Personal Guardians: Book 2 in the Personal Demons Series

by Rachel A. Collett

  Darius waited by the opened door. Cheryl watched me from across the space, tucked up in a bed of dark gray and white. Her gaze grew wary as I neared and without warning, tears sprang to my eyes.

  I moved to the side of her bed, unsure of what I should do. Ray moved next to her, and placed a hand on her shoulder as if to comfort her. But why would she need to be comforted around me?

  “Hi,” I said, but my smile didn’t go past my lips.

  “Sarah.” My old name sounded foreign now and totally wrong—Sarah Mathis was gone after all—but I did not correct her. Cheryl shook her head and swallowed. “You were dead. I buried you,” she whispered. “There was no one to bury you. But I did. And here you are. Alive. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  My mouth opened to explain, but no words came out.

  “Cheryl,” Ray soothed, but it didn’t stop the heat from rising into her cheeks.

  “You were alive this whole time, and yet you didn’t try to get a message to me? Did you not think of what it would do to me? Did you not believe I had lost enough? My own son. Benjamin. And then you? How could you?”

  My heart rate spiked painfully. “I—”

  “How could you?” she asked a little louder.

  Ray cleared his throat. “Av—Sarah, I think you should go.”

  I nodded and fled from the room like the coward I was. Darius waited for me out in the hallway, his expression soft. “She will come around.”

  Without invitation, I moved into his warmth, fisting his shirt. His arms gathered me even closer as my body shook with emotion.

  “She’s right,” I cried, burying my face into his shoulder. “She’s right. I should have reached out. I should have let her know.”

  His arms tightened, and the sensation felt warm and wonderful.

  “That would have put her into even more danger than she already was.” He released a heavy sigh. “And this is not your fault. I was the one that dragged you here without your consent in the first place, and none of us would have allowed you to contact her. We all bear some of the blame.”

  He let me cry until my tears ran dry, then swooped me into his arms and carried me to my room. Placing me on my bed, he took my face in his grasp, eyeing my split lip. He leaned in, kissing the corner of my mouth. My heart zinged. “You need to rest, Ava. Would you like to shower first?”

  I looked at my trembling hands. Dirt coated my skin and filled the space beneath my nails. My once black combat gear now looked gray.

  “Yes, please.”

  By the time I finished, thick steam coated the mirrors and windows and rolled like clouds in the air. The Demon’s Eye pulsed, cold upon my skin, still vocal, still angry—but I didn’t dare remove my treasure no matter how distracting it had become.

  I wiped at the mirror with my towel and took in my reflection. My face glowed red from the high heat of the water. My long hair fell in matted waves. I combed the tresses, ripping through the tangles.

  Trudging to my closet, I put on a white cotton romper that fell to mid-thigh. The clean fabric felt like heaven as it slipped over my skin. I tried to ignore the uncontrollable way my legs shook as I tumbled to my bed. Moments later, the adjoined door opened. I cracked my eyes just as Darius leaned over me.

  My breath halted as he lifted my head and set my dreamcatcher around my neck. His soft lips pressed against my forehead in a whispered kiss. I watched, dazed, as he made himself comfortable in a chair next to my footboard… and then sleep consumed me.

  The uneven ground of the grass field spanned out in front of me. The small village of close-together shanties tipped one upon the other against the distant horizon, shadowed and quiet. A shiver sent goosebumps rippling across my skin. My bare feet felt raw and aching despite the soft touch of the dewy grass. The sky above rumbled, threatening me with its thick rainclouds, setting off my pendant. It rattled against my chest, pitching shockwaves of energy that pulsed into my head.

  I groaned, squeezing it in my palm, hoping to force its silence.

  “Ava?”

  I inhaled sharply, shocked by the unexpected presence of Jonathan. He stalked through the grasslands, his stride direct. The moon gleamed against his dark, messy tresses. My demon’s black gaze examined me as I panted through the pressure building in my head. Jonathan searched the space around me.

  “Why are you in pain, darling?” he asked, taking my free hand.

