The Goddess and The Guardians Boxset: The Complete Romantic Fantasy Quartet

by Karen Tomlinson

  Chapter 2

  Diamond hummed a gentle tune as she walked between the neat rows of wooden school desks. The pile of slate boards balanced precariously in her arms rattled. Offering to clean the schoolroom and lock up today was completely selfish. She liked the peace and quiet of the old school house after the children had gone home.

  Leaning on the wall, Diamond glanced through the window at the trees and shuddered. It wasn’t that she was scared of the eerie wood that led to the old temple grounds, it just seemed more sinister than usual today.

  A sharp gust of wind tugged leaves from the wildly swaying branches, sending them dancing into the air. A sudden colourful cacophony of greens and golds whirled until the leaves settled like a beautiful carpet on the ground. She frowned, deliberately shrugging away the heavy unease that had plagued her since she had said a curt goodbye to her father this morning.

  Diamond mentally kicked herself; arguing with her dad would not change her life. She was seventeen and acknowledged that he only worried for her safety. It was hard to admit he was right. The war and her heritage made travelling a dangerous prospect; besides, much as she wanted to find work in one of Avalonia’s more southern cities, she did not want to leave her dad behind.

  Diamond tried to feel grateful. She was lucky compared to other half-bloods. Her father had taught her reading and writing and had helped her secure a paid job, paltry though her income was. She huffed despondently. The thought of being an assistant teacher in this tiny schoolhouse until she was old and grey was truly depressing.

  Stop feeling sorry for yourself, she admonished herself, knowing other half-blood girls her age were either married off or put to work in one of the inns or pleasure houses that crowded the Dregs. On the north side of Berriesford, it was a warren of dirty small streets, pleasure houses and a haven for shady, underhand deals. She was lucky—really she was. At least her father loved her enough to educate her and wanted her to stay safe.

  Besides, Berriesford wasn’t that bad. It was sort of safe here, not like the southern borders of Avalonia where the war with the Wraith Lord raged on. Some of the stories she heard from the bedraggled refugees who arrived, starving and desperate, made her blood curdle. It spoke volumes that they had braved months of exhaustion and hunger to travel through the endless forest to get as far north as Berriesford.

  Her fingers absentmindedly brushed some chalk dust off a slate. At least her father wasn’t trying to find a fae mate for her among the male newcomers or trying to marry her off to some local tradesman. Diamond snorted. She had absolutely no desire to saddle herself with a mate or a husband.

  Besides, most men—of either race—considered her looks unnatural and her mixed blood offensive. It was clear she was considered the lowest possible marriage candidate for anyone. Her top lip curled in a snarl. Respectable boys avoided her—until their parents weren’t watching, then it became fun to torment her. And passing traders who were too drunk or desperate to care often caused her problems, considering a young half-blood an easy target, especially when they cornered her alone.

  Diamond’s hands turned sweaty, and she thrust thoughts of being cornered out of her head.

  Her unique looks were a curse. Her father said she was beautiful and stood out, but she didn’t want to be noticed; she just wanted to feel normal. Even other half-bloods ridiculed her appearance. That was because most of them could pass for either fae or human and were generally accepted into their chosen society. Diamond was simultaneously too fae and too human; her up-tilted, vivid eyes and delicately pointed ears declared her fae heritage, and her average height and lack of wings revealed her human legacy.

  Diamond’s nostrils flared as the deep-seated pain of rejection raised its ugly head. In a trading town like Berriesford people were supposed to be more open-minded, especially with so many hunters, traders, miners and refugees venturing into town. But it did not matter, such deep-seated and ancient prejudices against bloodlines were not easily set aside, even in a town so vastly removed from the southern and eastern cities of Avalonia.

  That was one of the reasons her father had wanted her to stay at home. The bigger cities were more devout in their religious beliefs and laws, and ever since she was small, Diamond’s life had been a mix of insults and fights to defend herself. Her father had fought many times over the years, sometimes viciously, to protect her from the intolerant attention of others. But he could not be there all the time. If it hadn’t been for her gangly best friend Tom, she would have gone mad from loneliness years ago.

