“Mom!” Kara screamed. She jumped to her feet and wrapped her arms around her mother.
Her mother squeezed back, but released Kara gently. “Kara, how did you get through? The demons destroyed the elevators—the connections are lost—any chance of traveling back and forth from the mortal world is impossible. How is it that you are standing here?”
Kara’s mother looked over her shoulder nervously. They couldn’t stand here for much longer.
“We took an elevator from the eighth plane.” By her mother’s bewildered expression Kara knew she had to explain a little further. “It was an old elevator, a really old one—built thousands of years ago. And Lilly let us use it to get here.”
Her mother shook her head. “But your bodies would have been ripped apart? It’s impossible—”
“It was a risk, we knew, but we were determined to warn the Legion. We figured out what Asmodeus was planning … part of what’s happening is my fault. I had to warn the Legion.”
“But how, Kara? How are you responsible for this?”
Kara looked at her boots. “I’m not like you and the others, mom. I’m different. And I used that part that’s different.” She looked up and met her mother’s eyes. “I used my elemental part to keep us together on the elevator. It worked.”
“Who’s us? Who’s with you?” Kara’s mother looked over her shoulder again.
Kara sighed. “My friend David. He was with me when we landed in the eighth plane. We came here together.”
“That was reckless, Kara,” said her mother, her voice suddenly hard. “You could have died … and David too.”
Kara looked at her fingers. “I know. But we didn’t. We thought we had enough time to get to Horizon before the attacks started … guess we were wrong.”
“It’s okay, my darling girl,” said her mother gently. “You did what you did because you felt it was the right thing to do. It was crazy—but I understand why you did it. I probably would have done the same.”
Kara gazed into her mother’s face. She felt so many emotions at once. Her mother’s soul had survived. She was safe, and standing before her as a guardian angel. Questions filled her mind. She wanted to know about her mother’s life as a guardian, how it felt. But mostly, Kara wanted to know how her mother could have fallen in love with Asmodeus.
“Mom … how could you fall—”
“Kara!” David rushed towards them. “Are you crazy? What’s the matter with you?” He pushed himself between them. His voice was loud with anger, but his eyes were soft with concern. “You could have been killed!” His face was inches from Kara’s. Her mother raised her eyebrows and looked over at Kara with the hint of a smile on her lips.
Kara took a step back and raised her arms. “Well, I’m fine, as you see. Thanks to Danielle, my mother.”
“Your mother?” David stared open-mouthed at Kara’s mother. His eyes moved up and down, inspecting every inch of her body. At last, David raised an eyebrow. “You never told me she was a babe—ow!”
Kara’s mother grabbed them both by the elbows and turned them towards her.
“Now listen, both of you. We can’t stay here. We’re sitting ducks if we stay in Operations.” She looked over her shoulder and spoke with more urgency. “Michael and Gabriel have moved what remains of the Legion to level three, Miracles Division. The demons haven’t been able to break through the mountain … for the moment. But it won’t last forever. For the time being, it’s headquarters. Missions are being deployed from there. I’ll explain things more in detail once we’re safe.”
Danielle passed soul blades to both of them. “Take these. Let’s go kids.”
Kara watched her mother sprint over flaming debris and ran to catch up to her. For a woman in her early forties, she moved faster than Kara and David. Goes to show that mortality has no effect in Horizon, Kara thought to herself. Age has no meaning here.
The trio ran side by side, up and down the sandy slopes. The skies had become darker. Black clouds raced across the remaining grey sky, sucking out the light. Soon all would be consumed in darkness. Kara wondered if her mother knew where she was leading them. From what Kara could see between the sand and the ashes, there were only more rolling hills ahead of them and out into the distance.
A deafening wail rose up around them. Danielle lifted her hand and motioned for them to lie low. Kara kneeled beside her mother. She felt David on her right. Kara peered out into the dark desert. A twister of sand and ashes rolled across the dunes. She couldn’t see beyond the thick windstorm.
A shadow moved about two hundred feet in front of them. Kara strained to see. The thing was massive and low to the ground. The creature squatted and tilted its head, as if it were following a scent in the air. Its four legs carried a body covered in sharp spikes from head to tail. It took no heed of the three of them as it scuttled on. Grunts escaped the creature, low at first, and then it howled. Suddenly the demon charged. Kara lifted her head to see what the demon was about to assault. An elevator shaft stood above a mound of sand with its doors open. The operator cowered in a corner. He covered his head with his hands. Kara could see him shaking with fear. The demon galloped towards him, slashing at the ground as it ran.
