Marked, Soul Guardians Book 1

by Kim Richardson

  After Jenny had thrown every curse in the Book of Curses at the Fay sisters, the sisters slammed the shop’s door in Jenny’s face. Kara and her team left the little village and headed south towards the harbor.

  The harbor lay between two giant masses of rock that meandered out into the ocean. As soon as they put the quaint cottages behind them, a narrow path of stone stretched out before them and snaked down along the edge of a three—hundred foot cliff. And somewhere below the cliff lay Shadow Cave. Even from the distance Kara could sense a presence about that cliff, something unnatural and dark.

  Frost covered the wild flowers and dense shrubs that lined the path on either side. The cold air made every breath harder on her lungs. She was determined to make it to the bottom without stopping to catch her breath. Without her elemental power, she was nothing more than a little mortal girl, a weakling with nosebleeds.

  Kara’s leg muscles strained as she climbed down the winding path. She did her best to match the others’ pace down the hill, but they were like robots, supernatural machines that never showed any sign of fatigue. Her puny little chicken—legs were no match for their powerful M—5 suits.

  A pulsing pain began to throb against the back of her eyeballs. She rubbed her temples and did her best to hide the pain. She pressed on like a good little soldier and hoped she wouldn’t get another nosebleed.

  “I hope I never see those ugly twins ever again,” said Jenny as she marched purposefully down the hill.

  “I bet they lied to us. I have a feeling they’re sending us into a trap. It was obvious they hated us, spirit walkers. I mean, we’re the good guys, and they still treated us like dirt.”

  “It wouldn’t surprise me if it were a trap,” agreed Peter. “I couldn’t help but feel creeped out by them—and those weird yellow eyes? What was up with that?”

  Jenny’s voice rose. “Calling us abominations, unnatural! I’ll show them what’s unnatural with my boot up their—”

  “Ugh! I don’t want to think about what they might—” said Peter, with a twisted expression like he just bit into something sour.

  David threw up his hands. “—too late! I’ve already damaged my virgin mind with a mental image of their butts.”

  “Can we talk about something else, please?” said Kara, a little out of breath.

  David jogged over to Kara’s side.

  “Are you doing all right? You know, my offer of a ride still stands if you want—I don’t mind.”

  In the sun, his skin sparkled as though it was painted with liquid diamonds. His arm brushed up against hers, and a spark vibrated inside her. He smiled; his lips were just too perfect, too close...

  Kara looked away as blood rushed to her face. “No, I’m fine, but thanks. I think I can manage the rest of the way without one of my lungs collapsing. It can’t be much further.”

  She hoped she sounded convincing enough, and that it was just the long walk that was responsible for her flushed face.

  “My sole life’s purpose is to please your, ladyship,” said David, his eyes twinkled. “I am at your disposal,” he bowed very low, and Kara heard Peter snort.

  Kara smiled slowly, and she felt her ears going hot. “Don’t make me laugh. It’s hard enough without laughing. I need all my strength to keep going down this hill without falling over,” she said in rapid breaths.

  David stared at her for a moment. His smile disappeared. “I hope the legion knows what they’re doing—sending you in as a mortal.” He searched the shoreline below as they walked.

  Kara didn’t answer. She was wondering the same thing.

  She searched his face. It was strange having David the angel beside her when she was a mortal. They had fought together, side by side as GAs, their friendship growing tighter with every new mission. Their special bond was unbreakable. She knew he would give up his soul for her, and she would do the same.

  And as mortals, she and David had begun a life together. It had felt natural. But now she felt more unsure of herself and nervous around him. She wasn’t sure how to act with David anymore. Even with the memories, it was almost like the first time they met. Her heart hammered at her chest whenever their eyes met. Was this because she was mortal now? She felt confused, her feelings blocked. She wondered if her doubts were an after effect of the memory projection. Maybe the oracles had damaged her somehow. It would explain the headaches and nosebleeds— and the lack of energy.

  After an hour descending the valley, they had made it to the edge of the cliff. Kara cradled the cramp in her side and looked around over the edge. Her hair and jacket flapped in the strong wind. The great blue ocean spread out below them. Massive waves crashed onto the rocks below.

  She could see a zigzag flight of wet stone steps that had been cut into the stone and followed a steep descent to a small patch of golden sand. It was about a hundred and fifty feet down from the top of the steps, and each step was coated with a deadly combination of slippery green moss and snow. A shadow passed down the cliff, and Kara looked to the sky. The sun had disappeared under a layer of dark grey clouds that had moved in on them with unnatural speed. The winds intensified. She had the feeling someone was watching them.

  David stood next to her. “You want us to take a few minutes break so that you can catch your breath?”

  Kara shook her hot face and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

  “No, I’m fine,” she lied. Her head spun as she hyperventilated.

  “Going down is easy, but the climb back up will be a challenge.”

  She wondered if she’d survive the cave—to make the trip back up. She saw David and Jenny share a look, but they said nothing.

  She wanted to rest until she could breathe normally, but she refused to show them how weak she was. She could see their doubts in their eyes. They didn’t believe she could do the mission either—their doubt inspired her to prove them wrong.

