Ascended (Fallen Guardian Saga #2)

by Debra Ann Miller

“Oh stop!” she said, not amused by his childish play. “If I wanted to hit you, I’d give you fair warning, you know, so you could run. And by the way, you should know I’m really close!”

  Carter laughed at her, and finally, the Ice Princess flashed him a subtle hint of a smile.

  “I knew it! You like me!” Carter continued to tease her.

  “You confuse affection with tolerance, my friend. Chosen One… Ha!” she smirked.

  “That’s right. I’m the Chosen One; if I command, then they shall listen,” he said in a deep, regal voice, mocking himself.

  “You wish!” Fallon shouted back at the arrogant warrior.

  “I know. Just ask Vie,” he said.

  “Ask Vie what?”

  “How I commanded her to return and she did,” he said nonchalantly.

  “You what?”

  “Fallon, I’m kidding. We all know I couldn’t make Vie do anything she didn’t want to do. I mean, even you should know by now that Vie—”

  “Would you stop talking for one minute?” Fallon interrupted, shouting over him. “Carter, this is very important. Did you really command Vie to return to you? And if you did, when?” she asked.

  “It was the night her sister, Vivian, died. I came here, to this very spot. I was furious and I remember shouting up to the sky. I asked HIM to return her, then I begged, and then I commanded Him to return Vie to me. I guess Vie and I were thinking the same thing at the same moment, because a few seconds later, there she was.”

  Carter pointed to the very spot where Vie had stood. His eyes glassed over just looking at the spot where she’d come back to him. It was as if he could see her there, right in front of him.

  “Carter, take my hand,” Fallon said, her voice edgy, every muscle in her body tense.

  “Why? What’s going on?” he asked.

  “I’ll explain on the way. Let’s go!”

  Carter took her hand and they vanished from the top of Devils Tower.

  Vie, meanwhile, was standing outside the door to the Council’s chambers. She nodded her head to the guard, letting him know she was ready to enter. He opened the door and announced her presence.

  The setting was very much different than the last time she’d appeared before them. This was not a briefing, it was a trial. They were not here to welcome her. Their only purpose now was to impose judgment. Their eyes fell cold upon her as if they were looking at a traitor. She could see their dubious judgments being made as they whispered amongst themselves. It made her feel not only uncomfortable but extremely insecure.

  “Violet,” Marcus addressed her formally as the head of the proceedings. Since Camulus had been part of the mission, he was not allowed to head the Council in this particular case. Although he would have a vote in deciding Vie’s fate, his seat as Head of Council would be taken over temporarily by Marcus.

  “You have been charged with the crime of treason against the Gates. How do you plead?” he asked.

  Vie looked at Gabriel immediately after hearing Marcus’ opening statement. It was something she’d never believed she would be capable of, and yet here she stood, guilty of the charge being set before her.

  Gabriel gave her a nod, letting her know it was okay to admit her guilt and make her confession.

  “Guilty,” she said. The members of the Council glared at her.

  “Well then, I believe we can move on to sentencing—” Marcus began.

  “—Not so fast,” Camulus interjected. “I believe Violet is allowed to defend her said guilt.”

  “Camulus, if you believe there is a defense for treason, then perhaps we should be reconsidering your position on the Council,” Marcus stated.

  “You may be in charge of this meeting, but you are not in charge of the Gates,” Camulus thundered back to him.

  The entire room was silenced by the words exchanged between two monarchs having a territorial battle.

  This cannot be good, Vie thought as she watched them challenge one another.

  Marcus didn’t back down. He was an ambitious member of the Council, one who wanted nothing more than to be the sole ruler of the Gates. He believed, as in the situation with Reese, too many Guardians were able to have the freedoms to do as they pleased, and he saw that as a dangerous thing. He thought the Council had gone soft, and that someone needed to pull back the reins and rule with an iron fist to restore order to the Gates. Camulus didn’t agree, but Marcus was clever; he was using Vie as a ‘case in point’ tactic and Camulus was not happy.

