Guardian

by Marnie Leighton

  A growl emitted from deep within Aydin. ‘Mind how you speak to her.’ His fingers gripped tighter.

  ‘It’s okay Aydin,’ I said easing my hand free and stepping forward.

  ‘Don’t go too close,’ Aydin said.

  I nodded and crouched down. Samuel watched my every move. I took a restrained breath. ‘I believe there has to be some goodness in you,’ I whispered.

  A spluttered laugh sent a dribble of blood down his chin. ‘Come to save my soul, have you? How wonderful.’

  I waited for his moment of amusement to fade. ‘I doubt I could save your soul even if I wanted too,’ I said. ‘I’ve come because I need your help.’

  His lip curled. ‘My help? Why would I ever help you?’

  I tilted my head. ‘You wouldn’t, not unless it benefited you.’

  His red eyes burned in the darkness ‘And what could such a weak, pathetic, predictable soul like yourself ever offer me?’

  Another threatening rumble erupted from Aydin.

  ‘I want to know if Beloar believes in the sword of St Michael,’ I said ignoring Aydin’s building anger.

  Samuel’s eyes opened wider. ‘Are you talking about Joel?’ I nodded. ‘Don’t tell me you think he is Beloar too,’ he grumbled.

  I was confused. ‘But that is what you called him.’

  He cast Aydin a knowing look. ‘So I did,’ he said vaguely before his eyes returned. ‘So you plan on killing him, do you?’

  ‘I don’t want to but…’

  He grinned, his mouth a jagged tear in his swollen face. ‘Well played Callie,’ he drawled. ‘Getting rid of that demented, old fool would make me happy. So yes, I will help you.’

  I couldn’t believe my ears. This was too easy. I wondered if it was a trick. Aydin’s restless feet confirmed he thought the same, but we had no other choice—I had to trust Samuel. A grave cough shook his bound body.

  I leaned forward. ‘Can I get you some water, something to eat? Maybe we could loosen the ropes.’

  ‘Callie,’ Aydin warned, but I ignored him.

  Samuel sneered. ‘Always the angel, aren’t you? I will stay like this so you can watch me die, slowly and painfully. But I have little time so listen. The years have corrupted Joel’s mind; he is prone to superstition and legend. Much is written about Beloar, and he has recreated himself to be that demon. It makes him feel powerful.’ He paused, and his voice dropped. ‘But trust me, Joel is not a fraction of the demon Beloar is.’ Something flashed in his pupils, and I felt disorientated; like I was somewhere else, in a shared memory with Samuel. He coughed, and I returned to the room. ‘A while back,’ he continued. ‘Joel heard of a church, claiming to hold the sword of St Michael. He knew it wasn’t real, but he still ordered the trinket be brought to him. He planned to destroy it, but when he saw it, it seemed to confirm the legends; proof of his greatness. So, he kept it. Few have seen it, but he did show me, couldn’t help himself. Stupid fool.’ A rasping wheeze broke from his chest.

  ‘Can you describe the weapon?’ I asked, concerned he was failing.

  His eyes flickered, their glow had weakened, but he struggled on. ‘The blade is short, no more than a foot and a half; steel, and double-edged. The grip is a quarter of the length, as wide as the blade, wrapped in black leather with three horizontal ridges. The pommel is a half crescent, and the guard is straight, square. Designed to make it look like a cross.’

  I was pleased to hear the sword was simple. Closing my eyes, I visualized what Samuel described. I felt its weight in my hands, and when I looked again, I saw Samuel watching greedily.

  ‘To have that power,’ he whispered, licking his lips.

  ‘Is that right?’ I asked urgently.

  He surveyed it. ‘Make the blade wider, shorter…the pommel broader, the ridges closer.’

  I made the changes as he instructed.

  He shook his head, still unhappy. ‘Close, but something is missing.’ His eyes shut. ‘Yes, yes, the inscription,’ he muttered, his eyelids flickering open. ‘On the guard, but I cannot remember… It will have to do.’ The remnants of his mouth curled as he studied the weapon. ‘So plain, how could anyone possibly believe that would win a heavenly war?’

  I glanced down, unlike Samuel I found its simplicity appealing, regardless I just hoped it would be close enough to fool Joel.

