Marked, Soul Guardians Book 1

by Kim Richardson

Kara shoved her CDD case in her front pocket and followed Jenny through a maze of cubicles and chairs. All around them, the Counter Demon Division was alive with sounds. Kara remembered the division being a pretty hectic environment, but this was more like anarchy. Papers fell from the levels above and covered the floors in a white carpet. Angels shouted at each other from across the chamber. They pushed and shoved one another. Some ran around the room, jumping over chairs and desks like deer. Their eyes were filled with panic. They were not the confident faces Kara had seen before.

  Screams pierced the cacophony of level five, and Kara could not help but watch the large holographic screens that were mounted in the center of the chamber and along the walls. Every screen showed images of terrified men, women and children. They screamed at the top of their lungs as four-legged demons, with raw-red bodies plagued with oozing sores, ripped easily through the mortals’ flesh with their sharp black talons. Blood spurted onto the walls of the rooms on the screens.

  Kara heard another scream. It was coming from the holographic screen right in front of her. A young girl with dark brown hair and large brown eyes cowered against a wall. Blood trickled down her petrified face from a large gash on the side of her head. A shiver rolled up Kara’s back. The girl looked like a younger version of herself. Something dark flashed across the screen. Kara wanted to warn the girl, but she stood transfixed. A moment later, a shadow demon materialized, grabbed the young girl by the neck and ripped out her heart. Kara forced herself to look away.

  She tried to focus on the task at hand, but the screams overpowered her thoughts. Death stared back at her from every screen, a reminder of her failure. A reminder of what she had done.

  “You coming?” Jenny appeared beside her and knocked Kara out of her trance. Jenny looked at the screens and then at Kara, “We can’t do anything for them now. I know it’s hard not look … or not to feel anything—but we have to stay focused.” She pressed her hand gently on Kara’s shoulder. “Come. We should go.”

  Kara lowered her eyes. “This is my fault, Jenny,” she whispered, keeping her eyes low. “All of it. They’re all dying because of me.” Her bottom lip trembled.

  “You couldn’t have known what he intended to do with you, Kara,” said Jenny gently. “You can’t blame yourself. It wasn’t your fault.”

  A wail came from one of the monitors. Kara flinched. She didn’t dare look at the screen. “Without me, this would never have happened. The portals were opened . . . with the mirrors and me … with my powers. I’m partly responsible. I was part of it.”

  “Kara—look at me. You can’t blame yourself for a madman’s plan. You’re a good person. You would never have wished this on anyone. You’re not a killer. You’re a guardian angel.” Jenny’s green eyes pierced Kara. “We will make this right. I promise.”

  Kara only nodded.

  “Come. Let’s go.” Jenny grabbed Kara’s hand and pulled her along.

  Half-heartedly, Kara followed Jenny through a mess of desks and chairs to the center of the round chamber. The archangel Cassiel sat at a great table surrounded by a few dozen guardians in black uniforms. His light brown hair was as disheveled as Kara had remembered. He wore black cargo pants and a tight black t-shirt over his muscular chest. He fixed his hazel eyes upon her. It made her uncomfortable. She recognized Peter’s petrified face. He gave her a smile, and pushed his glasses up his nose with a trembling finger. She looked away from him and flinched.

  Al and Devon sat at the table.

  A snicker curled on Devon’s lips. His dark eyes sent a chill through Kara. Both boys had hair the color of ravens, but Devon’s had a bluish tint to it, making it stand out. His hawk-like nose was the center of his sharp features. He regarded her like prey. She strained to remain calm. She wouldn’t let them see her distress. Her eyes moved to Al. His pale skin looked sickly in the light. His black eyes were half-hidden beneath massive eyebrows. She remembered the beam of golden light that had blasted from her hands uncontrollably and struck him in the chest. Although she had gone to prison for her lack of control, she still did not trust him. She had seen the death blade in his hand. There was no mistake in that. He had intended to use it against David, and she wouldn’t let that happen.

  Al’s face betrayed no emotions. Like a mask made of clay, it was dead and fixed upon her. She knew things were going to get ugly. How...she couldn’t tell, but she couldn’t suppress the nasty feeling that welled inside her.

  Cassiel pushed back his chair and stood up. “Ah! At last, Kara! Back amongst us, where you belong.” His face beamed, and he made his way towards her. He threw his arms out and embraced her. “Welcome. Welcome back Kara.”

  Kara made a face because her head was shoved into his arm-pit. The giant man released her finally and motioned for her and Jenny to sit at the great table.

  With his arms clasped behind his back, Cassiel took a turn around the table and settled behind Kara’s chair. “The CDD has been given the mandate to seek out the demon lord. We must locate his command center—we know he’s there. We must pinpoint its location. We must seek him out.”

  Seek him out, repeated Kara in her head. She knew it wasn’t going to be easy. The demon lord was no ordinary demon—and no fool. He is the king of the Netherworld, their prince of darkness. Kara wasn’t sure they could pull it off. How do you kill an archangel, especially one who doesn’t want to be found?

  Kara felt pressure as Cassiel placed his hands on the backrest of her chair. The chair moved a few inches.

  “A single guardian cannot vanquish the demon lord,” Cassiel instructed them. “So I don’t want anyone trying anything stupid. He is too powerful. He would crush you like a peanut. Listen up! If one team discovers the whereabouts of the demon lord, they will report back to CDD immediately. You will not try and take on the demon lord yourselves. Are we clear? No one is to approach him!”

  Kara was thrown forward a little as her chair jerked.

