Awakening Fire: The Divine Tree Guardians (The Divine Tree Guardians Series Book 1)

by Larissa Emerald

  I don’t know. What do you think? She pursed her wrinkled lips. I don’t want to cause her any more grief.

  Venn lifted his shoulders and let them fall. She’s been dealing with some form of the supernatural her entire life. My guess is she’d approve.

  Claire nodded. Right. Right.

  “Emma,” he said quietly. “Your grandmother is here to say good-bye.”

  Emma whipped her head around to stare at him. “What was that?”

  With a knowing lift of his brow, he smiled. “She’s perched on the far side of the bed next to the pillow.”

  Tell her I’m proud of her and that I know she’ll be fine.

  “She says you’ll be fine and that she’s proud of you.”

  Emma put her palm to her chest and searched the corner of the bed. “Oh, I’m going to miss you, Grams.” Her eyes watered and her voice caught.

  Don’t cry, Claire sputtered.

  “She doesn’t want to upset you, doesn’t want you to cry.”

  Emma bit her lips and shook her head. “It’s okay. I’m okay.”

  Let’s get this show on the road.

  Venn chuckled.

  “What’d she say?” Emma asked.

  He repeated it for her.

  Emma rose and walked over to Venn. He took hold of her hand and squeezed it.

  “How long do you think we should wait for my dad?” she asked.

  “Let’s give him a bit of time.”

  Hey, it’s not like I have a Parcheesi game to play here, Claire grumbled.

  His mouth pulled up.

  “What did she say now?”

  “Talking about Parcheesi.”

  “Oh, Grams. I love you so much!”

  Venn tipped his head and put his lips to her hair. “She loves you, too.”

  Hey, don’t get cocky, Romeo.

  Venn straightened, then, hearing heavy footfalls coming through the hospice center. “Your dad’s here,” Venn reported.

  Claire didn’t budge, but she smiled as her son entered the room. He won’t understand this, but maybe one day you can tell him, that no matter how much of a pain in the ass he can be at times… I love him.

  Venn felt himself choke up as he said, “Of course.”

  When he glanced at Mr. Grant, the man looked like he’d been up all night. His usual crisp appearance was in disarray and his hair looked like it had been finger-combed a few too many times.

  “I found it,” he said as he walked by them, raising a book into the air titled. He eased into the chair beside the bed.

  Venn didn’t know what Grant was referring to, but the man carried a book in his hand. Venn shot a questioning glance to Emma.

  “It’s a book about love and how life changes but family is always family. We used to read it when I was a little girl.” She let go of his hand and slipped her arm behind his back, pulling herself more securely into his embrace.

  What truly surprised him was Grant’s lack of explanation. He gave no indication whether he accepted the implementation of the living will or planned to continue fighting it. However, given his nonconfrontational behavior, Venn was presuming the former.

  Carl Grant opened the book and read the story about a family tree and a mother who would put a heart-shaped leaf on the branches each day, claiming that no matter what happened in life, the love of a mother to her child never failed. And when the child grew up, it was his turn to fill the branches of the tree with never-ending love. Venn watched Mrs. Grant’s expression change from sadness to one of pleasure as she looked on, her eyes crinkling and mouth softening.

  The tale epitomized the love and bond of a mother, and exposed a longing in Venn he hadn’t felt or thought about for a long, long time. It reminded him how lonely the life he’d been given actually was. To be immortal meant everyone else moved on and he remained. Alone.

  His chest tightened at the memory of his own parents, of his long-ago youth, of years and years living a solitary existence. He glanced down at Emma, and the bond between father and daughter and grandmother swirled energy about the room. It brought home just how important it was for him to have Emma in his life, to have someone to love and love him in return.

  He took a deliberate, controlling breath.

  When the reading was finished, Mr. Grant sniffed mightily. “I love you, Mom. I wish I hadn’t wasted so much time. You were right: I had my priorities all wrong.”

  Mrs. Grant straightened. Hmph. Did you hear that? I’m right. Imagine that. I don’t think I’ve been right since he was eight years old.

