The Accidental Gatekeeper (The Accidental Midlife Trilogy Book 1)

by Carla Rehse

  Sebastian popped up next to me. He said something, but with the church across the street, the pealing bells drowned out his voice. He finally gave up trying to communicate and shooed me to the front door.

  My stomach churned as I neared the double glass doors. I’d only been allowed inside once, for the Hunter selection ceremony. The Council chose Lawson over me. Lawson. Who only trained because of me. He had despised hunting; I’d wanted it more than anything. Trainees were sent after ghouls since they were sorta spiritual pests and less dangerous than anything else spit out from the otherworlds. Out of the four other trainees, I dispatched more ghouls than all the boys managed together. And I, the only female trainee, was the only one not appointed as a Hunter. I didn’t handle the rejection well, to put it mildly, and took it out on Lawson. It was a testament to his kind heart that he helped me today.

  A slight buzzing feeling hit me as I entered the building. Almost as if Crossing Shadows had patted my back in a welcome. I had no doubt that if I wasn’t supposed to enter, my welcome would’ve been harsher than a swift kick to the pants. Crossing Shadows eagerly protected itself.

  When viewing the outside of the structure, with its unimaginative cream bricks and utilitarian windows, the name “Celestial Building” sounded like all hat and no cattle. That was until you stepped inside.

  The entire interior—and I was talking about the floors, walls, and ceiling—were covered in gray-veined, white marble. All the doors were shiny silver, patterned with angelic runes lightly carved throughout. There were no visible light fixtures, but soft light somehow glowed through the marble.

  The angels had created the interior of the building in one of those weird metaphysical things as it was three times larger than what the exterior suggested. I always wondered if this place reminded the angels of home or was an example of what they thought humans envisioned of Heaven. Either way it was stunning, if a little cold and sterile.

  “Everly!” Alana Corbin strode out of the nearest office, with her platinum-blonde hair swept up in Grace Kelly chignon and her high heels clicking on the floor. A third cousin, she’d been a grade below me, but we had several classes together. Alana held up a white robe. “We need to get you cleaned up and to the Council’s chamber lickety-split. They’re waiting on you.”

  “Me? Why?”

  Sebastian nodded at Alana, then headed toward the chamber without a word to me.

  Alana hustled me into the nicest bathroom I’d ever seen. Along with the ubiquitous marble, all the fixtures were modern, oil-rubbed bronze and a waterfall trickled down a wall into a glittering, copper pool. The Celestial Council had a serious upkeep budget.

  I tried to ask questions while Alana helped me out of my shredded jacket, but she ignored me and pattered on about local gossip. Like it really mattered whose goat jumped the fence and snacked on the community garden.

  “How are your twins?” I asked. I couldn’t remember much about them, even though twins were extremely rare for us, but figured this would be a way to start getting my questions answered.

  Alana paused folding my shirt. “They’re well. Thanks for asking. Grady is a Hunter intern in Lawson’s quad. I can’t believe my baby boy is that old! Or a Hunter. But what else is there for him to do, I guess. Oh. Did your mama mention the scandal with Mrs. Kennedy refusing to participate in the annual picnic?”

  Whether due to the trauma of the night or magic, Alana managed to get me to wipe my face and puffy arm, then pull on a white robe like the ones the Council always wore without answering any of my questions. My brain might be a bit discombobulated, but at least the pain hadn’t returned.

  Alana continued her stream of gossip all the way to the huge silver door that led to the Council’s chamber. All-seeing eyes were carved across the doorframe, but the actual door was smooth, unblemished silver.

  The door opened as I neared, a creepy slow-creaking movement that evoked memories of all the old vampire and mummy movies I’d ever seen. Alana made a scat gesture. A voice in my head screamed for me to turn away, that this was not the best bad choice as I’d thought. I’d already gotten Hellhound bitten, after all. But Sadie needed sanctuary. Whether she wanted it or not. None of her dad’s criminal friends could find her inside Crossing Shadows.

  Against my better judgment, I entered.