  “Your orders are to seek out the command center and report back—with a confirmation of his location. As soon as his identity is confirmed, I will make the necessary calls and wait for further instructions. It is imperative that we succeed. We can’t afford any mistakes.”

  Kara felt pressure against her chair again, as though Cassiel had put his entire weight upon it. She looked up and all eyes were on her. Immediately she stared at the table.

  “Again. I don’t want anyone trying to be a hero. You got that? Good. Now each team will be given a specific address. We know of five probable locations. You are to scout out the locations, and try to get a positive identification of the demon lord—if he’s there. Remember what I said, no one is to strike. You must wait my instructions. Teams are as follows.”

  Hatred welled inside Kara. She picked at the table, half listening, as Cassiel called out the names of the first teams. She wasn’t sure she could just sit tight and wait for backup if she spotted Asmodeus. After what he had done to her, she wanted him to pay. She wanted to hurt him like he hurt her. It was payback time.

  A commotion shook her out of her reverie. She thought she heard her name called. She looked up. Everyone was staring at her. What had she missed? She looked from Peter to Jenny—their eyes were filled with distress. Jenny gave Kara a slight shake of her head.

  Kara mouthed the word, what? But Jenny’s eyes were glued above Kara.

  “So there you have it, guardians,” Kara heard Cassiel say above her head. “Get to it!”

  At once, the field agents took to their feet and joined their teams. The sounds of heavy boots scurrying away erupted all around them. Kara took the opportunity to run over to Jenny and Peter.

  “What? What’s going on? I was in my head … what did I miss?”

  Peter and Jenny exchanged a worried look. Jenny took a step towards Kara and whispered to her. “You’re teamed with Al and Devon.”

  “What!” Kara was outraged. She looked over to them. Both Al and Devon were leaning against their chairs, staring back at he
r. Evil grins spread on their primal faces. They enjoyed seeing her squirm, she realized. She turned quickly away. How could Cassiel put her with these traitors? They had tried to kill David. She hated them. And she was certain they hated her too. She was sure they would try to hurt her again.

  “How can Cassiel do this to me? What is wrong with him?”

  Jenny closed her eyes for a moment. “That’s just it, Kara. I don’t get it. And get this—Cassiel paired himself with you, too! He’s going on a field mission with you. It’s just plain weird, if you ask me.”

  Peter stuck his head between the two girls. “Maybe he wants to keep an eye on them. See if they’ll try anything with you around. He’s a big guy … I’m sure he can handle those two idiots. Maybe he’s looking for something to pin on them—to prove that they’re traitors.”

  Kara remembered how excited Cassiel had been at the prospect of her using her powers. When the fight had begun between Devon, Al and David, Cassiel had urged her to focus on her anger, to let the elemental power flow. She visualized the stupid grin on his face. “I think he wants to see me use my powers again … like to train me on the battle field or something like that.”

  “You think?” asked Jenny.

  “I don’t know. It’s possible. He was a little too eager to see me work it before. Maybe he still expects me to be able to do great things.” Kara wasn’t sure what to believe. Maybe she should have stayed with David. It seemed the lesser of two evils. But something didn’t fit. “Have you guys ever been on a mission with Cassiel?”

  Jenny looked over her shoulder, making sure no one was listening. “Since I joined CDD, Cassiel has never once gone on field missions … never. And now he’s going with them! And you! It doesn’t feel right.”

  Kara knew Jenny was right. Something was definitely wrong. She turned her head and watched as Cassiel clapped Al happily on the back, as though they were old friends reminiscing about old times. Kara felt disgusted.

  The archangel raised a large arm in the air. “Kara! Let’s go!” He waved at her excitedly, his face beamed.

  Kara exchanged a nervous look with Peter and Jenny before treading towards her new team. Cassiel was a little too happy and too eager. While the rest of the angel world was distressed, Cassiel appeared to be ecstatic. How could he be happy, when the mortal world was crumbling.

  After replenishing her weapons, Kara followed her new teammates to the vega tanks. She kept a safe distance from them, not wanting to get too close. Every fiber of her being screamed that something was not right. Her three new teammates walked in front of her. Cassiel glanced back, with an innocent smile painted on his face. It made Kara cringe.

  They made their way towards a raised platform, where the vega tanks awaited them. The four cubicles of water shimmered like giant emeralds as the light from the ceiling hit the tanks.

  Kara watched in silence as the other teams stepped into the tanks one by one. Their bodies in turn disintegrated into sparkling specks of sand, and then disappeared as though they had never been there. She watched Jenny and Peter wave their goodbyes. Soon, Kara and her team were the only ones left.

  “Are you ready, Kara?” Cassiel stepped up onto the metal platform, and wedged himself between two tanks. Al and Devon took their places behind him.

  Kara made fists with her hands. Against her better judgment, she stepped onto the platform. She felt eyes on her and glanced to her right. An evil grin materialized on Al’s face. His dark eyes threatened her. She wished she could throw up.

  “We’re off to an abandoned psych ward in the small town of Hudson in upstate New York. The scouts believe one of the command centers is there. Keep close.” Cassiel grinned widely again, and Kara thought he seemed way too excited for such a serious mission.

  “See you on the other side in a few seconds, Kara.” And with that, Cassiel walked into the tank. His body exploded in brilliant particles, and then vanished. Al and Devon followed his example.

  Kara frowned. Why was Cassiel so happy? And why had he decided to accompany them on this mission? She knew the only way to find out.

  She stepped into the wall of green waters.

  Chapter 8

  St. John’s Asylum, New York