“The people in this area are closer to life,” she said, while contemplating the rope-like material.
“And Mel?” Seamus asked.
Kaila sniffled.
“Mel must be toward the middle or end.” Her voice cracked on the last word.
Seamus brushed his lips over her knuckles. “We’ll find her.”
They made their way across the room, peering into faces both young and old. Seamus shuddered. An overwhelming sadness clutched his heart. These were innocent people. People with lives and families. People who loved and hated, who cried and laughed. Somehow, they were all attached to a Sin. The heavy chain around their necks tightening or loosening at the Sins’ whim. It was all a macabre game in which the Sins were master puppeteers.
“I know her,” Kaila said.
He glanced at the young woman she was studying. Her hair was black with colorful purple strands. She had an oval face with high cheekbones. Her nose was straight and her lips full, the top bow with that sexy curve which so many makeup artists tried to emulate.
“She’s beautiful,” he said.
Kaila nodded. She dragged in a breath and ran her fingers through her hair.
“I wish she could hear you. Her name is Wendy and she’s my patient. She’s not doing very well, as you can see.”
He drew Kaila into his embrace. Her skin was icy to the touch. He vigorously rubbed her arms to warm her up.
“We can’t save them all, babe,” he said.
He hated reminding her of the reality of the situation when it came to Guardians and humans. They couldn’t help one individual person. Their mission was to keep good and evil balanced. To tend to the greater good. What they were doing to save Mel was an exception. He understood why Kaila hadn’t asked for help. No one would have aided her.
He gently steered Kaila away.
They walked in silence. The further they penetrated into the room, the thinner the life strings became. Sloth’s, meanwhile, grew thick and tangled over the other in a punishing grip.
Seamus’s heart beat hard against his chest, the sound an unmelodious rattle which sounded loud to his ears in the eerie silence. An overwhelming sensation of being trapped coursed through him. He silently spread his wings and took in a shaky breath. The people around them were not dead. They were merely sleeping. Yet, the sound of their footsteps against the stone sounded more and more like hammers beating nails into a coffin.
Every once in a while, Kaila would stop and peer at a victim’s face. Seamus squeezed her hand at those times. No words would soothe her pain. All he could do was stand at her side in silent comfort.
Kaila stopped. “There she is.”
He followed her line of vision. His heart plummeted. He recognized Mel’s rich-brown hair, the same color as her sister’s. The woman floated in the air, her life line a thin wisp that entwined with Sloth’s larger one.
“Come on,” he said.
Kaila trailed behind him, her reluctance clear in every one of her steps. If seeing Mel here was shocking for him, he could hardly imagine how Kaila felt. It had to be like finally coming face-to-face with the devastating reality of the situation.
He surveyed Mel as Kaila checked her wrist for a pulse. Mel was a bit shorter than her sister, but her facial features were similar. The difference was in her lips and the color of her eyes, green, taking after her father. Still the similarity with her sister was uncanny, and Seamus reached for Kaila to reassure himself she was okay.
“Mel.” Kaila touched her sister’s forehead. “She’s stone cold and there’s no heartbeat.”
“She’s not dead,” he said. He pointed at the shimmering silver line.
“I know. It’s just—” Kaila closed her eyes and chewed on her bottom lip.
“I know you think I’m crazy for coming here. Hell, I think so, too, but Mel is the only sister I have. For a lot of people, siblings mean nothing, but for me, she’s everything.” She placed a hand over her face and dragged in a slow breath.
“She’s the only person who has always loved me the way I am. She’s always been there for me, even when I wasn’t there for her. If you weren’t here, she´d be the only family I have left when my parents die. Why should I let her die when I can save her?”
“You shouldn’t,” he said.
Kaila smiled. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet, babe.” He skimmed the threads that kept her sister suspended mid-air.
“We have to cut them,” Kaila said.
“If we cut the life thread, she’ll die.”
“That’s why we only slice the red one.”
He peered more closely at the shimmering cord. They were like vines braided together. He rubbed the back of his neck. His stomach rolled.
