Marked, Soul Guardians Book 1

by Kim Richardson

A soft breeze smells of pine trees and earth. The soft murmur of people talking flows around like leaves caught in breeze. Bottles clank together, and the clatter of metal hitting metal reverberates. Something heavy scrapes the floor, dripping liquid splashes, and then a loud thud, as though a door had been closed.

  Kara opened her eyes. Blurred shapes moved around her. She blinked. After a moment, her eyesight returned. She looked around. Red light spilled from a window above, casting a warm glow around the round room. Kara recognized the room immediately. She was in Raphael’s healing chamber. With some effort, Kara sat up and inspected herself. She was dressed in a pair of comfortable white linen pajamas, like the kind from an expensive hotel. Why was she here and wearing pajamas? Suddenly the memories came flooding in.

  David. Asmodeus. The inferno blade.

  She peeled away at some buttons and examined her chest. No signs of any puncture wounds. It had never happened—it had all been a terrible dream. A red haired woman was sitting calmly in a chair nearby, Camael, the archangel who had been hurt by Asmodeus. Raphael was still tending to Camael’s wounds. It wasn’t a dream.

  David really was dead.

  “Kara!” Raphael rushed over. She took Kara’s hand in hers and squeezed it affectionately. “I was so worried. I—I wasn’t sure I could heal you—but I did!” She looked at Kara’s puzzled face. “You had just enough life force in you for me to bring you back. I can’t explain it—maybe it has something to do with your elemental part, but I’m just glad it worked.”

  Kara looked into her blazing green eyes. She tried to smile, but her face was numb. She couldn’t even bring herself to thank the woman. She didn’t feel so excited to be back. Not without David. She sensed Raphael reading her thoughts. Abashed, Kara lowered her eyes and stared at her hands.

  “Listen to me, Kara.” Raphael brushed a lock of hair behind Kara’s ear. Her eyes were kind. “I loved David, too, and I miss him terribly. But we can’t change what happened.” She cupped Kara’s face into her large hands. “Kara. You saved us. You saved the Legion. We would all be gone if it hadn’t been for your courage and quick thinking. I know if David were here now, he would be so proud of you. I am proud of you. We all are. So is your mother.”

  “M—my mother. She’s okay, right?” She vaguely remembered her mother’s voice calling out to her before she passed out. Kara prayed that nothing had happened to her.

  “Yes,” said Raphael, “your mother is fine. She and Gabriel brought you to me.”

  The image of Gabriel’s body covered in wounds rose in Kara’s mind. “So … what happened after I blacked out? Where are the demons now?”

  “Gone. After they saw their master killed, they ran away like scared little rats. They crawled back to the Netherworld—where they belong.”

  “What about Zadkiel?”

  The archangel let out a loud sigh. “Unfortunately, the traitorous Zadkiel escaped. Gabriel said that Zadkiel ran as soon as he saw his master die, just like a true coward. Who knows into what hole he’s crawled.” Kara could think of one.

  “So, Horizon is slowly picking up the pieces and mending itself,” continued Raphael. “We still have lots to do, but eventually we’ll get there. Horizon will be just as beautiful as before. And soon all the GAs will be back at work saving mortals. You’ll be back at your old job before you know it.”

  Kara couldn’t speak. The words wouldn’t come out. They burned at the back of her throat. She just shook her head that she understood.

  The archangel shrugged. “Let’s get you changed. The Chief is expecting you, Kara. He’s very excited about you visiting him.”At that, Kara lifted her eyes.

  “Yes,” continued the archangel. “He wants to have a chat with you. I’m guessing that he wants a full account of what happened. He’s very thorough … make sure you tell him everything. Don’t leave anything out.” Kara nodded that she wouldn’t.