Marked, Soul Guardians Book 1

by Kim Richardson

  After Kara and David left the Miracles Division, they went back to Operations. They could only wait until the Council of Ministers decided to summon them. Gabriel handed them piles of new job files instead, never mentioning the demon’s Mark. It was as though it had never happened.

  Their first assignment: Mr. John Yong, 1240 Peel Street, sidewalk, 1:24 pm. Suffocates due to a severe allergic reaction to cherry gum. And while David was on the lookout for demons from the shadows of a building, Kara sneaked behind Mr. Yong as he popped in his gum and gave him the Heimlich maneuver of his life. The gum came rocketing out of his mouth and landed in some woman’s hair. Too shocked and confused to speak, Mr. Yong’s bulging eyes were a good enough sign that he was alive and that the job was done.

  Moving on, they then tackled: Mrs. Rose Roy, at 359 Messier Street Apt. # 34, 6:12pm, who fries her brain by using the convection oven to dry her new perm. Impersonating students selling the local newspaper, Kara and David were able to sneak into the retirement home, go up the third floor, and talk Mrs. Roy out of using the oven to dry her hair.

  During all this time on the job, David gave Kara the silent treatment. Kara stuck to small talk and work-related conversations. She hated him one day, and was totally into him the next. She hated herself for being so sensitive, so typically female.

  At times she wanted to give up and leave him to hate her and to ask for a new Petty Officer. But Kara was determined to prove her innocence to David and to the rest of the Legion.

  Kara and David hopped out of the elevator back to Level Two when they had completed their rescue missions. Gabriel greeted them with a scowl.

  “Files!” he barked. He took the job files from David and waited for the oracle to roll over and take them away. Kara watched the Archangel as his dark eyes darted from David to her and back again. The look in his eyes was fierce, and it frightened her.

  “It is time,” said Gabriel, his perfect face showing no emotion.

  “Time for what, Big G?” David flashed a set of pearly whites.

  Gabriel fixed his eyes onto Kara. She shook as she felt a tickle inside her, moving from the top of her head to her toes. Then her forehead got really cold, as when you eat ice cream really fast and get brain freeze. She looked at Gabriel. He wasn’t blinking, as if he were in a trance. Somehow, she could feel a part of him inside her, searching her core. And for a long moment, he didn’t speak. He turned his attention back to David as he spoke.

  “The Archangel Uriel is ready for you. The council will see you now.” And with that, Gabriel turned and left Kara and David to contemplate their fate.

  “Why was he staring at me like that?” she shuddered. “I feel a little violated. It was like he was trying to see through me—a bit freakish.”

  David flipped the collar from his leather jacket. “I don’t know, but we better get going.”

  Kara searched David’s face. “So what is the Council of Ministers going to do?”

  David turned around and started to walk back to the elevator.

  Kara ran to catch up. “Do you know why we have to go?”

  “It’s a council. And we’re going because we have to,” said David, back to his usual avoiding-Kara game.

  “Right…but why? This has something to do with the demon’s Mark, hasn’t it?”

  David kept staring at his boots as he pattered onward. “I’m sure it’s because of the Mark. You don’t just get summoned to the high council for tea.”

  “I knew it! Everyone thinks I’m a traitor!” Kara could feel herself starting to shake. “I’m starting to flip out here…what are they going to do to me?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Is this like a trial? Am I going to be able to defend myself?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Great. I feel so much better.”

  The ride up to Level Six, the Council of Ministers, was a silent one. Kara glanced angrily at David. He looked as though he was frightened, too. He stared at the floor with his arms crossed over his chest.

  A large brown monkey operated the elevator. Its orange eyes darted back and forth from Kara to David. It adjusted its purple bowtie around its neck, mumbling to itself. After a moment, the monkey picked at its tail and popped things Kara couldn’t see into its mouth. It checked its fingernails, and then scratched its bottom.

  “You’re disgusting, you know that?” Kara made a face.

  The monkey lifted its chin. “You’re just saying that because you can’t have some.”

  “I don’t want some, that’s the point. It’s gross.”

