Ascended (Fallen Guardian Saga #2)

by Debra Ann Miller

  “I was going to say regretful,” she frowned at him for the harsh word he’d chosen. “But I guess atrocious works, too. I guess I was just a little jealous of Vivian and you. Although,” she hastily admitted, “I know it was no excuse for the way I behaved.”

  Carter took her hand and said, “I know how hard that declaration was for you Tess, and I admire you for being so candid.”

  “Thanks, Carter; it means the world to me to hear you say that. You mean the world to me,” she confessed. “If you need anything—I mean anything at all—you know I’m only a phone call away.”

  “Thanks, Tess. Well, I’d better get going,” Carter said.

  Tess drove away, feeling excited that her plan was working. She was sure this was the start of a new relationship with Carter Stone.

  “Let the games begin!” a familiar voice said.

  Carter jumped back, startled by the unexpected visit from Raphael.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I’m here to train you. Remember?” Raphael told him.

  “Not interested.” Carter had way too many things on his plate and, if he were being honest with himself, was still a bit angry at Raphael for what he’d said about Vie at the hospital.

  Raphael was as stubborn as Gabriel had been and was not taking no for an answer. “You know what, Carter? I also have better things to do with my time, but I’m stuck here with the menial task of training you.”

  Carter couldn’t tell if he were being candid or sarcastic. If it were Gabriel standing there, he’d know if the remark was rude or just plain honest. Gabriel was a bold force who offered only brutal truths, never sugarcoating anything; it was one of the things Carter simultaneously admired and hated about him. Sometimes it was hard to hear the cold hard truth, but if it was necessary, Gabe would deliver it.

  Raphael had already started to walk out toward the forest and was waiting for Carter to join him. Reluctantly, he followed, feeling fatigued from the day he’d just had.

  They began their training session and Raphael noticed immediately that Carter was lagging behind. It wasn’t just his focus that was off; it was his strength and stamina, too. Raphael realized what was happening to Carter and knew he had to alert him to the danger of his actions.

  “Carter, come and sit. We need to talk,” Raphael said.

  “If you want to give me more advice regarding your thoughts about Vie, I don’t want to hear it.” He clarified his stance.

  “Well, like it or not, Carter, I am going to share some cold hard facts with you, and they do involve Vivian, not Vie.

  “You already know Vivian is not Vie, and you’ve known that from the very first moment you saw her. However, what you don’t understand is that Vivian is dying. It doesn’t matter what you say or think about it, Carter; it’s going to happen. I know you believe Vie will return, so you’re committed to keeping this vessel alive as a way of holding on to her, but it won’t change anything. Vie is not coming back. And keeping Vivian alive won’t change that fact,” Raphael said.

  “But you don’t know that—,” Carter tried again to argue with him.

  “Enough, Carter! Stop holding on to what is not present. Vie isn’t here, and the only reason Vivian is here is because you’re keeping her alive. Your will to keep her here is what gives her life. You’re transmitting your own energy into her body, and it’s draining your powers. Don’t you get it?” Raphael was earnest, trying to force Carter to understand.

  “Do you think you’re the only one who believes she’s not coming back? None of you know Vie like I do. Every one of you is wrong! Vie is coming back, and when she does, I will be waiting for her.” He stormed off and headed back toward the ranch.

  Raphael knew Carter was in trouble, and he figured it was going to take a lot more than his words to get the message through the young warrior’s thick skull. Carter needed to know how this was going to play out, if he continued to interfere with Vivian’s life or death. He didn’t realize it, but he was in real danger, and there was only one person who could make him understand the order of things.

  He decided Carter needed to hear the brutal truth from someone he wouldn’t turn away. Since Gabriel was the one person he trusted to tell him truth, Raphael communicated with Gabe, alerting him to the problem he was having. He knew that trainers didn’t typically assist with missions, but he hoped Gabriel would make an exception to the rule this one time for Carter’s sake.

