Ascended (Fallen Guardian Saga #2)

by Debra Ann Miller

  Someone wanted Vie to hear what Lily had to say, Gabriel thought as he listened to Vie. Vie’s voice was shrill as she relayed the number of lies she had been told by everyone, and Gabriel knew just how she was feeling.

  “Don’t worry, Vie. We’ll figure it all out together,” he promised.

  She seemed comforted by that thought, but couldn’t help but think about what Lily had said about saving Vivian.

  “Gabe, do you think she’s right? Do you think I really have the power to save Vivian?” Vie wondered.

  Gabe didn’t respond right away. Instead, he looked into her violet eyes and said, “Vivian made a mistake, one that she will pay for with her soul. I don’t know if you have the power to save her or not, but what I do know is that you cannot risk doing so on your own. When we get the answers we need, then we can make a decision about Vivian. For now, though, she’s safe. Promise me you will do nothing until we get some more answers about what’s going on here,” Gabriel pleaded.

  “I can’t, Gabe; I can’t promise anything right now,” she replied, lost in her emotions.

  “I’m not asking you to promise me forever. Just give me a couple of days, Vie, that’s all I’m asking. Surely you can do that for an old friend,” he said, not averse to applying a little bit of pressure.

  “Fine. A few days and that’s it, Gabriel. If you can’t find what you need in a few days, I guess I’ll have a decision to make.” Vie said reluctantly, not fully knowing what kind of decision she would need to make about saving her sister.

  “Gabe, I just can’t believe I have a mother and father and I can’t be with either of them. It’s not fair, Gabe, it’s just not fair. I miss him…my dad; I really miss Henry,” Vie said, tucking her head into Gabriel’s chest as he hugged her tight.

  Henry…hmm, Gabriel thought.

  Chapter Eight

  Drift Away

  “Jeremy, Kade, I’ve been looking for you all over town,” Carter said, rushing over to them. “Where have you guys been all day?”

  “We took in a dinner and a show. I wasn’t aware I had to report in to you, Carter,” Jeremy said sarcastically.

  “You don’t,” Carter fired back harshly. “I just thought you might like to know Vivian is awake. You remember her, right? Your girlfriend?”

  “Vivian’s awake? Oh my God, that’s wonderful!” Jeremy exclaimed happily. “I have to get to the hospital, Kade, do you mind?”

  “No. Go, please, Jer. I’ll catch a ride with back with Carter, if he doesn’t mind.” She looked at Carter, questioning.

  “Sure, no problem, Kade,” he replied.

  Jeremy raced off, excited to hear the news about Vivian. Even though he’d snapped at him earlier, Carter didn’t have the heart to tell him that Vivian was not going to recover. He knew Jeremy would find out about her fatal condition soon enough, and he took no pleasure in delivering that news to him, no matter how often the two of them had butted heads.

  Kade and Carter left right after Jeremy did. Carter told Kade, “I want to make a pit stop at Vivian’s house to pick up a few things. Do you mind?”

  Kade didn’t seem to be in a hurry to get to the hospital. Carter had suspected Kade was developing feelings for Jeremy, strong ones, and was pretty sure it was difficult for her to watch him yearning for Vivian.

  “Carter, can I ask you something?” Kade said.

  “Sure, Kade.”

  “Do you believe in fate?”

  “I do,” he said confidently.

  “Do you believe Jeremy and Vivian are fated for each other?” she asked.

  Kade’s questions confirmed what Carter already knew: Kade was in love with her best friend’s boyfriend. He could tell she was battling with herself over the unrequited feelings of love she had for Jeremy. What Carter couldn’t understand was why Vivian, Kade, or anyone else would be the slightest bit interested in Jeremy; Carter found him to be sort of an arrogant hothead. He could see Kade was tortured, though, and he knew she needed a friend.

  “Kade, if Jeremy and Vivian are meant to be together, then they will be. I don’t believe fate has assigned itself to the two of them, but only time will tell. He likes you, ya know?” Carter said, smiling.

  “What?” Kade looked over at him sharply.

