Marked, Soul Guardians Book 1

by Kim Richardson

Kara stood alone in the center of the chamber, a constant ringing hammered in her ears. Her spirit was broken. David was gone forever. He was dead. Asmodeus had killed him. The floor began to waver. She closed her eyes, and let herself fall.

  She heard a whisper of her name—it felt so far away. She lay on the cold stone floor, numb to the world around her. She felt hands gently pick her up and arms around her. Kara opened her eyes.

  “Mom.”

  Kara sobbed into her mother’s chest. She cried out David’s name. But as a guardian angel, no tears came. No release from the pain like when she’d been a mortal and her tears could wash away her sadness. In Horizon she had no release, and so the pain was a hundred times worse.

  “What a beautiful family reunion, don’t you think?” Kara heard Asmodeus say. “Finally, we are a family once again. Ah … I feel all tingly inside.”

  Kara lifted her head from her mother’s shoulder. “You … are not my family,” she hissed, and added as much venom to her words as she could.

  Asmodeus lifted his hands in defeat. “Now, now, dear daughter. Don’t be angry with me, although I hear that teenagers are not supposed to get along with their parents. So I believe your hatred towards me is completely natural. He was no good for you, Kara, I promise. I can give you as many boy toys as you want. Just say the word, and they’re yours.”

  Asmodeus stepped off the platform gracefully and sauntered towards them.

  “You’re sick.”

  “Not at all. I feel great.” The demon lord kicked out his feet and danced about the room. “I’ve never been better! I am undefeated, you see. I have all the power now. I will crush what’s left of the mortal world and rule the spirit world. Horizon is mine at last.” His face cracked into an evil grin. He looked up and addressed the hoards of demons that lurked in and around the chamber seats. “Demons! As promised, Horizon is ours. And today we shall feast—feast on the souls of angels!”

  The entire chamber went up in a roar. Higher and lesser demons alike joined in what Kara thought sounded like some type of ceremonial chant. They threw back their heads and howled. The room shook, and Kara felt the floor beneath her vibrate. Demons jumped from the walls and landed amidst the mob of creatures below. Their chanting grew louder. They circled around Kara and her mother. The smell of rot was mixed with the sour stink of demon breath. Kara saw the terror in her mother’s eyes. She felt it too. They were about to become a main course on the demon’s menu.

  “What’s going to happen to my mom and me?” asked Kara, with panic in her voice.

  Asmodeus sighed. “You’ve made it very clear to me that you don’t want to be part of my … family. So what do you think will happen to you? You’re a clever girl. I’ll give you a hint—it rhymes with breath—”

  The demon lord laughed and twirled on the spot.

  The clouds parted suddenly, and a ray of sunshine seeped through from above. It lit a tiny part of the chamber in a soft yellow light for a moment, and then went out. But a flicker of light had caught Kara’s attention—the inferno blade lay a few feet from her.

  The demon lord pulled at his cuffs. “I’m definitely going to need a new suit. But not before we do a little cleansing first.” He looked up and his eyes landed on Gabriel. He smiled. “Zadkiel. I need you to bring me that pathetic archangel over there. I’m in need of a little tonic to brighten my mood.”

  Kara looked over to Gabriel. He hadn’t moved from his spot, as he clung to a nearby bench for support. With his jaw set, the big archangel looked determined to die without fear—to die the true death.

  And then it hit her. She knew what she was supposed to do.

  Kara pushed away from her mother gently and rushed over to the dagger. She picked it up. The flames spilled around her hand and arm, but she felt only a slight tingling sensation. She gripped it firmly in her hand. It felt light and natural.

  Asmodeus’s face twisted. He laughed out loud. “What’s this? Wait a minute, Zadkiel … my daughter wishes to do me more harm, don’t you, Kara.”

  Kara ignored him. Instead, she walked calmly over to where her father stood, looking elegant even in his ruin red suit. The blade hung by her side.

  “That blade cannot hurt me, silly girl. Don’t you get it? I am eternal. Nothing can harm me, ever again.”

  Kara stood before the demon lord. She sensed the dagger’s power in her right hand. The golden flames tickled her skin. She thought of David. She remembered his beautiful blue eyes—her best friend—her mentor. She remembered his soft lips on hers when they had kissed the first time—she had been in love with him since then. She remembered how amazing it had felt to be held in his strong arms—his face had evaporated into nothingness in front of her. She would never see him again.

  Asmodeus giggled like a schoolboy. “This day is proving to be better than I’d anticipated. My daughter … trying to kill me … once again.” The demon lord clapped his hands excitedly.

  With no expression on her face, Kara locked her eyes with her father’s.

  “You’re wrong. This blade is not for you, dear father. It’s for me—”

  Kara drove the dagger into her chest. She heard her mother scream.

  She focused on Asmodeus. Her elemental power, the dagger’s power, and her angel essence combined. She felt the three sources combine into one unimaginable power. She ignored the excruciating pain and focused only on Asmodeus. He needed to die.

  She felt a burning sensation, then the smell of burnt flesh. She looked down at her body. Her angel skin was slipping off her, into a puddle on the floor. She was melting away like a wax figure. Soon, her entire skin was gone. Only a shell of bright golden light remained. Kara knew she was dying, like David. She knew she didn’t have much time before her body dissolved completely.

  She focused all her energy on Asmodeus. She raised her arms in the air. Golden light blasted through her hands and hit her demon father.

  He staggered backwards, surprised.

  “What’s this?” His body was consumed in a golden fire. He waved his hands frantically. Kara heard the crackling of fire. Asmodeus screamed and ran blindly around the chamber, desperately trying to put out the flames. His loud screeching echoed throughout the chamber, and then he was still. Only the flames moved as they danced in and around his body. Kara could see to the other side of the chamber through large gaps in his body. He tipped over and hit the floor. His flaming body exploded into a puff of black dust. Small particles hung in the air for a moment and then disappeared into nothing.

  Kara felt her life force leaving her body. She managed to walk over to the spot where David had died and collapsed to the ground.

  She can hear her mother’s soft voice calling out to her. But she cannot see her. She tries to answer, but her mouth will not move. The sweet sound of her mother’s voice wraps around her. Kara is glad her mother is finally safe. The Legion is safe. Horizon is safe. She has done her duty.

  She knows that she is ready, and she lets herself go.

  Chapter 19

  A penthouse in the stars