  Dabbing a handkerchief to his eyes, Mr. Grant rose from the chair and crossed to where Emma waited. He hugged her. “I love you, too.”

  She patted his back. “I know.”

  As he pulled away, he said, “I’ll go get a staff member.”

  While he was gone, Emma plucked a few tissues from the box on the nightstand. Several minutes later, her father returned with a young doctor.

  The woman’s voice was calm and informative as she explained, “Since you’ve elected to honor her living will, we’re going to remove the life support systems. If you will step into the waiting room for a few minutes, we’ll call you when we’re finished.”

  They filed out of the room to the waiting room across the hall. No one sat, though. At one end of the room, Mr. Grant got a cup of coffee, took a couple of sips, then set it down and stared out the window. Emma clasped her arms about herself, and Venn hugged her and spoke into her ear. “Your grandmother is okay with this, you know.”

  “I wish I could see her, too.”

  “Yeah.”

  “I wish you could use some of your powers to bring her back.”

  “Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. Even I will have a time to die.”

  She gazed at him with a quizzical brow, and whispered, “What do you mean? You’re immortal.”

  “For the most part, yes. But if the tree dies, so do I.”

  Emma blinked. Any response was cut off before it began as a nurse came in and said they were ready.

  In her grandmother’s room, they took up posts around the bed.

  The nurse remained off to the side. “Many times the patient breathes on her own for a short while, even days sometimes. Eventually the body stops functioning and the patient passes on peacefully. You are welcome to remain in the room as long as you wish.”

  Venn wrapped his arm about Emma’s shoulders. He felt her stand taller, perhaps fortifying herself, as Mrs. Grant’s breaths grew markedly more labored and further apart.

  Emma took up her hand and held it. “It’s all right to go, Grams,” Emma whispered.

  It doesn’t hurt. It’s actually quite freeing, she responded to Venn.

  He shared that piece of info with Emma. Then Mrs. Grant’s corporeal self began to rise and grow larger. I almost forgot! What about Io? Are you keeping my Emma safe?

  Don’t worry. I will take care of her, Venn promised the departing woman.

  With that, she vanished into the beyond.

  When the nurse pronounced her gone, Emma’s body shuddered in his arms as she tried to control the crying heaves that threatened to wrack her body. She straightened her spine and pulled away from Venn with a resolve that worried him.

  He didn’t want her to shut herself off from him in her grief. He feared his Emma was going in the wrong direction.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Her grandmother’s passing propelled Emma into overdrive. The statue’s dedication was scheduled for tomorrow morning, and she looked forward to honoring Grams in that way, recalling how excited she’d been about the project upon Emma’s arrival. To Emma, this was her grandmother’s personal memorial. But at the same time, it felt like it was too soon.

  She had sent Venn home, and her father was busy making cremation arrangements. Thankfully, he had stepped up after it was all over and had taken charge. They’d decided to have a celebration of life next Tuesday. She wished they could postpone the statue ceremony until after sh
e laid her grandmother to rest. It felt like the right course to take.

  She stared at the garment selections she’d laid out on the bed for the dedication ceremony, focusing on what she actually had control over. Izzy came over from where he was curled up on the bed and snuggled down on top of a pink floral dress, then looked at Emma with his big, brown eyes. “Yes, I think you’re right. That is the best choice.”

  She tugged the dress from beneath the dog and held it up in front of her to inspect it in the mirror. It was a flowing nylon piece that traveled well and almost never needed ironing. She hung it over the closet door.

  Grabbing her cell phone, she intended to call Jacob Price to confirm the details for tomorrow’s ceremony in the park, get it checked off her list. But the doorbell chimed before she could dial.

  Wondering if one of her grandmother’s friends had already learned of her passing, she hurried downstairs to see who it was. No, not a friend. Jacob himself stood there, leaning with his hip propped against the railing.

  “Good afternoon. I’m sorry to hear about your grandmother.”

  “Mr. Price,” she said, surprised. “How…how did know so quickly?”

  “I just stopped by to confirm the details about tomorrow,” he went on, ignoring her question.

