by Simone Pond
“Does this mean I’ll be able to see evilness at all times?”
“You can learn to tone it down. Use it like x-ray vision.”
“Good, because those creatures down there are heinous. And there’s a lot more than I would’ve thought.”
Ezra stepped back, admiring me in all my glory. “Remember, you can’t fight supernatural evil without the Armor. Since your dimension is swarming with it, I recommend you wear it at all times.”
I wanted to know if it would be okay to lose my virginity while wearing the Armor, but I wasn’t sure how to ask. “What about, um, you know—intimate situations?”
Ezra’s brown cheeks actually blushed. Who knew angelic Guides experienced human emotions? “I don’t recommend it. Unless you want to be blasted into another dimension.”
“So at all times, except during sex?”
He shook his head and rolled his gleaming eyes, then came around to show me how to properly activate the sword and shield. All I had to do was visualize them or call on them to activate each piece. Much more convenient than carrying them everywhere. We went through a few scenarios, him attacking me from behind, diving at me from above and tackling me head on. It took some getting used to, but within no time I was slicing and dicing, wielding and shielding. The magical Armor seemed to have a life of its own. It had activated some sort of dormant fighting skill-set embedded in my DNA. I guess it was in my bloodline.
Ezra jabbed his sword, forcing me to use my shield. The force field surrounded my body and ricocheted him across the room. I thought he’d be hurt, but he jumped up, beaming. “You got it! You’re a super-natural.”
“Funny, Ez. Real funny.”
We took a break, and he gave me some sort of effervescent drink that felt like a bottle of pure liquid vitality recharging my cells. He continued explaining my new job as a Protector of Light. “The Sacred Scrolls are vital to the Monarchy’s survival. Call them the supernatural ‘source code’ for our known dimensions. The Scrolls contain the power of creative energy, which is the Light. Anyone who can decode them will be able to bend the Light to do their will—like hacking and reprogramming reality. At the moment, Cagliostro has two of them, we think. If he gets all seven, Darkness will overshadow the Light; evil will be the all-knowing, all-powerful source—not only in your dimension, but all of them. The ancient glyphs are difficult to decipher, but not impossible. The translation keys have been encoded into the DNA of a specific group of bloodlines: the Protectors. Now do you see what Cagliostro’s angle is?”
I didn’t want to talk about Cagliostro anymore. I wanted to put my magical Armor to use. “Let’s do some more drills.”
“Did you hear a word I said?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. My DNA can decode the Scrolls. Cagliostro is an asshole. Et cetera.”
I jumped up and called on the sword. It manifested in my right hand, and I pointed at Ezra, edging him backward across the room. After a few turns, he came at me full force, beads of sweat dripping from his muscular shoulders and determination in his gleaming eyes. He barreled into me, sending me skyward. My back smacked against the high crystal ceiling, then I dropped and crash landed onto the marble floor. The pain was astonishing at first, and I expected every single bone to be crushed. But as I gasped for air, I noticed the blistering pain had ceased.
“I’m okay!” I shouted.
“Of course you are. You’re wearing the Armor. You’re protected.”
“So I’m invincible?”
“Not entirely. Even though the Armor is impenetrable, your mind is not. You can’t take a barrage of attacks without malevolent fear magic weakening your mind.”
“Fear magic? Sounds made up, Ez.”
“It’s not. And it’s serious. You’ll have to be aware of spells and mind controlling tactics. You’re dealing with powerful beings and they run the gamut on how they can attack you.”
“So how does it work then, if my mind is weakened?”
“If you lose yourself in their magic, call for the Armor and it will be with you. You must remember that you’re not the source. You’re a conduit. The Light is the source.”
“Well, isn’t that illuminating…” I teased, but Ezra didn’t find it funny.
“The Light is in you, and you are in it. You protect the Light by allowing it to protect you. And when you are trained properly, rather than shielding the Light from the Darkness, you will use the Light to vanquish the Darkness. That is why the Shadow Order wants to control the Light; to harness its energy and twist it into Darkness.”