  The monkey smacked its lips. “You don’t know what you’re missing!”

  When Kara turned away from the monkey and looked at David his brows were scrunched, and he was staring at the floor again…so not him. She missed the old David…the new one hated her guts.

  “What happens to traitors in the Legion?” she asked.

  David stared at the floor. “They’re thrown out, banished forever … never to return. They’re left to serve their demon masters.”

  Kara clasped her trembling hands behind her back.

  “Level Six! Council of Ministers,” called the monkey at the control panel.

  The elevator jolted to a stop. Kara stared straight ahead as the doors slid open. Blinding white light came flooding in, and she had to shut her eyes. Gradually she adjusted to the light and could see. She stepped to the door and peeked out. She looked down. Tiny puffs of clouds spread out sporadically above a vast plane of greens and beige, divided into rectangles. Dark blue curves wiggled through the landscape and out of sight. Miniscule cities were surrounded by monopoly-game houses that disappeared over the horizon.

  The bottom of the elevator rested on a soft white cloud, the size of a small car. They were floating in the air. Kara started to feel unsteady and grabbed the sides to support herself. She felt really dizzy. In the distance, mountains hovered in the air, kept up by some sort of magic.

  “You okay? You look like you’re about to be sick,” David said, as he rested a hand on her shoulder. She winced, totally unprepared for him to touch her so suddenly. She tingled at his touch.

  Kara nodded, keeping her eyes straight ahead on the bright blue sky.

  “Don’t worry, we’re not going to fall. We’re just waiting for the sky-car.”

  Kara frowned and turned to look at David, not sure she heard him correctly. “The what?”

  “The sky-car.” David pointed out towards the sky.

  Kara followed his gaze. Something white and small floated their way. It maneuvered easily in the open air at great speed. Kara could hear the soft tat tat ta sound of a motor getting louder and louder, until finally the sky-car lingered at their door. It was an oval-shaped cloud, the size of a normal car, with four upholstered blue seats in two rows in the middle. A metal T steering gear stood at the front. Puffs of white clouds shot out from the back, like balls from an automatic tennis ball launcher.

  “So, how does this thing—what the…?” Kara noticed the driver.

  “Sky-car 2555, at your service!” the driver said.

  A large white and black bird was perched on the steering gear. On the top of its head rested a red cap with the numbers 2555 stitched across it in gold letters.

  The bird puffed out its chest and opened its beak. “Step right up, step right up! Sirs and madams!” He spoke perfect English. He pulled out his left wing and bent it at the elbow, flapping it, gesturing for them to come aboard.

  David jumped down easily with a loud thump. He turned and gave Kara his hand. “You won’t fall. Just don’t look down if you’re scared.”

  “I’m not scared!” Kara forced herself to look only at the sky-car. “I’m just not used to getting into flying cars, that’s all.” She grasped the door’s frame. “I don’t remember seeing it in the job description.”

  “Let’s go, Miss,” said the bird, “I have other appointments…”

  “Okay, okay!” said Kara. “So what if I
fall … I’ll just reappear in an elevator, right?” she whispered to herself. She took David’s hand and jumped into the sky-car. She was relieved to land on solid footing.

  “The name’s Sam,” said the bird. He jumped up and twirled around in the air, landing with his back facing them. With his feet clasped tightly around the steering bar, he swung upside down and extended his right wing in greeting.

  “Pleasure to meet ya,” he blinked several times.

  David shook his wing. “I’m David, and this is Kara,” he said to the upside down bird.

  “Okay then! Now that we’re all acquainted…” Sam flapped his wings, swung his body back upright on the steering gear, straightened himself, and said formally, “Please take a seat! Take a seat!”

  Kara and David sat down together. “There are actually seat belts on this thing? Why?”

  David put his belt on. “Trust me…buckle up.” He raised his eyebrows. Kara clipped her seat belt together and pulled it tight.

  “Now should I be scared?”

  Sam flapped his wings excitedly. He adjusted his hat.

  “Ready?”

  David nodded. “We’re good to go.”