  She stepped out onto the porch, allowing the door to shut behind her. For some reason, she didn’t feel right inviting him inside. “I’ve been thinking… Perhaps it’s the wrong time for the dedication. Given the circumstances, I would really prefer to wait until after Grams’s funeral.”

  “No,” he said firmly. “Everything is set. We can’t postpone things.”

  She shook her head. “I really—”

  Mr. Price shot her a glare. “Listen up, you little vixen. We will proceed as planned. Who do you think led your grandmother into the well in the first place?”

  Emma slapped her hand over her mouth to hold in the scream that threatened to rip her apart. No. That couldn’t be.

  “Yes, mindless girl. Just as Venn has control of certain things, so do I. Arrows, wells, I can do it all.”

  Emma bit her lip, beyond confused as her brain worked frantically to piece together what he was saying. Only one arrow came to mind. And it had killed her in her past life.

  She shuffled backward.

  “Don’t be silly. You can’t escape me. And I’m not out to harm you this time.” He pushed off the rail and pulled himself taller. “But if you want your dear Grams to see her just reward in the lovely hereafter, then you better follow through with our plan. Otherwise, her soul is mine in hell.”

  She shook her head again.

  “Or else…” He shrugged, flashing his hand through the air as if throwing something. A ball of fire hurled from his fingertips and slammed into the earth in the front yard.

  Emma's chest constricted and her palms grew moist. Her eyes darted about. Where was Venn?

  “Do as I say and your grandmother goes to heaven. Don’t do as I say… Well, you know what happens. It’s up to you.”

  Emma swallowed hard. “Okay.”

  “Good choice,” he said, smirking. “Everything is set. All you have to do is show up. Quarter to ten tomorrow.” And with that, he disappeared in a puff of black smoke.

  Chills came over Emma, and she trembled violently. Oh God. What was she going to do? That horrible man, or whatever he was, had killed Grams, and now he was threatening to send her to hell. Could he even do that?

  Yes. She couldn’t explain how but she knew full well he could…and would. She inhaled a breath down to her toes.

  Venn had been right to warn her.

  * * *

  The sun illuminated the proud, ancient Divine Tree, casting Venn and Seth in deep shadows. Venn paced about, stepping over roots that snaked above the earth. Seth pushed his hands into the pockets of his jeans. The officiating guests had not arrived yet.

  His gaze shot to the heavy sword leaning against the tree. He didn’t know how things would go down, but he’d stocked himself from his arsenal and come prepared, armed with a variety of weapons, from knives to guns to crossbow. Custos’s words echoed in his head. How do you capture the wind? Or kill the rain? How do you control the tornado? Or harness a hurricane? Did that mean Io couldn’t be stopped? Oh, he knew there were reasons he shouldn’t destroy the demon, but that wasn’t the same thing at all.

  Absently, he considered the good citizens of Tyler who might attend today’s event. They may be in for quite a shock.

  The quandary over what to do about Emma and the dedication was eating him up.

  “We know Io is going to use Emma in some way,” Seth declared as if saying it one more time would give them a solution.

  “No shit, Renaissance Man,” Venn bit out. He didn’t have to check his watch to know time was running out. Emma would arrive any minute. He had wanted to drive her, but she’d insisted on riding with her dad since he was attending the ceremony.

  She was in such a vulnerable state after losing her grandmother and with everything that had happened, Venn didn’t push it. Besides, it didn’t seem Io was as intent on killing Emma as Venn had thought.

  Yes. She would be safe from Io, and she was the most important thing in the world to him. Then again, how would she ever be truly safe if the demon was alive?

  Custos was his duty. Seth his friend. Emma his love for all time.

  Seth snapped his head in Venn’s direction, his eyes hard and piercing. “Don’t even think about it, Guardian.”

  Venn straightened. “Reading my thoughts again, angel?”

  “You are in such a state of discontentment; your thoughts are dancing on energy and whirling about you. I don’t have to dig to read them. You are shouting to the universe.”