  “Jeremy. He likes you. A lot—I can tell by the way he looks at you. You’re good for him, Kade. Hang in there and perhaps you’ll find out that you are his fate,” Carter suggested.

  “I’m a horrible person. I mean, my best friend is fighting for her life, and here I am, putting the moves on her boyfriend. She deserves a far better friend than I am,” Kade argued with her conscience.

  “Don’t say that, Kade. You’ve been a great friend to Vivian, and I know she hasn’t always been one to you. Vivian is lucky to have you, and I’m sure if she could no longer be here with Jeremy, she would absolutely want him to be with someone as wonderful as you,” Carter complimented her.

  “Thank you, Carter. I think you’re pretty, special too,” she added shyly.

  “Now, come on. I need your help. I want this day to be extra special for Vivian. A day to remember always and forever,” he said as they entered the Thorne home.

  They arrived at the hospital and Henry greeted them in the hall. He said Vivian had been awake for a while, but the doctor had said she needed to rest. It was obvious she was fighting hard to stay awake, but she’d drifted off nonetheless.

  Henry and Jeremy seemed relieved that she was resting, but Carter knew he’d been gone a long time and Vivian could be slipping away. He needed to get in there and hold her hand to transfer more of his energy to her. He needed more time with Vivian now that she was awake; he couldn’t let her slip away.

  He asked Henry if he could step into her room to put her artwork up on the walls. “I think it will be good therapy for her, to be surrounded by the things she loves.”

  Jeremy just gave Carter a dirty look, angry at him for still trying to take his girl. He kept wondering why Vivian was so important to Carter now that he knew she wasn’t really Vie. It didn’t make any sense to Jeremy at all; in fact, it bothered him to no end. He hated that Carter was always trying to be the hero, but out of respect for Henry he’d agreed to be civil towards him.

  “Let me help you, Carter?” Jeremy asked.

  “No, that’s okay. I got this, Jeremy,” Carter replied as he carried the paintings into Vivian’s room.

  “No, really, Carter, I insist,” Jeremy said, grabbing a painting from his hand and entering Vivian’s room.

  Carter quickly counted to ten, hoping it would stop him from hanging Jeremy on the wall along with the paintings. He didn’t want Jeremy to be present when he held Vivian’s hand, since he knew having any sort of physical contact with her would upset him. Though it wasn’t his intention to deliberately anger Jeremy, he felt a sudden burst of pleasure radiate throughout his body at the mere thought of it now. Regardless of how Jeremy felt about it, Carter knew he had to hold her hand or she would slip away from him—from all of them.

  While Jeremy was trying to hang the canvas, Carter made his first attempt to slide his hand under the covers to touch Vivian’s hand.

  “Umm, Carter, a little help,” Jeremy pointed to the canvas sliding from his grasp down the wall.

  “You need my help? That’s a first,” Carter said, laughing at him. Jeremy’s face turned to a bright shade of red, making it virtually impossible for him to hide his anger. As Carter started walking toward him, Jeremy stopped him, his pride getting in the way of what he really needed: Carter’s help.

  “Don’t bother, Carter,” he said, putting his hand up to stop him. “I got this.” He echoed Carter’s words back to him.

  “Fine, works for me,” Carter grinned mischievously, proud of his plan that seemed to be working like a charm. He couldn’t help but think that Jeremy being a hothead had finally worked to his advantage.

  Carter gently slid his hand back under the sheet to meet with Vivian’s. He held on to it tight, emitting w
aves of energy from his body to hers. He knew Jeremy was almost finished hanging the paintings, and he hoped he would have enough time to allow her to open her eyes once again so she could see and feel the love in the room. He had just released her hand when Jeremy walked over to them.

  Just then, Vivian opened her eyes, blinking once or twice to focus.

  Jeremy started to notice that the only time Vivian seemed to be better was when Carter was around. It bothered him, but it was a suspicion that would have to wait to be investigated, because Jeremy could think of nothing else after he saw Vivian open her amazing blue eyes.

  “Jeremy?” she called to him, fighting to smile through her pain. He ran to her side and held her hand.