  Sam used all his weight to push the accelerator.

  “Hang on to your butts!” The motor kicked into life, and the sky-car rocketed towards the floating mountains.

  “HOLY CRRRAAAAPP!!!”

  Kara’s head was pinned to the headrest, as though she was on a circus ride. The wind whistled in her ears, and she squinted her eyes into slits. The sky-car flew across the sky. Soon, the mountains came more in focus and Kara realized that she had been mistaken. What she had believed to be huge mountains were in fact parts of a massive city, floating on individual clouds.

  When they reached the floating city, Kara felt a cool spring breeze. Sky-cars flew in and out of buildings and disappeared between the clouds, picking up and dropping off guardian angels and oracles. The huge city sparkled in the sun like massive pieces of jewelry. The sky-car swayed and hovered over a large concrete landing zone, then dropped and settled onto a platform.

  “You okay? You look green.” David grinned and combed his hair with his fingers.

  “Peachy,” grunted Kara, as she swayed on the spot.

  Sam the bird swung around and around on the steering gear. “Don’t forget to tip your driver!”

  He beat his black wings, hopped to an upright position, and held out a tin can in front of him.

  “We have to leave a tip? Are you serious?”

  “Oh, yeah…I almost forgot.” David ripped a button from his shirt. He dropped it in the can.

  “Buttons are tips?”

  David flattened the front of his shirt. “Tips can be anything…just as long as you give them something.”

  Sam shook the can, delighted. “Smell ya later!”

  The sky-car lifted up, hovered for a moment, and raced off.

  “And I thought the monkeys were the ones on crack!” Kara stared after the flying car until it was just a gray speck in the vast blue sky.

  There was a sudden click, and a door at the far end of the platform opened. An oracle appeared and maneuvered his giant crystal towards them.

  “Ah! Here you are at last.” He crumpled the front of his robe in his excitement.

  “Quickly now…the two of you should know that you are going to be questioned about the demon’s Mark situation…the council is waiting…this way please.” The oracle steered his crystal around and made his way towards the door at the end of the platform.

  David sighed and followed the oracle.

  Kara jogged over to his side. “So . . . what do you think is going to happen to me?” asked Kara as she studied David’s face.

  David looked into Kara’s eyes as he walked. “I’m…I’m not sure exactly. But I know it has to do with the demon’s Mark. A spy in the Legion … is some serious stuff.”

  Kara felt the anger rising inside her. “But I’m not a spy!” she hissed between her teeth. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”

  David turned away from Kara slowly. “That’s for them to decide. You’ll have to convince them, not me. I’m not on the council.”

  “Right. I forgot. You hate me.”

  David grabbed Kara by the elbow and pulled her around to face him. “You betrayed me!” he growled, trying to stay calm.

  “I betrayed you?” Kara narrowed her eyes. “You won’t even believe me when I’m telling you the truth! You pretend I don’t exist!”

  “The truth is that you’re Marked!” said David.

  Kara made fists with her hands. “It’s not my fault! I didn’t know I was Marked! How many times do I have to tell you?”

  “You played with my emotions,” said David, recovering his composure. “You used me.” His voice was almost a whisper.

  “What…?” Bewildered, Kara just stared at David, not believing she had just heard what came out of his mouth.

  “Ahem…am I interrupting something? Are you in control of your feelings?” The oracle tapped his foot on the glass sphere.

  David straightened up. “Yes, oracle.”

  The oracle glared at the two of them for half a second. Then his face broke into a smile. “Was that convincing enough? I used to think…if I were born mortal…I’d be a swell actor.”

  “It was great.”

  “Yeah, you were really convincing.” Kara put on a fake smile. She was still shocked by David’s words.

  “Well, I’ve watched myself perform this very act hundreds of times—oh, dear.” The oracle screwed up his face. “I can’t remember what I’m supposed to say next? My mind is blank. Are we on our way to an exhibition?”

  “No, you’re taking us to the High Council,” said David.

  The oracle’s eyes widened. “Right, that hasn’t happened yet. So mixed up, so mixed up. Well then, let’s get going. The council won’t wait for you.” He tossed his beard over his shoulder, spun around, and rolled away, mumbling to himself.