Kara stood up—
Suddenly, a beam of white light flared and caught the demon in the chest. The creature wailed and was thrown back a hundred feet. It landed hard on the ground and skidded to a stop, its body coated in red sand. After a second, the creature struggled to its feet. Its body sizzled and popped, and Kara saw scorched flesh fall to the ground. The wind carried the smell of burnt flesh. The demon limped towards the elevator. It opened its large maw in an angry deafening roar.
Another beam of light hit the demon. The creature was hoisted in the air and hovered for a moment. A cry escaped the creature as it fell limply to the ground. It didn’t move again.
“Take that, you beast!” An oracle rolled into view. His giant crystal blazed in white flames, illuminating the oracle and the sand around him in a circle of bright light. He stood on his crystal ball, hands on his hips. He raised his fist. “There’s plenty more where that came from!”
“Come on.” Danielle led Kara and David towards the elevator. The oracle spotted them, and rolled his crystal ball with his feet to meet them. He looked relieved to see them.
“Thank you, oracle,” said Danielle. She bowed her head slightly. Her long braid rolled off her back and dangled by the side of her face. “You have no idea how much you’ve helped. Without this elevator, we can’t reach the other levels. I think this may be one of the last working elevators.”
The oracle seemed pleased with the compliment. “We oracles might be ancient, but there’s still a fighter in each of us. We won’t let our world be infected by filthy demons.” He rolled his beard around his fingers nervously.
“Kara...David...quickly now.” Danielle shot a quick glance around the desert before hopping inside the elevator. “There’s not much time. We must go. Now!”
Kara thanked the oracle and followed her mother inside the elevator. She leaned against the polished wood panels, her mind racing. A musty smell lingered in the air, just as she remembered. David pressed his back against the back panel next to her. Their eyes met. David gave her a reassuring smile. Kara didn’t smile back.
“Level three, please. Miracles Division, and hurry,” called Danielle.
Kara heard a whimper and looked down. The elevator’s operator was huddled into a tight ball near the bottom right corner of the control panel. His black fur glistened as he shivered. He looked up at her. His brown eyes were wide and wet. Kara heard clinking sounds, and she realized it came from his chattering teeth. The poor creature was terrified. He reminded her of chimp 5M51, only slightly smaller. Before she knew what she was doing, she knelt down beside him. She reached out and stroked him gently on the arm.
“You’re safe now. It’s going to be okay. What’s your name?”
She felt sorry for the chimp. No creature deserved this, especia
lly the primates. They weren’t trained fighters. This was unknown territory to them. “We need for you to be strong now. We need to get to level three. Can you do that for us?” She knew she could just press the button herself, but helping this poor creature made her feel better, even if it was briefly.
The chimp blinked up at Kara. And for a while, he didn’t move. And then he spoke. “Ch—chimp 2M24.” Slowly, the chimp rose to his feet. He stood about as tall as Kara’s middle. Although still shaking, he looked more in control of his fears. He lifted a shaking finger, and pressed the number three button on the control panel.
“Level three! Miracles Division,” said the chimp. The doors slid shut. Chimp 2M24 slumped against the wall, relieved.
With a jolt, the elevator came to life. Kara felt pressure on her head and shoulders as they lifted to a higher level. She wondered what to expect once the doors opened. Would they be in the heart of another battle?
There was a sudden violent jerk, and Kara and the others were thrown against the opposite wall. Kara reached out and held on to David. She feared they wouldn’t make it to the next level. Surprisingly, the doors opened, and Kara stared out onto a beautiful lush green valley.
Danielle was the first one out, followed by David. Kara stood by the door and looked down at the chimp. He was still shivering, but he looked more composed. Kara thanked him and jumped out.
“Let’s hurry. We don’t know what lurks in the forest.” Danielle drew out a blade. It gleamed in the sun and reflected golden streaks on her face. “Many have died protecting the mountain. We can’t linger here. Come on.”
Kara and David exchanged a look and took off after her.
