Marked, Soul Guardians Book 1

by Kim Richardson

  Kara forced her lids open and looked around. She frowned.

  The shadows of the world around her were a hazy blur, as though she had opened her eyes under water. She felt dizzy, almost like the time she stole a bottle of wine from her parents’ wine cellar and drank half the bottle. But this was different. She was trapped in a strange body. She searched inside this body and found herself. She willed the body to move…she moved her fingers, then her arms. This new body felt like she was wearing it on top of her other self—a skin-tight suit.

  As the dizziness lessened, her nerves calmed. She concentrated on her hearing. She could hear the distant sounds of traffic and the soft murmurs of people talking. She blinked. Shapes became focused. It was as though she were watching the world through someone else’s eyes. She looked down at her new body and pressed her hands against her chest. Nothing. No beating of the heart, no lungs compressing. Empty.

  Her eyes slowly adjusted to the shadows around her. She was in a humid alleyway that stank of last week’s garbage. She followed the smell and spotted cats eating from the metal dumpsters. Tall brick buildings masked the light. Shapes moved within the shadows. Kara recoiled as two grubby looking men eyed her from a dark doorway, whispering at each other.

  Then something touched her shoulder.

  Kara jumped backwards and nearly fell.

  “Relax, Kara, it’s me.” David reappeared. He wore the black duffel bag on his back. His cheeky Colgate smile made his face a little too handsome. And when she realized she was staring at his lips, she turned away so he wouldn’t see the flush she felt staining her cheeks. Then she remembered. She couldn’t blush. She had no blood.

  “How are you feeling?” he asked, as he clasped her shoulder. “Dizzy?”

  Kara grimaced. “Like my sixteenth birthday hangover.”

  David stared into space, a silly grin on his face. “Yeah …those were fun times.”

  Kara lifted her head. The world around her was in focus now, but the ground still wavered slightly. She felt excited to be back, even if it was only for a short while. At that moment she realized how she’d taken life in general for granted when she was alive. How easily life could be taken away, how fragile life truly was. Had she known she’d be dead that morning of her presentation, she would have done things differently. She would have been kinder to her mother…

  David sighed and turned back to Kara. “But that’s normal. It’ll go away in a few minutes.”

  He let go of her shoulder and dropped the duffel bag on the pavement. He bent down, rummaged through the bag, and pulled out a map. After studying it for a moment, he stuffed it back and pulled out a brown leather wristwatch. “Good, we’re only a few blocks away.” He leaped to his feet and strapped the watch around his wrist.

  A breeze masked the dumpster smell for a moment as it brought in exhaust fumes and the scent of hot pavement from the busy street. Kara brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. She brought her hand up to her face and studied it, wiggling her fingers, focusing on the fact that she was in a body that didn’t belong to her.

  Back in Horizon, before taking the big plunge, she remembered feeling like her old self, just without the internal organs…but like herself. But now back on Earth, after her death, this body felt alien. She wasn’t sure she’d ever get used to this.

  “The M suits take some time to get used to the first time. Believe me, I know.” David clapped his hands together. “Man, I remember my first time…I went totally mad for a while. I even lost my Petty Officer. No, wait, he lost me.” He laughed, his eyes sparkling.

  Kara smiled. His laugh, the sound of his voice was intoxicating. He reminded her of the college boys she’d seen around the city: young, beautiful, and full of themselves. They oozed an eau d’arrogance. Most of the high school girls drooled over these boys. She had labeled them “The Untouchables.” David was one of them. He was very handsome, with a strong athletic build. She felt uncomfortable being so close to him, but at the same time, she felt a thrill at their closeness. Their eyes met for only a second, and Kara was sure he had just read her mind. He smiled.

  “But you know, after a few suits, you’ll hardly feel them anymore…they kinda become part of you, like skin.” David straightened out his jacket and flipped the collar up. “Yeah…that’s more like it.”

  Kara frowned. “What do you mean by M suits?”