  The Council Chamber was designed like a stadium, with seats carved out of blocks of solid white marble. It wouldn’t be difficult to envision this place as belonging to ancient Greece. Or maybe Rome, where they held the lion fights. And wasn’t that just the most cheerful of thoughts.

  A stinging sensation pierced my bitten arm. The puffiness had risen to my elbow. I moved my fingers to keep some feeling in them.

  The seven Councilmembers—four angels and three humans—waited for me on the black granite floor. I knew the humans, though I only remembered the mayor’s name, and one of the angels. Sebastian, now wearing a white robe similar to mine, held his hand out to me. “Everly Popa, thank you for joining us.”

  “Of course,” I said. As if I had a choice. Well, I did have one, my inner voice reminded me. After calling me a few names. It had been one helluva night if I was getting grumpy with myself.

  Darious Maxwell, the mayor of the human population, waved at me. Since I’d last seen him, his hair had turned to a brilliant white, giving him a Morgan Freeman vibe, though without his friendly smile. I started trudging over like a little kid with a switch in hand, when the Council door boomed open.

  Janice Russo, my sorta high school nemesis, marched in while dragging on a white robe. “I heard the bells. Where’s my daughter? I was supposed to help her prepare!”

  Mayor Maxwell held out his hands in a soothing gesture. “There’s been a development. Once the Third arrives, we will explain.”

  “Third?” I asked, though I knew the answer.

  Lawson—a direct Valencia descendant—and Janice—a direct Russo descendant—and me were the three High Marked of our generation. At least in this town.

  An uncomfortable feeling settled over me as I realized I wasn’t here to petition for Sadie’s sanctuary. This must be about Jack’s death. I was here as a representative of One, with Janice repping the Two spot. My suspicions seemed proven as Lawson strode in, wearing a white robe like he was born to it. Which, uh, I guess he was.

  As my family’s representative—and damn, how surreal was it that I was old enough to be that—I’d be privy to many of the town’s secrets. Did I want that? Maybe? I felt like Neo in The Matrix. Red or blue pill, Everly? The stinging in my arm increased, so I massaged my elbow for relief. At least the full-out body pain hadn’t returned.

  Lawson stopped next to me and touched my shoulder. He murmured, “You okay?”

  Janice scoffed and interrupted my reply. “Fine. We’re all here. Now where’s my daughter?”

  Mayor Maxwell turned to the other members of the Council, who were looking everywhere but at us. Except for Sebastian, who was staring holes through me. The mayor cleared his throat. “You’re aware that Jack Russo has died?”

  Janice sighed. “At least Uncle Jack’s suffering from that stomach cancer is over. And Heather’s so proud she was chosen to replace him. Where is she? We need to get ready for the bonding ceremony.”

  The mayor yanked at the collar of his robe. “Well. That’s the development. We aren’t sure how this … I mean, it’s never happened … um, evidently, Everly was accidentally marked by the Hellhound, so she’s the actual candidate.”

  “WHAT?” Janice and I yelled in unison.

  “WHERE IS HEATHER?” Janice screamed, while I glared at my arm.

  Lawson, always the smart cookie, sidled several steps away from Janice and me.

  Sebastian tore his eyes from me to glance at Janice. “We do not know where your daughter is.”

  I held up my hand. “Wait. Let me get this straight. You lost the Gatekeeper candidate and allowed a Hellhound to tear around town, looking for someone to chomp on? What the actual hell?”


  The Councilmembers got all pearl-clutchy at my profanity, but Janice, with her fists on her hips, nodded at me. I’d never felt more of an affinity with her than this moment.

  “My daughter is not some mambsy-pansy flitty girl. She already dedicated herself to the cause and doesn’t welch on her word. She also wouldn’t pitch some hissy fit and leave Crossing Shadows.” Janice shot me the side-eye, and all affinity vanished. We’d always been more rivals than friends, Marked Blood or not.

  Lawson shook his head. “Gatekeepers and their candidates can’t leave the town. Like physically are unable to leave. So, how’s Heather missing?”

  Janice gasped. “She’s not dead. Tell me she’s not dead!”

  Sebastian tilted his head. “No, we do not believe she has died, but something is blocking us from tracking her.”

