Marked, Soul Guardians Book 1

by Kim Richardson

News of Cassiel’s treachery had spread throughout the Legion. As soon as Kara had made her way back to Horizon and reported what had happened, the Legion was in an uproar. It was bad enough that Zadkiel had been found to be a traitor, but now that Cassiel had been revealed as a traitor and murderer as well, the Legion’s spirit was broken.

  Kara sat at the round table in CDD. She drummed her fingers and watched the gloomy faces of her comrades. If Jenny could cry, Kara was sure she’d be in tears. Jenny had admired the archangel. She had looked up to him, and bragged about him constantly. Kara could see his betrayal had affected her deeply. Perhaps Jenny had cared more about him than she let on.

  Peter wasn’t in a much better shape. He sat with his back to the group. He refused to speak to anyone and mumbled continually to himself. His glasses rested on the table. With his head down, he stared at his feet, lost in his thoughts. Kara felt an immense sadness for him. She wanted to go over and wrap her arms around him. But something inside told her to leave him be. Jenny and Peter had known Cassiel longer than she had. They needed time to mourn without the new girl interfering.

  But the field agents weren’t the only ones affected. The entire division moped around. It was like being at a funeral. The depression threatened to spread like a virus. Missions weren’t being assigned, and Kara felt the division had lost its spark. CDD was leaderless.

  A sudden commotion got Kara’s attention. She stood up, excited. Gabriel strode towards her. Cassiel had been large, but Kara had forgotten how much more massive Gabriel was than the other archangels. His tight black shirt wrapped around his chest and revealed his powerful body. His muscles rippled as he walked. With his black cargo pants and large black boots, he was dressed as a field agent just like them.

  Kara could see a head of blonde hair behind Gabriel’s shoulder. She leaned to the left to get a better view of who was following the archangel. A flutter passed through her. She pressed her lips together tightly, afraid to let a giant smile escape. David sauntered towards them, with a cheeky smile on his face. Kara could see that he was happy, just by the way he walked, with his head held high. He had wanted to join the CDD for years, and Kara had always felt a little uncomfortable that she had been allowed in, and not David. Gabriel had said that David’s reputation for being difficult and disobedient had affected his chances. But now, here he was, proud as a peacock.

  No one moved as the tread of Gabriel and David’s boots echoed through the chamber. Gabriel turned and eyed the room silently. He met Kara’s eyes and nodded. Kara did the same. She watched as David settled beside him. He noticed her looking, and gave her a wink. Kara bit her lip, so as not to laugh, but a soft snort escaped her anyway. Embarrassed, she looked around, but no one seemed to be paying any attention to her. The divisions’ attention was on Gabriel.

  The archangel surveyed the room once more before he spoke. “Guardians. The Legion can’t afford to have you looking like sad little puppies. Yes, Cassiel is gone. Yes, it was a shock to us all … but that doesn’t mean this division is finished. CDD is still operational. The threat is still out there. Mortals are dying, guardians! Snap out of it right now!” Gabriel’s voice boomed throughout the chamber like thunder. Kara’s skin prickled.

  “Your orders are to find the demon lord’s command center. We know he’s there—his demons need direct contact with him. We need to locate that post. I want you to report back right away, once you have a positive ID on the location. Don’t let them see you. We need the element of surprise on our side, when we are ready to strike.”

  Kara wondered how they were to strike Asmodeus. It was one thing to find his location, but how were they planning to defeat him? He had two fallen archangels on his team and a huge multitude of demons. He had already proved to be more powerful than expected. The Legion must have some idea as to how they were going to put an end to him.

  Gabriel’s face was tight and determined. “You are the best there is, so prove it. Now is not the time to feel sorry for yourselves. You are warriors! We are at war and the Legion needs you.”

  Kara looked around. Gabriel’s little pep talk seemed to have done the trick. Kara saw new life spark in Jenny’s and Peter’s eyes, and she felt the excitement flow into her own body too.

