Demon Guard

by Samantha Britt

  I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “That’s not the type of man I thought you were.”

  “And what would you know about me?” Logan might as well roll his eyes to accompany the dismissive words.

  “I know you’re a good Guardian,” I say, refusing to feel discouraged. “I know you’re a skilled fighter, or you wouldn’t have walked out of that warehouse alive. And I know you’re smart. And driven. Use that. Force your father to have no choice but to reveal what’s really going on with Guardians.”

  He breathes out his nostrils. “And how do you propose I do that?”

  I swallow the lump lodged in my throat, determined not to chicken out. “We find proof.”

  Logan’s eyes widen slightly.

  Encouraged by the subtle reaction, I continue, “We find proof—undeniable proof of what the demons are doing, and we share it with all of the Shadowguard. We find something so big and telling that your father can’t simply sweep it under the rug.”

  My confidence grows as I speak, seeing Logan’s demeanor lighten with the possibility. He’s open to the idea, now I just need to sell him on it.

  “You say ‘we’.” He points out.

  I nod. “Yes.”

  “No offense, Aspen.” Logan leans forward and rests his elbows on his knees, peering up through distracting inky strands of hair. “But you’re just an academy student. It’s not like the council will approve of you going on missions with me. Especially not after what happened today. How do you think you can help?” His question is not insulting. Rather, it’s sincere.

  I lick my lips, bracing myself for what’s to come. Logan is my mentor. I tell myself I can trust him.

  I take a steadying breath, then reveal, “The higher demon—Belial…” I trail off, barely murmuring the demon’s name. It feels taboo to speak it aloud. Almost like he will appear in the conference room in a cloud of smoke.

  Logan waits patiently for me to continue. When I continue to hesitate, he prompts, “What about the higher demon, Aspen?”

  I close my eyes. I can’t look at him when I tell him the truth. “He’s… interested in me.” I cringe, cracking one eye open to see his reaction.

  His face is carefully neutral. “Interested, how?”

  Realizing he’s not going to criticize me, I relax and open my eyes fully. “I’m not sure. I’ve already told you he thinks I look like someone, but he also seems vested in my safety. He protected me from another higher demon.”

  “The blond one on the roof.”

  I press my lips together, involuntarily shivering when I think of Azazel’s cold, cruel eyes. “And at the bar, and after our vehicle was attacked on the road. Belial’s stepped in to protect me.”

  “But why?” Logan asks, frowning. “Why would a higher demon intervene on the behalf of a first-year academy student?”

  I shrug. “I don’t know. But… I don’t think I’ve seen the last of him.”

  “What?” Logan leaps to his feet.

  My heart beats in my chest, foolishly thrilled by my mentor’s protective reaction. “I-I think my path will cross Belial’s again. Or rather, I think he’ll make sure it does.”

  “Why would you think that?”

  “I think he’s infatuated… or something.” The higher demon’s caresses and deep stares play in my mind, and my cheeks heat with the memory.

  Logan purses his lips, then mutters, “That’s not too hard to believe.”

  My blush deepens.

  Logan begins to pace the length of the room. Thankfully, he doesn’t seem to notice my embarrassed reaction. Life’s full of small mercies.

  “Belial is an original. If he’s taken by you… are you saying you think you can get information out of him? Information you think we can use to prove what’s really going on with the missing Guardians?”

  I bob my head. “Yeah… I mean. I think so. I won’t know until he shows up again and I try. But I’m willing to try… if it means keeping other Guardians safe.”

  Logan spins around, crossing the distance between us in four quick steps. Startled, I back away until I collide with the wall behind me. Logan stops less than two feet away, staring down at me with anticipation and hope. His emotions twist my gut, and I have the thought I’d do anything to not disappoint my mentor. As pathetic as that might sound.

  “Aspen,” his breath brushes my cheeks. “Are you sure? Messing with a higher demon… that’s not something to take lightly. The fact he’s interested in you is enough cause to worry.” His eyes flick between mine, trying to gauge my reaction to the dangers of my situation.