  Morning had come and it was a gorgeous day. Carter decided to walk to the hospital since his car had been left there after the accident with Tess. He arrived so early that even Henry hadn’t been there to visit yet. He entered Vivian’s room and sat beside her bed, holding her hand in his, like he always did. Then he heard the voice of a friend he’d longed to see.

  “Morning, Romeo.”

  “Gabe!” Carter jumped up, completely thrilled to see his friend. “Is Vie with you?” he asked, hoping she would be.

  “No, Carter, she is not here and she won’t be coming. We’ve discussed all of this already. You know Vie cannot return to your world, and you know why. I’m not here about Vie, anyway; I’m here about Vivian. Carter, you must let her go,” he said gravely.

  “I can’t,” Carter said with sadness.

  “You must. Vivian is not Vie. I know you understand what I’m saying,” Gabriel said.

  “It’s not only because of Vie that I’m here; it’s for Vivian, as well. If I let her go, then he wins,” Carter said.

  “Who wins?” Gabriel asked.

  “You know who…Lucian. I am not going to let him have her. I’m not going to give her up to him. I can’t. I won’t!” he bellowed, becoming more indignant with each word.

  Gabriel began to see why Carter was holding on. He was a lot like Vie when it came to empathy for others. Even though Carter knew, as they all did, that Vivian had bargained with the devil and traded her soul for more time in her world, he didn’t want to let Lucian touch her. They’d come close to reversing that pact, but the deal Gabriel had offered to Lucian had been broken when the Guardians rebelled against him that day at the Tower.

  Carter was torn between his duty to honor the idea of free will and his duty to protect Vivian. He had made a choice, a vow, to protect Vivian with his life.

  “You cannot change the choices humans make, Carter. Vivian made a mistake, a serious one, and she’ll have to pay the price of that mistake. If you keep giving her your energy to keep her alive, eventually you won’t be able to sustain your own life. This is serious, Carter. You can’t keep her alive forever; if you keep heading down this road, you will perish—and how long do you think it will take for Vivian to follow? It’s inevitable, Carter: Vivian will die and you can’t change her fate,” Gabriel ended his impassioned lecture.

  “Why can’t I heal her, like we did with Enapay? We can do it, Gabriel, together, just like before,” Carter said, grabbing Gabriel’s hand and leading him to Vivian’s bedside. Gabriel could see how much Carter wanted to find a way to release Vivian from Lucian’s hold. It saddened him to watch Carter trying to do the impossible.

  “No, Romeo, it doesn’t work like that. Vivian’s wounds are not superficial. She has cancer. We have the power to heal exterior wounds but not internal ones. I am sorry, my friend, but Vivian is dying and we cannot stop it. You cannot stop it. It is time, Carter; you must let her go now.”

  Carter looked down at her hand lying on top of the crisp white linens on the bed. Even her hands were perfect. As soft as rose petals, he thought, touching her delicate fingers. He looked back toward Gabriel, but he was gone; Carter felt so alone again. He didn’t know what to do or even how to do it. How do I let her go when I know the hell to which she’s headed, he wondered.

  Just then Vivian opened her eyes. “Carter?”

  “Vivian? Hold on! I’ll get the doctor,” he said, ready to bolt out of the room in his excitement.

  “No, no doctors,” she demanded as she grabbed his hand.

  “I know w
hat you’ve been doing for me. Your friend, Gabriel—he’s right,” Vivian said. Carter couldn’t understand how she’d heard Gabriel speaking to him, since humans couldn’t see or hear the Guardians when they weren’t occupying a vessel.

  “Carter, I can feel your energy radiating through my entire body. I’m so grateful to you for trying to keep me alive, safe, here with the people who love me…but it really is time, Carter. It’s time to let me go.”

  Carter couldn’t believe what she was saying when she knew full well what was in store for her at the hands of Lucian.

  Seeing that Carter was still pained by her words, she confessed, “I’ve made my mistakes and now I have to answer for them, like all humans do. I’m not afraid anymore, and I don’t want you to be, either.”

  “Vivian, I just need you to hold on; just a little while longer, that’s all I’m asking. Can you do this for me?” he asked, his eyes pleading with her.

