Hidden (Her Immortal Guardians Book 1)

by Bella Edwards

  Gabe recognised her lost expression—he'd seen the same on her face at the time she finally accepted her world wasn't the same anymore. But this time Lorelei’s feisty spark had been snuffed out. She hugged her knees and lay her face across them.

  "Has he hurt you?" he asked.

  "Hurt her? Look at me!" Caleb indicated the bruise on the side of his head. He slammed the door shut behind them then strolled over to Lorelei. He laughed softly as she shrank back. "You should be more scared of Gabe than you are of me. Ask him."

  "Ask him what?" said Lorelei in a flat voice.

  "Really, Lorelei? You don't remember? I told you—I’ve taken a Host before, but I never managed to use the Key." He looked to Gabe. "Why is that?"

  Nobody spoke for a few moments and Caleb sighed in exasperation. "Gabe, tell Lorelei... tell her what happened to him—to the Host I found before."

  In the quiet room, Lorelei focused on the wind outside, as it whipped across the moors, wailing against the exposed windows. She already knew what Gabe would say. She’d have an answer to the doubt that haunted her from the first day he told her that the Key moved from one Host to another Host at death.

  "The Host died," continued Caleb. "How did he die, Gabe?"

  Gabe willed Lorelei to look up at him, but she continued staring out of the window.

  Caleb leaned towards Lorelei, his breath on her ear. "What is Gabe’s purpose in this world? Protecting the Key. What happens to the Key when the Host dies? It moves to a new one, and I need to start looking all over again. What do you think Gabe did to the last Host I had in my possession?" He paused, enjoying his moment of dramatic effect. "He killed the Host."

  Lorelei shook her head, putting her hands over her ears. She didn’t want to hear any more. Caleb lied—Gabe would never hide something like this from her. Would he? She looked up and watched Gabe's face for anger and denial. Instead, his expression folded in anguish.

  "Is that true?" she mouthed at him, and he looked at the wooden floor, telling her all she needed to know.

  How could the world become anymore unbearable? Now her notions of good and evil were screwed too. Gabe killed. He was no better than Caleb. He was capable of murdering people when he wanted to.

  The rain outside slammed harder against the window, and Lorelei shook. Every time she thought nothing could change her reality any more, something else happened, and she lost the small amount of control she thought she had over her world. Gabe who'd kissed her, told her he wanted her but couldn't have her—was this why?

  Because he knew he would need to kill her.

  Caleb lay a gentle hand on Lorelei shoulder. The jerk of power from his fingertips pulled her back to where she was. In a room. Waiting to die.

  "I told you things weren't black and white. This situation isn't good Gabe versus evil Gabe. One of us has lied to you, and I have always told you the truth," said Caleb.

  Gabe broke out of his anguish and moved across the room, grabbing Caleb and pulling him away from her. "Don't make this sound like you won’t hurt her and I will. What do you think will happen to Lorelei once you use the Key and the Gateway is open? How do we know whether she'll survive?"

  Caleb pushed him violently, and Gabe flew across the room, careening into the wall. In a blur, Caleb crossed the space between them and loomed over him. "I don't know, but I’ll find out. Unless you kill her first, that is."

  Gabe looked up at him from the ground, the turmoil of the last few hours creasing his face. "You know I can't." He pulled himself up. "I can't hurt Lorelei."

  "Can't or won't?" sneered Caleb. "Are you prepared to fail now, after all this time?"

  The noise of the storm drowned out their conversation as she turned her face to the window. Her whole world had turned grey, and the bars stood between her and the lonely moors.

  In the house protected by the runes, they couldn't use any of their supernatural powers and became two human men arguing and fighting. The circle glowed faintly from the other side of the room, and she closed her eyes. She'd accepted her life could never be her own; that the supernatural world would always be at her door. But never that her life would end so soon. There. Today. Lorelei pushed her face to the window, trying to see through the wall of water, fear churning inside.

  Who would be the one to kill her?

  As the rain slowed, she realised the voices had quietened and looked over. Gabe lay on the floor, immobile, blood trickling down his cheek from a wound by his eye. An unsteady Caleb walked towards her, wiping the blood from his mouth.

