Demon Guard

by Samantha Britt

  A flicker of approval appears in the higher demon’s gaze, but the emotion is quickly concealed by a hard mask.

  “The night we met,” I begin, trying to sound confident, but unable to hide the slight tremble in my voice. I close my eyes and summon my strength. “The night we met, you said ‘the resemblance is uncanny’.” I open my eyes and see his wariness.

  I continue, “You think I look like someone. That’s why you keep showing up. Isn’t it?”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” The demon crosses his arms. The move is so normal—so human… it catches me off guard. Can demons feel emotions like insecurity or unease? I didn’t think so, but that small gesture leads me to believe otherwise.

  I’ve struck a nerve, and I debate my next move.

  The council charged Logan with finding out the reason for the demon’s interest in me. My mentor is preoccupied at the warehouse. With any luck, he’s succeeding in his rash plan to save the captured Guardians. But that won’t happen if a higher demon enters the equation. I can kill two birds with one stone right now. I can learn why this higher demon acts concerned for my safety and keep him from joining his fellow demons at the warehouse.

  I lick my lips. His quick eyes catch the movement.

  “How am I supposed to ever trust you if you don’t answer my questions?”

  For a beat, the demon says nothing. Then, he tilts his head back and roars with laughter. “A valiant attempt, little mountain, but alas, I am not as susceptible to the wiles of young women. Not even one as lovely as you.”

  My forehead furrows. Does he think I’m flirting with him? “I wasn’t trying to—"

  “I know, little mountain,” he cuts me off, once again wearing a wide smile. “That’s what makes you so endearing.” He continues to laugh.

  It’s my turn to cross my arms. I look over my shoulder, judging how effective a potential escape might be. If I jump then tuck and roll, I should be able to get to my feet quickly. But even if I land safely, I won’t be able to outrun a higher demon.

  Fingers brush against my arm. I jolt back and turn around. The movement almost sends me falling off the roof, but the demon reaches out and keeps me in place. “Easy there.”

  He stands less than a foot away. His hand rests on my arm, but I can’t pull away without running the risk of falling.

  I swallow the lump in my throat, trying to hide the fear making my heart race a mile a minute. But there’s no way he doesn’t sense evidence of my terror.

  The demon stares at me with unbridled intensity. A mix of awe and confusion war for dominance. It’s the same way he looked just before he last kissed me.

  As if reading my thought, his eyes shift to my lips.

  No.

  I try to say the word out loud, but it sticks in my throat. I don’t know if I’m in another trance or if the reality of this situation is so intense that it renders me immobile.

  “Brother.” A new voice disrupts the moment, much to my relief.

  The demon stiffens, and I see fury flash in his eyes, before he dons a neutral, bored mask. Slowly, he turns around, shifting his body to block my view. I don’t know if he does it on purpose or not. I shuffle to the side to see the newcomer.

  Oh, shit.

  Another higher demon stands on the roof. My wide, fear-filled eyes take him in, noting the fact he and the demon in front of me look very similar. If it weren’t for the lighter hair of the newest higher demon, I would guess they are twins.

  “Az.” The dark-haired demon greets in a less than welcoming tone. “What are you doing in my territory?”

  The fair demon, Az, brushes imaginary dirt off his sleeves. “Just following up on an interesting report a couple of mundanes shared with me.”

  “Oh? Do tell.” The demon’s bored tone contradicts the encouraging words. The tension between the pair is palpable.

  “It actually deals with you, dear brother. Rumor says the Great and Mighty Belial troubled himself to save the life of a pathetic Guardian. Needless to say, I had to come and see if there was any merit to the claim.”

  Time slows as my foolish mind finally realizes the truth. Az is short for Azazel. As in… one of the six original higher demons—the demons who’ve roamed this earth almost since the beginning of time.

  And Belial… he’s said to be the most violent and ruthless one.

  I look at the back of the demon before me with fresh, terrified eyes. The higher demon who’s intruded in my life is one of the originals. Any notion I ever had of being able to escape this situation unscathed flies out the window. I release a pathetic whimper which I immediately regret.

