The Wardens Boxed Set

by Heather D Glidewell

  “And?” I asked, trying to catch my breath.

  “Nothing,” he said simply, and my heart broke. How could he have not felt anything?

  He’s lying.

  I could tell by the look on his face he wasn’t telling me the truth. Still it hurt, though. He pushed past me, leaving me standing in the field alone, staring after him, my heart pounding. I fought the urge to cry so instead I took off at a sprint towards the town.

  ***

  Helen and Rose had everything under control when my feet came to a stop in downtown Harrisville. I could see the faces of the townspeople poking over the sides of the walls and looking out the windows at the carnage that was taking place. Thankfully many of them had managed to find safety before the fight began. That was a huge weight off my shoulders.

  I felt my sword instinctively feed on my fire as it burst into a blue glow. I whistled once to get the attention of a small group of enemy troops standing to the right of the building. They came at me quickly, their eyes flaming, their weapons bloody. My sword clashed defensively as they swung. I felt my heart grow cold and my skin grow hot as I burst into flames, my eyes burning as I changed.

  The creatures stared at me with fear as they realized who I was. Flames shot from the tip of my weapon, sending many of them screaming to the ground as the fire ate away their evil skin leaving nothing but bones that turned to dust shortly after. One fell, then two. Finally I saw her. The blonde girl looked at me and smiled, her spear set and ready for a battle.

  She charged for me and I leapt into the air landing behind her, the sword aimed between her shoulder blades. I saw the fire flying off my skin and my hands were growing hotter as I pulled the sword above my head. With one swoop of the weapon, I sliced through her neck and her head rolled about two feet away. The blade penetrated her flesh as if it was nothing more than butter. The headless body buckled and went down in a sickening crunch.

  Her body crumbled at my feet and I felt the power surge within me. Unclaimed! Her soul mine for the taking. The girl’s power solidified in my body as I turned, still hungry for the approaching enemy. Before I knew what I was doing, four more lay dead at my feet.

  My hands were sweating as my body grew hotter. Sooner or later the power was going to dissipate and I would have to rely on the other magic in my blood to take over. I was using too much power in one instance; if I didn’t slow down not even my other gifts would get me out alive.

  “NO!” I heard Helen’s voice screaming and I took off at a sprint, finding the warden pinned against the wall, a tall vampire bent towards her neck.

  Instinct took over yet again as I shot lightning from my fingers, penetrating the vampire’s core. He turned and looked at me, his face distorted as he slumped to the ground. With a stab of her pitchfork to the chest, he dissipated into dust.

  Helen turned to me and I gasped, her neck had been torn open and blood was pouring out in waves. She placed her hand on the wound and, pulling her red fingers away, she screamed. Her eyes were foggy and her wings were drenched in dirt and blood. I caught her before she hit the ground, her wings hitting me in the face and knocking me silly for a moment.

  My mother appeared a moment later and grabbed Helen from my grasp, taking to the skies. She was returning the girl to the manor. I took off again, searching the faces, looking for the allies. So many dead. The stench of decay hung in the air as bodies were welcomed to their promised home. I saw Krista, her eyes gray, spinning in the air. Causing the element to bend to her will, she created a tornado that took out the enemy but left our troops standing. She had come a long way since she first arrived.

  Her hands were red and her wings were dirty just as Helen’s had been. I raced down the street, sweeping my sword through the enemy line until I heard a loud weeping. I spun around and saw a young girl in the corner, her hands over her ears. I ran towards her, noticing she was just a mortal child. No threat. I looked around at the business windows, searching for someone. I picked up the girl easily and carried her to the nearest store, knocking on the door. It opened and an older woman looked at me, wide-eyed. She reached out with eager arms and took the child. I gave the little girl one last touch as the woman shut the door. Spinning around I was nearly knocked off my feet by a demon’s approach.

  More sparks, more fire, more death. I felt my power grow with each unclaimed soul I took. I felt a warmness on the back of my neck when I realized that the sky had opened and blood was pouring down on us. I smiled to myself as I searched for more souls to reap.