  “How—” Agony shot like a bullet between my ears and I released his hand, pressing both palms to the sides of my skull. “How are you here?” I shouted above the noise in my head.

  Jonathan’s sight narrowed. “Loophole. I pose no threat to my Ava. My intention is not to bring harm, but to comfort.”

  I nodded, my movements jerky. I closed my eyes.

  “Ava?”

  When I reopened them, Jonathan stood only a breath away, his lips parted in concentration as he studied my face. “What is going on?”

  “My pendant—it won’t stop…”

  His gaze shot to the Demon’s Eye resting on my chest. Hesitantly, he reached out his hand, placing it over the stone. His head twitched. “It appears to be a method of contacting you.”

  “But why is it so painful? They’ve been able to speak to me before.”

  “There are too many that call you. They are afraid. They seek an audience.”

  “They want to talk to me?” I asked, my voice strained.

  “The pain will only continue until they are heard.”

  “Is that wise? They’re a bunch of demons trapped in a stone my mother was given as a gift from God.”

  He only shrugged. “I do not think they have mal-intentions.”

  I groaned, rubbing hard against my temples to ease the pain, but nothing worked. “Fine. Tell them I will meet them, but they must stop calling.”

  Jonathan only nodded. Seconds later, the vibrations and the pain subsided. His fingers traced a path up my neck to massage the sides of my skull where the pressure had been. I closed my eyes and allowed the sensation of his fiery touch against my skin to warm me. His thumb caressed my cheek.

  “Ava, darling. The demons within the Eye gave you one hour. I suggest you wake.”

  “But I don’t want to,” I said as exhaustion tugged at my mind.

  He chuckled, drawing my attention with a flick to my ear.

  “Ow!” I tried shoving him away, but it was like pushing against the compound itself. “I have time, alright? Leave me alone.”

  His eyes sparkled in amusement. “Wake up now, Ava, or—”

  I glared at him. “Or what?”

  His hand shot out wrapping behind my neck, and before I could react, his lips crashed down on mine. Fire shot through my body at his touch—

  I gasped and sat up sharply. Darkness clouded my vision. My head spun. I waited with growing irritation until my sight adjusted to that of my room.

  Darius slumped in the chair next to my bed. His head hung low upon his chest, one leg draped over the armrest. My heart fell watching him sleep so uncomfortably, but I couldn’t wake him now. I had one hour. One hour of peace before the demons within my pendant called again.

  Not wanting to experience the same pain, I slunk to my closet and grabbed my running shoes. The corridors of the complex were empty. Everyone slept. All residents were too weary after battle to keep watch, and I didn’t blame them. With dawn only an hour away, I slipped on my shoes and pushed my aching body in the direction of the border.

  My lungs drew ragged breaths as I sprinted, my mind an empty reserve. Hesitation gone, I broke through the veil, washing away its protection. Gasping, I blurted out my demon’s name.

  “Once again, you travel alone?” Jonathan came to me—reality matching my dream in appearance and atmosphere. “How many times must I scold you for this? You are about to speak to demons, and yet here you are without backup?”

  “I’m here with you,” I said, ignoring the fact that I hadn’t even thought of bringing the others.

  Jonathan shook h
is head. His chest and arms were massive under his fitting gray shirt, his jeans hung low on chiseled hips. My cheeks grew warm under a steady gaze and I glanced away, scanning the area for any sign of our enemies, but I knew the Annihilator and her entourage were long gone.

  “Good heavens, Ava,” he chuckled. “It was only a kiss.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I lifted a brow, attempting to appear unaffected.

  “Yes, you do.” He quickly took in my pendant, pajamas, and running shoes. A smile lifted the corner of his lips. “Only you could pull off a look such as this.” His fingers tugged at the fabric of my shorts. His gaze traveled the length of my legs.

  I brushed away his touch. “Let’s get on with this. How do we speak to them? Will they talk through you?” And why wasn’t I more worried about speaking to a bunch of demons that had been trapped in my mother’s pendant for who knows how long?