  Venn continued to pace as he growled low in his throat. His beasts joined in his tormenting chorus, adding more snarls and cries.

  The wind shifted then, carrying with it a stench, an odor so nauseating that Venn wrinkled his nose and coughed. He’d know that smell anywhere.

  The earth shook as the barghest thundered toward them, then stopped, transforming into Io’s human form. Every muscle within Venn tightened, from the base of his neck to the curl and flex of his fingers, ready to do damage to that ugly puss. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end. Io had to have a reason for showing himself, and past experience indicated the demon thought he had the upper hand.

  Io laughed haughtily. “Having a meeting and you didn’t call me?”

  Venn made certain to mask his thoughts from both Seth and Io. “Return to your hellhole, demon. There is nothing for you here.”

  “Ah, but there is. How about giving me a tour into the ancient catacombs of the Divine Tree?”

  “When hell freezes over,” Seth said with ancient authority.

  “Don’t be so sure, brother.” Io advanced on Venn, his gaze darting between angel and Guardian. “There’s a plan in motion that you cannot stop. And if you dare to try…well, it will cost dear Emma’s life.”

  Venn clenched his hands into fists. “I’ll kill you before I let you harm her.”

  “Will you now?” Io smirked. “That’s not what your angel says. Isn’t that right?”

  The demon was so smug as he glanced at Seth, and Venn longed to rip his head off right then and there. The debate within him whirled in an angry maelstrom, pitting duty against desire, loyalty against love, friend against soul mate. The blood within his veins began to bubble and the branches of every tree, with the exception of Custos, shook violently.

  “You assume too much,” Venn spat. “Come on. Let’s have this out right now. I’m ready to go to my maker.” He’d do anything to spare Emma.

  With a vicious growl, Venn changed into his wolf form. He dove at Io, who in a matter of seconds also transformed into beast.

  “Oh geez. A brawl,” Seth said, his voice laced with sarcasm. “I haven’t had a front-row seat to one of these in ages.” Then the angel stepped back out of harm’s way.

  His wolf i
ncreased in mass until he equaled the barghest in size and bulk and strength. He launched for the soft underside of Io’s neck, opening his jaw and sinking sharp teeth deep into the demon, ripping away flesh.

  Io roared and shook Venn off as yellow blood slung in all directions and sizzled when it struck the ground. Then he swiped his vicious claws at the wolf, catching fur and skin, like a pitchfork scoring bark.

  Hot knives of pain caused Venn to buckle. He rolled and stood once more, off to the side beyond Io’s reach. He heaved shallow, ragged breaths while his vision cleared. Then he struck again with the singular thought of killing the beast.

  In a flail of claws and teeth, they locked on to each other, tumbling over the earth until a powerful force blasted them yards apart, dropping them to the dirt.

  “Enough,” Seth shouted.

  As the wolf altered into man, Venn drew himself up,his ribs expanding with every breath, he faced Seth. “Thanks for stopping me.”

  Seth clasped Venn's shoulder. “Do whay you must, Guardian. I'm willing to take his place in the Dark Realm.”

  Io reformed with a nasty laugh. “Huh, no need to worry, Brother. He won't kill me." The demon scowled at Venn. "I can take your Emma whenever I want. The only thing you can do to save her is stay the hell out of my business and not interfere with the task I have given her. It’s ceremonial, really.” As if he knew he was holding all the cards, Io straightened and disappeared.

  Venn grabbed hold of his stomach, physically ill at being tied to his obligation to the Divine Tree. As sure as if chains bound him, he couldn’t save her. At least not her and his oak. And to consider the havoc the death of Custos would inflict on the world, most likely create another shift of the earth, definitely release more evil, and cause the deaths of untold mothers, fathers, children, and brothers. Inconceivable.

  And Emma was his Achilles’ heel.

  Seth stretched his wings in an exhausted expand and retract. “You must stop whatever Io has planned. At any cost.”

  Venn stood and nodded grudgingly. What if that meant Emma’s life? Something inside Venn cracked open. He couldn’t go through the agony of her dying again. He just couldn’t.