Marked, Soul Guardians Book 1

by Kim Richardson

  Kara gritted her teeth and held back a scream. She desperately tried to pull her fingers free, but Ranab was too heavy. She was paralyzed. The blade’s poison dripped down into her back and burned like liquid fire. She could feel her elemental power rising to the surface.

  “Get off. I don’t want to hurt you, Seir,” said Kara.

  Ranab threw back his head and laughed. “Hurt me? You can’t hurt me, little angel. Don’t you remember? It’s against your sacred laws. No angel can harm a mortal. You can’t even touch men like me that slaughter angel souls for fun. A little stupid, don’t you think?”

  His bald head gleamed in the moonlight, and the gloom of the castle’s interior walls shadowed his face. His sickly white skin and long black coat reminded Kara of Nosferatu, the vampire from the 1922 horror film. But instead of craving blood, he was after her soul.

  The sound of battle reverberated against Kara’s chest. She listened for signs of her friends. Nothing—only inhuman grunts. Had the Seirs captured her friends as well? Her body tensed as she fought to control her anger. Lilith was probably having a good laugh right about now. This wasn’t how things were supposed to work out.

  “There’s a loophole in the law,” lied Kara. “I can kill you, and I will if you don’t let me go.”

  “Ha! You think I’m stupid, little angel? I know your laws better than you. I know you can’t harm a hair on my head.”

  “You don’t have any hair.”

  Ranab kneeled down and ground his boots on Kara’s fingers. His sour breath stung her nose like toxic waste. With a flick of his wrist, he pointed a death blade in her face. “I’ve been looking for you—Kara Nightingale. You see, you’ve got something I need.”

  “Lucky me,” growled Kara and did her best to avoid his hot breath which was closer to toxic waste than mere dog breath.

  “There’s a bounty on your soul.” Ranab smiled at the confused expression on Kara’s face. “Ah—so you didn’t know, did you? Your soul is worth more than a thousand miserable angel souls. It’s the key to the gates of the netherworld. Still no idea what I’m talking about, huh? Well, it doesn’t matter. Truth is, the brethren have been looking for you all over the globe. And here you fall into my hands in a pretty package. Must be my lucky day.”

  “Luck had nothing to do with it.” Kara glowered and wished she could slap the smile off his face. “You’re just as psychotic as your mistress. I’m warning you...you better let me go.”

  Ranab lowered his brows. “Or what? You’ll tickle me to death? You’re not going anywhere. It’s the end of the road for you, angel. It’s over; you’re done. But my life is just beginning. Your soul will get me far beyond the third plane.”

  He grinned widely, revealing rows of stained brown teeth like rotten corn. The tip of his blade grazed against her cheek, burning her mortal flesh. She blinked the vapors from her eyes. “A Seir needs one thousand angel souls to pass through the third plane and into the gates of the netherworld. I’ve been waiting thirty-seven years for this chance. My mistress has promised me unimaginable power. I will be immortal once I give her your soul. I will join my brethren in the netherworld—and we will feast on the souls of mortals forever.”

  Rage rippled in Kara’s breast. Once again she was a pawn in Lilith’s game. How better to get rid of her than to have an army of Seirs chasing her for the very thing they desire above all else—access to the netherworld. Kara knew she would be hunted wherever she went. Lilith was up to something, and she needed Kara out of her way.

  The exhilarating warmth of her elemental power soared through her like a shot of adrenaline, and she strained to control it.

  Shaking from the poison in her body, Kara met Ranab’s glare. “You’re sick, all of you. You’d kill your own innocent people for power and for the chance to become a demon—it’s disgusting, and totally crazy.”

  Ranab’s dark brows wrinkled into a scowl. He moved closer to Kara. “They’re not innocent. They’ve destroyed this world, plagued it with their own greed.” He looked over to the crowd of fighting mortals.

  Kara pulled her right hand free from under his boot.

  “They don’t deserve to live,” he continued. “Look around you, angel.”

  Ranab lifted his arms. Wails and frantic cries filled the night air. “They’re weak, pathetic— they’re a virus that we need to exterminate—and we will destroy them all.”

  Kara gripped a hand full of dirt with her free hand. “What did you do with the children?” She winced as the death blade dug deeper into her back.

  Ranab bent closer and smiled at her discomfort. The smell of rot oozed from the pores of his skin. “That is no concern of yours.” He leaned back on his heels. “Besides, you’ll be dead in a few seconds, little angel—your soul will buy my immortality. There is no one here to save you. Your soul is mine.”

  “You’re crazy.” Kara spat out the last of the dirt in her mouth, glad to add to the effect. It hit Ranab in the face. “The last I checked, my soul belonged to me—not some deranged mortal who likes to play dress up. You’re worse than the demons. You had a choice, and you picked the wrong side.”

