by Tiffany King
"Well that was a nightmare," Mark said, finally sounding like himself.
I let out a burst of laughter, relieved that at least he was acting normal again. "Um, that's putting it mildly. I can't believe people subject themselves to that torture every week. We would starve if that was our only option," I added jokingly.
"Good thing we're junk food junkies," Mark said, grabbing onto my hand as he steered the vehicle with his other.
"Yep, guess so. It will be nothing but burgers and chocolate for us every single night," I declared.
"And pizza," Mark added.
"And French fries," I threw in for good measure.
The rest of the drive was lighthearted as we bantered back and forth, throwing more and more junk food onto our list. My fears on the drive out seemed silly and immature. Mark obviously just needed a little space to process things without me throwing in my own insecurities into the mix.
Relieved to be back, we arrived at Mark's house to find a white Suburban sitting in Mark's usual spot. We both climbed out apprehensively. It was a surreal experience to know that we were about to meet others like us.
"Well, here we go," Mark said, linking his fingers through mine as we headed up the front walk.
I was surprised that the house was as quiet as a tomb as we opened the front door. Puzzled, I glanced at Mark who had tensed up at the silence. He even stepped in front of me protectively as we cautiously walked toward the living room, hyperaware of our surroundings.
I ran into his back when he halted abruptly in front of me.
I prepared myself for whatever danger awaited us. Frightened of what I was going to see, I peeked around Mark's back. I couldn't help the gasp of surprise that left my lips.
Chapter 14
One of the bands had arrived, and they were unlike anything I could have ever imagined. They weren't as imposing as Haniel, but they definitely projected an aura of greatness. They portrayed the very definition of unity as they stood together. To place their age would have been difficult. They had the builds of our youth, but the maturity of a wiser and older generation. They stood together as one. My friends, on the other hand, were scattered around the living room, looking disjointed.
The women were by far the most beautiful I had ever seen. Their hair shimmered in the light that streamed through the French doors. Though they were different heights and builds, they all shared the same honey-colored skin that made them look every bit their Angelic role. The men on the other hand looked like warriors from a gladiator movie. Their builds were broad with bodies that looked like they had been carved out of marble by a talented artist. Perhaps their greatest assets were the adoring ways they looked at their Soul Mates others. There was no question who belonged to who.
"Ah Krista, Mark, you have arrived. Come, let me introduce you to everyone. This is Amelia and her Protector, Paul," Haniel said, pointing to the first couple. "And this is Jenna and her Protector, Keith, Kieran and her Protector, John, and Grace and her Protector, Thomas," he said, rattling off the rest of the names. My head spun trying to keep the pairs matched up as I nodded to each of them.
"Hi," I said, bewildered at the atmosphere in the room. I tested the waters, trying to get a sense of it, but it was like the feelings in the room had been snuffed out. My own bewilderment began to fade as I felt the alien blanket of passiveness creeping over me.
Trying to fight it off, I struggled to push it back. My attempts felt feeble, compared against theirs, and I felt my own emotions retreating. I should have been pissed that they overtook me so thoroughly, but I couldn’t seem to muster enough emotion to care, as I sunk down on the couch next to Sam.
"You are witnessing what a united, experienced band can accomplish. As you can see, it can be highly effective when properly administrated," Haniel said.
At his words the blanket left us and my emotions became my own again. Though they were like us, I couldn’t help feeling exposed by their easy access to my inner feelings.
"Ugh, well I didn't like that at all," Sam said, breaking the silence.
One of the women from the other band laughed. "No, it's not pleasant as a Guide to have your feelings tampered with. I hated this exercise when Haniel used to make us practice it with the more experienced bands."
Her words broke the rest of the silence in the room, and soon questions were flying back and forth. Our band seemed to fascinate them, and they peppered us with questions.
"So, how exactly did all of you find each other?" Amelia, the quietest of the band asked.
"We felt the pull of the city," Lynn said. "Each of us had a chain of events that led us here."
"Do you feel disjointed with the absence of the missing pair?" Jenna, the more outspoken one of the band asked curiously.
"What do you mean?" Shawn asked.
"When our band is separated we feel the absence like a gaping wound. It's as if a crucial piece of a puzzle is missing. We prefer it when our band is not far apart," she said.
"Well, I'm not sure if ours is the same, but I know that I worry about the other pair a lot. It tears me up to think of them in the hands of that monster," Sam said, looking at Mark apologetically.
"Me too," Lynn added. "It makes me sad thinking about them. I never thought of them like a missing puzzle piece, but now that you've put it that way, that’s exactly what it feels like," she went on thoughtfully. "Do you guys feel the same?"
"I do," I said. "I've felt that way for a while. Especially once I saw them on the monitor. At first I thought it was because I felt bad that they were being subjected to evil day in and day out, but I think it goes beyond that. My heart aches on a constant basis for them, I've just worked hard at keeping it at bay."
"And you have no idea where they can be?" one of the guys asked. I think his name was Thomas.
