Marked, Soul Guardians Book 1

by Kim Richardson

Silence. Kara felt numb, her body stiff. The benches swarmed with lesser demons. Hundreds of demons crawled along the walls; their wet twisted bodies gleamed in the soft light. Cracks and thumps resonated in the chamber as the beasts fought each other for a better seat. The air reeked of rotten flesh and blood.

  A large angel sat on the ground opposite her. White lesions covered his dark skin. Beams of light spilled from his many wounds, but Kara could see that he was alert as he clung to a nearby bench. Gabriel’s eyes caught hers. It pained her to see the strain on his face. For a moment, she thought he was trying to communicate something to her. His face was twisted in a deep scowl. He seemed upset to see her there. She realized he was terrified that she had disobeyed him. She shook her head, pleading with her eyes and tried to mouth that it was okay. His disappointing frown made her stop. Kara wasn’t exactly sure what she was supposed to do either way. The oracle had said she was meant to be here—only he hadn’t filled in the rest.

  Asmodeus clapped his hands. His black hair glimmered in the gentle light. “Bravo, bravo. What a performance. I kill myself—I’m so talented. But alas, what a waste of a powerful soul. It could have given me more power.”

  He raised his arms before him. He wore his usual blood red suit tailored to perfection over his large body. He looked at Kara. “There you are my daughter. Once again you arrive just in the nick of time for the show.” Asmodeus snapped his fingers.

  Two higher demons seized her. She tried to break free, but the higher demons’ grips were too strong. “Take your hands off me! Let go of me!”

  With his hands clasped behind his back, Asmodeus strolled around the dais. “Do you like to play games, Kara? We never did play any games together, you and I. As your father, don’t you think we should have played some games?”

  “Go to hell.”

  “My, my … that’s not how to speak to your father, dear daughter. I might have to wash out that mouth of yours.” The demon lord frowned.

  Kara wished she could spit in his face. “You’re not my father,” she hissed.

  “Oh, but I am. You see—I created you; therefore I am your father. And as your father, I get to decide what to do with you. And now I wish to play a game. Zadkiel —bring them.”

  Kara heard a commotion at the far end of the chamber behind the dais. The traitorous Zadkiel appeared from the shadows. His bald head gleamed in the light. He made his way through a wall of demons that hissed and spat as he went. Two shapes struggled in his grasp. Coldness filled Kara’s breast. David and her mother were in the archangel’s clutches. Kara watched as he dragged them to the center of the chamber by their necks. Kara let out a whimper at the sight of her mother’s face. Deep gashes covered her cheeks and forehead, and one of her legs was bent awkwardly. She struggled to keep up. David seemed to be in better shape. Their eyes met. She saw him shake his head. Kara felt a jolt of electricity pass through her body. This could not be happening.

  “Let them go you monster! I’ll kill you … I swear I’ll kill you if you hurt them.” Kara’s anger flared inside her. The elemental power awakened instantly, as if she had turned on a switch. The power poured through her, faster than ever before. She felt the warmness of it surge through every fiber of her body. It encased her in a protective shell of strength. She trembled in rage.

  Asmodeus raised an eyebrow. “Monster? You disappoint me, daughter. I thought you of all people would understand why I have done this. That hunger for power that flows inside you right now, is the same as mine … more or less. We are alike, you and I—”

  “I am nothing like you,” spat Kara. “I don’t kill innocent people. I am not a monster like you.” She glared at the demon lord. She knew she was on the threshold of releasing her power. She knew she would not be able to control it. And yet she willed it forth.

  “Innocent. Nobody is innocent anymore.” Asmodeus adjusted his red bowtie and smoothed the front of his jacket. “Take your amour for instance. He is not as innocent as you might think, my dear. Mingling with mortal women—breaking the forbidden laws. Perhaps we should teach him a lesson—”

  A surge of electric current shot from Asmodeus’s hand. It struck David. He screamed and fell to his knees. He shook violently and tiny black sparks snaked in and around his body.

  At that same instant, Kara released her power. Her body thrust out rays of gold. She heard a muffled scream, and felt the blasts of an explosion on either side of her. With tremendous force, she directed a beam of energy towards the dais. It hit Asmodeus. His body disappeared under a cocoon of golden vines. Kara heard a sizzling sound. The golden tendrils snapped and fell to the ground like a tangle of rope.

  Asmodeus stood untouched.

  He clapped his hands again, clearly amused. “Bravo, daughter. I must applaud your courage.” He raised his arms dramatically. “But as you can see … your power cannot harm me, dearest. I am too powerful now … thanks to the souls of my fellow archangels. I’m just very annoyed that you destroyed my favorite suit.” He brushed the front of his jacket.

  Kara felt her power diminish like the dying flame that hangs on the point of the wick. The oracle had told her to come to the council. He had said that she was meant to be there—to do something important. She was convinced it was to use her powers against the demon lord. But it hadn’t worked. What was she to do now? Clearly, the demon lord was much more powerful than anyone—even her elemental powers had no effect on him. Fear crept into the back of her mind. What was she to do? What had she done?

  She felt strong hands grab her again.

  “Can’t get rid of us that easily, monkey lover,” spat the higher demon. He smiled coolly at her and tightened his grip. “Soon, you will all be dead.”

  “I’d rather love a monkey than a filthy devil any day.” Kara said, struggling in his grasp. “Let go of me, you freak!” She kicked him hard with her legs, but the demon wouldn’t let go. He simply laughed at her, clearly enjoying himself. Another higher demon took hold of her other arm. Their identical faces grinned at her. She saw hunger flash in their black eyes. She wanted to gouge them out.