  I steady myself with a calming breath and close my eyes. All my life, I’ve prided myself on my ability to survive. Not just the streets of Chicago, but I also survived the loss of my mom. The only person who’d loved me unconditionally had been taken from me, and yet I lived. I found a safe and welcoming home with the Van der Klays. But safety didn’t negate my desire to do something more.

  When my eyelids part, I make sure to reveal nothing but determination.

  “I’m not weak, Logan. I had a hard life. The Van der Klays took me in, and for that I’ll always be thankful, but it doesn’t change the fact I’m not like the normal stuck up, rich girls who usually attend St. Michael’s. I’m strong. And tough. I can take care of myself. And, hopefully, get intelligence in the process.”

  Admiration—there’s no mistaking it—shines from Logan’s eyes. “It won’t be easy,” he warns me. “We’ll be going against the council’s instructions, working on a rogue mission. You’ll need to lie to your family and friends. Heck, you might even need to lie to your instructors. Do you think you can handle it?”

  I think of the abducted Guardians. I think about the families who’ve lost their loved ones. I think of the friends who will never know what really happened to their fellow Guardians. And I know I can’t sit back and do nothing.

  My answer comes easy, “Yes,” I state with unwavering confidence. “I know I can handle it.”

  A slow, approving smile pulls at Logan’s lips. “Well, then. It looks like you and I are allies, Aspen Van der Klay.”

  I ignore the butterflies fluttering in my stomach. “So, what’s our next move?”

  “We go about our lives as normal.” Logan widens his stance and looks to the edge of the room as he processes his plan. “You’ll attend class. I’ll train you. We act like nothing is out of the ordinary.

  “Until the day the higher demon makes contact,” Logan’s fierce and determined gaze shifts back to me. “Then, you will do everything in your power to learn what you can about the demons’ plans with abducted Guardians. With any luck, we’ll be able to stop them before something even more heinous can happen.”

  I match his intensity, and confidence makes me say, “We will stop them, Logan. You must believe that.”

  For a moment, Logan doesn’t say a word. He just watches me. Then, he gives me a rueful grin. My traitorous heart tries to take flight, but I push it down. “With you Aspen Van der Klay, something tells me the odds are in our favor.”

  Twenty-Seven

  St. Michael’s is unusually quiet. Logan and I cross the threshold of the entrance. I’d half expected to be bombarded by Master Donohue and Headmistress Meyer, or at the very least Andrew and Lex. But not a soul greets us on our return. A quick glance at the grandfather clock along the wall reveals it’s not even five o’clock. Students will still be in class.

  It’s hard to believe so much has happened in such a short period of time. I’m exhausted, and I want nothing more than to retreat to the safety of my dorm to come to terms with it all. But Logan has other plans. He leads me to a stairwell in the back of the main building. We climb to the third floor and enter his office. The room is just as bare as the first time I saw it. It makes me wonder why the academy bothered to give him an office in the first place.

  “Please sit.” Logan closes the door, then crosses the room to sit in the chair closest to the window.

  I give him an incred
ulous stare. “Did you just say please?”

  He smirks. “I did. Now, are you going to sit? Or do you prefer to stand?”

  I lower myself into the other desk chair. My leg bounces nervously, my earlier bout of confidence has begun to fizzle out. “So, what’s up? Why’d you bring me here?”

  “I want to make sure we’re on the same page.”

  I shift uncomfortably. Feeling warm, I finally take off my black leather jacket. I fold it in my lap, letting my attention rest on the comforting material. “Couldn’t we have done this in the car?”

  Logan’s black Escalade had miraculously appeared at Shadowguard Headquarters while we spoke with the his father. One of Guardians at the junkyard must’ve dropped it off. During the drive back to the academy, Logan and I had barely said a full sentence to one another. For me, I’d been preoccupied thinking about what had happened, and what Logan and I had agreed to do together. But I’m not sure of the reason behind his silence.