  Gabriel decided he needed to break the tension and redirect the focus back to Vie.

  “Gentlemen, this is not the time. I believe we all want the same thing, and that is the truth. Violet has the right to defend and explain her actions, and we are duty-bound to listen. You do remember how things work up here at the Gates, don’t you, Marcus?” Gabriel said, a gentle reminder to the leader that he was not the sole ruler. “I live by a code, as most of you know, and it is one of morality and honor. I felt as you all did when I learned Violet had fallen. But not everything is black and white; sometimes there are shades of grey. I implore you to listen to what Violet has to say, because every person has the right to risk his or her own life in order to preserve it. That’s all Violet is guilty of.”

  Vie knew how hard it was for him to stand up for her. She smiled at him to show her gratitude.

  Marcus saw the exchange and his brow jutted like a cliff over the rest of his face. He had known the two of them were tight, but he hadn’t expected Gabriel to ignore her crime. He wondered what hold the beautiful young Guardian had over him. Marcus looked over at Violet and reluctantly said, “Proceed, my dear. The floor is yours.”

  Vie began her defense. She carefully laid out the sequence of unbelievable events that led up to her fall. The Council listened intently, fascinated by her story, but though the tale was true, she could see it offered no real defense in their eyes. She had hoped, given the extenuating circumstances put forth, that the Council would have mercy on her soul.

  Then Marcus cleverly restated something Vie had said, in a way that would intentionally make her look bad.

  “So… just so we all understand the facts as you’ve presented them to us: ultimately you descended for revenge, correct?”

  “Well, not exactly. I mean, that was part of it, but there’s more to it than that,” she tried to clarify her words but Marcus stopped her.

  “Violet, a simple yes or no will suffice,” he said.

  “Then yes, I guess I did,” she replied.

  Gabriel wasn’t happy about the way Marcus had bullied Vie into answering the question. He was walking a fine line with him as well as with Camulus. But they were pretty sure Marcus’ influence wouldn’t carry the weight that he assumed it would. His attempt to undermine Camulus’ authority was not a wise decision, and Gabriel trusted that the other Council members were smart enough to see it.

  All the votes were counted and the verdict was in. The Council was ready to make a ruling.

  Marcus stood up and addressed Vie.

  “We, the Council, having taken all things into consideration, have decided that you, Violet Thorne, are—”

  Vie looked at Gabriel and he smiled at her to ease her fears. He was confident that the Council would not punish Vie after hearing her story; no one would. Then they heard Marcus say the word…

  “—Guilty!”

  “What?” Gabriel looked at the members of the Council in disbelief. “You can’t do this; I won’t let you! Were you not listening? Were any of you listening to a word she said?” he shouted furiously at them.

  Camulus shot Marcus a look of disapproval. He could see Marcus’ pleasure in his ability to have convinced the other Council members to side with him. Vie had once again become a pawn in someone’s game. This time it was not Dimorte; this time it was Marcus’ personal agenda that left Vie with the short end of the stick.

  “You will not get away with this, Marcus,” Camulus said. “I know what you’re trying to do, an
d it’s not going to work. Consider yourself warned.”

  Gabriel was still shouting at the members of the Council, demanding to see the votes. He wanted to see the faces of the members who voted against Vie—against him.

  The room was in total chaos, everybody arguing with everyone else, and then Vie shouted, “That’s enough! All of you, SHUT UP!”

  Everyone looked at the defiant Guardian, shocked by her outburst.

  Vie composed herself and continued, “Gabriel, Camulus, it’s all right. I accept whatever punishment they deem appropriate. They’re right. I committed the crime of treason. I broke the rules. I put others at risk for my own selfish reasons. And I am sorry for all of it. But most of all I’m sorry I betrayed a friend. That I betrayed you.” She spoke directly to Gabriel with tenderness in her voice. “I am ready for atonement.”

  Just then they heard a commotion in the hallway. Vie could hear Fallon’s voice shouting at the guard on the other side of the door. It can’t be Fallon. She’s supposed to be with Carter. Oh my God, something must have happened, she thought.

