you al believe that I’m the Chosen One, the one to bring our people together?” The Cardinals looked at each other then at me as if I’d lost my mind. “What’s this about?” Cardinal Seth snapped. “Do you or don’t you?” I chal enged them, co*cking my head. They nodded, some taking their time.
“Good. As the Chosen One, I have a few things I’d like to say.” My heart pounded, but I lifted my chin, a stubborn confidence I couldn’t explain washing over me. “Last week, I met a young demon, a nature-bender child.” I quickly explained about Angelia, the help she gave me in Seattle and in Las Vegas. “She and her friends are but a fraction of Special children out there. I promised her I’d find a way to get her and her friends away from the Lazari.” The Cardinals looked at each other with raised brows, clearly surprised. Silent communication fol owed, but I didn’t listen in. I waited until they turned to scowl at me. Who did they think they were trying to intimidate? I scowled right back. Grampa leaned forward and steepled his fingers. “What do you propose we do about this child and her friends?” “Just remember, bringing them to the val ey is not wise,” Cardinal Seth said. Kim had said exactly the same thing. Uncle and niece must think alike. I nodded. “We, the other Guardians and I, discussed this at length and agreed it would not be a good idea. The Specials are young and might not have complete control of their powers. We can’t have them around humans.” “The Circle might also not approve relocating them to Xenith,” Cardinal Hsia added. “That may be true, Cardinal Hsia, but you could convince them. If the Circle agreed to let Bran join us and become a Guardian, these children’s terrible situation can sway them to agree again. They’re victims just like Bran and his family were. Besides, we kil ed their families and, therefore, are responsible for them. We can have the children on our side but—” “Can we trust them?” Cardinal Hsia asked. “When they learn we kil ed their families, they could turn
against us,” Aunt Janel e added. “We don’t want them in Xenith when that happens.” “Let the child finish speaking,” Cardinal Moira said slowly in her sultry voice, her eyes not leaving me. “But what?”
Thank you. She gave me a slight nod and an encouraging smile. “I meant, we can have these children on our side, but the question is do we force them or give them the choice to join us.” I glanced at their face, them the choice to join us.” I glanced at their face, waiting for their response. “We’re at war and must do whatever we can to win it,” Cardinal Seth stated firmly. “Besides, they’re children. They need to be guided, not given options.” Cardinals Hsia and Aunt Janel e made faces, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with Cardinal Seth. Grampa watched everyone without giving any indication what he thought. “What do you think, Lil?” Cardinal Moira asked. “I think we should let them choose. Ask Darius and the Brotherhood to take them in. That way, they can grow up without being influenced by either us or the demons, until they’re old enough to decide for themselves which side they want to support.” Silent communication between the Cardinals fol owed this time. Once again, I didn’t dare listen in. Grampa nodded. “Thank you for bringing this to our attention,” he said. “We’l let you know of our decision later. Anything else?” One down, three to go. “I know we’ve formed ties with the Brotherhood since they helped us seven months ago when Valafar kidnapped you and Cardinal Moira. But there are some Hermonites on the fringe whom we should welcome to work with us. I’m talking about Jethro and his group of friends. They don’t hurt humans but aren’t part of the Brotherhood. When we needed help last Friday, they offered it wil ingly. We should reciprocate and extend a hand of friendship to
them.” There were more frowns this time and a tel ing lack of communication. “Anything else?” Grampa asked just as the doorbel rang. He glanced toward the living room. “That’s Kylie. The last thing I’d like to add,” I said quickly, my face warming, heart pounding, “is that for me to do my work as the Chosen One, I need Bran to help me. So you must find a way to help him save his wings, or he stays here with us as a demon. If you force him to leave, I’m leaving with him.” The shock on their faces would have been comical if the situation wasn’t so serious. I nodded, hands fisting. “If he goes, I go, too.” 22. News
and Surprises Pushing my chair back, I stood on unsteady legs, blood roaring past my ears. Standing up to the Cardinals was nerve racking, and the look on their faces…. Bet they wished I wasn’t their precious Chosen One. The doorbel rang again. Grabbing my backpack, I stumbled out of the dining room and raced to the front door. Kylie stared at me with heavily made-up Goth eyes, hands pushed deep in her coat pockets. I didn’t need to engage my empathic abilities to pick up on her wariness. At least she was here despite it. Behind her at the curb, inside his battered blue truck, was Cade. He waved. I gave him a brief wave, watched him take off, then stepped back to let Kylie inside. A glance toward the kitchen told me the Cardinals had teleported, probably to discuss my rebel iousness. Too bad—they started it by hiding things from me. As for Aunt Janel e…I didn’t want to go there. Kylie fol owed me into my bedroom and closed the door. Sitting on my bed with my back to the headboard, I indicated the opposite end and waited. She and I often sat cross-legged facing each other and talked for hours. She surprised me when she kicked off her shoes and scooted to the middle of the bed and crossed her legs. My heart pounding, I gave her a tiny smile. “Okay, here we are.”
She nodded but didn’t speak. Not wanting to prolong the inevitable, I exhaled sharply and said, “Look. I know you feel uncomfortable around me. Fine. I get it. If I knew you’d react like this, I wouldn’t have—” “No, don’t say that!” She leaned forward and grasped my wrist, her eyes suddenly tearing. “You trusted me with something personal, and I let you down. I’m so sorry for the way I freaked out on you, Lil. I’m, like, the worst friend ever. I tried to apologize, but I felt bad and was, uh, kind of scared.” She squeezed my wrist. “I know we’ve only known each other for a year.” “Seven months,” I corrected her with a smile. She wrinkled her nose. “You know I hate math. Okay, seven months. But it feels like I’ve known you forever. I don’t care if you’re a fortune tel er and talk to ghosts, you’re my best friend. Wil you forgive me?” In a heartbeat. “Yeah,” I said, laughing. We hugged. “I was a total jerk,” she whispered, sniffing. “Yes, you were, mousse girl,” I joked. She wore too much mousse on her black hair. Her bangs were now dark blue. Funny I didn’t notice it earlier. She sat back and gave me a shaky a smile. “Now for the weird part…the reason I freaked out.” “The dangling bowl thing didn’t do it for you?” I teased. She didn’t smile back. “No, it was more than that. Something happened to me that day I couldn’t explain. I mean, you froze the bowl and explained how you did it, yet there was this period when I heard you and Celeste talk about stuff. You know, Guardians and demons, and other weird names.” There was no way she could have heard us while frozen. It wasn’t possible. “I couldn’t sleep that night,” Kylie continued. “I was sure it was my imagination, a dream, some was sure it was my imagination, a dream, some Gypsy magic induced state. Then you got the phone cal in the cafeteria, and it happened again. Only this time, I was seated there at the table with Cade and the others. Who’s Valafar?” she asked.
Panic had long since taken over, and my mind slowed down to a snail pace. Heart thumping hard, each beat louder than the last, I blinked. “Excuse me?” “The man on the phone. He cal ed you Lilith, a name you made me swear to never use or you’d turn me into a toad.” She grinned, remembering. Then the grin disappeared from her lips. “He also cal ed you daughter, but you told me you never knew your father.” She gave me a sheepish smile. “I overheard your entire phone conversation, Lil…in my head. How is that possible? Is he real y your father? How did he hack into the phone system? Is he a Gypsy with powers, too?” Her voice then dropped to a whisper. “Why am I hearing his voice and yours in my head?” “Oh, Kylie.” I gnawed on my lower lip, my mind racing. She was the medium. She had to be. It was the only explanation. My stomach roiled, and the urge to throw up washed over me. “Why are you looking at me like that?” Kylie screeched. “Did you do something to me when you froze the bowl? Zap me with Gypsy dust or something?” I covered my mouth. My first instinct was to freeze her while I figured out my next move, but the freezing thing was pointless. She peered at me. “Lil? Say something. You’re freaking me out again.” I swal owed, reaching a decision. A very bad and il ogical decision but I couldn’t see any way out. We either moved forward or went back to the way things were. If she freaked out, I’d erase her memories. If not…I sighed. I’d stil have to erase her memory, just later, not now. Humans weren’t supposed to know about us. “When I froze the bowl, I panicked and froze you and Cade, too. Celeste and I did talk about… demons and stuff.” The words stumbled out of me like water gushing out of a geyser. Any moment, I expected Grampa or someone to appear and catch me breaking another Guardian law. Kylie’s eyes widened. I expected her to jump up and run.
She was way out there most of the time, but this was reality, not fantasy. Instead of running, she scooted closer. “You can freeze people, too?” Wincing, I nodded. “How?” “I see psi energies, or auras of things and people, and, uh, can move them with my mind.” “Shut up.” Her eyes stayed fixed on me, unblinking and wide. “Anything?” Last Monday’s incident with the car outside the school flitted through my mind. “Yes.” Her eyes sparkled. “Whoa. That’s just…wow. What else can you do? Read minds? Tel the future? Talk to spirits?” Relief felt sweet as it swept over me. I released a breath I didn’t know I was holding. “Promise me you’l never, ever breathe a word of this to anyone.” She pretended to zip her lips. “Not even to Cade or my family.” It took nearly an hour to explain everything. At first Kylie asked questions and for demonstrations, then she became quiet as I moved to the origin of the Guardians—how Xenia, the daughter of the fal en angel Azazel, used the Kris Dagger to create Xenith and relocated there with good Nephilim to continue the work of the fal en angels by guarding humans. Then I moved to our powers, which we inherited from the fal en angels, the rebel ion by some of the Nephilim and why we hunt them down. Last, I talked about Bran and the problems he was having and why. When I finished, it was quarter to four, and Kylie’s eyes were glazed. Maybe I overloaded her brain with too much information. “A vampire lives in the val ey?” she whispered. “A Nosferatu,” I corrected her. “And she’s only half.”
Without saying another word, Kylie reached for a tissue from the table and scrubbed the dark lipstick from her lips, then she went to the bathroom to scrub her face free of make-up. When she came back, she flopped on my bed, stared at the ceiling and pinched herself. “Okay, I’m not dreaming. My best friend is part angel and fights demons. She’s dating a hottie part angel and fights demons. She’s dating a hottie who just happens to be part demon, except he’s not real y a demon because demons are bad Nephilim who want human souls and Bran has no interest in hoarding souls—” “You don’t have to repeat everything I told you,” I cut in, smiling. She sat up, her eyes wide. “Oh yes I do. I want to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Did you say you have the special dagger created by Azazel in here somewhere?” She giggled. “I can’t believe I said that aloud. I mean, Azazel was one of the most powerful fal en angels, one of their leaders. He could be your ancestor.” Her eyes widened. “There’s more I need to tel you before I leave,” I said quickly, hoping to distract her. “Please, show me the dagger first.” She gripped my hand and rocked with excitement. I frowned. “Why?” “Duh. It’s the most powerful weapon ever.” I stood and raised my hand. Come. The drawer to the right of my dresser opened and the Kris Dagger floated out and settled in my palm. Kylie’s eyes widened as the ancient words snaked up my arm, disappeared under my shirt only to reappear along my neck. “Whoa, your eyes,” she whispered. I shrugged. “I know. They glow.” “And there’s something different about you. Scary.” I glared at her. “Scary good or scary bad?” “I’d-hate-to-meet-you-in-an-al ey scary.” She got up and raised her hand as though to touch the wavy blade then paused. “Can I…?”
“Sure.” I let the dagger go. Go to her. It didn’t move, just daggled in the air between us.
Go . Instead of going to Kylie, it floated back into the drawer. I stared as the drawer closed. Weird. Maybe it sensed Valafar’s energy in her. Or it was defying me. “It is being stubborn today. Maybe next time.” For a moment, Kylie just stared at the drawer then started asking more questions. I sighed and flopped on the bed. “I can’t answer all your questions about everything today,” I said on a sigh and glanced at my watch. “I have to go to practice in ten minutes.” “With Leather Face?” she asked with a grin. “Yes.” It was a relief to be able to tel her things without resorting to lies. “But there’s something important you need to know.” She sat on the chair and grinned. “Okay. Although after hearing that vamps and werewolves are real, nothing can be that important.” “Nosferatus and Werenephils,” I corrected her then added, “Forget it. There’s a reason why you are able to hear my conversation with Valafar.” Her eyes narrowed. “No angelic dust or glamour?” “No. You’re a medium.” She made a face. “A what?” “Someone who channels spirits or the supernatural,” I explained. The smile left her face as I explained about mediums and guides. By the time I finished, she was scowling. “Grampa is a powerful psi and wil take care of you if you let him.” For a moment she didn’t speak. I could tel that she was thinking things through. “I don’t know if I want him to do that,” she said slowly. “You hunt demons, and that’s big. Why can’t I help? I mean, I’m not part angel or anything or even a Guardian, but there must be something a medium can do.” I sighed. “Actual y, there is. We need to identify the guide Valafar is using. I’l explain everything later. The only problem is humans are not supposed to know about us, so the others won’t be happy I told you.” “I bet they won’t, but I’l definitely look at their gorgeous
faces differently from now on. Part angels. Go figure.” She rol ed her eyes. I picked up the book on mediums, a bit worried about her unconcerned attitude. “This book explains what could happen if you continue to use your ability. I don’t want you to get hurt because of me, Kylie. So please, think careful y about what you want to do next.” She shrugged, took the book from me, and turned it over to see the cover. “My family is a blend of Scottish, Irish, and English, nothing extraordinary. Having this ability makes me, I don’t know, special. Just like you.” She flipped through the pages. “You read Latin?” I was not going to go into our ability to master languages, even though I cheated and acquired most of mine when I bonded with the Kris Dagger. most of mine when I bonded with the Kris Dagger. “Yes, and if you like, I can translate some of the pages, so you know what you’re getting into.” She showed me a picture of a person holding his head, blood dripping from his nose. Another picture depicted a woman screaming while holding her head. “So this is why you asked us about headaches and nosebleeds.” “Yes.” I studied her face. She seemed grossed out by the pictures. Maybe she’d change her mind. “Have you ever heard other voices before last week?” She shook her head, putting the book down. “Just your father’s voice.” “Don’t cal him that,” I snapped. Her eyes widened. “Okay. I won’t.” Her cel phone vibrated. She glanced at it and grimaced. “I, uh, better go. Cade is here.” She jumped up and hugged me before adding, “Cal me tonight.” As soon as the door closed behind her, I changed, grabbed the dagger, and teleported to HQ. I ran al the way to the pit, but I stil got there late. Haziel was in a forgiving mood. He didn’t gril me again about the dagger, which I was sure he knew I’d taken home, but had plenty to say about Bran and the others while chuckling.
“I would not condone such actions, but at times an extreme situation cal s for extreme measures. The CP is scrambling to locate them, you know.” More pacing and nods. “I hope they do not stop until they find the List and help the young Cardinal.” My jaw dropped. “I thought you hated anyone with demon blood,” I blurted out before I could stop myself. “Oh, I do. The bad ones.” He squinted at me as knives floated out of his weapons bag. “You’re a half demon. You don’t see me hating you now, do you?” Blinking, I stared at him with round eyes. “You knew?” “About your father? Of course.” He sounded insulted. “What do you think I am? Senile?” At eight hundred years old, yeah. Crabby too. “But you never have anything nice to say about Bran,” I added. His forehead furrowed. “I misjudged the boy, that’s al . Warm up time.” Smiling, I walked to the middle of the floor. *** Grampa and Janel e were in the house when I returned. I tried to stay in my room but they must have known the moment I teleported in and came knocking. My heart pounding, I opened the door and stepped back. Grampa’s lips were pressed in a thin line as he glared down at me. “That was quite a performance you gave earlier, young lady,” he said coldly from the doorway. Lifting my chin and hoping he wouldn’t pick up on my unease, I shrugged. “I meant everything I said, Grampa.” “I’m sure you did. But you can’t throw a tantrum and hold the Cardinals hostage whenever it suits you,” he snapped. For a moment words failed me. My mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water before I found my voice. “I don’t consider watching out for someone I care about throwing a tantrum. Do you remember when you were kidnapped by Valafar? We came to your rescue because I—” “Threw a tantrum,” he finished in the same frosty voice. “You must stop being impulsive. As the Chosen One, you must
think things through before you act or speak.” Anger replaced the shock. He was supposed to be on my side, and I hated fighting with him. I swal owed past a lump in my throat. “Does that mean helping the Specials is out?” “No. We already had a conference with Darius and the Brotherhood, and they agreed to help. Your suggestion was logical. However, this business with Bran—” “Jethro and his friends?” I interrupted rudely. Grampa’s eyes narrowed. He crossed his arms. I knew that gesture. He was done talking. “We haven’t reached a consensus, but we’re working on it,” Aunt Janel e answered. I ignored her, my gaze steady on Grampa. “What about Jethro and his friends, Grampa?” “Janel e already answered you.?” “Why is it okay to help them and the Specials but not Bran?” I yel ed. “Because we’re doing everything we can,” Grampa said firmly. “He can’t stay here if we fail. Linking with him wil contaminate your psi and affect how you control the dagger. It’s already started.” how you control the dagger. It’s already started.” Tears fil ed my eyes. “Then let someone else be the wielder of the dagger. I didn’t ask it to choose me.” Grampa straightened to his ful height. “Young lady, you’re grounded. No hunting for the next month. No—” Aunt Janel e gripped his arm and shook her head. “Fine. You talk to her. She’s become impossible.” He turned and stomped away. A tear escaped. I swiped at it, so angry I could scream. “May I come in?” Aunt Janel e asked. I crossed my arms and didn’t respond or move an inch. She smiled. “You look just like your grandfather when you do that. Every day, you act more like him, which means you two wil be butting heads more often.”
“I’m nothing like him.” I turned and marched to my bed, blinking hard to stop more tears from fal ing. “He’s bossy and overbearing and treats me like a child.” I sat and glared at Aunt Janel e. She leaned against the door frame and studied me. “Ares was right, you know. Linking with Bran as he becomes demonic wil affect how you wield the dagger.” I didn’t care. Let them find another wielder. Instead of responding, I reached for my backpack and removed my homework. Why was I bothering with homework anyway? If Bran left, I’d leave, too. “Last week, you hurt Haziel during training,” Aunt Janel e continued. I glared at her. “So? Maybe it’s not because Bran contaminated my psi energy. Maybe it’s because my father is a nature-bender and my destiny is to be one too.” “Sweetheart…,” she started. “Why did he have to run to you guys and report?” I griped. “He needed someone to fix the hole the dagger created. He made me swear not to tel anyone except the Cardinals. Months ago, when we noticed the feathers missing from Bran’s wings, we asked Haziel for answers. He’s been around long enough to know what to do in most situations. He told us to find the contracts but warned us about the consequences of the two of you linking once Bran’s psi energy starts to change. It wouldn’t be so bad if Bran were just any other Guardian. Your matched energies present a unique case.” “You know about that?” I whispered. “Of course. Ares noticed it right away, which is why he fought hard to help Bran and continues to do so now. He knows you’l always find each other no matter what.” She sighed, her eyes fil ed with concern. “We’ve been searching for the List a lot longer than your team, Lil. We waited until the very last minute before we told Bran how dangerous it was for the two of you to link.” Guilt and despair slammed into me. I hated fighting with Grampa and knowing I couldn’t help Bran. The strain between me and Aunt Janel e made it impossible for me to open up and confess how al this hurt. She could have enveloped me in her arms and made me feel better instead
of standing by the door. The boulder in my throat made it impossible to speak. “We al want to protect you, sweetheart,” she added softly, her eyes just a little bright. “Bran understands. That’s why he stopped linking with you when we told him to stop.” “And he’l leave if you tel him to,” I added, my heart crumbling. She nodded. “Yes.” The word was like the executioner’s gong, but I refused to give up. Not by a long shot. Aunt Janel e angled her head as though listening. “Your friends have arrived home. They might have dealt Damien a blow tonight, but they disobeyed the direct order not to leave the val ey without alerting security.” She stepped back, paused, and added, “Remember, you can always come to me and talk about whatever is bothering you.” She paused as if giving me the opportunity to say something. As long as they kept secrets and doled them out like precious goods, I wasn’t tel ing her anything. Sighing, she walked away. I swiped at the tears on my cheeks, took a deep breath, and pinged Bran.