  A pair of misfits together, she chuckled, picturing her friend’s floppy brown hair and light brown eyes. Being skinny and weak, Tom had been tormented nearly as much as Diamond.

  She clenched and unclenched her fingers at the thought of all the dark alleys she had run down and hidden in over the years. Controlling her panic, she breathed deeply until the feeling settled. Together they had become experts at hiding from the gangs of kids the crime syndicates used to steal and pick pockets of the drunk and unsuspecting. When he had turned fifteen, Tom shot up to over six feet; although still skinny, he had begun fighting back.

  Smiling, Diamond began cleaning the slates with a soft cloth that sent motes of chalk dust swirling into the air. Coughing and waving her hand in front of her face, she stood and placed the slates neatly on an old wooden shelf with a glance out of the window as she did so. A movement in the small copse of trees behind the yard made her squint. She wiped her hands down the skirt of her grey woollen dress and stifled a groan.

  Mr Stenson’s goats must have escaped again. Irritated by the old man’s forgetfulness, Diamond grimaced. For the third time this week she was going to have to round them up and lock them back in their pen, or they would be stolen. Racing out of the front doors and down the steps, she careened around the back of the old stone school house.

  A chill wind eddied over her bare arms, making her shiver. She rubbed them as she ran into the gloom between the trees, trying to ignore her unease.

  An ancient, round stone structure with a domed roof stood in the shadows. A temple to the goddess of creation. Its crumbling walls and lichen-covered roof always saddened Diamond. People this far north didn’t care much for religion—of any kind. The state of the temple was a testament to such apathy. Nevertheless it remained standing. The clearing around it, scarred with fire pits, served as a burning ground for the impoverished dead. None but the moneyed traders and wealthy business people could afford the burning tax the sheriff imposed for the larger, more prestigious crematorium across town.

  As she neared the temple, Diamond’s footsteps stilled. She paused under the thick branches of a large, red Lyca tree and listened intently. The wind blew the leaves so wildly it was difficult to hear anything above the din. Sudden snuffling from the undergrowth made her jump, then she giggled as a goat came trotting up.

  “There you are, you naughty goat! Why do you keep on running away? Hmm? Now, where’s your friend?” she asked the goat sternly.

  The goat just looked at Diamond patiently and carried on grinding her jaws. Diamond could almost sense its lazy amusement. After a few more minutes she found the goat’s companion chewing the leaves off a thorny, yellow berry bush. Diamond swallowed her annoyance. It wasn’t Mr Stenson’s fault. He was elderly and not really able to cope on his own anymore. By the time Diamond dragged the two stubborn goats out of the trees and past the school grounds to their pen, she seethed with frustration.

  Grabbing the slats of the old gate, she heaved it off the ground and propped it across the entrance to the pen. Diamond wedged one end of a branch tightly under the gate and kicked the other end firmly into the soft soil, repeating the action several times until the gate was solid. Surveying her work with satisfaction, Diamond rubbed her hands briskly down her skirt.

  I’ll get Dad to come and fix this, she decided, hastening back through the woods, knowing Mr Stenson would never do it by himself.

  Diamond trotted up the steps to the school house
then froze, her scream sticking in her throat.

  “Run!!” roared Arades as he saw Diamond in the doorway, her silver hair flying wildly in the wind.

  The creature snarled at her from the far end of the room. Saliva dripped from its fangs as it launched itself forwards with a blood-curdling growl, its yellow eyes narrowing. A piercing scream escaped her. Stumbling backwards, Diamond lost her footing and went toppling down the steps. The world tilted and she fell heavily on to the last two steps. Pain shot through her ribs as her breath whooshed from her lungs.

  “Dad!” she shrieked, lifting her head to see.

  But Arades could not answer. He stood facing the charging creature, his feet planted firmly, his knees bent in a solid, defensive stance. Diamond had never seen him look so fierce. In his hand he clutched one of the ornate Silverbore swords that normally was propped beside their fire place. Gasping, Diamond registered her father’s golden covered wings just as he swung the blade forward to meet the charging beast.

  His wings had never looked metallic before, but she knew what that armour meant, even as her mind grappled with her understanding. Her father was a warrior! Only warrior fae could protect their wings in such a way.

