Wild Fire (Wardens Series Book 3)

by Heather D Glidewell

  “I would suggest the two of you get together and discuss things. I have a feeling both of you have quite a few questions for the other.” I winked at Kelly, and she blushed a deep red. If Patrick had been able to, I think he would have as well.

  Everyone was lounging around, talking to one another. I needed a fun activity. They had all been working so hard, they needed a moment to blow off a little steam.

  “I have an idea.” I put my hand up and was able to do a slight jump without hurting myself. “Who wants to show off?” I turned, and the crowd looked around from one to another. “The only way we are going to work well together is to know the power that we have. Do I have anyone who can also wield water? You know, just in case someone or something goes up in flames.” I had a few hands go up, and I sighed with relief. “Thank God, I was worried for a second.” I heard giggles erupt here and there. “Who wants to go first?”

  “How about you, little sis. Show everyone your war face,” Shawn grinned, and I narrowed my eyes. Talk about being put on the spot.

  I took my stance away from the crowd and shook my hands before popping my neck. This was the first time I was doing this on my own without being instigated. I put my hands to my sides and thought of the darkest thing I could think of to set off the flames. John’s face came into view behind my closed eyes. I felt the fire erupt at my fingers and slowly work its way up my body. When my eyes started to burn, I opened them as my body lifted into the air, my toes instinctively pointed. I threw my hands above my head, and a mixture of red and white flames corkscrewed around the other and shot toward the sky. That was a first.

  It took me a moment to get my bearings. I had to place my feet back on the ground and put my flames out. I thought of Wesley, his blue eyes, his smile. Then I thought of Adam and all the complex emotions that were erupting. Finally, I thought of Aaron and his smile, how he had looked that last moment I had seen him. These were my happy thoughts; these were the men who grounded me to whatever shred of mortality I had. I felt my feet hit the ground, and my eyes ceased to burn. When I opened them again, the fire was out, and I was staring into the eyes of hundreds of shocked fire Carriers.

  “Wow,” I heard several say as the crowd began to clap.

  I never thought it was an amazing feat to be able to levitate. The others had wings; they could fly. All I could do was float high enough that I could see more of the field. I looked around the crowd and took a bow. While I was sure the sight was a spectacle, I also felt slight pain sear through me as the images I had thought of came back to haunt me.

  “Who’s next?” I asked, brushing off the emotions. Quite a few hands shot in the air.

  ****

  I made it back into the house after dark. It was earlier than the day before but late enough that, as I entered through the back door, faces looked up at me from the kitchen table. It was an odd sight to see Helen and Rose sitting at a table with my mother and father. My heart sank. This was going to be some form of intervention.

  “Dawn,” my mother chirped, getting up to make me a plate of what had been prepared for dinner. “Have a seat.”

  The only place available was next to Krista, for which I was grateful. I took my seat and nervously picked at my shirt. I was not prepared for what was about to happen. Mom put the plate down in front of me and sat back down next to my father. I picked at the food for a second, eyeing each of the girls cautiously. I knew that Krista wasn’t a problem; we had a connection that the others didn’t.

  “There has been some tension between the four of you here lately,” my father said suddenly, putting his fork down. He had on his ‘dad face,’ which meant we were nearing a lecture. “It is so thick that even the allies have made comments about it.” Nobody said anything. “I am tired of constantly catching your choice words for my daughter as I walk around the house.” My father looked at Helen and Rose, and they appeared shocked. “Yeah, I’m a telepath too. How shocking.” He popped his knuckles. “For some reason, you think that this was our plan. To bring you all here to fight a battle that is not yours to fight.” Helen and Rose looked away from him. They didn’t like their own hateful words being thrown back at them.

  “Let me tell you something,” my mother chimed in, her lips pursed. “I never wanted to tell my daughter what she was. I didn’t want her to have to deal with the responsibility that comes with being a Warden. It was hard enough watching her grow up with this power in her.” She paused and looked lovingly at Krista. “I knew Krista’s mother and father well. When we lived here before Dawn was born, they became some of our best friends, and we were saddened when Krista was murdered.”

  “This is something out of our hands. Nick received his calling and traveled around the world, not only to find you guys but to find those that would join us if a battle was inevitable.” My father frowned. “Nick wasn’t there when Dawn was attacked. Or when her mother found her levitating above her bed. Nick wasn’t there when Miranda lashed out at Dawn, using dreams as a way to attempt to frighten her. Nick didn’t comfort Wesley when the nightmares took over. He was given a mission, and he worked to make sure that his mission was completed.” My father glanced at Rose. Her lips narrowed, her eyes showing just how upset she was about this conversation.

  “You remind me of a demon I know. A woman full of piss and vinegar. Amazing talent, wonderful artist. She had an issue with authority which got her into some pretty heavy trouble. She was banished to the deepest pit of Hell. Lucifer wanted her as far away from him as possible.” Rose looked at him longingly, awaiting her name. “I would tell you her name if I was allowed to say it.” He looked apologetic. “I am grateful for Lucifer’s help, so I do not need to piss him off now.”