“Um, Ez, honey. That’s pretty deep.”
“It’s also something you must always remember: the Light is the source.”
Right away, I started thinking how useful the Armor would be when I went after Emmett Stone. I wasn’t sure how I’d take him down, but I planned to do everything in my power to make it happen.
fifteen
After a ton of drills in Glimmer City, as I liked to call Ezra’s dimension, he “dropped me off” on my front porch a little after midnight. I was entirely too hyped up to sleep, but I didn’t know what to do. My phone started buzzing with a barrage of incoming texts from earlier that evening. Four from Charlotte, checking up on the Asher status. And three from Asher, asking if I was okay. I wanted to kick myself for completely forgetting about our dinner in North Beach. Since it was too late and stalker-like to text back at this hour, I’d have to wait until morning. What was too early to text? I paced the sidewalk in front of my house, thinking of reasonable excuses for flaking out. Because telling him I was busy learning how to use a magical suit of Armor in Glimmer City was definitely off the table. The more I paced up and down the sidewalk the more frenetic my energy became. The Armor was a phenomenal source of power—like ten cups of strong coffee, only without the jitters.
I needed to release some of that energy, so I expanded my pacing to the empty streets of Pacific Heights. The boots made walking effortless, so I thought I’d give running a try. I took off down the middle of the street, my speed picking up with such an intense velocity that my vision blurred. Before I could count to ten, I was across town at the end of California Street in some park by the Ferry Building.
My head spun as I caught my bearings. The rush was incredible, and I felt invincible as I stood there scanning the park with my new and improved vision. Thanks to the helmet, I could see everything. Not just the random homeless people who were sleeping in tent encampments, but I could see all of the supernatural activity. It was easy to distinguish humans from other entities who had shapeshifted into human form—the real humans didn’t have a shimmery aura like the supernatural ones. Hanging out in the park after midnight with a bunch of evil beings was probably not the smartest idea, especially since I was a newbie at the whole Protector of Light thing. Ezra had told me I’d need a lot more training. He had also given a shit ton of other details that I couldn’t seem to remember.
As I was trying to recall at least one important rule, a burst of heat sizzled against my back and thrust me forward into some bushes. My back was in flames! I pulled myself onto the grass and rolled around until the fire was out. Heat scorched through my body like lava, and I wanted to die right there on the grass. Screw getting up and trying to fight off whatever threw that fireball. But the breastplate started doing some supernatural thing, and suddenly the pain subsided. A new burst of energy shot through me like twenty vitamin B shots, and I jumped to my feet ready to kick some ass.
I faced the fire-lobbing creature that had just blasted me. He was some sort of a half-man half-goat with horns curling out of his temples, and glistering red eyes. I assumed demon. I grinned, which he didn’t like so much. He charged forward with another fireball burning in his hand, aiming at me—if I didn’t move, I was going to get hit again. That time I wasn’t sure if I could hold up. Fear began trickling through my veins and locking me in place so I couldn’t protect myself. I couldn’t move! I couldn’t frigging breathe! Ezra had mentioned something about fear magi
c, and he was right about that—I was scared shitless.
But I knew if the demon had the power to put fear in me, I also had the power to fight it off. It wasn’t real. I lifted my left hand and envisioned my shield, the glowing force field surrounding me just as the ball of fire hit. It ricocheted off my shield and shot across the park, smoldering as it singed the grass. Demon-goat-man lunged at me, but I had manifested my sword and the idiot dove right into the unyielding diamond-hard blade. I expected blood to gush from the creature, but instead his entire essence burst into millions of sparks, leaving behind absolutely nothing.
Catching my breath, I rested against a nearby tree. A few of the homeless people were sitting up, gawking at me. I just nodded politely, as I tried to figure out how the demon-goat-man had detected me. Ezra had said that nobody could see the suit of Armor, except other Protectors and Guides. Not true. That thing was definitely not a Protector or a Guide. Did that mean Cagliostro had unlocked one of the Sacred Scrolls? This really put a freaking damper on things. Even with the Armor, I wouldn’t be a hundred percent safe, not if the Shadow Order could see my magical suit and identify me. It was a real catch-22 because either way I was screwed—with or without the Armor. I really hated Ezra and the Monarchy in that horrible moment.
