Marked, Soul Guardians Book 1

by Kim Richardson

Kara held her golden key ready in her trembling hands. A mixture of excitement and fear rippled inside her. The unknown was terrifying to her, but thrilling at the same time, like a giant rollercoaster ride that wiggled and creaked, ready to fall to pieces. This new division, David had said, was a secret one. A sense of pride welled in her chest, and she couldn’t help but smile. Perhaps this was her chance to prove to the Legion once and for all that she wasn’t tainted—that she was a guardian through and through, true to the cause, ready and willing to save mortal souls from danger.

  With a ting, the elevator doors opened. The ancient primate on the operator’s chair was hunched over so much that his head nearly touched the seat. His fur was completely white. His elbows and knees were dry and the skin was cracked and flaking. His face was so wrinkled that Kara could hardly see his wet pink eyes hidden in the layers. A single round monocle rested comfortably around his right eye socket. His huge lips were pressed together in a hard line.

  “What floor, Miss?” said the white primate in a raspy voice, as though it hadn’t spoken in years.

  Kara watched his lips move and realized he didn’t have any teeth. “Uh—right. Level five please.”

  The old ape searched Kara’s face for a moment. “And do you have a key, Miss? Only those with a golden key can go to level five.”

  “I almost forgot—here.” Kara handed the ape her golden key.

  He held the key right up to his monocle. He examined it closely, as if somehow Kara had produced a fake key. When he seemed satisfied he slid it in a thin slot below the control panel. Golden light shone from the tiny opening and the elevator shuddered slightly as the doors slid shut. Then the old primate pressed the number five brass button on the control panel, and the elevator responded with a jerk as it ascended.

  Excitement grew in Kara’s breast. She had never been to level five, and from what David had told her, it seemed to be something of great importance. She hoped silently that the whole thing about being Marked had finally blown over. Why would they bring her to such a secret group if they didn’t have faith in her? She bit the inside of her cheek and decided that they must trust her to a certain level. A tickle of excitement welled inside her. She figured her best chance to find her mother probably lay with this new division. How she was going to pull it off, she still had no idea. But somehow she knew this was her best shot.

  After a moment the elevator doors slid open and revealed a giant circular room the size of a baseball field. Metal staircases reached to a second and third floor, where hundreds of offices were separated by glass walls. Hundreds of guardian angels walked up and down the stairs or sat at desks, busying their fingers with keyboards.

  Her attention went to large holographic screens that looked like moving wallpaper. She watched as the GAs touched the screens and caused images to disappear and other images to replace them.

  A large round desk was raised on a platform in the middle of the large space. A group of angels sat around the desk, arguing about what the holographic screen showed them. A large man sat with this group. He had short disheveled light brown hair, and his skin was light beige. His tight black t-shirt revealed a muscular chest underneath. Kara could see he had on black cargo pants, of the military type, she thought. She quickly realized that this must be the archangel Cassiel. He was large, but he was nowhere near as big as Gabriel.

  Without thinking, Kara stepped off the elevator and planted her feet on the grey concrete floor.

  “Ahem.” The white primate stuck out a long skinny arm. He pointed the golden card at her. “Don’t forget your card, Miss.”

  “Oh, right.” Kara stepped back and grabbed her card. She took a moment to examine the stars etched on it, then jammed it in her pocket.

  “Thank you—”

  The elevator doors shut in her face.

  “Typical,” hissed Kara angrily. “You’d expect them to be a little friendlier … but no! Just a bunch of moronic monkeys—”

  “Who are you speaking to?”

  Kara flinched and turned around. A petite teenage girl with a pixie cut of purple hair stared at her. Black kohl and purple eye shadow outlined her big green eyes. She was pretty with sharp pointed features. She smiled at Kara. She was dressed exactly like the archangel Cassiel, except that her top was purple. Her polished purple combat boots glimmered in the soft light coming from the neon lights above.

  I guess the pixie likes purple.

  Kara began to feel uncomfortable under the scrutinizing stare from the pixie girl. She turned her head towards the elevator. “Ah—no one. I was just … admiring the … craftsmanship on these doors,” she lied, avoiding her eyes.

  “Really,” laughed the girl. She lifted her brows. “You’re a weird one. Well, then. So you’re the famous Kara.” Her smile widened. Pleased to see that her attention was making Kara uncomfortable, she stuck out her hand. Purple nail polish decorated her fingers. “I’m Jenny Harris.”

  After a moment’s hesitation, Kara shook it. “Nice to meet you, Jenny.”

  “Likewise.” Jenny lifted her hands in the air. “Welcome to CDD.”

  “CDD?” Neither Gabriel or David had ever used the acronym CDD.

  “CDD—Counter Demon Division,” informed Jenny proudly. “We track and eliminate demons.”

  She turned and pointed to the holographic screens. “We monitor Earth from here. And search for demon activity.”

  “Demon activity? What kind of demon activity? Like when they attack us, or when they try to eat a soul?” asked Kara. She remembered the new breed demon sucking Tom’s life source like a breakfast shake, and wondered why CDD didn’t show up with David and the others.

