He chuckled. “We have fifteen contracts to go. Imagine that. Fifteen.” He whipped around while laughing, forcing me to hold on to him tighter. He moved faster and faster until everything blurred except his eyes, which flashed with merriment. “Then I’ll be free. Free to do anything, to give you whatever you want.”
His laughter was contagious. I flung my arms out as he continued to spin and screamed with glee.
Then something blocked the sun. Probably his wings, was my first thoughts, but then a chill crawled up my spine like icicles grazing heated skin. Bran must have felt it too, because he stopped, turned, and looked around.
The crackling-cloud demon moved leisurely toward us, looking bigger and more ominous in the day than against any night sky. The edges swelled like a thousand, fat worms, the core so bright the sun paled in comparison.
My stomach sank and my heart started beating fast. For a week, I’d dreaded this moment. Dreaded and felt ashamed, because as a Cardinal I wasn’t supposed to be scared of demons. I reached for my dagger then realized I still wore my swimsuit. I had left the Kris Dagger behind in my bag.
- 3 -
THE VOICE
Lightning shot from the cloud’s core and speared through the air, speeding toward the ocean. Another plume appeared beside it as though spat by the air. They drifted apart, darting around like scavengers searching for food or…victims.
“They’re acting like hunters,” I whispered.
“Yeah. The question is, what are they after?”
“Us.”
“Or the portal. The one in Myrtle Beach didn’t fight back. It must have a different agenda.”
Nothing could penetrate the glamour and the shield the Circle of Twelve placed around the islands, but when it came to these demons, nothing we knew mattered. Below us, the Guardians looked tiny and defenseless. “We must warn the others.”
“Yeah. Go.” Bran squinted at me. “I need to study them, see if I can find a weakness. Tell Remy the students should head to the portal. Teleporting back to the valley will only leave telegates.”
I frowned. “Are you sure about staying up here?”
“We are still inside the glamoured and protected zone.”
Bran liked to take chances, which could be a problem when we were dealing with these particular demons. “Don’t cross the boundaries or let them sense you.”
He chuckled. “Aye, aye, captain.”
“I’m serious, Bran.”
“I know.” He stopped smirking, nudged me forward, and added, “Ride the wave until you can see a safe landing spot.”
I didn’t know what he meant, until something cold and wet lapped my feet, and I looked down. A gush of water snaked from the ocean surface like the tongue of a lizard. The top hardened into an iceberg surfboard. Having a boyfriend with water abilities, who also knew I was clumsy when I teleported, had its perks.
“Thanks.” I let go of him and steadied myself on the icy board, knees slightly bent. I loved to surf. “Don’t stay up here too long.”
“I’m right behind you.”
The bite of the wind on my skin was brief and quickly forgotten. My mind was on the demons and how they’d found us. Even Coronis had never known about Pearls Island.
Closer to the ground, I found an empty spot on the beach and teleported. Brushing sand off my hands, I looked around. Everyone’s attention was on the demons, including my team of Cardinals and the Security Guardians, who already held their weapons.
Remy? I telepathed.
He waved me over.
The students need to head to the portal and Xenith. I ran toward my tote bag.
Why? he called back.
Going to the valley will leave telegates. Bran said the portal is secure. I grabbed my dagger, motioned the students closest to me and pointed toward the forest. Go!
The other Cardinals echoed my orders. Students took off at a run. We were trained to stay calm under pressure, which inspired confidence in others, but a demonic attack wasn’t something to be taken lightly. Especially not when we had about fifty students and teachers with us.
Led by the Security Guardians, they disappeared into the forest where the portal was located. Some paused to glance at the angry, lightning-spitting demons before they disappeared inside the shadowy woods. They were first-year students, sixteen-year olds with new powers who had never met a demon, and probably wouldn’t since most of them weren’t powerful enough to become Cardinal Guardians.
I strapped on my dagger and joined the others.
“How can he stay up there when we don’t know what those demons are capable of?” Izzy asked in disbelief.
