Both front doors of the car opened. Two men stepped out and into the glow of the streetlights, one tall and dark haired, the other short and stout, his head glaring a bit in the light.
The men who had watched her from the car parked across from the school! Raea pressed against Elis.
"They've been asking about you." The dark tone of Elis's voice meant trouble.
"What do they want?" This wasn't the homecoming she had anticipated. She didn't want any more trouble.
The short man met them on the sidewalk in front of her house. "Raea Dahlrich?"
He didn't look dangerous, but his companion possessed the arrogant calm of a professional something, almost like a doctor. "What do you want?"
"We need to talk." His eyes flicked up to Elis. "Alone."
Elis's arm around her waist tightened. Good. He thought the same thing she did. No one separated them.
"Why?"
The look they gave her exposed hand bothered her. She let Elis's long coat sleeve cover the nearest hand.
"There's something you need to know," the shorter man said.
"I need to know?"
"Just you."
After what she'd been through with Corsa's betrayal, she didn't trust anyone, except the people she cared about.
"No. Leave us alone." She started forward with Elis. No way was she talking to these men. For all she knew, they meant to trick her so they could take her. What if they were Shirukan?
She and Elis hurried to the yellow house, where they could be alone together. Debbie could wait. She did not want to be alone if these men intended to harm her.
The clap of footsteps trailed them. Damn it! Couldn't she have one night of peace? That's all she wanted.
Elis let go of her waist for her hand and led her up the steps to the door.
["We seek the Keeper."]
Inari. Her heart stopped with her feet.
Elis halted too. ["Why?"]
Both men blinked, their eyes fixed on him.
["How do you know Inari?"] Elis demanded.
They turned to each other and shook their heads. The short man said, "I don't know what you said. We were only given a phrase."
The storm door hissed open. Elis shoved the inner door open, still holding the storm door. "I think you better come inside and explain yourselves."
Raea followed Elis, leaving the men to catch the storm door. The tall man brought up the rear and shut the door. "You seem knowledgeable in their language."
Elis stopped at the base of the stairs in the foyer beside her. "I should be. It's my native language. Who told you to say that?"
"We're not authorized to discuss it with anyone but the Crystal Keeper."
Elis's cheek muscles flexed against his skin. Raea twined her fingers through his. He glanced aside, the anger retreating from his face and his fingers squeezing hers.
Much better. Raea took a deep breath, confident in facing these men with Elis at her side. "What do you want from me? You watched me last week and apparently you were waiting for me here. I'm not going off alone with anyone."
The tall man held out his left hand and turned his palm up, exposing a symbol tattooed there.
She recognized it, but that was impossible. The symbol was Inari. "Who are you?"
"Friends."
Elis tilted the palm up. "It means protector." He let go, his eyes on both of them. "Who or what are you protecting?"
"Show me your hands," the man said.
Raea gave his hand a squeeze and let go. She had to know why the man wore the Inari symbol tattooed on his palm. The symbol didn't surprise her much in light of the frequent Inari visits to Earth, but to wear it in the palm of his hand was too coincidental. "Do it. I have a feeling."
Elis peeled off his gloves, exposing the Starburst mark on the palms and backs of his hands.
The tall man smiled at his companion. "As I suspected. Another Keeper."
"What do you know of us?"
The tall man stepped through the doorway to the sitting room, where the faint sound of snoring mixed with the low talk from the television. Evelyn had fallen asleep in her chair by the front window. "Is there a room where we can talk?"
Elis took Raea's hand. "Upstairs." He led her to his bedroom, careful of the creaky step.
Raea winced at the creak of the step behind the men. Idiots. The sooner they explained themselves, the sooner they would leave, she hoped. They weren't Shirukan, or Elis wouldn't have invited them in.
He led her into the room, stopping with his back to the desk. Raea backed against him and welcomed his arms around her. The two men closed the door behind them.
"Now, why are you here?" Elis asked.
The short man spoke. "One of our agents was alerted to research by a Nolan Rank a month ago concerning winged beings and healing hands. That research was requested by Nina Russet."
They had her attention. Elis stiffened behind her. The reporter, Nina Russet, had been in town to investigate the angel sightings but had taken an unwelcome interest in her hands.
"He was warned not to send her much, but apparently it was enough. We decided to investigate her purpose here, but all we found was a video of an angel that couldn't be identified. When we saw that, we knew they—you—were here." He motioned to them and stuffed his hands back into his pants pockets. "The Dark Angel figure has been around awhile, but we learned from Nina's cameraman that she had a particular interest in you, Miss Dahlrich, because of your hands."
Didn't she know it. Nina had done nothing but harass her into confessing her secret, but Raea refused to give in.
"Putting the pieces together was easy, but we thought you were the mysterious angel."
They weren't far off the mark. She curled her fingers around Elis's at her waist. How much did they know, or was this all supposition?
