“I heard it in the junkyard.” Andrew stands and begins to pace. “Holy shit. This is bad.”
The space is too small for him to get far, so he has to pivot and turn around every five steps. If the situation weren’t so tense, I’d find his movements funny.
“What’s bad?” I grip the armrests so tight my fingers turn white. “Tell me, Andrew.”
He shakes his head and continues to pace and starts talking to himself. “I can’t believe no one’s realized it. Or maybe they have… Shit… Shit. Shit. Shit.”
“Andrew!”
He stops walking and finally turns to face me. He still looks horrified, but I meet his gaze with a determined expression. “Tell me what you realize. Please.”
Andrew’s hands clench into fists, then open again. He glances at the door, then quickly moves to close it.
The office feels much smaller, especially since Andrew continues to cross the space over and over again. He struggles to find the words to say. I wait patiently, too scared that if I push him, he won’t tell me what’s making him freak out.
At last, he stops pacing. Once again, his eyes meet mine. This time, they are less panicked.
“Belial calls you little mountain.”
I nod unnecessarily. “Yes.”
“And he says he knows your lineage? He can trace it back to Thaddeus’s family?”
Again, I nod. “Yes.”
“But he says he can’t talk about it?”
“Correct.”
Andrew takes a deep breath, running a hand through his blond hair, making it stand on end. “Let me guess, your powers haven’t manifested as they should’ve.”
Immediately, I feel defensive. “I used them at the gala,” I state, reminding him of the massive magical display I’d used to kill the mundane demons and even drive Azazel away.
“Yes, but before that. You haven’t been able to use sigils, have you?”
The reminder of my inadequacy is like a punch to the gut, but I confirm the embarrassing truth, “No. I haven’t.”
“God, I can’t believe this is happening.” Andrew looks up to the ceiling, as if he’s actually speaking to the deity. He might be for all I know.
I continue to wait, bracing myself for what’s to come as he prepares himself to say it.
Seconds pass at an agonizingly slow pace.
Finally, Andrew looks down, meeting my anxious and curious stare with a regretful one of his own.
“Belial became a demon long before Thaddeus’s family existed,” he begins, flopping back down into his chair. He leans forward, bracing his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands together. “His early days are filled with tales of violence and cruelty as he and his fellow originals wreaked havoc on early civilizations of man.”
“I thought you said he wasn’t bad,” I blurt without thinking.
Yikes.
I hope I don’t come off as too defensive of Belial. He’s a monster, but he’s a monster who’s protected me. I tell myself it’s only natural that I feel a little defensive about him.
“I said he wasn’t as bad as the others,” Andrew replies, “but that’s only true if you’re talking about the time after Guardians were created. Prior to Thaddeus and his children, Belial was just as evil as the rest of them.”
Confusion and countless questions fill my mind, but one sticks out above the rest. “What was different after Guardians were created?”
Andrew closes his eyes for a moment, seeming to brace himself for what he knows comes next. “Hermona happened.”
Of all the things I thought he’d say, that was not it.
I’d thought maybe Belial had turned over a new leaf after seeing the atrocities done by his kind. I don’t understand how one of the first Guardians fits into the picture.
“Hermona? As in, Thaddeus’s youngest child?” The same one I’d been assigned to research by Master Osei?
Talk about coincidence… if only I believed in such things.
Suddenly, I have the idea my research assignment wasn’t given to me at random.
I remember how Master Osei pulled from the bottom of his pile when handing me my assignment. I’m ninety-nine percent sure he’d wanted me to research Hermona.
Now, I’m wondering if he knows about the connection between the ancient Guardian and the original demon taking an active interest in my life. And why he’d want me to learn about her in the first place.
Andrew dips his chin, interrupting my thoughts. “Yes. That Hermona.”
“What happened?” I ask again. “How did Hermona change Belial’s behavior?”
Almost the moment the words pass my lips, I think of a reason, and it’s nothing short of shocking.
“Belial changed because he fell in love with her,” Andrew speaks in a low, regretful whisper. “An original demon fell in love with the first female Guardian, and the world would never be the same.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
An original demon fell in love with a Guardian…
The idea itself is not what shocks me. After all, I’d figured that had to be the case. What else could motivate a demon to go against his natural inclination to destroy mankind in the most violent and horrible way possible?
Loving someone tends to make people behave in drastically different ways.
But Belial hadn’t fallen in love with just any Guardian… He fell in love with one of the firsts. One of Thaddeus’s own children.
“But how?” I shake my head in a vain attempt to try and make sense of this story. “Hermona was a member of the first family. Her divine purpose was to hunt and kill demons. How did he fall in love with her?”
It should be hard to fall in love with a person trying to kill you. Right?
Andrew nods along as I speak, but his next words throw me for a loop. “Do you believe in soulmates, Aspen?”
“What?” I blink. “No. Of course not.”
“Neither do I.” His lips lift into a sad grin. “But that’s what early historical accounts claim drew Belial and Hermona together.”
I process that information but find it lacking. “How can a human have a bond with a demon? That doesn’t seem possible.”