See you in a few, he said. The Cardinals want to see us in the conference room. Are you okay? okay? Yeah. I’m coming too. I teleported to HQ. The place buzzed with activity as usual. I turned a corner and bumped into Mrs. D. After our encounter earlier, I wasn’t sure what to expect. “Uh, sorry.” “Are you going to the conference too?” she asked, looking puzzled. I nodded. “Why? You didn’t leave the val ey with them. Those kids have no regard for rules. They think they’re invincible.” She looked up and down the hal way then whispered, “I’m sorry for the way I reacted earlier, Lil. Can we talk?” “Uh, sure.” I real y wanted to be with the others, but she
looked contrite and she’d always been nice to me. She took my arm and led me down the hal way toward the Academy. “In here,” she said and pushed open a door. The lights flickered on. It was a medium-sized office. Her jacket and colorful scarves hung on pegs to our left. An indoor plant sat at a corner and watercolors covered the wal . She pul ed out a chair. “Sit here. I’l be right back.” I wanted to remind her about the meeting in the conference room, but she left before I could speak. Sighing, I sat on the edge of the chair, tapped my foot, and waited. Minutes passed. Just when I decided to leave, the door opened. Instead of Mrs. D, in walked my former martial art instructor, Kenta. “Daisensei Kenta,” I said with a broad grin and jumped to my feet. “Don’t cal me that, Lil.” He smiled benignly, closing the gap between us to give me a hug. He leaned back and studied me. “I’m not your teacher anymore, young lady. I left that daunting task to the Great Master Haziel. Sit and visit while we wait for Azure to come back.” Once again, I wanted to bring up the meeting I was missing, but Kenta seemed excited to see me. He also looked different, yet I couldn’t pinpoint the reason. He dressed the same, jeans and a polo shirt. He crossed his arms and sat on the edge of the desk. It was his hair, I decided, studying him. It was longer. “How are the new students?” I asked, reluctantly sitting down again. “Keeping me busy,” he said. “How’s your training? I shrugged. “Fine. Hard.” “Haziel can be a task master at times.” Kenta laughed selfconsciously. “I was one of his students for a while. He reduced us to tears, pushed us until we wanted to quit.” I’d those moments, too, but I didn’t dare complain. Besides, Leather Face had grown on me. “He’s not so bad.”
Kenta’s slanted eyes sharpened. “Real y?” “I mean, it was tough at first. You al owed us to train together. He likes one-on-one sessions, which can be very stressful.” I shrugged. “But, I’m becoming a better hunter and that’s what counts, right?” Kenta made a face. “I knew students back home who complained to the High Council about him.” He laughed again. “He was forced to retire. Your grandfather pul ed him out of retirement and brought him here to train you.” I had no idea where Kenta was headed with this, but if there was a power play going on, I didn’t want to be involved. I jumped to my feet. “I didn’t know, but I real y need to go. Where’s Mrs. D?” Kenta straightened his body, too, which dwarfed mine by several inches. “She should be back any minute. Wait for her.” I shuffled back, apprehension crawling up my spine although I couldn’t explain why. “No, I can’t. The others are waiting.” He indicated the door. “Of course. If you’re unhappy with Master Haziel, make sure you tel your grandfather.” “I’l do that.” I hurried to the door, but he was already there, opening it. Something about his smile was off. “It was nice talking to you again, daisensei Kenta,” I said, walking past him. “We should do this again. Just ask Azure to contact me.” He glanced over my shoulder and his eyes flashed. “Master Haziel.” I whipped around to find the old man walking toward us from the main office, his face a mask of disapproval. “Lil, you should be with your friends.” His eyes shifted to my former trainer. “Kenta. Stil sneaking around causing trouble?” sneaking around causing trouble?” I left the two of them talking and hurried to the conference room. It was empty. I pinged Bran. He was at Remy and Sykes’. I teleported to their place. Laughter drew me downstairs, scents of cheese and pepperoni wafting through the air. Boxes of pizza sat open on the downstairs wet bar along with packs of canned soft drinks.
My eyes sought Bran’s and my heart strings jerked. Aunt Janel e’s words rang in my head. I didn’t care what anyone said. I refused to lose him. “Come join the celebration,” Remy cal ed out. “Sorry you missed out,” Izzy added. “The raids were fun.” “You should have seen us, Red. We made bad look good,” Sykes added, smirking. I made my way to Bran’s side. Causing mayhem definitely agreed with these guys. They were in high spirits, each with a different version of how things went down at a different place. Even though I envied them, I was happy they made it home safe. “Were the Cardinals angry?” I asked when there was a lul in the conversation. “A little,” Bran said. “A little?” Sykes asked. “That’s a freakin’ understatement. They chewed our asses out. Where were you? We hoped you’d deflect Cardinal Falcon’s wrath like you usual y do.” Not when he and I weren’t talking. “Mrs. D waylaid me. She took me to see daisensei Kenta.” “What is he doing here?” Kim asked. I frowned. “What do you mean? Doesn’t he teach here at the Academy?” Kim laughed. “No way. My father sent him home after your brother,” she glanced at Bran, “kept sneaking into the val ey. Dad said he sucked as head of security. He teaches at one of the schools in Xenith.” “Are he and Mrs. D an item?” I asked. “There was a rumor they were engaged, but…,” Izzy shrugged. “No wonder he wants Haziel’s job,” I said. The others laughed as though the idea was ludicrous. I tilted my head and smiled into Bran’s eyes. The thought of never sitting in his arms like this made my chest hurt. “You’re worrying again,” he whispered.
The pressure in my chest increased. “I can’t help it. I’m scared.” “Don’t be.” He looked away but not before I saw the swirling despair in the depth of his eyes. His arms tightened around me. I wanted time alone with him. It was time I saw the damage to his wings. Tuning the others out, I asked, “Are we doing anything tonight?” “Yeah,” he said. “Lottius came through. We’re meeting her and Zedekiah tonight at nine. Sorry we left you behind earlier.” I shrugged. “That’s okay. It gave me a chance to talk to Kylie. She’s the medium.” “What?” Izzy, seated closest to us, overheard me and screamed. “How did you find out?” “Not by accident.” Right at that moment, I made another decision. No more secrets from these guys. So I told them everything, starting with freezing the bowl. “I know, I should have told you guys earlier.” “You got that right,” Kim snapped. “You can’t get mad with us for not tel ing you about the List when you had a little secret of your own al along.” “Let me finish talking, then you can yel at me al you want. The fact is Kylie heard everything Celeste and I discussed while she and Cade were frozen. I talked about demons, powers and Guardians. She heard it al . I had no choice but to explain what they meant.” The others leaned forward, total y engrossed. When I finished talking, everyone had something to say, and it wasn’t good. Not defending myself, I just sat there and took it. Bran was the only one who kept quiet. “Enough guys,” he final y said. “She came clean, and you’re ripping her apart for it. That’s just not cool.” “Of course, you’d support her,” Kim said with annoyance. “She tel s you everything.” Bran studied her. “And your point is?” “We are a team,” Kim retorted. “We might not always get along, but when it comes to what counts, we stand together. She needs to let go of her human friends.” “Whoa, Blondie. Slow down. We don’t need to go there right now,” Sykes cut in. “Lil’s friends serve a purpose.”
“What?” Kim snapped. “They are her friends…her posse. When she needs time away from you,” he squinted at Kim, “and needs time away from you,” he squinted at Kim, “and Guardian duties, she hangs out with them. She gets to decide when to let them go, not you. So back off,” Sykes finished with a bite. Kim’s eyes flashed. “Of course, you’d side with her. You want—” “Okay, okay, enough already,” Izzy cut in. “No need to fight over this. I say we use Kylie to ID the guide first, then erase her memory.”
Thank you, Izzy. “How?” I added aloud. “We’l come up with something. But Izzy is right. Her memories must be erased,” Remy added firmly, co*cking his brow at me. “Fine,” I mumbled. I hated the idea but knew it had to be done. “Any more secrets?” Kim asked with a look that dared me to say no. My ears stil ringing from the berating I just received, I hesitated. But it was very brief. “What do you want to hear first? Valafar’s phone cal and his offer or what the Cardinals said about the Specials?” *** “That was brave of you,” Bran told me later after we left the guys’ place and went over to mine. I looked down and smiled. He lay sprawled on the lounge by the TV, one leg dangling on the side. He looked so relaxed, like he didn’t have a care. I stil couldn’t look at him without imagining him gone. “Standing up to the senior Cardinals or the junior ones?” I asked. “Both.” He crooked his finger at me. “Come here.” “Can you show me?” I asked instead of joining him. He didn’t move, but his expression grew wary. He knew exactly what I meant.
“I put off asking, but now I need to see how bad they are.” When we flew last week, I didn’t notice any difference in his wings. The next day, I found a few feathers on the floor. Just normal shedding, I thought, and put them with the others in my special box. He got up. I moved back, giving him room, my heart pounding. Please, don’t let them be like Dante’s. Bran pul ed off his shirt and rol ed his neck then locked his eyes with mine. He strained. Dul pain radiated on my back, echoing his, but it was brief. Then his wings rose behind him, so huge and magnificent, white on the tips and inside. A few feathers floated to the carpeted floor. He widened his stance, his eyes stil not leaving mine. A lump formed in my throat. Strips of his beautiful feathers on the underside of his wings were gone, leaving behind thin golden skin. Last week when we watched the sunset, they were intact. He turned around. The black plumes on the outside seemed thinner, but I couldn’t see any skin yet. I wanted to touch them but feared they might fal at my feet. Tears wel ed in my eyes, until he became blurry. I hadn’t cried in his presence since he told me the truth. Now tears streamed down my face. “Don’t,” he whispered. He must have turned around to face me. His arms closed around me. Wings fol owed. Once so warm and soft, the boney ridges dug into my shoulder. I cried harder, accepting the inevitable. His wings would someday be exactly like Dante’s, then he’d have to leave.
23. The Contract “What a dump,” Kim said as we studied our surroundings. We’d teleported behind a grocery store on North Las Vegas Boulevard. Across was the Paladin Hotel & Suites, three gray boxed buildings that blended with the mountain backdrop. Red door and window canopies covered the front entrance, low brick wal s separating the hotel’s parking lots from the neighboring office buildings’. There wasn’t much vegetation except for a few palm trees and shrubs. A shuttle and a few rentals, including two SUVs, sat in the parking lots. Kim and the others had pinged me after Bran retracted his
wings. We were discussing the chances of Valafar keeping his promise and giving back Bran and his brother’s contracts. Bran doubted Valafar’s sincerity. I didn’t. Valafar’s concern had seemed genuine. My trust in him was stil shaky, but I was convinced we could actual y have a relationship now. I just needed to learn to ignore his mistrust toward the Guardians. “It’s not so bad,” Sykes said, interrupting my musing, “if you ignore the drunks and the drug dealers.” “Let’s go,” Bran said impatiently, and we left the shadows. Crossing the freeway, we drew attention of the loiterers hanging around the hotel’s entrance. Were they real y drug dealers like Sykes claimed? A group of rowdy hotel guests, who looked like col ege students, entered the shuttle. They were probably headed to downtown Las Vegas. Nearby, a plane took off with enough noise to pop eardrums. Perhaps the sounds drowned the sirens because as we approached the front entrance, several police cars screeched to a stop behind us, lights flashing. Cops poured out and rushed passed us. “No going inside,” one cop ordered as he hurried in after his buddies. “Stand back, folks,” another added as he and his partner carried crime scene yel ow tape and set a perimeter around the hotel entrance. The sound of an ambulance buzzed as it approached at high speed. We stil had fifteen minutes before the meeting with Zedekiah and Lottius, but from the looks of things, that wasn’t going to happen. The crowd grew fast. People craned their necks to see what was happening, which wasn’t much. A few speculated. From what I picked up, police presence in the neighborhood was a common thing. Within minutes, guests poured out, some in their swim suits, others in their pajamas and robes. Some adults had little children with them. Bran looked at me. “See what you can find out.” I tapped into the thoughts of the cops inside the motel. “Two bodies, a man and a woman,” I said. “The man is dead, a severe burn on his chest, and the woman is barely alive yet there’s no…pulse.” Bran’s eyes sharpened. He didn’t have to say Zedekiah and Lottius.
“I’l confirm it.” He stepped over the tape. “Hey, where do you think you’re going?” one of the policemen yel ed. Bran raised his hand and kept going without breaking his stride. The policeman stopped then went back to finish setting the perimeter. “Where’s he going?” Izzy asked, moving “Where’s he going?” Izzy asked, moving closer to me. I turned to answer her and saw him—Dante. He stood in the back of the growing crowd, his eyes on me. Like Friday, he wore a suit. This time, the trench coat was real. “We have company,” I whispered. “Look behind you.” Izzy turned, and her eyes widened when she saw Dante. Kim humphed. “He’s taking this bodyguard thing seriously, isn’t he?” Amusem*nt tinged her voice. “What do you mean?” I asked. “He wasn’t around earlier when we torched Damien’s properties,” she explained. “I’l be your personal bodyguard if you like, Kim,” Sykes said. She ignored him, eyes on Dante. “Let’s see what he wants,” Remy cut in, voice tense. Surrounded by my friends, I approached the demon. He moved away from the crowd, heading further down into the parking lot. We fol owed, our amulets glowing and bodies tense. “What are you doing here, Dante?” I demanded. “You need to leave this place at once, Lilith.” His voice was soft yet frosty. “Gabreel and his fol owers wil be here soon to claim his daughter’s body, and you don’t want to be here when he arrives. He’s angry and has a bloodlust.” “So it’s Lottius in there with Zedekiah,” I said. The others gasped. My gaze didn’t leave Dante as I
explained. “The police found two bodies, one man and a woman who’s stil alive but doesn’t have a pulse. Bran went to confirm it.” “Since she has the mark of the Guardians on her forehead, Gabreel wil know your friends,” he nodded at the others, “did it. Your crazy rampage this afternoon unleashed something you’l not contain. The rules are to go after only those stealing souls, not peace-loving demons.” Sykes chuckled. “Peace-loving demons is an oxymoron, dude.” Dante pinned him down with eyes that slowly changed color from brown to red. “Don’t cal me dude, Guardian,” he spat out. “Kil ing Lottius in such a merciless manner wil bring the wrath of Gabreel and the entire House of Nosferatus on your heads. You should have sent her straight to Tartarus.” “We didn’t poison her,” Remy said. “We just got here.” “That’s a lie,” Dante snarled. “You were here earlier.” “How do we know you didn’t put the mark on her?” Kim asked. “It’s obvious you already saw her body.” “What do you mean by the mark of the Guardians?” Izzy added. “The six-sided amulet.” He lifted his arms, palms out. “If I touched one, I would have a fresh wound on my hands, and it would heal slowly. You did it.” He glared at al of us then singled out Izzy. “And you know it.” “He’s right,” Bran said, coming behind us. “He didn’t do it. No demon can. Only a Guardian could touch the amulet and leave the imprint. Zedekiah’s body is stil warm, which means he just died.” His gaze locked with Dante’s. “We barely got here. We didn’t do this.” “Don’t lie to me, Llyr.” He slanted his head toward Izzy. “I recognize her. Lottius died of salt poisoning, the kind only delivered through a hellgel, which I believe you placed in her last Friday. And to add salt to injuries, the five of you destroyed a few ships jointly owned by Damien and Gabreel. Another deed you al wil answer for. Lil is the only one leaving this place tonight because she wasn’t with you this afternoon and I didn’t feel her presence earlier. The rest of you must stay and face Gabreel.” He snapped his fingers and five of his men materialized, boxing us in. “Lil. Leave.” I
laughed. “You’re crazy if you think I’m leaving my friends. Besides, I placed the gel inside Lottius. She tried to kidnap me, broke my ribs, legs and arms. You want to help us, get more of your people and help us fight her father and his minions.” “Yeah,” a familiar voice rang out accompanied by clapping. Angelia? I turned as the scrawny girl raced toward me and flung her arms around my waist. “What are you doing here?” “I’m ready to go to that new place you promised us.” She peered at the other Guardians and made a face when her gaze connected with and made a face when her gaze connected with Remy’s. “He’s stil a grouch. And you,” she pointed at Bran, “don’t ever scare my friends again, or Lil wil make you pay. Right Lil? You don’t punish just bad Hermonites. The Chosen One punishes bad Guardians, too. Solange said so.” I sighed. Solange fil ed the kid’s head with pure nonsense. “What is she doing here?” Dante snarled. “She lives with the despicable Lazari.” “And you work for mean old Lord Valafar,” Angelia retorted, her lisp stronger, then she glanced at me. “Sorry. I know he’s your daddy, but he’s mean. We fol owed Solange here and saw him,” she pointed at Dante, “watching from the shadows. Solange met with her,” she pointed at Izzy this time, “right here in this parking lot, and they went inside the hotel together.” We gasped and turned to look at Izzy. Her mouth opened and closed.
My gaze swung from Izzy’s horrified face to the little girl’s. “Angelia, you can’t say things like that,” I warned her. “The child is right,” Dante added. “I saw the Guardian, too.” We al protested. Izzy sputtered. Angelia angled her head as though listening. “No?” she mumbled to herself then sighed. “I guess it wasn’t her though she looked just like her, had the same skin, face, and hair. Leo said her voice was different.” Angelia angled her head again. “Cresil said she wore a pretty, uh, thing around her wrist.” “Watch?” Remy asked. “Charm bracelet?” Sykes added. “No,” Angelia said. “It had pretty things drawn on it, not hanging from it.” “A bangle,” Dante snapped. “Are you sure it’s not her?” he jerked his head toward Izzy. Angelia rol ed her eyes and bragged, “Leo can hear from very far, and he’s never wrong about voices.” A memory flitted in my head. Izzy stopped by to see me a few days ago and wore a pretty bangle, too. Could she be the guide? Even as the question flashed in my head, I knew it couldn’t be true. “There’s no Guardian who looks like Izzy,” Remy said. “Unless we have a shape-shifter,” Bran added. That would make perfect sense. I touched Izzy’s arm. “Did you stop by my place on Monday after we discussed Aunt Janel e and the present? I was waiting for Bran.” Eyes flashing, Izzy shook her head. “Kim and I teleported home right after that.” She glanced at Kim. “Remember your Mom reminisced about a recent trip home and gave each of us an Asian pear.” Kim nodded. “She was home with me. “ “Someone’s been freakin’ shifting into me,” Izzy snarled. “It wasn’t you?” Dante interrupted. Izzy cut him a cold look. “Why do you think I’m so pissed?” she screamed.
