Ascended (Fallen Guardian Saga #2)

by Debra Ann Miller

  Vie looked at Carter. “You know, the Guardians will be coming soon, so we have to hurry.”

  Carter knew what that meant. Instantly, the two of them were excited at the chance to race to the finish line. Their eyes met, electrified by the silent dare, and off they raced like missiles through the forest, darting between the trees with superhuman bursts of speed. Invigorated by each other’s energy, they zoomed by like two shooting stars in the night sky.

  Carter arrived first, and stood on the front porch waiting for Vie with a grin of accomplishment. He heard a noise by the bush at the side of the house and moved to investigate, creeping down the steps.

  All of a sudden, something jumped out at him and shouted, “Beat ya!”

  It was Vie, with a huge victorious smile planted on her glowing face. She boasted about her triumph, attempting to be pretentious and failing.

  Carter let her have the moment she so rightfully deserved. This was the Vie he loved and he was in awe of her.

  Vie noticed Jeremy’s car in front of the house and was nervous but excited to see him again. They knocked, and Jeremy opened the door, looking relieved when he saw Carter.

  “I’m glad you’re here, Carter. Henry has been asking for you,” he said, worried. Then Vie stepped into the doorway and Jeremy froze where he stood.

  Vie waited a moment for it to set in and then put her arms around him and hugged him tightly. “It’s so good to see you, Jer,” she said softly in his ear.

  Jeremy was amazed to see her—for the first time—in the flesh. He had known she existed, or at least he’d believed she did, but seeing her, holding her, made it all so real.

  The door was opened wider and she saw Henry’s grief-stricken eyes looking straight into hers. She pulled away from Jeremy slowly and took her first step toward Henry.

  “Daddy?” Vie said softly, her voice trembling as she took another step closer to the man she knew to be her father.

  Henry stood up. He was thin and pale, weakened from Vivian’s passing. His eyes were red and his cheeks sunken from the loss of weight he’d experienced from the tragedy. His eyes welled up with tears and his heart filled with love as he gazed into her eyes. “Is it really you?” Henry said in the doorway, still in disbelief. “You look so much like her.” He appeared to be in awe of Vie.

  “Like Vivian?” Vie asked.

  “No, like your mother,” he said, a loving, wistful look on his face.

  Vie had always been compared to Vivian in likeness but never to Lily. The thought of it filled her with joy and solidified the fact that she was indeed Lily’s daughter.

  Just then, Kade came in from the kitchen, carrying a plate with some food for Henry. She stopped instantly upon seeing Vie and dropped the dish, causing it to shatter as it hit the hardwood floor.

  Vie turned her head and saw a scared Kade halted by the vision in the room. She’d obviously noticed a striking resemblance to Vivian, but realized it wasn’t Vivian standing in the doorway.

  Jeremy walked over to her and said, “Kade, this is Vie, Vivian’s sister.”

  “But how? What happened?” Kade said, still in shock.

  “Vie grew up on the reservation with the Chief. It’s kind of a long story. We’d rather not get into the details right now,” Carter said, brushing it off.

  “I’m sorry, I…umm…I didn’t mean to pry,” Kade said, embarrassed.

  “Kade, please, it’s fine. You don’t need to apologize. I know this is a lot for everyone to handle right now, including me,” Vie said, trying to make her feel less uncomfortable.

  Kade just continued to stare at Vie, still overwhelmed, until Jeremy took her into the kitchen to allow her the time she needed to compose herself.

  Vie turned and looked back to Henry. He immediately opened his arms wide and welcomed her into them. She ran like a little girl into her father’s arms and the two of them clutched each other in an unyielding embrace.

  Carter felt a rush of tears come to the surface as he watched Vie reunite with her father. It was similar to watching the miracle of birth, through Henry’s eyes; a father seeing at his daughter for the very first time was a rare blessing to witness.

  Henry cradled her head in his hands and gazed into her beautiful eyes. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t know,” he tearfully confessed.