  “Helen, you remind me of an angel I knew a long time ago. He was strong-willed always wanting to help. He brought the harvest to the hungry and fought off the enemy of the weak. He built hospitals and clinics dedicated to helping the less fortunate. He was bitter, blamed God for loving humans more than his angels.” Helen blinked at my mother. “Even if I gave you his name, it is not what it is now. Twenty years ago, he was given the job of a Watcher. His name was changed, and I never saw him again.”

  “We are not saying that these are your parents, just that you remind us of these beings that we knew,” my father pointed out. “You are not the first of your kind to struggle with their bloodlines. Most likely, you will not be the last either.”

  “Our problem is that you blame Dawn for every little thing that goes wrong. You want to question the things she has seen, the things she has done. She is a leader, but she is not your leader.” My mother frowned. “I know this isn’t going to clear up the issues between you guys. I want to at least open your eyes to what’s going on. Set some things straight. This is not Dawn’s fight; it is all of ours. If Miranda were successful, you would all be dead.”

  “I also ask that, while you are in our house, you treat our family with respect. Not only have there been foul things said, but also thought about Dawn. One of you has even gone as far as to attack Angie mentally. I will not put up with that. If you cannot live in peace under one roof, you are welcome to move to another location where your thoughts will not poison a telepath. If you think for some reason that you are better than either of us, I plead with you to bring on the challenge. You are strong, yes, but we are much stronger than you, and our powers cannot be neutralized.”

  There was silence for a moment as everyone looked at each other.

  “I’m tired of everyone thinking that she’s the perfect one,” Rose said, her eyes flashing between the two of them. “I didn’t want to come here. I would much rather not be here at all. Adam is the reason I came. When Dawn came running into my apartment in Dallas, she was determined to save me. I didn’t need her; I had it under control.”

  “Rose, do you know who that was?” my mother asked, leaning back.

  “The dark-haired demon whom everyone out there is scared to death of.” She huffed and crossed her arms.

  �
��You were plastered against the wall, scared to death,” I said, glaring at her. “Adam was knocked out on the floor. What were you going to do?” I pushed my plate away and put my elbows on the table. “Let me tell you something about that dark-haired demon. He’s a Neutralizer. His job is to hunt us down, make us powerless, and then they can murder us. You couldn’t get your water to work. Even my fire fizzles out around him. The difference between you and me is that I’m done being scared of him.”

  Krista reached out and took my hand.

  “He is the one that took my life. My first love,” Krista sniffed.

  This was not a conversation she wanted to have. I couldn’t blame her. Reliving her death for me to see had been hard. She should not be expected to do it again for the others.

  “His whole goal is to make you powerless. He wants to take every shard of innocence from you, for without innocence, there is no light. It makes you dark and hateful. For eighteen years, I sat in Purgatory, waiting for my second chance. While you grew up and had a childhood. I am a thirty-six-year-old stuck in an eighteen-year old’s body!” She squeezed my hand. “I agree with Damien here. I am also tired of hearing your harsh thoughts about Dawn and her mother. You fear Damien, and for a good reason, but he is not the one that can strike you dead with just a thought.” Krista straightened up and looked at my mother.

  “Wait, that power comes from you?” I asked, following Krista’s gaze. “I always thought that was one of Dad’s traits.”

  “Let’s discuss that later, honey, right now we have more pressing matters.” She smiled sweetly, but there was something in her eyes that told me not to speak again.

  “I told you I had done this for millennia, and I got lip. Shawn has seen Wardens other than yourselves over the years. Never has there been a call for all four of them to be together. They may travel in pairs but never as all four. Why do you think all of you wear an amulet now?” my mother continued. “So, here is the deal. Either you four get along, or I’m going to separate you, and the only place you will see each other is on the battlefield,” she threatened.

  “This fight is beyond the four of you getting along. You are here. You have chosen to fight to save Earth as well as Heaven and Hell. Sheridan would not offer you better.” My father pushed back from the table. “Now that we have this all straight, I have a pressing meeting with an old friend.” My father got up and walked out of the room, leaving his plate on the table. My mother frowned at it. She had raised me to clean up after myself, but my father was used to being taken care of.

  “Don’t make us do this again,” my mother said, picking up her plate as well as my father’s and placing them in the sink. “Helen, it’s your night for dishes.” She left the room, leaving the four of us sitting at the table.

  “That was fun,” Rose mumbled, getting up and depositing her plate in the sink. She walked off; her head held high.

  “They will not always be there to protect you, Dawn.” Helen spat at me. “You have been nothing but a thorn in my side since I met you.” She got up and threw her plate in the sink, shattering it.

  “What was that about?” I looked at Krista.

  “She thinks you told them to do this,” Krista explained, pushing her half-eaten meal away from her. “I would suggest watching your back. The images in her head were not pleasant.”

  “Great.” I picked a little more at my food and decided I wasn’t hungry after all.

  ****

  “I don’t think Helen knows what she is going up against,” Shawn said, picking up a t-shirt from the floor and tossing it in the hamper.

  “I don’t know what’s going on.” I was sitting on my bed with a towel on my head.

  “We are dealing with jealousy and envy. She’s pissed her parents didn’t stick it out for her. You know, she had a good life with her adoptive parents, until they died in a car crash.” He took a seat.

