Sentinel's Rise: Book 1 - The Watcher and the Sentinel Series

by Yvette Bostic

  “Who are you, and what do you want?” Sara snapped, her magic welling in her chest. If only she could release it, then she could find a way out of here.

  “He hasn’t told you?” His tongue clicked behind his pointed teeth. “I am Darian’s oldest enemy. My name is Zar’Asur, and this is my lovely sister.”

  He bowed and motioned towards the female standing to Sara’s side. Her resemblance to her brother was remarkable. Sara took the time to study the female’s pointed nose and chin, as well as her long, black hair that framed her thin face. She wore a dress similar to the one Victoria had worn, and Sara wondered if it was a female demon thing. The plunging neckline put her ample cleavage on display, and the tight fabric hugged every curve. In any other situation, Sara might have rolled her eyes at the demon’s fashion choice.

  Shar’Asur sashayed around Sara, tracing a long dagger along the bare skin on her abdomen. The sharp blade drew blood, and Sara sucked the air through her teeth.

  “Her skin is perfect,” the she-demon purred. “It’s almost the color of copper.”

  “Not yet, sister,” Zar’Asur said. “We have questions first.”

  Sara watched Shar’Asur move behind her brother with an obvious pout.

  “Let’s take care of the formalities first,” Zar’Asur said. “I’m well aware of who you are, but I’m quite disappointed your Watcher has not educated you on our history.”

  Zar’Asur pulled a chair from the nearest wall, dragging the legs along the wooden floor. It was almost as annoying as his sister’s voice. He sat and crossed his right leg over his left knee, and Sara was surprised to see he was wearing shoes. She assumed all demons had hooves. She looked down at Shar’Asur’s feet and noticed black leather pumps covering her slender feet.

  “I thought all demons had hooves,” she blurted out, interrupting whatever the Overlord was saying. She wasn’t listening anyway.

  He dropped both feet to the floor and rested his elbows on his knees. “I am more than just a demon, you stupid girl,” he hissed. “I could kill you with a thought at this very moment if I wished.”

  She raised her eyebrows. “Really, and here I thought I was special. Damn, I’m gonna have to come up with a new line.”

  He rose to his feet in a fluid motion, holding one hand in front of him. A deep red flame ignited in his palm. He raised it to the side of her face, the heat threatening to blister her skin. This wasn’t like Darian’s. She was pretty sure this one would burn her.

  “You are alive because I need information from you,” his harsh voice rumbled next to her. “As long as you are useful to me, you will live. But if you cannot convince your tongue to be more civilized, I will find someone else to give me answers.”

  “I think Darian’s blue flame is prettier.” She couldn’t help herself. She knew her fear should’ve stilled her tongue, but she couldn’t get past the contradictions he presented. Demons were not civilized. They were evil monsters who lusted for violence and death, and they should not be dressed up for a night on the town.

  His open-handed slap jarred her teeth and flipped her head to the side. She bit the inside of her cheek and tasted blood.

  “I’ve managed to destroy almost all of humanity,” Zar’Asur snapped. “The rest will be willing slaves, trading their freedom for their lives. You will not keep my last conquest from me.”

  “And what conquest is that?” Sara asked, spitting a glob of blood on his expensive black shoes.

  He jumped back and glared at her. “Your Watcher.”

  Realization hit her like a brick. “That battle was a trap.”

  “You aren’t as stupid as I thought, although your epiphany is a little too late.” He turned back to his chair and sat down, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket and wiping the blood from his shoe. “Tell me where Santuario is,” he said, tossing the bloodied linen on the floor.

  “And why would I do that? So you can send in your army of demons and take away the only family I have left? You are as stupid as you look if you think I’ll just tell you.”

  “Your Watcher will be here soon, looking for you. If you tell me now, I’ll trade your life for his.”

  “Oh, my God! You really are stupid!” She tossed her head back and laughed. “I would never make that trade.”