Dante shrugged his massive shoulders. “You need to get moving before I change my mind about tel ing Gabreel you’re the ones who destroyed his ships.” Angelia tugged on my trench coat. I leaned down so she could whisper into my ear. “Don’t leave. I have something to say about Zedekiah, but I don’t want Dante to hear it.” The others watched us. I gave them a tiny smile and turned to face Dante. “We’l leave, but only after you and your men do.” Dante’s gaze swept our faces. “Okay. But I’m tuned to you, Lilith. I’l be watching.” He nodded at his friends, who shimmered and dematerialized one by one. “Don’t trust anything that child tel s you,” Dante warned. “Lazari are liars.” Angelia stuck out her tongue at him. He glared at her then at me. “Go home.” Yeah, yeah, whatever. “Sure.” As soon as he teleported, Angelia stuck two fingers in her mouth and let out a loud whistle worthy of a dock worker. Wind picked up. Smoke drifted from the parking lot of the neighboring office and poured over the low brick wal like a waterfal . Instinctively, we moved back. Hands reached for weapons. The thick gray mass hugged the ground and formed a circle around us, undulating like a giant snake. Then it separated into over a dozen portions and started to swirl and drift upwards like miniature twisters. Little feet in sneakers and sandals formed, fol owed by short legs in jeans, pants and skirts, then tees. Within seconds, we pants and skirts, then tees. Within seconds, we were surrounded by a dozen Specials. Make that two dozen. Some of them were as young as five, maybe younger. “There’re so many,” Kim whispered beside me. “Come with me,” I whispered to Angelia. When I knew the other kids couldn’t hear us, except Leo, whichever one he was, and his amazing ears, I squatted down so Angelia and I were on the same level. “You said there were only ten of you. Where did the others come from?” “Yesterday, Cresil pinged the other Specials when Solange
said we were moving to an island on Sunday.” Angelia glanced at her friends and smiled. “This afternoon, Leo heard her talk about kil ing Zedekiah and we knew it was time to leave, so Cresil sent out more pings and asked for those ready to come to our place. The ping didn’t go far. Cresil is stil learning how, but she’s very good. Everyday she gets better.” “Which one is Cresil?” I asked. She waved at the little girl Bran and I met in Paris Las Vegas Hotel. “Do you want to hear what Leo heard?” “Sure.” We joined the others. Kim was trying to converse with some of the kids. The guys just looked uncomfortable. Izzy was lost in her rage, probably stil pissed that someone tried to frame her. “Leo?” Angelia cal ed out. The boy from our last meeting stepped forward until he stood before me. His black hair was greasy and splattered on his head like he hadn’t washed it in days, his eyes shadowed. “Tel them what you heard,” Angelia said, taking his hand in hers. He kept his eyes to the ground and mumbled, “A plane took off just when the Guardian and Solange went inside, so I missed some stuff.” “It’s okay,” I reassured him, but he stil hung his head. “Just tel us whatever you heard.” “Zedekiah kept saying he must talk to Llyr or he won’t get paid.” Leo’s voice became louder. “Then I heard the Guardian ask Solange about Saturday and when to meet. Solange said morning. Then there was silence.” He hung his head. I reached out and patted his matted hair. “That was wel done, Leo.” “Thank you, Mistress Lilith,” he mumbled. I lifted his chin. “Al my friends cal me Lil.” He gave me a
shaky smile fil ed with such hope that my heart swel ed. Poor things. I looked at the others and shrugged. “What now?” “I want to see the person pretending to be me,” Izzy growled. “We’re going back in time.” “We must speak to Zedekiah, too,” Bran added. “It’s obvious he has something for us.” “And the little children of the, uh, Specials?” Kim asked. “I’l take them to the Brotherhood before we start.” Bran looked at me. “I’l be back in two or three minutes.” He studied the children as though counting them and then sighed. “I’m going to need help here, guys.” “We should al go,” I suggested. Bran shook his head. “The Brotherhood wil make a big deal out of your presence there, so now is not a good time for you to visit.” He glanced at Sykes. “You’ve been to their compound. Why don’t you come with me?” “Sure.” Despite his easy agreement, Sykes looked worried. He was an only child, a fact he was very proud of, and probably had no idea how to deal with kids. “Just fol ow my example,” Bran told him as though aware of his discomfort then turned to Remy and co*cked his right brow. “We’l keep an eye on things over here,” Remy said. “I want Lil to come with us,” Angelia pouted, gripping the edge of my coat. I squatted again and hugged her. “I promise I’l stop by as soon as we’re done here. Bran and Sykes are very nice. Just do what they tel you.” The Brotherhood might not be ready for two dozen kids, but at least they knew of their existence. “Okay. Listen up,” Bran cal ed out, glancing at the children’s faces. “I want you to separate into two groups. Hold hands with the person nearest to you so we’re al connected. On a count of three, Cardinal Sykes and I wil teleport al of you to your new home.” He picked up two kids who were about three years old and told two to grab his legs. He was so amazing with them. That lump that kept blocking my throat reappeared. Sykes, not to kept blocking my throat reappeared. Sykes, not to be outdone, imitated Bran
and picked up two kids, too. The rest of us walked around and made sure the children were al holding hands, arms, clothes, or whatever. “If I’m not back with Llyr in three minutes, send a search party,” Sykes said and faked a shudder as I walked past him. I smiled. On a count of three, they al teleported. Exhaling, I turned to face Izzy. She stil glowered. “You sure about this time-travel thing?” I asked. “No,” she griped. “I hate to do it, and this time I have to take al of you. I mean, I don’t know if I can. I get dizzy and weak, but we have to go back and catch that traitorous shapeshifter.” “I didn’t even know we had one in the val ey,” Kim added. “I heard we have several,” Remy said absentmindedly, his gaze at the entrance of the hotel, where the paramedics were loading Lottius into the ambulance. “We don’t have much time. Maybe Izzy should take us one at a time.” “No, we al go together.” I pul ed out my dagger and paused as my body adjusted. “Izzy, I’m going to do something. Promise not to panic or fight the effect.” “What?” She scowled. “Boost your powers.” I aimed the dagger at her. She stared hopeful y at the dagger then at me. “You sure it can do that?” “Remember the battle with Coronis? It boosted your energies when she sucked yours and the others’. Haziel reminded me just a few days ago.” “He did?” Kim asked. “He’s at the top of my list of suspects. He can shift and astral project.” I shook my head. “Not Haziel. He’s strict and a taskmaster, but he’s not evil.” “What about Mrs. D?” Izzy asked. “She shifts and wears bracelets.” “I didn’t know she could shift. She’s been acting strange lately, but I don’t think she’s the one either,” I said. “She’s
nice.” “Nice can be faked,” Kim retorted. “It’s al about whether she wants more power and feels she can get it from a demon.” “But she wouldn’t wear one of her bracelets when she shifts,” Remy answered. “That’d be just plain stupid.” “I agree. What if someone is trying to frame her?” I pointed the dagger at Izzy. “Who else has the ability to shift?” “No one that we know. Just Mrs. D and Haziel. Is it going to hurt?” Izzy asked, her gaze clinging to mine. It hurt Haziel. “I don’t know. Brace yourself.” Enhance her powers. Light shot from the dagger and hit her in the chest. Her eyes grew wide, but she didn’t cry out in pain. After about five seconds, I lowered the dagger and the glow dimmed from the blade. “How do you feel?” She shook her head so fast it was blurry. “Whoa. Talk about a head rush.” She waved a hand over her watch then disappeared. Seconds later, she reappeared behind me. “Holy crap. That was fast. We should do that every time before we go hunting. How far back are we going?” “An hour and a half,” Remy told her. “Don’t do that again. When we go, we al go.” Izzy adjusted her watch one more time and disappeared. “Great. I told her not do it, and she goes right ahead and does it,” Remy griped just as Bran and Sykes returned. “Where’s Izzy?” Bran asked, looking around. “Right here,” she cal ed out from the other side of the wal and teleported to our side. She didn’t stand stil , her movement jerky as though a live wire ran through her. “I saw her…the traitorous bitch. She looks just like me. Whoever it is, I’m so ready to beat the crap out of her. How did it go, guys?” she asked in a high-pitched voice. “Great,” Sykes said. “The women are amazing.” “The kids are in good hands,” Bran added then jerked his head toward Izzy, who was busy adjusting her watch again and paced at the same time. “She’s hyper. What did you guys do to her?” I waved the Kris Dagger. “Can we go now?” Izzy asked. “Because if you haven’t
noticed, the ambulance is leaving with you haven’t noticed, the ambulance is leaving with Lottius, which means some paramedic wil soon realize she’s not human.” She looped her arm through mine. “Come on, let’s go back in time.” *** Cars, people near the entrance and across the street, and airplanes taking off from the nearby airstrip al began to move backward slowly then picked up speed. Room lights flickered on and off through the windows then streaked. Dizziness washed over me, as everything became a blur. I always hated amusem*nt park rides, and time-travel felt like I was going in circles at a supersonic speed. When everything stopped, there were more cars and hotel shuttles near the entrance of the hotel. Since we were way in the back with a clear view of the entrance, we crouched at the base of the low wal to wait. The vertigo and queasiness passed, but at such a slow pace I felt il . Next time I’m boosting my own energy with the dagger before time travel. I looked at the others, who were either hunched over or held their stomach. Izzy stil fidgeted and didn’t seem unaffected. No one spoke. Tension hung around us thick as a fog. Half an hour later, two SUVs rol ed into the parking lot. Lottius stepped out of one, looked around, and nodded toward the second car. She walked slightly hunched over, one arm across her stomach, and occasional y stopped as though to catch her breath. A man, presumably Zedekiah, left the driver’s seat. Stocky, he wore a long coat and a basebal cap slung low on his head, making it impossible to see his face. The two walked with quick steps and appeared to be arguing as they headed toward the entrance, though we couldn’t hear their words. “We’l give them a ten minute head start then fol ow,” Bran said, breaking the silence. “Lil should come inside with me. I’l need her help removing the hellgel from inside Lottius.” He studied me under the yel ow parking lot security light. “Use the dagger to find it. It won’t be easy, especial y since she has the shivers. Make sure the dagger doesn’t touch her skin or she’l burst into flames.” “Can’t I just freeze her like last time?” I asked. Bran shook his head. “No. Her insides wil shut down and trap the gel. You need her awake.” He turned his attention to the others. “We’l need one person with us to watch our backs while the rest of you keep an eye on her friends.
Remember, we’re here to get Solange and the traitor, not to start a fight with the Nosferatu. The Specials said Solange met with the Guardian out here. Knowing Solange, she won’t come alone.” “My target is the Guardian,” Izzy said shortly. “So I’m staying.” “I’l watch Izzy’s back,” Sykes said. “Besides, I want to check out this Solange babe,” he added, smirking. Kim made a disgusted sound. “I’l go inside with Lil and Bran.” Bran looked at Remy then got to his feet. “Let’s do this then go home,” he said in a low voice, sounding tired. Or maybe he’d given up. We were close to finding out the whereabouts of the List. I thought he’d be pleased. Adrenaline raced through me as we left the shadowy parking lot and approached the entrance. Bran detoured and knocked on the driver’s window of the second SUV. The window rol ed down to reveal a blonde with porcelain skin and topaz eyes. She hissed, baring her fangs. “What, Llyr?” “We’l fix her up then come out. Only then can you go inside to get her. You make any attempt to come inside before we’re done, we’l kil her,” Bran warned her. “You hurt her, and I’l personal y hunt you down,” she snarled at Bran then rol ed up the window. “I counted only four,” Bran said as we continued to the building, “but knowing Nosferatu, there are more nearby. Don’t heal her until we’ve talked to Zedekiah.” The inside of the hotel looked decent enough —eggshel wal s, tan and brown checkered carpet that matched the curtains, brown leather chairs by a huge fishtank, and landscape paintings on the wal s. There was no front desk, just windows to the office, which was empty. Bran didn’t even slow down since he’d already been inside and knew exactly where Lottius and Zedekiah were holed up. We fol owed him down a hal way. A strong stench of air
freshener mixed with stale cigarettes hung in the air. Kim made a face like she’d tasted something bad. I wrinkled my nose and just grinned at Kim’s discomfort. at Kim’s discomfort. Bran stopped outside a room. Kim positioned herself beside the door, her back to the wal and arms crossed. “I’l stay out here. If you need me, just let me know.” He banged on the door and yel ed, “Open up, Z.” “Is that you, Llyr?” Zeke responded from inside. “Who else cal s you Z?” Bran snapped. The door opened to reveal the short guy. He’d ditched his coat revealing a gray suit and light blue shirt. His black hair was greased back, and a trimmed moustache rested above his upper lip. His sal ow skin said he didn’t spend that much time outdoors and he didn’t look us in the eye. “Thank God you’re early,” Zedekiah said. “The vamp’s been threatening to feed on me if I didn’t shut up. I came here of my own free wil . Hey! What are you doing?” Bran had grabbed the shorter man by his col ar and lifted him off the ground as if he weighed nothing. A serrated blade jutted from his clenched fist as he raised his other hand. “Don’t talk to me about your free wil , you piece of filth,” he said in a cold voice. “I want to know why you set me up.” Shocked into immobility, I gawked at the scene. “I didn’t. I swear, I didn’t,” the man screamed, arms crossed in front of his face. Bran shook him. “We were ambushed. My brother is half dead because of you. Give me one reason why I shouldn’t finish you here and now.” Bran’s hand rose, the knife in his hand gleaming as it caught the light. “I was fol owing orders. Lord Damien’s,” Zedekiah stammered. “Lies! That’s what you’re good at, Z. I ought to let the vamp finish you.”
I reached out to touch him, maybe calm him down. Kim caught my wrist. “Don’t.” I snatched my hand away. “What do you mean don’t? Angelia said Zedekiah had something to tel us.” Kim made a disgusted sound. “Tel ? Sleaze bal s like Zedekiah are bought by the highest bidder. They don’t tel anyone anything unless the price is right. Right now, it’s his life. Let Bran do his thing while you take care of Lottius.” Bran walked further into the suite, hauling Zedekiah behind him past a table and some chairs, toward a couch in front of a television and a chest of drawers. The man tried to stand up, but he was no match for Bran’s longer strides. He tried to pry Bran’s fingers loose from the chokehold grip on his col ar, his face red and sweaty. Bran threw him on the couch and leaned over him. “Start talking,” Bran snapped. “Tel me about the deals you’ve been making—who has the List, and where is the mortal combat taking place?” I nodded at Kim, closed the door behind me, and fol owed Bran and Zedekiah, but a moan drew my attention to the bedroom. Lottius was curled up near the edge, her eyes closed. I tuned out the exchange between Bran and Zedekiah and walked to her side. Her skin looked grey and her body quivered every so often. The convulsions were so fast she became blurry. I touched her shoulder when a spasm passed. She twitched and opened her eyes. “Please, take it out of me,” she begged. “Not yet,” Bran cal ed out. He shook his head when I looked at him. Feeling sorry for Lottius even though I knew I shouldn’t, I stepped back. “Just a second and I’l take care of it,” I reassured her then moved to where Zedekiah cowered on a chair. “I had no idea what I was getting myself into,” he said, speaking fast and gesturing, his eyes vol eying between me and Bran. “I’m a broker. A damn good one. Some would even say I’m successful, but what I have is nothing compared to what the man offered me.”
“Demon,” Bran snapped. “I didn’t know that until later. Okay? He offered me five mil ion dol ars to convince four different groups to sign a contract for a deal he was offering. I had no idea I’d be dealing with the supernatural world until the contract appeared in his hand out of thin air.” “And when you found out, you tried to get out of the deal,” Bran said with a snicker. “He sent hel hounds after me,” Zedekiah “He sent hel hounds after me,” Zedekiah said, crossing himself. Bran closed his eyes and sighed. “I don’t care how or why you sold your soul, Zedekiah. Just answer my questions.” “But I want you to understand why I did it, Llyr. I’m not a greedy man, but five mil ion dol ars is five mil ion dol ars, and now I won’t get a cent if you don’t make it to the negotiating table.” “Why should Bran sign it?” I asked Zedekiah. “Give him the contract, you stupid man, before I change my mind and cal my friends to finish you off,” Lottius yel ed from behind us, then another shudder shook her. They were becoming more frequent. “See what I’ve been dealing with the last hour,” Zedekiah whined. “Make that the last two weeks. Threats to be sucked dry by vampires, eaten by creatures that make werewolves look tame by comparison, nearly mauled by invisible dogs—” “Or instant death by my knife if you don’t stop whining,” Bran snarled and waved the blade. “Where and when are the negotiations taking place?” “Tomorrow night. It starts at midnight on Jarvis Island, South Pacific Ocean. They cal the negotiation a mortal combat.” Zedekiah laughed. “Funny, isn’t it? Like the video game, only there’l be no fighting.” “Stupid human,” Lottius mumbled. “There’l be fighting al right. The kind our world has never seen.” “Ignore her. That’s pain talking.” Zedekiah rol ed out a brown, old parchment that looked like an animal skin. The
edges were uneven and blackened as though someone trimmed it with fire. “Al you have to do is sign this,” the broker added in a silky voice. Bran took the parchment and read it. I inched closer, stomach roiling. The slanted words were written in black. Blood drained from my head as I read the first sentence. This is a binding contract between Damien and Bran Llyr of the House of Lazari. On this day, the 20th day of the 5th moon in the year of our Goddess 6992, Bran Llyr wil ingly consents to enter the mortal combat to be held on Jarvis Island. If Bran Llyr wins, he wil be awarded the List as his property and wil be free to do whatever he wants with its contents. If he loses, he forfeits the contents of the List forever, which revert to Damien. “You can’t sign that,” I cried, my eyes on Bran’s face, not liking the expectant look in his eyes one little bit. “You’re a Guardian, not a representative of some stupid House of Lazari.” “Aren’t I?” he asked calmly then glanced over at Lottius who watched us with a spiteful gleam in her eyes. “Someone told us the combat is on Friday. Zedekiah says it’s Saturday. Which is it?” Lottius laughed softly. “It starts after midnight on Friday, so Saturday it is. Sign it already so I can get the hel out of here.” Another convulsion shook her. “Don’t,” I insisted, a sob catching in my throat. Images of demons the size of Dante flashed in my head. I didn’t want to lose Bran. “They’l kil you,” I added in a whisper. Bran’s gaze locked with mine. “I can’t afford to worry about my death, Lil.” “What a terrible thing to say,” I cried. “You promised me we’d always be together.” “My soul is at stake,” he said softly as though begging me to understand then prickled the tip of his finger with the dagger. “My soul, Lil,” he added firmly, our gazes connecting. “I battle demons everyday to save the souls of Guardians. Why can’t I fight for mine?” I had no response for him, my chest hurting with each breath I took. “That’s right,” the broker urged. “Sign up so I can leave this
roach infested room.” “Shut up, Zedekiah, or I’l kil you myself,” I yel ed, my gaze locked with Bran’s, panic the size of a tsunami slamming through me. “Please, don’t do this. Valafar said he’d help.” Lottius laughed again. “You’re such a fool, Lilith.” “Shut up, or the hellgel stays inside you,’ I snapped then repeated urgently, my eyes on Bran’s face, “he promised he’d help.” Bran sighed. “We’ve gone over this, Lil. I don’t trust Valafar. I must do this. It’s the only way.” He spread open the parchment with one splayed hand and pressed the finger he pricked until blood pooled on the tip. Everything slowed as the red blob dropped down, down, down… So many thoughts zipped through my head. A feeling of impending doom through my head. A feeling of impending doom washed over me. The blood hit the paper and was immediately absorbed. The point where it landed smoldered, then the fire spread and consumed the paper, leaving behind nothing, not even ashes.
24. Ambushed I stared at Bran slack-jawed. He didn’t look away, his eyes narrowed in defiance, his belief in his action unwavering. “Help her so we can leave,” he ordered, but his eyes begged me for understanding. I understood al right. He was determined to save his soul. Then why did resentment coil my insides? The Nosferatu whimpered and drew my attention. Giving Bran one last glance, I faced her. “Lie on your back.” Her tremors were stronger but Lottius straightened her limbs. A flick of my wrist and the buttons of her top popped. Another wave and the lapels moved apart. Ribbons of veins snaked from the middle of her stomach and radiated to the side. They looked garish under her skin, like long blue worms. Shuddering, I pul ed out the dagger and brought it close to her skin. She whimpered, her eyes changing from amethyst to red. “If you move and the dagger touches your skin….” Bran warned her.
“I know that,” she growled through clenched teeth. Another convulsion shook her. Using the dagger was out of the question. I was in no state to be careful and she was scared. Putting it away, I looked into her eyes and focused on her psi energy. She fought back, her eyes frantic.
