The Guardian, a Sword, & Stilettos (The Enlighten Series Book 1)

by Kristin D. Van Risseghem

  I gulped the last bit of my chai and Shay carried the empty cup to the trash. I stood, but didn’t want my time with Shay to end yet. He came back and took my hand again as we walked out together.

  As I passed Rena, she mouthed, “We need to talk.”

  Shay and I strolled along the sidewalk, talking about random, stupid topics.  His favorite flower: guys don’t have a favorite. Mine: orchid. His favorite food: pizza. Of course it is. Mine: Chicken Parmesan. Every time I looked at him I was reminded of how truly gorgeous he was. My memory from the night before had not done him justice.

  “I’m going to ask my parents if I can go to Cali’s,” I decided. “Maybe they’ll let me go. After all, I’ll be eighteen in a few months.”

  He smirked. “Yes, I know.”

  “If I can go, do you want to come with me?”

  “Of course. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

  “Does this mean you don’t have to watch me from afar anymore?”

  He frowned. “Since Blane and Devin showed up, my orders have changed. I’m to stick to you like cheese does to mac.”

  That was good news.

  We were so engrossed in conversation, I didn’t notice we’d already passed Kieran’s and were almost to mine. Already, I felt a connection with Shay I couldn’t put into words, and I had to wonder if everyone felt this way with their first major crush.

  “I’ll call you later,” he said when we arrived at my house, “and you can let me know if I should come by and pick you up. If you can’t go, we could always just hang out, if you want.” He handed me his cell phone.

  I punched in my numbers, hit the send button, and returned it as I put a hand on his arm. “Before you leave, can I ask you something?”

  “Of course.” He sat on the curb and extended his hand toward me, so I sank to the grass beside him and shut off my phone’s ringer.

  “Those guys from the warehouse. Tell me again about them. I mean, I know you and Kieran explained, but it’s still kind of overwhelming. And now I’m nervous and questioning things that used to be second nature to me. Devin said more would come for me.”

  “Those were demon knights, sent by Sammael. They want to kill you so you can’t fulfill the prophecy. Sam wants to rule the world, and since we believe you were sent to stop him, obviously that would ruin his plans. The Knights are replaceable to him since they regenerate after being ‘killed,’ and they recover, so to speak, in Hell.”

  “Who’s this ‘Sam’ I keep hearing about?”

  “Sammael, the King of the Underworld,” Kieran said as he came toward us. I hadn’t heard him approach. He had been waiting for me—us, to return. “You know him by his other names,” he continued. “The Devil, the Angel of Death, Lucifer . . . he’s after you because he thinks you’re the Redeemer the prophecy foretold, too.” He glared at Shay. “Shay,” he said curtly.

  “Kieran.” He stood and nodded once, sounding just as short. “What are you doing?” he asked.

  “Is it safe for us to be here near the street?”

  “It’s safe,” Kieran said. “We have wards around the lawn, too.”

  “Did you tell her about the wards?”

  “No. But if she wants to know, I’ll tell her.”

  This sounded interesting. “What are wards?” I asked as I stood next to Shay.

  Shay shook his head, looking skeptical. “Do you think that’s wise?”

  “Probably not, but it’s time,” Kieran said, staring intently at him. “She has a right to know.”

  This was getting ridiculous. “Hello? She is right here,” I said.

  Shay’s voice rose. “Why tell her if it doesn’t affect her?”

  “Tell me what?”

  “Because I know her!” Kieran snapped. “She’d want to know everything. It’s how she is.”

  Shay was on his feet in an instant, nose to nose with Kieran. It was like I was standing between two dogs, and I was the pork chop. Except maybe not, because neither of them had noticed me. I waved my arms, trying to get their attention.

  “Hello? I’m pretty sure I have a right to know what you babbling fools are yelling about.”

  “Stay out of this, Zoe,” Kieran said, not looking at me. “This is between Shay and me.”

  “And you don’t think I know her?” Shay snapped. “We’ve both been protecting her since she was born! You were the lucky one. You were able to befriend her and be in her life where she was able to see you. I had to protect her from a distance, watch her grow up, but not impede.” His fists clenched at his sides. “Some protector you are. What the hell happened yesterday? She almost died because of your carelessness! She’s obviously not safe with you anymore.”