  “What’s wrong?” Logan’s eyes narrow as he takes in my skittish behavior. “Are you changing your mind? Do you want to back out of our plan?”

  “What?” I sit up straight. “No! Of course not.” Too many Guardians’ lives are at risk. Am I scared of what’s to come? Of course. But I’m not going to bail. Like I’d told Logan before, I’m no coward.

  “Good.” Logan’s shoulders relax. “I didn’t speak in the Escalade because I couldn’t be sure it wasn’t bugged.”

  “Bugged?” I parrot back.

  “A listening device,” he explains. “Normally, I sigil myself to detect if unfamiliar EMFs are around, but I didn’t want anyone at headquarters to see me do it.”

  It takes me a second to understand what he’s saying. “You think the Shadowguard might try to spy on you?”

  “Not the Shadowguard, my father. He has plenty of lackeys who would plant a bug, no questions asked.”

  “That’s…” Ridiculous. “Excessive.”

  Logan snorts. “You have no idea. Growing up with him was hell.”

  The glimpse of vulnerability makes my heart tighten with sympathy. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. I no longer live under his roof. Normally, I don’t have to interact with him. It’s only when official Guardian duties require I meet with the council when I see him.”

  “Still,” I shrug. “It sucks.”

  Logan’s penetrating eyes lock on mine. Through them, I see turmoil. He’s not sure if he wants to accept my sympathy or dismiss it.

  I know what he lands on when he says, “Yeah… it does.”

  The air between us grows heavy with the added weight of his stare. My breathing accelerates, and my stomach tightens. I don’t know what to make of my reaction. I will my mind to regain control, but I’m unsuccessful. I need to get out of here. Like… now.

  “So how do we make sure we’re on the same page?” I direct him back to the initial conversation, hoping it won’t be long before I can seek shelter from my tumultuous emotions in my dorm.

  “The obvious stuff,” Logan says. “We already agreed we will go through our day to day like normal, including your extra training with me. And remember, we can’t tell anyone about our plan. At least, not at first. I’m sure we can find allies here at the academy, but I need to vet them before we tell them what we’re doing.”

  “You mean, before we tell them we’re using me as bait to get a higher demon to give us intel?” I shake my head. “I can’t think of a single person who would be okay with that. Most people won’t willingly step back while I put myself in danger.”

  Logan’s eyes widen. “Aspen… I care about your safety too.”

  I’m stunned when I realize I’ve offended him. “I didn’t say you don’t care.”

  “No, but I’m the guy who’s okay with my mentee throwing herself into danger.” An agitated hand runs through his hair. “I’m willing to let you risk your life because I’m unable to do what needs to be done.”

  “We’re doing this to save others,” I point out. “And it’s not like I’m going to run outside the gates and offer myself up for an easy abduction. We’ll be strategic. We’ll make a plan, one with minimum risks, and then we’ll expose the demons plans to the rest of the world.”

  Logan shakes his head but says nothing. His attention rests on hands in his lap.

  I don’t know what to say or do. The initial determination is fading within both of us as the weight of our task settles on our shoulders, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to give up. Logan needs time to himself—time to sit back and come up with the plan I’d mentioned. My being here isn’t going to help.

  With that thought, I stand and say, “I’m going to rest. You should do the same.”

  Logan’s eyes remain on his lap, but he nods. “That’s probably a good idea.”

  I take one more look at him. The dark circles under his eyes have deepened, and his skin is drawn and pale. I really hope he does decide to rest. He won’t be useful to anyone in his current state.

  I turn and head for the door.

  “I do remember you, by the way.”

  My hand freezes just before it contacts the doorknob. Breath rushes out of my lungs. I turn around slowly, barely daring to hope I heard him right.

  Logan’s gaze has lifted and meets mine. His posture is relaxed, but he can’t hide the tense lines around his eyes.

  “What?” I ask, not even caring that I sound breathless.

  “I remember you.” He inhales through his nostrils. “From Chicago.”

  I knew it.

  My legs shake, but I lock my knees to hide it. “Why did you lie?”