I’m going to try something different. It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you. “Like I’d trust a Guardian. The only reason I’m letting you near me—”
Shut up. Trapping her energy, I placed my hand on her stomach and searched for the hellgel. Her skin was cold, the veins pulsing. Another spasm shook her, but she watched me as if I were the executioner, eyes darting between my face and the hand on her bel y. I locked on the crystal and careful y brought it to the surface until it formed a bump under her skin. She whimpered. I froze her then nodded to Bran. “Open her up.” “You know I have to do this, Lil,” he said slowly in a subdued tone while removing the blade he used before. “I know that. How else would we remove the gel?” I mumbled. He sighed. “I’m talking about the combat.” He leaned toward Lottius and made an incision across her stomach, right by her bel y button. She hissed in pain. The hellgel slid out like a slug, gooey and slimy. It also appeared smal er than when we first put it inside her. Bran waved a hand and water drained out of it and into the cover on the bed, leaving behind ashes. “It’s the only way to get my hands on the List,” Bran added. “Why won’t you give Valafar a chance?” I begged him. “He could stil get your contracts.” “I don’t trust him, and you shouldn’t either,” his voice rose. I shook my head, frustrated by his inability to look past Valafar’s faults. He was trying to be nice. “Fine, but I wish you had talked to me first.” The radiating blue veins on Lottius stomach started to fade along with the wound. The process picked up speed as soon as I unfroze
her. I glanced at Bran from the corner of my eyes. “How would you like it if I made a decision about something that dangerous without talking to you first?” His shoulders drooped, and he forked his hair His shoulders drooped, and he forked his hair with his fingers. “I’d try to see it from your point of view,” he said in a voice that was both sad and tired. I did see it from his point of view, probably better than he did. He was desperate and acting irrational y, but I doubted he’d like hearing that now. I turned to check Lottius’ progress. The blue veins were faint, the wound gone, leaving no visible scar. One second she lay on the bed, the next she was on her knees, her cold fingers wrapped around my throat like steel clamps. An energy bal appeared in her hand. Not the lethal omni, just your average omega bal with swirling orange core and outer ribbons of yel ow lights. “Have you any idea how much I suffered this past week, Guardians?” she snarled. I couldn’t answer her, her grip tightening and making breathing difficult. “Let her go, Lottius,” Bran ordered and extended his hand toward her just as I trapped her psi again. Her eyes widened.
Let go of me, I ordered her. Her grip around my throat loosened until her hands opened and dropped to her sides. The energy bal fizzled out. “You put that vile thing inside me and deserve to suffer, too,” Lottius whined. “Both of you.” The urge to vanquish her fil ed me. Why should she, who was so evil, live freely, while Bran fought tooth and nail for every moment? Even as the question crossed my mind, I knew the answer. Bran wanted to be good while demons like Lottius were content in their evil ways. “You had your people break my bones, we’re even now,” I said calmly, though anger burned inside of me like molten rock, my hold on her psi not weakening. “No, we’re not,” she snarled. I studied her then nodded. “You’re right. We were when I removed the salt. Now that you’ve tried to kil me again, you owe me your life,” I stressed.
“Never,” she retorted. Her face contorted as I let my thoughts flow into her. She gripped her head and fel back on the bed. “What…what are…are you… doing to me?” she asked. “Feeding you memories you’l never erase.” I leaned close to her thrashing body. Her twisted face a story of agony. “You feed on people’s miseries, and it hurts to think about their happiness, doesn’t it? Children running in the park with bal oons, chasing dogs, couples getting married. Don’t worry, the pain won’t last. As soon as you accept you can no longer feed off human unhappiness, it wil go away. When you see a person suffering, you’l help them instead of sel ing them more misery.” Her mouth opened and closed but no sounds came out. “We’re going to leave now,” I added, studying the demon, “you stay here until your friends come to get you.” Stil dazed, eyes unfocused, she nodded. I let go of her psi and moved away from the bed without looking at Bran. Kim stood near the door watching us. I didn’t notice when her entered the room. “Where did you get the idea to do that?” Kim asked. I shrugged. She didn’t know about mean, old Sorenson. “If I can put thoughts into humans’ heads and change their behavior, why not demons?” I replied. Lottius watched us, her eyes clearing. “It was just an experiment. I didn’t know if it would work. It stil might not.” Bran led the way out of the room. As soon as we stepped outside, Lottius’ people rushed inside. Izzy, Sykes, and Remy were exactly where we left them although they looked more disheveled. Tel -tale scorch marks on the ground said Solange had stopped by. The sulfur scent hung in the air. My gaze found Izzy, who stil looked pissed. I wanted to ask her how it went, but at that moment, I couldn’t care less. I felt numb, detached, like someone who wasn’t real y there. “Wel ?” Kim asked.
Izzy sighed. “She got away. She was a better fighter, faster and stronger, but I knifed her right arm before she teleported. The wound was deep, so it’l be awhile before she self-heals, unless she decides to pay Cardinal Hsia a visit. Either way, we’l know who the traitor is as soon as we get home and the Cardinals convene a meeting. Oh, and she left this behind.” A red bangle dangled from her finger. The evidence seemed to point to Mrs. D. Why The evidence seemed to point to Mrs. D. Why would she spy for Valafar? “We saw Zedekiah leave,” Remy said, drawing my attention. “Did he give you anything?” “Yeah,” Bran said. “I was beginning to doubt the List existed, but it does. It is now on Jarvis, the island where the mortal combat is taking place on Saturday. I signed the contract to participate.” “How can you participate?” Sykes asked, frowning. “Yeah,” Kim added. “Last time I heard, you were a Guardian, not a demon.” His gaze connected with mine. “My mother was a Lazari. I’l be fighting for the House of Lazari.” Silence fol owed. Remy shook his head. “Llyr, you can’t—” “I can and wil ,” Bran said stubbornly. “This is something I must….” His voice trailed off and he sniffed. A faint blend of familiar stench teased my nose, sending a shiver up my spine. I studied the neighboring buildings, trying to locate its origin. Was the Lazari scent growing stronger? “They’re back,” Izzy warned. “And they’re not alone,” Bran added. “No, we’re not,” Solange’s voice rang out. The lights went out on the block and inky darkness, thick and suffocating, descended on us. Even the glow from our weapons didn’t filter through. I held my breath, trying to keep the pungent smel from fil ing my lungs and suffocating me. My brain told me to reach for my weapon, but I couldn’t move. Something breathed hot, moist air on the back of my hand,
then growls fol owed. Now I knew the cause of the rotten flesh smel s—hel hounds. Shrieks and shouts fil ed the air. Fighting panic, heart thumping, I moved my hand stealthily toward my dagger, but sharp teeth sank into my wrist. I opened my mouth to scream, but since I’d been holding my breath for so long, I sucked in the stench instead. Bran, or was it Remy, shouted a warning, but I was beyond hearing anything. I tried to order the Kris Dagger to attack, but another set of teeth closed on my leg and jerked me backwards. This time, the screams fil ing the air were mine. Not able to see the ground, the impact was sudden and jarring. Pain sliced through my head as blackness sucked me under. *** The sound of people arguing woke me. “It’s been over twenty-four hours. What did you do to her?” a low-pitched voice demanded. I recognized it as Dante’s. “Nothing. She’s weak. Without her dagger, she’s nothing,” a female snapped. Solange. “He won’t be happy if you drained her energy out of vindictiveness,” Dante warned. “Do I look like I’d do something that stupid?” “Yes,” Dante snapped. She cursed him. “Leave me alone. She’l be up and ready before he gets here.” The voices faded into silence, the eerie kind that made your flesh crawl and your heart leap to your throat. I tried to lift my eyelids, but something held them down. Where was I? From the conversation between Dante and Solange, it was now Friday night, the night of my party, the night of the mortal combat. Bran. My chest hurt thinking about what he must be going through. I had to get up and help him. There was no way he could win without me. I tried to sit up but couldn’t move. So this was what it felt like when a demon sucked your psi energy dry—stil as a mummy, the only thing ticking was my brain. Where was my dagger? Come to me. I waited. Nothing happened.
I command you to come. Again nothing happened. Painful
images of Bran’s mangled body flashed in my head. I had no idea where we were. Maybe L.A. or Jarvis Island, wherever that was. My friends were most likely power sources for some Lazari. Grampa was probably searching for us. Regret crushed my heart. I wished we hadn’t fought the last time I saw him. Kylie and my human friends likely came to my house early like they promised and found no one around. Not that the party was important anymore. I just wanted to find Bran and the others, and get out of here. The lure of darkness tugged at me. I fought it and failed. *** Distant cheering teased my ears as I regained consciousness. The sounds surged then subsided. Grampa must be listening to the radio. He only did that to catch news of the wacky and bizarre, only did that to catch news of the wacky and bizarre, like the demonic incidents reported in the tabloids the general human population assumed were fabricated. If only they knew. This time, I managed to peel my eyes open, slowly turning my head to study my surroundings. Taking in the familiar dresser, computer desk, and chair, I smiled. I was in my room. It had al been a dream, a very bad dream. We weren’t ambushed by the Lazari. The holes on the drywal were gone. Aunt Janel e must have fixed them while we were hunting. I searched the face of the clock on my bedside table. Five-thirty. I must have decided to take a nap after my session with Haziel. My stomach growled. Footsteps approached my room. I frowned. The carpet in the living room often muted footsteps. Maybe I now had heightened hearing like Leo. That was an ability I wouldn’t mind possessing. The footsteps stopped outside my door. “Grampa?” The door-knob turned, and a head popped in. Young face, slanted eyes, long black hair cascading past taut shoulders.
I sat up slowly. “ Daisensei Kenta? What are you doing in my house?” Smiling, he stepped inside the room and closed the door. He wore the same clothes as yesterday, jeans and a navyblue polo shirt, but his right arm was bandaged. Flashes of conversation with Izzy zipped through my head.
She was a better fighter, faster and stronger, but I knifed her right arm before she teleported. The wound was deep, so it’ll be awhile before she self-heals…. “You! You’re Valafar’s guide…the traitor.” Adrenaline shot through my veins as I jumped to my feet. Dizziness washed over me, and I crumpled like a rag-dol to the floor. He didn’t even come help me. Instead, he crossed his arms and leaned against the door, his expression hard. “I guess you’d see me that way. You’re a child and don’t understand. A man’s reputation means everything to him. Once gone, he must do whatever he can to rebuild it. If the doors are shut on his face, he has nothing to lose.” The resentment in his voice didn’t make sense. “Who destroyed your reputation? How’s spying for Valafar helping you?” I grabbed the duvet cover and pul ed myself up. “The Cardinals betrayed me first,” he said bitterly. “I trained to be a Cardinal, until a group of us pul ed a senseless prank and they kicked me out of the program. They said it was my idea. I was reduced to working as head of security with the High Council.” He sneered. “Then you came along, and I had a chance to redeem myself. I was going to be famous for training the most powerful Nephilim of al time.” I stopped plucking at my duvet and frowned, Kenta’s bitterness fading into the background. Something wasn’t right with my cover. The texture was wrong, silkier. I studied the items on the dresser. The lotions and creams, even the hairbrushes looked like mine, but they weren’t the brands I used. The dresser had elegant detail on the legs and had drawer knobs different from mine. Too scared to open them to see what was inside, I studied the rest of the room—the little dents and tape marks I left on the wal s, the slightly cracked coat peg beside the door. Al were missing. Final y, I looked at Kenta. He’d stopped talking. Swal owing though my throat had gone dry, I noticed the
malice in his smile and a jolt of realization shot through me. “This is not my room,” I stated firmly. “I wondered when you’d notice the difference. But it’s pretty close. I helped them with that,” he bragged. “Them?” I asked even though I knew the answer. His smile widened. “Valafar’s people.” Confusion washed over me. Why would they make a replica of my bedroom? “We were attacked by the Lazari, led by Solange. Not Valafar.” Sadness flashed in Kenta’s eyes as though he pitied me. “There’s so much you don’t know, my dear. So much you’re going to learn in the coming weeks and months. I wil train you, Lil, guide you like I was meant to do.” His eyes flashed with hatred. “The Guardians took that away from me. After Gavyn sneaked into the val ey, they didn’t just strip me of my title as the head of security, they brought my old tormentor to take over your training and sent me home to work with unexceptional kids who wil never reach the level of skil s and abilities to bring glory reach the level of skil s and abilities to bring glory and prominence to their trainer. Who’s having the last laugh now?” He moved closer, dragging the chair from the computer desk, and sat. “You used Mrs. D,” I mumbled, looking around for a weapon. Blood pounded in my ears and although stil weak, I planned to escape. But to where? I had no idea where I was. I needed to keep Kenta focused on me. “Everyone thinks she’s the guide, but it’s you. You’re the shapeshifter.” Locking on the hairbrush, I tried to lift it off the dresser. It didn’t move, not an inch. Crap. Someone did drain my psi energy. It explained the weakness. “You were the one lurking around the weapons room, and I thought it was Mrs. D. She’s always sweet, but yesterday she acted weird.” “I was looking for a Cardinal amulet when you appeared. I was sure you saw through me when I led you to Azure’s room, left, and returned as me.” His features shifted, his hair grew longer and his clothes changed until a carbon copy of Mrs. D replaced him. Smirking, he changed back. Everything made sense. “You also came to my door and pretended to be Izzy. I should have known when you didn’t remember the meeting we just had. And you wore the bangle like you did last night, so people would think it was Mrs. D. How could you do that to someone you love?” Kenta laughed, the evil sound bouncing off the wal s of the
fake room. “I loved her once, but she refused to come home with me and even took over my job as head of security. Taking the blame for my spying is a just punishment for disloyalty.” “I bet you also shifted into Aunt Janel e and took my present,” I added, hoping it was true. “I was passing by when I saw the cleaners put the box outside. Imagine my surprise when I opened it and saw Valafar’s number on a card. The heavens wanted me to contact Valafar.” A trace of a whine entered Kenta’s voice. “No one knew I could shift. I wasn’t important enough for them to remember.” “Grampa wil get to the truth.” Without a weapon, I had only one solution—make a dash for it. “Where are we?” “Jarvis Island. The combat started hours ago.” Kenta started to get up. I saw my chance and lunged at him. The two of us crashed down with the chair under him. He flung me off him like I weighed nothing. My elbow hit the edge of the dresser, and a sharp pain shot up my arm. “What are you doing? You can’t fight me in your weakened state.” He laughed mockingly. I had no alternative. Bran was out there. Alone. Needing my help. I needed to escape and find the others. I got up, and a dizzying flash of silver stars dotted my vision. “If you think I’m going to hide in here while they hurt my friends, then you don’t know me. Haziel doesn’t train quitters.” I grabbed the brush and a container of cream and aimed for his head. He knocked them sideways with karate chops, laughing. Heart thumping, I made a dash for the door. Someone opened it from outside, hitting me smack on the forehead. I tried to teleport, but no such luck. My back connected with the wal , and I slid to the floor, fighting against another blackout. “What are you doing in here?” Solange snapped. Through dazed eyes, I watched Kenta shift from one foot to the other, a look I could only describe as fear in his eyes.
“My dear Solange, I only meant to check on Lil—” “Out. Get out and don’t ever come near her again,” Solange snarled in a cold voice. Kenta’s eyes narrowed. “But I’m supposed to train her.” Solange’s laugh was unpleasant. “You think my father would let you train her? He despises you. The only reason he asked me to bring you here was because none of us could handle the Kris Dagger or remove the other weapons from the Guardians.” Kenta’s face worked. He used to seem invincible, physical y and mental y alert, but now he looked like a petulant child. His lower lip stuck out, and he wrung his fingers. “But he promised I’d train Lil.” “You’re nothing but an errand boy,” Solange spat out and waved him away with a flick of her wrist. “Get out of my sight.” Kenta’s breath hissed when he exhaled, but he didn’t move. “He gave me his word.” Solange moved further into the room. Kenta flinched and shuffled toward the TV, eyes darting around the smal space until they met mine. There was so much panic and misery in their depths. was so much panic and misery in their depths. “Lil, please. Talk to him,” he begged in a choked voice. “I was loyal to him, and he promised to reward me.” “Not letting me kil you is your reward,” Solange said with a sneer. “But you’re pushing your luck.” She glanced over her shoulder at me, blue eyes flashing with hatred. “What makes you think she has any power over him? She’s nothing but a pawn in this game.” She faced Kenta and ordered imperiously, “Leave us. My little sister and I have much to discuss.” “I’m not your little sister,” I said, wanting to vanquish Solange so badly I could taste it, but in my weakened state, battling her would be a mistake. I needed my strength back and some answers. Her conversation with Kenta didn’t make sense, just like my presence here. Kenta shuffled to the door, his face a mask of defeat. I wanted to feel sorry for him, but he didn’t deserve my pity.
Bring me my dagger, I telepathed, but I doubted he heard me. The door closed behind him, and Solange turned.
She was even more beautiful up close. Her skin was smooth and flawless, her eyes bril iant blue. “Believe me, Guardian. I wish that were true,” she retorted, eyes spitting fire. “In fact, I wish you were never born.” Could she be implying…? No, Valafar cal ed al his fol owers his children. That must be what she meant. Throat dry as sandpaper, I attempted to swal ow as I pushed my booted feet onto the floor and stood. For the first time I noticed I stil wore my hunter clothes, minus the coat. The black shirt was wrinkled and no longer tucked in. Beside Solange in her leather pants, thigh-high boots, and tight top, I looked like a street urchin. I lifted my chin. “If this is about Bran—” Solange cut me off with an ugly laugh. “I admit he and I had fun while it lasted, but no, this has nothing to do with Bran. This is about Valafar—our father. Your mother came between him and my mother, just like you’re doing now.” She moved closer, and I pressed against the wal . “Do you know what it feels like to have a loving father one day then an indifferent one the next? I was only three when you were born, but I felt the change in him. Worse, he tel s everyone who wil listen that you’re his daughter, yet he never acknowledged me publicly. My mother had to hide the fact that they were lovers, that I was his child.” Blue eyes raked over me from head to toe. “You’re useless without your dagger. Anyone can wield one, and before tonight is over, I’l show him.” Shock robbed me of words. I shook my head. “No, it’s not possible,” I said flatly. “You can’t be my sister.” “Half,” she spat. “He said al his fol owers were his children.” I couldn’t afford to believe anything Solange said. Although I always wanted a sister, having one from hel with an attitude to match didn’t figure into my wish list. “Where is he? Does he know I’m here?” “Who do you think ordered us to bring you here? He knew the moment Bran signed the contract because it appeared in his hand.” My stomach lurched. I took a step away from the wal and toward her, ready to destroy her. “Why? What did you do with Bran and my friends?” She shrugged indifferently, but she stepped away from me. “Your friends
are around. Valafar wil trade them for Angelia and the children you stole from us last night. If he can’t, they’l be of no use to him.” Panic coursed through me. I had to do something to help them, and Bran. The conversations I had with Valafar came back to mock me. “Why does he want me here? He said he accepted my decision to be a Guardian.” “You believed everything he said to you, didn’t you? You’re even more pathetic than I thought. This dome was built months ago, way before he made contact with you. This room was decorated weeks ago. Al he had to do was use the List as bait and wait for Bran to bite. Once he had Bran, he had you.” Solange’s eyes sharpened with dislike, but there was a trace of pity in their gleaming depths. A racking wave of nausea hit me. I tried to process her words and what I knew, but it hurt to think. “I refuse to believe anything you say. Damien started this—” “There’s no Damien, you stupid girl,” Solange snapped. “Then who’s behind the mortal combat?” I snapped, trying not to panic. “Valafar. Damien Corporation was owned by “Valafar. Damien Corporation was owned by Coronis,” Solange explained as she paced the floor before pausing to glare at me. “The next leader of the Hermonite inherits it. Valafar knew al this because he ran the company for her the last twenty years. Why do you think he was in Seattle when he met your mother? He was visiting the Damien Corporation offices.” She stopped and shook her head. “He manipulated the heads of the houses to get them under one roof so that you, his greatest asset, the wielder of the Kris Dagger, the Chosen One, can kil al their strongest fighters one by one.” I gulped. That was insane. “I’m not
fighting.” “Yes you are. Not during the preliminary stage, which is going on now, nor the elimination stage, but the chal enger level, when the overal winner is chal enged by anyone, when everything goes…no stupid rules, nothing. The last demon standing becomes the ruler of the Hermonites. Valafar expects you to be the champion tonight, to give him and the House of Neteru victory.” She chuckled, the sound drier than the crackling of fire on a cold winter night. “The problem is you don’t have the dagger. I do.” A sob caught in my throat. “Bran,” I whispered. “Is out there fighting demon after demon so that he can be the chal enger in a battle he can’t win,” Solange said, eyes gleaming with amusem*nt. “He won’t get that List, little sis. Valafar wil make sure of that. Come along,” she waved me over, “it’s time to take your place beside him.” I pressed against the wal . “Never. I’l never stand by his side.” Her eyes widened. “You dare to defy him.” “Watch me. Tel him I’l be his champion if, and only if, he lets Bran and the others go,” I rasped out, my throat aching. Solange laughed then crossed her arms, her top shifting to show more of her taut, tanned stomach. “Maybe I misjudged you, little sis.” “Stop cal ing me little sis,” I said with a bite. It was Izzy’s nickname for me. A lump formed in my throat thinking about her and Kim, Remy and Sykes, and…Bran. It hurt too much knowing he was out there fighting for his life. For his soul. “You can leave now.” I reached for the door knob and turned, my eyes fixed on Solange’s. The eyes said a lot about what went on in a person’s head, Kenta used to tel us during martial art classes. He might be a traitor now, but he was an amazing teacher once. My psi energy was stronger and my dizziness was waning though part of it, I now realized, was due to lack of food. Hunger pangs gnawed my insides, but they were nothing compared to the rage burning in my heart. I had al owed myself to be betrayed in the worst possible way by an ambitious father who’d stop at nothing to have me by his side.