  How can I refuse? Vivian knew how hard he’d tried to save her life and her soul; it was the least she could do in return. “I’ll try.”

  “Promise,” Carter demanded sternly.

  “I promise,” Vivian replied reluctantly.

  Carter took what he could get. If this was going to be her last day here in this world, then he was going to make it a day that would last for an eternity. He wanted to create a memory that would be embedded in her soul forever, no matter where she traveled. It was his gift to her, all he could give.

  At that moment, Henry opened the door and walked into Vivian’s room, surprised to see Carter there so early.

  “Henry, Vivian’s awake,” Carter said.

  Henry could tell by the look in Carter’s eyes and the cautious tone of his voice that Vivian didn’t have much time left.

  “I need to find Jeremy and Kade and let them know she’s awake. Will you be okay here by yourself?” Carter asked, making Henry even more aware of his daughter’s dire state.

  Henry looked at Carter, afraid to move, and Carter continued speaking.

  “I have a few things I need to do, so I might be awhile,” he said. “I was thinking it would be nice to surround Vivian with all the people and things she cherished most in her life so she can take all their love with her.”

  Henry was no longer in the dark; his thoughts about Vivian’s condition had been spot on. Vivian was not getting better.

  “That sounds perfect, Carter. I believe Vivian would like that very much.” Henry tried to smile at Carter, but tears spilled from his eyes, and he turned away, knowing the time had come to say goodbye to his beloved daughter. It would be the hardest thing he would ever have to do.

  Chapter Six

  Disappointment

  Down in the depths of Hell, Lucian was awaiting his own fate. His father was scheduled to return to the Underworld and would be displeased to hear of Lucian’s failed attempt to capture and destroy the Chosen One. Lucian was optimistic that he would be spared his father’s wrath, given the new information he had ascertained about the young Guardian, Vie. He was hopeful it would be enough to save him. He knelt before the throne and bowed his head to the fiery pit of worship and waited.

  Lucian sensed someone lurking in the corridor. “Step into the light!” He summoned the shadowy figure.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked, surprised to see his mother, Odessa, appear.

  “I wish to be present when you meet with him,” Odessa said. “And it is my right!” she added quickly.

  Lucian had warned her to stay away. He didn’t need or want her help, but mostly he didn’t want her to witness the humiliation that he was certain would come.

  Odessa was a strong, dark warrior who believed her son was the most magnificent being who had ever existed. She hated the way Dimorte, his father, treated him, belittling him in front of the other Dark Ones, making it seem as though Lucian were not worthy of being his son. Odessa wasn’t putting up with it any longer. She had given Dimorte everything, and yet still she found him searching for more, always looking for something—something he had lost a long time ago.

  A violent gust of wind swirled through the chamber and the room grew dark. The fiery pit where Lucian was kneeling turned to a black hole, and there was an eerie feeling cast in the darkness. Lucian knew his father had returned; he could feel his presence in the room. Embers began to glow and then a full blazing fire roared in the pit, shooting its flames throughout the room. Lucian lifted his head and there sat his father, on his rightful throne. Dimorte had arrived.

  He sat regally, a vision of flawless perfection, a wondrous sight to behold. His skin was lustrous and pale as the sands on a beach; his hair was coal-black and his eyes were as dark as his soul. He exuded evil and commanded respect without uttering a word, the embodiment of mystery and unspoiled eternal darkness.

  While fully cloaked, Odessa and Lucian knelt before him, heads bowed like servants before their king. Dimorte signaled to them to rise, and slowly they stood. They removed their hoods, prepared to defend their mission.

  Lucian spoke first. “Father,” he said, greeting him. “I have much to tell you.”

  Lucian began briefing his father about the mission. He first told him of his conquests, like how easily he had been able infiltrate Vie’s dreams; he told him how he’d managed to gain the trust—and ultimately the soul—of Vivian Thorne. Then he divulged the information about the conflicts.

  Lucian told him how the Chosen One, Carter Stone, had been heavily protected by the Guardians. He spoke about how Gabriel had interfered, and finally told him how the whole thing had ended.