  Ranab laughed and wiped the dirt from his face with his hand. “I like you, you’re feisty. At least you should be thankful because your death means something. This will be a glorious day for my brethren—the precious Kara Nightingale’s soul is the key to my glory. And of course, we can’t forget the other three angel souls. All in a day’s work; it’s quite a catch.” His dark eyes glistened eagerly.

  Kara set her jaw. Anger flared inside her. She wasn’t about to let this clown do her in. Golden sparks illuminated her skin, and a rush of warm energy washed through her body. She would have to be careful. She knew just a small amount of her elemental power would kill the Seir. She had to do something.

  Kara tried to pull her left hand free from under Ranab’s boot, but it wouldn’t move.

  “Kara!” Kara heard David shout. Boots trampled nearby. She heard him yell again and then the sound of fists hitting flesh. She had to help her friends.

  She squirmed against the hard ground, but it was like trying to move through cement. The poison blade dug deeper into her back. Soon it would devour her completely, and she would die. Kara trembled in rage. She struggled to stay focused and calm.

  She was ready.

  Ranab loomed over her and smiled. She scowled back. He grabbed a fistful of Kara’s hair and pulled. Her head snapped back forcefully. Cool metal grazed her neck and his hot breath soiled her face.

  “Say goodnight, little angel . . .”

  “Not yet.”

  Kara threw a handful of earth in Ranab’s eyes.

  He yelled and stumbled back. Kara struggled to her feet. The death blade hung in her back, tearing her flesh. With tremendous effort, she reached back and pulled it out. She smelled burnt flesh. The hilt of the blade burned her fingers, and she tossed it away. But the poison gushed into her body like sick blood, hungry for her soul. Her M-5 suit was weakening. It wouldn’t last very long.

  “I’ll make you suffer for this.” Ranab rubbed his red eyes with the back of his hand. “You’re dead!” With a giant leap, he lunged his death blade towards her.

  With lightning speed Kara ducked, swiveled, and side kicked Ranab in the shins. He staggered and fell to his knees. Cursing, he glowered at Kara.

  Kara smiled. “Looks like I’m not dead after all.” Without a second to waste, she bolted towards the gatehouse. She pushed her M-5 with all it had left, feeling the energy drain with every step.

  She could see Peter and Jenny behind the exterior gatehouse wall. Their petrified faces were fixed on the horrid battle. Jenny caught Kara’s eye and motioned with her hand impatiently.

  David was nowhere in sight.

  Terrifying wails and the smell of death filled the air around her like a nightmare on the repeat button. The cold stone floor and darkness of Tartarus were a five star hotel compared to this. Lilith was like the black plague, striking th
e innocent as she went. It was time to put a stop to it.

  A sting shot through her arm.

  Kara staggered and turned. A glint of silver flashed off the blade of a knife. With her reflexes in overdrive, she blocked another strike, inches from her eyes, kicked her attacker in the gut and jumped back.

  Her assailant was a short blond girl, about Kara’s age. But her eyes were glazed with madness, and she snarled at Kara like a wild dog. Her once beautiful face was contorted with hate. Her dirty fingers were curled back like claws, and blood dripped from her nose. Her white shirt was torn and stained with dirt and blood, and her pants were unrecognizable under the layers of grime. With a wild grunt, she charged at Kara with a kitchen knife.

  Kara dodged the attack and knocked the girl down with a blow to her shoulder. The girl fell and rolled onto the ground. She looked up at Kara. Her wet hair stuck to her face and made her look even wilder. A mixture of sorrow and anger welled inside Kara. She was supposed to protect mortals. This girl had probably been studying or talking on the phone with her girlfriends when Lilith had enchanted her. Kara saw herself in this girl.

  The girl screamed like a banshee in a wild tantrum and threw herself at Kara again, slashing the night air with her nails and knife.

  Kara jumped back. “Please, stop. Don’t do this.”

  She studied the girl’s face for a glimpse of sanity, but there was nothing there but the wild eyes of madness. Had Lilith turned her into a zombie?

  The girl swung the knife at Kara’s throat. Kara caught the girl’s hand easily, grabbed the knife, and pinned her arms at her side. The girl howled and thrashed against Kara’s grip. Heads turned in their direction. Men and women grunted angrily as they detached themselves from the killing mob and stumbled forward. Foaming from their mouths, they charged again.

  The young girl snapped her teeth together like a piranha, inches from Kara’s face. Kara jerked her head back just in time. “Seriously? I don’t have time for this.”

  The mob approached. The girl kicked and screamed violently in Kara’s grip.

  In the corner of her eye, Kara caught a glimpse of black coats. Two enormous Seirs charged at her like two great black bulls and blocked her way to the gatehouse. Her situation was worsening by the second.

  The mass of mortals was upon her. Their dull maddened eyes shone with hatred, teeth bared and ready.