  “Diamond! In the name of the goddess—run!” Arades bellowed over his shoulder, already swiping a back-handed blow at the creature.

  The note of desperation in his voice made her stomach lurch. She scrabbled up. “Dad!” she screamed again. She had to help him! As her foot hit the first step, solid muscle grabbed her from behind. She squealed as the world tumbled, and did not stop until her spine slammed into a fallen tree trunk. Pain shot across her shoulders, a cry escaping her lungs as her head cracked against solid wood.

  Diamond forced her eyelids open. Blood dripped down the back of her neck, fear clutching at her belly. One of the hideous creatures had thrown her. Snarling, it jumped in the air and landed about six feet away. Her eyes widened. All she could see were the stringy bits of flesh that hung from its yellowed fangs. She screamed again, terror paralysing her limbs. It stomped towards her, sharp claws digging up the earth, its muscles rippling and shifting. Malformed hands reached out for her throat. Diamond cowered but the tree trunk at her bruised back stopped her retreat.

  It was difficult to grasp any sensible thought. Violent pain throbbed through her skull. Forcing her limbs to move, she patted the leaf-strewn ground for a weapon of some kind. Her fingers closed tightly around the end of a branch. Diamond swung at the creature’s head with all her might. It connected and snapped in two like a twig, the separate pieces flying in opposite directions.

  The creature hesitated, shook itself, then roared in outrage, covering her in a spray of stinking saliva and blood. Suddenly the ear-splitting roar was cut off. It looked down at the long Silverbore sword that protruded through the muscles of its abdomen. The blade disappeared with a grotesque sucking sound. Another flash of metal; and whoever wielded the sword embedded it with terrific force in the creature’s neck. Diamond squealed as warm blood sprayed over her face, chest and arms. She stared in horrified fascination as the creature fell sideways, making a dull thud as it hit the ground. Blood bubbled out between its sharp teeth and pumped from the large gash in its neck.

  Diamond couldn’t drag her gaze from the carcass. Sightless eyes stared back at her. Dizziness threatened to overwhelm Diamond as thick, dark blood seeped onto the grass, running up against her legs in a warm pool. The rotten stench from its insides hit her nostrils. It was too much. She gagged, saliva rushing her mouth. Never had she smelled anything so foul.

  “Get up,” growled a gruff voice.

  “Uncle Amsal?” whispered Diamond disbelievingly, trying to swallow the gags that rippled from her stomach right up through her throat.

  “Yes. Get up. Now!” he barked sharply.

  Diamond tried to push herself up, stunned to see her father’s best friend with armoured wings framing his silhouette. What in the name of Chaos was going on?

  He yanked her hard to her feet. “Now, Diamond!” he barked, reaching for her shoulder.

  “No. We have to help Dad!” she managed to cry, and pulled herself away from his grasp. Before Amsal Edo could catch her, Diamond was running full pelt towards the door of the school house.

  A chorus of frightened shouts and screams of agony filled the air. The answering guttural roars from the creatures made her stumble, but she reached the doors and took the steps at a leap, wailing for her father. The hellish creature snarled at her as she skidded to a halt outside the open door. A loud scream bubbled up her throat. Arades hung limp and deathly pale in Cranach’s grip, blood pumping from a deep gash in his chest. A rip in his thigh splattered ruby red blood onto the old wooden floor. The creature bared his sharp fangs in a grin, his eyes glowing with malice.

  “Dad? No!” she cried, tears blurring her vision even as her father’s pain-filled eyes found her own. A strong arm encircled her waist.

  “Diamond!” yelled Amsal, then his head twisted to behold his friend. “Oh gods, Arades….” His voice turned hoarse with grief. He thrust his golden wings out from his back, but before he could take to the skies, another creature came charging around the side of the school house and leaped. Diamond screamed as the hairy, stinking body slammed into Amsal Edo, catapulting them both from the steps and across the ground. Loose stones ripped at her clothes, scraping the skin off her exposed skin. Barely functioning, Diamond could only watch as the creature loomed over Amsal’s inert body, opening its jaws to rip out his throat.

  “No!” she shrieked and picked up a large stone, throwing it with all her might at the creature’s head. It bounced off his shoulder but gained his attention. Breathing heavily Diamond scrabbled to her feet, grabbing the nearest fallen branch as a make-shift weapon. Immediately the creature left the general and stalked toward Diamond.