  For an hour or more the battle raged until none of the enemy was standing. Panting and out of magic, my body was drained and I fell to the ground.

  I could sleep right here.

  I felt a set of hands on my arms pulling me back to my feet. My eyes focused on the bright eyes of Rose. Her wings were wet and stained with the blood rain, her eyes were black and her body bruised. She was bleeding from a deep gash on her waist. With haggard breaths, she wrapped her arms around me, crying.

  Wesley came running down the street with Adam on his heels. Rose let me go and welcomed the assistance of Adam as I collapsed into Wesley’s arms.

  “What were you thinking?” he screamed at me. “You could have died.”

  “I wanted to,” I sobbed.

  I could hear Adam consoling Rose as she bawled in his arms, her body shaking. I thought of Helen and tried to pull myself away from Wesley but found my body too weak to pursue. I was battle-worn, my body wasn’t as forgiving with me as it was with sparing others.

  “Helen,” I whispered.

  “She’s fine. You saved her.” He had tears streaking down his face.

  Was he worried?

  “Pharmacy. I need a pharmacy,” I choked and he looked at me, confused until reality took over his face.

  “There is one on Mill Street,” he said, helping me to stand. He held my arm, steadying me. “Adam. Can you send several people over to Mill Street Pharmacy?”

  “What the hell do you need from a pharmacy?” he said, smoothing Rose’s hair.

  “Just please! I know Dawn.” Adam looked at Wesley like he was about to punch him.

  Wesley banged on the door until an old man answered, opening it slowly. He took one look at Wesley and smiled.

  “Wesley?” The man asked, confused.

  “Yes Mr. Walsh. We need your help.” Wesley helped me inside and sat me down on a worn bench. “What do you need, Dawn?”

  “Anything he can give. I will pay for it,” I said, my breathing labored. I wanted to lay down right there on the bench and close my eyes. Maybe I would never wake up.

  “What is happening out there?” the old man asked as Wesley grabbed a cart and started putting everything he could find in it.

  “Would you believe me if I said there is a battle for earth?” he asked the man. Even the pharmacist was throwing things in the cart now.

  “Yes. That girl needs a doctor.” I knew he was talking about me and I nodded.

  “A doctor would be nice. We have wounded …” My voice trailed off I couldn’t even finish my thought.

  The door opened and in came Shawn and Minerva with about ten other people. The pharmacist went behind the counter and started handing them medicines from the back. I watched in awe as this human man helped us. The world really did have good in it. You just had to look to find it.

  “Where are you guys at?” the man asked as the bags were handed down a line to the last person, who would take off towards the house the moment his arms were full.

  “The Weathers’ manor,” Wesley said as he grabbed more bandages and medicines from the counters.

  “You need to get her somewhere before she bleeds out all over the floor,” the man said.

  “SHIT!” Wesley screamed, grabbing me up into his arms and running. We ran and we ran. I watched the world pass by in streaks of green and brown. Then there was darkness. I welcomed it as I felt my heart slowing.

  “We aren’t go
ing to make it,” I said with my last ounce of energy.

  “Like hell we aren’t,” Wesley yelled and took off faster, holding me tighter to his body. “I will be damned if I lose you.”

  That was the last thing that I heard before the world ended.

  Peace at last.

  Chapter Fourteen: Freezing

  I can see him. I can see my own body as it is thrown onto the ground in the front yard, Wesley’s hands caressing my pale face. My eyes are closed; my heart has stopped. He feels for a pulse and I see his shoulders start to shake as he rips my shirt open and starts chest compressions.

  I wish I could tell him that I’m OK. That there is peace on this side of the sphere. I reach out and touch his shoulder but he doesn’t flinch. He just keeps pressing on my chest. My mother’s tears are streaming down her face. She bolts out of the house and stops at his side.

  She’s grabbing my face.

  “What happened?” she screams at him.