“Belial wasn’t always a demon,” Andrew reminds me, sitting up straight and folding his arms across his chest. “He was once a man. A man with urges no different than those who live today.
“Love, affection, devotion… those feelings don’t disappear for a demon. Rather, they are overpowered by a deeper desire to destroy God’s people. But for Belial, the power to destroy could not withstand his feelings when it came to Hermona. His change is attributed to her and the love they’re rumored to have shared.” Andrew speaks with such conviction, but I still find it hard to believe.
“You know all this from a book?” I don’t try to hide my skepticism.
“Yes.”
I look out the window, but I don’t really take in the view as my thoughts travel down several different paths.
I wonder how Belial and Hermona met.
Was she hunting him?
Or did they simply bump into each other on the street?
Did demons even mingle among humans in the past?
I don’t see why they wouldn’t. Back then, there were only eight Guardians. The chances of meeting one must’ve been rare.
Is that why Belial wanted me to dig into Thaddeus’s lineage? He wanted me to learn about his link to his past love?
I thought he’d wanted me to find the truth about my past. I thought he wanted me to understand why my mom ran from the Shadowguard. And I swear, the way Belial protects me and touches me without invitation, I’d believed he had feelings for me.
Odd and deranged feelings for sure, but still feelings.
I guess I was wrong.
And I’ll never admit it out loud, but a twinge of hurt pricks my chest.
I groan and close my eyes. I have several questions for my dream-hijacker the next time we speak. And I don’t plan on letting him avoid them like no
rmal.
Inhaling through my nostrils, I open my eyes and turn away from the window. I meet Andrew’s pensive stare.
“And how does any of this involve me?” Why bring up Belial’s past in the first place?
Thankfully, I’m not kept waiting for an answer.
“He calls you little mountain. You don’t show powers like a typical Guardian would.” Andrew ticks the statements off his fingers as he speaks. “And you have an unknown heritage.”
“A block’s been placed on my magic,” I tell him, somewhat defensively. I’d scared away an original demon with my power. If I didn’t have this block, no one would think I’m weak.
He nods, then ticks off another finger. “And you’ve confirmed there’s a magical block on your power.”
I don’t understand how the last one connects.
“So?”
Andrew hesitates for the first time during our conversation.
“For goodness sake, Andrew,” I sigh, having no patience for this dramatic delay. “Just tell me. What are you trying to say?”
His lips press together briefly, then he murmurs. “You’re her.”
I frown. What?
“Her? Her, who?”
Andrew sighs, then closes his eyes and slowly says, “Hermona, Aspen. You’re her.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
There are many ways I could’ve reacted to that statement, but my natural instinct was to release a loud, disbelieving laugh.
I laugh and laugh until I’m bent over, clutching my aching sides.
Tears leak from the corner of my eye. I brush them away as the laughter gradually subsides.
Andrew waits in silence.
When I have some semblance of control, I choke out, “T-there’s no way what you’ve s-said is true.” Deranged amusement continues to make me chuckle.
“You don’t believe in soulmates,” Andrew states. “Which means you also don’t believe in reincarnation. Am I right?”
Obviously.
“You’re right,” I confirm, wiping away the last few tears from the corner of my eyes. I regain control of myself.
“Well, whether or not you believe it, there are countless Shadowguard texts that mention the phenomenon.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” There is absolutely no way I’m going to believe I’m the reincarnation of Thaddeus’s only surviving daughter. Absolutely no way.
But Andrew isn’t done. “You’re reluctant to accept reincarnation as real but let me remind you magic exists. As do demons, vampires, witches, and werewolves.”
“But I can physically see those things,” I counter emphatically. “Soulmates, reincarnation, spirits… there’s no evidence any of those things are real.”
“There are.” Andrew holds my stare. “You’re one of them.”
All right. That’s it. I’ve had enough.
I push off the chair and stomp towards the door.
This time, though, Andrew is up in a flash, blocking my exit.
I stare up into his blue eyes, narrowing my own in anger. “Move out of my way.”
“No. This is important, Aspen.”
“It’s not. It’s a lie, and I’m done listening to it.”
“Look at the facts,” Andrew’s tone is practically pleading. “Belial’s fascination with you… I’m sure he’s hinted to why he’s so drawn to you.”
“The resemblance is uncanny… I had to get a closer look to be sure.”
I remember the awe and blatant longing in Belial’s purple eyes when we first met. At the time, I couldn’t imagine who he thought I look like. But now…
“Do I look like her?”
Andrew blinks, surprised by the sudden question.
“You said there were drawings of Belial in those books of yours. Are there any of Hermona?”
He scratches his head. “I don’t know. The books tend to focus on the original demons.”
Well, that’s no help.
“Why do you ask?”
I cross my arms and press my lips together. I don’t want to tell him. He’ll just use it as evidence to support his crazy claim of reincarnation.
But Andrew isn’t stupid. Understanding illuminates his features and a triumphant grin threatens to break over his mouth.
“I’m right, aren’t I? Belial’s said something about why he’s so unnaturally attached to you.”