  Carter quietly excused himself and went into the hall to gather everyone together in the room. Kade came with scrapbooks that memorialized every moment of their lives. Friends, teachers, and neighbors entered, one by one, each bearing personal gifts of memories they’d shared with Vivian. The entire town paraded through her room, filling it with cherished pieces of Vivian’s life and the love she had given to each and every one of them.

  After they’d all left, Henry took out a soft blanket and wrapped it around his daughter. He told Vivian her mother had made it for her when she was born. He said she’d packed it away, hoping she would wrap her granddaughter in it someday. Henry knew that day would never come for Lily or his daughter. He kissed her on the forehead, just like always, and told her to get some rest.

  “Sweet dreams, Vivi,” Henry said, clearly fighting tears again.

  “Dad?” Vivian called to him. “I can feel Mom’s arms wrapped around me in this blanket. Thank you, Daddy,” She snuggled her face in the blanket like she’d done as a child.

  “I have something for you, too,” Jeremy said.

  He took the iPod out of his pocket and placed the headphones gently into her ears and then pressed play. Vivian smiled. Her face lit up as she listened to the sounds of Jeremy singing their song to her. His voice was pitch-perfect and she could feel his heart breaking as he sang the words.

  Carter didn’t know what Jeremy played for her, but he could see it was time for him to step away. He felt like he had interrupted a moment meant to be shared privately between the two of them. He waited in the hall for Jeremy to say goodbye and then he went back in Vivian’s room.

  Jeremy watched, but he decided Carter wasn’t worth getting angry over any longer. He was too upset about Vivian, and all he wanted to do was be with a friend; he needed to be with the one person who understood his pain because she, too, was feeling the same pain. That person was Kade, and she had become Jeremy’s rock.

  “Big day, huh?” Carter spoke to Vivian in a quiet, soothing voice.

  “Yeah. Thank you, Carter,” she said gratefully.

  “For what?”

  “For this,” Vivian said, spreading her hands out while scanning the room. It was filled with flowers, her paintings, beautiful memories of days gone by and all the people she loved. Vivian knew Carter was the only one who understood that she was living on borrowed time—time that was about to expire. She appreciated everything he’d given to her, including the past few days of life that she knew she wouldn’t have had if not for him.

  “Are you scared?” Carter asked.

  “Kind of,” Vivian responded, still holding on to her mother’s blanket. “Not so much of leaving, just…well, you know,” she said, knowing Carter would understand that her afterlife with Lucian was something to fear.

  “But it’s time, Carter. I’m ready to face whatever lies ahead for me now,” she said.

  Carter wished there was something he could do to change the outcome of Vivian’s afterlife. He kept thinking that he’d had so much power given to him, and yet not enough to save her beautiful soul. What he couldn’t understand was why Lucian wanted her so badly. What does Vivian have that Lucian needs? he wondered.

  Then Vivian spoke, asking him to flip the pages of the canvas sitting on the easel.

  Carter hadn’t even noticed there were other paintings behind the portrait of her mother displayed on the easel. He walked over to it and turned the canvas pages.

  She looked at each painting, silently remembering where she had been and what she had been thinking when she’d painted it. Vivian smiled at the precious moments captured in her artwork.

  He turned it again, watching her, and suddenly he saw an unimaginable look of terror in her eyes. Carter turned to look at the canvas and saw the fear-provoking image: Lucian was staring back at him. He immediately tried to flip past the page, but Vivian stopped him.

  “No, leave it. I want to look at his eyes,” she said, studying the painting.

  “Do you remember something? Anything about your time with Lucian that might help us understand why he wants you so much?” Carter asked.

  “Nothing that seems relevant,” she said, trying desperately to remember.

  “There must be something you heard Lucian talk about. Maybe a conversation that seemed irrelevant at the time? Think, Viv.” He tried to help her recall.

  “I just remember being cold and scared. I didn’t see Lucian when I was there; I only saw some of his men, the other Dark Ones. But I do remember them talking about a girl. They said Lucian believed she would come for her sister,” Vivian said, not really thinking it was important or relevant.

