“I understand,” he replied. “I don’t like it, but I understand. Let’s pick up a few weapons, and I’ll take you.”
Sara was surprised. She’d expected him to say no. Once again, he tossed her on the other side of the emotional fence. How did he go from being an ass to understanding? She wished he’d make up his mind.
He went to his bedroom for several minutes and emerged with a dark vest covering his t-shirt. The handles of a dozen small knives lined each side and he slipped the long, ornate blades he fought Adalina with into the sheaths across his lower back. He looked up at her and furrowed his brow.
“Can you shoot a pistol?” he asked.
“Yes,” she replied. “But I’m much better with a rifle or shotgun.”
“I don’t want to have to carry a long gun,” he said. “They’re unwieldy if you have to run.”
He went back in his room and came out with a nine-millimeter and the shoulder holster to go with it.
“Do you know how to put on the shoulder holster?”
She yanked the holster from his hand and scowled. “Of course, I do.”
“Then let’s go.”
She looped her arms through the leather straps and cinched the buckle tight. Darian handed her the weapon, which she stowed immediately. He took her elbow, and they teleported to the edge of the pasture behind her house.
She grinned when she realized where they were. “My favorite fencepost,” she said. “And I’m not throwing up!”
Darian still gripped her elbow, and she noticed his frown deepening.
“What is it?” she asked, fear creeping along the edge of her consciousness.
“I’m going to conceal us both, so don’t move and don’t let go of me.”
She grabbed the edge of his vest, trying to calm her racing heart. He disappeared, and Sara stifled a yelp. Logically, she knew he was still there—she could feel his vest in her hand—but she wasn’t used to the disappearing act yet. She laid her other hand on his chest and closed her eyes, concentrating on breathing.
“I’m still here,” his voice whispered in her ear, his breath moving her hair. “There are several demons in the woods behind us. I’m not inclined to fight them on my own, so we’re going to teleport to your house and make a plan.”
She nodded and wondered if he could see her. She didn’t trust her voice to speak, so she remained silent. Her body shifted as they teleported again, arriving in the stairwell of her house. Darian’s hand settled over her mouth, startling her.
“There are two demons in the kitchen,” he said so softly she barely heard him. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
She remained still for five seconds, listening to his soft footfalls down the steps, then watched his boots leave imprints in the carpet at the bottom. She followed behind him, stopping at the corner of the kitchen. She didn’t have the courage to look in the room where she prepared dinner for her family for years.
She heard a thump, then a howl, then a strange sucking noise. She peered around the corner to see a horned demon lying on her tiled floor, black blood flowing in the square grout lines. The other demon battered the air with an enormous axe, looking for his invisible foe, then plunged its blade into the butcher block counter she’d spent weeks refinishing. Rage filled her. How dare these monsters defile the one place that held all her memories, her love, and her pain.
“Oh, hell no!” she yelled, charging at the massive creature.
The demon tugged at the blade embedded in the butcher block and turned to look back at her. A smile crept across its face, revealing yellow, pointed teeth. Its fiery red eyes glared down at her, and Sara suddenly froze in fear. What was she thinking? Obviously, she wasn’t. The monster strolled towards her, his axe forgotten. He pulled back a clawed hand to strike her, and her shields flared. Long, black claws scraped across the shimmering light covering her face. Her knees buckled against the power of its swing, and she crashed to the floor.
Darian materialized on the demon’s back with both of his long daggers protruding from the monster’s neck. It choked and gurgled several times before succumbing to its death, falling on the floor beside her.
“I thought I told you to stay put,” Darian growled, pulling his daggers from the demon’s body.
Black blood dripped from his blades, and he wiped them on the creature’s trousers. The callousness in his movements paralyzed her. She pulled her gaze from Darian and glanced at the monster next to her. Its black-scaled hide and long, curled horns were startling.
“They’re terrifying,” she whispered. “And they were here waiting for me.”
Darian was at her side seconds later, pulling her off the floor and leading her away from the gruesome scene in the kitchen. He sat her down on the sofa and knelt in front of her.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Her hands started to shake and Darian picked them up. Tears spilled down her cheeks, and a cold shiver ran through her. She couldn’t go into shock, not again.
“They knew I would come back.” She looked at Darian. “How would they know I’d come back?”
“Everything you loved about your life was here,” Darian replied. “Why wouldn’t you?”
There it was again. The other side of her Watcher. The side that showed compassion and understanding. She leaned her head on his shoulder, and her tears drenched his shirt. He wrapped his arms around her and let her cry. At that moment, she knew defending herself would not have saved her against the monsters in her kitchen. They would’ve overwhelmed her quickly and effortlessly. She pushed away from Darian and looked into his blue eyes. If he could have two sides, so could she.
“I need a weapon,” she said, “and I need to know how to use it.”
Chapter 24
Darian
Seeing Seraphina cry—and her realization that her old life was gone—broke Darian’s heart. The woman he once knew was on her way to being replaced by a hardened warrior. Would she resent him for that, too?
“Come on.” Darian pulled her to feet. “We need to dispose of the bodies, then we’ll discover your weapon.”
