Marked, Soul Guardians Book 1

by Kim Richardson

Kara walked along Victoria Street with David at her side. He had told her that they were to meet up with Jenny and Peter in front of Westminster Cathedral. The majestic stone architecture of the great byzantine structure shone in the afternoon sun, towering above the other buildings surrounding it. Its striking beauty and intricate design of red brick and stone left Kara in awe. Flocks of tourists came and went from the great doors, like busy ants.

  Kara sat on the stone steps, watching the pigeons coo and pick at bits of crumbs on the ground. Her mind was still fresh with images of Gabriel and Zadkiel fighting. She didn’t want Gabriel to suffer because of her. She decided that she would try to make it up to him when she got back.

  “What time is it?” asked Kara.

  David pulled up the sleeve of his leather jacket. “It’s two o’clock. We’ve got ten hours before midnight.”

  Kara let her head fall. “We don’t even know where to look? The portals could be anywhere.”

  David threw a small stone down the steps. “Well—we have to figure out something fast. Ten hours is not very long.”

  “What do you think will happen to Gabriel.”

  David shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. He’s an archangel. I doubt whether they’ll throw him in prison. Let’s just hope he got their attention.”

  A young Asian couple climbed the steps beside them, their hands tightly joined in one another’s. Kara stared at their blissful expressions. She watched them until they disappeared behind the great doors. She envied them.

  She turned and met David’s gaze. Her mortal body tingled at his nearness. He took her hand and edged closer. He was close enough to kiss. She felt her body leaning in without thinking—

  “Hey guys!”

  Kara moved back as Peter and Jenny ran up to them.

  Jenny grinned as she eyed Kara and David. She raised an eyebrow. “Sorry we’re late. We had to sneak in … out … well, you know what I mean.”

  Jenny clapped her hands and jumped on the spot. “Boy, do we have something for you!”

  “What do you mean?” Kara swept her bangs out of her eyes, wishing she could disappear under a wall of hair.

  “Spit it out, Jenny. We don’t have all day.” David got to his feet.

  Jenny twirled on the spot. “Peter, explain it to them.” Her purple hair gleamed in the sunlight, and Kara thought she looked like a combat fairy.

  “Well … you asked me to look for something out of the ordinary before you left with Gabriel,” said Peter, looking nervous. “I believe I found something. From the readings I got—it’s big. I mean, real big. A huge portal, right here in London. And it’s still open.”

  Kara’s eyes widened. “A portal? A portal to where?”

  “An opening to the freaking demon realm, baby.” answered Jenny, and she knocked her heels together, like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz.

  Kara looked at David. “Maybe this is what the demon was talking about.”

  Jenny cocked her head. “What demon? What are you talking about? Hey, you can’t keep stuff like that from us—we’re your friends—remember?”

  Kara placed a strand of her hair behind her ears. “I met a demon when I was at the police station—long story—and he told me that tonight at midnight portals would open all over Earth, and that all the mortals would die.”

  “But how?” asked Peter. “That’s like billions of portals opening at the same time? It’s not possible. Earth can’t withstand that kind of energy. It would destroy the entire world. There’s nothing out there with that kind of energy to do this. How is this even possible?”

  “I’m not sure. All he said was that a visitor would come through these portals … and kill all the mortals.” She looked up at a passing family with toddlers, running happily towards the cathedral. “We can’t let that happen. That’s why we must find these portals and close them somehow. Our only lead is this portal in London.”

  David swung his backpack on his shoulder. “Then let’s go, ladies and gents. We have eight and a half hours left before this world crumbles.”

  Kara looked at Peter. “I hope you’re wrong.”

  Peter gave her a side smile. “I’m never wrong—hey!” Jenny punched him on the arm.

  “Don’t be a wise ass. Let’s go.”

  The four of them left the Cathedral’s steps and continued on Victoria Street. Tall metal and glass buildings surrounded them on either side and disappeared into the blue sky. Gleaming black taxi cabs rushed through the traffic and honked at pedestrians. Tomato red city buses hurtled down the street. Kara thought they looked like mad bulls.

  They passed a newspaper stand.

  “Oh my god, Kara! Look, it’s you!” Jenny whispered. She pointed to the newspaper rack. Kara’s photograph was on the front page.

  Kara hid behind her hair. She hoped no one would recognize her here. She had always dreamt of having fifteen minutes of fame, just not like this, and especially not as a mass murderer.

  “Let’s keep moving.” David pulled Jenny away from the papers. The owner, an older gentleman with wispy gray hair that moved in the breeze and a belly the size of a beach volley ball, eyed them suspiciously.

  “How far do we have to go?” Kara looked behind her. The owner of the shop was still staring at them, his eyes lost in a wave of thick brows.

  “It’s about an hour’s walk,” answered Peter. “The portal is beneath the eastern side of the Westminster Bridge.”

  “Let’s go,” said Kara.

  A group of men with hats and uniforms appeared as they made their way to the portal. Kara lowered her head and hoped the London police wouldn’t recognize her. She kept it down most of the way.

  The Thames rippled below them, and Kara watched the boats drift away along the river, like leaves in a stream. The murky waters gleamed in the sun. It occurred to Kara that if she and her friends got into demon trouble, they could easily escape into the river. Her nerves lessened. Thank God for the river, she thought. She wondered why the Rift was located next to water.