  The sound draws Azazel’s attention. “And who do we have here?” A predatory gleam enters his eye. Despite knowing Belial’s evil, I’m glad he stands between me and his fellow higher demon. There’s unfathomable darkness in his soulless eyes, and I’d give anything for them to move away from me. “Is this the mouse you are savoring?”

  Belial steps in front of me, once again blocking my view. “Your curiosity has no place in my territory, Az. Leave now before I make you.”

  Azazel chuckles darkly. I can imagine the dangerous expression which accompanies the ominous sound.

  “Aspen!”

  I gasp. It can’t be.

  I whirl around, searching for the source of the sound. I feel the brush of Belial’s shirt as he turns, as well.

  My knees threaten to buckle when I see Andrew, Master Donohue, and five unfamiliar Guardians running through the junkyard.

  Reinforcements have arrived.

  “Aspen,” Andrew calls again, catching my attention with his urgent and imploring stare. “Jump!”

  Master Donohue and the others brandish flaming weapons, looking fierce and formidable.

  Instinct and undeniable faith keep me from hesitating. I bend my legs, prepared to launch myself towards the oncoming men and women. I will survive a fall from this height. With the Guardians here to watch my back, I don’t need to worry about rebounding right away.

  A firm grip stops me just before I’m about to leap.

  I swing my wild, pleading eyes to Belial’s. “Please,” I whisper desperately. “Please let me go.”

  He sees my terror. His jaw clenches. “It’s not safe.”

  “What do you mean—”

  Screeches and howls of bloodlust travel across the junkyard. I watch in horror as several dozen mundane demons scramble out from between piles of rubble and rusted metal. They move fast towards the group of Guardians, and I barely have time to shout a warning before the demons are on top of them, and they’re locked in a fight for their life.

  Twenty-Five

  The mundane demons move more fluidly than I’ve seen before. They’re clearly not grade one demons, and I can only pray they aren’t grade three. The Guardians are outnumbered, but they have a chance of defeating the enemy with proper strategy. And the less intelligent their enemy, the more likely for success. I refuse to consider what will happen if they face competent foes.

  “Let me go!” I struggle against Belial’s hold, crying out as a mundane swipes at Andrew’s torso. The young Guardian ducks, spinning around and slicing off the demon’s head with ease.

  “Your pet is feisty,” I hear Az say. He sounds amused, not at all bothered by the violence being unleashed below. But why would he be bothered? He’s a freaking higher demon—an original. He loves violence. And so does the demon currently holding me in a bone-crushing grip.

  Two mundanes tackle a female Guardian to the ground. She kicks one in the chest, sending him flying onto the hood of an old truck. The impact leaves a demon-sized dent in the metal. The other demon’s jaws snap near her neck. I think she’s done for, but the woman leans out of the way just before jagged teeth can clamp down on her throat. Then, she pulls a silver dagger out of an ankle holster, driving the weapon into the demon’s lower back.

  The Guardians and demons battle viciously. None of the Guardians have fallen, but I don’t know how m
uch longer they can last. For every demon they kill, another pops up in its place. I look around, trying to determine where the monsters are coming from, but all I see are heaps of junk.

  “Are these your minions, Az?” Belial’s voice vibrates against my back. I shift to try and find some wiggle room, but his hold remains strong.

  “My bodyguards,” Az corrects.

  I snort. Like a higher demon needs bodyguards.

  “You’d bring your soldiers into my territory?” Belial’s voice drops to an icy degree. This is the first I’m hearing that higher demons have territory. I hadn’t realized there was that sort of division among the monsters.

  “I thought you knew, seeing as you killed four of them.” Azazel speaks of the demons who’d been trying to sneak up on me.

  I peer at Belial, confused by his actions and motives.

  Azazel continues, “And, again, brother, they’re not soldiers. They’re my bodyguards. One can never be too careful. Not with that kind hunting us.”

  Almost in demonstration, Master Donohue swings his longsword through the abdomen of two demons in quick succession. He’s got serious fighting skills.