  "Okay, now that inconvenience is out of the way, I’m sure you’d like to get this over with." He grasped her arm, twisting it behind her back. “Time to do your thing, beautiful."

  Holding her arm outwards, he pulled her towards the table in the corner. He grabbed the knife that lay on it. Lorelei screamed as he sliced into her and blood pooled in her palm. The strength of his arms prevented her from escaping as she struggled to free herself. Caleb dragged her towards the runed circle and roughly stretched her arm over. The blood dripped from her palm into the centre, a repeat of the day in the magic shop but the consequences reaching further than anybody could imagine.

  The symbols around the edge brightened as the purple glow intensified. The centre of the circle shimmered, and as the light filled the circle, the floor disappeared underneath the translucent glow.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  A low rumbling emanated under their feet as the light intensified. A shaft of purple magic shot upwards, stretching from ceiling to floor. Energy from within the circle buzzed and a humming sound reverberated around the room.

  Lorelei stopped struggling, overwhelmed by the beauty in front of her. She forgot everything. The light projected itself towards her, surrounding Lorelei with a violet aura. The need to touch it engulfed her and the noise filled her mind. Lorelei closed her eyes, nothing else mattered anymore. All she wanted was to be with the light. Her light. Caleb released her, and she gravitated towards the circle.

  Gabe opened his eyes, the noise filtering into his mind and pulling him back to consciousness. He rubbed his head and blinked away the shadow to focus on the scene. Lorelei approached the opening Gateway, while Caleb watched with undisguised excitement on his face. Dragging himself unsteadily to his feet, Gabe charged across the room and knocked Caleb to the ground.

  "No," Gabe shouted at him, holding him by the wrists. "Why are you doing this? Do you know what will come through there?"

  Caleb twisted his hands free of Gabe's grasp and pushed him hard in the chest. "No—do you?"

  "Don't you care?"

  Violet light snaked towards Lorelei's outstretched hands. Gabe swore under his breath, and he slammed himself into Caleb again, sending him crashing to the floor. "Don't let her do this.”

  Caleb smiled up at him. "No, don't you let her do this. You can stop the Key opening the Gateway."

  Frustration took over, and Gabe punched Caleb in the face, wanting his smug smile gone. "You know I won't... I can't kill again."

  Caleb wiped the blood from under his nose. "Why? Because you finally gave in to the weakness of the human inside you? How can you believe a human girl is worth the consequences you’ll suffer if you fail in your task?”

  Gabe's fogged mind tried to rationalise the myriad of thoughts and feelings he'd denied. The memories of the time spent with Lorelei. The strange connection he felt even before they touched. And his aching need for her, which now overwhelmed him, pushing out any sense of duty he left.

  The enormity struck him. He would be the one fulfilling the prophecy because he couldn't kill Lorelei.

  Caleb laughed softly. "You're weak; you were always weak. You could never be what I am. You’ve spent over a hundred years as someone's pawn—over a hundred years wasted by running around trying to prevent the inevitable.”

  Caleb’s words stung and fed his doubts. "No, that's not true. The Gateway opening wasn't inevitable."

  Caleb smiled through the blood running
from his nose. "Then kill Lorelei. Show them you aren't weak."

  A jolt of energy threw the two men apart as the light from the Gateway burst through the room. Lorelei had reached the centre of the circle and illuminated her like an exploding star. Her aura spread out, encompassing the whole room.

  Running, Gabe tried to reach Lorelei inside the Gateway, through the impenetrable wall of the surrounding light. Maybe it wasn't too late yet, and he could pull her out to stop the Key opening the Gateway. Her body emanated the violet light, and she shimmered between her solid self and a faint spectral outline.

  But was she Lorelei or just the Key’s power?

  "Lorelei, step out. I'm not going to hurt you—please believe me." If she heard or saw Gabe, she didn't respond. "If you stay in there everything you know will change forever. You don't know what will happen to you once the Gateway opens. Please... get out of there."

  Trepidation slowed time as Gabe and Caleb looked on, surrounded by the energy of the room, no longer paying any attention to each other.