  “Well, now that’s settled. Moving on to better things … ah, Danielle.” Asmodeus looked over to her mother. His face softened and he put his hands dramatically over his chest. “Still as beautiful as I remembered...hmm—no, more beautiful than I remembered. Perhaps later we could rekindle what we once had? What do you say, my darling wife?”

  Danielle lifted her eyes painfully. “How could you do this, Samuel? How could you do this to our daughter!”

  An evil smile spread over the demon lord’s face. He straightened and smoothed down his hair. “Zadkiel—leave the boy and bring her to me. I want to look into my wife’s beautiful eyes.”

  Kara watched as the archangel dragged her mother across the floor and up to the dais. Zadkiel threw her on the ground. Kara cried out and fought feverously against the higher demons. But they wouldn’t let go. A sickening laugh escaped from Asmodeus—he was enjoying causing her mother pain. She raised her head and watched the scene through her bangs. He reached down and lifted her mother by the neck. Her feet dangled beneath her like a puppet’s pulled on its strings. He raised his other hand and snapped his fingers. Black energy snaked around them.

  “Now, dearest daughter. You must choose.” Asmodeus pointed to David. “The young man you love so desperately...or your beloved mother?”

  Coldness washed over Kara.

  David stood in the center of the chamber alone. He turned and looked at Kara. He smiled reassuringly, but Kara could see the fear in his eyes. His fingers twitched nervously.

  Asmodeus enjoyed seeing the distress in his daughter’s eyes. He smiled and spoke in a nonchalant manner. “Who will live … and who will die. You must choose.” He laughed softly to himself. “I would be a great game show host, don’t you think? I certainly have the charisma.”

  Kara met David’s eyes. She could see him struggling to hide his fear. She ached at his pain. “Please … please, father
, I’ll do anything. Don’t hurt them. I’ll do whatever you ask of me.”

  “This is what I ask of you. You must choose … and choose wisely.”

  Kara looked from her mother to David. She trembled uncontrollably. “I can’t … I can’t choose between them …”

  “You must. If you don’t … I will kill them both.”

  Kara redoubled her attempts to get away from the higher demons, kicking out her legs like a crazed beast. The higher demons retaliated by stabbing her with their death blades. She cried out, as the poison burned her. If only she could get away.

  “It’s okay, Kara. Don’t worry about me,” said David, his voice cracking. “Save your mother. But promise me one thing … promise me that you’re going to kick this fool’s butt.” He stretched his trembling lips into a thin smile. She knew he was trying to be brave. David McGowan couldn’t show fear.

  Kara let out a cry and her body went limp. How was she to choose between the boy she loved and her mother? How could anyone choose? Kara couldn’t choose. She stopped struggling against the demons.

  “I … cannot,” she said finally, the words burning on her lips. “How can I?”

  “Choose!” roared Asmodeus. Debris fell from above and showered Kara in a blanket of dust. “Or they both die! You stupid girl!”

  Her mother screamed. Blank tendrils wrapped themselves around her body. The black vapors were squeezing the life out of her. Kara knew she was at death’s door.

  Kara’s lips trembled. She looked at David. He stared at the ground, unwilling to meet her eyes. She wanted desperately to reach out to him. David, she called inside her mind. What do I do?

  Asmodeus chuckled. “I’m so disappointed with you, my daughter. I thought for sure you would have chosen the boy over your mother. Well … I guess I’ll have to make the decision for you.”

  Black lighting shot out of the demon lord’s hand.

  It struck David in the chest.

  He wailed as the current worked around him, burning his angel body. He crumbled to the ground. His body shook and the black tendrils enveloped him. The sound of flesh blistering and scorching made her feel sick. Black vapors emanated from his body. They ate through his skin like an acid. A terrible scream escaped Kara. She couldn’t stop screaming.

  “Let her go.” Kara heard Asmodeus say suddenly.

  She fell to her knees. She realized her arms were free. Kara struggled to her feet and ran over to David. His angel skin had disappeared and had been replaced by a shell of brilliant light.

  Kara cradled his body carefully against her chest. “David! David!”

  David opened his eyes slowly. “Kara?”

  “Yes, I’m here. You’re going to be fine.” She gently caressed his face.

  “Kara. I’m sorry.” His voice cracked, and Kara could hardly hear him anymore. She leaned forward closer and angled her ear to his lips.

  “There’s nothing to be sorry about. This is my fault. All of it is my fault.”

  With the last of his energy, David squeezed Kara’s hand. “I wish … I wish that we could have met as mortals. We could have had a life together—you and me. You are my soul mate, Kara Nightingale. Our souls were meant to be together. And now I’m going to die, without ever really having the chance to be with you.”

  Kara pulled David closer to her. “No … you’re going to be okay. I—I’m going to get you to Raphael. She’s going to make you better, I promise.”

  “Kill him, Kara…”

  “David!”

  Hot white light shone through David’s body. His solid form burst into a million brilliant little particles. They hovered for a moment above David’s pile of clothes, like a cloud of stars. They flickered and then began to rise, caught in the invisible wind.

  Kara let out a cry. She jumped up and flailed her arms desperately in the air, trying to catch David’s essence. But the glowing particles passed through her fingers and vanished from her hands like melted snow flakes.

  With a last struggle, Kara dropped her hands to her side and stared up into the dark grey sky where David had disappeared.

  Chapter 18

  Last call