  David was silent as Kara followed him and the oracle through the gray metal door at the end of the platform. Her mind was numb and her body fluttered with the words he just said. They moved through a great hall with colorful carpets and portraits of oracles, Gas, and important looking Archangels hanging high on the walls. Haunted eyes stared back at them. They passed many doors with golden signs nailed above them, stenciled in black letters. Kara stopped to read: Council Officer # 78-ORC. She peeked through the open door and spotted an oracle sitting on his crystal ball before a long wooden desk, going through some papers. They darted along to the end of the hall, where they met two massive brass doors.

  “Well then, here we are,” said the oracle as he pushed open the doors. “The Minister will see you now.” He disappeared behind them, leaving Kara and David standing alone.

  Kara gasped.

  Fourteen eyes stared back at her. She blinked. A group of seven determined-looking Archangels sat upon a dais at the opposite end of a large round chamber. The room had a rounded glass dome, and Kara could see the blue sky and hints of other tall buildings floating around them. Rays of light spilled through the glass. The Archangels sat around a black half-moon desk, which sparkled in the light like a huge black diamond.

  Kara staggered behind David as they walked through the majestic doorway. Her skin prickled all along her back, as she felt the entire room go still around her. The only sound was the echoing patter of their feet.

  Rows of wooden seats were angled along and around the chamber, like seats in a stadium, but this time they were all empty. She started to feel extremely cautious. A long bench was placed ten feet away from the dais, anticipating their arrival. David walked casually to the bench and faced the group, mouthing to Kara to do the same. She flicked her hair behind her ears and waited. And as she looked up, seven pairs of eyes were still watching her every move. Kara bit her lip, feeling small and insignificant. I’m so dead. She couldn’t remember feeling this nervous before, even when she first pr
esented her paintings. She wished she could throw up.

  The largest of the Archangel males, who sat in the middle, stood up and spoke.

  “Welcome, guardian angels, to the Council of Ministers. I am Uriel, the Minister of Ministration and Peace.”

  Uriel’s voice was soft and almost musical, not at all like the booming voices of Ramiel and Gabriel. His dark brown wavy hair sparkled in the light. There was something very soothing about his presence. Kara felt herself relax a little. He was also very easy on the eyes. A long golden robe swished and swayed as he lifted his arms.

  “Let us begin,” he called back. “Please, sit down.” He threw out his arms, gesturing for Kara and David to take a seat.

  Kara fell into the chair with an echoing thump. The sound cut through the thick wall of silence like a knife. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled. She felt the energy of the council focus upon her. Kara flinched.

  “Ahem…members,” said Uriel, “there are two matters to be discussed regarding guardian angel, Kara Nightingale, of the class order # 4321. First, let us begin with the delicate subject of the demon’s Mark.”

  Kara lifted her eyes and gazed at the speaker. Uriel sat back down and brought his hands together in front of him. For a moment, he considered the council, his face stained in discountenance.

  An Archangel with a shaved head and dressed in a long gray robe pushed his chair back and stood up, his hands clasped together in front of him. “Let me be the first to object to bringing her to the council. She is a demon spy! She wears their Mark! We should cast her out to join her filth!” He turned his attention to Kara and glared at her with deep-set eyes.

  Kara bit her lip. “This is not so good,” she whispered.

  A woman stood up. Her curly red hair rippled all the way down her back. Her robes were green, and her skin gave off a milky glow. “We understand your concern, Zadkiel. But under these new circumstances, I feel it is our obligation as elders to this council to seek the truth and believe in our guardians. From what Gabriel has told us, she had no previous knowledge of the Mark. There is no evidence that implicates her in any demon activity. The demons could have Marked her without her knowledge. Without any proof, I must believe she is innocent.”

  There were a few mumbled consensuses amongst the council members.

  Zadkiel pressed his lips together. “Camael, do not be fooled. The Marked are best at concealing themselves…they are true chameleons. She is a danger to us all. Having her here will only bring death to our world! Can you not see this? Her soul is evil!”