“Valafar expects us both in his box,” Solange warned, moving closer. Heart beating like tom-toms, I shook my head. “Too bad. I’m staying right here until he agrees to my terms.” Her eyes narrowed. I knew the moment she made the decision to teach me a lesson for resisting. She charged at me. I jerked the door open, using it as a weapon. A dul thud fil ed the room when the wood connected with her shoulder. She lost her balance and went down. I jumped over her and gunned for the hal way. Her hand closed around my ankle, yanking me backward. The hard, cemented floor of the hal way rose to meet me. Refusing to bang my head again, I broke my fal with my hands, glanced over my shoulder and kicked at her with my other leg. Her fingers were like tentacles, not letting go. She twisted my foot and pain shot up my leg. Turning to ease the pain, I bent my free leg and aimed for her face, connecting with her nose. She screamed obscenities, let go of me, and teleported into the hal way. Blood oozed from a cut on her lower lip. She wiped her hand across her mouth and looked at the thin smear left behind. “You’l pay for that,” she snarled. “You twisted my ankle, so we’re even.” Pure adrenaline surged through my veins. I stumbled to my feet and faced her. I cried out when she backhanded me across the face. Stars exploded in my head, but with them came a new surge of energy. My senses picked up on the presence of thousands of demons to my right and the single beacon that was Bran’s, my friends, and the pulse of the Kris Dagger though I couldn’t pin-point its exact location. If I closed my eyes, I bet pin-point its exact location. If I closed my eyes, I bet I’d find their psi energies and find them. “Do you real y think you can escape?” she asked, her red lips twisted. “This dome is underground and heavily guarded. My people wil smoke you.” “Coronis Isle was ful of your people, and we smoked them,” I retorted.
Her eyes flashed red and she tensed, as though preparing to lunge at me again. Then her shoulders drooped. A tight smile curled her lip. “Nice try. You pul a stunt like that again, I wil hurt you.” She reached down inside her boots and brought out a dagger. My first instinct was to kick it out of her hand, but then I noticed the clear crystal and wavy blade as it rose from a gilded hilt decorated with colorful stones. Instead of the usual green, the chiseled inscriptions were patterned in red, and a prominent red teardrop sat in the middle of the guard. The handle was black, and the pommel, also gold, had tiny decorations. It was the Kris Dagger, except everything was red. “What have you done to my dagger?” I demanded.
25. The Red Athame and Allies “Yours?” Solange sneered. “This is Coronis’, the Red Athame.” The memory of the battle with Coronis flashed in my head like a nightmare. The Red Athame was the anti-Kris Dagger. While my dagger replenished psi power, the Athame drained it. In the wrong hands, it could destroy Guardians and humans alike. “That’s not possible,” I squeaked. “I destroyed it before we defeated Coronis.” Her eyes narrowed. “No, you didn’t. She used glamour and fooled you. Valafar found it on the edge of the ravine where her palace once stood,” she added in a bitter voice. “I didn’t know about it until last night when it chose me, just like the Kris chose you. Now move,” she ordered jerking her head to our right. Glancing at the dagger one last time, I turned and faked an injury. I hobbled to buy time, one hand and faked an injury. I hobbled to buy time, one hand on the wal for support. I wanted my powers back before we got to Valafar. Plus, I didn’t know what was worse, Coronis’ dagger resurfacing or having it in the hands of my evil sister. Its powers were destructive. “What are you planning to do with it?” I asked. “You’l see,” she said mysteriously. “Can’t you walk a little faster? You’re supposed to self-heal.” “Not after you sucked my psi energy,” I retorted.
“I didn’t touch you.” She sounded both insulted and revolted. “Who then? One of your minions?” She poked me in the back. “Shut up and keep moving. I didn’t even twist your ankle that much.” “It’s the same one your people hurt last week,” I fibbed. “Yeah, whatever.” She poked me again. “Move.” Grinding my teeth, I kept going, my mind working furiously. The wide, curving, tunnel-like hal way looked nothing like the one at our HQ. Huge steel arches interspaced with concrete wal s and gray floor gave it a prison-like feel. The light source imbedded on the wal s came from the same luminous rocks we used at home. The only color was a thin blood-red line in the middle of the floor and the ancient writings on the doors. We didn’t meet any demons, though loud cheers surged and ebbed every few minutes. “What do the writings on the doors say?” I asked, deliberately slowing down and pretending to pause to catch my breath. When Solange didn’t answer, I glanced at her. She was putting the Athame back inside her boot. “House of Neteru,” she said impatiently. “The dome has four sectors, one for each of the four houses—red for Neteru, blue for Nosferatu, yel ow for Lazari, and green for Werenephil. The rooms behind the arena in each sector can be used by the leaders of the four houses, their families, guards, and workers.” She gestured sharply, indicating that I keep walking. “Let me catch my breath.” I leaned against the wal , hoping she’d walk ahead of me and give me a chance to jump her. “How does the combat work? What are the preliminary and chal enger levels?” “You ask way too many questions and do too little walking. We’re almost there, and Valafar wil be more than happy to educate you.” Bitterness laced her words. Then she sighed. “If your ankle hurts that badly, I’l help you.” I flinched and shuffled away from her extended hand. “No thanks.” Annoyance crossed her gorgeous features. “Then move it.”
“Tel me about the combat,” I asked again, stil stal ing by limping and using the wal for support. “Each house picks sixteen fighters who battle each other in the preliminary until only two are left. The two then represent the house by facing the fighters from the other houses at the elimination level until there’s a single winner. Then the chal enge level begins. Anyone can chal enge the winner. Unlike the other stages that start with hand-to-hand combat fol owed by weapons then powers, the chal enge level has no rules.” “But Bran is a Guardian,” I protested even though I read the contract Bran signed. “He doesn’t belong to any house.” Solange chuckled. “His mother was a Lazari, so that’s the house he’s representing. Since I left him fighting, he has either already won or is already dead,” she finished with a malicious grin. My breath caught on a sob. Bran, I pinged again, hoping I was strong enough to send a signal far enough to reach him, that his shield wasn’t up and he could hear me. I had to help him. “Here,” Solange said, pointing at a set of red double doors to our left. I ignored her.
Walk ahead of me please…please, walk ahead of me… I prayed fervently, dragging my feet. She muttered something under her breath and passed me. I launched myself at her. Something large plucked me up in mid-air from behind. I opened my mouth to scream, but a hand closed over my mouth. I gagged as the smel of burnt flesh assaulted my nose.
Don’t make a sound, a voice warned. Dante. Relief washed over me, leaving me woozy. I nodded, my heart stil pounding. He put me down and closed in on Solange. She must have down and closed in on Solange. She must have sensed something, but as she started to turn she was interrupted. Dante waved his arms, and her body went limp, eyes closed and head lol ed to the side. He grabbed her before she hit the floor, lifted her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes then turned to me and
said something. I stared at his arm with wide eyes, not catching his words. The right sleeve of his black shirt was singed from wrist to upper arm. Patches of red, raw flesh and blisters were exposed through the burnt material. “Lilith,” he hissed. My eyes flew to his face. “Your friends are waiting.” He nodded in the direction of my fake bedroom. “Head back that way and take the first set of stairs to the lowest level, then turn left. Keep going until you get to the fifth door on your right. Remember that…turn left…fifth door on your right. Solange wil be out for twenty to thirty minutes. That should give you and your friends enough time to make it to the surface and leave the island.” It penetrated my head that he was helping us escape. Why? “Lilith,” he ground out through his teeth, snapping me out of my trance. “Do as I say, or you’l never make it home.” “Bran,” I blurted out in a shaky voice I hardly recognized. “Is he with the others?” “No. Forget about him.” That meant Bran was alive. “I can’t. We can’t leave him behind, Dante. Help me find him,” I begged, knowing the demon was already risking too much by helping us. “It’s you I swore to protect,” he growled. “I’m already taking chances by helping your friends too.” “Please,” I added. His shoulders dropped. “Okay. I’l try, but I can’t promise anything.” “And the List—” “Go and find your friends,” he snapped, clearly exasperated. “The more you delay the higher the chances someone wil pick up on your presence in the hal way. Go. Now.” He dematerialized with the unconscious Solange. Stairs…head down…turn left…fifth door to the right…. His words ringing in my head, adrenaline surging in my veins, I took off down the hal way at a dead run. Any moment, I expected Valafar or one of his minions to step outside one of the closed doors and yel out my name. With my red hair down, a demon would take one look at me and know who I
was. Squinting at the farthest section of the curving hal way, I teleported and banged my knuckles against a steel arch when I materialized. I ignored the pain and did it again. Careening around a bend, I almost missed the stairs. The writings on the doors and the line on the floor were no longer red. Instead they were yel ow. I did a U-turn and ran back. Dante forgot to mention the doors leading to the stairs. Loud cheers reached my ears again. Bran, I screamed, my chest hurting as I imagined him out there alone, fighting a hopeless battle. I burst through the doors, looked down from the top metal railing and gulped. How many floors did this stupid complex have? The winding stairs seemed endless. I took them at a run, teleporting where possible, eyes darting around in case someone was onto me. A stitch developed in my right side, sweat poured down my face and blurred my vision. Panting, I hit the last landing, lost my footing and skidded on the floor. The squeak of my boots sliding along the tiles helped me regain my focus. My whole body hurt, and for one brief moment, I wanted to scream in frustration. A sound came from behind me and I whipped around, my heart hurtling to my throat, hand reaching for a dagger that wasn’t there. “Dante,” I gasped. He must have teleported to the landing. “You have welts on your face,” he said, frowning. Hysteria bubbled to my throat, and I laughed. His arm looked like he’d dipped it in boiling oil yet he was concerned about welts. He was the most contrary demon I ever met. “They’l heal,” I answered, heading left, fingers squeezed into my sides to ease the annoying cramp. The pain radiated from under my arm to my waist. This hal way curved, too, but had fewer doors, no colored lines or writings, and it seemed dim and dingier. “You’re not going to make it there fast enough.” He scooped me up, one arm under my enough.” He scooped me up, one arm under my knees and the other supporting my back, before I realized his intentions. “Your arm—” I started to complain, but he already
teleported. The next second, he put me down outside the fifth door. The acrid, dead flesh stench of hel hounds assaulted my senses, but a quick look around reassured me. We were alone though the floor bore burn marks and bloody smears. Dante rapped on the door—twice, once, then three times. His green-eyed partner from the al ey in L.A., also dressed in black, opened it from inside. Remy, Sykes, Kim, and Izzy were busy strapping on their weapons, a majority of which were stil spread on top of a steel table, the only furniture in the rectangular room. Seeing them brought a sudden rush of tears to my eyes. They looked up and spoke at once. “Lil…” “You’re okay…” “We were worried…” “Have you seen Bran…?” I didn’t know who said what, but my responses must have satisfied them because they went back to shoving daggers and knives in belts, sheaths, and inside boots. I searched among the weapons for the Kris Dagger. It wasn’t there. I grabbed my coat and dove into each pocket. Nothing. “Where’s my dagger?” I whispered harshly. Dante and his friend exchanged an uneasy glance. “Valafar put it in the vault under the dome,” Dante said. There was no way I was leaving without the Kris Dagger. Focusing, my senses picked up its pulsating energy. It was stronger than earlier, but the connection was stil weak. I needed to be stronger. “We’l forget about it for now,” I said. “Let’s head to the arena and get Bran first.” “No. Leave the island and send the Cardinals to rescue Llyr,” Dante said firmly. “We don’t rol like that, big guy,” Sykes said, shoving shurikens in his coat pockets. “Meaning what?” Dante snapped.
“We never leave our people behind,” Sykes explained then studied Dante’s injured arm as though the subject was closed. “Won’t they know you helped us when they see the burn? It has alpha energy bal written al over it.” Dante shrugged. “What’s done is done.” “What happened?” I asked, sliding knives inside my boot. No demon ever survived an alpha bal attack. “We regained consciousness to find Dante and Kael standing over us,” Remy explained. “We didn’t know they kil ed the hel hounds guarding us and this room. We thought they came for us and attacked. He’s lucky Sykes’ aim was off.” “It wasn’t,” Sykes snapped back. Tension was high without us turning on each other. Before I could say anything, Dante jumped in with, “He wasn’t off. He caught me teleporting.” For a demon, the big guy was perceptive. His soft voice didn’t seem as creepy as the first time we met. “I’m sorry I can’t heal your arm,” Izzy added, glancing at Dante. “I can bandage it for you. Oh, and Kael said one of the Specials is a powerful healer. Maybe you should come with us, so he can take care of that.” Both Dante and Kael grunted. “What?” Izzy asked, looking bewildered. “You worry too much about insignificant things,” Kael said enunciating his words as though he was trying not to snap. “We should leave.” Dante angled his head as though communicating with someone, his black eyes sharpening. “We can’t leave the dome yet,” he said, louder. “Valafar knows Lilith is missing and has sent trackers to find her. They’l penetrate the shield we put down here if we don’t find a different hiding place.”
“Do you want me to distract them?” Kael asked. Dante shook his head, but from the scowl on his face, he was trying to come up with a solution. He glanced at Kael then said, “Give me a second” and disappeared. “Where did he go now?” I asked. “To check on something,” Kael said mysteriously. For the first time, I wondered if perhaps we trusted them too much. I tore my eyes away from Kael to look at my friends. They al gripped weapons, determination friends. They al gripped weapons, determination written on their faces, ready to go down fighting, but they couldn’t hide their fear. They were terrified just like me. We didn’t stand a chance against Valafar’s minions even with Dante and Kael on our side, not without the Kris Dagger. Our only chance was to find it, get Bran, then sneak out. “We need to split,” I suggested. “No,” Izzy, Kim, Sykes, and Remy protested in unison. “Yes,” I shot back. “They’re looking for me, not you guys. They don’t even know you’ve escaped. Leave with Kael, find Bran, and head to the surface. Dante and I wil get the Kris and fol ow you. If they catch up with us, at least you guys wil be safe.” “We leave together, Lil,” Remy said in an uncompromising tone. “End of story.” The others nodded. “Then don’t leave me behind,” I whispered, my voice slightly unsteady. “Wait for me on the surface.” Izzy’s eyes grew bright, and she blinked rapidly as though to stop tears from flowing. Kim’s lips stiffened, the hand holding her dagger trembled. A muscle ticked on Remy’s jaw while Sykes’ eyes flashed as though he wanted to punch someone. I got it. They didn’t want to leave without me. But I couldn’t put them in danger. “If Valafar’s men catch up with me, they won’t hurt me,” I pushed. My voice came out firm and confident. No matter how scared I was, I couldn’t afford to show it, or they wouldn’t leave. “From my conversation with Solange, I know what he’s planned. He’s manipulative and wil do whatever it takes to go through with it, including using you guys.
Don’t sacrifice yourselves or give him the satisfaction of kil ing more Guardians.” From the way my friends stared at me, I knew I got their attention. “She’s right about one thing,” Kael said. “Lord Valafar wil not stop until he gets what he wants. He plans to trade you four for the Specials. If that plan fails, he wil not hesitate to kil you. As for Lil, he set up this entire mortal combat event to get her here.” While my friends absorbed Kael’s words, Dante reappeared. “Lord Valafar mobilized al his guards,” he said. “There are more searching in the other sectors and on the surface. You should al wait in Lil’s room.” “Lil’s room?” someone asked, Kim or Izzy, I wasn’t sure. Dante nodded. “The trackers already searched it. I know because I suggested it. They won’t think of looking there again. Once it’s safe, we’l lead you out.” He gave me a hard look. “We’l have to rethink finding Llyr.” I didn’t say anything, but Tartarus would open up before I left without Bran. “We better go now. Some are coming this way,” Kael warned. He led the teleport, and we fol owed with Dante coming last. “Holy cow,” Izzy said when she took a proper look at ‘my room.’ “Keep your voice low,” Dante warned. “I’l continue to keep them away from this room. Kael, keep the shield up, so no one senses their presence in here.” “Won’t Valafar pick up on our psi energies?” I asked. “If I remember how far Solange and I walked, his box is down the hal from here.” “He’s an energy nature-bender, not a psi. We,” Dante pointed at himself and Kael, “are prime psis, like your Cardinal. When we put up a shield, nothing penetrates it. Unfortunately, most of his trackers are psis as wel .” “I don’t understand,” I whispered, my gaze moving from his blistered arm to his face. He crossed his arms and looked down at me. “What don’t you understand?” he asked sharply, but his eyes gentled when I winced.