  “Mortals. Humans. Earth dwellers. If you’re not part of the Legion, you’re a mortal.”

  “So you’re saying I’m wearing a human suit?”

  “Yup.”

  Kara made a face. “That’s totally disgusting.” She shook her head. “I still can’t figure it out. How did we get here?” Her brown eyes searched his face.

  “You see,” explained David as he studied her, “when we jumped into the pool back in Horizon—remember? Right, well, we were transported to Earth.” He lifted his arms and pointed to his chest. “In these babies.”

  “Right…in these body bags,” said Kara, and she looked down at herself. She studied her arm. She pulled back her sleeve and passed her hand over her skin. “Feels…different?” she said and looked up into his eyes. “Like I’m not totally connected to it yet.”

  David nodded as he smiled at her. “I know. It’s the same for everyone. You’ll get used to it.”

  “So these bodies just magically appeared?”

  He laughed. “You’re funny. But…ah…no. See, when we travel between Horizon and Earth, we need to submerge ourselves in water…the pools, remember? Water serves as a gateway between the two worlds. It also allows us to create our M suits and then shed them later. Don’t ask me how, it just does. And we call the process ‘Vega.’”

  Kara blinked. “I’m a puppet without the strings.” Her mind wavered inside her mortal body, anticipating movement. She shifted her weight from one leg to the other…a thought was all it took now. The body responded. Like water sucked into a sponge, her spirit was absorbed entirely; body and soul moved as one. She didn’t need to will her body to move anymore. It was quickly becoming second nature to her. She rested her hands on her hips. Perhaps it wouldn’t be as difficult as she first thought. “I think I’m getting the hang of this.”

  David watched her and grinned. “In Horizon we don’t need flesh and blood bodies, our bodies are immortal. You’re still the same person you were, just not in the same mortal body. You think and feel exactly the same. It’s like you never left your old body. But our mortal bodies are gone…and as a GA, you have to submerge yourself in M suits to walk on Earth…your soul would die without them. Think of them as another version of your old body. But I have to admit, I love wearing suits…they make me feel invincible.”

  Kara felt her mind ease with every passing moment. It wasn’t so bad after all, this new life that was starting to emerge.

  “Okay, wow …so where do we go from here?” asked Kara, as she practiced moving her limbs. She took a few steps, staring at her feet, grinning. She had to admit, it did feel pretty awesome once you got used to it.

  “We have less than fifteen minutes to get to Mrs. Wilkins before she slips and takes a nasty fall over her dishwasher’s open door. That’s how she’s supposed to die and it’s our job to stop that from happening. You ready?” David cocked an eyebrow.

  She looked up into his grinning face and shrugged. “Not really, but what choice do I have?”

  David laughed. “None. But don’t worry, I’m here with you.” And then he added smugly. “I happen to be one of the best guardians, so you could say that you’re in luck.”

  Kara shook her head, a smile played on her lips. “Really? So why would the Legion stick one of their best with a rookie like me?”

  “Because it’s all part of the job,” said David, his eyes flashed mischievously. “I’m the hottest thing in Horizon, baby.” He threw the black bag over his shoulder, straightened out his jacket, and strode off. “Let’s go,” he yelled back.

  “Sure thing, hot stuff,” laughed Kara. <
br />
  She ran to keep up, trying not to trip on her new legs. Soon the alleyway disappeared, and they found themselves in sunlight, facing a busy street. Tall palm trees decorated the length of the street on either side, like enormous lampposts. Their leaves ruffled in a light breeze, bringing forth the smell of the ocean. Instantly, Kara knew she wasn’t in her hometown anymore. She spotted a metal street sign at the corner. “Northeast 5th Street” was stenciled in white at the top on a green platform. She had never been here before.

  “Where are we?” asked Kara after a moment. She stared at a giant aloe plant.

  “Fort Lauderdale, Florida,” answered David. He strutted up the street with ease, and Kara assumed this wasn’t David’s first trip to Fort Lauderdale.

