“His demon?” I asked, keeping my voice low, afraid the shape-shifter would be able to hear.
“This one is very low on the totem pole,” Darius answered. I flinched at his nearness. Without a sound, he had adjusted his position once again, taking a protective stance only a foot away. “The demon refers to his chain of command.”
I nodded my understanding.
Hector’s gaze flitted about the area. “And just who is your demon?” When the shape-shifter didn’t answer, he uncrossed his arms and cracked his knuckles. “Then how do we go about doing this? How long must I wait?” he grumbled.
“You ask a lot of questions.” A voice deeper than even Hector’s rumbled across the air. I gasped as a giant strolled into view, stopping a yard shy of the veil. The demon stood a whole two feet taller than Hector, moonlight glinting off his shaved head. Tattoos crept down the side of his neck. Haunting depictions of screaming, empty faces.
“That’s the one that attacked me,” I whispered. Laith nodded in recognition.
Hector rolled his shoulders in an effort to present his full height. “Wouldn’t it be prudent to ask questions when desiring to exchange places with a demon? What do I call you?”
The demon’s head snapped to the side. He glared at the shape-shifter. “Be gone,” he commanded. The lesser demon flinched, backing away until he disappeared into the shadows.
The giant closed his eyes and rotated his neck side to side, as if alleviating a minor irritation, then focused his attention on the mortal waiting within the veil. “My name is Grayson, and what questions do you have?”
“I am concerned for my safety, of course,” Hector said.
Grayson sneered, looking down upon him. “You are large, for a mortal. Why would you fear for your safety?”
“What will happen to me when I cross over? Will I be safe?”
“Of course. We will take very good care of you while you wait.”
“He lies,” Charlotte hissed when Elisa repeated these words.
Hector spat. “You lie.”
The demon smiled to appease. My eyes narrowed at his softened features. His forced attempt almost made the giant look less—murderous. “I understand your concerns, but why would we hurt an ally? Why would we hurt someone willing to aid our work? When my demon gets here—”
“Your demon?” Hector interrupted.
Grayson’s smile transformed into a sneer.
“Get him closer, Hector, quickly, then pull him through,” Laith commanded.
I drew my second blade, Grayson’s dagger, from my boot. The others retrieved their knives as well.
“So, you are not the demon the shape-shifter spoke of?” When he didn’t answer, Hector changed directions. “Our sanctuary was attacked last night by a demon of great proportions. Would that demon be you?”
Grayson’s black eyes narrowed. “Why would you ask such a question?”
Hector’s returned smile was arrogant. “Because that demon failed in killing one of The Three. How do I make sure that another botched-up assassination attempt doesn’t happen again? I cannot afford exposure.”
Falling for the bait, the giant stalked forward. The veins of his neck bulged, ready to burst. Lowering his face to Hector’s level, Grayson growled, hackles raised. “We will not fail a second time, I assure you.” His black eyes were pools of darkened blood. “You can stress any additional concerns to my demon when she arrives.”
Hector sneered as he leaned forward, inching closer to the huge demon spawn. “We will stress them to you.” With great speed, he reached beyond the veil and clapped his hand over the demon’s arm. Yanking down, he used his whole weight to pull the demon. He twisted, falling past the veil.
As Grayson stumbled through, Laith spun on the spot, swiping his legs from underneath him. He fell hard to the earth, and rolled to his back. Laith pulled his long knife from its sheath, the sharpened tip pointed directly at the demon’s heart.
Grayson laughed, exposing his unarmed hands. “A setup? How interesting.” His eyes roamed the line of people surrounding him, stopping on me. “Hello, Defender. You’re looking well.”
I could feel the anger rising to my face. I looked down upon my assassin. “You’re not so frightening when you’re not trying to kill me in my sleep, coward.”
“Wait.” Charlotte pushed past me, studying the demon. “That’s not the one I fought last night.” She dropped to her knees, sliding a knife under Grayson’s throat. “Who else came through the veil last night? Who was the traitor that switched places with you?”
