Marked, Soul Guardians Book 1

by Kim Richardson

When Kara opened her eyes, she was outside, and David was staring down at her.

  “I’ve never been happier to see those big brown eyes,” he said. “Welcome back to the world of the living—”

  “—and the dead,” interrupted Jenny. Her purple hair reflected in the light behind David.

  “Spirit walkers,” Jenny laughed, “I’m actually starting to like the sound of that—maybe those witches weren’t so bad after all.”

  Kara smiled. “Maybe they weren’t. Maybe they were just...different.”

  Besides having a jumbo migraine, Kara felt fine. She let David pull her up to her feet. The ground wavered for a second—and then she felt an emptiness, like something was missing, like when you know you’ve forgotten something, but you just can’t put your finger on it. Something was different.

  Kara turned her palms over and examined her hands. She wasn’t sure what she would find— perhaps some remnant of her power. Her hands didn’t appear to be any different from before, and yet she knew her power was gone. She just knew. Her elemental power was spent, like a dead battery. What the Chief had said was all true.

  “Kara, what is it?” asked David seeing Kara’s mystified expression. “Why are you staring at your hands?”

  As the realization sunk in, she looked up at David and Jenny. “It’s gone.”

  “What’s gone?” asked David and Jenny together.

  “My power—my elemental power. I used it all...and now it’s gone. I’ll never be elemental again—I’m normal. The Chief said so.”

  “The Chief?” asked David. “The big Cheese? The head honcho? Mr. VIP himself? No way?”

  Kara described her conversation with the Chief.

  David and Jenny just looked at her, but they weren’t sure what to say.

  Jenny was the first to speak, “Are you okay with that? I mean, that was a huge deal for you, wasn’t it, being elemental and all? I was always kind of envious of you, you know—having a special power.”

  Kara laughed. “I wouldn’t be envious. It’s weird, but I feel amazing, like a huge weight’s been lifted off my shoulders.”

  She focused on David. “I can finally be normal—and maybe have a normal life.” Kara and David studied one another, and she knew he had put it together. He smiled, his sky—blue eyes danced playfully.

  Jenny pouted. “So you’re not a guardian anymore? That sucks. Are you sure?”

  “Quite sure.”

  “And you’re happy about that,” asked Jenny a little more put out.

  “I am. I truly am.”

  Before Kara could explain further, the ground shook and thousands of brilliant spheres flew up from a gap in the ground. It was like an upside—down waterfall. The black sky was immediately illuminated with thousands of brilliant white spheres. Kara felt as if she had just stepped into space and was staring at a newborn galaxy. The souls hovered for a moment in front of Kara—almost as if they were saying thank you—and then they shot up into the dark sky like stars until they disappeared into the night sky. Kara knew the souls were safe.

  “Where do you think they’re going?” asked Jenny.

  Kara breathed in the cool air. “Back to their bodies. They’ll be reborn into children—life will continue.”

  All the pent up emotions that she had stored up since the start of the mission were released with the restoration of the souls to the sky. Hot tears fell down her face. It was over. Finally.

  With her heart in her throat, Kara walked over to Lilith’s body and kneeled. Her sister’s skin was snow—white. She had a serene expression on her face. She didn’t look dead—she looked like Sleeping Beauty, so calm and peaceful. Carefully, Kara untied the leather bracelet from around her own wrist and tied it gently around Lilith’s left wrist. As she folded her sister’s hands on her chest, she noticed that her skin was ice—cold and had started to turn grey.

  “It’s brought me luck, now it’s yours. May it bring you luck wherever you go.” She bent over and kissed her sister’s forehead.

  Kara leaned back, and Lilith’s body glowed with brilliant particles, as though it had been painted in diamonds. Kara covered her eyes and watched as her sister’s soul lifted in the air and disappeared into the sky. And when Kara looked down again, Lilith’s body had vanished.

  “Can someone help me up?”

  Kara turned to see a battered yet very alive Gideon. She rushed to his side and squeezed the old man in a tight embrace.

  “You’re choking me girl! Let me go. Let me go.” His face was blackened, and his hair was still smoking. He looked like a blown out candle.

  Beaming, Kara let him go. “I thought you were dead! I thought the warlock killed you.”

  After wiping himself down, Gideon stood tall and proud. “Tut—takes more than warlock magic to kill old Gideon. I’m a witch doctor.” He smiled, and Kara knew there was more to Gideon than he let on.