  “No.” Jonathan pulled his knife and my heart seized. I took a step back, eyeing it warily and cursing my stupidity for having forgotten my own. He shot me a look. “Ava, don’t you trust me?” He flipped the knife, catching it between his fingers by the tip. He held it out to me. “I noticed you didn’t carry one in that skimpy outfit.”

  I took hold of the handle. “Thank y—”

  But before I could draw it back, his hand covered mine. With lightning fast speed, Jonathan forced my movement and raked the blade across his palm.

  I shrieked, stepping away as the Demon’s Eye burst open. I dropped the soiled knife to the ground. Shadowed light poured from the surface of the pendant. Slowly, Jonathan bent to retrieve his blade. Blood dripped freely from his fingertips.

  “Why did you do that?” I asked. Panic swelled at my throat.

  “To open the Eye you need a blood sacrifice, Ava.”

  “You idiot!” I snatched the Eye, trying to force it closed. “I will not let it take you.”

  Jonathan stepped forward, taking me by the hand. I tried to pull away, but he held me in place and pried the stone from my grasp. “A blood sacrifice, not a life sacrifice. The gate is open.”

  I blinked, relieved. “Oh.”

  Jonathan pointed my attention to shadowed figures that moved within the light. A blast of power knocked me to the ground. I heard Jonathan curse and when I looked up from the grass, three tall, cloaked figures stood above me, their arms across their chests. I shuffled back on all fours.

  Jonathan held his blade in warning as he offered me his assistance. Too late, I realized it was the one cut and covered in blood. He grimaced in pain when he yanked me up, his expression apologetic when he saw the red mess painted on my hand, but I waved him off. I mindlessly wiped it on my white romper—then mentally cursed my stupidity.

  The three demonic entities removed their hoods, eyeing the new streaked bloodstains on my white clothes.

  The one in the middle stood several inches taller than the others, a woman of immeasurable beauty. Perfect milk chocolate skin and dark eyelashes that framed wide, keen eyes—she towered over me and her counterparts. Thin black braids extended upwards along the side of her head to the scalp, where they gathered into a thick plaited mohawk that cascaded down her back to her hips.

  To her left stood a blonde about my height. The sides and back of her head were shaved, the remaining hair pulled into a high ponytail. The third was a man about the same size as Hector, with thick bushy brows and a smooth head that shone in the moonlight. They watched me with barely concealed disdain.

  “Who are you?” I asked, already tired of their silent judgement.

  The leader cocked her head to the side as if deciding whether to answer. Her lips pursed into a frown. “You are shorter than I thought,” she said. I jerked back, heat rising to my face. Her brows lifted. “But no matter. I am Hepzibah. This is Selina and Silicas.”

  “I am—”

  “We know who you are, girl.”

  “Very well,” I said in a huff.

  Hepzibah looked at Jonathan and nodded.

  “Jonathan. You’re looking well.”

  He grinned, cocky. “Hepzibah. You’re looking positively wild.”

  Her lips twitched at the corners.

  I waved a hand to draw attention. “And why did you summon me, Hepzibah?”

  “Don’t you already know?”

  I smiled, exposing my teeth. “If I knew, why would I ask?”

  Jonathan placed a calming hand on my shoulder.

  Hepzibah sniffed, glancing about the field. “I have come to make sure you will keep the vow your mother made to us over five hundred years ago.”

  “My mother? What vow?”

  “She promised to do whatever it took to keep us from the hands of her enemy.”

  “And why did my mother make such a promise?”

  When Hepzibah didn’t answer, I circled the demons, extending my powers. They remained in place but kept locked on my position. I could perceive their souls, but they cinched down tight when they sensed my probe.

  Hepzibah smirked, her expression a mix of defiance and curiosity. “Your mother would have never tried that without permission.”

  “I am not my mother.” I shrugged. “If you will not tell me why, perhaps I will not make the same promise.”

  Hepzibah sighed. “Because her enemy is our enemy.”

  I pished. “Are you telling me you wouldn’t be happy to return to your leader?”

  “No. Will you take the vow upon yourself and swear to protect us as your mother once did?”

  The muscles between my brows contracted. “I have no intention of giving the Demon’s Eye over to anyone, but why swear an oath?”