  Swish. A death blade flew in the air . . .

  Kara averted the blade and flung the snapping girl toward the Seirs.

  Instantly the mob followed the girl and turned on the Seirs. The Seirs lashed out at the wild mortals. Howls echoed throughout the courtyard. Kara’s hairs stood on end at the sound of fists hitting flesh. The Seirs hacked at the crowd with their blades like made butchers. But the crowd kept coming. The blond girl tackled one of the Seirs, and they both went down. The Seirs disappeared under the flood of mortals.

  “Kara, quickly, let’s go!” Jenny’s purple hair stood out in the gloomy darkness of the courtyard, and almost made Kara smile. “We’re going to bring the gate down and lock them in. Everyone’s safe outside. You’re the only one left. Come on!”

  Jenny turned on her heels and ran back towards the gatehouse. Kara ran closely behind. The frantic screams and dull thud of fists hitting flesh tapered off behind them. The gateway loomed up ahead, and Kara could see shadows moving beyond the gate. They were almost there.

  Then something bright illuminated the darkness for a moment and went out.

  Kara halted.

  Jenny stopped short and turned around. “Kara, what are you doing? We have to go. We’ll all get killed if we stay any longer. This is crazy!” She pulled at Kara’s arm.

  Kara gently peeled her friend’s fingers from her arm. “There’s something I have to do first—bring the gate down if I’m not back in sixty seconds.”

  “Kara! No!”

  Kara turned and ran back towards the angry mob.

  As she rushed back ignoring Jenny’s pleads, a sudden spell of dizziness gushed through her body. Her legs bucked and she fell on her knees hard. Flailing arms reached out and grabbed her. Sticks probed, and something hard hit her on the side of the head. A fork perforated her thigh just as stinging pain erupted in her back. Rough hands pulled at her jacket and pinned her arms back. With a surge of strength she wiggled her arms free, only to be punched in the gut several times by large boots. Her face hit the ground. The smell of earth filled her nose. Distorted faces plagued her vision. Her screams were drowned under the wails of the crazed mortals. Rough hands groped her arms and legs. They pulled with enormous strength. They were going to rip her apart. Lilith was right. She would die in the hands of those she was sworn to protect.

  Kara closed her eyes.

  With a blast of golden light, Kara’s body was aflame in a shower of golden brilliance. The mortals hissed and backed away, maddened with fear.

  Glowing like a sun, Kara searched above the crazed mortals and around the courtyard . . .

  She saw Ranab and the five brilliant white spheres bouncing in the net on his shoulders. The souls were her priority. If she couldn’t save the mortals, she could at least save the souls.

  Kara dashed across the courtyard. She couldn’t feel the poison from the death blade anymore; she felt free. She dodged the men and women who scurried away from her golden body like rats.

  Ranab kicked out furiously at the pack of wild mortals who were attacking him from all sides.

  Kara reached out for the net.

  Ranab opened his mouth and stared wild-eyed at Kara.

  “Thanks, I’ll take that.” In a flash, Kara grabbed the net, turned on her heel, and rocketed back towards the gatehouse.

  Ranab pushed his way through a wall of mortals. His long black coat rippled behind him like a black wave. He raised his blade and shouted.

  “You’re mine, angel. Don’t let her get away! Get her! I want that soul!”

  Kara bolted back towards the gatehouse. The souls bounced gently against her back.

  Ranab jumped in front of her, brandishing his blade. A wicked grin spread over his white face. “You’re not going anywhere. Your soul is mine!” With a sinister gleam in his eye, he swung a powerful blow towards Kara’s head. She parried to the side, grabbed a fistful of his jacket, pulled it over his head, and kicked him hard in the knee. He teetered and went down like a rock.

  Kara was already on the move.

  Ranab threw his jacket to the ground. “Stop her! I want that soul! Don’t let her get away you fools!”

  Kara leapt over the oncoming Seirs and charged towards the gatehouse.

  David stood by the interior wall of the main entrance. A large metal lattice grille hung dangerously above him. Metal chains from the portcullis curled around a winch mounted on the internal wall four feet above his head. He grasped the metal winch and waited.

  “Kara, they’re right behind you. Floor it!” shouted David.

  Kara put on speed. Her boots grazed the ground as if she were floating in the air. Just a few more paces, and she was out.

  Pushing his weight into it, David turned the wheel with all his might. The metal chains spun around the winch. An earsplitting screech echoed around the courtyard. The ground trembled as though the ancient castle had suddenly awakened from a long sleep.

  The black metal spikes of the gate protruded beneath the archway.

  Kara flew through the air into the waiting hands of her friends and landed on her stomach like a baseball player sliding into home plate.

  With a thunderous crash, the gate came down.

  Kara spit the dust out of her mouth and smiled.

  Chapter 5

  Coup D’état