  Those last words rang in Kara’s brain. She felt herself sinking on the bench.

  Camael lifted her hand in a calming manner. “There’s no need to shout. I understand the dangers involved if we are wrong. But I believe she is innocent. There is no evidence that points to her deceiving us.”

  Kara’s anxiety rose to an uncontrollable level; her head was spinning. She rocked back and forth on her chair, fumbling with her fingers.

  “This is against all High Council laws. Never before have we permitted a Marked angel to stay in Horizon. This cannot be! I forbid it!” bellowed Zadkiel. His lips trembled as his face was cloaked in a scowl.

  Another member of the Council stood up. His night black skin contrasted against his blood red robes. His face was twisted in contempt. “I agree with Zadkiel. Letting this angel stay amongst us will only result in our ruin. She should not be permitted to stay!”

  “She will be killed if we cast her out. She must be allowed to stay!” protested Camael.

  Kara heard some members gasp.

  “Members,” said Zadkiel. His tone had changed into a soothing melody of words. “How can we trust this angel? We know nothing of her. Who is to say she is not a spy? She might not look evil, but do not let your eyes deceive you … evil has many faces.”

  “I’d like to hear what Petty Officer David McGowan has to say about this,” Uriel’s voice silenced everyone in the room. Kara felt its power. His eyes darted over to David. “He’s been with her since she arrived in Horizon, some short time ago. He’s watched over her. I’m sure he can give us a better understanding of her temperament. David?”

  Wide-eyed, Kara shot a glance at David. His expression was unreadable.

  David stood up. “Um…she seems to be a regular sixteen year-old girl—a bit of a loner at times—but I haven’t seen her do anything suspicious … or against our ways. I don’t sense any evil in her heart.”

  Kara frowned. Did he just call her a loner? She searched David’s face.

  “How can you be sure? You cannot know what’s in her heart! No! We cannot allow this!” Zadkiel hit the table with his fist.

  “This angel is innocent!” said Camael. “There is no proof supporting your claim!”

  “She is a traitor! Have you already forgotten that she was Marked?!” shouted Zadkiel.

  “ENOUGH!” said Uriel. His voice thundered through the great dome. “Let us vote on the matter now. All those in favor of banishing Kara Nightingale from Horizon, raise your right hand.”

  Panic moved down her body slowly. Kara counted the hands. Three.

  “All those in favor of keeping her in Horizon so that she may continue to excel as a prominent GA?” continued Uriel, and he raised his hand. He pulled back the corners of his lips and showed her his teeth.

  Kara waited patiently as she watched the hands go up. Four.

  “The council has spoken…Kara Nightingale will stay in Horizon. Without conclusive evidence, we find no fault in her actions, nor do we find any in her Petty Officer.”

  Uriel looked at Kara, his deep-set eyes searching. She felt as though he was trying to see through her. Uriel lifted his brow. “And so, the council has closed this matter…let’s move on to the next.”

  Kara had only just begun to feel calm again when she realized it wasn’t over yet. The Archangels who were standing seated themselves. She looked at David for help. But he wasn’t looking at her. He stared at the floor.

  Another woman Archangel from the council stood up. Her long blonde hair covered the front of her white robes. She was looking at Kara.

  “The council has been informed about a grave matter. An elemental child, born of mortal and angel parents, has gone missing. The elemental are very powerful creatures. They possess power of great magnitude. The mixing of mortals and angels is forbidden, but unfortunately it has happened, and we have to deal with the consequences. And to make this serious matter worse, we have now learned that the child has been taken.

  “This child is very special, both to us and to the demon ruler, Asmodeus— for the power it can give the demons is unimaginable. Asmodeus and his kingdom of demons could perpetuate their stay in the world of the living. He wants to create havoc and take possession of Earth. It is our belief that the child is being held by some demon troops, hidden in the mortal world. When the time comes, Asmodeus will kill this child and use its power to rule the mortal world.”

  There were a few acknowledgments among the council.