  They walked along 5th Street, zigzagging through crowds of shoppers. The smells of onion, garlic, fish, and spices surrounded them. She imagined a juicy cheeseburger.

  “Can we eat? I mean do we need to eat? Like…can we taste food?”

  “No. These are mortal suits, not real mortal bodies. We don’t eat. We don’t need to.”

  “That sucks…I was hoping to try a slice of pizza or something.”

  “You could try…but it’ll be like eating paper.”

  “I think I’ll pass. Thanks.”

  Kara followed David closely. She still felt uneasy about wandering the streets in a new body. She looked passersby in the face and wondered if these people noticed something different about her. “Do you have a mirror on you?”

  “Why do you want a mirror?” David stopped walking and met Kara’s eyes.

  “To see myself. I’d like to see what I look like.” Kara wondered if there’d be traces of her accident still visible on her.

  “Oh…of course. You want to make sure you are still you. Come over here.” David walked up to a parked car. He made sure no one was looking. “You can check yourself out with this.” He pointed to the side mirror.

  With her nerves prickling at the idea of being disfigured, or looking like someone else, Kara leaned in and took a peek, immediately feeling a sense of relief. “I look exactly the same? Same eyes, nose, hair? I can’t see any traces of my—” She decided not to bring up how she died, at least not yet. She wasn’t entirely sure how she felt about revealing something so intimate to a stranger. She met David’s eyes. “I look the same. How’s that possible?”

  “Because you’re you.”

  “But what happens if someone I know sees me?” Kara pictured her mother’s frightened face. She figured she’d probably die of a heart attack, seeing her dead daughter wandering the streets like a zombie.

  David grabbed Kara by the elbow and steered her away from the car. “They won’t because you don’t look exactly the same to them. You’ll appear a little different. You’ll have the same brown eyes and brown hair, but you’ll look like a cousin or something.”

  “I don’t have any cousins.”

  They walked along another block until they reached North Andrews Avenue and turned south. Couples with children passed them by, and Kara thought of her own family. At that moment she felt miserable. She missed her mother. Even though she was a little mad, she was the only mother Kara ever knew. She imagined her mother’s grief-stricken face and wished she could tell her somehow that she was okay.

  “Do you miss your family?”

  David was silent for a second. “Sure I do. I miss them all the time, but I wouldn’t trade my life in Horizon for anything. I love my job. We’re part of an elite group…chosen to keep the mortals safe. The rush I feel on a mission…you can’t get that same feeling doing anything else. It’s dangerous, and I love pushing the limits. I’m good at it. It’s like …this is what I’m supposed to be doing.” His face lit up, and she felt herself drawn to those piercing blue eyes.

  Kara wondered if David had had many girlfriends back when he was alive. She knew the answer to her own question and realized she was being silly. But another question burned in the back of her mind. “Can…can I ask you something?”

  “Sure. What do you want to know?”

  Kara avoided his eyes, and before she could stop herself she asked, “How…how did you die?”

  “Oh, that,” laughed David. “Well, it wasn’t anything spectacular. I drowned.”

  “You drowned! Oh my God. That’s a horrible way to die.”

  “Well, actually, I drove my parents’ car off a bridge. So it was a little more bad-ass but stupid in the end.”

  Kara imagined the scenario in her head. “What was it like? I mean…to drown? Did you suffer? It must have been terrible.”

  “The last thing I remember was a feeling of flying—which was really cool, by the way,” said David. “Then the car hit the water, and I hit my head on the steering wheel. I blacked out. And then I woke up with a monkey breathing down my neck.”

  “Right, the chimp in the elevator.” Kara shuddered. “Not sure I’ll ever get used to that.”

  David adjusted the bag on his shoulder. He paused for a second before continuing, his expression thoughtful. “What about you? What do you remember about your death?”