  “Sister?” Carter repeated.

  “Yes, I looked around the other cages but I didn’t see any other girls there with me, and I don’t have a sister so I didn’t think any more about it. It’s useless, Carter! There is no reason Lucian would want me other than he’s an evil, evil man!” Vivian shouted out, her anger giving strength to her voice.

  Hmm…sisters? Carter thought. While Vivian was busy dismissing the idea, Carter knew better than anyone that every move Lucian made against them was calculated. If he were waiting for a sister, then Carter knew he had to find the sister who was so important to the plan.

  “Vivian, can you hang on a little bit longer?” Carter asked. “I want to see if I can figure any of this out. If we can figure out why Lucian needs you, then maybe we can stop him. Just give me a few days to see what I can find out about these sisters and how they’re connected to you.”

  “I’ll try. But I won’t risk taking any more energy from you, Carter. You’re getting weak; even I can see it. I can’t—I won’t—allow you to put your own existence at risk for me any longer. I’ll hold on myself, for as long as I’m able,” she said.

  “Agreed. I just have one last request,” he said.

  “And what is this request?” Vivian asked, smiling.

  “This,” Carter said, taking her hand and transferring his energy into her body.

  “Carter, no!” she shouted at him, trying to pull her hand away from his.

  “Sorry, just needed to keep that smiling face around a little longer until I can figure out what Lucian wants. You wouldn’t deny me one last request, would ya, Viv?” he said, grinning at her.

  “Well, I really didn’t have much of a choice in the matter now, did I?” she tried to look stern.

  “See ya tomorrow, angel,” Carter responded.

  “You know, Carter, Vie was lucky to have you, even if it was only for a little while. I believe she’s watching over us, and I believe she will find a way to come back to you—with or without me here,” she said the words almost as if she knew they were true.

  Carter left the room and was surprised to find Tess sitting in the waiting area with flowers in her hand. “How long have you been waiting out here?” he asked.

  “A few hours,” she replied. “I’ve been trying to work up the courage to go in. I mean, I’ve been so awful to her, I wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t want to see me at all.” Tess bowed her head, ashamed.

  “Tess, I have a feeling Vivian would be very happy to see you,” Carter said with understanding.

  Tess looked up at him and could see he was confident about his feeling.

  “Well, what are
you waiting for?” he asked her. “Get in there and say what you need to say to your friend.”

  Tess opened the door and entered Vivian’s room. An hour later she came out with tears in her eyes.

  “That bad, huh?” Carter asked, surprised by her tears.

  “Worse than I’d ever imagined,” she replied, wiping the tears from her eyes. “She was so wonderful to me; honestly, it made me feel worse. She forgave me for every awful thing I’ve ever done or said to her, and told me she understood better than anyone that jealousy was an ugly emotion that made good people do bad things.”

  “She’s absolutely right,” Carter said. “You know, Tess, it’s never too late to turn over a new leaf.”

  “That’s exactly what Vivian said,” Tess replied, still teary.

  Carter lent her his shoulder, knowing she really needed a friend to lean on, both literally and figuratively. While Tess had been in Vivian’s room, he’d been thinking about his own discussion with Vivian. The comment about a ‘sister’ had puzzled him.

  Since Tess knew the family well, he figured he’d start his investigation by asking her about Lily, Vivian’s mother, trying to obtain any information from as far back as Tess could remember.

  Tess told Carter that her parents had been very close to Henry and Lily when they were first married. According to Tess, Lily had apparently had a troubled past, but when she met Henry everything changed. Lily moved to Newcastle to be with Henry and they started a family.

  “In fact,” Tess said, “My father was Lily’s obstetrician when she was pregnant with Vivian.”

  That announcement registered a red flag within Carter. He didn’t know why, but suddenly he had a feeling Dr. Montgomery was holding the key to the mystery he needed to solve in order to save Vivian’s soul. If Tess really wanted to turn over a new leaf and repay Vivian for her kindness, now was her chance.

  “Tess, any chance you can do me a favor?” he asked.

  “Sure, anything for you, Carter,” she looked happy to oblige.