The taller man tapped his friend's shoulder. "We're a small group, sworn to protect a crystal borne in an amulet known only as the Eye from a coming darkness. Over four thousand years ago, an angel named Rafael endowed this power on a man. Rafael made the man swear to protect the eye with his life, to hide it. He did, and the power passed down through generations."
Elis stiffened behind her. ["Another shard?"]
["There are more than four. I've been having visions of this. I believe him."] The Starfire entities must have known something when she saw the mark on his hand through the window of the car, like when Elis had touched her the first time and they showed her visions of her mother. This was their purpose for showing her. Somehow, they knew, and she trusted them.
His breath blew hot on her neck. The men watched them, waiting. "Finish your story."
"The Eye has a long history of wars fought for its divine power. Some refer to it as the Eye of God. The amulet could not be melted by any fire nor marred by any weapon. Over time its history was forgotten by all but a few followers who believed the warnings of Rafael, until Rafael returned."
If Commander Rafael Talea was the first, the second was one she didn't know. Another in that family, most likely.
"He warned that the power must be hidden or the world would end. The few believers vowed to hide the Eye. One took it to a remote location and hid it. In time, a collective was formed, scattered around the globe to watch for signs that its location has been discovered or for the mark of the one to whom it should be revealed. Each person who accepts the responsibility bears the mark of that order."
A mark. His hand. "You're one of this order."
The tall man bowed his head.
"Why are you telling me?"
"We believed you were one of these angels. When Rafael appeared a second time, he gave us those words and a description of individuals who can be trusted. We pieced together the facts around you, but we could not identify the others like you on this world." His eyes shifted up.
Elis's fingers tightened around hers. The meaning was clear.
"We are being hunted. I've lost contact with two others. Once I give you what I know, I c
an disappear forever." He stepped forward and knelt in the narrow space between the end of the bed and the wall. "Take it."
"Tell me then."
He looked back at the shorter, balding man. "Stein is my body guard, one of the order, but not privy to its secrets, that is why I give up my knowledge to you. It's said the angels know men's thoughts."
"I can't. I can't control the power that well yet."
The man looked past her, his dark eyes pleading. "One of you must."
Elis stepped out from behind her. "I will. But I may see things you don't wish to reveal."
The man swallowed, took a deep breath, and bowed his head. "Do it."
"Focus on what you know of this Eye." The Starburst marks glowed on his hands, and he set them on the man's head. Silence surrounded them. In less time than she expected, the glow faded and Elis stepped away.
Neither said a word for several seconds.
Was that it? Raea reached for Elis and his fingers tightened around hers.
"I have it."
The protector rose from the floor. "Then my work is done. I can leave. I wish you both luck, for our sakes as well as yours." He spoke with a grim tone. "The Eye must be protected at all costs. Its power is too great to fall into the wrong hands."
Yes, it was. The shard she bore had caused enough trouble in her life already, but it wasn't over.
"A war is coming unlike anything this world has seen," Stein said.
"Ours has." The fingers of Elis's free hand traced along her side until he found her other hand. "I'm afraid that war is spilling over to this world. Earth has always been a sanctuary. We have an interest in keeping it safe."
"Thank you." Stein left with his companion.
She and Elis saw them out the door and watched the men get into their car and drive away. Elis said nothing as he closed the door, but he didn't have to. Raea could imagine what he thought. The serious expression told her all she needed.
After seeing what happened with Saffir and Leksel, she thought she knew what to expect. His arms relaxed beneath her touch. "You all right?"
Those beautiful eyes focused on her.
"It's been a long four days." Elis lifted a hand and set it over hers. His light touch reassured her. He kissed her hand, his warm lips making her pulse race. Man, she'd missed that. "But you're back. That's what matters. That's all I wanted."
Yes. She was back, but how long would it last if someone was looking for the shard hidden on Earth? "What about the Starfire?"
"It can wait."
"But if someone is looking for the shard..."
Okay, why the silly grin? Not that she was complaining, but shouldn't they be more concerned?
Then again, when he pulled her close with one hand on her back and the other gently caressing her hand on his chest, she didn't care. The Starfire could wait.
"There's only one thing I want to think about."
Oh? Did she want to know? It was a little early in their relationship for that, wasn't it? If she was thinking what he was thinking was the same thing he was thinking.
"You."
"Me?" What about her? She wasn't sure she liked where that might go.
His grin opened into a full smile. "What happened to you?"
Oh. She should have known; this was Elis talking. She'd spent too much time around Cris.
"It's a long story."
"We have all night."
__________
Marin's Judgment
The bright, open halls of the palace shone with a variety of colors and decorations adding warmth to one of the coldest places Valdas knew. Workers and servants in uniforms hurried past. Many dared not look up. The guards' heavy steps echoed through the halls Marin called home, sounding a death knell.
After her failure to capture the Crystal Keepers, General Maenast ordered her here, the royal palace. Prime Commander Alshouan obeyed, despite her hesitations. She was Shirukan, and proud of it. She would face Marin's judgment.
Two of the royal guards flanked her through the vast halls and rooms. Gold and green accented their black uniform, indicating their status.
