Cherish (The Guardian Series Book 3)

by K. B. Wheelock

  Suddenly, she felt herself being tossed on the hard ground, and pain coursed up her spine as her head whipped back. The pain brought her back to the present for a minute, and she looked up at Enver.

  He glared down at her. “You’re not even worth touching. We will see how you fare after a few days down here.” He slammed the door, leaving her in a virtual and physically dark cell.

  Sitting in the dark gave her plenty of time to think. What was with Esson? First, he wanted the twins, who were the embodiment of prophecy, then he said she was the embodiment of prophecy. And now there was a second prophecy. Maybe he was completely unhinged. He definitely acted like he was. The last time he had had her captive, she had been treated well. Now, she was a criminal. If he switched his plan again, she might have permanent whiplash. As it was, her head hurt from trying to keep up with him. Too bad Gris wasn’t here to bounce her thoughts off of. He had a way with unraveling puzzles. The thoughts kept swirling in her head even as she drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Rose

  Rose lay on the stone ground. She didn’t know how long it had been since she had seen Esson, and she didn’t care. Enver had brought her food three times, and she had forced herself to eat, but besides that she didn’t move. She no longer cared if she lived or died.

  The grate of metal on metal had her glancing where she thought the door was, but she didn’t move. She closed her eyes when the bright light burned them.

  “Get up.”

  She heard Enver but didn’t move. Strong fingers gripped her arms as she was yanked to her feet.

  “I said get up!”

  She stood, his hands supporting her as she wanted to sink back to the ground. She no longer knew if it was that she didn’t have the will to fight, or if she was too weak. She didn’t have the energy to analyze it as his fingers left her arms, and she slid listlessly back to the ground.

  “Crap! You stink!” Enver said as he pulled her to him and threw her over his shoulder. “I should have brought an underling with me. Then he could have your stench covering him. Esson better let me go shower and burn this shirt when we’re done.”

  She would have laughed at his tirade, but her energy was gone. Her humor had died with the news of Cullen’s death. She didn’t think she could even muster the energy to move an arm to hit Enver for his tirade.

  “High Lord?” Enver spoke, standing in front of the open doors to the room that she had been in before. “She is ready.”

  “Take her to the baths first. I do not want that stench near me. Have one of the women prepare her for the ceremony. Then meet me in the garden.”

  “Yes, sir.” Enver turned and continued down the hall.

  Rose tried to care, tried to memorize the route that they took through the castle, but her brain was too clouded to remember the path they took.

  They stopped in a large kitchen, or what she assumed was a kitchen by the smells and clanking of pans and hiss of cooking food.

  “Lisu, come bathe this piece of filth,” Enver commanded and turned to go back down the hall, not looking to see if the demon obeyed.

  Rose lifted her head listlessly to see who followed. She was a small demon, her clothes barely covering her body. A tight cropped top covered small breasts, and tight breeches covered her scaled legs. She walked with her head down, and Rose could see small nubs where horns would have been, the edges cut straight.

  Rose dropped her head back, letting it bob with every step Enver took.

  Once Rose had been bathed and all body hair removed, Lisu dressed her in an outfit similar to what Esson had favored in the caves. A long cloth crossed over her breasts, covering them, and tied in the back. A short wrap-around skirt covered her from her hip bones to her mid-thigh. In this outfit, the slight mound of her stomach showed, but not much more than it had been after the twins were born. She felt a small flame of protectiveness flickering in her soul, trying to come to life. Rose knew in her heart that she needed to fight, but it seemed so hopeless, like an impossible task. Before the flame could light the bonfire of justified rage, a blanket covered it again, smothering it.

  Enver picked her up and threw her over his shoulder again, leaving her head swimming from the sudden change in position. He carried her to a door, opening it to carry her into a garden. The air made her choke, sulfuric smelling and filled with ash.

  Set down on a dais next to Esson, she saw the garden was full of demons dressed for battle, their weapons on full display, some strapped over backs, but most held out in front of them as they cheered at what Esson was saying.

  Beside her, Esson stood in black leather armor. Two wide bands of gold were wrapped around his biceps, just like Enver’s hands were wrapped around her biceps, tight bands holding her upright. Listlessly, she looked around the surroundings, then to the ground. It was easier to focus on her feet.

  “Finally, the time is here.” Esson’s voice rang out over the crowd of demons. “My niece, the embodiment of the prophecy is here, ready to perform what the Fates have written.”

  He took the box from the demon who stood on his other side, holding it up for all to see. “The prophecy from long ago, we all have heard and know. But there was another prophecy that has never been heard before.

  When my nephew was young we took a trip to see an oracle. She gave us a message of the future, one that no one but my nephew and I have heard. Luke is dead, as is the oracle and all of her clan. Only I know of the prophecy. And now I shall reveal it to you.”

  “One shall come,

  Able to cross both realms

  Living death and giving life,

  Through her blood

  All shall be able to pass.”

  He took her hand in his and held it up so that all could see. “The blood of an angel and demon shall give us entrance to Empyrean. We shall rule not only the humans but the Fae as well.”