  “Call them off,” I’m shocked into stillness by Belial’s command.

  “What?” Azazel sounds equally stunned.

  “Tell your bodyguards to cease this fight. Clear them out of my territory before you ruin everything.”

  I hold my breath, barely daring to hope Azazel will listen.

  Below, Andrew and the female Guardian tag team a particularly nasty looking demon. It’s twice as tall as his brethren, and that much stronger. They struggle to land a killing blow. But the monster makes the mistake of dropping his right shoulder just long enough for the woman to throw a perfectly aimed dagger into the sensitive flesh between his neck and shoulder blade. The demon rears back with a roar, swiping its claws in angry panic. Andrew severs one of the hands clean off, and then twists his sword and drives it into the demon’s belly.

  The seconds tick by with agonizing slowness. I have no idea why Belial would order his fellow higher demon to stop the attack on Guardians. He hadn’t cared enough to stop the fight at the bar, so I know he isn’t concerned with the wellbeing of my people.

  No. Something else is going on here.

  Belial must have a more nefarious and dangerous plot, but I can’t imagine what it might be.

  Azazel takes so long to respond, I begin to doubt he plans to heed Belial’s command. I continue to watch the Guardians fight for their life, hating the fact I can do nothing to help.

  “Very well.” Azazel’s reply is nearly lost in the sound of swords crashing and demons screeching.

  Fingers snap together.

  Immediately, the demons obey the nonverbal command and stop engaging the Guardians. Those who can quickly disappear into the recesses of the junk yard. The others unfortunate enough to be too close to the sharp end of a weapon meet their end just as quickly.

  I release a ragged breath, slumping forward with relief. Andrew, Master Donohue, and the others will be okay.

  Now, my worries return to their original source.

  I look into the distance, zeroing in on the warehouse. A swarm of Guardians surround the building. I scan them quickly, but there’s no sight of Logan. I wish he’d gifted me enhanced hearing so I could figure out what the Guardians are saying.

  “I hope you aren’t growing soft on me.” Azazel steps up to stand beside Belial, near the edge of the roof. His icy eyes snag my attention, then he shifts his gaze to the arms still wrapped around me, holding me in place.

  Belial’s voice is gruff. “Nothing I do is without purpose.”

  “And she plays a part in that purpose?” He throws unfathomable distaste behind the word. Once again, I’m glad to have the higher demon acting as a buffer between me and Azazel.

  “All in good time, Az,” Belial says calmly, some of the tension releasing from his body as he detects his comrade’s submission. “All will be revealed in good time.”

  “Hm.” Azazel frowns with clear disapproval. “Very well. Whatever you say. Good day, Brother.”

  “Good day, Az.” The blond demon disappears into a vortex of swirling black smoke. I cough as the cloud hits me, making my eyes burn. Belial draws away from the edge, taking me with him.

  “Stop!” I hear Master Donohue shout. “Release her.”

  Through my watery gaze, I see the Guardians have formed an attack line. They face the shed, swords and daggers raised. Each one looks fierce and ready for battle. It doesn’t matter that they are facing down a higher demon. They do not waver.

  Belial’s face shifts forward. His cheek brushes against mine, and I’m ashamed to admit the sensation sends a shiver down my spine.

  “What do you say, little mountain?” he asks in a whisper, completely ignoring Master Donohue and the others. “Should I release you?”

  “Yes,” I choke out. My heart pounds, and I have no doubt he can feel it against the arm wrapped around me.

  “But don’t you have questions for me? I don’t think I ever got around to answering the one about who I think you look like.”

  I suck in a breath. My neck whips to the side, placing my face uncomfortably close to his. But I don’t lean away. I hold his stare, daring him to backtrack or reveal he’s just messing with me.

  “Are you going to tell me?” I whisper back.

  Belial’s gaze flickers to my lips. He has an uncomfortable tendency to do that.

  “That depends… what do I get if I do?”

  How I’ve ended up trapped in a higher demons arms, negotiating a trade for information, is beyond me. Funny enough, I realize I’m beyond fear at this point. Sure, I might die at Belial’s hands in the blink of an eye. But there’s nothing I can do about it.