“They’re knotted together, babe,” he said.
Kaila shook her head. A tiny smile grazed her features. Seamus frowned, worried she’d lost her mind.
“Come here and look,” she said.
He walked around Mel and looked to where Kaila pointed. Now, he understood the expression “a sliver of hope”. A tiny piece of wine-colored thread was not attached to the silver one.
“If we cut it there, it’ll free her completely,” Kaila said.
He remained silent. If they cut too much, they’d take the life string with it.
“I’ll do it, Seamus,” Kaila said.
“You don’t have your knives.”
“Lend me your sword.”
“It’s too heavy and broad, it’ll cut more than what we need,” he argued.
“It’s all we have. I’ll take the risk.”
“Kaila.”
She wrapped her fingers around his arm, the urgency in her brown eyes unmistakable even in the dim light.
“Seamus. It’s my decision. If I fuck up, then it’s my problem. I don’t want to hate you for accidentally killing my sister. Please, give me the sword.”
“I have more precision than you do,” he said.
“No.”
“Hold them steady, Kaila.”
“No, Seamus.”
“Listen to me, babe. We’re a team now, whether you want it or not. We’re going to do this together, okay? I’m not going to leave you alone.”
Roughly, he grabbed her chin, tilted her head back, and kissed her hard. Taking advantage of her gasp, he thrust his tongue into her mouth, feverishly sampling her. He released her face, and she moved in closer. Heat and newfound courage stroked his entire being as Kaila placed her palms on his chest. She wasn’t pushing him away, she was feeling his heart beat and drawing strength from him as he was from her. They were in this together. After a few moments, they broke apart.
“Now, be a good girl and hold the strings steady.”
He smiled, hoping to encourage her. Kaila gently gripped them in her hands. Seamus lifted the heavy weapon. Every groove and indentation on the hilt rubbed against his digits. Beads of sweat collected on his temple as he touched the edge of the blade against the thread. Carefully, he slid it. Blinking, he stepped back. Nothing happened.
“Did you cut it?” Kaila asked.
“Yes.”
He swept the cool sweat from his brow and prepared to try again, when a loud snapping noise resonated. He pulled Kaila behind him and backed up. Mesmerized, they watched as Sloth’s thread untwined itself from Mel’s life line. Gradually, the silver cord began to thicken and the red to grow thin until it disappeared. At that moment, the silver cord sparkled and Mel vanished.
Seamus let out a loud breath. He felt the tension leave Kaila’s body as well. She leaned against him.
“She’s gone. She’s safe,” Kaila said.
“Yeah. She’s out of his grasp. Now, it’s our turn to get out of here.”
He squeezed Kaila’s shoulder to guide her away. He paused. The hairs on his nape tingled and a cold sweat broke over him. He drew his sword, shuddering as a drop slid down his spine like the icy touch of death.
“I don’t think so.”
Chapte
r Twenty-Four
Kaila covered her mouth to hold back a scream. She was grateful for Seamus’s hand on her shoulder. Without it, she might have passed out. Before her eyes stood something indescribable. Under the light, it appeared to be a stooped man cloaked in black, but as he moved toward them and stepped through the shadows, he became a dark pit of horror that induced paralyzing fear.
“What do you want, Sloth?” Seamus’s normally calm and assertive voice sounded strangely high pitched. Kaila shut her eyes. There was no doubt that even he was affected by the Sin approaching them. The smell of freshly dug dirt mingled with centuries of dust permeated the air.
“Nothing. I only wanted to meet Kaila. She’s a skilled Human-Guardian. She’s saved quite a few lives. It’s a shame she can’t save everyone,” Sloth said, his tone mocking, his voice gravely, like a man that had smoked pack after pack of cigarettes throughout a lifetime.
Kaila’s teeth started to chatter uncontrollably. Tremors raced over her, and she grabbed Seamus’s arm. Her heart felt as if it was going to jump out of her chest.