  Gabriel heard it, too. He went toward the door and before he could open it, Fallon barged in. “Fallon, what are you doing here? You’re supposed to be with Carter,” Gabe shouted at her.

  “You can thank me later,” she said, gloating.

  He was completely stunned by her appearance in the chambers, and the uncharacteristically cheerful demeanor she displayed as she marched past him and over to Vie.

  “You’re supposed to be with Carter,” Vie hissed, trying to conceal her anger in front of the Council.

  “Yeah, well, you’re not the only one who doesn’t follow the rules,” Fallon stated.

  Vie wondered if this was Fallon being friend or foe. She was definitely here for a reason, that much was clear, and the members of the Council were not happy about her unwelcomed intrusion.

  “What is the meaning of this?” Marcus said, standing up to announce his objection. “Members of the Council, this is what I’ve been talking about. Do you see the insubordination of the Guardians under Camulus’ leadership? There is no longer any order here at the Gates.”

  “It’s you, Marcus, who are out of order here. Fallon was on our mission, which gives her every right to be here and speak at this hearing if she has something relevant to say. I assume you have something relevant to say?” Camulus looked to Fallon for reassurance.

  “I do!” Fallon said confidently.

  “Then by all means, Fallon, get on with it,” Marcus didn’t bother to hide his annoyance.

  Fallon stepped front and center, facing all the members of the Council before speaking. “Vie didn’t fall. She didn’t betray anyone, and she’s not guilty of the crime of treason,” she stated firmly.

  “My dear, I know you weren’t present for this hearing, so let me fill you in: Violet has already confessed to her crimes,” Marcus replied.

  “Yes, well, Violet was mistaken. Although she may be guilty of thinking about it, she didn’t actually do it. Well, not of her own free will, anyway,” she said, playing with the term for sheer amusement.

  “Enough of this nonsense! It’s obvious that Violet’s friends are making a very foolish attempt to mock the proceedings of our Council,” Marcus said.

  “Friends? Ha!” Fallon laughed in his face at the irony. “Marcus, if you knew anything at all about any of us, you would know that I am definitely not friends with her. In fact, our relationship is quite the opposite. I have absolutely NO reason to want to save Violet. NONE!” The last word was spat out with complete assurance.

  Is she trying to convict me? Vie wondered. Way to sing my praises, Fallon! I’m fighting for my life and you’re giving them the rope to hang me! Please, God, make her stop. Outwardly, she was calm, but Vie was screaming inside.

  “I speak the truth, and I have proof,” Fallon said.

  A rather curious Marcus ordered her to produce her supposed proof.

  Fallon grinned slyly at him and answered, “My pleasure.”

  She walked over to the door and opened it.

  To their surprise, Carter was standing in the entrance. Vie’s heart almost stopped beating the instant she saw his magnificent face; she wanted to run to him but she didn’t dare move. What is he doing here? she wondered.

  Gabe and Camulus said nothing. They were still in a state of shocked disbelief that Carter was standing in the doorway, there at the Gates.

  “What is the meaning of all this?” Marcus shouted, the veins in his forehead bulging.

  “I believe you asked for proof. Well, here it is. May I have the honor of introducing to you Carter Stone, aka, my proof!” she said proudly.

  Carter stepped inside the chamber. He winked at Vie, and then he respectfully asked for permission to speak.

  Even Marcus knew he could not refuse the Chosen One permission to do anything, so he nodded and gave him the floor.

  “Fallon speaks the truth. Vie—Violet—did not fall. She was summoned, actually. I commanded her to return to me, and I believe I had the power to do so. It was time for her to come home, and I called for her.

  “You see, I sent Violet here a long time ago to keep her safe, to save her from the evil beings that sought to destroy her…to destroy us. She wasn’t created to be a Guardian. She was born to be human, and I took that existence away from her. Violet didn’t get a choice: I decided for her, and that was my mistake. Now I’m returning what I took away: her free will, her right to decide where and what her existence will be. She was born human. She didn’t die, and she has the right to finish her life in my world if that is what she chooses to do.” Carter looked at Vie to see if returning to his world was indeed something she wanted to do.