  Samuel’s breathing became labored, and his head slumped to his chest. Part of me wanted to help him so badly. I didn’t understand my sympathy. ‘Samuel?’ I said, but got no response.

  I stood and edged back. Aydin’s warm arm encircled my waist, I’d almost forgotten he was there. I leaned on him holding the sword in my hands.

  ‘We should go,’ Aydin said.

  A strange sadness overtook me and I didn’t want to leave. Aydin tried to pull me away, but I resisted, unable to take my eyes off Samuel’s ruined body.

  His head lifted, and the red slits appeared again. His chest rattled, straining with each movement. ‘Wait, you have to kill him…with the sword.’

  Aydin pulled me close. ‘I will,’ he replied.

  Samuel’s rasping became erratic, and he grimaced. I thought it was his final moments, then I realized, he was laughing. ‘Not you—her,’ he spat. ‘An angel to wield the sword…just like Michael.’

  I barely heard the end of his sentence. His body shook with another coughing fit, and he glared with an unmistakable grin.

  ‘That is enough,’ Aydin snarled.

  The tip of Samuel’s tongue flicked through his lips. ‘I will see you again, very, very soon my angel.’

  ‘Yes Samuel, you will,’ Aydin snapped, a touch of red igniting his own eyes.

  Samuel looked at Aydin. ‘Wonderful, just wonderful,’ he whispered just before his head dropped to his chest.

  His breathing changed to sharp gasps, and I stood frozen, unable to comprehend what he’d said. I hadn’t thought about the actual act of killing Joel, but now I held the weapon that might actually do it. Could I do this? Aydin’s arm tightened around my waist and he guided me towards the cellar stairs.

  Outside the sunlight was blinding, but all I could see was the sword. Aydin watched anxiously, saying nothing. After a few minutes, he took the heavy blade from my hands and led me back to the front of the church. I hesitated at the door, not sure if I wanted to go inside knowing Samuel’s dead or dying form was below.

  ‘What will happen to his body once his soul leaves?’ I asked.

  Aydin frowned. ‘He has possessed that body a long time. It will become what it should be.’ His words made no sense to me, and I looked at him pleadingly. ‘It will turn to dust,’ he relented.

  Now I understood, if Samuel hadn’t taken that body, it would have been returned to the Earth by now. I felt slightly better knowing his damaged form would not lie rotting beneath us, but I still felt inexplicably sad for Samuel. Hopefully, he would find some peace if we could free him from his leader.

  We went inside, and Aydin led me to a pew where we sat in silence. I pushed the sword to the far end of the seat. Our time was limited, and we both knew it. We had to assume Samuel would return to Joel. Aydin reached for my hand. He turned it over and traced the lines of my palms with his fingertips. At any other time, the contact would have thrilled me, but I was too numb to feel anything. What if Samuel was lying? Ironically, our lives were in his hands, and the thought brought a question with it.

  ‘Are you physically stronger than Joel?’ I asked Aydin. ‘He is an angel, and you’re much stronger than me.’

  He smiled sadly. ‘No, and I don’t know why. Maybe it’s how long he has been here. He is easily as strong as me, if not stronger and…’

  ‘And he has the powers of an angel,’ I finished. I could barely fathom the extent of this creature’s abilities, but I refused to let the flicker of hope go. ‘There is two of us, surely together we are stronger.’

  ‘Maybe.’

  ‘But we need to get him away from the others, and there is only one way to do that.’ Aydi
n dropped my hand, I was losing him. ‘I have an idea, but you need to listen till I am finished,’ I added quickly.

  He eyed me warily. ‘What?’

  My mouth tightened with absolute resolution. ‘I will lure him out.’ Aydin’s mouth flew open in protest, but I held up my palm. ‘I will go in spirit form, find a way to talk to him alone. Tell him I want to join him, but I don’t trust dark ones. I can say I escaped both you and Samuel. Insist he meets me here. It’s a long journey, and it will force him into spirit form. The others won’t be able to follow. But I must do this, alone.’

  Aydin’s brow creased, and his dark eyes flicked between mine. ‘I can’t let you do this Callie. There must be another way. And even if it did work, what happens when he gets here?’

  ‘You can stay hidden. That is why it has to be here, the consecrated ground will conceal you. I will hide the sword and use it when I have the opportunity.’