  “Safer with me than you!” Kieran roared back.

  “Stop fighting!” I wailed. “Please. I need you both to get along. Don’t we all have to work together to—”

  Shay’s eyes were almost slits. “I see the way you look at her,” he hissed. “Even if she did love you, you can’t be with her. It’s against the rules to be with someone outside your Order. At least I’m human and could give her a human life if—”

  “Half,” Kieran said.

  “Half is more than what you have.”

  Kieran slumped just a little, apparently having lost that round. “For now,” he said tersely.

  They stopped yelling for a few seconds, just stood glaring at each other, breathing hard while the air around them cleared. I decided to stay out of it.

  Finally Shay asked, “What if we’re wrong about her?”

  “I guess we’ll find out in a few months, won’t we? When she turns eighteen.” Kieran crossed his arms. “But I’m not wrong.”

  “See you later, guys,” I muttered. “I’ll call you about tonight, Shay.”

  Neither of them noticed as I walked up my driveway and into my house, tired of them both. I had a lot to think about.

  Mom and Stella were snuggled up on the couch watching one of the Harry Potter movies, just in time to watch the scene when Harry finally realized that either he or Voldemort would have to die.

  “Can I go to Cali’s tonight?” I asked.

  “Will Kieran be going with you?” Mom asked. “Anyone else I know going?

  I shook my head. “We’re still not talking. Actually, it’s more like he’s sort of not talking to me.” I closed my eyes. “He said he has to work out some issues on his own.”

  Stella’s eyes twinkled with the news. “So you two are fighting? I heard something about it at soccer practice yesterday, but I didn’t believe it.”

  The whole town knew.

  “We aren’t fighting, Stella. We’re, well, I’m not sure what we’re doing, but I know we aren’t fighting.” I turned back to Mom with pleading eyes.

  She got the message. “Okay, you can go,” she said, shocking me. “Don’t be out too late. What time are you planning to go over there?”

  “I guess around seven,” I managed, still dazed when I left the room. I grabbed my cell phone and texted Shay my exciting news.

  Me: I can go tonight!

  I waited for Shay to respond, but didn’t have to wait long.

  Shay: Great. Time?

  My heart sped up as I replied to his text.

  Me: 7?

  Shay: Do you want me to pick you up or should I meet you there?

  Me: Is this like a date?

  Shay: Do you want it to be?

  Me: Maybe

  Shay: OK, it’s a date. I’ll pick you up at 7. Cyal8r

  Even though I knew I would have to learn about and deal with angels and demons, I was determined to have a fun night without lessons or doomsday talk. I stared at the phone, uneasy. I couldn’t just leave it like that. The last time I’d seen Kieran and Shay, they’d been about to tear each other to shreds.

  Me: Everything good with you and K?

  Shay: No. Don’t worry about it, tho

  Me: No battle wounds, I hope!

  Shay: No

  Me: Behave. CU@
7

  Shay: OK

  I stared into my closet, having no idea what I should wear. It’s not that I didn’t ever go out, but when I did it was either with Kieran or with a group of friends, including Kieran. It was generally assumed by everyone, but us, we were dating, so no one had even tried to set me up with another guy. And I’d never dressed to impress Kieran.

  This was different. This was a “real” date. I wanted Shay to be blown away. After picking out over a dozen different potential outfits, I narrowed it down to three. I just needed to try them on to see which fit the best.

  A soft knock came on my door. “Zoe?” It was my sister, Stella.

  “Yeah?”

  “Can I come in?”

  “Busy. Go away.”

  The door opened, and she walked in.

  “Hey! You can’t just come in my room like that.”

  She jumped onto my bed and pouted, looking five years younger than she was. I sighed. Big sister time.

  “Sorry to snap. I’m pretty stressed,” I explained. “Are you done with the movie already?” I doubted it. The scene they’d been watching was only halfway in.

  “Are you and Kieran still friends?” She ignored my question.

  “Of course. Why do you ask?”