  Tears filled her eyes, and she said the two words that Carter had hoped to hear: “I do.”

  “Carter is right,” Camulus agreed. “But…Violet, none of us knows what powers you were born with, and which may have been gifted to you when you arrived at the Gates. If you return to their world, your abilities may not return with you. If that were to happen, then you would be defenseless against Dimorte.” He paused, then said, “There is another unknown: returning there may or may not offer you eternal life. We know your father’s DNA offers you a chance to exist eternally, but your mother is human. Are you willing to accept this unknown?

  “I am,” she replied without hesitation.

  “Very well, then. I believe we should put it to a vote,” Camulus said.

  “No! Violet will not be safe there. Dimorte will come for her,” Gabriel objected. “I need to speak with Vie alone, in private,” he demanded. He took her arm and led her out into the hall.

  “Vie, you can’t do this. It’s insane!” he said.

  “Gabe, it’s my choice, not yours,” she fired back.

  “Vie, please just think about it for a minute. If you leave here, Dimorte will come for you and I won’t be there to protect you.”

  “Gabe, don’t you get it? I don’t need you or Carter to protect me. I would have thought you could see that by now. I just need you to be my friend,” she said.

  “I am your friend and that’s why I’m telling you how crazy this is. Humans, they grow old and die, Vie. Is that what you want?” He painted a very bleak picture of her possible future.

  “Gabe, I would rather live one beautiful day with Carter than an entire existence without him,” she said simply.

  Gabe couldn’t argue that point with her, so he just didn’t say anything. Instead, he gazed into her eyes, hoping she could see what his words couldn’t express: that he loved her and didn’t want her to leave.

  Just then, the door opened and Camulus poked his head out. “They’re waiting to put Carter’s request to a vote.”

  Vie knew Gabriel would have a vote as well, and she really needed him to be on her side. “Gabe, do I have your support?”

  “I can’t, Vie. I just can’t,” he said, and walked away from her.

  The Council was ready. They held an open call vote,
which meant Vie and Carter would get to see and hear which members would support them and which ones would not. Eleven people would be in charge of Vie and Carter’s fate.

  One by one the votes were cast, and the tally was five to five, deadlocked, with Gabriel being the deciding vote. Ironically, both men she loved more than anything else in the world shared one thing; they each had had a hand in her fate. First Carter, and now Gabriel held her life in his hands, except this time, she already knew what the outcome would be.

  Vie looked at Carter with nothing but sadness in her eyes. I love you, were the words formed in her lips.

  “Wait,” Carter shouted. “Before you vote, Gabe, I need to say something to you. You protected Vie when I couldn’t, and I will be forever in your debt for it. You trained me, you showed me how to be the best that my abilities will allow me to be, and I want you to know I will protect Vie always with my life. You have my word.” He bowed his head.

  “Gabriel, what say you?” Marcus asked.

  Gabe looked across the room and into her eyes; he could see clear into her soul. That’s when he realized she was right. Carter and Vie were truly made for each other, and even though he feared for her safety, he knew living without Carter would be no existence at all for her. It was time to let her go, but he just couldn’t seem to do it. He looked away from her, and Vie immediately knew what was about to happen. With a heavy heart he replied, “I just can’t…”

  Vie immediately turned to Carter, and he wrapped his arms around her protectively. Fallon’s mouth hung open, and even Camulus looked surprised.

  “May I finish?” Gabriel asked. “I just can’t…imagine what this place will be like without you!”

  Vie jumped into his arms and hugged her friend as tight as she could. Vie, you’ve really got to let people finish their sentences.”

  “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she cheered.

  Carter walked over to Fallon and said, “See that? Best of friends.”

  Fallon smiled at Carter and tried not to show her shock when he hugged her and said, “Thank you Fallon, for everything.” Fallon wasn’t comfortable with affection, but she didn’t break away. She hated to admit it, but Carter Stone had grown on her, too.