Netherworld, Soul Guardians Book 4

by Richardson, Kim

  Kara watched David nervously. Whatever essence roamed inside her body, she knew it was dangerous. It was the darkness she felt sometimes in the corners of her mind. It could be poison to another angel. What if her essence made him sick? Or worse…killed him.

  “Kara, listen. We think it’s going to work.” David approached her carefully. “You have to trust me on this. You’re going to need our help on the other side. I’m not letting you go alone this time. Forget it. This is going to work. I know it will. Just give it a chance.”

  “And if it doesn’t? What then?” Kara clenched her jaw.

  “Then we’ll both go back. Promise.” David’s eyes shone with concern. “But I have to try first. If it doesn’t work, then we’ll go.”

  Kara was touched that David thought himself her protector, but she was afraid for him. Afraid of what might happen once they stepped into the demon’s realm. Having allies was a plus—she could most definitely use their help—what harm could it do? If they could pass unharmed, then it was worth a shot. Jenny’s soul was worth a shot.

  She sighed loudly. David cupped her hand in his and stared at her expectantly. Their eyes locked for a moment.

  Reluctantly, Kara gave David both her hands. “This better work.”

  He turned her palms over.

  Carefully, David pressed his blade into Kara’s right palm. With a twist of his wrist, he sliced through. A sting pained her, but she showed no emotion. Immediately, light poured from the wound and illuminated their faces in a golden glow. The cut was deep. Golden droplets fell to the ground at her feet. With another sting, David sliced Kara’s left palm.

  Satisfied, he then pressed the blade in his own hand, and sliced his palm. His M flesh parted slightly and rays of white light showed through his wound. White liquid poured down his wrist. After he cut his other palm, he turned and grabbed a petrified Peter.

  With a small moan, Peter closed his eyes, and David cut both his palms. Peter’s face was illuminated in rays of white light.

  “And now we all hold hands,” said David.

  The three of them clasped their hands together and formed a circle.

  At first nothing happened, and then Kara felt a soft tingling in her palms. Her eyes met David’s momentarily, and he gave her a reassuring smile. A surge of warmth passed through her chest and escaped through her hands. She felt a cool release flow through her like a stream. Tiny golden sparks danced around Kara’s hands. They coiled around her arms and circled around David’s arms first and then Peter’s, until the three of them were covered in spirals of gold. Her elemental power rose without summoning. She felt it pass along her arms and escape through her hands. She heard Peter and David laugh. Her head fell forward slightly, and she felt the energy drain from her a little, as from a virus from when she was mortal. But it wasn’t enough to alarm her. Slowly, her energy flowed from her body.

  A violent jolt shook them. Golden wires of current spiraled and twisted around them savagely. With a loud crack, the golden tendrils tightened their grip. Kara’s face and clothes were buffeted violently in the strong winds. With a sudden boom, the lights above exploded and showered them with pieces of hot glass. A blast of golden light lit the air around them. The ground trembled and Kara’s hair stood on end.

  “Something is wrong!” shouted Kara over the raging winds. She tried to pull her hands away, but she couldn’t. It was as though they were crazy-glued to each other. Peter looked towards the ceiling. His eyes widened. Kara followed his gaze.

  A dark cloud formed above their heads. It swirled and closed in on them. Blinding lightning bolts flicked and struck the ground at their feet. The entire structure shook and rattled. It threatened to collapse on them at any moment. Thick chunks of plaster fell on their heads and exploded from the walls. Floorboards creaked and shot up in the air. Kara heard Peter cry out above the whistling of the wind. Another lightning bolt struck directly in front of them.

  Kara groaned. This was wrong. She shouldn’t have let them talk her into this.

  The dark storm was all around them. Lightning crackled through the darkness. It howled and threw another volley of lightning bolts.

  “Kara, it’s burning!” shouted David above the howling wind.

  Kara staggered forward as David wrenched his arms in the other direction. Their hands wouldn’t come apart. He cried out in frustration.

  Desperately, Kara gave a sharp tug of her hands. Nothing.