  “Because you do not understand the consequences of allowing the Demon’s Eye to fall into the hands of your enemy. We have watched you, little Defender. You are impulsive and do not think before you leap. Only hours ago, you contemplated giving Nikolaos what he wanted—”

  “What makes you th—”

  “—giving yourself over to the enemy that has hunted you from birth. Foolish.” She spat. “You are stupid like a child. Immature and reckless, as your mother never was. We cannot trust you to remain in your ignorance, to not understand the destructive power you hold in that simple chain around your neck.”

  “Then tell me!” I shouted over her.

  Silicas took a measured step toward me, and I halted, my heart rising.

  Jonathan shifted his stance, positioning himself in front of me, but Silicas didn’t attack.

  “There are more than three hundred fifty thousand souls that reside within your stone,” he said. “If we were released back into the world, we fear we would be forced to do the bidding of whoever freed us. Within the Demon’s Eye, there are lush landscapes, very similar to your earth, where we have toiled for thousands of years. We have built magnificent cities and enjoy the fruits of our labor. There is no killing, no crime—it is a place we can live in peace.”

  “How is that possible?”

  Selina stretched out a finger, pointing to my heart. “Connected to you, and to your mother before, we are sheltered from the one that once claimed us,” she said, her voice a soothing alto. “We knew your mother and trusted her. She kept our secret, even from the other Three, especially from Nikolaos the deceiver, and later, Alexander, your father.”

  When I went to ask why, Hepzibah answered, but not out loud. Because he would never have understood.

  And they would be right. It was one thing for my father to believe that the Demon’s Eye held countless dead, demonic souls. It was a totally different thing for that necklace to be connected to her in some strange way, and to communicate with her.

  “Wait. What did you mean by Nikolaos the deceiver?”

  Hepzibah smiled wickedly. “Your mother knew a lot more about Nikolaos’s troubles than she shared with The Three, but embarrassed by his growing insanity, she kept that knowledge to herself. We told her it was unwise to do so. It was only toward the end of her life that she began to open to the other
s. We worried about Alexander, that history would repeat itself, and so did she. The Defender promised to pass on the knowledge about her past and her friends within the Eye in hopes of sparing us, but she died before she could.”

  “Twelve years we waited, anxiously fearful of our fate, until the day you placed us around your neck,” Silicas interjected.

  I nodded automatically, my heart plunging into my stomach. “For years I thought my mom was a guardian angel. That she watched over me through her pendant. I used to think it would sense my moods and even know when I was in danger. Sometimes I thought I would hear her words in my mind.”

  Silicas’s eyes deepened along with his voice. “I’m sorry, little Defender. While I’m sure the great Defender and Guardian watch over you—it was we that spoke to you.”

  Hepzibah’s gaze shifted toward the veil. “Others are coming. Will you vow?”

  “Did my mother know that Nikolaos had run away to be with the Annihilator?”

  She paused, her head tilted to the side. “I do not think it wise to dwell so much in the past.”

  My mouth opened and closed as I bit back a heated response. “I will need time to think about your request,” I said, drawing away from the demons. “I ask that you return until I make my decision.”

  Hepzibah watched me with shrewd eyes. She nodded once. Her lips twitched, then she and her companions flew back into the Eye. A flash of light nearly blinded, and I was catapulted to the ground from the additional oomph I knew Hepzibah had used on reentry. Jonathan reached for me, but I waved away his help. I sat up and rolled over to my knees. My head swirled, dizzy from exertion and exhaustion.

  “Well that was fun.” Jonathan laughed.

  I looked to him as he stood over me, smirking. From the corner of my eye, a flash of movement plunged my heart into my stomach. Darius ran from the veil. His expression promised death…

  And I realized whose death.

  All at once I saw what Darius saw. Jonathan standing over me, bloody knife in hand. Me on my knees, blood on my clothes.

  I shoved my demon to the side, but too late. Jonathan exhaled a guttural breath. The tip of a blade appeared just to the left of his heart. A foreign scream ripped from my lung and rent the air.