  The light surrounding Lorelei gradually became translucent and contracted inwards to become a bright star, which glowed a brief, searing moment before disappearing.

  The battering rain outside the window stopped abruptly as a light flashed across the sky. Gabe turned his attention to the window. Shooting stars streamed through the sky and rained down on the world. The dark clouds lit up as the stars passed through them, and the horizon shone as if somebody flicked a switch and the sun returned to the night.

  “Caleb,” Gabe’s voice wavered.

  These weren’t shooting stars.

  Caleb took one glance through the window before running to the front door. The door creaked open, and Caleb’s figure appeared in the unkempt gardens in front of the house. His face tipped upwards, and the flickering light from the stars played across his skin as the rain poured down.

  Gabe threw a look at Lorelei, who was still transfixed in the Gateway’s centre. What should he do? Join Caleb and confirm his fears, or stay and ensure Lorelei was okay? The energy around Lorelei pulsed through the air, and he sensed the strength.

  With trepidation, he watched for who or what would emerge, helpless to stop anything.

  Nobody did.

  The circle beneath Lorelei's feet spun like water descending into a whirlpool until all the light had gone. The faint aura which always surrounded Lorelei was now a bright violet, her blonde hair tinged with the same colour.

  She blinked and turned towards Gabe. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t stop.”

  He rushed over to catch Lorelei as she stumbled forward. Her body weakened in his arms, and he kneeled to hold her as she slumped to the floor. Holding her head tight against his chest, Gabe watched the stars fall outside.

  The door slammed hard enough to make Gabe wince, and a Caleb returned to the room. His eyes widened as he looked down at Lorelei. “Is she okay?”

  “What the hell do you care?” growled Gabe.

  He pushed damp hair from his face, and his expression froze Gabe. They’d not cooperated or been on friendly terms for many years, but he knew when Caleb’s cockiness slipped to fear.

  “What?” he asked Caleb sharply.

  “I didn't know this would happen,” he whispered, eyes darting to the window.

  Gabe gripped Lorelei to him. “What happened to her?”

  “No. Not Lorelei. Outside.” Caleb moved closer to look down at Lorelei, and Gabe threw him a warning look. But was that concern on Caleb’s face?

  “What do you mean ‘outside’?” asked Gabe.

  The girl’s chest rose and fell in his arms, and his heart swelled knowing she was alive, but the energy around her dizzied him. This is what he’d felt when they kissed—but a thousand-fold stronger.

  Yet Lorelei lived, and that was enough.

  “They’re falling,” said Caleb. “I don’t know how many.”

  “I can see, Caleb. The stars rain down.”

  “They’re not stars, Gabe.” He dragged both hands through his wet hair and held his elbows at right angles. “You have to help me.”

  Gabe stared at him in disbelief. “Me, help you? Are you joking? Look at where I am because I helped you once before.”

  “This is bad, Gabe. Really bad. She hasn’t opened the Gateway—she opened the gates to the Faction’s prison. Those aren’t stars; they’re angels.”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Gabe’s grip on Lorelei tightened. “What?” His mind raced with fear.

  The day Gabe was exiled, rebel angels who filled the halls of heaven were imprisoned. People Caleb betrayed to follow his own ambitions—and dragged Gabe’s name into the mess.

  The Faction, the group who wanted to live amongst humans and help them. One Caleb was part of, and Gabe too, until he discovered the Faction’s ultimate plan. They didn’t want to help the human race; they wanted to align with the original fallen angel. With Lucifer.

  This angel faction didn’t want to live amongst the humans. They wanted to subjugate them.

  “No. No, that can’t happen. They were imprisoned. The Faction were caught because you betrayed them. Because you wanted Lucifer gone. You wanted to take his position and lead the Hell realms.”

  “Not just me, Gabe.”

  “No. I helped the Faction because I believed they would use their powers to stop atrocities in the human world.”

  “Yes, by wiping humans out,” sneered Caleb. “The angels could live freely in a world uncontrolled by others.”

  If Gabe hadn’t held Lorelei in his arms, he’d stand and retaliate. Were they lost?