  “But he will take your place in a heartbeat.” Zar’Asur rose and turned to his sister. “She’s all yours, my dear. Do not kill her. She needs to be alive when he gets here.”

  As the door closed behind Zar’Asur, his sister strolled to the table just out of Sara’s reach. She flipped open a wooden box about fourteen inches long and pulled another long dagger from the box. It was identical to the one in her hand.

  “Do you know where I got these lovely weapons?” she asked, her hips swaying from side to side as she approached Sara.

  “Why would I care?”

  “Because they were a gift from your Watcher to that boy he stole from us and raised in the Council.”

  She laid the edges of both blades along Sara’s collar bones.

  “I used these on him as well.” A smile grew across her face, but it was not attractive. “He was delightful. A virgin, too. They’re always the most fun.”

  Sara felt the sharp blades break her skin, and she clamped her mouth closed.

  “Your Watcher is much nicer, though. His stamina is intoxicating.” Her black tongue flicked out of her mouth and licked her lips. “You could tell me about him, and I might be gentle with you.”

  The she-demon’s cackling laugh made Sara’s skin crawl. Bile filled the back of her throat, and she struggled to swallow it. Her own blood trickled down her skin between her breasts.

  “Your skin is the perfect mixture of light and dark. What part of your heritage blessed you with it, I wonder?”

  The thin blades raised off Sara’s shoulders, catching what remained of her shirt sleeves. The fabric ripped with ease, and Sara was left in a pink lacy bra and dirty blue jeans. She remained silent, watching her blood drip from Darian’s gifts.

  Darian. Please tell me you can hear me.

  There was no answer. She ignored the demon as she continued to babble about Sara’s features. She reached for the churning power in her chest once more. It swelled immediately, and Sara tried to force it into several weapons but failed with each attempt. Why was she unable to use her ability? If she could reach her powers, this sadistic bitch would be dead, and Sara would be gone.

  A sudden pain streaking down her spine brought her back to her tormentor.

  “Answer me!” Shar’Asur shrieked.

  “Ask a question worthy of an answer, and I might think about it,” Sara answered through clenched teeth.

  “What are these tattoos on your back? I recognize a rune when I see it. What are they for?”

  “I have no idea,” Sara spat. “I was told I needed them, and I didn’t argue with someone who knows a hundred times more than I do.”

  “Where are the other warriors?”

  “Even if I knew, I wouldn’t tell you, bitch.”

  Shar’Asur sauntered back around to Sara’s front, the daggers hanging loosely at her sides. More of Sara’s blood dripped down her skin, and this time it rolled down her back and the crack of her ass.

  Wonderful!

  The demoness stopped inches from Sara’s body. Her red eyes looked at Sara’s face, and the blades came up to her cheeks. The tips pressed against her cheekbones, and tears welled in Sara’s eyes.

  “Answer my question, or your Watcher will never want to look at you again.”

  She knew she couldn’t betray the Council. They were the only ones standing between humanity and this evil. But her heart ached at the thought of Darian looking at her with revulsion and pity. She was not foolish enough to believe he could see past whatever this sadistic creature would do to her. All the love he felt would be gone in an instant. But would she sacrifice humanity for the chance to love again? No, she wouldn’t be able to live with herself if she did. She might as well die r
ight here and now.

  Sara clamped her lips shut and closed her eyes. The demon howled and dragged the blades down her cheeks, only stopping because they collided with her jaw. Sara felt the air escaping between the flaps of skin, and she passed out from the pain.

  She had several more lucid moments during the demoness’ tirade. Blood covered the pile of clothing beneath her and Sara couldn’t tell if she was still wearing anything or not. She tried to only breath through her nose. The sides of her face were raw and swollen, and she could barely open her eyes.

  The room’s sudden silence forced one eyelid open. Zar’Asur stood in the door looking from his sister to Sara and back again. The fire in his eyes bloomed with his rage.

  “Get out,” he hissed. “Send Joseph in here, now.”