  Dimorte listened in silence. When Lucian had finished, he stood up and slowly walked toward him. He rested his hand on Lucian’s head, and the pit began to swirl in a rage of fire in front of him.

  Lucian knew, all too well, what was about to happen; he had seen it happen many times before. Souls deemed weak by Dimorte were cast into the infinite pit of fire, doomed to fall for an eternity in the bottomless black hole of Hell.

  “Father, please,” he begged him. “I am your son.”

  “Dimorte, stop!” Odessa stepped forward, placing her body between Lucian’s and his. “This is your son—my son. I have given up everything for you, and you will not take my son from me!” she glared at him.

  “He is weak! He has failed me again. Lucian is not fit to be my child! I could not have created a soul as pathetic as he,” Dimorte thundered, indignant.

  “He is not weak. No weaker than you. Do you think I don’t remember what happened when you came face to face with Camulus? You, too, were defeated in your quest, and you will not punish my son for what you deem a failure, unless you are prepared to accept punishment yourself,” she commanded, unyielding.

  Furious, Dimorte removed his hand from Lucian’s head and shifted his body toward Odessa. “Perhaps you would like to take his place?” he said, challenging her.

  “If that is the choice, then I accept,” Odessa said, contempt in her eyes, her voice barely masking her hatred.

  Lucian couldn’t watch his mother take his place, even if it meant his life was spared.

  “Wait!” Lucian raised his voice to be heard. “I have something: information that might make you reconsider your judgment, Father.”

  “This is your last chance to redeem yourself, Lucian. It had better be good, or else…” Dimorte warned.

  “I found an item that may be of interest to you,” Lucian said.

  “I’ll be the judge of that,” Dimorte said, bored by his son’s attempt to win his favor.

  “I don’t exactly have it anymore, but I saw it. I saw the Angel Blade…I held it in my hands. It’s the one you have been searching for. It does exist, Father,” he stated emphatically.

  Lucian had never seen the look that he saw right then in his father’s eyes. It was a combination of complete satisfaction and wonderment. He seemed elated about the news, and almost relieved in its conveyance.

  Odessa, on the other hand, was not at all happy about the informatio
n she had just learned from her son. This was something she had hoped would never be discovered. What she hated even more than hearing about the Angel Blade was the euphoric look she saw on Dimorte’s face.

  He fired away with his questions. “Where did you find the blade?”

  “I didn’t, exactly; a Guardian delivered it to me,” Lucian replied.

  “A Guardian? Who? Why would a Guardian bring this to you?”

  “Yes, a Guardian. It was Fallon. I believe she wanted to get rid of someone she perceived to be her enemy,” he said.

  “Ahh, Fallon, interesting,” Dimorte nodded as he thought about this new development. “Things must be falling apart up there at the precious Gates if they are betraying their own. Perhaps we can take advantage of this new situation and the Guardians will never see us coming!” He began to chuckle in a sinister fashion at the thought of it all.

  “Where is the Thorne girl? I trust we have her soul in our possession now?” Dimorte questioned.

  “No, Father, we don’t; well, not yet, that is,” Lucian replied, his expression apprehensive.

  “What?” Dimorte’s face changed immediately from pleasantly satisfied to enraged.

  “It’s the boy, the Chosen One. He has apparently discovered that he has the ability to keep her alive by transferring his energy to hers,” Lucian explained. “My Lord, just think about it for a minute. This is a good thing. The boy is foolish. He has no idea what he’s doing, and that will work to our advantage. He’s already showing signs of deterioration because of his imprudent actions with the Thorne girl,” Lucian tried to spin things in a more positive light.

  Dimorte just listened attentively while combing his fingers through his beard.

  Lucian laid out his plan for a new mission, one that would not fail.

  “Violet is attached to the Thorne girl; she will return when the girl is dead, I am certain of it.” He unfolded his perfectly thought-out plan for her capture, and subsequent demise of the Chosen One. “I beg you, my Lord, give me one last chance to prove myself worthy of you. I promise,” he pledged, “I will not fail you again.”