“Because he can,” Sykes said in an envious whisper. “I could kill for wings right now.”
“I’m right behind you,” Bran had said. I should have known. My gaze shifted from him to the large masses moving across the sky, looking more like a volcanic plume wrapped in lightning. One changed directions and appeared to head straight for our island.
“They’ve located us,” Izzy whispered.
“No, they haven’t,” Remy said. “The shield is holding.”
From the corner of my eyes, I caught Sykes’ fingers flex. Two alpha energy orbs materialized above his palm, the blue core coiling with energy. “What are you doing?”
“Getting ready to kick ass,” Sykes said with a smirk. “I don’t care what books say about the shield around here. Do they mention nature-benders? The Specials? Fire demons up there? I. Don’t. Think. So.”
Bran was flying higher and getting too close to one of the demons. My hand tightened around my dagger, as I seriously started to question his sanity.
Get down, I yelled just as the demon released a lightning bolt. My heart nearly stopped as I watched the bolt zip through the air not too far from Bran and hit the water. Thankfully it was outside the shield. Then Bran disappeared and rematerialized beside us without losing his balance, despite the massive wings.
“Did you learn anything, Llyr?” Remy asked.
Bran nodded. “There’s a something inside the cloud. The cloud and the lightning are just covers.”
“The cowards. I say let’s just nuke them,” Sykes said, bouncing the alpha energy balls as he would basketballs. Kim was ready too, stance wide, hands open and extended. The air above her palms churned so fast it distorted the images seen through it.
“If we do it from here, we’ll give away the location of the island and the portal,” Remy said.
“So let’s use maneuvers 24a followed by 35d from Battle Strategies II,” Bran said.
Remy scowled, then nodded. “It might just work.”
“Whoa, slow down,” Sykes interrupted. “What in Tartarus are 24a and 35d?”
“Create a decoy and lure away from target then attack,” Izzy said absentmindedly while adjusting the arrows on her crossbow. “Seriously, do you ever read Battle Strategies?”
“No, Miss Judgmental.” Sykes made a face. “I believe in learning from experience.” He glared at Bran. “Next time just say ‘the move we pulled in the Bayou’. So how are we going to do this? We’re in the middle of the freakin’ ocean.”
“I’ll create islands of icebergs,” Bran said.
“I’ll cover them with rocks and sand for traction,” Remy added.
“And I’ll move them around and create confusion, so the demons won’t pinpoint our exact location,” Kim threw over her shoulder. Her wind tunnel had picked up moisture from the air and was now visible.
“That’s right,” Bran added. “We’ll teleport from island to island as we attack.”
“Great.” The energy balls fizzled out and Sykes rubbed his hands. “Get moving, pronto. Lil got lucky but we haven’t kicked serious demon butts in weeks. I need my fix.”
“What can we do to help?” a man asked from behind us and we turned. The Security Guardians were back from leading the students to the portal. They were five of them, two women and three men, all packing daggers.
“Guard the portal,�
�� Bran said. “If they get past us, leave and seal the portal from your side.”
“You can’t do that,” Kim snapped. “It’s the only portal left.”
“This is the standard protocol, Kim,” Remy said impatiently.
“Go,” Bran ordered the Security Guardians, then made eye contact with me. “Distract the demons.”
“Got it.” My lightning bolts didn’t originate from my fingers like most demons, or above my palm like Sykes’ energy balls—I willed them with my mind. With the shield and glamour on, the demons wouldn’t be able to pinpoint my location.
I turned to face my target. Focusing, I took a deep breath, drew strength from within, and let the demon have it. Lightning bolts appeared around the white mass west of us and blasted it from all directions. It rocked, rose higher then suddenly dipped.
Bran grinned when our gazes met. He always got a kick out of watching me fight, until the demons got too close and his protective instinct took over.
“You’d better leave,” I told him. “I don’t know how long I can fool them.”
“How are we going to do this?” Remy asked, sounding doubtful.