  As Shar’Asur passed her brother, she tossed the daggers on the table. Sara saw the layers of blood covering the she-demon’s hands and arms. She closed the door behind her, and Sara closed her eye as well.

  She was startled awake again by someone poking at her skin. A short, skeletally thin man with sunken eyes rubbed a dark green salve over her chest and abdomen. It eased the pain but didn’t stop the bleeding. He squeezed another glop into his bony hands, rubbed them together, then gently touched her face. She tried not to jerk away but couldn’t stop herself. He didn’t seem to notice and continued applying whatever ointment he’d been given. She looked at his face and tried to tamp down her revulsion. Milky white eyes seemed to look through her, and his leathery skin hung from his bones.

  He moved around to her back and continued rubbing. When he was done, he placed the tube on the table nearby and looked at her with his dead eyes. He turned his head back to the table and kneeled down, pointing beneath it. He rose and looked at her once more, then the table.

  “What are you trying to tell me?” she asked, knowing it came out garbled.

  He turned to the table and pointed beneath it again, then opened the door and left.

  Her mind caught up with her curiosity. Was he telling her there was a way out? If so, he could’ve at least untied her. So, what was under the table?

  She pulled on her well of power, and it surged to life, looking for a release. Sara focused on the spot just beneath the table, and a thin white line raced towards it. She gasped, sucking air into her cheeks. She cried out and regretted the pain that followed. Taking several breaths through her nose, she forced herself to calm down.

  Focusing on the same spot once again, she urged her light to find whatever it was looking for. It shot forward once again and snaked its way beneath the table. A surge of power filled the room as soon as it found a hole in whatever magic imprisoned her. The table exploded along with the wall next to it. As soon as the fresh air reached her face, Sara teleported to Santuario.

  Chapter 49

  Darian

  As the last demon finally fell, a chorus of cheers erupted around Darian. He smiled, knowing it was more than just a victory. The soldiers had helped defeat a foe that nearly destroyed the world. It took over two hours of fighting, but they did it. Despite their obvious injuries and loss of their comrades, elation and joy ran rampant through the camp.

  Darian found David with the other warriors surrounded by the soldiers.

  “Let’s get these men back to the dining hall and the medical facility,” Darian suggested. “Just because they don’t feel their injuries now doesn’t mean they don’t need attention.”

  “They’ll definitely feel it in the morning,” David replied.

  “Did any of your warriors get wounded?” Darian asked as they followed the noisy crowd back to the center of the base.

  “A couple, but they went back to Magdelin as soon as it happened,” David said.

  Darian noticed the worried expression, but he didn’t mention it. It wouldn’t do any good.

  “I know you’re dying to find the little girl,” David continued with a grin. “I’m sure she’s passed out in the dorm, waiting for you to wake her up.”

  Darian smacked his friend’s shoulder and teleported to the dorm. It was empty. Panic immediately filled his chest. He rushed out the door and scanned the barracks. Soldiers filed through in waves, but he didn’t see his Sentinel. He ran to the dining hall, still full of civilians and soldier’s families.

  Sara! he called out with his mind, but there was no answer.

  He felt a hand on his shoulder, and he turned, expecting it to be her. David’s smile turned to a frown.

  “Where is she?” David asked.

  “If I knew, I wouldn’t be looking for her.”

  “The tree line?”

  “She shouldn’t be. She told me she was coming back here.”

  He teleported to the trees where he left her. The vans were gone. He followed the numerous footprints around the vacant space. The tire tracks led south.

  “You don’t think they took her?” David asked from behind him.

  “I’m not sure,” Darian replied. “It’s been over two hours. If they did take her…”

  “Maybe she went back to Santuario,” David suggested.

  Darian slowly moved towards the area where she created her shield, about fifty yards beyond the vans. Several sets of large prints littered the area leading straight to her small boot prints. He could see where she fell on her butt in the dirt.

  Seraphina, where are you?