  “Back to your duties, everyone,” announced Gabriel. “I want possible locations in five minutes. Field agents, get ready to jump soon.”

  Immediately, the room was alive with the sound of angels running to the desks and calling out names of cities to scan. Holographic screens sprouted back to life with colorful maps of cities around the globe. Kara smiled. It was nice to see CDD operational again.

  “What’s up, cutie?” Kara turned to meet a smiling David. “Do you want to see my … badge?” David flipped open his CDD identification, as though he were a detective flashing his badge. His eyes gleamed with satisfaction. He had never looked so pleased.

  Kara laughed softly. “I see you’ve finally made it to the big leagues. I thought you were a lost cause. What made the Legion change its mind?”

  “Ultimately, it was the High Council’s decision, but Gabriel persuaded them—told them they needed an angel with spectacular fighting skills—not to mention my good looks.”

  Kara’s eyes lowered, and she focused on David’s full lips. She felt a sudden pull towards them. Kara met David’s stare. A flutter of excitement rose in her breast. Kara found that she couldn’t look away from those brilliant blue eyes. Unaware of the curious eyes around them, she felt herself leaning in—

  “Ahem.”

  Kara pulled back and turned. Gabriel examined her with raised eyebrows. “Glad to see you in one piece, Kara.”

  “Uh … hi, Gabriel,” she managed to croak. She looked at David. “I was just congratulating David on his promotion to CDD. I know how much it means to him.” She could see a huge smile emerge on David’s face.

  “Yes, I’m sure. We are all very pleased with his advancement. Although not as delighted as David himself.” Gabriel’s black eyes pierced Kara’s, and she thought she could see a shadow of a smile appear on his lips.

  “Sir!” A tall guardian with tanned skin and short curly hair ran up to the archangel. “We found two possible locations of the demon lord, sir.” He handed some papers to Gabriel who studied each of them closely.

  After a moment, the archangel looked up and addressed the field agents. “Listen up. I want two teams ready to go to these locations—an abandoned church in Spain and an old castle in Italy. Peter and Jenny—” Gabriel flung out his arm, a piece of paper dangled from his fingers. “You’re the first team. On your feet!”

  Peter jumped from his chair and took the paper. He studied it for a moment and then gave it to Jenny to read. Kara watched her eyes light up after she read it.

  “And the second team,” Kara heard Gabriel say. “Kara … and David.”

  Kara heard whispers amongst the division. She couldn’t quite catch what they were saying, but she knew it had something to do with her being teamed up with David.

  “You are to scout the areas first, and then report back. No funny business … I don’t want any fooling around. I want both teams back safely. Got that? You’ve got an hour.” Gabriel’s eyes focused on David.

  David grabbed the last piece of paper from Gabriel’s hand. Kara leaned over and read:

  Castello di Zena,

  Italy

  Italy sounded interesting to her. An old decrepit castle would be perfect. Kara imagined Asmodeus sitting on his throne, his demons bowing down before him, with mortal souls as offerings. It was the perfect location. Fit for a demon king.

  “You ready?” David cocked his head and searched her face. “I’m dying to try the tanks.”

  Kara let the overly enthusiastic David drag her down to the platform where the vega tanks awaited them. She couldn’t help but laugh as he hauled her away. Peter and Jenny were already positioned behind the wall of green waters.

  “Good luck! And be careful.” Kara waved at them both. P
eter waved back and Jenny gave her two thumbs up. They disappeared in a flash of white light.

  David jumped up onto the platform. “Let’s go. I’m so ready for this.” He rubbed his hands together as though he was about to start a fire with his bare hands. “Can’t wait to try one of these babies.”

  Kara laughed again and stepped up onto the dais.

  Gabriel’s dark eyes glared at David. “David, stop acting like a jackass. You think you could try to act like a guardian for once, and not an idiot,” he called, “I had to do a lot of convincing to let you in CDD. Don’t make me regret my decision. Don’t make me out to be a fool, David McGowan.”