“From underwater. Don’t worry, I have your back.” The two waded past the shallow stretch of the beach and dove in.
In the sky, the other demon changed directions and went to the rescue of the first one, ribbons of lightning criss-crossing the sky as they returned fire with fire. I caught the second one unaware, cutting across its path.
“Tartarus pit! We have a third one,” Sykes said.
Chaos followed as the demonic clouds moved left and right. The new arrival kept teleporting and reappearing in different parts of the sky.
“How long can you keep this up?” Izzy asked in a worried voice, a hand on her forehead as she shielded her eyes from the glare of the sun.
“Not long.” A dull ache was quickly building on my temples. My vision blurred and dizziness washed over me, all signs that I was overusing my powers. I grasped the hilt of the Kris Dagger. A surge of raw energy pulsed through me, replenishing my psi energy. The headache disappeared along with the dizziness, and my vision cleared.
“It won’t be long before they realize there’s no one out there,” Kim warned.
“They just did,” Izzy said in a worried voice as the annoying third one shot downward and into the ocean. She angled her crossbow. “That one must have spotted Remy and Bran.”
My stomach dipped. I scanned for Remy and Bran, found their psi and pinged them. “They are okay.”
How is it going? Bran asked.
There’s a demon in the water. Watch your back. Flares appeared from the corner of my eyes as alpha energy balls materialized above Sykes’ palms again. The wind picked up behind me as Kim’s wind tunnel grew bigger.
We’ve created four. One more to—
A sharp tug on my psi energy cut off our communication. I tried to block it, but a link was already formed. The pressure in my head shot up, forcing me to stop attacking the demons in the air. Shouts came from the others but I couldn’t make sense of their words. My skull felt like a nut in a nutcracker, white-hot pain seared across my head.
I opened my mouth to tell the others what was happening to me, but my mouth couldn’t open. My arms grew heavy and my breathing became shallow as though someone cut off my air supply. Everything became blurry then white. Finally, darkness crept in and chased away the light.
The clang of metal hitting metal pierced the air and mixed with screams, hisses, and screeches. Thuds shook the ground, each like a slap at my psyche.
I tried to move and search for the sources of these sounds, but my body stayed frozen. My arms and mind were at odds too. I tried to reach for my dagger with little result. Frustration roiled through me. My toes curled and sank in the sand, the only proof that I was standing at the beach, that all of this was real. My eyes moved too, thank goodness.
Still, I couldn’t tell where I was or whether the others were with me or not. The shadows pressed heavy on my senses. After months of drawing strength from energies around me, I was being sucked into a hole where nothing existed. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t see a single energy. My fear of darkness returned.
I closed my eyes, resorting to my old way of sensing things. Nothing.
Sighing, I opened my eyes and searched through the darkness for hope, anything. I opened my mouth to call to the others, but either the din swallowed the sound or I couldn’t produce any. Maybe I didn’t even open my mouth.
A movement appeared from the corner of my eyes then something shiny reflected light as it sliced the air. More appeared, the sound of metal against metal growing louder. Squinting, I studied them and realization dawned. There were weapons, swords and daggers thrusting and slicing. A battle raged around me and all I could do was watch, helpless and confused.
Bran? Remy? Sykes? Izzy? Kim? What’s going on? Can you guys hear me?
Once again, my telepathic questions went unanswered. I squinted, trying to see if my friends were among the fighters, but I couldn’t see faces, just silhouettes against a starless sky. Who’s out there? Where am I?
My senses threatened to explode from the echoes of pain and death. Bodies fell from the sky. Something sticky dripped on my arms, my head and face. Blood. Even in the darkness, I knew it. I smelled it. Swallowing, I tried to move again. Somebody help me, I screamed.
Tiny flakes fluttered down from the sky and fell on my head and on top of the bodies on the ground. No, not snowflakes. Feathers. Downy ones and larger ones, like the ones covering Bran’s wings. Guardians were being slaughtered.
Bran? Remy? I called to them again and again, but it was useless.