  The concern in his voice made her nervous, and she scratched the back of her neck. “I didn’t feel anything when I died—I mean, I didn’t feel any pain. I remember the bus coming at me. I remember thinking it was too late to run out of the way…then it hit. The next thing I remember, I was in an elevator.” She shook her head. “I thought I was dreaming.”

  “I think we all go through that.” David pointed. “There it is, 187 North Andrews Avenue, apartment number three.” He glanced at his watch. “We don’t have much time. Quickly.” He jogged to the front of the gray stone building and ran up the metal staircase, three floors to apartment number three.

  Kara stared up at him from the bottom of the stairs, feeling both excited and terrified. But she ran up the stairs, her body completely in tune with her. This was her new life now, she better start getting used to it.

  “The key to a successful assignment is to do the job quickly and discreetly. Save the mortal…and get out. No need for any demons if you save the mortal.”

  “Um, these demons,” said Kara, “what do they look like?” She couldn’t help but cringe while she waited for the answer. If demons existed, there was a slight chance her mother saw them too.

  “Depends. There’re lots of different kinds of demons. Some can look like monsters from your worst nightmares, and others can look just like you and me—mortal.”

  “With black eyes?”

  David narrowed his eyes. “Yeah…how did you know?”

  Kara’s head spun. She tried to gather her thoughts. “My mother saw them I think. She called them demons. She said they were after us. I mean, we all thought she was nuts. I never saw anyone or any demons. I wanted to believe her. I tried so hard. She made it sound so real…but I couldn’t. I spent most of my life hiding her away from everyone so they wouldn’t put me in foster care. See, my father died when I was five so it’s just…it was just the two of us.”

  “Well, she wasn’t crazy.” David cocked his head to the side. “Some mortals can see spirits and demons. They’re called Sensitives. They formed a secret mortal society and have been dealing with the Legion for hundreds of years. Your mom is probably one of them.”

  “Sensitives,” repeated Kara. “I guess you’re right.” Her guilt weighed her down. Her mother wasn’t crazy. She remembered her mother screaming and pointing to invisible foes, and now Kara was filled with regret. Her mother had been telling the truth all these years. It only made Kara feel worse.

  David watched her, concern in his eyes. “Kara? I need you to focus.”

  She looked up at him. “I am.”

  “Good. Now, watch and learn.” David rang the doorbell.

  After a moment there was a screeching noise as the intercom went on.

  “Yes…?” answered a woman’s coarse voice.

  David cleared his throat and gave Kara a wink. “Hi, Mrs. Wilkins? My name is John M
athews. I’m here with my friend Karen. We’re from Saint Thomas’ high school, and we’re collecting donations for the swimming team. We’re sure to win this year…”

  There was a loud scrch from the intercom. “Oh! Yes, yes. Of course. Come on up!”

  The door buzzed and vibrated as David pushed it open. “Her son used to be on the same swimming team. Let me do all the talking,” he whispered, “your job for now is to observe. Just follow my lead and everything will be fine.”

  “Right.” Kara followed him into the building. The air was thick and had a faint stench of lingering mold. She wrinkled her nose. Dirty brown stains painted the light gray walls, and leftover gum was smeared into the cruddy, carpeted stairs. Dead cockroaches the size of mice lay on the floor next to the walls, and live ones disappeared into tight crevices. Voices from the neighboring apartment’s television seeped through the walls.

  When David reached the top of the stairs, he turned around. “And another thing,” he said. “Mortal suits are temporary. They only last a few hours. Staying on Earth too long will give the demons our location. The longer we stay here, the easier it is for them to find us. They can sense us. That’s why we have to hurry. But don’t worry, demons don’t just show up. We still have lots of time to do our job. But if ever you do see one, don’t panic.” He studied Kara’s face. “The worst thing you can do is go ballistic and scare the mortal. She’s not supposed to know anything about demons—or about us. We have strict rules about these things. Besides, I’m here to protect you. Do you understand?”