  “I won’t, big daddy. Promise.” David beamed at him. He skipped into the air like a little girl with a jump rope. Kara saw Gabriel’s mood darken.

  “David, don’t be a moron,” Kara whispered. “Try to be serious, just this once. Can you do that?”

  David stepped up to a vega tank. “Don’t worry, Gabe. We’ll be back in one piece. I can promise you that. We’ll be back before you’ve had the chance to miss us—cause I know you will.”

  “You better,” grunted Gabriel. “Good luck to you. Be safe.”

  “You ready?” David turned his head to Kara and arched his brows.

  Kara straightened her back and stepped to David’s left behind a tank.

  She nodded. “Ready.”

  Together, they walked into the green waters and vanished.

  Moments later, Kara strolled amidst tall grasses that swayed back and forth in a soft breeze. David came running up before her, did a summersault, and dashed back into the grass. Kara shook her head and sighed. He was blatantly mad. David ran and laughed like a crazy person, pushing the M-5 suit’s strength and enjoying every bit of it.

  It was midday, and the sun’s rays pierced through openings in the tall evergreens. Buds of light green covered the trees; a hint of spring lingered in the air. Green hills rolled out for miles in every direction and out of sight. Kara heard the sound of rolling water. A small creek wound through the hills and disappeared into the thick forest. Tall trees with yellow leaves flickered in the sun like gold.

  But then Kara noticed that the forest was unnaturally silent, as though no animals lived there. Kara couldn’t hear any birds or squirrels busying themselves with the coming of spring. It wasn’t normal—something was amiss.

  Hiding in a valley of tangled forest, was the abandoned Italian castle, Castello di Zena. It was a mystery falling to pieces, resplendent in the tall grass. Overgrown vines scaled the sides of the castle walls and up the keep, as though draping it with leaves to keep it warm. Large boulders lay crumbled at the base of the castle. A whole east wall had fallen over with time and was now the home to weeds and shrubs.

  Kara felt pressure on her arm. She turned around. David had his finger to his lips and pulled her down with him behind a large bush. He pointed to the castle. Kara scanned the grounds. Dark shadows moved amongst the tall grasses. Demons. There were demons everywhere. Four giant demons that resembled bears, but with yellow horns protruding from their heads, guarded the main entrance. Kara counted a dozen more walking the grounds. But that wasn’t the worse part. Hundreds of lesser demons crawled and snaked around the castle, their bodies swollen and infected; leaving dark stains on the grounds. Kara felt suddenly sick. She noticed that the demons never ventured too far away, always keeping to the grounds. The castle was heavily protected. Kara knew they were protecting something precious inside the castle.

  She felt the hairs on her arms rise. Asmodeus was in there, she was sure of it. Kara pictured the demon lord on a golden throne with a jeweled crown, slicing the throats of every angel that didn’t bow down and kiss his feet. Kara was anxious to share a little father-daughter time. She had a lot on her mind.

  “I bet he’s in there,” whispered David, knocking Kara out of her trance. “It wouldn’t be so heavily guarded if he wasn’t.”

  “Should we report back?”

  David shook his head. “No. We need to be one hundred percent sure he’s in there. For all we know, this could be a decoy. We have to try to get in somehow.”

  Kara inspected the main entrance again. Four massive demons were not impossible to fight, but the hundreds of lesser demons joining in would be. If things started to get complicated with the larger demons, she knew the others would be upon them in a blink of an eye. Not a great plan—they would have to sneak in somehow. There had to be another way in. Everyone knew castles had secret entryways and miles of underground tunnels. They would just have to find one.

  “Let’s go around and see if there’s another way in that’s less guarded.”

  “Good idea.”