  Peter’s face was screwed in agony. She watched his lips move in a silent cry. Kara pulled at their hands with excruciating force. Nothing. They were all cemented together. She felt if she pulled anymore, she would rip off their arms. The smell of burning flesh rose to her nostrils. Mist coiled around Peter and David’s bodies. They were being roasted.

  Kara closed her eyes and concentrated. Blocking out Peter and David’s howls, she searched for her power. She called it forth. At once, a warm energy surged within her. It drew back in, as though her body were a vacuum and sucked the remnants of her power through her hands. It rippled through her palms and down inside her.

  Suddenly, a ball of white-hot power formed in the middle of their circle. The ball grew. With a sudden explosion, Kara, Peter, and David were propelled into the air and crashed against the walls.

  Stillness. Kara rolled over and looked around. She blinked through a haze of light smoke. Tiny fires burned in the cardboard boxes and clothes on the floor. Scorch marks painted the walls with ugly black stains. She hauled a piece of broken drywall off of her legs and looked over to Peter and David.

  “You guys okay?”

  David pushed himself up and wiped his jeans. Clouds of white dust rolled off his clothes. “I still have all my parts. Peter? You okay, man?”

  Peter pushed himself to a sitting position. He nodded and adjusted his glasses. “What the heck happened? Did you guys feel that?” He spit out dirt from his mouth.

  Kara jumped to her feet. She scowled at them for a moment before her expression cooled. “I’m guessing a side effect to your master plan—I knew this was a mistake—and by the looks of everything, I’d say it was a very big one.”

  “Oh, come on! It was awesome,” beamed David as he stretched. “I’ve never experienced anything like that. It was as if I could feel you guys pass through me. Man, that was freakin’ weird.”

  “Yeah,” said Peter and his eyes widened. “But I’m not sure what the whole cloud thing was…and the lightning? What was that all about?”

  Kara pressed her hands on her hips. “Maybe it was a warning that this was a bad idea.” She put out one of the fires with her boot. “But how do you feel now,” she asked nervously. “Do you feel any different? Sick? Weak?”

  “I don’t feel sick. But I do feel a little light headed…as though I’ve had a few too many drinks.” David laughed.

  Peter was silent for a second, and then he lifted his brows. “Not what I expected. But I feel surprisingly well. Hopefully it’ll still work. I’m not sure though…after the whole lightening attack.”

  “It’ll work. I’m telling you.” David rubbed his hands together. “Ok. Let’s get this party started—”

  An elderly woman stormed into the basement. Her heavy chest rose and fell as she gasped for breath. Her red and white flowered print dress swayed and settled around her large middle. Her white hair was pulled back into a bun. Her large grey eyes were frightened. She lifted a bony finger and pointed. “Demônios! Vocês são demônios!” she howled.

  “What did she just say?” whispered Kara. She watched the old woman intensely. Something dark gleamed behind her in her other hand.

  “My Portuguese is a little rough. But I think she just called us demons,” said Peter, and he gave Kara a shrug.

  “Great. That’s all we need now.” Kara approached the woman carefully. “Please, I don’t speak Portuguese. But we’re not demons.” She pointed to herself and shook her head. “See, we’re angels…no dominoes.”

  The woman recoiled. She raised her other h
and. A dark object rattled in her grasp.

  “Oh, man! She’s got a gun. This is so not good.” David slapped his forehead with an open hand.

  “David, quiet!” Kara lifted her hands up. “Please…we mean you no harm—”

  BANG!

  The woman’s hand jerked back. Smoke rose from the barrel. A little throb of pain vibrated in Kara’s chest, and then it was gone. She staggered back. She pressed her hands on her chest. The woman shot her.

  At first she started to panic, but then she realized that she couldn’t die from a gunshot as she was already dead. She heard something hit the floor behind her. Kara knelt and picked up a brass bullet from the gun. It felt warm against her palm. She stood up and lifted her shirt. Slowly, she moved her hand over her abdomen. Her skin was whole except for a tiny whole above her belly button. There was no pain. The bullet had gone right through.

  “Diabo! Diabo!” The old woman threw up her hands and wailed. The gun fell to the ground with a soft clang. She turned on her heel and ran up the stairs at a speed Kara thought would be impossible for such an old woman with such a large belly. Kara heard a few crashes, a deafening scream, and then silence.