  He raked his fingers through his thick hair and cast his eyes upwards. ‘But you don’t understand,’ he mumbled. ‘What he will want to do to you.’

  ‘Then tell me, so I know.’

  His eyes returned, they were filled with anxiety. ‘The fallen angels, do you know why they left heaven to come and live on Earth?’ I shook my head. ‘Because of lust. Lust for power, lust for leadership and lust for…sex.’ I frowned, not sure I was following. Aydin looked exasperated. ‘Before he takes you, he will want to…’

  I inhaled sharply, now I knew exactly what he meant. My head spun, the thought of touching this creature repulsed me, but it would also get me close enough to strike. Mixed images flashed in my head as an involuntary shudder coursed through my shoulders. I desperately wished I had another plan.

  Aydin’s shoulders slumped—if this was going to work, I had to reassure him. ‘I love you, Aydin,’ I whispered. ‘And no matter what, that will never change. I promise you nothing bad will happen.’

  He tilted his chin. ‘That’s not something you can promise,’ he replied bluntly. ‘Trust me, he has spent centuries perfecting his seduction. Taking women, and men, is one of his favorite past times. I have seen him do it many, many times, and none have ever refused.’

  Butterflies surged in my stomach. I took in his impossibly handsome face. How could he think I would find Joel more attractive than him? ‘I am not a human woman. I know what he is. There is no need to worry.’

  Aydin stood and walked to a window, leaving me alone on the pew. I sat silently staring at his back. ‘I don’t want to do this Callie,’ he mumbled.

  I sighed. ‘Can you tell me where to find him?’

  He turned to face me. ‘Where will you hide the sword?’ he asked, ignoring my question.

  I bit my lip in concentration—it would have to be on my body so I could attack when he was close. Another wave of disgust rolled through, at the thought of Joel touching me. I couldn’t imagine where I would find the strength to fake desire for him, despite Aydin’s belief that he was irresistibly intoxicating. ‘Maybe, on my back.’

  ‘He will see it,’ Aydin replied flatly.

  ‘I…I’m not sure then.’ I whispered. I felt sick; defeated. I wanted to run away. I wanted to fly Aydin and I to a remote mountain, or a distant island. The image of us fleeing lingered before I suddenly sat upright. ‘My wings,’ I mumbled. Aydin looked at me blankly. ‘I can hide the sword in my wings. Bind it to them. Watch.’ Leaping from my seat, I grabbed the sword. Extending my wings outwards I examined them closely. ‘There, under these feathers, near my shoulder,’ I said eagerly. Glancing back at Aydin he appeared unconvinced. ‘I just need some rope.’ Before I could close my eyes to visualize it, I felt something in my hand. Looking down, I saw a small coil of cord sitting in my fingers. I stared in amazement. ‘I didn’t think I could do that without concentrating.’

  ‘What did you say?’ Aydin asked.

   My fingers tightened. ‘Oh, nothing.’

  I sat the sword under my feathers near the bone—they completely covered it. Turning my eyes back to the rope I wondered how I could tie the sword with one hand.

  ‘Not as easy as you hoped?’ Aydin interjected, reading my mind.

  I felt my brow furrow as I pondered a solution. I dropped the rope I was holding, and I looked at the sword nestled between my feathers. With one simple thought, I created more rope, except this time I imagined it already wrapped around the blade. A fine white thread appeared, and I released my hand, leaving the sword in place.

  I looked at Aydin. ‘We can do this,’ I assured.

  He shook his head sadly. ‘You can’t convince me this is a good idea,’ he replied. ‘But I also know I can’t change your mind… You will find Joel close to the alley where you found me, in a building made entirely of one-way glass. I’m afraid that is all I know.’

  Chapter 24

  I awoke to the sound of rain—it was the first time since arriving that the sun hadn’t greeted us, and I wondered if this was an ominous sign. Aydin was already up, staring out a window at the muddy skies.

  Not wanting to dwell on morbid thoughts, I knew I needed to leave quickly before I lost my nerve or Aydin changed his mind. Also, it would be the middle of the night where Joel was, and I wanted to get there while it was dark. Being an angel, of sorts, I imagined he didn’t need sleep, and I figured it was the best chance to get him alone.