  “I know, Daddy, I know,” she said, consoling him.

  Henry searched her face, looking again into her eyes, and tilted his head suspiciously.

  “Daddy, are you okay?” Vie asked, worried about him.

  “You were here before, weren’t you?” Henry said, studying her.

  Vie turned and looked at Carter, not knowing how she should respond.

  Carter nodded his head to let Vie know he believed it was okay.

  “Yes, Daddy, I was,” she said.

  Henry grabbed her again tightly and closed his eyes, silently thanking Lily for sending his little girl back to him. “It was your eyes that gave you away, you know. I’ve only seen eyes like yours one other time in my life, and that was when I looked into the eyes of my beloved wife, Lily.”

  Jeremy and a slightly more composed Kade reentered the living room.

  Vie stood up and looked at the girl she’d called her friend: the one she’d protected from Tess’ bullying, the one who’d shopped with her and supported her relationship with Carter.

  Kade recognized her eyes now, too; she seemed to understand that they were familiar, and although not Vivian’s, still the eyes of a person she knew as her friend. They walked slowly toward each other at first, and then Kade ran to her and hugged her. She whispered in Vie’s ear, “I’d hoped you’d return.”

  Vie just held her, fighting back the tears. The emotions in the room were overwhelming, to say the least. Vie felt as though she had been reborn into the world, surrounded by all the people who loved her and whom she loved in return. Nothing was going to touch her family now. It was time to do what she came here to do.

  “Guys, I hate to cut this reunion short, but Vie and I do have to go,” Carter stated, seeing that Vie really needed a break.

  “Yes, yes we do,” she said, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

  “No, you can’t go. I just got you back,” Henry said, clinging to his little girl.

  Vie kneeled down in front of Henry. “Oh, Daddy, you couldn’t get rid of me even if you tried. I’ll be back soon, I promise,” she said, standing to kiss his cheek.

  Carter had spoken to Jeremy privately about staying the night with Henry to watch over him. He was worried about Henry, but he didn’t want to transfer his concerns to Vie. They had work to do, and a distracted Vie would not be a productive Vie.

  Carter was already feeling guilty about his lack of disclosure with Vie. There was a fine line between lying and disclosure, and Carter was walking right down the center of it. He battled with his conscience about withholding the information given to him regarding her birth. Ultimately, it was his strong belief that no matter what he had been told, he knew without a doubt there was not an evil bone in Vie’s body, and therefore no reason to disclose it.

  The two of them walked outside and Jeremy followed. “Hey, what’s going on? And don’t tell me ‘nothing,’ because I know both of you all too well,” he warned.

  Vie walked over to him and said, “Jer, we have something to do—something very important. I can’t tell you everything, but I can tell you that I’m here for my sister,” she said, her love for Vivian apparent.

  Jeremy could see not only love, but danger in her eyes. He had known Vivian’s soul was in trouble; he had known it for a long time. He’d tried so hard to save her, but he had failed. His faith was very strong, and he could feel Vivian’s soul was not resting in peace. The idea of her spending one second tormented by evil was unbearable for him.

  Vie could see his heart was heavy at the thought of where Vivian’s soul was headed.

  “Jer, we’ve got this!” she said confidently, holding his hands.

  Jeremy kne
w Vie was the one person who could save Vivian, and he was thankful to both her and Carter for what he knew they were about to do.

  “What can I do to help?” he said, wanting to join them.

  “Honestly, Jer, you’re doing it right now. You and Kade taking care of my father for me is all I need. I can’t thank you enough,” Vie said humbly.

  “It’s my honor to do it, Vie. You know how I feel about him; I’d do anything for Henry,” he reassured her.

  “Okay, then, tell Henry I’ll be back in the morning to see him. Can you do that for me?” she said.

  “Done. Oh, and Carter…you’d better take care of her or I’ll come looking for you,” Jeremy said.