  “There’s only one way to find out where these stairs lead. Come on, let’s go say hi to Olga.” She walked around the edge of the cliff, and the blood began to flow back into her cramped up legs.

  David examined the stone stairway and whistled loudly. “That’s a lot of steps. You sure you can handle it?”

  “I’m sure.”

  Kara didn’t wait for David to respond. She climbed down the slippery steps carefully, one at a time. She knew that one wrong move—and she’d be doing a double—dive into the freezing ocean below. David’s boots clomped behind her, and she could hear Jenny arguing with Peter as they made their descent.

  Icy winds pushed against Kara, almost knocking her sideways. Debris and snow flapped against her face. Her foot slipped, but she steadied herself. She squinted into the storm. It was as though the winds didn’t want them to go down. Was the wind protecting them—or trying to kill them. Was this part of the old witch’s magic? Could her magic reach as far as the cliffs?

  Halfway down the steps, Kara was shivering and sweaty. It was so steep that she could press her uphill hand against the rocky ledge for support the rest of the way down. Another strong gust of wind struck her as if giant invisible hands were pushing it. The clouds were getting thicker and darker. Someone or something didn’t want them here—

  Her feet slipped, but as she started to slide down the wet stairs towards the cliff, she felt a strong hold on her arm. Through the gusts of sand, sea, and snow she could make out David’s silhouette.

  “What’s happening,” she yelled through the wind. “It’s like the wind doesn’t want us here?”

  “I have no idea,” yelled David. “It’s getting worse—we better hurry and get down.”

  Kara didn’t like the sound of that. If she went any faster, she’d slip and keel over into the sea. Determined, she stepped down carefully and descended the slippery stones as fast as she could. The feeling of being watched settled over her again. She looked up.

  Grey tornados the size of a garage sped towards them. At the last minute they shifted course and dove into the
sea below. The water’s surface bubbled and white foam formed on the top. Suddenly, a pair of giant arms made of seawater sprouted from the ocean below, as though the god of the sea was reaching out to them with giant semitransparent gloves. Water rolled off them in never—ending waterfalls.

  “What the heck are those?” cried David through the storm.

  Kara didn’t answer. Paralyzed, she stared as the enormous hands the size of SUVs curled their fingers and formed two massive fists.

  Like water hammers, the fists came crashing down on them.

  Kara leaped sideways. The fist missed her by an inch and left her drenched in seawater. Then she saw Peter flatten himself against the cliff’s ledge just in time to avoid being smashed by the other fist. Water splashed against his glasses, as the fist collapsed back into water. But the water rolled back together, like molecules forming something solid.

  As the hands reformed, David jumped forward and swung at the first fist. His blade passed easily through the water—with no effect. The hand seemed to crack its knuckles in response to David’s attempt.

  “It was worth a try.” David looked at Kara and shrugged.

  Together, the colossal arms lifted and swayed backwards as they prepared for another deadly blow.

  “If they knock us down into the ocean,” yelled David, “—you’re a goner. Our mortal bodies will disintegrate, and we’ll be back in Horizon, but you’ll be alone. I can’t let that happen, not when we’re so close.”

  Kara narrowed her eyes—she knew it was true.

  But the hands came together, turned upside down and formed a mouth and eyes with their fingers, like a shadow puppet. The mouth moved, and a voice thundered all around.

  “Go back, spirit walkers, or your souls will be mine!”

  “Fantastic,” said David, “talking giant hands, that’s all we needed.”

  He waved his own fist at the giant water—arms. “How about you cut us some slack? Hey, man! Manicures don’t exist in your size—it’s not our fault!”

  “You’ve been warned!” boomed the voice.

  The wind picked up with a vengeance. The entire cliff trembled as rock and sand rained down on them. Kara’s jacket flapped madly in the wind. Her wet hair slapped her face, and she had to squat to keep her balance. Shivering in the cold, her face burned with every gust of icy wind. If the giant fists didn’t kill her, then she’d die of pneumonia.

  Jenny and Peter screamed.

  A giant fist came plummeting at them. Miraculously, they jumped out of the way just in time. The fist crashed into the side of the cliff like a giant exploding water balloon.

  The other fist came straight for Kara.

  She didn’t even have time to blink as the giant water fist soared towards her. She leaped, but she wasn’t fast enough. The great water fist crashed into the side of her leg. She screamed, lost her grip, and fell.

  Sharp rock scraped her face as she smashed and slid down the cliff. Rocks and boulders raced past her and wind howled in her ears. She flailed out her arms and legs—desperately grasping for something to hold on to. She felt like she had been falling for minutes.

  Her boots found a small ledge and stopped her fall. Stinging with pain, she grabbed hold of a crevice with her bloodied fingers. She hung on by her fingertips and toes. Adrenaline pulsed through her body. Her heart thundered against her chest—she dared not look down.

  “Kara!” David called above the wailing winds. “Don’t move. I’m coming down.”

  She looked up—she had fallen at least thirty feet.

  She turned her face towards the sea—another water—fist came at her.

  She rolled to the side.

  SMASH!

  Seawater exploded on her back, and knocked the air out of her. It was like being hit by a tidal wave. The cliff itself shook under the impact. Kara was drenched.

  Then her fingers slipped, and she fell.

  Chapter 9

  Shadow Cave