“What about the other demons behind the house?” she asked, following him back towards the kitchen.
She stopped at the threshold and shivered again. He didn’t need her help to burn the demons, so he didn’t ask for it. He pulled the demons together and created a small blue flame in his hand. He laid it on one of demon’s and lifted his hand towards the ceiling. As he raised his other hand and made a sweeping motion towards the floor, a large shimmering dome enclosed the two demons, and Seraphina gasped. He forced the dome between their bodies and the tiled floor beneath them, creating a small furnace around them. He held it in place until nothing remained but ash and scorch marks on the floor.
He turned towards his Sentinel to see her mouth hanging open. Everything about this was so new and foreign to her, it was a miracle she hadn’t completely fallen apart.
“The demons in the woods were there to catch you before you entered the house. They’re probably scattered all over the area surrounding your farm.”
“Why am I so important to them?” she asked.
“Because without you, I’m just another warrior fighting for the Council of Light.”
She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. He loved that look.
“Seriously?” she asked. “You incinerate two demons in my kitchen without burning the house down and dare to call yourself just another warrior?”
He chuckled and reached for her hand. She gave it to him willingly, and he teleported them to the deserted cabin on the beach.
“Do you have weapons everywhere?” Seraphina asked when he opened the worn wooden door for her. He also loved that she allowed him to be a gentleman. He needed to keep some semblance of civility after all the killing.
“Yes, I do,” he said, “but that’s not why we’re here.”
“I thought we were finding a weapon for me.”
“We are.” Darian removed his ve
st, tossing it on one of the two chairs in the small space. The one-room cabin contained a small round table with two chairs next to an old potbelly stove. A square metal sink with an old-fashioned hand pump hanging over its edge sat right next to it. On the left, was a narrow cot with several blankets folded neatly and stacked on the end.
“While the Sentinel is a protector, he is also a weapon,” Darian replied. “Well, she in your case.”
“Doesn’t it seem odd to you that I would be the protector?” she asked. “Look at everything you can do. I’m sure I only know half of what you’re capable of. What could I possibly protect you from?” She waved her hands in the air dramatically. “I mean, look at me! I’m a scrawny woman. And look at you…” She stopped, hands pointing towards him and a strange expression on her face.
“You’re right,” he said, and her mouth fell open. “We should switch the roles. Clearly, you’re not Sentinel material.”
Her mouth snapped shut and her eyes narrowed. “How dare you use reverse psychology on me?”
“It was worth a try,” he replied, flippantly. “Now, as I was saying. I believe you can create more than just a shield. Eli was a formidable fighter. Granted, I’m sure he trained for years to get that way, but he didn’t have the gift you’ve been given.”
“When did I receive this gift?” Seraphina asked. “I’m pretty sure I would remember meeting God.”
“Actually, you wouldn’t,” he replied, thinking back to that day. “You were only a few days old.”
Again, she graced him with her look of skepticism. Her dark eyebrows rose towards her wild, curly hair, and her nearly black eyes reflected the dim light. He loved that part of her, too.
“Sit down, and I’ll tell you.” He motioned towards the empty chair. “When you left the hospital, the doctors said you only had a few weeks to live. Your lungs didn’t develop the way they needed to. Back then, medical technology wasn’t advanced enough to save you.”
He sat on the edge of the cot and watched her shocked expression. Apparently, her mother had never told her about that part of her life.
“Your mother took you home, fully expecting to lose you. It nearly broke her heart. She slept in your nursery almost every night listening to your labored breaths,” Darian continued. “I sat on the opposite side of the room, concealed by my ability and probably saying the same prayers as her. In the early hours of the morning, a bright light consumed the small nursery. A glowing hand reached down and touched your tiny chest, and your breathing eased immediately. I was told your gift would be revealed when you needed it most.”
“My mother saw all of this and never told me?” she asked.
“No,” Darian said, shaking his head. “She slept through the entire thing.” He watched her bite her lip once more and knew her mind was running a marathon. While he was curious about her thoughts, he was also grateful not to hear them.
“So, this gift hasn’t yet revealed itself,” she stated. “Does that mean I have something else totally unconnected to my shields or that I can create more than just a shield?”
“I have no idea,” Darian replied. “But until we find out, we need to work with what we have. We need to see if you can create a weapon rather than a shield.”
Seraphina nodded, squaring her shoulders. “Okay, where do we start?”
Darian smiled at her determination. If she could find time to grieve for her family, she would be okay. “Let’s spend more time practicing your sword skills,” he said as he rose from the cot. “Maybe if you learn how to wield a real one, your ability will recognize the need.” He led her out onto the beach and handed her one of his long daggers.
“This isn’t a sword,” she said as she wrapped her fingers around the ornate hilt. “But it’s very pretty. And Mikel already taught me the basics.”
“It’s also very sharp, so be careful with the blade,” Darian responded. “I don’t have any swords here at the cabin, and Mikel can only teach you so much. You need practice and familiarity.”
“Couldn’t we go back to Santuario?” she asked, biting her lip.