  “I’m following the tracks,” Darian said. “She wouldn’t have gone back to Santuario without me.”

  “I’ll get the warriors, and we’ll go with you.”

  “Then you better hurry.”

  David disappeared. Darian paced back and forth beneath the trees. The sun was barely on the horizon to the west. They wouldn’t be able to see a thing in the next fifteen minutes. Just as he decided he was waiting no longer, David, Claud, Ali, and five warriors showed up.

  “This way,” Darian said. “We won’t have the light for much longer.”

  They jogged through the trees, following the wide tracks left by the vans for about a mile. Darian cursed vehemently when they reached the blacktop. One set of tracks veered north on Highway 26 while the other veered south.

  “Do we split up?” Claud asked.

  Darian closed his eyes and searched for his connection to his Sentinel.

  Seraphina, you better answer me.

  Don’t be so impatient, Lord Darian.

  Relief flooded through him, quickly followed by anger.

  Chapter 50

  Seraphina

  Sara collapsed on the portal room floor. She thought she cried out for Mikel or Raphael, but she couldn’t remember. Someone’s arms cradled her gently, and she leaned against his chest.

  “Mieemel?”

  “Be quiet, Seraphina. Don’t try to talk.”

  She craned her neck to look at his face and saw tears rolling down his cheeks.

  Mikel doesn’t cry. Why would he be crying?

  “Magdelin, hurry!” he shouted.

  “Oh, dear God! What happened?” Magdelin’s voice sounded distant and worried.

  That couldn’t be good.

  “I don’t know,” Mikel replied. “She showed up in the tower a few minutes ago.”

  “Where’s Darian?”

  “He wasn’t with her.”

  Mikel laid her down on one of the cots in the hospital, and she moaned. The pressure against her back felt like a million tiny pins stabbing at her.

  “Donielle, check for infections, then tend to the ones on her face first.”

  Within a few minutes, both women had their hands all over Sara’s body. She phased in and out of consciousness, completely losing track of time.

  A cool towel draped across her head, and she opened her eyes. Magdelin’s face filled her vision, and she smiled down at Sara.

  “You endured a lot, but you’ll be okay,” the healer said.

  “Wheeree?”

  “Don’t talk, dear,” Magdelin said. “The muscles in your face need time to heal. We were able to close the wound
s, but the healing takes time.”

  Seraphina, you better answer me.

  Elation filled her, then dread. He could not see her like she was.

  Don’t be so impatient, Lord Darian.

  Where the hell are you? he asked.

  In Santuario. Where else would I be?

  He was silent for several moments. I thought you were going back to the camp. When I didn’t find you... He paused again.

  I assume you defeated the rest of the demons? she asked, trying to distract him.

  Yes, you did great, by the way. We couldn’t have fought all of them.

  Well, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.

  Well, girl, get back to camp. We have stuff to do.

  What should she tell him? If she wasn’t convincing, he’d be there in thirty seconds. Who was she kidding? There was no way she could keep him away.

  I can’t, Darian.

  Why?

  I might have hurt myself.

  Silence followed, and she knew he’d be storming through the doors any second. Magdelin pulled the sheets up to her chin and removed the towel from her forehead. Ten seconds later, Darian arrived.

  He stopped several feet from her bed and stared at her. She wanted to look away to avoid the revulsion she expected to see, but she couldn’t. She pulled her hand from beneath the blanket and reached for him. The sheet fell to the side, exposing the layers of bandages wrapped around her torso.

  Darian fell to his knees beside her bed and took her hand. She gripped his fingers and looked into his eyes. Tears pooled at the corners.

  “It was the female Overlord, wasn’t it?” he asked.

  She nodded.

  His anger surged, and he tried to pull away from her.

  Don’t you dare leave me, she demanded.

  She’ll pay for this.

  Yes, but not today.

  He reached up to touch her face, but she turned away.

  “Don’t you turn away from me, Seraphina,” he said in a low, shaking voice.