  I went to Aydin. He turned and I placed my hands either side of his face. ‘I will be back soon,’ I promised, before kissing him softly.

  He did not kiss me back, instead he grabbed my wrists. His eyes were stone cold. ‘If you do not come back, I will spend all eternity searching for you.’

  I’d never seen him so serious. ‘You won’t have to search for me ever again,’ I replied, easing myself free of his grip.

  He smiled painfully. I changed into spirit form, and hovered above. He stood staring at where I’d just been. Suddenly his face distorted and he cried out, falling to his knees—I couldn’t watch anymore. I fled through the roof taking his pain with me.

  Back in the city that I hoped to never see again, I drifted towards the alley. I hated this place; I knew there had to be some happy emotions somewhere, but somehow they all seemed to sink into the filth of greed and resentment.

  It wasn’t hard to find the building Aydin had described—it was an imposing sight, one of the largest in the city. The exterior was made of mirror-like glass, reflecting every building around it—yet strangely, it did not seem to produce any light of its own. It was as though it existed only because of the illumination stolen from its many neighbors.

  I was on my own from here on in. Aydin could tell me very little about what I would find, and I wasn’t even certain Joel would be here. I eased closer, cautiously assessing each level of the building, not sure what I was even searching for. Then suddenly I felt it—the most remarkably powerful aura—it had to be Joel. And he must have felt me too because I heard him calling, his pull was seductive, calming; almost hypnotic. It was coming from the top floor and like it or not, there was no turning back now.

  Passing through the glass, into the building, I concentrated on my surroundings to stay centered. The entire top floor was one giant room, filled with artworks, sculptures and other objects of immense human value—like an ancient pharaoh’s tomb. The lights were dim, but the whole area still shimmered with a soft golden glow, reflected by the many metallic objects.

  I scanned the space for Joel. It took a while to find him. He was at the far end, partially submerged in the shadows, sitting at an ornate desk.

  ‘There is nothing to fear.’ His impossibly sleek voice echoed throughout the room caressing everything it touched. ‘Please show yourself, I have waited for so long.’

  The welcome was intimate, so intimate I nearly forgot he was the enemy. Refocusing, I had to remind myself exactly who he was and why I was here—the seduction had begun.

  When I felt strong enough, I took human form, bracing for the emotional onslaught that he would no doubt unleash. My ima
ge solidified in the countless reflective surfaces, and I held my breath both embarrassed and surprised—I had decided to change my form, and for the first time I saw the tall, lean woman that I’d imagined. She wore a silky, white dress that revealed more skin than I felt comfortable with. Her golden hair curved to her shoulders, and exotic jewels dripped from her neck and ears. Heavy makeup coated her face, and if it weren’t for the wings and iridescent green eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it was me. I just hoped Joel liked what I had created.

  Standing perfectly still I waited. I could smell his aftershave; it was a perfectly balanced combination of citrus and cedar.

  His dark silhouette shifted. ‘Come closer.’

  The heavenly voice sent ripples through my body and I shook my head in both refusal and desperation. His effect was greater than I anticipated, and I hadn’t even seen him yet.

  I visualized Aydin’s face, using it as my anchor. ‘I won’t come any closer. Not until we have spoken a while.’

  ‘Very well,’ came his gentle reply. ‘What would you like to talk about?’

  I took a sharp breath. ‘My name is Callie, but I believe you already know that.’

  His seated figure remained unchanged. ‘Yes I do,’ he replied wistfully. ‘You are the fallen star I’ve heard so much about. The one who has caused much trouble for herself and for her minders. I have wanted to meet you for a while now, though I am delighted you found me first.’ He paused, his voice held a slight edge. ‘Tell me, exactly how did you find me?’

  I was ready for this question. ‘The angels spoke of the leaders and I heard rumors that one lived in this city. I have searched for months. Tonight, was the first time I felt you.’

  I lifted my chin as I waited for his next question. No doubt he would want to know why I was here.

  ‘I notice your wings have returned,’ he said.

  A shiver gripped my spine. I’d run through every question I thought he could ask, but I’d overlooked this one. I had to give an answer that didn’t imply I’d returned to favor with Isaac. ‘Some angels are easily swayed by heartfelt apologies. I didn’t like the inconvenience of no wings, so I told them what they needed to hear.’