  “I don’t know. You guys are good together.” She frowned, and I saw a flicker of concern in her eyes. “He’s like our brother. Will he still come by and hang out?” She noticed a blue, sparkling top on the bed and her focus shifted. “You’re so lucky you get to go out to parties.”

  “You’ll get your turn. I’m just paving the way for you.” I hesitated, then asked, “Hey, Stella, can you keep a secret?”

  Her eyes gleamed. “Yes, oh yes, I totally can! You can trust me!”

  “I’m going out on a date tonight.”

  She squealed then slammed her hands over her mouth, remembering it was supposed to be a secret. “With Kieran?”

  I shook my head.

  Her hands dropped, as did her lower jaw. She seemed to process that information for a few seconds. “Who are you going out with?”

  “You don’t know him.”

  “What are you going to wear?”

  I held up each outfit for her to see.

  “The last one,” she decided.

  “I agree. Be right back. I’m going to shower.”

  I dried and styled my hair in a semi up-do while Stella sat on the bathroom ottoman. She watched as I brushed on bronzer, eyeliner, and shadow, then applied baby-pink gloss on my lips.

  “Oh, Zoe. You look so awesome!”

  I stepped back from the mirror and grinned.

  I waited on my front steps for Shay. I didn’t want to introduce him to my parents. That was just too complicated. After checking my clothes again, I felt for my necklace, a silver chain with an inlaid teardrop tanzanite stone, surrounded by diamond-studded wings. My grandma had given it to me on my sixteenth birthday, and I’d thought it was appropriate for tonight. I re-checked the front of my baby-pink cashmere sweater. It matched my black—in honor of Shay—Miss Me jeans. I’d had to dig around my closet to find shoes, since my Converses just weren’t going to cut it, and settled on a pair of sparkly black kitten heels.

  At seven, Shay turned onto the cul-de-sac in a shiny black car: a 1957 Chevy Bel Air with those unmistakable fins. I knew it well, due to Dad’s fascination with classic vehicles. He pulled into the driveway, hopped out, and strode up to the porch.

  I waved, suddenly shy, and looked away.

  He was decked out in all black, from his combat boots and jeans, to a shirt which he’d left unbuttoned to reveal a black concert T-shirt underneath. It reminded me when Kieran took me to the Nickelback performance at the state fair last summer. And then to how many times I’d checked my phone today. There’d been nothing from him.

  Shay held out his hand and presented me with a white orchid in a terracotta pot. I stared at it, grinning, then touched a petal as if I had to make sure it was real. No one had ever given me flowers before. So many firsts with Shay. I took the pot and gave him a quick hug, then I stepped back to admire him.

  I didn’t have much time to ponder over my thoughts. Shay’s eyes ran the length of my body, and he reached out to touch my necklace.

  “You look wonderful,” he said. “Shall we go?”

  “Let’s do it.” My body warmed and I didn’t think it had anything to do with the electrical current humming between us.

  He looped his arm around my elbow and escorted me to his car, then opened the passenger door for me. Since I didn’t want to go back inside the house, I set my orchid on the floor between my feet.

  The interior of the car gleamed. It was definitely not a typical guy’s car, but then, Shay was not a typical guy. I breathed in his scent: a musky lavender, tinged by a hint of something sweet like a strawberry.

  “You have a very nice car,” I told him after he’d climbed in his side. “You’ll get along great with my dad. He’s into classic cars, too.” I ran my hand along the luxurious black upholstery bench. “This car must have cost you a fortune.”

  I blushed, embarrassed for having said that. I turned toward my house and saw Mom and Stella waving as we drove off.

  He didn’t seem bothered by my comment, which was a relief. “They can be expensive,” he agreed, “especially since they’re collectible. She was actually my first major purchase as an adult. Back in the ‘50s, I didn’t make much money so it did cost me a fortune.” He tapped the dash. “I call her Angel.”

  I stared at him. “You bought this in 1957?”

  He smirked. “Yes. When I was twenty.”

  That actually made my crush on him more bizarre. I didn’t want to think about that. I changed the subject while my fingers picked through a pile of CDs.

  “What’s your favorite song?”