  “I didn’t know she was hurt.” He doesn’t stop pressing on my chest. I can hear him praying for my heart to start.

  “DAMIEN!” my mother screams. My father comes running, a blood-soaked Mona on his heels.

  Mona pushes Wesley aside and, rubbing her hands together, places them on my chest. I lurch as pain shoots through me. I stare at them, confused. My soul just wants to be at peace. Mona takes her hands away and rubs them together again before sending another shock through my body. I jolt again, more pain.

  My mother screams again, throwing herself sobbing into my father’s arms. This does not seem to bother Mona as she rubs her hands together one more time. I watch the vision fade as my body is consumed with an unimaginable pain.

  My eyes fluttered open and I stared up at Mona. She looked lost but happy as she wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed my cheek.

  “Upstairs, now! I have her room ready.” Mona patted Wesley on the shoulder as he lifted me up easily and carried me up the stairs and into my room where he lay me down on the bed.

  Kelly was by my side in an instant. Her face was bruised and her nose was bleeding but she was alive. I smiled at her and reached up to touch her sweet face. She held my hand as one of the blessed ones hooked me up to IVs. Wesley returned with blankets and started to cover me up.

  It’s just so cold. I’m freezing.

  “I thought I had lost you,” he said as he bent over me.

  “You did,” I said as the pain pulsed through me. “For a moment.”

  He tried to smile at me but it came out as more of a pity smirk. “Don’t speak, please.”

  “Why are you here with me?” I tried to touch him but my body would not respond.

  “Because I love you,” he said, a tear rolling down his cheek.

  “Oh. I guess that’s a good reason.” I could hear people screaming.

  “Wesley?” I heard Adam’s voice from the door. I turned my head to look at him.

  “What’s up, man?” Wesley didn’t even glance over his shoulder; his focus was on me.

  “Townsfolk. They are outside. They want to help,” Adam said.

  “Why are you telling me?” Wesley asked, his voice heated.

  “Damien said to get you,” Adam said softly.

  “Let them in. If they don’t know what to do have them start boiling water and sanitizing tools. I will be down in a moment,” Wesley said, finally looking over his shoulder. “Man, you OK?”

  “Yeah, it’s not my blood,” Adam said his face paling.

  Wesley gave him a sympathetic smile as Adam turned to walk away. He returned his focus to me.

  “You are going to be OK,” he said to me, touching my face and then planting a kiss to my forehead.

  “I’m so cold,” I stammered.

  “I’m not going to leave you this time.” His voice caught in his throat as he looked up at the blessed one. “Is she OK?”

  “She’s going to need a doctor. I am doing everything that I can to stop the bleeding,” the woman said. Her eyes were a pale pink.

  What happened? Who got me?

  Faces flashed through my head. I couldn’t pinpoint the moment when I was torn. All I could think of was the peace. How I longed for it at that moment. I looked at Wesley and my vision became fuzzy.

  “Stay with me, Dawn,” he demanded as my eyes fluttered.

  “I’m so cold,” I said again. My eyes were heavy. I wanted to close them.

  “I know baby, I know.” He smoothed my wet hair and smiled at me. “Just stay with me.”

  “Don’t leave me, Wesley I’m so scared,” I sobbed. The pain was almost too much for me to bear.

  “I’m not going to.” This was the last thing I heard before my eyes closed again and my body gave out.

  ***

  “How is she?” I heard Adam’s voice and I questioned my existence.

  “Stable.” Wesley’s voice was strained and he sounded tired.

  “Good,” Adam said.

  “How’s Rose?” Wesley asked, and I felt my bed move.

  “Good. They were able to stop the bleeding. She’s resting now. Was told no strenuous work for a few days,” Adam answered.

  “Has anyone heard anything about Helen?” Wesley’s question hangs in the air for a moment.

  “She’s still in surgery. Her mother and father are waiting to hear something.” I opened my eyes and I saw them standing across the room. Both of them looked so tired.

  “How many were lost?” Wesley’s lips were pressed together in a thin line and he seemed paler.