  Kara nodded, biting her lip, although she wasn’t entirely sure she wouldn’t flip out if she saw a demon coming her way. “Okay. Um, the demons, can they hurt us? I know we’re dead but…” Her mind travelled back to when she was a child. “When I was little I used to have horrible nightmares about monsters. I used to see dark shapes following me all the time. My mom would say that they were demons, and that they wanted to eat my soul. Is that true? Jeez, listen to me…I’m such a spaz.”

  “You’re not a spaz,” said David, his eyes suddenly kind. “You’re a guardian angel…and not a bad looking one either.”

  Kara rolled her eyes, pretending that she didn’t enjoy that comment. “But seriously, can they hurt me now…or are we, like, invincible? Do we have special angel abilities?”

  David faced a door covered in peeling white paint. “Demons are the only ones who can take a guardian angel’s soul. If a demon takes your soul then you stop existing, and there’s no coming back. But with training, you’ll develop your abilities. Look, for now, just leave the demon to me…if there is one. Today it’s watch and learn.”

  Kara struggled to stay calm. She didn’t want David to think she was a wimp, especially not on her very first day on the job. “But what do I do if I see one?”

  David knocked on the door. “You won’t. At least not today.”

  Kara sighed as she concentrated on David’s relaxed demeanor to ease her mind. She realized she had no idea what she would do if she saw one and hoped David was right.

  The door creaked open to reveal a plump lady in her sixties. “Hello, dears…come in, come in,” she said, as she waved them in. “So, you’re both on the swimming team?”

  “Yes,” said David and Kara in unison, as they entered a small entranceway. Kara could see parts of a kitchen from where she stood, partially hidden behind walls that opened up to the left to reveal a dining and living area. The small apartment reeked of dingy carpets, potpourri, and a smidgen of cat pee. How she missed her grandma.

  Mrs. Wilkins surveyed the young couple. “Hmm. Well, you’re a nice looking pair, aren’t you?” Smiling, she wiggled her oversized body excitedly, sending waves rippling all the way down to her feet. “My Stanley always came home from practice dying for some juice. I’ll fix you some.” She turned slowly and teetered towards the kitchen.

  David glared at Kara. Shaking his head, he showed her his watch and mouthed, No!

  Kara peeked into the tiny kitchen and spotted the dishwasher’s open door, and on display, a row of sharp knives flickering in the kitchen light, sticking out from the plastic cutlery basket in the dishwasher—the murderer.

  “Um, that won’t be necessary, ma’am,” said Kara. “We …we just had some coffee not too long ago,” she lied, putting on her best fake smile. “We’re not thirsty, really.”

  Mrs. Wilkins halted and turned around, looking mildly disappointed. “Oh. I see. You young people are always in a hurry.”

  Kara scratched the back of her neck. “Um, yes…but thank you very much.” Grinning, she stretched the corners of her lips as far as they would go, hoping it was enough to convince the woman.

  Mrs. Wilkins frowned and studied Kara once more. She pinched her lips together. “Well, then. I’ll go get my wallet.” She wobbled down the wallpapered hallway and disappeared behind a door.

  “That was close,” breathed David. He glanced at his watch and grinned. “Well, Kara, today is your lucky day. One minute left, the charge is safe, and there are no signs of demons.” He stood close to her, his arm brushed up against hers. “This was an excellent first assignment. Man, I’d kill for a beer right now.”

  Something moved in Kara’s peripheral vision. She turned her head. In a dark corner of the hallway, down past the door where Mrs. Wilkins had disappeared, Kara saw a shadowy shimmer. At first she wasn’t sure she saw anything at all…maybe her eyes were playing tricks on her. But as her sight adjusted to the darkness, the shadow appeared again. It was little more than a shifting fog that flashed and disappeared. As it glistened in the dim light and flickered in and out of sight, it took solid form long enough to expose fragments of a corrupted and twisted body. The shifting shadow glided towards them.

  Exactly like her nightmares.

  Chapter 4

  Down the Toilet