They accompanied her to an empty room and took up positions on either side of the door, which closed behind them. The small chamber contained few amenities—a light fixture above a table bearing a bowl of fruits and, in the center, a self-forming cushion. Water flowed behind sheets of glass over the dark walls with their various shades of green striations. Lights danced about the room from the reflection of light.
Valdas paced around the center cushion, eager to speak to the empress and explain her reasons for failure. She had almost taken both of the last two Crystal Keepers. Her plan should have worked, but she had underestimated the allies of Starfire Tower.
["Welcome to my home, Prime Commander."] The clear, feminine voice rang with a hint of threat.
Valdas dropped to one knee and bowed her head.
["I don't accept failure."]
At an unseen cue, two sets of boots tromped towards her. A moment of panic crept into her but she made no move. She had failed, and the young Crystal Keeper had returned to Earth, setting back their timetable. The empress had every right to punish her as she deemed necessary. ["My life is yours, Empress."]
The two figures stopped behind her.
["Yes, it is…but the failure is not yours."]
The door hissed behind her. The scuffle of boots on the tile floor preceded a grunt and the heavy breathing of someone being forced into the room. Valdas dared not move, yet the desire to know who they brought burned through her.
["Rise, Prime Commander."]
Valdas obeyed and looked down at another Shirukan on hands and knees, a palace guard pressing down at each shoulder. Sandral looked up, her lips pressed tightly together in defiance, but the glint of fear in her amber eyes.
One of the two guards flanking her handed Valdas his weapon.
["Fix your mistake,"] the cool voice of the empress commanded.
The two guards grabbed Corsa's arms and pulled her upright on her knees, her arms and wings pinned to her back.
That could be her, but Marin spared her. Valdas wouldn't question the generosity, but neither did she feel it necessary to kill one of her best agents. Lieutenant Sandral had done well until the end of her mission.
Valdas aimed the rod point blank for Corsa's chest. The indicator near her thumb showed full power.
Corsa's lip twitched, but she held her tongue. She knew she had failed, but she had learned from that. Shouldn't she be allowed to rectify the situation? Valdas could use her experience to recapture the Crystal Keeper. Corsa knew all the hiding places of the rebels in Naviketan. She knew their tactics. And she knew a little about Raea.
["She's an asset."] Valdas swallowed. No one dared question Empress Marin.
["Fix your mistake."] The disembodied voice gave the command firmly but without anger.
Valdas aimed the weapon for a moment and dropped her hand. Corsa's eyes fixed on her with relief. ["She's more useful alive. I can use her to finish the job."]
Silence filled the room. Had she offended the empress? Was her life forfeit for not taking the life of an officer under her command? She'd never faced Marin's judgment.
Without any order, the guards lifted Lieutenant Sandral to her feet and escorted her out. The door closed behind them.
Valdas glanced up at each guard left with her, but they stood like the statues in the grand hall. She still held their weapon.
["I don't waste resources, Prime Commander. I expect those who serve me to think the same. Go and contemplate a better strategy for capturing the Starfire shards."]
Valdas bowed. ["Yes, Empress."]
__________
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Melanie Nilles grew up on a western North Dakota cattle ranch and farm. Along with her interest in horses, she always had a fascination with science fiction and fantasy. She currently resides in central North Dakota with her family, which includes her husband and kids, and two
cats. Her published works include the STARFIRE ANGELS series and the LEGEND OF THE WHITE DRAGON epic. Besides writing, she also trains and shows her horse. For updates, visit her website at www.melanienilles.com.
Other available ebooks by Melanie Nilles:
STARFIRE ANGELS (Starfire Angels Book 1)
WHEN ANGELS CRY (a Starfire Angels novella)
A TURN OF CURSES
LEGEND OF THE WHITE DRAGON: LEGENDS
LEGEND OF THE WHITE DRAGON: LEGACIES
Acknowledgements
A lot of people have supported me throughout the years who deserve recognition. Writing is a lonely endeavor requiring many hours alone with people and worlds only the writer can experience until they're described in words. Occasionally, we have to return to the real world and acknowledge that it exists. Good people keep us anchored in reality and boost us up when reality disappoints us. They keep us moving towards our dreams.
First and foremost of the people deserving recognition is my husband, Allen. You've listened when I discussed aspects of my worlds and given me suggestions. You've always been there when I was down from rejections and reminded me of my accomplishments to keep me moving forward. And you've taken the kids to give me the time to lose myself for as long as I've needed in the worlds that I've created.
Someone else who deserves a great deal of credit is Ruth Ann Nordin, an old college friend. Your successes have proven that there is an audience eager for fresh voices and stories that don't fit the normal molds.
I also want to acknowledge those who have taken the time to edit and beta read various drafts throughout the years, especially Mary Ellen. Your support means more than I can express in words.
Thank you to all the family and friends too numerous to name.
Last, I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge you, the readers. Thank you for your support and for sharing my stories with your friends and family.
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