  “Well, that went well,” laughed David. He walked over the staircase and shouted. “Any more old ladies care to take a shot at us? There’s a senior’s special—two for one—if you hurry.”

  Kara pressed her hand against her chest again. The hole had disappeared. “Wow. I’ve never been shot before. It felt really weird.” Kara examined her stomach again. The wound had already healed.

  Peter walked over to the staircase and peered up. “We better hurry up before her entire family comes back with shotguns and demon repellent powders.”

  David bobbed his head. “He’s right. We don’t want to make the five o’clock local news—although I do enjoy my five minutes of fame—just not mixed up with grannies and guns.”

  Kara eyed the Rift cautiously, “Then, let’s get out of here.”

  Peter crossed the basement and stood before the Rift. “Well, it’s now or never.”

  He glanced nervously at the shimmering wall. “Who wants to go first?” He began to smile.

  David took Peter by the arm and pulled him away. “Sure. I’ll be the guinea pig. Let’s find out if this worked.” David stepped in front of the Rift. He lifted his right hand and pushed it through. After a second he retrieved it. His hand was unscathed.

  “It worked!” Peter danced on the spot, his face beamed. “I knew it! I knew it! I’m a genius.”

  Kara shifted uncomfortably. Part of her was glad their scheme had worked, but another part dreaded what would happen next. She didn’t want them to risk their souls with her. “Guys, before you get too excited—you know Lilith’s leading us into a trap, right? We might not make it back.”

  David took Kara’s hand gently. “We know…and we’re going. I’d do anything to save Jenny, even if it meant we might not make it back. We owe her. She’s our friend, too.”

  Kara sighed. “I know. I’d probably do the same if I were in your shoes. Okay, let’s do this. Jenny may not have very long. Remember, I’ve got to get information for the Council, too. I’m going to need some time to figure out if there are other Liliths.”

  “Any ideas how you’re going to do that?”

  “No. But they’re depending on me. I’ll figure something out. Now, be careful and watch your backs. This place is foul, really foul. Never let your guard down—ever.”

  “We won’t.” Peter shoved the dagger back into his backpack. He swung his pack over his shoulders and planted his feet. “We’re ready.”

  “Good.” Kara gave Peter a smile. Whatever adversities waited for them on the other side, she prayed that Jenny would still be in good enough shape to make the trip back. Who knew what Lilith had already done to her? She would find out very soon.

  Kara stepped forward and teetered. A spell of dizziness washed over her suddenly. She pressed her hand on her forehead. Her vision blurred and then sharpened.

  “Kara? Are you okay?” David grabbed her elbow and steadied her. “What’s the matter? How are you feeling? Kara?”

  Kara strained to open her mouth, but it was like trying to force open a brick wall. A wave of sickness rushed through her. A cold ache spread to her limbs, like from the symptoms of the flu virus, but worse. “What is happening?”

  “Kara?”

  The spell lessened. Her strength returned gradually. She pried open her mouth with great difficulty. “I—I’m okay now. It passed.”

  “Are you sure?” David’s expression was a mix of concern and regret. “You don’t look so good. You look a little sick. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.”

  “No, no. Don’t worry about it.” Kara straightened. “I’m feeling much better. It was nothing. I’m fine, seriously.”

  “It didn’t look like nothing.”

  “I’m fine really. I promise.” Kara forced a smile and averted her eyes. She yanked her arm, but David wouldn’t let go. “I’m okay, David, really. We should get going. You don’t want to keep Lilith waiting.”

  Remnants of the dizzy spell still lingered inside her, but she ignored them.

  David studied Kara’s face for a moment. Finally he released her arm and brandished two soul blades. Their glimmer reflected on his grinning face. “All right then.”

  David jumped up and slashed the air in front of him. “Come on people! We’ve got some demons to cut up!”

  And with that, Kara, David, and Peter stepped into the Rift.