  “Exactly! And you chose to betray Lucifer and the Faction, at the moment Lucifer re-entered Heaven, ensuring they were captured, and the leaders distracted. You escaped down here leaving me to talk my way out of the mess, when I’d already turned my back on them and their plans. You crept away amidst the chaos and started looking for the Key. How did you ever think you’d succeed?”

  Caleb ran a hand through his hair. “But when they caught Lucifer and the Faction, why weren’t they eradicated?”

  “I don’t bloody know!” Gabe yelled.

  Lorelei remained unconscious in his arms. What had Caleb done in his mad search for power? Once captured, the leaders told Gabe he had a second chance and wouldn’t be cast out for his transgressions. If he protected the world by keeping the Key to Hell safe and preventing Caleb from opening the Gateway to the Hell realms, he could return in time.

  Why had the angel leaders lied to him?

  An angel must’ve infiltrated those who promised him absolution if he kept the world safe. Someone who lied about the Key and tricked him into helping. This Key isn’t the one to the Hell realms. This Gateway doesn’t unleash demons—this Key opened a prison and unleashed the Faction angels.

  “We need to leave, Gabe. Now.”

  How could this man expect him to cooperate? Their shared goal changed years ago.

  Caleb stepped towards Lorelei. “Don’t touch her,” Gabe snarled. “You fix this mess.”

  “Me?” Caleb gave a harsh laugh. “You could’ve stopped this happening.”

  Gabe gritted his teeth. “You were the one who opened the Gateway and released the army you betrayed. What if Lucifer was imprisoned with them, and he’s escaped too?”

  “Another reason to leave.” Caleb’s agitation grew as the angels continued to fall.

  Lorelei stirred in Gabe’s arms and opened her eyes. She pulled away from him and unsteadily stood. “I knew you were angels,” she said softly. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Gabe shook his head vigorously, and Caleb laughed.

  “We were,” said Caleb. “Not anymore.”

  “Why would you never tell me, Gabe?”

  “Remember I told you that human categories for these things are wrong? I'm not a pure-hearted, celestial being with wings, so telling you that I was would be a lie.”

  Gabe glanced from Caleb to Lorelei warily. His head hurt after the earlier fight,
and he didn't feel like another battle. Gabe saw her eyes shone a pale blue with dark rims, no longer the bright green they were.

  The same colour as his and Caleb's.

  Lorelei paused, examining her hands, looking at herself curiously before turning back to Gabe. "When I opened the Gateway, I glimpsed things I don't fully understand. I didn't see everything that happened before you and Caleb came here, but I did see that you were once allies."

  Caleb snorted from the corner.

  "It's more complicated than that. There were others involved who couldn't be trusted," Gabe said quietly, glancing at Caleb.

  “It’s too late now,” said Caleb. “Please, let’s leave.”

  “And go where?” snapped Gabe.

  “I don’t know. Anywhere. With Lorelei.”

  The strange glowing girl in front of him was only reminiscent of Lorelei. What was she capable of? She could be his punishment. “Are you here to kill us?” he whispered hoarsely.

  Her blue eyes moistened. "Gabe, how can you think that I want to hurt you? You've done nothing to hurt me, all this time. You could have killed me today, and you didn't."

  "I hurt you last night when I ran from you..." Lorelei walked to him and touched his cheek and shook her head. The familiar pull between them sent vibrations through her. “I would never have killed you. I could never kill again.”

  Lorelei moved closer and nestled against him, letting him feel the physical link between them. "You never felt any need to come into this world before me, did you? You stayed in the shadows for over a hundred years until me. Did you ask never yourself why?"

  "Many times, I sensed you might not be fully human, but the Hosts have always been human. They needed to be to contain the Key."

  "Until me. The power inside the Hosts has grown over the years, and when it passed to me, it was ready to be united with yours" She smiled up at him, her aura shimmering around her, colouring the world. “I can help you.”

  "Help me?" Gabe sucked in a deep breath, trying to keep up with the amount of information pouring out of her.

  "With what is about to happen to the world." Lorelei reached out and touched his chest, feeling his human heart beating quickly below her palm.