Grayson laughed. “This is interesting.”
She cut off his airway with additional pressure from her blade, drawing blood from the demon’s neck. He hissed his discomfort.
“Be careful, demon,” she said.
“Charlie,” Darius warned, but he didn’t leave my side.
Her eyes narrowed, noticing his closeness to me, but she did not withdraw. She brought her face to Grayson’s, so close it looked private.
“I am not afraid of you, demon,” she said, before easing the pressure from off his throat.
Elisa gripped her arm and pulled her away. “Stand down, Charlotte.” She kept her grasp tight to control a future outburst.
“Charlotte?” Grayson coughed once, clearing his throat. “Is that your name, woman? Well, Charlotte, as I explained to your friend on the outside, anyone willing to be an ally to our cause is under our protection.”
Charlie shrugged away Elisa’s hold. “Your protection? Who would be foolish enough to believe the promise of a filthy demon?”
“Tell us who the traitor was that called you last night, Grayson, and I will spare your life,” Laith interjected.
“Is that wise?” Cedric asked, watching from a distance. “This demon tried to kill the Defender. Why would you spare him?”
“Tell us,” Laith commanded, ignoring Cedric’s questions.
Grayson laughed again. “Your traitor has earned my promise and my word. I will not betray them, so you might as well kill me, now.”
She is here! A voice screamed to me. My pendant went cold against my skin as my gaze shot toward the veil.
A ghostly beauty dressed in dark leathers emerged from the tree line. Tall and willowy, she sauntered into view. Her white hair draped about her face and fell to her hips.
My lungs squeezed out all breath as the voices cried in fear. My hand clasped the necklace at my heart, silencing the terror that sang from the Demon’s Eye.
Has it spoken to you yet? Fiona’s question rang through my mind, but I shook my head, dispelling the thought. Now was not the time.
I called to my friends. “We have company.”
Keeping his long knife fixed on his target, Laith’s eyes shifted once, then twice to the newcomer. The color drained from his face. “Dear heavens above.”
“She will gut your spy,” the demon laughed.
Charlie gasped. “But you said anyone that is an ally will be protected.”
“He’s not an ally, is he, Charlotte? He’s your pawn. The Annihilator will sense this.”
“The Annihilator,” Fiona gasped, moving toward the veil. “The demon that killed our Rachel?” Cedric followed, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Elisa’s gaze caught mine, but I could not read the emotion that blazed within.
The Annihilator stopped several yards away. Her beautiful, pale face angled to the side as she examined Hector. I watched, helplessly as Hector drew his knife.
“Well, this is interesting.” Her voice was soft, almost kind as she observed her prey. With a curious smile, she drew closer, her gaze shooting about the landscape, searching the orchards. “Where is my demon, human?”
My insides screamed; my heart pounded in my chest. My alarm for Hector was so strong it was painful. I had to get to him. I had to protect him.
“I am here, my lady,” another voice answered. The shape-shifter slinked toward her from the shadows.
“Not you!” she screamed, v
iolent and uncontrolled. The lesser demon cowered to the ground at her feet. The Annihilator grimaced at the creature, moving away from his prone form. She managed to rein in her outburst, her words slow and deadly as her attention shifted back to Hector. “Where is my demon?”
My legs moved on their own accord. I had to save Hector. I ran at the transparent wall.
“No, Ava!” Darius yelled, but I didn’t listen. Just as the veil touched my skin, Darius grabbed me, yanking me away and against him. “Stop, Ava.”
“But I have to help him! Let me go!” I struggled, but his arms clamped down like vices.
“You aren’t strong enough.”
“Let me go,” I repeated. Power surged within me, desperate to get out, but before I could set it free, Cedric burst through the barrier.
The lesser demon jumped to his feet. Talons erupted from his hands as he ran at the newcomer to protect his master.
Fiona cried out, launching herself through the veil. Charlotte tried to follow, but Elisa stopped her easily.