  Chapter 11

  The Demon City

  Kara was immediately sucked into a giant vacuum of nothingness. The void of blackness that surrounded her reminded her of the wrenching sensation she had felt when she had stepped through a Rift before. She hated it. She tried to turn her head to search for the others, but she couldn’t move. She was being dragged helplessly into a giant funnel. A speck of red light appeared. It seemed so far away, like a twinkling star. The speck grew until her surroundings exploded in red light.

  Kara was thrown to the ground. She sneezed into red fluff. Two other bodies crashed onto her, and she let out a yelp. With great effort she squeezed herself out from under them. She grabbed a handful of blood red velvet drapes and pulled herself to her feet. In the process, she knocked her head on a twirling disco ball.

  A giant cockroach greeted her with a bow. “Kara! Ma chéri! I knew ’u would come back to me, mon amour!” He sprung upwards and landed on the panel next to her, his long red tailcoat rippling around him. His antennae shaped the form of a heart. “’You cannot live wizout moi!”

  David scrambled to his feet. “Are you freaking serious? We’re in an elevator with a giant cockroach who’s in love with you? Please tell me I’m dreaming.”

  Peter sat on the ground and adjusted his glasses. “Whoa…is it friendly?” He cowered against the back panel and grabbed his ankles. “I never liked roaches. Especially big ones.”

  “Check it out—the bug’s wearing clothes.” David inspected the giant cockroach. “Kara, is this where you landed the first time? In here? With this giant bug?”

  “Yes and yes.” Kara rubbed her head and steadied the disco ball. “This is exactly where I arrived the first time. Where I met Jean-Pierre.”

  “Ah ha! Iz ’ee ’ur boyfriend?” Jean-Pierre poked David in the chest with his cane. He observed David suspiciously with beady black eyes. “Iz not very good looking, ’u know. ’Ee does not smell very good.”

  David slapped the cane away. “Easy there bug. You don’t want me to go all terminator on you.”

  “Bug! Non, non, non!” the bug spat angrily. He tipped his black top hat with his two forearms. “I am Jean-Pierre. And ’oo are you? What are you doing ’ere?”

  “Jean-Pierre,” Kara stepped forward. “I’d like you to meet my friends David and Peter. We’re on a mission to save our friend who was taken against her will into the netherworld. Will you help us?” Kara flashed her best smile. She remembered hav
ing to kiss the cockroach in order for him to help her. She prayed he would not ask her to do it again. Not with David and Peter watching. It would be too humiliating.

  Jean-Pierre studied Kara with large black eyes. Every second or so, he looked over to David and Peter, then back to her. It was unnerving to be scrutinized by a giant bug.

  “Angels are forbidden into ze nezerworld,” said Jean-Pierre at last.

  “But you’ve let me go before. Please, Jean-Pierre,” Kara pleaded. “This is really important. Wouldn’t you do everything you could for a friend in trouble?”

  She watched the cockroach’s eyes carefully for a sign of understanding. She had hoped that Jean-Pierre would let them pass without question. She hadn’t anticipated his reluctance.

  “’Zat was différent, ma chéri. You are not like zem.” Jean-Pierre followed her every move with his bulging black eyes. “You ’ave ze demon in you.”

  Kara sighed. “Tell me about it.” Kara started to feel more desperate. Jenny was out there somewhere being tortured—and Jean-Pierre was giving her a hard time.

  Jean-Pierre studied David and Peter for a moment. His antennae folded over like a question mark. “But zey do smell a little différent—what iz dat? Why do you smell different?”

  “It’s a long story.” Kara held her head in her hands. David and Peter had not been part of the original plan. She had to think of something.

  “Jean-Pierre…I’ll…I’ll give you what you want, if you let me and my friends pass through. What do you say?”

  “What’s going on, Kara?” David stepped in front of the cockroach. “What does it want?” Kara saw David reach inside his jacket.

  Kara sprung between David and Jean-Pierre and pushed away his blade. “Jean-Pierre, my friend Jenny needs our help.” She pressed her hands together. “I beg you. Please let us pass.”

  Jean-Pierre eyeballed David. The disco ball reflected in his eyes. “I zee that you ’ave replaced moi with ’im.” He pressed his forearms against his chest. “My ’eart iz broken.”