“That’s none of your business,” I snap back. I have nothing to argue with, so I opt for the mature option and become angry. “Logan shouldn’t have told you anything about me. I’m not telling you anything else.”
“Don’t you see, Aspen? Your link to Belial can be used to the Shadowguard’s advantage!”
Fear squeezes the breath from my lungs. Andrew can’t really think to report his crazy theory to his superiors.
Can he?
Unaware of my terror, Andrew continues excitedly, “You’re an original demon’s weakness, Aspen. We can get him to do anything we want. Report on the activities of other originals… mundane demons… everyone! The Shadowguard will have an original demon in the palm of our hands.”
My stomach twists and nausea climbs up my throat. “You can’t,” I choke out. “You can’t tell the Shadowguard anything. What you’re saying isn’t even real.”
“They can be the ones to decide that,” Andrew counters.
Oh god. This can’t be happening.
All my life, I’ve believed in the Shadowguard. I trust the organization with my life, but I don’t trust its leader. As long as Head Minister Hendricks is calling the shots, I want to stay as far away from the organization as I can while still fulfilling my dream of becoming a Guardian. I guess I’m more like my mom than I realized.
A cell phone buzzes on Andrew’s desk, distracting him from his enthusiastic and dangerous ideas.
“Are you going to get that?” I jerk my head towards the device. “It could be important.”
Andrew frowns and looks between me and the phone. He knows the moment he steps away from the door, I’m out of there. Not that it will make a difference. He can still report his ridiculous idea to the Shadowguard, but I’m banking on the fact that he won’t do it right away. I need to find Logan and convince him to stop his friend from blowing up our operation.
As any true Guardian would decide, duty comes first. Andrew mutters something about stubborn girl under his breath then moves to answer the phone.
Immediately, my hand is on the door knob and flinging it open. I rush forward and collide with a sturdy torso.
I yelp and try to step back to regain my balance, but strong hands grab onto my arms and hold me in place.
That’s when I recognize the owner of the dark jacket covering the muscular chest.
Logan.
My mentor scans me from head to toe before locking onto my eyes. He looks at me like this is the first time he actually sees me.
Dread consumes me as I realize he more than likely overheard part of our conversation. My heart begins to beat frantically with fear.
We stay like that for several seconds, just staring at one another. Behind me, I hear Andrew using clipped words and several “yes sirs”.
Logan finally breaks the silent stare down. “Wait here.” He moves me so I lean against the wall, then enters the office. His stylus is suddenly in his hands.
I press my back against the wall and stare straight ahead. Everything is such a mess, and I haven’t even had the chance to tell Logan about Azazel invading Belial’s dream.
“Hey, Logan.” I hear Andrew murmur. I imagine he’s muffled the mouth piece on his phone to greet his friend.
“Hey,” Logan returns.
Andrew resumes his conversation. Then, I hear a loud crash.
Chapter Twenty-Five
I jolt forward, startled by the noise.
Two seconds later, Logan charges out of the room and he’s in my face. “Can you run?”
“Uh…” I’m startled by the sudden question. “What?”
“You.
Can you run? Are you up for it?”
I assess my body. I’m not one hundred percent, but I have some strength. “Yeah. I can run.”
“Good.” He grabs my elbow and drags me with him down the hall.
“What’s going on?” I struggle to keep up with his long stride, nearly tripping over my feet in an attempt to match his pace. Logan’s strong grip keeps me upright. “What was that crash? Is Andrew all right?”
“Andrew’s fine.” Logan shoves open the door to the stairwell, thankfully slowing a bit as we rush down. “I had to knock him out to draw the sigil on him, but I put a healing one too. He won’t be concussed when he wakes up.”
“Woah! You hit him?” I yank my arm back. It doesn’t break his hold, but it does make Logan pause.
“Yes,” he says. “I needed to erase his memory of your conversation, and I couldn’t do that if he was awake.”
I stutter, trying to come up with a response. “W-why would you erase his memory?”
Logan gives me a look. “You know why.” He tugs lightly on my arm, and we continue down the stairs.
I swallow the lump in my throat. “So you heard what he said about me…” I trial off, unable to say the ridiculous words out loud.
“I did.”
“And you erased his memory because…?” We exit the stairwell, then proceed to the courtyard.
“Because I can’t have him going to the council and telling them anything about you or Belial. It’ll ruin everything.”
Some of my anxiety fades. That takes care of that problem.
As we move through the courtyard, we pass a few second-year students. Thankfully, all of my peers are preoccupied in class, and I’m saved the embarrassment of them seeing me dragged around like an errant toddler.
Now that I’m not as worried about the Shadowguard trying to use me as bait to control Belial, I begin to ramble my thoughts out loud. “It’s so crazy, right? I can’t believe Andrew actually thinks any of it’s real. Talk about a delusional and ridiculous story.”
Logan stops without warning, and I crash into his back.
Oomph.
Some of the breath is knocked out of me.
Demon Marked: Shadowguard Academy Book 2 Page 18