The longer I stood by the tree, the more sinister and ominous the park became. A strong tug at my gut told me to get the hell out of there before something else attacked, so I darted back to Pacific Heights.
My house wasn’t the refuge I had been seeking. I walked around assessing the situation. The kitchen had been demolished, which meant Asher’s team had started working. I tried one of the powder room sinks, but the water was still off. Then I sat in the middle of the living room, waiting for the sun to come up so I could call someone I knew and ask to use their shower, because I couldn’t show up to work smelling like someone who had been out all night. There were only two people in the city I could call—one of them was my hot contractor, and the other was a succubus. The choice was clear.
sixteen
At first light, I stood in the rubble of what used to be my kitchen when Lilith’s text came through. She generously offered up the guest bathroom at the house where she was staying. She had probably already been awake getting ready for whatever it was she did all day. It was most definitely not work. In college, between parading around as the “it” girl and failing her sociology classes, she did a lot of nothing. Charlotte and I were still unclear if she had actually graduated from USC.
But I wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. I was in dire need of a shower. I walked a few blocks, turned down Scott Street, and came upon the spectacular house Lilith was “watching” while the owners were touring Europe. She was already on the front steps waving at me. Oddly, she wasn’t in that creepy-ass succubus form, and thank goodness for that. It was way too early. Her perfectly-styled hair glistened in waves over her shoulders. She looked absolutely normal—gorgeously normal. No claws or tail. Judging from her cheery smile, she hadn’t noticed anything unusual about me, like the magical Armor under my filthy clothes. I assumed the demon who detected me in the park must’ve been a fluke. Or so I hoped.
“Hi, Fiona!” she sang.
I walked up the front steps with caution, ready to manifest the shit out of my sword if necessary. So far, she maintained her human appearance, so I wasn’t worried. I didn’t need another demonic encounter before my long, hot shower.
“Thanks for letting me come over. My place is a mess.”
“I’m happy to help!”
A flash of green illuminated in her eyes for a brief second as she looked me up and down, but I played it cool and let her give me a fake kiss on the cheek. I noticed a putrid scent I had never detected prior to turning twenty-one—prior to the suit of magical Armor. Ezra wasn’t lying about the senses being heightened. Either I’d have to grow accustomed to the sensory enhancements, or learn how to manage them. Or leave the helmet at home when I wasn’t hunting metaphysical assholes.
She escorted me to a grand staircase. “You can use the shower in the guest room. Top of the stairs to the left,” she said with a wicked grin, curling the corners of her mouth. I could’ve sworn she was salivating. I rushed up the stairs to hurry up and take that shower.
Standing under the deliciously hot, pulsing water, I closed my eyes and soaked in the calmness of the moment. The past couple days had been a whirlwind; especially the last twelve hours. Since getting sidetracked following that demon to Emmett Stone’s office the previous day, I hadn’t even thought about my historical homes story for Lifting the Fog. I’d have to hunker down and finish my first draft. I also needed to return Charlotte’s and Asher’s texts before either of them got too worried. And there was the looming threat of Cagliostro and his Shadow Order. It was a lot to juggle, but the shower definitely helped to ease my racing thoughts.
I turned off the water and wrapped a fluffy towel around my body and another one around my soaking wet hair. Stepping out of the shower into the steam-filled bathroom, a piercing screech penetrated my eardrums, knocking me back a few feet. I covered my ears, trying to figure out what the hell was going on.
As the steam cleared, Lilith stood before me in full succubus form. Scales covered her cracked skin, and her pale green eyes teemed with malice; a long tail curled out from behind her, the sharp point dripping with yellowish venom. The only protection between me and Lilith was the white bath towel. I glanced at the floor to my pile of dirty clothes; the Armor was somewhere underneath the heap. I wasn’t sure if I could shower with it so I had removed it. Something else I’d have to confirm with Ezra—if I survived….