  A long hour later, they reached the eastern root of the bridge. A great lion carved of white stone stood on a concrete block at the eastern entrance to the bridge. She thought of Aslan, the lion in the Chronicles of Narnia. She would have loved to touch the statue, but she knew it wasn’t the time to go sightseeing.

  Three sets of concrete steps brought them down to a lower level. The three of them marched down the steps. Kara’s feet touched a small concrete platform. She looked around. The bridge’s belly was enormous. It looked bigger from the bottom, she realized. They found themselves facing a shadow filled tunnel. Small wall sconces illuminated the way. They were a lot closer to the water’s edge—an easy escape.

  Peter took out a square contraption that looked like a television remote control, except that it had more buttons, and a wire with green electricity flowing through it sprouting from the top. After reading it for a moment Peter looked up. “It’s in there,” he pointed towards the tunnel.

  David was the first to move. He sauntered through the entrance of the tunnel. “How far is it?”

  Peter followed David, but stopped in front of a thick concrete wall. He stood there for a moment. “This is it—who wants to go first?”

  Kara saw the bricks waver as though the stones were made of water. The Rift covered most of the wall, and it was large enough to let out new breeds.

  “I will.” David stood beside Peter.

  “So … I just walk through this area?” He motioned with his hands.

  “Yes.”

  “Wait!” Kara grabbed David and turned him to face her. “You don’t even know where you’ll end up? We need to make a plan.”

  “The plan is—I’ll wait for you on the other side, cutie.”

  Kara threw up her arms. “This isn’t funny. Be serious for once. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” David turned and faced the wall. “It’s a doorway, right? So it has to lead to the other side.” H
e grabbed a Soul Blade from inside his jacket pocket. “I’m ready, baby. Let’s do this.”

  He stepped forward. The concrete wall shimmered, as though it were made of liquid. He pushed his arm into the wall.

  “Ahh!” David jumped back and fell to the ground. Black smoke coiled from his hand and arms, like black snakes. His mortal skin had melted away, revealing the brilliance of his true angel self. His dagger fell from his blistered hands.

  Kara wrapped her arms around him. “Oh my god, David! Your arms!” She took off her jacket and wrapped his arms with it.

  David frowned. “What is this? Why should a portal melt my skin?”

  “Because it’s a portal to the Netherworld.”

  Kara heard something and turned to see an English bulldog watching them with his head cocked to the side.

  “Thor! What are you doing here? How did you find us?”

  The dog sat down on his behind. His stubby back legs squished flat under a large belly. “I followed your smell—there’s a certain stench to you, you know.”

  Kara frowned and smelled herself. “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.” Thor bared his sharp teeth. “But you, my friend, cannot pass into the Netherworld.”

  David pushed himself off the floor. “What do you mean, dog?”

  “What I mean, is that only demons can pass through their portals. No regular angel can travel to the demon realm. If you try, you will die.”

  “Maybe we should just go back and tell Gabriel.” Peter put his device back into his bag. “Hopefully the council will listen.”

  “This sucks.” Jenny plopped herself to the ground and began twirling her purple hair between her fingers.

  Kara stared at Thor. He was looking up at her, his brown eyes glimmered.

  “What do you mean by regular angel?” She had a feeling she knew what the dog meant. But she couldn’t bring herself to say it. If she said it, then it would make it true.

  “Glad you asked.” Thor scratched himself with his hind leg. “Regular angels like your friends here would surely die if they tried to pass through the portal. But an angel with demon essence might go through. It might even survive.”

  “He’s right.” David walked towards Kara. “You might be the only one who can pass.”

  Kara glanced at the Rift. A single spot shimmered where David had been burned. She walked towards the spot and pushed her hand into the portal.

  Nothing happened.

  Kara pulled her hand back and examined it. There were no burn marks or lesions. Her M suit was intact. She knew what that meant.

  “Told you.” Thor trotted over to Kara. “Now listen, no angel knows what lies on the other side. But we all know it’s full of demons. Be careful, and trust yourself.”

  Kara started to feel nervous. She had never imagined that she would have to do this alone. She always thought David would be by her side.

  “I know this is what they want. I know it’s a trap. But it doesn’t matter. I won’t let my mother’s soul die—I don’t care what I have to do—I’m going to stop them. I’ll make things right. The council will have to believe me.”

  “No!” David grabbed her. “I’m not letting you go alone. This is suicide! This isn’t a plan. You’re not going in there alone!”

  Kara looked into David’s eyes and wondered if she was doing so for the last time. “I have to go. I’m the only one who can pass through the portal. You heard Thor—I must do this. I’ll see you when I get back. I promise.”

  “No. This is madness!”

  “I’m going, David. And you can’t stop me.” She gave him a kind smile. “I’m stronger than any of you. You know what I’m capable of. My elemental power might save the mortals. I have to try.”

  “Let her go,” said Thor.

  David backed away, but he was clearly distressed to let Kara do it. “I’ll be waiting for you,” he said softly.

  “You guys have to warn the Legion,” said Kara. “Tell them what’s happened, and what I’m about to do. I hope their stubborn heads will listen for a change.” She threw her backpack over her shoulder. “I’ll see you guys later.”

  “Good luck, Kara.” Jenny jumped up and hugged her. “Be safe.”

  “Be careful … and watch your back,” said Peter. He was more nervous than she was.

  “I will.”

  “Say hi to your dad for me.” David’s lips curled into a crooked smile.

  “Moron.”

  Kara readied herself. The portal shimmered expectantly, as though waiting for her to enter.

  She stepped through.

  Chapter 17

  Mr. Cockroach