“Why are you helping us when he is the one who asked you to watch over me?” I asked. “I asked if I could watch over you. Kael volunteered to help me.” His lips pinched, and his eyes grew reflective. “You’re the Chosen One, Lilith. That means something to some of us who are weary of this endless battle we’ve been fighting for centuries. Regardless of where you live, we,” he glanced at Kael, who nodded, “wil continue to protect you from harm whether the source is a human, demon, or Guardian.” He spoke softly but with conviction. “We didn’t know Valafar planned to kidnap you until Solange brought you here. If you choose to stay on his island with him, we’l support that.” “No,” I said quickly, my eyes widening. “I want “No,” I said quickly, my eyes widening. “I want to go home.” “Then Kael and I wil make sure you get there safely. Al of you.” He looked at the others. Then he did something strange—he went down on one knee before me and bowed his head. Kael joined him. Together, they formed a fist with their right hand and thumped their chests while muttering something under their breath in the ancient language of our forefathers. I had no idea what the gesture meant, but if it was an oath of fealty to serve me, it meant they’d do anything to protect us. Dante jumped to his feet. “Excuse me.” He teleported while Kael stayed by the door, watching us with a vigilant expression. My friends poked around the room, opening cupboards, drawers, and the closet. “I don’t know whether to envy you or pity you,” Kim said, shuddering. “Demons vowing to defend you…I assume that’s what they were muttering,” she shot Kael a look on the sly, “Valafar duplicating your room and luring you here. It’s al very creepy.” “Try waking up thinking you’re home only to find yourself in a nightmare. At first I thought….” I told them everything that happened between Kenta and me. They stared at me with expressions ranging from horror to sympathy. “I should have known,” Izzy said and glanced at Kim. “Do you remember how furious he was when your father fired him?” Kim nodded. “But to try and implicate
Mrs. D is below despicable.” “Silence,” Kael hissed. Voices approached the door. “You don’t think she went to find Llyr and the others, do you?” a female asked. “Dante said he’d check,” a male answered. “The Lazari wil help Lord Valafar or pay for hiding her.” They stopped outside the door. I held my breath. Kael indicated that we move away from the bed to the walkin closet. We piled inside the narrow space and closed the door. The thought of Kenta nosing around my room and studying my things gave me the heebeegeebees. “I don’t understand why we have to check her room again,” the female griped, her voice clearer than before. The wal s must real y be thin. “Prime Kael,” we heard her exclaim. “What are you doing here?” “I just teleported in to check if Lilith came back here,” Kael said. “Dante’s orders.” “He and Lord Valafar must think alike. Is she?” “No,” Kael said casual y. “The room is empty.” “Lord Valafar ordered me to double check everywhere… under the bed…the closet…the bathroom. So if you don’t mind….” “Of course not. Go ahead,” Kael said. The door closed with a click then her screams fil ed the room. Her partner’s fol owed. My heart stopped then picked up tempo. No one spoke, but I bet they were thinking the same thing—Kael had just kil ed two of his own people for us. The door swung open, and he indicated that we should come out. Our gazes went to the scorch marks on the carpet. Remy stepped on them and they disappeared. “Thank you,” we said, but the tal demon just shrugged like it
was nothing. “Now what?” Sykes asked. “We wait for Dante to return,” Kael said calmly. “Then leave.” “Not without Bran,” I said defiantly. Kael shook his head. “They now know al of you are missing. You need to leave now. The closest exit is on the right side of Valafar’s box. The stairs lead directly to the surface. Once you get home, send the Cardinals to get Llyr.” I shook my head. “We’re not leaving him, Kael,” I snapped. He glowered. “She’s right,” Izzy added in a conciliatory tone, as though to defuse the situation. “You wouldn’t like it if Dante left you behind in enemy territory during a battle.” “If it meant his survival, I would not care,” he said through clenched teeth, his eyes not leaving mine. “Please,” I added. He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “We swore to fol ow your wishes, no matter how misguided they are. Do not leave this room. If anyone knocks or tries to come inside, hide or take them out. I wil locate Llyr and take it from there.” them out. I wil locate Llyr and take it from there.” Relief had never felt so sweet. I touched his arm. “Thank you, Kael.” He studied me and shook his head. “Don’t thank me yet, meus procer. Do that when you make it home.” “He has a short fuse, doesn’t he?” Izzy mumbled as she and Kim joined me on the bed. I didn’t respond. Remy took the computer chair while Sykes paced. “And he just cal ed you ‘my princess,’” Sykes added. I shrugged and finished tel ing them about Solange and Valafar’s plans. “I thought I saw some resemblance,” Sykes teased. “Physical, that is.” “It’s not funny, Sykes,” Izzy checked him. “That the Kris Dagger chose you while the Red Athame chose your sister
might not be a simple twist of fate.” “What else could it be?” Kim asked. “I’ve heard of good and evil twins, but I don’t believe in that yin and yang crap. You forge your own destiny. Your sister has a choice just like al demons do. They can either give up their evil ways and join us or continue with their old ways. Maybe your sister—” “Half-sister,” I corrected. “Thank you,” Solange said from the doorway, having just teleported in. “I was getting tired of your sister this and your sister that. Uh-uh, keep those hands where I can see them, pretty boy.” She pointed the beautiful but dangerous Red Athame at Sykes. “You, too, handsome,” she added, looking Remy up and down, a glint in her eyes. It’s clear, guards. Come in, she telepathed. Five of Valafar’s men, dressed al in black except for the gleaming ruby stones on the pins holding their cloaks and on their belt buckles, entered the room. Behind them came Kenta with a black leather box with strange writings, clasps, and more ruby stones. “I told Valafar if you want something done right, you do it yourself,” Solange bragged. She gestured to Kenta. “Remove their weapons.” “Traitor,” I snarled at Kenta. He winced, but emptied my pockets then moved to my boots. As our former trainer, he knew everything—where we hid weapons, our weaknesses and strengths, our favorite weapons. He touched the knife I hid inside a pouch in my right boot, but deliberately left it there. Our gazes met. His apologetic, mine probably puzzled. Maybe he was regretting his decision. Kim kicked him, but he caught her booted leg. “Don’t try to judge me,” he snarled. “Don’t tel me what to do, you evil backstabber,” she
retorted. “I hope you rot in Tartarus,” Izzy hissed at him. “Enough!” Solange yel ed. “Finish and give me the box, Kenta. My father wants the weapons kept with the dagger in the vault. No chance in Tartarus of any of you getting your hands on them again,” she taunted. “Come, starting with you, Lilith.” I ground my teeth and walked forward. The hated hol ow feeling settled in my stomach, and my heartbeat went into overdrive. Where were Dante and Kael? Eye to eye with her, I paused. “I escaped before and wil again.” “You got lucky,” she snarled and shoved me out the door. In a single file, with me at the lead and Solange behind me, she herded us to the red door and ordered me to open it. A set of red carpeted stairs led to a door with a glass panel, through which I could see a mini bar and some sort of kitchenette. Beyond it was the luxury box with about a dozen or so tiered leather chairs. A ful head of hair, wavy with different shades of red like mine, was visible from one of the front seats. Cold sweat broke out along my hairline, and the hol ow feeling in my stomach fil ed with a windmil churning at a supersonic speed. I was not ready to meet him. I glanced over my shoulders and caught sight of Dante talking to the last guy with Remy. Our gazes met and a warning flickered in his eyes. “Open it,” Solange ordered again. My heart threatened to leap through my chest as I turned the knob and entered the first room. The head inside the box didn’t move. Solange prodded me with the tip of her dagger. Cold shot through me from the point of contact. Fighting the urge to turn around and attack her, I moved to the sliding door, pushed it aside, and entered. “Father,” Solange said in a respectful tone tinged with awe. “I found them.” “As I knew you would. Thank you, daughter.” “As I knew you would. Thank you, daughter.” Valafar’s voice rippled through the room like a wel oiled engine. It was the same fatherly and indulgent voice
he used over the phone, partly amused and partly patronizing. Solange beamed. Valafar stood and patted her shoulder as she walked past him. She went to sit on a seat near the right lower corner of the room. I swal owed, though my mouth had gone dry ages ago, and reached at my waist for a dagger that wasn’t there. I felt naked and exposed without the Kris. My fingers curled into a fist, bitter anger crashing through me like a tsunami and leaving no room for fear. His lies and manipulations zipped through my head, fueling my rage. No one deserved to be vanquished more than him, and I wanted to be the one to do it. Final y, he faced me. He looked different, yet the same. Broad shoulders, limbs lean and masculine like most Nephilim, but he radiated a menacing aura that made him seem invincible. His cloak, though black like his tunic and pants had a red inner lining. This time he wore a black sash of some kind. No, not a sash, a sword belt, the ruby red eyes of the raven on the sword’s hilt matched the one on his gothic-medieval ring. Before, he had a shaved head and a scar from the corner of his mouth to his right temple. The scar was gone, leaving behind smooth tanned skin. His red hair, wavy and not a curly mess like mine, hung to his shoulders. He looked like a warrior in his prime, his eyes black as midnight, cold and flat like glass. “My child,” he said, arms raised in welcome with a smile on his lips that didn’t reach his eyes. I cringed and stayed glued to the same spot, my emotions raw and jumbled up—anger, hatred, and resentment. The thought that I’d given him a chance and started to believe he could be good fil ed me with self loathing. I’l never be that gul ible again. He beckoned me forward. I crossed my arms and took the necessary steps to bring me closer to him, but not close enough for contact. If he tried to hug me, he’d be sorry. His gaze raked my face. “You look more and more like your mother every time I see you.” Seeing how he’d set eyes on me only twice, including now, that was a stretch. He indicated the chair next to his. “Sit.” My heart pounding
so hard I bet he could hear it, I sat two chairs away from him. A glance over my shoulder found my friends seated in the middle row with their guards behind them. Dante sat behind the guards and near the door, his expression unreadable. My friends’ faces were set, but I picked up on the fear pouring from them like a geyser. I wanted to telepath Dante, to say something reassuring to Remy and the others, but Valafar’s gaze on my face, my hair, and my clothes was like a frosty draft. Turning, I stared at him without cowering. “If you wanted me at this event, you could have just asked me,” I said. “You didn’t have to kidnap me and my friends.” Something flickered in his eyes—surprise mixed with amusem*nt. “Is that so?” “Yes. I would have found a way to meet you.” I expected to see skepticism on his face, but the mask of calm control was firmly in place. “So now what?” “You eat,” he said firmly. “I’m not hungry.” My stomach chose that moment to growl. “Let Bran and my friends go and I’l stay.” “I can’t do that, my dear,” he said in a patronizing tone. “I need them.” “I know, to exchange them for the Specials. Those children approached us, not the other way around,” I protested. “I was the one who offered them sanctuary.” Valafar shrugged. “That’s beside the point. The children belong to me.” “You don’t own them. They chose not to stay with you or your kind.” I jumped to my feet, and dizziness invaded me again. Forced to grab the arm of the nearest chair, I glared at him. A spasm of rage flickered across his face then disappeared, but his voice was mild when he spoke. “My kind is your kind, Lilith. Nature-bender children need proper guidance by nature-benders.” “If you let Bran and the others go, I’l stay and fight for the House of Neteru,” I pushed, sitting down. “I’l live with you and do whatever you want me to do.” He contemplated me, face harsh with disapproval. Once again,
his voice didn’t indicate his feelings. “Don’t ever beg, Lilith,” he said mildly. “It his feelings. “Don’t ever beg, Lilith,” he said mildly. “It makes you appear weak. You always want to negotiate from a position of power. Sit down and eat. It’s been over thirty hours since you had something.” Whose fault was that, I wanted to retort, but nothing I said would change his opinion anyway. One of his minions wheeled in a cart with a tal glass of orange juice and a covered plate on a tray. He stopped before me and removed the dome lid to reveal sub sandwiches cut into quarters. Misery gripped my throat in a chokehold, making it difficult to breathe. Bran often bought me the same sandwiches. I bet if I checked the veggies, they’d be exactly what he ordered, including olives, which he hated. Kenta had definitely earned his pay or whatever Valafar had in store for him by spying on me. Hope it was a slow, painful death. “Eat,” Valafar said again, voice of steel draped with velvet. “I insist.” I had a feeling he’d force me if I refused. “My friends haven’t eaten either,’ I said. He nodded. From the corner of my eye, I saw the guy who brought my food serve them. I wolfed my sandwich without tasting anything and washed it down with orange juice. Starting on the second piece, my eyes flew to the stadium when a gong went off. It was huge, probably ten times the size of the pit, and packed. Clairvoyants projected the images in three-dimensions above the field. On one side of the field, a shirtless burly man with shaggy dark-brown hair, angular face, and black pants bounced on the bal of his feet. At the other end was an ethereal-looking woman in a long-flowing white dress and a white cloak. Her hair, pale as her skin, hung to her waist. I gulped when the clairvoyant control ing the image zoomed in on her face. Her eyes were red and pearly white fangs contrasted with her bril iant red lipstick. Nosferatu. I shuddered and averted my eyes. Since my encounter with Lottius and her gang, I had an aversion to Nosferatus. A gong sounded, and I reluctantly dragged my eyes back to the fighters.
The man howled then dashed across the field, his chin elongating, head flattening and teeth growing and crowding his mouth like a shark’s. Muscles bulged and moved as they reformed and rearranged under his skin, making him bigger. Ears shifted, the tips becoming pointed and sticking out of his head. Above them sprung goat-like horns. Halfway down the field, the Werenephil, now in its Nephilimic form, leaped. The demoness rose in the air, light as a bal erina as her cloak became wings and nails shot out of her extended fingers to become razor sharp talons. They clawed at each other. Blood streamed from cuts then stopped as wounds sealed. Howls and shrieks fil ed the air then they sprung apart and went after each other again. The demoness’ dress no longer looked white. It looked more like a bad tiedye job. They disappeared from the field only to return with weapons —the most evil-looking swords I’d ever seen. Serrated blades tinged with red, cross-guards like birds of prey or bats. They lunged at each other. Blurs of thrusts……slashes… parries…feints…fol owed. Every time the blades connected, red flames shot in the air. The demoness got a deep cut on her arm, and continuous shril shrieks fol owed. The Werenephil, sure of victory, threw his weapon aside and generated energy bal s. Not omnis, the red sizzling energy bal s that even the Guardians dreaded. These were omega bal s with orange coils at the core and white flares on the edges. He lobbed them at her. Flinging her weapon aside, the Nosferatu thrust her hand toward him and pul ed him toward her through the distance. He dug his heels in, but she reeled him in. More energy bal s shot out from his palm. The demoness ducked left then right, but her hold on him didn’t weaken. Then moving so fast she was a blur, she rushed him, plunge her hand straight into his chest and yanked out something. Something bloody. The crowd went wild. Nausea hit me. The woman darted around the arena, blood dripping down her fingers. Whoever control ed the clairvoyant crystals zoomed in on her trophy. I barely stopped myself from throwing up when I realized she held the Werenephil’s heart. It was stil pumping.
The Werenephil staggered back and fel to his knees, one hand ready to clutch his chest. He forgot he stil had two energy bal s, one in each hand. Just before he burst into flames, he threw the second Just before he burst into flames, he threw the second one. It curved and fol owed the victorious demoness like a heatseeking missile. She didn’t see it coming until it blasted her from behind. A thunderous roar fil ed the arena. Fighting nausea, I slouched low in my seat and averted my eyes. I couldn’t bear to watch anymore. Solange wore a spiteful smile. Valafar stared ahead with a scowl. Whatever just happened didn’t make him happy. “Were they part of the elimination?” I asked. He didn’t respond. Solange shook her head. “Yes. Those two were part of the last four, which means Bran and Andros are next. He doesn’t stand a chance,” she added, chuckling. I scowled at her, wishing I could vanquish her. “Here he is now,” Solange said with glee. My gaze flew to the field. A tal demon about Dante’s size entered the arena. His wings, already out, were massive, his head bald and pointed, his face covered with tattoos. At first I thought he wore a tight, long sleeved shirt, until they zoomed in and I realized tats covered every inch of his shirtless chest and arms. He posed and flexed his muscles like a body-builder, his wings lifting and bil owing behind him like a bird about to take flight. The crowd booed and hissed. Then a cheer rose, and a chant fil ed the stadium. At first, I didn’t get what they were chanting. The sound swel ed to a deafening din.
They’re cheering for Llyr, Sykes telepathed, his voice fil ed with awe.
Where is he? Even as I asked, Bran entered the field, and my heart leapt to my throat. His wings were out, the feathers making them larger than his opponent’s, who was tal er. Relief and panic rushed through me in quick succession. Then I felt it, the sudden sourness in my right side, where I
had the stitch earlier. The pain wasn’t localized, just unrelenting and throbbing. Realization hit me like a giant boulder, and my eyes widened. Bran and I felt each other’s pain, and what I’d assumed was a stitch must be his wound. “Bran’s hurt,” I whispered in horror.
26. The Showdown My gaze flew to Valafar. “He’s hurt, right here.” I touched my side. “He must have broken his ribs or something. We need to heal him first.” An incredulous expression flitted across Valafar’s face so fast I doubted I’d actual y seen it. “Sorry, little sis,” Solange said in a voice fil ed with spite. “Rules are rules. Once you’re on the field, there’s no leaving until you’re the winner.” “I’m not talking to you, Solange.” My gaze clung to Valafar’s face, hoping for a glimmer of compassion. There was none. “Please, let Izzy heal him. He can’t fight that demon and survive if he’s hurt.” Instead of responding, Valafar turned toward the field, a pensive look on his face. “Andros has never been defeated,” Solange bragged from the other side of the box then chuckled. “He was Bran’s master trainer.” Which meant he was a superior fighter. The horror of it hit me with a ful force, and something snapped inside me. “If he kil s Bran, I’l make him pay. I’l ….” My voice trailed off as Valafar’s indifference and Solange’s spiteful smirk took on a sinister quality. Everything fel into place. I rounded on Valafar. “This was your plan al along. I get to watch Bran die, then avenge his death and become the winner.” Solange chuckled, and my gaze flew to her. She winked. “You catch on fast, little sis.” “That’s enough, Solange!” Valafar’s voice cracked through the air like lightning. Bitter rage washed over me as my gaze went to the image of Bran above the field. Blood streaked his face. His black shirt was ripped as though by a Werenephil and was darker in some places, probably due to clotted blood. Bran, I screamed.
His head jerked, and he looked around. Lil? Relief that he heard me was bittersweet.
Don’t fight him. He turned around as though he could pinpoint my exact location. Where are you? I opened my mouth to say Valafar’s box then changed my mind. Bran had enough to deal with without worrying about me.
It doesn’t matter, I answered, my breath caught in a sob. You’re hurt. I can feel it. Please, link our energies. No. Get out. Now. Not without you, I vowed. I mean it, he snapped. Valafar will not honor his deal. Get the others and leave. I’ll find my way home, he added. Did you make a deal with him? You can’t trust him. He’s manipulative and— Just go. Then he broke the connection. Bran. I pinged him, but his shield went up. I closed my eyes but couldn’t find him in the sea of demonic energies. Bran! The gong went off again, and I watched helplessly as he walked toward the demon, wings hugging his back like a cloak, his gait off. He rushed Andros. A flurry of movements —upper cuts… blocks…kicks and wel -aimed punches. Bran was smal er and leaner than the demon but faster. My breath caught when Andros landed a knuckle punch on his injured side. Bran hissed in a breath, the sound amplified by the clairvoyants. The throbbing on my side inched up a notch, which meant his was on my side inched up a notch, which meant his was much worse. As though Andros knew about his injury, he spent the next bouts aiming for the same spot. I wanted to zap him, but al I could do was clench my teeth and wait. Bran took to the air with the demon on his tail, downy feathers fal ing from his wings like pixie dust. Turning, he extended his wings backward and brought them down hard. The gust of wind generated by his wings sent the demon tumbling as though hit by a gale. He teleported
before hitting the ground then reappeared behind Bran, who went into offensive again. The aerial battle with flying kicks and summersaults would have been spectacular if I wasn’t on the edge of my seat, nails digging into my palms and heart pounding. Bran’s movements became sluggish. I squeezed my eyes tight and tried to locate his psi. Nothing. His shield was stil up. I tried to locate the Kris Dagger. If there was a moment I needed help, it was now. The pulsing energy grew stronger and came from under the field. Unfortunately, I was used to commanding things whose energies I could see, not something hidden behind concrete and the steel wal s of a vault. Stil it never hurt to try.
Come to me, I ordered it. Come to me now. Nothing happened. Frustration boiled my insides. The clash of swords yanked my focus to the battlefield. Andros lunged at Bran with his sword again and again, red sparks shooting in the air each time the blades connected. Bran disengaged his sword and went with an overcut. Andros blocked, saying something and laughing. They moved across the field in a blur of feints and strikes, parries and counterstrikes. Teacher and student, footwork smooth, each move a perfect match. The silence from the spectators was eerie. Bran’s sword was definitely not one of ours, not with that rugged blade and gothic guard and hilt. He handled it as if it were an extension of his arm. I wasn’t sure why that little fact bugged me. They took to the air, wings flapping. Bran made it past Andros’ guard and caught him on the shoulder. A bel ow replaced the laugh as blood flowed and colored his tattoos before it stopped almost as fast as it started when the wound healed. What a crybaby. He should try fighting with Bran’s injuries. Andros became even more aggressive, snarling and yel ing obscenities. Unlike on the ground, he was swifter in the air. Though weakening and missing numerous close cal s, Bran managed to hold Andros off, even as the demon’s blade swished near Bran’s wings, face and arms. Nausea and fear became my companions. Cold sweat ran down my face. Each near-strike felt like a hit. The demon knocked
the sword from Bran’s hand, and col ective gasps fil ed the stadium as the blade toppled to the ground. Bran’s panic was a physical pain, and it took every control I had left not to teleport to the field and finish off the demon myself. Bran teleported higher. His wings almost touched the dome-shaped roof of the stadium. Chest heaving, his breathing rapid, he darted back and forth, probably searching for an opportunity to get to his weapon. Below him, Andros smirked and taunted him. My rage reaching fever pitch, I locked on the ugly sword and sent it flying toward Bran.