I cringed at his question, not entirely sure how Mark would react to it. Mark surprised me, though, by answering calmly. "No, my father was absentee at best, he was never around, and I always felt like he was more of a stranger than anything else. I wish I would have pried more, but I always assumed I was some kind of freak of nature that was stronger than normal and dreamt about some hot girl every night," he said ruefully. "Not that I ever confided any of that to him."
I smiled at his words. Hot girl. Sure, he was biased, but it still made me feel special.
"We are grieved that he destroyed the others. They were a special, loyal band and we will miss them greatly. We will stop him before he can harm any more of us," John said, clearly the leader of their group. "Usually, bands receive more knowledge and training than your mismatched group has received, and yet you have shown tenacity and skills that leave me in awe. Your parents would have been proud. I remember meeting them when I was twelve, and they loved you all greatly."
A knot formed in my throat at his words. My adoptive parents had always treated me as their own, but hearing that my real parents loved me too, made the loss more acutely painful.
"Your mother included," he said, addressing Mark. "I remember her playing in the ocean with you at the beach they all frequented. She laughed every time you squealed when the water came close to you."
I gripped Mark's hand in my own as I watched him swallow a lump. Knowing he had at least one parent that actually cared about him, I was sure was a welcome change after dealing with his father.
"Do all the bands get together often?" Sam asked curiously.
"Once every couple years or so," Kieran, John's spouse said. "It usually takes some creative scheduling to work around our assignments. Of course, after your parents' tragic deaths, we missed several reunions. My parents grieved deeply and pleaded with Haniel to tell them your whereabouts, but he would never give them the information they sought," she said, sounding slightly bitter as she threw a glare toward Haniel.
I glanced at Haniel, surprised. Why had he left us scattered when he could have given us to others like us?
Haniel met my stare dead on, but remained stubbornly silent.
&
nbsp; "My mother took it the hardest. She worried endlessly about all of you," Kieran continued.
"And does she know about us now?" Lynn asked.
"No, she and my father passed away several years ago on an assignment. They died in the line of duty, as true Links," she said.
"Links?" Sam asked puzzled.
"It's a term we use to describe our bonds. It becomes tedious to always say Guides and Protectors all the time, so instead we nicknamed ourselves Links. It fits the best since we are linked together."
Links, I ran the word through my head, liking the way it sounded.
Several conversations popped up after that as the guys discussed strategies, while us girls discussed our parents more. It was nice to hear the more personal stories about my real parents, versus the distorted version given by Mark’s father. I really liked the four older Guides. It was like getting a glimpse of what we would all grow up to be. Our personalities seemed to mesh with our counterparts. Sam and Kieran were so similar it was almost eerie. Lynn and Jenna also shared identical traits, while Amelia and I were the quieter ones of our bands, which meant that Grace must have the traits of our missing Guide. Once I came to this conclusion, I found myself studying Grace more intently. She was by far the sweetest of the other group, not that they all weren’t nice, but there was just something special about her. She seemed genuinely happy and listened to every word you uttered with rapt attention. Chatting with all of them and comparing our bands made me believe that we were indeed predestined. God obviously knew what traits would mesh and flourish, and he created his bands accordingly.
The morning drifted into afternoon and eventually we sent the guys out to get all the fixings for a barbeque. By mid-afternoon, the last band arrived, adding to the noisy chaos. They were older than the rest of us and were missing the two members Haniel had mentioned.
Their outward appearance was imposing, but their unity seemed off-kilter, like a tire on a bicycle that has gone askew on the rim, making the bike wobble back and forth. For obvious reasons, they were more somber than the first band, and I felt my own heart pinch at what their loss must feel like. Looking around at my own friends, I could not imagine what it would feel like to lose any of them. It was painful enough missing the two that had been stripped from us.
Introductions were made by Haniel again, and this time it was easier to remember the girls' names because I instantly matched them up to their counterparts. Kim matched up with Kieran and Sam, Jaime was the exact replica of Lynn and Jenna, and Grace and Faith came from the exact mold. The similarities of Grace and Faith's names did not slip past me, and once again I wondered about our own missing "sunshine" member. Amelia and my counterpart was missing and it became glaringly obvious she was the one the band had recently lost, which left me feeling oddly bereft, like I was missing something that had belonged to me.
The guys’ names were harder to remember, since I was yet to study the male dynamics and make my matches. I knew their names were Paul, Jacob, and Michael, but matching their names to the faces was a little tougher.
Dinner was a noisy event on Mark's back patio, filled with talking and laughter as the second band let some of their grief go for the night. Haniel was the only silent one, as he studied our large group with his usual somber expression. I couldn't help wondering if he was already calculating our odds for survival or if he already knew our destiny. I yearned to chat with him and find out what he was thinking, but the opportunity never presented itself. Before I knew it, the first sets of sleepers were off to bed, leaving the first shift to stand guard. Haniel had disappeared again, presumably to check on the other bands, thus eliminating my opportunity to talk to him.
It was decided that our band would take the first watch, since the others had spent the day traveling. I was perfectly fine taking the first shift. My mind was going in a million different directions after all that we had learned that day.