  Carter started to laugh and Vie hit him hard, smack in the chest. “Got it, Jer. No worries, buddy!” he said, holding back the laughter. Vie scolded him about mocking Jeremy, but all Carter could think was how funny it was that after everything Jeremy knew about him, he still made idle threats in front of Vie. Although Carter thought he was kind of a good guy, he hated his hero-like complex regarding Vie.

  “To the reservation?” Carter asked, addressing Vie, his urge to laugh under control.

  “Yep,” she replied, looking at him excitedly.

  Carter understood instantly where the fire in her eyes had come from: she wanted another race. He bent down in a runner’s starting position and Vie followed suit with mischief in her eyes and a wicked smile on her face. He loved it.

  “On your mark,” he started. “Get set—” And before he could say “Go!” Vie was off and running.

  But this time, Carter knew he was going to win. He’d had a vision: he could see the end of the race. Vie’s return had strengthened his powers, and another new gift had been realized: an ability to obtain a glimpse into the future.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Memories Returned

  Vie arrived at the reservation and looked around for Carter. I beat him again, she thought as she stood outside the reservation, waiting by the side of his Jeep. Just then, Carter sat up from his position inside the Jeep and yawned. “Oh, Vie, you’re here. What took you so long?” he asked with a charming grin.

  Carter enjoyed the games they played, especially when he was on the winning end of them. Competition was their foreplay; it was what got them both stimulated and excited.

  Vie loved watching him gloat, although she would never admit it. Instead, she rolled her eyes and said, “Touché.”

  Carter relished his moment of victory, knowing he would no doubt answer for it later. Until now, Vie had taken on the role of leader, but that was changing fast. The more time Carter spent with her, the stronger he got.

  Even Vie noticed the change in him. It gave her confidence in the belief that together they would defeat Lucian and release Vivian from his hell. Vie had never been one to accept defeat, but with Carter it was different. She felt that his victories were not only his own, but hers, also, shared somehow as one; it was a strange and enlightening experience that ignited her. She loved watching him become the warrior he was created to be.

  They entered the reservation holding hands and the Chief was waiting for them. He stood in front of a roaring fire with his hands out to his sides. “Welcome home, Kitala,” he said to Vie with adoration in his eyes.

  She bowed her head in respect to acknowledge his welcome. As she returned his gaze, for the first time she saw visions of her past in his eyes. Her human existence flashed in front of her in one brief, magical moment: cradled in his arms, holding his hand, walking in his shadow as she grew. Every moment of her human life was there right in front of her, within him.

  The Chief saw her memories return and his eyes shone with unshed tears of joy. He had known Vie’s memories would return to her when the time was right, because true memories were not of mind and body, but were etched in one’s soul.

  She approached him without hesitation and wrapped her arms around the man who had embraced her as a child.

  “I remember everything. Thank you, Ate,” she whispered in his ear, kissing his cheek before stepping away. Ate was the name Vie had called the Chief when she was a child. It meant father in Lakota; it was what he had been—what he still was—to her.

  “Come. Sit,” he said, clearing his throat and interrupting the intensity of the moment, deflecting the emotions surrounding his little songbird’s return. “We have much work to do to prepare for your journey.

  “They will be coming for you,” he warned. “You must be ready to finish what was started.”

  Vie and Carter listened closely to the wisdom of their Chief. He was a warrior first and foremost, but he also possessed great knowledge about the forces within the universe. His wisdom surpassed all others, including that of the Guardians. Both Carter and Vie knew this well, and they knew that what he could teach them could not be learned anywhere else but here on the reservation.

  “Can we really resurrect my sister’s soul?” Vie asked him.

  “You can, Kitala,” he said with absolute certainty. “But you must go to the place where her spirit wanders and retrieve it.”

  Vie was comforted by his words and determined to travel wherever she had to in order bring peace to Vivian’s tormented soul.

  He walked them out to the open area of vast plains on the land. “You need to learn to fight as one. Your love is like two souls intertwined in such a way that you cannot find their meeting place, nor can you tear it apart. You two must fight together as one embodiment, one force, in order to defeat the Dark Ones. Two bodies, one soul. Now go and fight…fight until you join as one!” he shouted at the two young warriors.