I didn’t know Bran had telekinetic abilities, I heard Kim telepath.
He doesn’t, Izzy answered. Lil must be helping him, Kim added. Thank goodness, Izzy said with relief. I don’t know how long I can stand watching this. I wanted to tel them I appreciated their support, but my attention shifted. Andros had seen the sword. He zipped through the air and snatched it then raised the two swords in victory and laughed. “I’m going to chop off your wings, boy!” he roared as he chased Bran al over the stadium. He threw one of the swords like a knife. The blade whistled and shook as it whipped toward Bran.
No, I screamed and leaped off my chair. Bran wrapped his wings around his body and shot forward, hit the ground and rol ed, the sword barely missing him. The crowd went wild. My body throbbed like I’d hit a brick wal . So cold on the inside, shaking with dread and pain, I sunk into my seat. That was it for me. I couldn’t take anymore of this crap.
Do something, Lil, Izzy begged. I glanced at her and found her fighting tears. Everyone’s face was set, their bodies tense. But their eyes al begged me to take control. Turning, I caught Valafar’s gaze. He wore an expectant look. caught Valafar’s gaze. He wore an expectant look. What did he have to be so eager about? His men, except Dante, wore the same expression. Dante touched his lips, got up, and slipped out of the room.
I had no idea where he went, didn’t real y care. Al I wanted was Bran alive. Boos came from the field. I whipped around, and my heart sank. Andros was one of those nature-benders who created omnis. Smoke snaked from the tip of Bran’s right wing, indicating he’d been hit already. No wonder Valafar and his men smirked with glee. The nature-bender was going to win. Not if I can do anything about it. Excitement over the pending kil saturated the air. The demons might have rooted for Bran, the underdog, but this whole stupid combat was a sport for them—they needed a victor, a conqueror, and I had a feeling they didn’t care anymore who won. My breath caught in a sob as I searched for a solution.
Please, Bran. Link with me, I screamed. But I might as wel be talking to a dead person. He was slower teleporting and seemed ready to keel over every time he materialized. Sure of his victory, Andros lobbed two omnis at Bran. The sizzling red core coiling like tiny little snakes, the flares on the edges snapping and snarling, they gathered speed until they blurred. My heart stopped, but my psi kicked into overdrive. Adrenaline swel ing in my veins, I screamed.
Freeze. The deadly energy bal s stopped as though they hit a barrier, the flares flowing past the core like the tail of a comet. They dangled in the air between Bran, who stood glued to the spot, and Andros. The demon preened in the air, his bat-like wings lifting and fal ing in a rhythmic pattern until he realized the omnis had stopped. He hol ered in disbelief. My gaze col ided with Valafar’s, his amused, mine probably defiant. He knew what I was doing. Knew but didn’t care. Why? Realization hit me. His smirk had nothing to do with Andros winning. He smiled because I was doing exactly what he planned. Whatever it was, I didn’t care anymore. I’d rather be his prized possession than let Bran die. My gaze returned to Andros.
Let’s see how you like this. I whipped the omnis back at the nature-bender. Rage contorted his face. He backed up, ducked, and dodged as the energy bal s careened after
him. My gaze swung to Bran. He swayed on his feet. His wings retracted, but his gaze didn’t leave Andros. He attempted to lift his right hand, but it dropped uselessly to his side. Pain pinched every muscle in my body, and my heart grew heavy with horror. That was the hand he used to mummify demons. If he couldn’t lift it, he couldn’t use his powers. Sweat pouring down his face, his breathing shal ow, he tried to prop it up with his left hand.
Lil. My name was a whisper fil ed with pain, resignation and love.
I’m here. I shifted to the edge of my seat, my heart in my mouth.
Love you…always, he said disjointedly. I scowled. He sounded like he’d given up.
Bran? No response. Bran! Sorry…failed…, he added. The screams from the crowd temporarily yanked my attention away from him. Andros and five astral projections of him zoomed toward Bran, their eyes red with fury, larger omnis in their hands. The images were so identical it was impossible to tel which one was the real demon. Terror sank its teeth into me, my heartbeat loud and clear in my ears. Bran watched the many Andros swoop down, a helpless expression on his face. I wasn’t going to let him die. Pictures of Bran flashed in my head in quick succession. Bran waiting for me outside my school, at home, at HQ, on top of the mountain, laughing, fighting…. Light exploded in my head. Warmth expanded in my chest, and calmness drifted through me. With it came clarity, confidence. Focusing, I studied the projections. Al paled except one. The real Andros was on Bran’s right. Locking on the demon, I let him have it. Ribbons of lightning bolts appeared in the air and slammed into his body, whipping him up and around as he absorbed the energy until his tattoos gleamed like a tapestry on fire. My eyes connected with Valafar’s triumphant ones again, hating him with every fiber in my body. Defeat felt sour in my mouth. He won. By saving Bran, I just sealed my fate.
Tears crested in my eyes, but I was determined not to let them fal and blinked hard. Succeeding, I gave his minion a second dose of bolts with such precision Master Haziel would approve if he saw it. Andros imploded and the crowd approve if he saw it. Andros imploded and the crowd went wild as the stadium lit up like a Fourth of July fireworks show. Bran dropped to his knees then plopped sideways. I got to my feet to teleport to his side, my movement a little sluggish, but Valafar was beside me, his large hand gripping my upper arm like an iron cuff. “You’re not going anywhere, Lilith,” he said in a soft yet firm voice. “At least let me say goodbye to him,” I begged. “It’s better this way.” His voice was cold and unrelenting. My first instinct was to teleport anyway, but I realized he’d go with me and finish Bran off. Defiance came from somewhere deep inside me, and I jerked my arm. His fingers dug deeper into my flesh. I tried to lock on his psi energy, but needle-sharp pain seared across my head. He was draining my energy, deliberately weakening me. I fought him, pushing back his hostile invasion until he stopped. But the damage was done. Dizziness washed over me. Through a haze, I saw my friends’ hands inch inside their boots, coats. They were reaching for their weapons.
No, don’t, I telepathed them al . He’ll kill you. I didn’t know whether they heard me or not, adding to my despair. “How did he do that? When did Bran acquire lightning ability?” Solange cried out in a whiny voice like a child denied her treat. “He doesn’t have it,” Valafar said, grinning. “Lilith kil ed Andros. I’l make sure the High Council crowns her as the winner, the queen of the Hermonites.” Before I could respond, a slight quiver rippled through the floor. Frowning, I looked around. “What was that?” Solange screeched.
It happened again, and the surface of the orange juice Valafar’s minion offered me shook, too. The tremors grew stronger, as though we stood at the epicenter of an earthquake. The Kris Dagger. The pulse from the blade reached me across the fake grass, steel, and concrete. Come to me, I ordered but there was no need. The spectators were on their feet, pointing and staring. My gaze flew to the field. A fissure appeared where Bran lay. Green light seeped through it and lit up the air around him.
Heal him, I commanded the dagger, hope returning. The bril iant green light bent like a rainbow and wrapped around Bran until he disappeared under the glow. Demons knew what that green glow meant—Guardians. The smart ones disappeared from their boxes, teleporting out of the stadium. The stupid ones stayed and watched with fascination. “Is that…?” Solange’s voice trailed off, her eyes wide. “My dagger,” I said with pride, smiling. “It can’t be,” Valafar roared, composure cracking. Disbelief twisted his features as he glared at the field. Immediately, his face shifted into a mask of false calmness, but he couldn’t hide his feelings from me. Fear rose like a tidal wave from him and slammed into my psyche. He whipped around and jerked his head toward the door. “Get them out of here and finish them off,” he instructed his minions like a dril sergeant. “No,” I protested and tried to jerk my arm free from his hand. His fingers tensed, digging deeper into my flesh. I tried to get inside his head again, but it was useless. Watching my friends led out like lambs to slaughter, I broke out in a cold sweat. “Don’t hurt them. I’l go with you and do whatever you want. Just let them go.” “Don’t worry about us, Lil,” Remy cal ed out. “This is how it’s meant to end tonight.” “With death and mayhem,” Sykes added, smirking. They were prepared to fight. I saw it in their eyes. They just
didn’t want to do it in Valafar’s presence. Good. A surge of adrenaline shot through my veins. As soon as they disappeared out the door, I locked onto the dagger Kenta left inside my boot and tried to pul it out. It moved then stopped. I blew out air and tried again. I couldn’t afford to fail. Valafar might have weakened me, but I stil had enough juice left. Straining, head hurting, I got the upper hand, yanked the knife out, and directed it at Valafar’s back. He jerked and the dagger flipped and He jerked and the dagger flipped and changed directions. The next second, the blade sunk into my shoulder. Pain shot to my spine, and I cried out. Wetness soaked the sleeve of my shirt. Locking onto the knife again, I ground my teeth, wrenched it out, and dropped it on the chair. A whimper escaped me again. Valafar chuckled softly. “You never give up, do you, Lilith? It might get tiresome at times, but that’s something I admire about you. You have a fighting spirit.” “Yet you want to squash it by chaining me to your side,” I said through the pain. “No matter where you take me, I’l escape.” “You’l adapt,” Valafar said with calm certainty. “We’re leaving. Come along, Solange.” Solange’s eyes narrowed rebel iously. “Lap dog, that’s al you are to him,” I said, hoping to goad her into fighting back and buying me more time. “What happened to your bragging? When are you going to show him what you’re made of?” Her eyes clung to Valafar’s face, her expression timid. “What about the chal enge level, father?” “There was never a chal enge level,” he said in an unhurried voice. “Lil did exactly what I expected her to do.” “But you said there’d be a chal enge level,” Solange insisted. “He lied, Solange,” I cut in. “He manipulated you just like he did me. How can you stil trust him? He asked you to kil Zedekiah, Bran, and Gavyn to fool us when what he real y wanted was for Bran to sign the contract.” “Zedekiah?” Valafar asked, rage shooting from him. “We’l discuss your disobedience later, daughter,” he told Solange. “Now, fol ow us.”
“Not so fast, Valafar. Let her go.”
B ra n . He stood inside the sliding door looking pasty, his knuckles taut as he clenched a Guardian sword. Where did the sword come from? I wanted to run to him, touch him, and confirm he was okay, but Valafar’s grip tightened. My fingers tingled from lack of blood. “Don’t think you can stop me, boy,” he sneered. “We had a deal. Let her go,” Bran demanded, stepping further into the room. Kim and Izzy appeared beside him, each holding a dagger stil wet with demon blood, bodies tense for action and eyes on Valafar. Where were Sykes and Remy? “You didn’t win anything.” Valafar shot Bran a disdainful look. “Lilith helped you, and I’l make sure the Hermonite Council knows it.” He pul ed me closer. “Lilith is the winner of the combat battle, the queen of the Hermonites.” “No,” Solange screamed, pul ing out the Red Athame and stepping away from us. “I wil be the queen. There must be a chal enge level. I’l fight you.” She pointed the dagger at Bran, hesitated, and swung it toward me. “Or you.” Valafar stiffened. “What are you doing with that?” he asked coldly. Solange’s hand trembled. “It chose me. Last night before you arrived, it cal ed to me from the vault and when I picked it up, we bonded. It’s mine now,” she finished defiantly. “You can’t wield that weapon, you sil y girl. Put it away,” he ordered. Solange wavered and appeared ready to obey. Then she lifted her chin, her eyes flashing and her hand steady on the hilt. “No, I won’t. In your eyes, I’l always be second best to her. Not to my people. With Coronis’ dagger, the Hermonites wil accept me as their queen. I wil become powerful, unstoppable. Let her go, so I can finish her off.” A loud explosion rocked the complex. My eyes flew to the field just as a huge mass of concrete and steel sprouted from the field like a cannon bal and shot through the air. It hovered in the air then plummeted back down on the field beside the crater it shot through. It was the vault, propel ed through the building’s steel and concrete foundation by the power of the Kris Dagger. Green light shot from its hinges as the dagger strained to escape. The same light had seeped through the cracks and saved Bran’s life.
Remy and Sykes materialized beside the vault. While Remy used his ability to manipulate solids to open the vault, Sykes stood guard and smirked while bouncing an alpha energy bal , the blue core expanding. He was probably hoping the remaining demons stil in the stadium would chal enge him. The door of the vault opened, and the dagger flew out, the blade glowing like a fal en star. Chaos flew out, the blade glowing like a fal en star. Chaos broke out as the remaining demons screamed and teleported or hid. Solange dove behind a chair. Valafar yanked his sword from its scabbard and laid it across my stomach, sandwiching me with it. The dagger sped toward us. The light shooting from it melted a giant hole on the screen covering the luxury box, and in it floated and stopped before me. I reached for the hilt, but the thin edge of Valafar’s sword pressed against me. A flick of his wrist and it could sever me into two, thick Guardian clothes or not. “Don’t touch it,” Valafar warned fiercely. “This is one battle you won’t win, Valafar,” Bran warned. “The dagger will destroy you to protect her.” “Not if she doesn’t order it,” he said. The dagger moved before I could command it until it was horizontal, the tip pointing at me. My eyes wide, my gaze connected with Bran’s. He wore a smug smile. Swal owing, not sure what to expect, I watched the dagger move away from my face, as though seeking a better position to attack Valafar. “As you can see, it wil ,” Bran bragged. “Let her go, and it won’t hurt you.” Valafar swore under his breath and turned, using me as a shield. From the corner of my eye, I saw Bran extend his right hand toward Valafar. He had clear access to Valafar, but he couldn’t fight him without my help. Valafar was too powerful an adversary. No matter how protective the dagger was, I had to wield it to defeat Valafar. I linked with the dagger and commanded, heal me. Drawing on its healing power, I replenished my energy and locked on Valafar’s psi energy before he realized what I was doing. He fought back and pain sliced through my head. But with his psi locked and Bran draining water from
his body, he didn’t stand a chance. I didn’t need to see him to know water drained from every pore of his skin. Wetness soaked my back where our clothes touched. His hands, the only parts of his body I could see, became wrinkly. “No,” Solange screamed and came out of hiding. She leveled her Red Athame at Bran. “Let him go….stop mummifying him.” From the corner of my eye, I saw Izzy move. The next second, a knife sailed through the air and sunk into Solange’s hand holding the Athame. She cried out and opened her hand. Her evil weapon didn’t hit the ground. A sudden jet of wind sent it sailing out the hole the Kris Dagger had created on the screen. Kim’s wind tunnel was precise. It projected the Athame toward the crater the vault left in the middle of the field. “My dagger!” Solange yel ed and teleported after it. I broke free of Valafar’s hold and snatched my dagger from the air. With a flick of my wrist, I leveled it at him, the tip only a few inches from his once taut neck, now wrinkled and skinny. “Stop draining him, Bran,” I yel ed. “Why?” Izzy yel ed. Valafar’s shriveled hand went to his chest while the other rested on the screen covering the box as though he was too weak to stand. His shriveled skin was that of an old man about to take his last breath. He smiled, showing startling perfect teeth. “Lilith loves me and can’t bear to see me defeated,” he bragged. I threw him a disgusted look and stepped toward Bran. It kil ed me not to command the dagger to send him to Tartarus. “We need the List, and he’s the only one who can get it.” Valafar chuckled darkly, his skin puckering around his mouth, malevolence in his black eyes. “That’s right, daughter. The List is with the Hermonite High Council. Until I official y declare Llyr the winner, they won’t part with it. That’s not going to happen because Llyr traded the List for your life, Lilith.
Wasn’t that part of our deal, boy? You win, and she goes free. She’s free now. Take her and get out of here.” I felt blood drain from my head, and my hand shook. Refusing to take my eyes from Valafar, I said, “Please, tel me it’s not true.” “I had no choice,” Bran hissed. “He had you, and I couldn’t sacrifice you for al the Lists in the world.” “I’m happy to hear that, son,” a familiar voice said behind us. Grampa! Happiness washed over me. I stil didn’t dare take my eyes off Valafar. Grampa and Kenta appeared in the periphery of my Grampa and Kenta appeared in the periphery of my vision. I felt his glance on me. “Everyone okay?” Grampa asked. “Yes, Grampa.” Relief left me light-headed. Now that he was here, everything would be fine. Kim, Izzy, and Bran responded with, “Yes, Cardinal.” “Good.” He shoved Kenta further into the room with the tip of a rol ed up scrol the size of a ful paper-towel rol . “We have the List.” “That’s impossible,” Valafar bel owed. He might look like the shadow of his old self, but his voice boomed with raw rage. “The Council would not give it to you without my say so.” Grampa chuckled. “You’re not as important or smart as you like to think, Valafar. Show him, Kenta.” The former trainer’s face, hair and clothes shifted and remolded as he changed into Bran’s double. Then he reverted to himself. “You should have treated me right,” Kenta said, staring at Valafar with revulsion. “The High Council saw Llyr win, so when I appeared before them, they acknowledged that he was the winner and gave me the List.” Valafar’s laughter rang out, cruel and cold. “He won nothing. You’d better check the List again. A whole section is missing—the section containing the souls the Llyrs contracted. Without canceling the contracts,
he wil continue to change and become demonic. Lil’s powers wil continue to emerge and grow. Soon, she won’t resist the blood flowing in her veins. She’l fol ow the path of nature-benders, to destroy and conquer. Together, she and Llyr wil rule this world.” His words echoed like a nightmare inside my head. The floor shifted below me, and the arm holding the dagger trembled. One order and he’d be vanquished. Sent to Tartarus. Gone forever. Bran came from behind me and placed his hand on top of mine. You shouldn’t do this. Let the Cardinals take care of him, he whispered. I resisted. That was what he said last time, too. Instead of going away, Valafar came back more evil and desperate. He had to be sent to Tartarus. I didn’t care if it was by my hand, Bran’s or Grampa’s. He had to go. He deserves to die.
Not by your hand, Bran insisted. I won’t let you live with that. Grampa placed his hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “You talk nonsense as usual, Valafar,” Grampa said unhurriedly. “My granddaughter wil be the most powerful Cardinal the Nephilim have ever seen.” Bran added pressure to my hand holding the Kris until the tip of the blade pointed down. “As for Bran’s fate,” Grampa continued, “if you care to look out at the field,” he paused to give Valafar a chance to turn and glance outside, “you’l see Guardians shrinking the crates of contracts you stashed in the vault into portable sizes. If we miss any, we’l scour this evil complex and find them before changing it back to the pile of rocks it once was. Once we do, we’l cancel al the contracts and stop his feathers from fal ing, save his wings and soul. And if you hid some elsewhere and he changes, we’l find a way to deal with his problem. You see, Bran Llyr is now one of us, a Cardinal Guardian.” Bran’s hand trembled against mine. Valafar’s face worked, eyes glistening with hatred as his gaze bounced from face to face then stopped on Bran’s. “Not for long. They’l come for you, boy. The Hermonite High Council wil make sure you fulfil your role as King of the Demons.” Moving fast for an old man, he swept up the knife I’d pul ed from my shoulder and threw it. I wasn’t sure who
was the target—me, Grampa, or Bran. Time appeared to slow down as the blade flipped in the air, its polished blade catching the light and emitting a green glow. Bran whipped me around, pul ed me in his arms and cradled the back of my head, pul ing me out of the knife’s path. He smel ed awful. His shirt, stiff with dried blood, brushed against my bruised cheek, but I didn’t care. I felt rather than saw Grampa move, then Valafar’s cold laughter fil ed the room. “What the—?” Kim yel ed as Izzy yel ed, “No!” I whipped around to see that the knife Valafar threw had reversed course. It hit the booth’s screen and tumbled to the floor. Valafar was gone, yet there was no scorch mark on the carpet to indicate a demon was just vanquished. My gaze flew to Grampa, who wore an unreadable expression. “Grampa! How could you miss him?” His gaze met mine and his voice was flat His gaze met mine and his voice was flat when he answered. “I didn’t. He shifted into a fiery thing and shot through the floor. It’s a move I’ve never seen before, but the knife went through him, which means wherever he disappeared to, he won’t have long to live.” He nodded at Izzy and Kim. “Get the others and head back to the val ey.” As soon as Izzy and Kim teleported, Grampa turned to Kenta. “Your life wil be spared, but don’t ever come near a Guardian again unless you’re ready for a tribunal. The CT doesn’t take kindly to traitors.” Kenta nodded, head lowered, and dematerialized without uttering a word in his defense. Grampa faced us, his gaze moving from me to Bran then back to me again. I braced myself for a lecture. He must know Valafar cal ed me several times and that I asked for his help to save Bran’s soul. “Come here,” Grampa said and opened his arms.