“I have to admit I’m quite surprised by the both of you. I’d thought you would have lost your mind by now. Although, you’re barely hanging by a thread as it is.” Sloth cackled.
Seamus’s sword clattered to the ground. Kaila snapped her eyes open. Her eyes watered and she blinked repeatedly, trying to adjust her vision to the sudden brightness.
“Kaila, don’t look. Close your eyes, babe,” Seamus ordered.
His fingernails dug into her skin as he attempted to spin her around. It was too late. She’d already seen the two strings which came out of their bodies and reached for the sky. They were identical. The silver thin and flimsy, and the red fat and sturdy.
“No,” she gasped.
Sloth laughed. Bile rose to the back of her throat and she retched drily. Seamus clasped her hand, his fingers entwining with hers firmly.
“One life for two. My favorite kind of bargain. Thank you, Kaila,” Sloth said.
The room went pitch black, and she dropped to her knees. She clawed at her chest. The threads were gone. Desperation wrapped her in its tight embrace. She rocked in place, moaning and pleading for it not to be true. They were infected. Sloth had gotten to them and now they would succumb to him.
At her side, Seamus twitched uncontrollably. His hold on her hand, however, was steadfast and so tight, her bones cracked.
Gradually, as the light returned, her limbs loosened. She lay flat on her back, the stone floor hard against her muscles. Her breathing returned to normal and the pace of her heart slowed. She inhaled deeply. Her mind began to clear. She exhaled, slowly, and when she did, fulfilling tiredness spread over her. She glanced to her left, where Mel had been. The space was still empty. They had completed the task they had come to do.
“Seamus.”
He was slumped over, his head between his knees. Kaila tugged at him. He looked at her. His eyes were bloodshot but his gaze steady. He pulled her up into a sitting position and kissed the back of her hand. She cupped his face, rubbing her palm over his stubble.
She smiled. This was real. Not Sloth’s strings. She thumbed Seamus’s lips. They were parched. She bent over and pressed her mouth to his. Seamus threaded his fingers through her hair, and she deepened the kiss, swirling her tongue with his. She rested her forehead against his.
“We´re going to be okay,” she whispered.
His lips twitched.
“What?” she asked.
“You sound so certain. After all we´ve been through, you still believe we’re going to make it.”
She watched him as he rose to his feet. His legs quivered. He ran his fingers through his hair and grinned. “I’m an awesome Guardian, I know, but I’m not immune to the Sins. Besides, I still think we’re going to die, so please explain what is going on through that little head of yours.”
He helped her to her feet. As she stood, she looped her arms around his neck, drawing him closer. He brushed his lips over her forehead and her heart started a staccato.
“You’re addictive,” she muttered.
“Babe?”
She giggled.
“Kaila?” he asked, his tone laced with concern.
She laughed heartily.
“I haven’t lost my mind, Seamus.”
She focused on his blue eyes. They held apprehension, but also a silent promise of a future.
“Through tricks and illusions, Sloth has been trying to make us go crazy. Once more, he’s bluffing. He is the king of deceptions. He makes us believe things which don’t exist. He makes us doubt ourselves and those around us. Yet, we’ve made it this far,” Kaila said.
“Yes, but—”
“Let me finish. Mel is safe and we are safe. And do you know why? It’s because looking into your eyes doesn’t make me sad, Seamus. I don’t feel hopeless or helpless. If we were tied down to Sloth, then you wouldn’t be enough for me. I would no longer care about you or life. Nothing would make sense and we’d still be on the ground, convinced we were doomed. Sloth’s infection would upend our lives.”
She smiled. She eased his furrowed brow with her fingertips.
“When I looked into your eyes, all I wanted was to go home with you, make love, and build a life at your side, Seamus. That is all I want and Sloth’s tricks can’t take that from us. Do you understand? Our love is greater than his ruse.”
For a moment, Seamus’s countenance grew serious. Then, he lifted her into his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist. His mouth landed over hers, hungrily exploring and tasting every inch.