  Kara’s head was spinning. An elemental child? Was this the same child Benson had mentioned? Twisted images of demons torturing a child flashed before her eyes, as a faint echo of a baby’s cry made her shiver. A feeling of dread crept inside her. She looked across at the council members. Her eyes rested on Uriel; his face was unreadable. Amongst all these wise men and women she felt insignificant, as if her body had melted into the bench.

  The Archangel Uriel glanced over at the speaker and motioned her to sit. “Thank you, Jophiel,” he said, as he placed his hands flat in front of him. “And now, at this time, you have been summoned to the council, Kara Nightingale, to be given a life-quest.”

  At these words she heard David gasp. She turned to see his eyes bulging out of his head. He mouthed the word, “What!”

  She heard another gasp behind her, then a thump. And when she turned, she could see that the oracle had fallen off his orb. He clambered back up on his crystal and thre
w his arms around it.

  Kara shook her head. “David!” she whispered, “What’s a life-quest?”

  David spoke with the side of his mouth. “It’s a special assignment. If you succeed, you get your life back…your mortal life back as it was before you died!”

  Kara could only blink.

  “It’s very rare,” he continued whispering.

  Kara’s jaw dropped as she let David’s words sink into her brain. “Your mortal life back…are they serious…?”

  “Kara Nightingale,” said Uriel quietly. “Your life-quest will be to retrieve the elemental child. We have called upon you to fulfill your duty as a guardian angel and to complete the life-quest which is now appointed to you.”

  His dark eyes glittered, and he waited to meet Kara’s eyes. “Will you accept this quest?”

  Kara had lost her voice. She stared at the council, wide-eyed, with her lips glued together. She looked up at Uriel. His face was lost in shadow. Visions of her past life came crashing down upon her, nearly knocking her off balance on the bench.

  “I…I can have my life back? Is this for real?” her voice cracked.

  “It is very real,” answered Uriel. A hint of a smile reaching his lips.

  “And I can see my mother again?” She hoped for the chance to make up past wrongs.

  “Yes. You’ll have your whole life ahead of you.”

  As crazy as it sounded, she had already made up her mind. She just couldn’t utter the words. She forced open her mouth and stammered, “Y…yes? Yes. I’ll do it.”

  Uriel nodded, apparently pleased with her decision.

  “Good. And for your information, this life-quest has also been appointed to five other guardian angels. This will be a difficult challenge, and we will need as many chosen angels as possible. Each guardian was chosen for their specific skills.”

  “Elementals are very rare—and very dangerous,” he continued. “They are not born evil, but their power tends towards the darkness, unless we can prevent it. But I must warn you: Elementals can only be touched by mortals. If an angel or a demon touches an elemental, they will die. You will be given a pair of silver gloves to wear. With these gloves, the elemental’s touch cannot harm you.”

  All eyes were on Kara. She hated being the center of attention. She felt like a mutant. She cast a quick glance in David’s direction, but he did not meet her gaze. She did not know what would happen next. She felt her body jolt as an electric shock burned from the tips of her toes to the top of her head.

  Uriel cleared his throat.

  “As the appointed minister of this council, I call this meeting adjourned. We will look forward to your progress on this quest, Kara Nightingale. You will report to the Archangel Gabriel for your briefing with the others. That is all.”

  Kara watched David stand up. She heard the echo of an oracle’s orb rolling towards them.

  “Well now, that wasn’t so bad. This way please,” said the oracle with his tiny arms outstretched, “no point in hanging around…the meeting is over.”

  He pointed towards the door. “Let’s get going, angels. There is work to be done!” The oracle rolled away.

  Kara pushed herself off the chair and followed David. Before she left the room, Kara turned around and stared back at the council one last time. Uriel fumbled with some papers, but did not look up.

  As silent as a grave, the threesome walked and rolled back down the hallway leading to the landing zone. Kara stole a sideways glance at David. She could see that he was preoccupied with thought. And she was doing some thinking of her own. Dizzy with the events that just happened, Kara’s mind was on but one thought only…to be with her mother again.

  Chapter 13

  Life Quest