They are here and you must stop them, a woman’s voice, faint but sweet, broke through the murkiness. With it came light so brilliant I closed my eyes against the glare.
Who? I asked, opening my eyelids and squinting.
The Tribe…. The deafening resonance swallowed the rest of her words, yet I still couldn’t see anything, not the source of the voice or the light.
Tribe? What tribe?
Faint words followed. I strained to hear her with little success. Then her voice grew audible. Fight back or they’ll win again. There was a familiar lilt to it, yet I couldn’t place it. Don’t make my sacrifices be for nothing.
The screams, now jarring chords like a choir singing out of sync, rose again. More dead wingless bodies floated to the ground, arms flailing, the thuds as they landed on the ones already on the ground sickening. I watched helplessly as a black hole appeared on the ground and sucked them away. It beckoned to me, offering solace and refuge. Just one step and I’d be free of this nightmare. Just one step.
Fight, my child. Fight. The familiar voice returned, more insistent and authoritative.
How? I begged. It hurts to think.
No, it doesn’t, she snapped. They make you feel a pain that’s not there, a sorrow that’s forgotten and a nightmare that never ends. The power is within you to stop them. Reach deep within and find your strength. Use it to fight back. The voice grew faint.
Don’t leave me, I screamed.
Always with you, Lilith. Remember what I said…stop them…find the Summoners or…my weapon.
For a moment, I was too confused to react. She had called me Lilith. Only demons used my given name. I recovered and yelled, I didn’t hear everything you said. Who are the Summoners? And what do you want me to do with your weapon?
But she was already gone, leaving me in the endless nightmare. The screams reached fever pitch. It hurt to think. To focus. To breathe. The false comfort offered by the dark pit tugged at me until I found myself weakening, begging for it to swallow me.
I had never thought I’d die paralyzed in place like some stupid statue. I was meant to grow old with Bran, hunt, love and live until it was our turn to ascend together. Even as the thoughts crossed my mind, I searched for him in the inner recesses of my mind. Memories of the two of us together bathed in light floated out o
f the darkness. Memories of Grampa, Aunt Janelle, my fellow Cardinals, Kylie…
Their love, laughter and happiness penetrated the horror and drowned out the screams. The echoes of death receded as peace cocooned me in its arms like a warm blanket on a wintery night. I tried to open my eyes, but couldn’t.
“Come on, Lil,” a female voice urged.
“I think she’s coming around,” a male voice said.
I lifted my eyelids. At least I thought I did. There was nothing but blinding whiteness. I strained until the blue sky and faces inked in. Unfamiliar faces. Two women and one man. Their eyes were filled with concern as they stared down at me. Beside them were familiar faces—Bran, Grampa and Aunt Janelle, Kim, Izzy, Remy, Sykes and Kylie, but they began to fade.
“No, don’t leave me,” I cried out and reached out for them.
“Not so fast,” one of the unfamiliar women warned and pressed my shoulder down. “You had a nasty fall.”
I struggled against her hand and sat up. Black dots appeared in my eyes and a sharp pain radiated from the back of my head. I closed my eyes until the dizziness passed, then raised a trembling hand to my head. There was a huge bump the size of an egg, and my skull felt like someone was hammering it with a blunt object.
Squinting, my gaze moved from her to the other woman, then the man. They all wore black pants and matching shirts, a uniform of some kind, and had daggers in sheaths strapped around their waist and their thighs. I’d never seen them before in my life, yet they watched me with such concern.
I inched away from them and noticed I wasn’t dressed like them. I wore a bikini and was lying down on a towel. Frowning, I took in our surroundings. We were on a grassy patch by a pond in the middle of a forest. The trees were so tall and curved in such a way that was unnatural. It was like they deliberately curved to block the skyline or hide the pond.
Why couldn’t I remember where I was or how I got here? What was my name?
My gaze moved back to the woman squatting beside me. I wondered whether to ask her these questions, but survival instinct stopped me even though I didn’t feel any negative vibes from her.
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