  Jenny nodded. “Yes. But mostly we look for Rifts.”

  “Rifts?”

  “Black holes caused by changes in the Earth’s magnetic fields. You probably call them portals or gateways. Demons travel back and forth from their realm to Earth through Rifts—the more Rifts they open, the more demons roam the Earth. We track them and destroy them.” Her face was serious.

  The image of a higher demon flashed in Kara’s mind. She shivered. “So … what about the souls? We get to save them too, I guess?”

  “We do if we have to,” said Jenny. Her pointy face tightened. “But here in CDD it’s all about the Rifts. We make Earth safe so that the guardians can do their jobs safely without getting attacked.”

  Kara thought of her mother. “So it’s our job to keep mortals and angels safe. I like that.”

  “Good. Come,” said Jenny, “I’m supposed to show you around.” She gestured with her arm for Kara to follow.

  Jenny hopped and twirled through the mazes of desks, glass walls, and holographic screens while Kara walked beside her. She was very aware of eyes watching her, but she was thankful. They seemed careful not to stare for long before looking away again.

  She felt as if she was walking on the bridge from the USS Enterprise. She realized that the GAs here were all dressed in uniforms for specific tasks—black, kaki-green, or navy blue. The guardians in kaki-green sat around desks and operated computers. The ones in blue had their own offices and some went up and down the stairs with files in their hands. Kara could see that all the GAs dressed in black sat around the great table. They all listened intently to whatever Cassiel was telling them.

  Jenny took Kara around towards the edges of the circular room. She stopped near a cubical-like desk with a holographic screen hovering above it. Kara stepped closer, and she could see five different images of city buildings and bridges.

  “See here,” said Jenny, and she sat on the desk. She touched the screen with her index finger. Immediately, the image she touched filled the screen and the other four images disappeared.

  Kara blinked and stared at a dark alleyway on a street she couldn’t recognize. “So—what am I looking at?”

  “This here,” said Jenny as she touched the screen again, and Kara watched it zoom in, “is a Rift.” Jenny pointed to the exterior brick wall of a building.<
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  Kara strained her eyes. “I can’t see a door anywhere. Are you sure there’s one there?” She took a step forward and cocked her head.

  Jenny smiled, clearly amused by Kara’s inability to see the doorway. “Look again—and look for wave-like movement along the brick. Like a heat wave.”

  Kara leaned in for a closer look. She saw a flicker of movement in the image—a small wave-like motion, as though a spot on the image was suddenly hot.

  “I think I see it. It’s like a heat wave.” With her finger, Kara touched the Rift. The image zoomed in closer. “So this is what a doorway to the demon realm looks like.”

  “Yup.” Jenny looked up and snapped her fingers. A guardian wearing a kaki-green uniform came hurriedly towards them.

  “Scott—get Jules and tell her there’s a possible doorway at this location.” Jenny pointed to the screen, and Kara saw the address printed in bold white letters: 54 Piazza del Colosseo, Rome, Italy.

  Kara shifted her weight. “Wow—that’s amazing.” She stood staring at the holographic image. If CDD could find Rifts, she figured they could easily spot an angel soul—Kara could save her mother.

  “So these holographic screens … can they detect other things, like maybe … souls?” asked Kara, and she fought to keep her voice steady.

  Jenny jumped down from the desk. “Souls?” She looked at Kara intently. “No … why?”

  “No reason. I was just wondering.” Kara fought to keep the disappointment from her face.

  Jenny eyed Kara for a moment. “These holographic screens,” Jenny raised her arms and gestured around the hall, “represent all different locations around Earth. We monitor Rifts in every city and continent around the world. We pinpoint their locations and send off teams to destroy them. But we aren’t always successful.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well,” answered Jenny, “sometimes what looks like a Rift is just a flicker in the Earth’s planes, and sometimes the doorways don’t stay open long enough for us to get a location.”

  Kara stood staring at the screen. “So how long have you been with CDD?”

  Jenny’s face lit up. “About a year now,” she answered. “I had no idea this place even existed until I got here.”

  “Yeah, it’s pretty secret. A friend of mine wants to join, but for some reason he isn’t allowed in.” Kara wondered what David was doing at this exact moment.

  “Well … I know they’re pretty picky about who they allow in.” Jenny pursed her lips. She broke out into a series of giggles. “I still have no idea why I’m here.” She opened her eyes wide. “But they say everyone is picked for a special talent—we all know what yours is.”

  Kara sighed. It seemed the entire division thought she possessed incredible talent. Everyone had heard of her battle with Asmodeus. Everyone expected great things. What would happen to her when they realized she couldn’t control her power? Would she get fired?

  Kara shook her head. “I don’t know what they’re expecting me to do. Whatever this talent they say I have is—I don’t even know how to use it—I might not even have it anymore.”

  Jenny twirled a clump of her purple hair between her fingers. “Oh, come on. I’m sure you do.”

  Something caught Jenny’s attention, and she looked up. “Ah—they’re ready for us. Come.” Jenny steered Kara towards the great table—towards Cassiel and the forty guardians sitting around the table eyeing her as though she was an alien.