“Seamus?” Kaila asked, breathlessly.
“Hush, babe, I’m basking in your brilliance before we get the hell out of here and never come back.”
Epilogue
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Mel. Aha, yep. Give Mom and Dixon kisses. Yes, I’ll give Seamus a kiss on your behalf. Okay, bye. Love you.”
Kaila hung up and placed the phone on its holder. She spun and crashed into a solid wall of flesh. No, not a wall. Her gaze traveled upward, taking in every dip and curve of the carved chest before her. Water droplets clung to pink nipples and slithered over the taut skin. Her mouth watered.
“My eyes are up here, you know?”
As Seamus lifted her off her feet and slung her over his shoulder, she shrieked. He smacked her ass. Laughter bubbled inside her together with a wave of arousal. In three short steps, they were in the living room and Seamus dumped her on the couch with a feisty grin. She sat up, leaning on her elbows.
“You’re early.”
He settled on the armchair across from her and patted his lap in invitation. The bulge of his erection was clear beneath his sweat pants. Kaila smirked and lifted her eyebrows.
“You think you can just get home and order me to sit on your lap without even saying hello or giving me so much as a kiss?” she asked.
“You were the one staring like I was a piece of meat.” He ran his hand down his chest lasciviously.
She wet her lips. Damn, the man was a temptation. She wanted to lick and taste him from top to bottom. Her gaze dropped to his crotch, just as he spread his legs. Her panties dampened.
“And yeah, I’m early. The bout with the Inferums was quick. I said hello when I came in, but you were too busy talking on the phone. I even took a shower,” he said.
To demonstrate, he ran his fingers through his hair and sprayed water droplets all over. Some of them clung to his torso, glistening under the light and beckoning her to come closer and lick them off his skin. She crossed her legs. Her core pulsed.
“How was your day, and how’s Mel?”
“What?” she asked, absently.
Seamus grinned. As always, the bloody Guardian knew the effect he had on her.
“Focus, babe. How was your day?”
She tore her gaze away from him and leaned back against the couch.
“Aslan called.”
“The boss called? What did he say?”
“
He wanted to know how our book was progressing and if I would be interested in doing a workshop with the new Human-Guardian recruits.”
“What did you tell him?”
“I told him our book on our experience at Sloth’s was doing fine, but we still needed time, and I said I would think about the training program.”
Seamus grinned.
“Which means you’re going to say yes,” he said.
She shrugged.
“They’ve finally realized Human-Guardians’ potential. I can’t let them mess up again. I’m living proof we’re not only good here on Earth. We can do more for the cause.”
“Absolutely.”
He cocked his head. His smile disappeared.
“And at the clinic?”
“I saw Wendy today.”
He got up and dropped at her side on the sofa. “How is she?”
“She’s doing a lot better,” Kaila said.
“And you?”
She shrugged. “I’m okay, I guess.”
He wrapped his arm around her, tucking her close. She snuggled against him, breathing in his unique scent mingled with soap. She leaned her head on his shoulder. He slid his hand beneath her shirt and caressed her back in soothing circles.
Her job wasn’t easy. It’d been six months since they’d lived the horrific experience at Sloth’s lair, and at first, she’d thought about leaving her field of work. She couldn’t stand the thought of being a psychologist to all those people in Sloth’s nest she would never be able to help.
The Guardian Council had offered both her and Seamus an alternative. They could become teachers at the Academy. Seamus had declined almost immediately. Fighting was his way of life. It was who he was. He would continue to do it until he could no longer stand.
She had asked for some time to consider the idea.
For a few weeks, she contemplated stepping away from the Sins and everything related to them. However, as days turned into weeks, she found she couldn’t. She was a Human-Guardian. It was in her nature. She found herself listening to other people’s problems, trying to help them, to aid them in any way possible. It was her duty, and even though she knew she wouldn’t be able to help all of them, she was learning to accept it. Every human she assisted was a battle won against Sloth and the Sins. Every person counted to keep the balance.
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