Miracles Division was just as beautiful as Kara remembered. She looked up into the scarlet and orange sky that topped the thick forest. A light breeze carried the smell of pine trees and damp earth. Something caught her eye. A guardian leaned against a large tree, his body hidden in the shadows. He gave a nod as they rushed passed him. Kara noticed many others, well hidden in the dense forest. They wore long green cloaks, and Kara thought they looked like wood elves.
Kara followed the others up a dirt path. Soon the forest cleared, and she looked out across a valley to a mountain that rose high above and was lost in the clouds. At a run, they reached the base of the mountain within minutes. Black marks scorched the stone walls of the buildings that lined the main entry. Smoke coiled up and around the front. A large group of oracles and guardian angels poured water on small fires around the base of the buildings.
Danielle led them through a jungle of winding and turning walkways to a large wooden door. She pushed it open and walked through. They stood on the threshold of a large chamber. Sunlight spilled through square openings at the top. Kara recognized it instantly as one of the many healing chambers. A dozen guardian angels in blue lab coats worked feverishly mixing and measuring elements in glass containers. There was a sudden cry of alarm. One of the guardians ran past Kara holding up a glass bottle of orange liquid and dashed out the door. It looked a lot like the orange sticky substance from the Healing-Xpress.
Two exceptionally large men sat at a wooden table at the far end of the chamber. Their heads were bent in conversation and a bundle wrapped in a shiny golden cloth lay on the table. They pushed back their chairs and stood as the group entered. Kara recognized them immediately. The archangel Michael stood a head taller than Gabriel; his silky brown hair framed his perfectly chiseled face. He wore a silver and golden robe that hung snuggly around his muscular shoulders. He looked puzzled. Clearly he felt like her mother—Kara and David weren’t supposed to be here. His hazel eyes were fixed upon Kara. She looked away.
A beautiful Asian-looking woman, draped in white linen with jet-black hair that spilled all the way down her back, rushed towards them with her arms outstretched.
“Kara! David! What in the souls are you doing here?” The archangel Raphael grabbed David and Kara and squeezed them tightly against her. Kara was sure David was enjoying this. He always acted strangely when the stunning Raphael was in the same room. Finally she let them go. Kara noticed a stupid grin on David’s face. “I have no idea how you managed to get here, but I’m very happy to see you both safe … and in one piece.”
“Well, you know me, I’m indestructible.” David raked his hair with his fingers—his attempt at flirting made Kara want to gag.
Raphael laughed softly. “Yes, but always getting into trouble. Well, I’m glad you two are safe with me now.”
“I always feel safe when I’m around you …” David’s blue eyes sparkled.
Kara rolled her eyes and wished David would stop embarrassing himself. Her mother smiled at her. Kara sighed and squeezed her mother in a tight hug.
Her mother kissed the top of her head. “I’m so happy you’re safe. I was so worried.”
Kara buried her face into her mother’s shoulder. “I missed you, mom.”
Danielle rubbed her daughter’s back. “I missed you too, Kara. I wish I could have been there for you. You must have been terrified with all this supernatural stuff … about who you are … of how special you are. After Raphael brought me back, she told me everything you did for me—and for the Legion.” She pushed Kara back gently. “I’m so proud of you, my beautiful daughter.”
Kara wished she could cry, but settled on being held by her mother. She hadn’t realized how much she missed her. Kara hung her head. “I’m sorry I never believed your stories about demons, mom. You have no idea how sorry.”
Her mother laughed. Kara had forgotten how much she loved her mother’s laugh. “Don’t worry about that. How could you? I didn’t know you were chosen, like me. Had I known, things would have been different, let me tell ya. But the Legion only gave me back a few memories at a time after each mission. It’s no wonder you thought your mother was nuts. I thought I was nuts. I just wished I could have been there for you, when things got … complicated.”
Kara smiled. Her mother always made her feel better. Something occurred to her. “Mom … about my father—”
The door to the chamber burst open, and a woman collapsed to the floor. Her curly red hair was a tangled mess and covered most of her face. Her green robes were torn and covered in dust. Bright light escaped from her many wounds. She wasn’t moving.
“Camael!” Raphael rushed to the woman’s aid. She held her to her breast and wiped the hair from her face. “Camael! What happened? Who did this to you?”
The archangel struggled to open her mouth. Her lips trembled as she strained to form the words.
“Asmodeus … killed Uriel. He has conquered the High Council.”
Chapter 15
Inferno
Marked, Soul Guardians Book 1 Page 55