  “Well that’s horrible,” I sighed.

  “I agree. As a being that has lost a parent, it is not a pleasant experience.” Shawn shrugged and leaned forward.

  “Are we evenly matched?” I asked changing the subject. As much as I wanted to talk about Helen’s past, I felt it was not my place to meddle. However, I did need to know what I was up against, just in case I was jumped.

  “Not at all. If she releases your rage, you are going to flatten her,” he laughed. “Don’t worry about it. I will talk to her. I can be quite persuasive.”

  “I would leave that to Nick. They’ve been seeing each other,” I moaned. “Not to sound all juvenile, but why is this always happening to me?”

  “I have been around for a long time. My number one rule is not to give a damn what anyone thinks about me.” Shawn shrugged. “It’s worked for over five hundred years.”

  “What do I do if she attacks me?” I asked, pulling the towel from my head.

  “I suggest fighting back. Since I have faith that you will win, she will have more to pout about.” Shawn leaned back. “You want me to stick around for a bit and make sure you get to sleep ok?”

  “Naw, I think I have this down. If I need you, I have a feeling you will know before me,” I laughed, crawling under my covers. “Thanks for talking to me.”

  “Hey, I never had a sister to talk to till now. Who would have thought I would like this whole family thing,” he laughed. “I know that this is Adam’s area, but since he’s been with Rose, it seems that you have disappeared from his vision.”

  “Yeah, he has enough put on him right now. This whole Protector bit seems to have matured him too. He’s so protective.” I couldn’t think of a better word. I missed him; I missed waking up in his arms and seeing his smiling face. I needed my best friend, but we were being kept apart.

  Chapter 20

  Demon Twins

  One would think that, after my parents had stepped in, things would get better between the four of us. Instead, things went from bad to worse. They did their best to keep their cool when my parents were around, but if they weren’t, the two of them were cold, cruel, and increasingly violent. The day after the talk, I was walking up the stairs when I was hit by a hard object. When I looked down, there was a rock on the floor below. It seemed to disappear as I rubbed the back my head. When I looked back up, Helen was standing on the banister, her arms crossed, and a satisfied look on her face.

  On the second day, I was running the water for a bath after a long time in the field. As I put my feet into the hot water, it turned to blood. I squealed and pulled my foot out, hearing laughter coming from the hallway. I had to be careful when bathing from then on. I didn’t care. Weak or not, it was still unpleasant.

  On the third day, someone replaced my cereal with sand and mixed in bits of glass. I was lucky I noticed the moment I poured it, if I had been half asleep, I would have cut the hell out of my mouth. When I went upstairs to change clothes, there was a massive flood in my closet, and all my clothing was soaked. With a little help from Krista, I cleared all of it up. Then, as I was walking down the stairs, Rose pushed by me and knocked me over the railing, sending me tumbling to the ground. Thankfully, I was able to twist and land on my feet. She looked displeased as she exited the room.

  Now here we were on day four, and I was watching my back with every turn. I didn’t know what they were going to do next. I also didn’t understand why they were doing it. Krista just shook her head when I asked her. Said that she got nothing when she talked to them. They had found a way to mask their thoughts, and it was extremely effective.

  I made it from my bedroom to the kitchen without being attacked, and then again outside. Something was up when I felt two hands push me from behind. When I swung around, both of them were standing behind me with intense looks on their faces. Helen had her pitchfork in her hand, and Rose had her new double-ended spear. They were expecting a fight.

  “I’m not doing this,” I said sternly as I looked between the two of them.

  “Not doing what?” Rose asked frowning.

  “I’m not
going to do any of this. I don’t know what your problems are with me, but I’m not going to play this game.” I put my hands up and turned to walk away.

  “Do you always walk away from your fights?” Helen spat.

  “Actually, I was once told that I was too quick to dive into them without knowing my opponent. I know you guys, and I know that you don’t want to do this. I know it’s the blood in you that is causing these issues.” I looked down. I couldn’t believe I just quoted Xic.

  “You think you know everything.” Rose’s voice was harsh, and I couldn’t believe the undertone it had.

  “What the hell is going on?” Adam yelled, running out the back door and jumping between us.

  “Nothing,” Rose said sweetly, putting the spear behind her as if she wasn’t planning to attack me with it.

  “What the hell is wrong with you? When it’s you and me you are the same girl I met in Dallas, but the moment you walk out the door, you become this whole other person. I don’t know which one is the real you.” Adam looked angry, and his protective nature had kicked in. He was my Protector, after all.

  “I can’t take much more of her goodness. She does nothing wrong, and everyone worships the ground she walks on.” Rose shrugged. For some reason, it seemed Adam was bringing out a part of her I had not met. A scared, insecure girl.

  “Dawn has made more mistakes than I can count. The thing is she is always willing to face up to them. This is just crap Rose. Dawn risked her life to make sure you were safe. Do you not realize that if she hadn’t come in when she did, both of us would be dead?” He looked back at me and whispered an apology.

  “We would not be dead. I would have been able to get us out of there,” Rose hissed, meaning it more toward me than him.