He wondered how there was anything left of her lip as much as she chewed on it. He remained silent as she thought. Her dark eyes found his, sending a shiver down his spine. He didn’t like the change in her expression.
“What are you thinking?” he finally asked.
Her finger trailed the winding metal patterns on the hilt of his dagger, but her eyes didn’t leave his. “Mikel and Aneera are together, aren’t they?”
“Yes, they were the first to be bonded,” Darian replied. “I believe it was to test the ritual.”
“That’s not what I meant.” She pulled her gaze from his and kicked the sand with her foot. “Are they married… or whatever the equivalent is for them?”
Darian watched the expression on her face, and his chest tightened. He knew where this conversation was going. Seraphina was not stupid. He was surprised it took her this long to put it together.
“Yes,” he said slowly, “but according to Magdelin, they loved each other long before their bonding.”
“And Eli and Juana?”
Darian took a deep breath and sheathed his dagger. He closed the gap between them but didn’t touch her. She looked up at him, and he saw the tears in her eyes again. She needed to grieve, but she wouldn’t have time. The Overlords had to know that Seraphina was not trained and would take advantage of that weakness. He and his Sentinel would have to face Orin and Victoria regardless of Seraphina’s readiness.
“Eli and Juana also loved each other before their bonding, but you and I are different. It doesn’t mean we’re wrong, just different.”
“But you said you loved me...” her voice trailed off as she struggled to contain her emotions.
“And your love for Andrew and Julie will give you the strength you need,” he told her, knowing it was what she needed to hear even if it contradicted what he knew to be true. The bond would continue to draw them closer, making their hearts one. If she fought against it, they wouldn’t reach their true potential.
She wiped her eyes with her free hand and sniffed. “Thank you for understanding.”
He backed away from her and drew his dagger. “Are you ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
Chapter 25
Mikel
Five groups stood before Mikel in the courtyard. Adalina would take Group One to Paris. David, her second in command, was taking Group Two to Washington, DC. Claud would lead Group Three into Chicago. Micah, another of Adalina’s warriors, would go to Toronto, and Mikel was taking the last group to Romania.
“Remember, we’re looking for survivors and military leaders if we can find them. Don’t let yourselves get overwhelmed by a group of demons. Come back here for help.” Mikel looked at Adalina, and she nodded. “The warriors still with Magdelin should be healed and ready by the end of the day. If you need them, come back for them.”
The team leaders nodded, and Mikel pulled a blue gem from his pocket.
“Does everyone have their gem?”
Each team leader held up a different color gem.
“I know we haven’t had to use these in ages, but unlike a cell phone, they still work. Raphael will signal us if we need to return,” he continued. “While you’re out there, find out if the power stations and cell towers are still serviceable. Any questions?”
The courtyard remained silent except for the slight breeze that always graced their small city.
“Then let’s go.”
Mikel took his group to the edge of the valley where they last met with Orin and Victoria. Had it really only been two days ago? Mikel shook his head and looked across the green grass flowing through the small valley. Orin’s castle stood in the distance, the gates closed as always.
Stephen came up to Mikel’s side. “Do you want me and Eva to go in first?”
“No.” Mikel shook his head. “I’ll look with my mind.”
“Ah, a talent I wish I had,�
�� Stephen said.
Mikel closed his eyes and opened his mind to the life around him. Unlike everyone else’s mindsight, Mikel saw each living creature as light or dark. He pushed his mind towards the castle, but the only signs of life were the small rodents and birds flittering around the empty space. He suspected that Orin and Victoria would be gone, but not everyone.
“It’s empty,” Mikel stated.
“Where to next?” Stephen asked.
“Let’s make a quick stop in Bucharest, although I suspect it will be much the same as Rio.”
“You’re probably right. Any survivors would be hiding in the rural towns out of reach of that toxin.”
“My thoughts exactly. We’ll check the power station near there as well as any cell towers,” Mikel looked across the peaceful valley once more. “Hopefully, destroying them wasn’t in the demons’ plans.”
They disappeared and arrived in the southeast section of Bucharest a few moments later. The smell of death made several in the group vomit immediately, Mikel included. When he finished emptying his stomach, he looked at the crumbling buildings around them. It was almost as if the entire city was leveled.
“Can we assume there is no one alive?” Eva asked, pulling the edge of her shirt over her nose and mouth.
“Yes,” Mikel replied, his voice muffled by his own hand. “Any survivors would not have stayed in this. Let’s go east to Craiova.”
The group followed Mikel to the smaller town of Craiova, over a hundred miles away. They arrived to the same destruction and death. The city’s power station stood to their left, fire billowing from the demolished transformers. Another one exploded, and Mikel jumped.
“This isn’t good,” Stephen said. “Did you notice if the power station in Bucharest was destroyed too?”
“Yes, it was completely leveled,” Mikel replied. “It should have been a few blocks from where we arrived.”
Stephen grunted his acknowledgment. “Back to the rural towns along the mountain range?”
“I think that’s our best bet to find survivors,” Mikel replied. “Let’s start with the one just below Orin’s castle.”
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