  They sparred for hours against each other as the Chief looked on. Vie noticed very quickly that Carter had surpassed even her expectations of strength. For a moment, she felt as if she were sparring with Gabriel. Carter was amazing to watch, flawlessly skilled, with speed and agility unlike any she had seen before. He had answered his call of destiny, and Vie was thoroughly impressed by what she saw.

  Carter, on the other hand, had seen his warrior princess in action against Lucian at the Tower, but he had never seen the determination in her eyes like he did right now. She was graceful—but fierce, sharp, and resourceful in action. Her focus was unwavering, making her proficient with every strike.

  The two of them flew through the air with intense force, shaking the grounds of the reservation as they landed. It didn’t take long before they were moving together, perfectly in sync, like one entity instead of two, each movement calculated and dexterous.

  The entire tribe came out to watch the magic, and the Chief smiled proudly at the masterful duo. They are ready, he thought.

  The Chief took them out to the plateau and the three of them sat together on the ground, then he spoke.

  “The universe must have balance in order for there to be harmony. You two are that balance. Waka, you must learn to seek that harmony within your soul. Do you understand what I say?” he asked.

  Carter did not seem to follow what he meant, and he repeated his words, louder this time. "Violet is your harmony; you must learn to seek her, no matter where she hides."

  “Okay, so you want us to play hide and seek,” Carter sounded unsure.

  This is going to be a long night, the Chief thought.

  He pulled Vie aside and spoke to her in private. “Do you remember what I taught you, Kitala?” he asked.

  Vie looked into his eyes, suddenly bringing lost memories of her childhood to the surface. She smiled mischievously. The next second, she was gone and the Chief stood looking at Carter, waiting for him to do something.

  “Something wrong, Waka?” he asked.

  “No, I’m just not sure what you want me to do,” he said, perplexed and wondering where Vie had gone.

  “Go and find her, Carter,” the Chief demanded. As Carter stood up and started to walk away to look for Vie, the Chief shook his head no. “You can use your feet if you want, but wiser to find her another way.”

  Carter was still confused by
his words.

  “There is one more thing you must learn in order for you to win your battle with the Dark One. It is essential if you are to triumph over Lucian.”

  Carter sat back down and waited for the Chief to teach him what he needed to learn.

  “Look for her, Carter, in here,” he said, pointing to his chest. “Now concentrate, Waka; you can do this. Open your soul and seek her.”

  Carter sat on the ground and closed his eyes, trying to find Vie. His body felt light, as if he were floating away. He opened his eyes and found himself sitting on top of Devils Tower. He immediately stood up, freaked out about how he had arrived there. Realizing it wasn’t a dream, he shouted, “Best Day Ever!” from the top of the Tower, fascinated by the event. Another new ability had revealed itself, and Carter was motivated by the power it infused in him. He searched for Vie, wanting to share the news with her, but she was nowhere to be found.

  Okay, I can do this, he thought, charged by his new means of transportation. He sat again and closed his eyes, placing only thoughts of Vie in his head. When he opened his eyes again he was in Vivian’s bedroom back at the Thornes’ house. He could hear Jeremy and Kade talking downstairs.

  Carter laughed, realizing that his passion for Vie had led him to the bedroom. He thought perhaps he needed to readjust his thinking. Again, he sat and closed his eyes, concentrating harder on thoughts of Vie.

  He slowly opened one eye at a time, hoping he would find her, but he was right back where he’d started: on the reservation, looking up at the Chief who was glaring at him with utter disappointment.

  “I see you have not found her yet,” he said, frowning.

  “I’m trying, but I can’t think of anywhere else she might go,” he replied, frustrated.

  “NO, WAKA!” the Chief shouted in his face. “You are not to think about places she would be; think only of her. Take thoughts of her into your soul. Breathe her in, feel her, and find her. Now, go!”