“Enough!” The Annihilator’s high, shrill voice broke through the commotion. She was a flash of movement and in an instant, she halted the battle before it could even begin. She held Hector by the throat, gripped powerfully to her chest, even though he stood a whole head taller than her small frame. She twisted to the side, exposing her dagger pressed against his back.
“Send me my demon,” she ordered sweetly. A smile pulled at her mouth then broke as she thrust her knife through Hector’s shoulder. The tip of the blade jutted from his flesh, dark liquid coating it and spilling down his shirt. “Or I will kill your mortal,” she screamed.
The Annihilator watched in pleasure as Fiona fell to her knees, pressing her hand to her shoulder where Hector had been stabbed.
Elisa gasped, releasing Charlie.
Charlie stumbled to the side, watching Elisa’s stricken expression. “What is happening?” she yelled. “What happened?”
But Elisa couldn’t answer. No one could. Frozen to the spot, we watched as the orchard began to dance with movement. Demons poured from the trees and rose from the ground. Dark beings, shape-shifters, ghosts. They came upon the scene with hungry anticipation.
“Stand up. Slowly,” Laith said to Grayson.
Charlotte started, taking a step away as Laith drew his weapon from the demon.
“Cross over,” Elisa commanded him.
“Let me go,” I yelled. “Let me go with them!”
Elisa paused. “No, Ava—”
“Just get him out of here!” Darius managed through my struggling.
The demon smiled, watching me struggle. Elisa and Charlotte followed Laith and Grayson through the veil, while Darius kept me within its confines.
“There you are.” The Annihilator, the fiend that killed my mother, purred her satisfaction. “But where is your new Defender? Is she not concerned for the welfare of her ward?”
I jerked, but Darius’s hold tightened. “Just wait, Ava. If there is to be a fight, I will release you to help, but not until that time!”
“But—”
“Trust me,” he growled low in my ear.
Trust him, the voices begged, causing me to halt my struggle.
I fell against his chest as he wrapped me in his arms. I watched in horror as Elisa addressed my mother’s murderer.
“Release our man,” she said.
“So, the Defender is a coward. Not even a shadow of the great Rachel Matthias.”
“Release him,” Elisa repeated, “and we’ll release your demon.”
The Annihilator’s eyes grew wild with pleasure. With a motion of her head, she drew her demons back. They quickly aligned with their master, their faces hungry for blood. Hector grunted in pain as she yanked her blade from his flesh. He grimaced, managing to remain standing, but his body swayed on the spot.
Laith gave Grayson a nudge toward his master, but before he could even take a step, Charlotte again held her knife to his throat.
“What now, woman?” he snarled.
“The name of the traitor,” she hissed.
He eyed her up and down, displaying his teeth. “What traitor?”
“Charlie,” Elisa voice was sharp as she ordered the second-in-command to step down.
“Go, my darling,” the Annihilator purred in Hector’s ear. As he began to move forward, the demon met his pace.
“Where was your Defender, mortal?” Grayson asked as he passed Hector.
I am here! Heat flooded to my face as anger, hot and wild, filled my chest. “Calm down, Ava,” Darius murmured to me, stroking my hair to placate me.
Fiona ran, catching Hector before he fell. Cedric heaved him over his shoulder and together the Healers rushed him through the veil.
Elisa tucked Charlotte behind her. She and Laith backed away, never breaking eye contact with the Annihilator.
Annie only watched their retreat, her gaze vacant. “The house of angels is tainted, my Three. Your walls are growing thinner. Beware of my wrath, God’s chosen ones.” Her face convulsed, twisting her beautiful features. “Because I will kill you all!” she screamed.
“Go,” Laith commanded and the group backed into the sanctuary.
The Annihilator’s face fumed red when they refused to acknowledge her. Lifting her blade, still soiled with Hector’s blood, she sliced her hand with the knife. Crimson poured from the deep gash that opened in her palm. “Ava Matthias!”
My pendant buzzed in response to her injury. Terror rose from within the Demon’s Eye as the Annihilator feverishly searched for the shroud that kept us hidden. Pain racked my mind—and Charlotte watched curiously from the sidelines.