  “Quite a few.” Adam’s voice was somber. He glanced at me and a smile spread across his face. “We will talk later. Look who’s awake.”

  Wesley looked at me and the worry drained from his face. He gave Adam a pat on the arm and walked back towards my bed. He looked at me as he sat down.

  “How you feeling?” he asked.

  “Like I’ve been hit by a Mac truck.” I groaned and tried to move. He stopped me.

  “Don’t, they had to stitch you up. You may heal quickly but your body is drained so it is going to take longer.” He touched my face and I felt the warmth radiating through him.

  “Where’s Marshall?” I asked.

  “He’s fine. You know for a shifter he’s pretty tough.” Wesley let out a soft laugh. “He’s been helping the doctor and running supplies to the other rooms.”

  “Good.” I sighed. “My brother?”

  “Also helping. Did you know that he has an MD?” Wesley sounded impressed.

  “No, I didn’t.” I laughed softly, then stopped when the pain became too much.

  “Krista is fine, too. She’s been with your mother. They have been making phone calls all day. I didn’t know there were so many camps like this. Each one is run by an angel or demon.” He raised his eyebrows.

  “The creators gave them permission to help without penalty. I’m not too surprised,” I said.

  “Nice.” He shrugged. “You scared me, you know.”

  “I scared myself.” I said, reaching up and painfully touching his face.

  “You died in my arms.” His shoulder shook.

  “I’m sorry about that,” I sighed to myself.

  “Just never scare me like that again,” he demanded and I nodded.

  “OK,” I frowned. “How long until I can get up and move? Do we have enough medicine?”

  “We have more than enough. The whole town showed up with food and medical supplies. Not a single human was harmed today. Thanks to Helen and Rose they were all safe.” He sounded proud.

  “That is wonderful news.” I felt elated that the casualties were kept to only our kind.

  “There is no need to rush the healing, you will be on your feet in no time.” He leaned in and gently kissed my lips. The familiar spark bored through my soul.

  “Can I see Mona?” I asked, suddenly remembering the electricity and my body lurching.

  “Let me see if she is available.�
�� He got up and walked out of the room, leaving me alone.

  I lay there staring at the ceiling then looking at the IV. My pulse was pounding in my ears. I had died. I had really died. My head started to swim and I closed my eyes to ease the dizziness. Had I managed to bend too far in one direction? Was there some special blade that would render me breathless? What could have caused that moment of freedom?

  “Dawn,” Mona stated as she quickly walked into the room. “What is it, honey?”

  “Thank you,” I said, looking at her. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail, her hands were covered in blood and so was her clothing. I had never seen her disheveled. Even in all the chaos she was radiant.

  “For what?” She raised an eyebrow.

  “I know it was you.” I grabbed her hand and put it over my heart. “When it stopped you made it beat.”

  “How could you know that?” Her eyes widened with fear.

  “I saw you. I saw all of you,” I said.

  A tear rolled down her cheek and she sat down beside me.

  “You may not be my daughter but I raised you as if you were. I was not going to let you go so easily.” Her lip twitched. I knew she was fighting back sobs.

  “Still, thank you.” I said again.

  “You are so welcome, darling.” She kissed my forehead. “I need to get back to Rose but I will check on you later.”

  “OK,” I said as she kissed me one more time like she did when I was a child. “Tell Rose I love her.”

  “I will.” She scooted away from me, wiping her eyes, and left the room pausing only for a second to speak to Wesley.

  “Take care of her,” she said, followed by a few more words that I could not make out.

  “Of course.” He nodded and returned to my side.

  “Lay with me?” I asked him. “Like you did in the old days.”

  “You make it sound like it was ages ago,” he laughed, laying down next to me taking my hand in his.

  “You know I owe you my life, right?” I said, turning my head towards him.

  “I think I owe you mine more.” He raised an eyebrow and I cracked a smile. I could get used to his mood-ring eyes. Sooner or later I would know what each color meant.