  “Right now it’s Glad You Came, by The Wanted. The words speak to me. Do you know it?” He pointed at the stack in my lap. “The CD’s in there.”

  I rummaged through and found the case, but when I opened it, it was empty. I looked up, and he gestured with his chin toward the dashboard. “It’s already in there. Back when CDs became popular I upgraded the stereo and installed Bose speakers. It’s the only major change I’ve made since I’ve owned her.”

  He turned the volume up and skipped back a few tracks. Ah, boys and their toys—and their cars.

  I patted the dashboard. “Why did you name her Angel?”

  “Seemed appropriate at the time.”

  As we drove around the residential sections of St. Joseph and into one of the outer subdivisions where Cali lived, I relaxed against the seat and concentrated on the lyrics. I wanted to understand why they “spoke to him.”

  The more I listened, the more emotional I became. The lyrics were beautiful, talking about magic and love, how nothing counted but the here and now. My throat felt thick, and I fought unsuccessfully to keep the tears from my eyes. He passed me a tissue.

  I glanced over, embarrassed, carefully dabbing at my eyes so as not to wreck my makeup. The corner of his mouth curled into a smile, but he wasn’t laughing at me. “I’m glad you came into my life,” he said. “Don’t worry. Like I said, the words get to me, too.” He pulled the Bel Air next to the curb outside Cali’s house. “Let’s hang out here for a bit until you feel better.”

  I was surprised to see we’d arrived. I frowned at him. “How do you know where Cali lives?”

  “I told you I’ve been watching you for years. I’ve seen you come here before.” He chuckled, low and teasing. “I bet I know more about you than you do.”

  “You do know that’s sort of creepy, right?” I said.

  We sat in silence a few minutes. Then with a smirk, he opened his door and ran to open my side. I didn’t need help, obviously, but there was no way I was about to turn that action down. We walked up the driveway, hand in hand, both of us getting used to the electrical shock that crackled between us. I made a mental note to ask Kieran about it the next time
I saw or talked to him. I needed to know what it meant.

  I knocked on the front door, but the raging music within blocked any hope of hearing an answer. I tried the handle. It was unlocked, so we walked in. As soon as we entered, Cali ran down the hall and practically knocked me over with a hug.

  “Hey, Zoe! I’m so glad you made it! We were wondering if you would still come.” Then she noticed Shay just behind me. “Well, who’s this?” she asked. “I didn’t know you were going to bring someone. It’s totally fine, of course, but you . . .” She grinned at him. “You are definitely not Kieran!” She looked at me and actually licked her lips.

  “I think he’s a little old for you.” By now I knew the effect he had on women.

  “I wouldn’t think you would have moved on so fast, Zoe, but wow! I can totally see why you did!”

  She stepped a little farther away and extended her hand to Shay. “Hi. I’m Cali, your hostess for the evening.”

  Keeping one hand in mine, he gave her his other one. “Name’s Shay.”

  “Shay,” she echoed, nodding. “Nice to meet you. Welcome.” She motioned behind her. “Party’s back that way, and drinks are in the fridge. ‘Special’ drinks are downstairs, and watch the cups, please. I don’t want to clean up spills all night.”

  As we walked away, I saw Cali staring at Shay’s back, and could only imagine the wicked thoughts rolling around in her mind.

  “Would you like something to drink?” Shay tugged my hand.

  “Sure. I’ll come with you to the kitchen.”

  “Ah, I see.” His eyes sparkled. “You don’t trust me to be alone with anyone?”

  “No!” I cried, blushing. “I mean . . . I trust you. But I’ll admit, all the other girls? Well, you do turn heads, you know.”

  He looked unimpressed. “Do I?” His expression warmed. “Trust me, I’m only looking at you.”

  I flicked one skeptical eyebrow, and he tilted his head from one side to the other in a tiny admission. “Okay,” he said. “I do watch them, but not for the reason you think.”

  It was a little after seven, and I realized we were among the last to arrive. The pulse of the bass rumbled underfoot and bonfire smoke wafted through the house. People filled almost every room. We shuffled past teenagers to get to the kitchen, as bodies of hungry party goers crowded in there.