  David led the way, and the two of them slid down a long slope and landed in two feet of wet marsh. After Kara voiced her disgust they stealthily made their way around the east side of the castle. Still fighting their way through the marshes, they passed the fallen east wall, and David motioned for Kara to stop. He threw out his arm. Kara saw that he pointed to a small opening behind a stone wall. It must have been a doorway once, Kara thought. The demons didn’t seem interested in the area; they were all still watching the front of the castle.

  Kara looked at David and nodded.

  David drew a soul blade. It sparkled in the sun and blinded Kara for a moment. He clenched his jaw. Kara could tell by the deep frowns on his forehead that he was thinking hard. A real warrior, she thought as she watched him step out of the marshes. She was glad they were a team again. Kara brandished her blade and followed closely behind him.

  With hunched backs, they made their way across the grounds as quietly as they could. Kara threw nervous glances behind her as they hurried across the grasses.

  No demons came.

  They were almost there. Kara could make out the white-washed walls of bird droppings as they moved closer to the castle. A rotted door lay but a few feet from the opening. The hinges were still attached, a reminder of where the door once had been. David jumped over large rocks and debris. Kara followed closely behind.

  A sudden earsplitting wail erupted all around them.

  Kara froze in her tracks. The howl had come from behind her. David spun around. Kara saw fear flash in his eyes momentarily. She gripped her dagger and turned around. A horde of grotesque monsters with extra heads and gaping maws with razor sharp fangs stared back at her. Beasts of the Netherworld gathered around them. Some had humanoid shapes while others were animal-like. They drummed the wet earth with their twisted limbs. Smaller demons with black oily skin crept out of the forest. Kara’s skin crawled. She recognized the demons she had faced in the asylum. Hunger flashed in their red eyes. Hundreds of bent shapes gathered. It was an army of demons.

  Kara recoiled at the stench of rotten flesh. Her eyes burned.

  Another wail cut through the air, louder than all the other sounds. Kara heard an eerie answer to the call. The ground rumbled. More demons came. The demons were calling in backup.

  David pulled out a firestone from his jacket. “Kara—stay close!”

  He threw the red globe into the mass of oncoming demons. There was a thundering boom, and red light detonated. Chunks of demon flesh flew into the air and sprayed the grounds in black liquid. Other demons roared angrily. A large demon with a bull’s body and lizard head sprang in attack. Its yellow eyes were fixed on Kara. Droplets of black slime slipped off its body as it charged.

  Kara readied herself. The beast attacked. She smelled its sour breath as it neared. In the next moment, she side-stepped, twisted her body, lifted her arm and slashed her blade. The beast’s body crumbled to the ground. Its head rolled off.

  “Not bad.” David laughed nervously. “You think you could do that again … a few hundred times? Watch out!”

  Kara felt a stabbing pain on her leg. She cried out. A small demon had latched itself onto her leg, and was chomping away at her M-suit’s skin. She stabbed it in the head and threw it off easily. She thought about making a run for the
opening, but more demons blocked their way. Kara felt panic rise in her. They were surrounded.

  “Any genius plans, David? Now would be the time.” She reached inside her jacket pocket, from which she pulled a firestone. “I’ve got only one of these.”

  David’s face was grim. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. We need backup. You think we could make a run for it to the hills?”

  “Let’s do it.”

  Kara threw her firestone into the wall of demons. There was an explosion, and suddenly a clear path. Kara knew it would last only a few seconds. She pushed her M-5 suit as hard as it would go and dashed towards the hills, slashing at the demons that stood in her way. She was surprised at her own strength. Nothing seemed to stop her. She only looked back once she was out of the demons’ reach.

  “David, I think we’re—”

  David was not there. Panic overwhelmed her.

  “David!”

  Kara ran back down the hill. Desperately, she searched for David. But he was nowhere to be found. Anger replaced her fear. She flew over tree stumps and rocks as she ran towards the demons at the bottom of the hill. They were piled on top of one another, slashing at something beneath them. There was a struggle, then a scream. She recognized the scream.

  David was underneath them.

  Chapter 10

  The hidden truths