  Stabbing pain in my head nearly drove me to my knees. “I can’t be the Gatekeeper! I’m just here for Sadie.”

  One of the Seraph Councilmembers that I didn’t know approached me. She lowered her white hood, then scanned me with brown eyes that glittered gold. She’d shaved her black hair almost bald, which was a stupid thing to focus on, but I’d never seen any angel with such short hair before. The Seraph touched a half-dollar-sized, blank iron disc to my forehead. “It’s the Hellish poison. You must say the words to complete the binding ceremony.”

  “What words?” My vision took on a greenish color and my lungs felt tight.

  “Say them or die!” She drew out a small glass bottle of salt from her robe and poured it over my head.

  “Hey!” Suddenly, the ritual popped into my mind. But I couldn’t be the Gatekeeper! It wasn’t even the century for the Popas. Pain twisted my insides and I bent over against the onslaught.

  “Say them or die,” said a voice in my head, which wasn’t mine. Angelic power crawled across my bones, intensifying from a tickle to an itch.

  “This isn’t right,” I answered.

  I coughed, and blood splattered the front of my robes.

  “SAY THEM!”

  I coughed again, bringing up more blood. Everything now looked red and hazy.

  I whispered, “To me, I bind you.

  To me, with Grace from Heaven.

  To me, under salt and iron.

  To me, between light and dark.

  To me, forever into the gray.

  To me, Hell Gate and beyond, I bind you.”

  White light glared from the disc the angel held. The disc spun in the air, then flew at me. I instinctively raised my bitten arm, and the metal seared into my bite wound.

  Pain, more intense than I ever dreamt possible, exploded through me. I shrieked and fell to my knees.

  And yet again this night, everything faded to black.

  FIVE

  Little pitchers with big ears might not like what they hear. Or some crap like that …

  Warm, soothing saltwater surrounded me, like the one time I tried flotation therapy at a ritzy spa. I knew I should open my eyes. But it felt so good to just float here … Why expend the energy?

  Except, where was here exactly? Shouldn’t I be more concerned about that?

  Other thoughts also kept intruding, breaking my contentment. How could a Hellhound accidentally bite me? That made no sense. And perhaps I should’ve asked more questions about what a Gatekeeper actually did before completing the ritual. You’d think growing up next to Hell’s Gate would mean I had insider information on it. But I didn’t. The Celestial Council kept information on the Gate more secretive than Colonel Sanders’ eleven herbs and spices.

  I tried to shut down the questions in my head, so I could enjoy my pleasant, pain-free existence. Then I heard other voices.

  “Everly Popa is free from Hellblood taint, as demanded of all High Marked. Plus, she survived the process, so that is encouraging,” Sebastian remarked, with surprise evident in his voice.

  “Encouraging?” a voice I didn’t know growled. “A candidate goes missing for the first time in two millennia and you are encouraged? You lost a candidate! And why did that blasted Hellhound choose a Popa, of all things? There are plenty of other Russos and a spare Valencia or two around. But a Popa?”

  My contentment faded completely. What was wrong with a Popa?

  “Sir,” the female angel councilwoman said. “The Council is woefully short on facts at this moment. It is possible that, with the Russo girl unaccounted for, in confusion, the Hellhound chose the next family in line, which is the Popas. It might be eighty years early, but it is not like the Hounds are the most intelligent creatures.”

  “Unbelievable!” the growly angel said. I assumed he must be their boss. “Remember the last time a Popa was a Gatekeeper? And now you plan to use one with corruption eating away the edges of her soul. Are you really this incompetent? Give me a status update before I come down there!”

  I wanted to defend myself, but I had a really bad feeling I wasn’t supposed to be listening to this conversation. Angels had their own undecipherable language—Enochian. Somehow, wherever I was, I’d tapped into their conference call with a running translation program. I certainly didn’t have the imagination to conjure such a bizarre hallucination.