  He set the box down on the table before them and held her hand over it. With a swift swipe of a golden blade over her hand, blood flowed.

  “Golden blood of a Guardian flowing freely opens the door,” he said as he pressed her bloody finger onto the blood-covered box. He lifted the BloodStone out of the black bedding it laid on and raised it for all to see. The crowd fell silent in awe.

  “The largest known Bloodstone. This stone has seen numerous human wars, and before the human wars it was the stone that caused the realms to be separated.”

  He turned to Rose and started to chant. “Quod non reveletur neque per sanguinem eius.”

  On the fourth repetition he slammed the stone into Rose’s forehead, causing her to arch her back and scream in pain. She felt like her body was on fire, unable to process any one thought. It was as if her mind had been opened, and she was on information overload.

  Esson gestured to Enver to bring Rose to the portal that stood behind them. “Prepare for battle,” he called to the army behind him as he gripped Rose’s hand and swiped her blood over the solid black wall of the portal. Where her golden blood touched, the portal turned to a shimmering silver. “Our allies wait on the other side, do not harm them.” And with that, he stepped back allowing his demons to enter into Empyrean.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Rose

  Rose awoke to find herself lying on the ground, the shimmering portal before her. Slowly, she lifted her throbbing head and looked around, but no one remained. She vaguely remembered Esson having her bathed and brought here, blood flowing from her hand, and a raging headache. In fact, her head still hurt, but not as a normal headache. Her brain felt as if there was not enough room in her head to contain it Her forehead throbbed with each beat of her heart.

  She tried to move her arm to touch her head, but a searing pain in her hand made her cry out. Looking down she saw blood oozing from a long gash across her hand that cut her life line in half. Small gold flecks were embedded in it, the blood clotting over it only to be broken open by the metal.

  Using her good hand, she pushed herself to
sit up, swaying as the courtyard spun around her. Suddenly, she felt her stomach clench and leaned over just in time to prevent herself from soiling her clothes as vomit spewed from her mouth. Blood seeped into her skirt, running down her legs. And her heart broke with realization of what he had done.

  Reaching her hand into the ground as if to gather the life-giving blood, she screamed her pain and anger, as she felt the first wave of cramps.

  The light in the demon realm never seemed to change, always that purpley-gray color, so it was no help in telling her how long she had lain there unconscious, but the cramps had finally stopped. Reaching her hand to touch the throbbing pain in her head, she felt a cold oblong stone embedded there. The touch of her finger on the stone was as if a light had been turned on. Suddenly, she could see the various paths that had led to this point and the paths she could choose from here on out.

  As she touched the gold cord around her neck, it fell to the ground in pieces and her wings erupted from her back, filling the courtyard with bright-white light.

  Hot tears fell to the ground, mixing with life-giving blood. She reached her hand into the blood-soaked ground and fed a small amount of her spirit into it. A small stem and leaf began to push itself up through the soil, quickly growing, twisting and turning until a large thick vine-like tree stood. On its branches, gold leaves shimmered, and one lone white flower bloomed. She kissed the trunk and turned to the portal.

  “He said I am living death and giving life. He does not know what he has unleashed here,” Rose said to the empty courtyard. Looking over her shoulder at the tree she had grown, she spoke again. “I will avenge your life, my little Cullen Luke. You shall guard this realm, allowing none to leave.” Her speech was oddly formal. She placed a hand on the ground and one of the vines grew to cover the edges of the portal. “I will always love you,” she whispered as she stepped through the portal.

  One day, she would cry and mourn, but right now she had a Demon Lord to kill, a mate to avenge, and a world to save.

  Stepping into Empyrean, she found herself in a forest that was nothing like the Bog. Tall trees with a large canopy of interlacing branches surrounded her. The grass here was not like the Bog, instead of soft pink grass, it was black and sharp. A path led from the portal further into the woods.

  Even as she was looking around the clearing and gathering her bearings, she saw many paths like a network that laid over the ground. It reminded her of a computer program, in some ways. She could pull one path and see where it led and the outcome that would follow. Cocking her head to the side in thought, she pulled the threads until she found the one that would lead her to Esson. Decision made, she started to walk towards him and his death.

  As she walked, she analyzed what was going on, why she was seeing things this way. She knew that she should be freaked out by the fact that the she was seeing things she shouldn’t, that she had made a tree grow from nothing. But her mind was blank, only focused on one thing. Maybe panic would come when he was gone.

  Walking through the forest, she saw odd houses in the trees, many with stairs or ladders going up to them, but not a sound came from them. Nothing moved except for the leaves in the breeze. The path she walked was trampled. Here and there, it looked like a tail had trailed in the dust.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Rose

  She must have been unconscious longer than she realized. Dark came before she reached the demon army. She found herself walking along a stream. Tall red and white mushroom caps stood to one side, long purple hair-like fibers flowing down to touch the ground.

  Rose remembered Thea telling the story of camping under one of the capes. She pulled the fibers apart and peered into the gloomy interior. The ground was covered in a thick moss that would make a perfect bed. She laid down to rest, her wings wrapping around her as her tears soaked into the ground.