  Acknowledging my lack of control is freeing. It leads me to ask, “What would you want?”

  His nostrils flare. Then, a slow smile lifts his lips. “Now, isn’t that the million-dollar question?”

  I don’t respond. Instead, I stare at him expectantly, awaiting his reply.

  Once again, approval flashes in his gaze as he takes in my determination. “Very well, little mountain. You deserve an answer. You remind me of a young woman I met many years ago. Several young women, in fact. Your bloodline runs deep. If you have never felt so inclined, might I suggest you research your family members’ identities? I believe doing so will be quite enlightening.”

  His words are a punch to the gut. My mouth falls open, and I struggle with what to say.

  Eventually, I settle on, “I’m an orphan.” I swallow back the emotion the admission elicits. “I-I don’t know my parents’ families. I couldn’t look them up even if I wanted to.”

  This catches Belial off-guard. I can tell by the subtle widening of his eyes.

  “My, oh my.” He lifts a finger and strokes my cheek. “Can the Guardians really not know the jewel in their possession?”

  My skin tingles. I try to dissect what he means, but we’re interrupted.

  “Release her, higher demon.”

  Every muscle in my body reacts to the sound of the new voice.

  It can’t be…

  I turn away from Belial’s beguiling proximity and turn to the line of Guardians I’ve all but forgot about. In the middle of their ranks, is none other than Logan Hendricks.

  I can hardly believe it.

  Logan is alive.

  His face is scratched and bruised, and tears mar his dark ensemble. But other than that, he looks completely unharmed.

  The relief I feel is so intense and all consuming, I’m shocked by it. Logan’s been rude and insensitive, but he matters to me. I try to convince myself I’d feel this way about any Guardian after a dangerous mission, but I know it’s a lie. Somewhere deep inside, I’m the thirteen-year-old Aspen, remembering the kind-eyed boy who’d saved my life and helped me get off the streets.

  Belial is silent. I sense him watching me for my reaction, before his gaze shifts to the Gu
ardians. More specifically, to Logan.

  Master Donohue steps forward, placing himself in front of the attack line. “In your arms is an unarmed and unmagicked adolescent,” he states, as if trying to reason with a higher demon is a common occurrence. For all I know, it is.

  Belial tsks quietly. “You’re much more than that, my little mountain.”

  Andrew’s knuckles turn white as he tightens his grip on his sword. I can’t see it, but I imagine he wears an enhanced hearing sigil, among many others. The rest of the Shadowguard fighters do not react, just like they’ve been trained.

  My sigil instructor continues, “Release her, and the Shadowguard will overlook today’s aggression.”

  I stare at the Guardians with a desperate expression. I don’t know how to get myself out of this situation. It’s obvious I’m only leaving if Belial wills it. But how do I get him to agree? At the moment, with his fingers pressed into my abdomen, I don’t get the feeling he’s interested in releasing me anytime soon.

  Logan moves forward, positioning himself beside Master Donohue. He glares at the higher demon like Belial isn’t one of the most formidable opponents any Guardian would expect to face in their lifetime.

  “Demon?” Master Donohue, the obvious spokesperson of the group, fills the silence. “Do you hear my request?”

  “I hear it.”

  “Then what say you?” my instructor asks. The line behind him shifts restlessly. I see mixes of fear, unease, and resignation. They will fight to the death if that’s what it takes. I’m humbled by their willingness to sacrifice themselves for me, but I pray it doesn’t come to that.

  Logan and Andrew look equally tense, ready and waiting for the opportunity to strike. The fools. If they knew they dealt with one of the original demons, they wouldn’t be so willing to fight him.

  Behind me, Belial exhales a long, drawn out breath. Then, once again, he leans forward. “This makes three, little Aspen,” he murmurs, using my name for the first time. His lips brush against the shell of my ear as he reminds me of how often he’s spared me.

  Then, without warning, I’m shoved off the shed.

  I shriek, flailing my arms as I tumble towards the ground, unprepared for the stealthy landing I had prepared.