Tears blinded me as I stumbled into his arms. “I’m so sorry for everything, Grampa. The way I’ve been acting…the things I said…not tel ing you Valafar cal ed…,” my breath hitched. “I even asked him to find Bran’s contracts.” “Shh, it’s okay. He’s gone now. He’l never manipulate you again.” Grampa held me for a moment then dropped a kiss on temple and leaned back to study my face. “What you did out there on the field was amazing.” He glanced at Bran and smiled. “You made me very proud. Both of you.” “Thank you, sir. But—” “No buts. You are a team now. As you grow older, you’l become more formidable.” He cleared his throat, nudged me toward Bran, and added briskly, “Go on home. The Cardinals and I wil finish here.” Bran put his arm around my shoulder and I sunk to his side. My gaze went to Grampa. “I love you, Grampa.” He chuckled. “I know. Now get out of here.” I glanced at Bran, who smiled down at me.
I love you, too, I telepathed him. Always. He took my hand and pressed it against his heart.
EPILOGUE “Lil…Bran, look at me,” Angelia yel ed from the top of the water slide, waved, and glided behind Leo. I waved. It was hard to imagine a week of living with the Brotherhood could bring such changes in Angelia and her friends. Their eyes sparkled as they goofed around and played with the other children. It was hard to tel who was a Special and who wasn’t. A brief stop to check on them in the subdivision Darius and his ‘brothers’ built outside L.A. had turned into a party. The men and women of the Brotherhood insisted on barbecuing and hearing the story of Jarvis Island. The children had plenty of stories to share with us about their new families, their new rooms, and toys. “They’re so happy,” I said. Bran chuckled, his arms tightening around me. “Yes, they are. Angelia is a handful though.” “She’s not. Her new family adores her, especial y her younger sister,” I retorted. Solange, my own half-sister, flitted through my head, but I pushed thoughts of her away. “I like how she tel s anyone who’s wil ing to listen about how she helped us destroy Valafar.” “She talked poor Jethro’s ears off back there,” Bran nodded toward Darius’ house. “The old geezer begged me to take her away.” “It was sweet of Darius to invite Jethro to dinner,” I said. Bran shrugged. “If it hadn’t been for Jethro, the Cardinals wouldn’t have known where we were.” I glanced at him over my shoulder. “Don’t you mean if you hadn’t sent Kael to Jethro’s with a message for Darius, who in turn contacted the Cardinals? The entire time you were fighting, I thought al was lost. I had no idea rescue was on the way.” He hugged me tighter. “I didn’t need rescuing. I happen to have a gorgeous and powerful guardian angel sitting on my shoulder.” “Who?” I asked, my voice rising, jealousy zipping through me. He laughed and kissed my cheek. I relaxed when I realized he meant me.
“I know I couldn’t have survived without you,” he said in a subdued tone. My cheeks warmed, hating the gratitude lacing his words. “It was nothing.” “It was everything. Gavyn wanted to hear every detail.” He chuckled. “Especial y the lightning bolts finale.” Not wanting to discuss that event anymore, I tilted my head sideways to study his face. “How’s Gavyn doing?” Bran frowned. “You spoke to him earlier. How did he seem to you?” I stil made his brother uneasy, so he avoided talking to me when he could. “He thanked me for being friends with Celeste and for helping her adjust to her new life, and I thanked him for letting you stay in the val ey, and that was it. Is he happy Celeste joined the Academy?” “He hasn’t said anything yet. He’s only been up and about for a couple days, so we’l see.” Bran laughed. “I told him he should be a mentor to the Special who healed him.” I almost laughed at the idea of Gavyn as a mentor, but it would hurt Bran’s feelings. “What did he say?” “No, though his words were more colorful. “No, though his words were more colorful. Darius offered him a place here, and he accepted.” I turned around so I could see Bran’s face properly. “Real y?” Bran laughed, pushed my hair behind my ear, and touched my face with the tip of his fingers. “Yeah. I was just as surprised. They own businesses and could use someone like Gavyn. Or he could start his own. Jethro hinted he wants a partner.” I couldn’t see Gavyn running a bikers’ hangout or dingy bar. He was more of an upscale, trendy club type. “That would be wonderful.” I wrapped my arms around Bran and smiled. To have Gavyn turn his life around would be great. My thought shifted to Bran, and my smile disappeared. I couldn’t forget Valafar’s departing words about Bran being king of the demons. A week had passed since that day on Jarvis Island, yet the words stil haunted me. We were already canceling the contracts Bran brokered and he seemed happy, but whenever he wasn’t around, I’d worry that the demons nabbed him.
“You’re stressing again,” he whispered to me. I didn’t bother to deny it. “Why aren’t you? If Valafar is right, they’l come for you.” Bran leaned back, cupped my face, and smiled. “No one is coming for me.” “What if?” I insisted. He pressed his forehead against mine and sighed. “I thought we agreed not to discuss this anymore. Valafar is gone. Forever. Nothing is going to happen to me. Not with you around.” He made it sound so simple, yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that Valafar was stil alive and that our time together was limited. “Let’s get Remy and the others and head home,” he said. “I plan to enjoy my welcome-to-the-val ey party tonight.” Pushing aside my worries, I checked my watch. We rescheduled the party for tonight. It was about four-thirty local time. Kylie and the others would be arriving at my house in less than thirty minutes. “Okay. Let’s go.” Grampa and Aunt Janel e were in the kitchen when I arrived home. I gave each of them a lingering hug. Grampa and I had a long discussion after Jarvis Island. Everything was okay between us, except for my lingering doubt about whether or not he let Valafar go. As for Aunt Janel e, I was glad I never asked her about the present Valafar sent and Kenta stole. Mrs. D found the package at his home in Xenith. I couldn’t bring myself to open it. “How’s Gavyn doing?” Grampa asked. “He’s thinking about staying with the Brotherhood.” I picked up an apple from the wooden bowl and bit into it. Aunt Janel e and Grampa exchanged a skeptical look. “You don’t think he’l do it?” I asked. “It doesn’t matter what we think, sweetheart.” He patted my shoulder. “He’l have to live with the decision.” “And how’s little Angelia?” Aunt Janel e asked. “Talking nonstop,” I said. Grampa chuckled. “Goodness, the child can talk. She has an opinion about—” “Everything and everyone,” Aunt Janel e finished. Every day these two grew closer. They were even starting
to finish each other’s sentences. Hopeful y, their relationship would move to the next level soon, or I’d have to play Cupid. Celeste had already offered to help. “Are you two doing anything special this evening?” I asked. “Is that your way of saying you want us to leave?” Grampa teased. I grinned. “No.” He got up from the stool and kissed my temple. “You were never a good liar, sweetheart. Stick to the truth. It’s what you’re good at.” “Even when I yel it?” I asked, remembering our fights before Jarvis Island. “Even when you yel it. I might not like it, but I’l appreciate it.” He studied me with narrowed eyes and added, “About your friend Kylie.” “Do you have to erase her memory right away? Can we do it later?” I glanced at Aunt Janel e for support, but she just shrugged. Fighting panic, my gaze swung to Grampa’s. “Please, I just want a few weeks with her when I don’t have to lie about who we are or what we do. Please, Grampa.” His expression grew thoughtful, and then he nodded. “If she can keep our secret, then you’l have a few weeks. If not…” a few weeks. If not…” “You’re the best.” I gave him a tight hug around his midsection. “She won’t tel anyone, I promise.” I stepped back, stil grinning. “What about her channeling ability?” He shook his head. “Free wil makes it impossible for me to do anything about that. When she and I talked, she made it clear she plans to use it. How, I don’t know.” He dropped a kiss on my forehead. “Now that I’ve answered al your questions, we’l make ourselves scarce. Have fun tonight.” He extended a hand to Aunt Janel e, who hugged me first before they dematerialized. I ran to the bedroom to shower and change. Gift bags littered my bed when I stepped out of the bathroom. Checking the tags, I shook my head in amazement. My friends had remembered to buy housewarming gifts for Celeste and Bran. Even Kylie, McKenzie,
Nikki, and Amelia brought something. Tonight was going to be perfect. Entering my closet, my gaze went to the brown box on the top shelf—the present from Valafar. Despite changing everything in my bedroom so I wouldn’t be reminded of the fake one he kept me in, I stil couldn’t bring myself to get rid of his present. Tonight wouldn’t be perfect if I continued to ignore the box and its contents. I pul ed it down, yanked off the tape and opened the flaps. Two manila envelopes jutted out from a sea of white packaging material. One had a greeting card with a number scribbled on it and the words, ‘cal me, Valafar,’ taped on it. The number was the same one he’d given me. Ignoring the card, I ripped open the first envelope. Inside were five DVDs in clear plastic cases, the labels done in neat handwriting and decorated with butterflies. Valafar had told me my mother loved butterflies, so she must have written these. Smiling, I traced the labels and read them— 1-6 months, 6-12 months, 1-2 year, 2-3 years. My mother had brought me back to the Guardians when I was three, the year she died. I wanted to see her, hear her voice. I blew out air, my throat tight. Now was a bad idea, maybe later after everyone was gone. The last DVD had ‘Valafar’ written on it. Regret sneaked up on me, but I squashed it. He had stayed true to his nature—evil. I should be happy he was gone. The second envelope had pictures. My throat closed at the images of my mother, laughing. Glorious black hair, sparkling green eyes, she looked beautiful and happy. She carried me in some of them, others she was with Valafar. Some showed me in his arms. My eyes watered. How could I miss him after what he did? Getting angry with myself, I shoved everything back inside the box and put it back on the top shelf. They were both gone, end of story. I noticed the card with the phone number on the bed when I stepped out of the closet. Without weighing the consequences, I reached for my new cel phone and punched in the number. Heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and dread, I waited. “What do you want, Lilith?” a voice snapped. Solange. How did she know? Valafar must have added my number to the contacts on his cel phone. “I…”
“Don’t ever cal this number again,” she added. “I’m sorry for—” “You wil be when I catch up with you.” She terminated the cal before I could add anything else, not that I knew what to tel her—my sister. She and I would always fight for different sides. The thought was sobering. Wishing I hadn’t cal ed, I threw the phone on my bed and clenched my shaking hands. Solange’s words didn’t surprise me, but hearing the hatred in her voice was unsettling. Worse, I stil didn’t have proof that Valafar was gone. Putting the bags in the closet with mine, I fixed my hair and make-up then slipped on the new outfit and my bal et flats. By the time I stood in front of the mirror and stared at my reflection, I was calmer. I pinged Bran. Where are you?
Will be there soon, he answered. Celeste insists I don’t leave until her friends get here. No more thoughts about Valafar or the past. Lifting my chin, I started for the door. Something seemed odd. I angled my head and frowned. Then it hit me. The music was turned off. McKenzie’s high-pitched laughter mixed with Remy’s deep voice floated upstairs when I stepped out of my room. Her incessant giggles when flirting with a boy were as incessant giggles when flirting with a boy were as predictable as the sun rising in the east. She’d had a thing for Remy ever since the night we rescued her from would-be rapists, but he better not break her heart. I headed to the kitchen where Kim directed the caterers like a dril sergeant. Izzy sampled grapes from a large fruit centerpiece. Cans of soda sat in ice chests between platters of cubed cheeses, bowls of dips, and mounds of chips. Piles of pizza in boxes and more soft drinks vied for a space on the dining room table. Kim took one look at my outfit, and her brow shot up. “Daring, but nice.” “Nice? She looks fantastic.” Izzy walked around me. “You’ve got gorgeous legs, little sis. You should show them more.” I laughed. “Thanks. You two look amazing as usual.” Izzy wore black tights and a hip-length striped top that moved when she did, like it had a life of its own. Kim’s dress was
gorgeous with bold colors and showed a lot of skin. I gave them both hugs. “Thanks for the gifts.” “Don’t thank us yet.” She exchanged a conspirator’s glance with Izzy. “Stil , you didn’t have to but you did. You guys are amazing.” I popped a grape into my mouth and headed down the set of stairs connecting the kitchen to the basem*nt. Sykes, a can of beer in his hand, was about to start upstairs but stopped when he saw me and blinked. I real y hoped Grampa wouldn’t find out about the alcohol. Sykes had gone al out and already volunteered to accept the blame. Like I’d let him. My only hope was to remove the evidence before Grampa came home. “Whoa, Red. You look…wow. Want a drink?” Sykes’ voice broke. “Not yet. Thanks for buying something for Bran and Celeste.” “They’re just gift cards. Remy’s the one who went al out.” He shrugged, looking handsome in designer jeans that hugged his hips and a black tee wi th Conserve Water, Drink Beer written in bold white letters. “It’s stil nice of you to remember.” I patted his arm and felt rather than saw him turn to fol ow me. There was nothing like an appreciative guy to make a girl feel on top of the world. I couldn’t wait to see Bran’s reaction. I checked my watch. Fifteen minutes to seven. He and Celeste should be here any minute. I looked around the alcove with interest. Sykes had transformed the downstairs counter, which was by the kitchen stairs, into his private bar. Cans of beer piled high like a half pyramid against the wal and occupied half the counter while more crowded the sink fil ed with ice. Bottles of liquor sat at the corner, where the counter met the wal and the stairs. Beside them was a weird-looking funnel with several tubes attached to it. I was afraid to ask its purpose. If Grampa saw the myriad of drinks Sykes brought, I’d be in deep crap. I real y hope we’d be done cleaning before he got home. At the other end of the room, by the wider stairs leading to the living room, was the DJ’s table. McKenzie sat on a chair beside Remy. Or maybe she was
halfway on his lap. It was hard to tel from the way she curved her body toward his, looking into his eyes as she spoke. What a flirt. She already begged me to invite Luke, the guy we met at the mal . How did she plan to handle two guys? As for Remy in white skinny pants, black tank top and matching jacket and boots, he had his arm draped over the back of her chair, milking the attention. We made eye contact as I walked further into the T-shaped room. Can you keep an eye on McKenzie tonight for me?
Please? Remy shot me a puzzled look. Why? She’s a big girl.
Her parents are having problems, and I’m afraid she might get drunk and do something stupid. He scowled. I didn’t need to know all that, he griped. I’m
having a good time here. Play nice, Remy, I warned him. You know she has a thing for you. He grinned though I couldn’t tel whether the cause was what I said or what McKenzie whispered into his ear. Get lost, kiddo, he said without looking up. Remy was a decent guy. He might complain, but he always came through. Kylie, Nikki, and Amelia were busy arranging cups in a triangular pattern on both ends of a ping-pong table set opposite the DJ’s corner and didn’t see me until I joined them. They squealed. joined them. They squealed. “You look amazing,” Kylie said with a broad grin. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wear anything but Gypsy skirts and jeans.” The other two nodded. The three girls wore skinny jeans and cute tops. “I love my Gypsy skirts,” I said defensively, and they rol ed their eyes. “Thank you guys for taking care of things last Saturday. Grampa said he couldn’t have done it without you four.” “I’m sorry your great aunt fel il so suddenly,” Amelia said, repeating the cover story Grampa told them. “Is she okay now?” Nikki added.
I nodded, my gaze connecting with Kylie. She knew the whole story, every nasty detail. To be able to share things with her was such a relief. “Hopeful y the people I invited weren’t too disappointed by last weekend’s cancel ation and wil turn up tonight,” I replied. “Oh, they wil ,” Kylie reassured me. Bran’s energy brushed against mine before he appeared at the foot of the stairs. He blinked when he saw my outfit. The intensity of his gaze turned my insides into mush.
You look unbelievable, he telepathed. Blushing, I smiled. Part of me wanted to go to him, but the other waited for him to come to me. I stayed with Kylie, Amelia, and Nikki but shifted my position so I could watch him talk to Sykes. He looked so gorgeous and dangerous in a black shirt and matching slacks. Nikki opened a pack of ping-pong bal s, rinsed one in a cup of water, and threw it toward the other end of the table. She punched the air when it landed inside a cup. Twice, she scored. “Let me try.” Amelia walked to the other end of the table. I watched the sil y ping-pong game, but kept glancing at Bran from the corner of my eye. He couldn’t seem to take his eyes off me. Neither could Sykes, a fact that didn’t seem to bother Bran tonight. What were they talking about that he couldn’t come to me? “Quit flirting and go to him, already,” Kylie whispered. “Let him come to me.” A girl had to have some pride, right? Besides, I had to play hostess. At seven, the doorbel rang, and I hurried upstairs to let my guests in. Celeste, her Academy friends, and human boyfriend were the first to arrive. Kylie, Nikki, and Amelia col ected keys and put them in a wicker basket I provided. Christian and his friends beamed like they’d won a lottery when they arrived. Within thirty minutes, everyone was there. The popular fast tunes Remy chose set the tone of the party. Drinks flowed, and people moved freely up and downstairs, eating pizza, and nibbling on snacks. The drinking and video games drew a crowd along with cheers
from the guests not playing. Some hooked up early and found a private corner inside the house. Thank goodness I locked Grampa’s bedroom and mine. The other rooms had lights on and chairs from Remy and Sykes’ place. For an hour, Bran stayed away from me. Whenever I turned, he was there watching me. I didn’t know what he was waiting for, and the suspense drove me nuts.
Are you stalking me? I asked him a few times. No, watching over you, he said. This is your moment. I want your party to be a success. I wanted to be in his arms more. Just when I decided I had enough and was going to ask him to dance, Bring Me to Life by Evanescence floated from the speakers. It was my favorite song. Heart pounding, I waited as Bran left Remy’s DJ table and walked over to where Kylie, Cade and I stood. He offered his hand. I floated into his arms. With one arm around my waist and the other cradling my upper back, he brought me close, until I felt every inch of his hard body. My muscles quivered in response. My response to him was as natural as breathing. Smiling, I placed my head on his chest and sighed.
What took you so long? I asked. I wanted you to finish with your guests first. Now, you’re all mine. I giggled. Sil y guy. It didn’t matter where I was and what I did, I’d always be his.
THE END BIOGRAPHY EDNAH WALTERS grew up reading Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys and dreaming of one day writing her own stories. She finished her PhD in chemistry, married the love of her life, and decided to be a stay-at-home mother. She now lives in a picturesque val ey in Utah with her husband, five children and two American short-hair cats. When she is not writing, you can find her doing things with her family, reading or traveling, online chatting with fans.
Ednah writes both YA fantasy and adult romance under the pseudonym E. B. Walters. AWAKENED, the first YA fantasy book in The Guardian Legacy series, was released in September 2010 with rave reviews. BETRAYED is book two in the series. She’s currently working on book 3. Her adult romance, SLOW BURN, was released in April. It is the first book on the Fitzgerald family. Book 2, MINE UNTIL DAWN, was released in July. She is currently revising book 3 of the Fitzgeralds. You can visit her online at www.ednahwalters.com.