The Annihilator held up her bloodied hand. “Hear me, Ava Matthias, daughter to Rachel and Alexander Matthias. Face me, Defender.”
I grasped the sides of my head. I would face her. I would fight her and my mother’s murderer would die. Painfully. Slowly. But my friends gathered around me, stopping me from fulfilling Annie’s request. I screamed something foul into the air.
“Let me go to her,” I said, struggling against Darius.
I clasped my hand over my mother’s black stone until the buzzing subsided. My body nearly collapsed from the release, but Darius kept me up.
“Coward.” The Annihilator frowned her disappointment, replacing her knife. She jabbed her finger my direction—although veiled, I could almost believe she could see me. She screamed again. “I will kill everyone you have ever loved, Ava Matthias! Everyone you have ever cared for!”
She spun on the spot and ambled into the orchards. Disappearing into the darkness, her demons followed.
13
Lessons in rage
When the last of her demons disappeared, I pushed against Darius’s hold, but still he didn’t budge. I managed to rein in my temper enough to say, “You can let go now.” I had to do this right if the plan I was formulating was to work.
“Can I?” he asked, skepticism marring his tone.
Fiona and Cedric, with Hector still slung over Cedric’s shoulder, quickly moved toward the trucks.
“You forget, Darius.” I spoke slowly, accentuating my words for dramatic effect. “I have not accepted your candidacy for temporary Guardian.”
“Excuse me?” Charlotte said, her voice incensed.
Darius’s face contorted in displeasure. “This isn’t the time, Charlie.”
I disregarded the escalating lovers’ tiff and stared off through the veil, studying the trail the Annihilator had taken.
“Wow, Darius.” Charlotte laughed, wild and half-mad. “I had no idea you would jump ship, just to climb aboard another one so fast.”
“Darius, what’s she talking about?” Laith asked.
Still doing my best to ignore the conversation I had instigated, I shrugged out of Darius’s grasp. This time he willingly let me go. Walking to the edge of the barrier, I worked through my options of getting the Annihilator’s attention back.
Meanwhile, he continued to avoid any
direct questions. “I can explain, but—”
“I suggest,” I interrupted, speaking over the group, “that you get Hector back to the compound. He’ll need to rest after he’s healed. You should all go home. I need… time. Please leave me here. I will walk back.”
Elisa grimaced. “I don’t think that is such a good idea.”
“I’ll stay with her,” Darius said.
Elisa nodded, taking Charlotte by the arm.
“Don’t touch me!” Charlotte jerked away. “No one touch me.” She stalked toward the vehicles.
Only Darius remained.
I closed my eyes, allowing a wave of frustration to wash over me.
“I don’t know if I can forgive you for what you just did,” I said quietly, but I knew he heard. “It is my job to protect. I can feel it now, the necessity of my mission growing within—”
“Do you?” he asked. His heated gaze bored into mine.
Confused by his sudden intensity, I took a step back, ignoring his question. “When someone needs my help, I sense it, sense their fear, and it is physically painful when I can’t get to them. I should’ve been there to protect Hector. You not only stopped me from performing in my calling, you may have lost me the trust of one of God’s children.”
“You were not strong enough to face her. She would have killed you, Ava. Without you, we have no Defender. I have no Defender.”
“Leave me.”
His honey eyes studied me. I swallowed a bout of sudden self-consciousness. “Don’t you think I know what you’ll do?” he asked.
“I won’t run away, if that’s what you’re worried about. I’m not an idiot.”
“I never said you were, and that’s not what I’m worried about.” He paused before continuing. “I’ll give you your space, Ava, but I will not leave you. I’ll wait by the truck.”
“They will need both trucks to get everyone back,” I argued. “And if you want me to truly consider you as my temporary Guardian, I suggest you do as I ask, or my answer will be no. I cannot be partnered with someone who will not respect my wishes, or with someone who cannot trust me. I will not follow the Annihilator.”
Personal Guardians Page 15