  The snarling became louder. Panicked, pain-filled screams echoed through the air as the nightmarish beasts tore into the townspeople. Diamond managed to keep from collapsing with fear. Her heart hammered in her chest, needles of pain shooting across the wounds on her hands as she tightened her grip on her pathetic weapon. Pitiful and small, Diamond stood facing the approaching beast, her silver hair blowing wildly around her head. Her violet eyes widened with terror. The creature stopped ten feet from her. Straightening his grotesque body he bared his rotting teeth. Bravely Diamond clutched the branch.

  Fixing her with his cold hunter’s eyes, he snarled but did not attack, instead he stretched his neck, took a breath and released a spine tingling screech. The sound froze Diamond’s blood. It was a summons.

  Fear unlike any she had experienced before stole her breath. Diamond spun on her heel, watching as more of the hideous beasts prowled out from the dark shadows between the trees. One by one they surrounded her, devouring her with their hungry eyes. Her very bones shook as she noticed the fresh blood dripping from their jaws and coating their upper bodies in dark red.

  Why didn’t they attack? Diamond gulped, her mouth so dry now it was impossible to swallow. Frozen to the spot, her knees shook so hard they threatened to collapse. They were waiting for something. A bead of sweat trickled down her temple, mixing with the blood leaking from her head wound.

  With a shaking hand she swiped it away just as the flash of a greenish pelt blurred the corner of her vision. She whirled. The monstrous creature was emerging from the school house. Bigger than all of the others, he leaped from the steps and landed heavily nearby. The growl he emitted was long and low, his eyes now alight with triumph.

  Her bladder threatened to void. This creature had killed her father; it was her father’s blood that soiled this creature’s face, her father’s blood that dripped from his mouth. Her face crumpled, a loud sob escaping her. Clawed feet churned up the dirt as he stalked forwards, baring his fangs. Instinctively Diamond swung the branch at his head, but her arms were weak with terror. A large clawed hand caught her feeble weapon and yanked it from her grasp. Giving a growling chuckle, her attacker
tossed the branch over her head. It landed with a distant thud.

  Diamond could only whimper as sharp claws curled around her slim neck, squeezing just hard enough to make it impossible to scream. Heat seared her insides, a singular instinct to survive overwhelming her. She curled her hands into fists, hitting and tearing desperately at his hairy arms and sweaty body with her fingernails. Sweeping her from the ground, he dangled her in one claw like a rag doll before pulling her right up to his jaws. He chuckled at her pathetic efforts to cause him harm.

  Diamond could not turn away from his foul breath. Triumph sparked in the creature’s yellow eyes. Leisurely cutting off her air supply, he tightened his grip and lifted a scrap of cloth to his nose with his other clawed hand to inhale deeply. Tipping her head slightly to one side with a twitch of his thumb, he pulled her close. She didn’t even have enough air to squeak as his tongue flicked out and tasted her blood.

  Anger and disgust sparked heat in her belly. This demon had killed her father! Realising she did not stand a chance of survival, Diamond swung her heavy arms over his muscled shoulders. Fighting to stay conscious she locked her fingers around his hairy head and shoved her thumbs hard into his eye balls, grinding her teeth and snarling. She would cause this vile creature as much pain as possible before she died. Warm liquid exploded over her thumbs, running in blood-stained rivulets down her wrists. With all the breath squeezed out of her she couldn’t even cry out in agony as he roared, piercing his claws through the soft skin of her neck.

  May the goddess save my soul, Diamond prayed, feeling as if her head was going to explode. With one last concerted effort, she thrust her thumbs further into the demon’s eye sockets. It gave an ear-splitting bellow and slammed her into the ground, almost throwing himself on top of her. Her head struck stone and stars exploded behind her eyes. Suddenly heavy, her arms fell away from him. Mercifully the creature released her neck and stumbled sideways, falling to its knees. She valiantly fought the darkness, but her eyes rolled skywards as she began to lose consciousness. Diamond blinked in disbelief. Winged figures hurtled towards her, too fast for her blurred eyes to follow.