  “I was a different person four years ago. I let myself… feel more than I do now.” He stands and walks toward me. My heart seizes in my chest, then it starts to race.

  “I didn’t want you to expect me to be the same guy. I didn’t want a mentee, but I’d resigned myself to be a dutiful mentor while keeping an emotional distance from my charge. I thought that by telling you I didn’t remember you, you wouldn’t try to make any sort of connection with me. I didn’t want you to think we could be friends.”

  His words sting. There’s no sugarcoating it. My mentor is closed off, and there’s no hope we can even be something as simple as friends. To my horror, tears gather in the back of my eye. I breathe through my nose, forcing the traitorous moisture to stay back. I refuse to let Logan see how much his words hurt. But there’s one thing I need to ask—the only important thing, really.

  “What about Nora and Noah?” I think of the young twins I’d looked out for in Chicago. Logan had promised to help them. I pray he kept his word.

  Understanding fills Logan’s gaze. He tilts his head to the side. “Did… did they really not tell you?”

  My stomach clenches with dread. “Who? Who didn’t tell me what?”

  He holds up his hands in a calming gesture. “Relax. It’s nothing bad. Nora and Noah were placed with a retired Guardian and her daughter. The Shadowguard got their parents to agree to release their parental rights for a sum of money. Nora and Noah were adopted. I… I thought the Van der Klays would’ve told you.”

  The relief I feel far surpasses the idea the Van der Klays could’ve known about the fate of my friends without telling me.

  “You’re serious?” I ask, once again feeling the burn of oncoming tears. “They’re okay?”

  “Better than okay, I imagine.” Logan drops his hands and tucks them in his pockets. “The Shadowguard is allowing them to apply to academies. They can become Guardians if they pass the tests.”

  I gasp. “But I thought you had to be a descendant of Thaddeus to become a Guardian.”

  “The Shadowguard traced their lineage back to a Guardian ancestor who was born out of wedlock and raised outside of our society,” he tells me. “With their diluted bloodline, the Shadowguard doesn’t know if they’ll be able to use magic to create sigils, but they’ll find out when they turn eighteen.”

  I exhale, unable to believe all I’
ve heard, but wanting to nonetheless. “How do you know all of this?”

  Logan shifts his stance uncomfortably. “I felt it was only right that I check in on them from time to time.”

  I gasp. “You’ve seen Noah and Nora?”

  “Not for a couple of years,” he answers. “But their adoptive mother and grandmother send me Christmas cards and stuff…” He trails off awkwardly. No doubt, he thinks the admission makes him seem less-daunting.

  My eyelids fall closed as I imagine what the twins look like now. I picture their cheesy grins and wonder if Noah’s lost the baby fat from his cheeks.

  My head falls forward. I’d like to see them, but I know I’ll have to wait. I’ve agreed to work with Logan to expose the truth of what’s happening to the missing Guardians. That needs to take priority.

  But once everything is over. Once Logan and I find proof of the demons’ crimes and reveal them to the Shadowguard world, I will go see my friends.

  I lift my head and look up. “Thank you for telling me, Logan.” I say with sincerity. “I’m glad I know.”

  Logan dips his chin. “Of course.” Then, he reaches out and brushes a thick strand of hair out of my face. “And I’m sorry. For lying about Chicago.”

  My breath catches when his fingers brush against my skin. “Apology accepted.”

  We lock eyes, and a host of emotions travel between us. There’s so much I want to ask—to say. I see a glimpse of the young man I met four years ago, and I know he will answer any question I ask.

  But the moment disappears as quickly as it appeared. Logan pulls his hand back quickly, looking like he hadn’t meant to touch me.

  Through pressed lips, he averts his eyes and says, “You should go rest.”

  My face heats, and I duck my head to hide the reaction. “Yeah. See you later, Logan.”

  I spin around and open the door.

  I’m halfway down the hall when I hear him call out, “And no excuses for tomorrow. I expect you to show up, ready to train. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.”