  After a fitful rest, she opened gritty eyes and continued her journey. Hot tears soaked her face, leaving streaks of dirt running across her cheeks She had never felt such loss as she did with baby Cullen and her mate, Cullen. A part of her very soul had been torn out and left a gaping hole. She pushed her pain and loss into a box in the depths of her mind. If she focused on that she wouldn’t be able to function.

  Her only goal now was to stop Esson and make him pay for all that he had done to her over the years. Her hand went to her forehead, touching the smooth stone embedded there. She didn’t know what he had done, but the rumors of Bloodstones were true. It brought clarity of mind and strengthened her inherent powers. What Esson had not known was that it fed on the essence of the person, and her essence was that of light.

  Ahead, she could hear the sounds of a large gathering of people, the mutterings of conversation, the clang of metal. Permeating the normally fresh-smelling air of Empyrean was the sulfuric ash scent of the demon realm.

  Wings spread wide, brilliant-white light glowing from them, Rose walked into the midst of the demon army. Wherever her light hit, demons were incinerated. Reaching down, she picked up a sword that had been dropped by one of the demons and quickly moved it upwards to block an incoming demon’s sword. On his finger, she saw a gold band, making him immune to her Guardian light.

  The Bloodstone guided her thoughts, and she reached out to touch the demon with the hand that had been cut. Blood dripped onto his bare skin, burning through to the bone. The demon screamed in pain but did not move away. Her thoughts reached out to him and pulled his life essence into herself before channeling his life into the ground. A tree grew in place of where he’d stood. She cocked her head and looked at the tree in shock. She was repulsed by this new ability, while at the same time in awe. But she didn’t have time to analyze the new skill or her feelings on it.

  Another demon replaced the one that was a tree, and she knocked his sword aside then touched him, turning him to a tree. Faster and faster she moved through the remaining demons who were not incinerated by her Guardian light. If she could not touch them to turn them to trees, she used the sword to kill them and left their black blood seeping into the ground.

  She didn’t know how long she had been fighting the demons when she was surrounded by fairy men, their images flickering from men to an odd jackal/bat looking creature. They flickered too quickly for her to fully visualize but she knew that these were the Mhularuka that were the sworn enemies of the Brownies.

  Her Guardian Light had no effect on them, so she folded her wings into her body, and fought them with sword and touch. Unlike the demons, their bodies didn’t turn to trees. Instead, they melted into the earth upon her touch, leaving muddy puddles behind.

  After what seemed like minutes, but was probably much longer, she stood before Esson panting for breath. Nothing stood between them.

  His army was defeated.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Rose

  “How? You were dead!” Esson exclaimed as he looked around the vast field and road where his army had been camped. Now it was a forest of trees and muddy puddles with dead bodies scattered through it.

  “Your Bloodstone. It might have allowed you entrance into this realm, but you did not fully understand what you invoked. Your greed and hatred have been your destruction. Love is what truly wins.” Rose looked around her. She could see the Brownie army that stood on the other side of the shimmering border. At the front, stood her Guardians, her mates. Awe and love shone from their eyes, giving her strength and the words that she needed to say.

  “You have spent your life taking what is not yours, treating others cruelly and as if they were animals. You desire for the world to be filled with the hatred and hedonistic principles of your cities. But that is not to be. I straddle both worlds with my blood. I am the balance between the light and dark, and today, the light shall win.” Rose spoke with a bone-deep conviction. Her heart hurt for all that had been lost, and she knew that it would take time to process everything, to mourn for those lost to her, and to cherish what she still had.

  Wings unfurling,
white light cleansing the realm, Rose stood, sword held in the front guard position, protecting her face.

  Esson glared at her. "You think that you can take me? That you can kill me? I am so much stronger than you know. You are an ant that I will crush under my heel, followed by your precious mates. Your girls will be mine, serving me, and creating the perfect royal family, ruling over all the realms."

  Rose tried to reply, but her throat closed, leaving her gasping for breath.

  "Your very breath is controlled by me."

  Out of the corner of her eye she could see Niall, Gris, and Keyne running towards the border. She extended a hand to them, imploring them to stop. This fight was between her and Esson. She couldn’t have them hurt, or she might lose what control she had over the Bloodstone. She inherently understood that while the Bloodstone gave her access to abilities she did not normally have, it also took the essence of who you were and used that in the abilities. If she were to lose her mates or daughters, she feared she would fall off the thin line she balanced on and into the dark.

  Slashing her sword to the ground, she mouthed, “Secat” and took a deep breath of air as the hold that Esson had was broken. She waited for his next attack on her, knowing that she had to let him take the lead, let him bring his own destruction. If she were to go on the attack, her hatred and anger might overpower her, and she would lose control of the stone.

  She watched Esson but didn’t expect the form that his next attack took as the land in front of the barrier fell, leaving a large chasm between her and her loved ones. Slowly, the land under the barrier fell in, the chasm creeping ever so slowly towards her loved ones. She watched as they moved farther from her. Finally, the chasm stopped when it had reached a ten-foot width, the barrier stopping where the land had been.