  And what the hell was wrong with my damn soul? Bad pun intended. I’d lived a clean life. Except for all the premarital sex—but that was a college thing, so it didn’t count. I only tried weed once, but that was because I’d been super drunk at a frat party. Perhaps it took a couple months after having Sadie for Mike to “put a ring on it.” Look how that turned out. Of course, it did take me several years to call the cops on my almost-ex. But I went to the FBI on my own. Sheesh. There were over seven billion people living on the planet now. Shouldn’t Heaven grade on a freaking curve? See, I didn’t even use that other “F” word.

  “Sir,” Sebastian cleared his throat. “I checked in with the Lead Hunter. There are no signs of Heather Russo. Two teams, including the Master Hunter, are en route from clearing out that vampire nest in San Antonio to help. But sir, Everly Popa is still alive. Without any training or preparation. That is impressive. We thought for sure her heart would have exploded by now. She has always been frustratingly … strong-willed. At least that is a positive for this situation.”

  They thought my heart would explode? Why that wormy little—

  “Humph. Perhaps,” the boss man said. “You have seven days until the ritual cannot be reversed. If you do not find Heather Russo by then, you will be stuck with an old, overweight, undertrained Gatekeeper who has already proven she runs at the first sign of trouble. And has a corruptible soul. Plus, she is a Popa! When she fails—and she will—there will be Heaven to pay. And the consequences will be on your wings.”

  Tears stung my eyes as the scab fell off old, festering wounds. Heaven still didn’t believe I was strong enough. Good enough. And this time I didn’t have the energy to cover my hurt with anger and reckless actions. Though I wasn’t completely discounting post-marital sex. What I did have was wisdom, hard-earned patience, and the ability to choose great bottles of wine. And that tool-of-an-angel boss could kiss my wide, Popa ass. Whatever his Popa problem was. See, not dropping F-bombs, corrupt soul or not.

  “What a mess!” Sebastian sighed. “Go ahead and unfreeze them. We will send Ms. Popa home for the night and deal with the demons in the morning.”

  Unfreeze who? What the hell—or should I say heaven—had I gotten myself into this time? Maybe this wasn’t the sanctuary I’d hoped would protect Sadie.

  Now what was I gonna do?

  The warm, saltwater sensation receded, and I realized I was kneeling on the Council Chamber’s floor. My knees quickly let me know how much they did not appreciate the abuse I was putting them through. Lawson and Janice stood on either side of me, motionless. Guess it took a little more oomph to thaw them out. A completely inappropriate schoolyard thought came to mind, and my lips curved into a smile.

  Lawson and Janice twitched, then marched out of the chamber without a backward glance. Whic
h was either really rude or super creepy. The back of my neck crawled, so I knew which option my body chose.

  Sebastian reached down and helped me to my feet. “Everly Popa. Gatekeeper. You have completed the transformation remarkably well. How bad is the pain?”

  “This?” I said. “Try giving birth during a hurricane when even the backup generator was knocked out, forcing me to have a breach birth with nothing but flashlights and a bunch of cussing.” Sadie almost didn’t make it, but I fought for my baby girl then and I wasn’t stopping now. “I want sanctuary for my daughter.”

  Sebastian raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

  “Look, I get this is a complete clusterduck and you’re stuck with me.” I swallowed against the sudden stabbing pain of rejection. “But don’t push a mother who’s trying to protect her kid.”

  Sebastian squinted his eyes. “What does a bunch of ducks have to do with anything?”

  I glanced at the ceiling, hoping to find the inner strength to refrain from swearing a blue streak at an angel. “Please bring Sadie to me.”

  “That is not advisable,” the female angel said.

  I held up my hand. “I wasn’t actually asking. And I don’t even know your name, so I’m talking to Sebastian.”

  She smiled. “Call me … Nevaeh. I remind you of her, yes?”

  A shiver ran down my spine. “You’re reading my mind?”

  Maybe her no-nonsense attitude did remind me of the leader of my book club. And yes, I was in a book club. And yes, the members actually liked me. Or seemed to anyway. Nevaeh was the one who turned me onto cozy mysteries and pinot grigio. She and her husband were English teachers. I never blamed them for stepping away from me when everything hit the fan. Private schools tended to be tetchy about even a nebulous association with drug-dealing gangsters.