  David smacked Gideon on the back. “Never thought I’d be pleased to see you and your dead pets again, grandpa.” He poked the dead fox’s glass eye with his finger and jumped back when he saw Gideon’s angry face.

  “I see all is well, then,” Gideon’s smile returned. “I said ya could do it. And ya did, Kara, you really did.”

  Kara felt the blood rush to her face. “Well, I couldn’t have done it without you.”

  Jenny stood beside her, as Kara held out her hand. “Thank you Gideon, for helping us. Truce?”

  She waited as if she thought Gideon might take a swing at her.

  At first, Gideon just glared at her. And then his expression softened, and he shook her hand.

  “Didn’t think I’d ever shake hands with the dead. I must be going crazy in my old age.”

  He looked at Jenny and David. “But I’m happy to know Kara has such good friends looking out for her, even if ya are spirit walkers.”

  Jenny and David laughed. Kara was amazed that the witch doctor had warmed to her spirit friends.

  A reflected yellow light in the snow caught Kara’s eye. She knelt down and pulled out Olga’s pendant. It looked brand new, exactly like the first time she had seen it. She held it in her palm and thanked it silently.

  “Look who’s decided to join the party,” announced David.

  Ashley and her team strolled into view. Ashley’s expression soured when she saw Kara. She crossed her arms. “What’s going on here? You’re supposed to be on a mission, not a stroll in the park. Where is the warlock? Did you let him go?” she laughed cynically, and her team followed her example.

  “No, he’s dead,” said Kara cheerfully. “I killed him—and the other ones. The warlocks are all dead. They won’t be bothering the legion anymore.”

  Ashley’s expression crumbled.

  Kara met Ashley’s glare. “I guess we didn’t need your backup after all. The mission was a success—without you.”

  Kara paused for a second and then continued, “You tried to make me feel bad about being different. You wanted me to fail and to feel like a freak so you could laugh at me, didn’t you? You wanted to turn the legion against me.” Kara sneered. “So who’s laughing now?”

  “I am,” laughed David. He pointed to Ashley and her team and began laughing like a lunatic.

  Ashley lowered her eyes. “Who is this?” She pointed at Gideon, who jumped back in surprise. “Using mortals to do your bidding is a capital offense. I will have to report you.” Ashley’s cold smile returned. “Ariel will be very angry with you—you won’t be in her good favor for long.”

  Kara laughed softly. “That’s Gideon, a witch doctor—and my friend. And you can write up a ginormous report on me all you want. Why don’t you run along and tell Ariel that we didn’t need you after all—that she had made the right decision in sending me and my friends on this mission—and not you.”

  Ashley spun around and stormed out the park without another word, her minions following her like sheep.

  Kara shook her head and laughed. “Listen, guys. I only have a few minutes left bef
ore I—”

  “Disappear on us again,” said David. “Thought that might happen again.”

  “Well, I’m looking forward to a normal life for a change,” said Kara. She held up the witch’s pendant. “Gideon, take this. I can’t keep it. I’m sure Olga would want you to have it.”

  The witch doctor’s eyes brightened, and he took the pendant carefully in his large hands.

  He beamed. “I would have loved to see that old bat one more time, but I guess we’ll see each other soon in another life.” He pulled the pendant over his smoking black afro.

  “Goodbye, Gideon, and thank you.”

  “It was a pleasure,” said the witch doctor, and he bowed.

  Kara turned and hugged Jenny. “I’ll see you again—I’m sure of it. This isn’t really good bye you know.”

  Jenny stepped back. “I know. You deserve a normal life Kara—for a little while at least,” she winked.

  “We have to get going soon, too,” said David. “We’ve been in our M—suits for a long time.”

  “He’s right. And I’m anxious to know how Peter is doing,” said Jenny.

  Kara felt a cool flutter pass through her like a shiver. She looked down at herself. Her body was becoming transparent, like a ghost.

  “It’s happening.” She trembled with excitement and happiness. She couldn’t wait to see her mom healthy and safe, and to start her new life with David.

  “Say hi to Peter for me, and tell him I’ll miss him.”

  “We will,” said Jenny, despite her smile her eyes were sad.

  David laced his fingers with Kara’s. “I’ll see you soon, my little witch. You can cast a spell on me anytime.”

  As she held her friends’ gazes one last time, she felt David squeeze her fingers. Then she vanished.

  Chapter 22

  Full Circle