  Cassiel pushed his chair back and stood up as Jenny and Kara approached. He had hazel eyes under thin brows. His face was handsome, like that of all the archangels, but a long scar below his left eye showed he had been in battle. Kara found herself wondering what other scars lay hidden under his clothes.

  “Welcome, Kara, to the Department of Defense.” Cassiel held out his arms in an embrace.

  “Th—thank you,” Kara stammered. I can’t believe I just said that. I’m such a moron.

  Cassiel clapped his hands together. “Good. Glad to hear it. I’m especially pleased to have an angel with such special talents on my team. I’m sure you’ll do very well here at CDD.” His face broke into a warm smile.

  Kara felt more relaxed. Somehow, Cassiel wasn’t as arrogant or imposing as the other male archangels she’d met. Raphael was the only archangel who had been especially kind to her, and she had been, perhaps, just a bit too motherly.

  “Thank you.” Kara smiled widely, but immediately pressed her lips together when she realized what a fool she must have looked like. She stole a look at Jenny who widened her eyes with a smirk.

  Cassiel continued, “Well then, let me present to you the Field Division.” With his arm he motioned toward the group of people sitting around the large table. “Everyone, this is your new member, Kara Nightingale.”

  Most of the group smiled and welcomed her, but Kara noticed about ten individuals with scowls on their foreheads, a clear indication that she was not welcome. They whispered amongst themselves, periodically gazing up at her with foul expressions. Kara’s throat tightened. She put on a brave face, forced a smile, and nodded to the group.

  Cassiel noticed her discomfort and stared momentarily over his shoulder. He studied the group who were whispering. He lowered his brows. But when he turned to look at Kara again, his face held no traces of anger.

  “Kara, you’ll be part of the Field Division in CDD,” said Cassiel, his voice ringing out inside the chamber. “It’s the most dangerous division in the entire Legion. Here, we track and destroy enemy Rifts, clearing the paths for our fellow angels. We save lives and secure the future of the Earth.” He reached inside his pant pocket and pulled out a small black leather case. “Here—take this—it’s your identification pass. You can put your keycard inside it.”

  Kara reached out and took the case. She flipped it open easily. A golden shield was secured on the inside, like a police badge. Tiny letters were etched across it, in a language Kara couldn’t read. Now she really felt like a CIA agent. A hint of a smile reached her lips.

  Cassiel examined Kara for a moment. “Now, you’ll need to change into your uniform—” He turned around and waved. “Jenny—get Kara her uniform for her, will you.”

  “Right away sir,” answered Jenny promptly. She turned on her heel and strutted towards the back. Kara could make out metal compartments with doors like lockers. Jenny came back moments later with a pile of black clothes folded against her chest. A pair of black combat boots dangled in her free arm.

  “You can change over there.” Jenny handed Kara her clothes and boots and pointed to what appeared to Kara to be a changing room.

  Kara grabbed the clothes and walked over to the changing room. In less than two minutes, she had pulled on a black pair of cargo pants—the kind with lots of extra pockets—and black t-shirt, and stuffed her feet into a pair of shining combat boots. She was surprised at how light they were. She wiggled her toes. Finally, she pulled on a short bomber-like jacket. At first, it felt heavy to her. And she found out why. Inside the jacket pockets, Kara pulled out a wrist watch, two short daggers, and three silver marbles.

  Kara screwed up her face. “What the hell are those? I don’t think these can hurt a demon.” She put them back inside her jacket. She left her old clothes on a wooden bench and returned to the group.

  The friendly chatter from the Field Division was suddenly cut by a sudden urgent cry from a guardian. A male guardian in a navy uniform brushed past Kara and ran towards Cassiel.

  “A report’s coming in from section NA-212,” declared the angel. “It’s Catherine, sir. She’s spotted one of the new breeds!”

  Cassiel moved towards the middle of the great table. “Quickly—bring it up, Steven!” He leaned over, his hands pressed firmly on the table.

  Steven had long blond hair pulled back in a low pony tail, a thick neck and square jaw. His fingers raced on a keyboard at the edge of the table. Kara thought he looked like a young gladiator. With a zap, a hologram of a woman, scaled down to
about two feet, sprouted from a hole in the middle of the desk. Light spilled from the hole and surrounded the hologram, like a semitransparent cylinder. Kara took a step forward. She realized the woman looked terrified.

  “S­—s—sir,” said a scratchy voice, as though it was coming from an old radio box. “We’re under a—attack. The new breed killed …” The voice was breaking up—and suddenly lost. Catherine’s mouth moved but no sound came out.

  “Catherine!” yelled Cassiel. “Catherine, we’re losing you!”

  The hologram lost its brilliance for a moment, as a wave passed through it, and then came back, bringing along Catherine’s voice.

  “—all dead—couldn’t fight them—” said Catherine, her face horrified. Brilliant light spilled out of her many wounds. “—too powerful—” She swung her head around behind her is if she had heard something. She drew her sword. But she wasn’t fast enough.

  Catherine’s body was propelled backwards with frightening force. Kara heard a horrible scream. Then nothing.

  The hologram quivered and disappeared.

  Chapter 7

  Saving Catherine