I backed over toward my pile of clothes, trying to manifest my sword, but nothing happened. I figured I’d have to get the helmet first since that was probably the operational hub of the ensemble.
“Looking good, Lilith,” I said.
She hissed and opened her saliva-drenched mouth, unleashing another ear-piercing scream. I was surprised the neighbors hadn’t called the cops.
Her tail whipped around and jabbed at me like a knife, but I yanked the towel from my head and wrangled the unruly appendage to the ground. That riled her up to new degrees. She clawed at me violently, her long razor-sharp nails cutting into my arms and drawing blood. Like, a lot of blood. Like, I’d probably need stitches.
“Bitch!” I screamed, kicking her in the stomach.
She was stifled momentarily, but then came at me again, swaying that obnoxious tail all over the place. I took the towel covering my body and whipped her across the face, blinding her for a second. It was enough time for me to grab the helmet and slam it onto my head. The bathroom immediately got brighter, and I could see and sense every surrounding detail; I could even calculate the amount of time it’d take for Lilith to pounce on me and stab my heart with her poisonous tail. I held up my left hand and called for the shield, which manifested just as she came at me. Her claws scraped against the force field, and she crumpled to the bathroom floor. Holding out my right hand, I summoned my sword and lifted it high over my head. I was ready to bring it down in a blaze of glory straight into her demonic heart—but the bathroom door opened, and Charlotte stood there, her brown eyes bulging and her mouth hanging open in utter shock.
In a blink, Lilith regained her human form and ran over to cower behind Charlotte for protection. It was a remarkable performance, and if Charlotte could actually see the sword, I probably looked like a psychotic bitch.
“Help me, Charlotte! Fiona’s gone mad. She’s trying to kill me.”
I shook my head, not sure what to say in my defense. I still didn’t know if Charlotte could see the Armor. Either way, the scene looked completely abnormal.
“Char, let me explain,” I said desperately.
But she turned around and ran down the stairs, trailing a gleam of pink light. I had never seen her move like that—she was out the front door before I could get dressed and go after her. Lilith stood with her arms folded across ches
t.
“Nice work, bitch,” she sneered.
“You’re the bitch who started it. What the fuck?” I put on the rest of the Armor and used one of the towels to clean the blood off my arm. After a few minutes, the Armor did its magic, healing my wounds.
“When you walked into the house, I saw the Armor. I have direct orders from my boss to dis-Armor and capture any Protectors.”
“What for?”
“Not your business.”
“So what’s stopping you now?”
“The look on my sister’s face. She’d be crushed if I hurt you.”
“You’re all heart, succubus.” I put on my clean clothes and headed downstairs.
“You don’t have to rush off. I won’t harm you.” Lilith followed me.
“First of all, I’d take you out in a heartbeat. Second of all, I’m late for work.”
“You’re actually going to work? Don’t you have more important things to deal with?” she asked.
“That’s none of your business. We’ll need to figure out this, um, new dynamic. I’m not clear on the rules yet. But if you really care about your sister, you should find her and explain. Clearly, she’s not privy to any of this.”
I left the house and zipped across town using my super boots. I arrived at the office right on time with my head spinning like a tornado. Not just from the speed, but from the sea of problems raging around me—the supernatural version and real life—including the story assignment I kept blowing off.
seventeen
Inside the offices of Lifting the Fog, I sat at my desk staring at the brick wall outside my window, when Somer stopped by to check on my story. I had just sent five more texts to Charlotte to no avail, so I was slightly distracted when I showed her my progress. She wasn’t impressed—probably because I hadn’t touched it since showing her my revised outline the previous day. But I couldn’t tell her I had gotten sidetracked by a few demons, some lizard shifters, and a training session in Glimmer City. Instead, I told her I was distracted because my house was in shambles, but I was about to visit the library to read a ton of microfiche files on historical homes in San Francisco. She gave me a stern, but understanding nod, letting me off the hook.