Laying on the chaise lounge on the patio, I couldn’t help my thoughts from straying to what I had gleaned about my parents. I wondered if they would be proud of how I had turned out. It was hard to imagine what course my life would have taken if Mark's dad wasn't some Devil incarnate. Mark and I wouldn’t have needed to search for each other. My stomach clenched slightly at the thought, the discovery of each other was one of my best memories of my life.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Mark asked, trying to be cute. Blocking my thoughts from him was automatic now, and hearing him offer to buy them was kind of funny.
"I was just thinking about my parents," I answered honestly.
"I thought so. My dad has ruined all of your lives," Mark said miserably as he picked at the ragged cuticle around his thumb.
I rested my hands on his to stop his obsessive habit. "Look, I'm sad I don't remember my parents, and yeah it sucks that your dad is like some crazy Dark Angel freak, but my life hasn’t been terrible. I know I can't speak for the others, but the life course he set me on hasn't been all bad. I couldn't imagine not knowing my adoptive parents and experiencing the love they showered on me."
"But, he kept us away from each other and he killed his fellow band members. How can you even look at me without disgust?" he asked, quietly finally coming to the root of the problem.
"Mark, I've said it before. You are not your father!" I said loudly to emphasize my point. "You're not responsible for his actions, and none of us believe any of this is your fault," I said earnestly, rising from my own chaise lounge to perch on the end of his chair. "Everything happens for a reason, and though our numbers have been devastated, we are going to overcome this. We will stop him and release the grip his actions have on you," I finished passionately, slipping into his arms to give him a hug of reassurance.
He wrapped his strong arms around me, hugging me deeply against his chest before settling comfortably behind me on the chair. I linked my fingers through his. We didn't find the need to speak again, watching in compatible silence as the waves pounded against the shore. Every so often he would place a soft kiss on the back of my head, making my heart flutter each time. Loving him was easy. Fighting our life real demons was the hard part.
***
The next morning, after only a few hours sleep, our band was assembled on the night-cooled sand preparing for our 'demon training,' as Shawn liked to call it. His nickname for it earned a few chuckles from the guys, while Haniel looked like he didn't know whether to reproach him or join in the chuckles. I had learned early on that the words Demons and Devil made Haniel extremely uncomfortable. I wasn't sure if it was some kind of Angel thing or just Haniel's preference. He usually only referred to them as Daemons and The Dark One I couldn't help giggling each time Shawn said them though. Watching the look on Haniel's face was classic. It was like a kid sneaking in a curse word in front of an adult.
During tonight's training, our group sat back to observe while the more qualified Protectors went first. Watching them battle was unlike anything I had ever seen. Each move and maneuver seemed precise and well calculated before it was even executed. Every block and counter move came a split second before the impact could connect.
"The Daemons you will be fighting are best described as puppets being controlled by the Dark Angel, and as such, their emotions cannot be manipulated, as Krista realized in her recent foray." Haniel said.
I shuddered, remembering how it felt when I tried to filter the Daemons soul at the revival.
"They can be hurt and stopped, but it will take more force and tenacity to put them down than it would for a normal man. You will be challenged as never before as you face a great deal more than before," he said, addressing the Protectors of my group. "This is the reason The Light gave you your supernatural strength."
"And here I was, thinking it was to make me more of a stud for my woman," Shawn said jokingly, as he hauled a squealing Sam up in the air, holding her above his head.
"Perhaps when Shawn is done showing off his masculinity we can get back to work," Haniel said drily.
"
Aw, give them a break Haniee," Grace said affectionately. "It's nice to be around a younger band. Their exuberant attitude is refreshing to see."
"Yeah Haniee, give us a break," Shawn said playfully, grinning at Haniel. With a glint in his eye, Haniel took a threatening step toward him. Shawn darted away, trying to distance himself, but didn't make it far before Haniel gave him a quick blast of energy from the palm of his hand, sending him sprawling face-first into the sand.
We all burst out laughing when Shawn stood up looking like a clown that had taken a pie in the face.
"Nice job sandman. You can't take on an Archangel. They can totally kick your ass," Robert said chuckling while Shawn dusted off.
Sam skipped to Shawn's side, giggling as she helped brush the rest of the sand off of him.
The rest of the morning passed in a blur as we watched the guys perform one maneuver after another until all of them collapsed in an exhausted heap on the ground. Once the Protectors were done with their training, Haniel turned his attention to the Guides.
Our training wasn't as physically draining, but mentally we were just as exhausted. Haniel set us through trials that showed us how to throw up barriers for not only ourselves, but for our Protectors, as well, using the link we had been given.
I cleared my mind of all else, except for the invisible bridge that I often imagined connected my mind with Mark's. From the bridge, I could feel my thoughts and emotions traveling past his thoughts, journeying to his soul. It amazed me how in sync I was with his mind and soul. As long as he kept the gates open, finding my way was easy. I could feel Haniel trying to persuade Mark's soul, but his attempts were futile. I totally had this exercise nailed. No one would be tampering with what belonged to me, I thought smugly as Haniel finally gave up and retreated.
Mark was smiling at me when I opened my eyes. Little possessive? he thought, using the open link of our minds.
Heck yeah I'm possessive. You're mine. I thought, making him chuckle.