Guardians (Seers Trilogy Book 3)

by Heather Frost

  “I mean, come on man, just once. You can watch me the whole time!”

  “You’re fast, Toni. Too fast.” Patrick sounded amused but adamant. He was also right beside me; that was the most important thing.

  “I wouldn’t steal from my best friend, all right? I want to see what it looks like on me!”

  “Don’t you have anyone else you can bother?”

  “There’s no one else I’d rather bother.”

  “That’s supposed to make me feel loved?”

  “Definitely. So! How much longer, do you think? She’s already been out . . . three hours longer than the others.”

  “She’ll be awake soon,” Patrick assured him, unworried.

  “You sound a bit chipper about the whole thing.”

  “This is a lot better than last time.”

  “I can imagine . . . When’s she going to wake up?”

  “Toni—”

  “I’m awake,” I groaned, peeling my eyes open to stare blearily up at Toni, who was sitting near my feet.

  He grinned. “Kate! Welcome back.”

  Patrick’s hand brushed my arm. I rolled my head to meet his stare. “Are you feeling all right?”

  “Yeah. I think my body knew what to expect this time.” I pushed up into a sitting position, grateful for Patrick’s supporting hand against my back. I glanced around the room, noting we were the only ones present. “All the others made it back?” I asked.

  Toni nodded. “Yep. They were only out for about an hour and a half.”

  Apparently they’d already cleaned up their mattresses too; we’d laid them out before the lesson began, knowing we’d need a place to rest and readjust to our proper time.

  Patrick was rubbing my back absently. “How long did you stay?”

  “Almost an hour this time, I think.”

  Toni whistled lowly. “It’s almost creepy, you know that? Knowing you could go back and watch my death or something. Eerie.”

  “Toni?”

  “Patty, you need to learn some new words.”

  “Like, ‘go away, Toni’?”

  “I think you mastered those too.”

  “Please?” I put in. “Can you call my grandma and let her know everything went okay?”

  He sighed deeply before standing. “If I must, I must.”

  “You must,” Patrick said.

  Toni stuck his tongue out at his partner before spinning on his heel and marching toward the double doors.

  I twisted around and Patrick’s hand fell from my back. I sat with crossed legs, facing Patrick where he sat. I immediately noticed the envelope from his father, the flap lifted partially. “You read it?”

  His head dipped once. “Yes. Have you?”

  “No. He wrote it in the house.” I hesitated. “He let me read yours, though,” I admitted at last.

  He almost smiled. “I knew he would.”

  “You’re not upset?”

  An eyebrow rose. “Should I be?”

  “No, of course not.” My fingers wandered to his and he scooped them up easily. “The things you said . . . they were beautiful. Thank you.”

  His cheeks glowed with color. “They were still inadequate.” He released his breath and lifted the envelope, passing it to me.

  “Are you sure?” I asked.

  He nodded. “Very.”

  I had to pull my fingers away from his to take the envelope, and the action applied pressure to the thin cut on my palm. I winced, fingers flinching back from the discomfort reflexively.

  “What?” Patrick asked, brow furrowed.

  “It’s just a scratch,” I assured him, bringing my palm up for closer inspection. The cut was pink and thin, curved at the end, like a sharp hook.

  Patrick leaned in, his hand gently reaching to curl carefully around my wrist. I let him get a good look at the light graze, but my tone was dismissive. “It’s not bad. I’d just forgotten about it. I got it from your dad’s podium.”

  He shook his head slightly, but he wasn’t disagreeing with my analysis—he was just marveling. “It’s so strange. I know you were there, but . . . this is physical evidence. It’s almost absurd.” He frowned, perhaps bothered that injury was possible in the past.

  I spoke to pull him away from that line of thought, before he could get lost in needless worry. “Your dad’s letter wasn’t evidence enough?” I asked him.

  Patrick released his grip on my hand. “It’s just weird for me. To picture you there, where I was all along. In a church that was probably destroyed over a hundred years ago.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  He shrugged a little but didn’t bother to voice his opinion.

  Duly prompted, I turned my attention back to the envelope. I slipped out the letter, my fingertips knowing instantly that this paper was special. From a different age. An object was pulled out along with the folded page. It was golden and would have fallen to the floor if Patrick’s hand hadn’t flashed out to catch it. I set aside the envelope and he dropped the object onto my palm.

  It was an intricately decorated ring. The metal was scratched, indicating its considerable age. It was in impressive condition, notwithstanding it had just jumped two centuries.

  “The family ring,” Patrick told me. “In the family since the late 1500s. One of my regrets was never knowing what happened to it. I understood why he didn’t give it to me before the war, but I never saw him give it to Sean, during the time I spent with him as a Guardian. Now I know why I never saw it—he’d already given it to you.”

  “To you,” I disagreed. I lowered the letter to my bent leg and wriggled my free fingers, urging him to give me his hand. He rolled his bright eyes, allowing me to slip ring onto his middle finger. “It’s a little big,” I stated unnecessarily.

  “The O’Donnells used to be sturdier men, I guess.”

  “Is that a cross on it?” I asked, focusing on the design beyond the scuff marks.

  He nodded. “It’s a family tradition to be religious.” He tossed his chin toward the letter. “Are you going to read it?”

  I gave him a frown for rushing this special moment but obediently picked it up, sensing he’d suffered enough attention for the moment. I pulled back the stiff folds and started to read. I sensed Patrick shift over to sit beside me on the mattress, his arm coming around to support me as he read over my shoulder.

  My Dearest Patrick,

  I will follow your example by first reminding you of my ever-present love. My heart is full of many emotions, but my love is most prominent of all. I am still unsure of all the things I will eventually say to you, to succeed in driving you away. I want you to know without a doubt that I didn’t mean any of them. From what Kate tells me, the words will be strong and hard to forgive. But I hope you will find it in your heart to do so.

  Kate is a marvelous young woman. Treasure her always. When you said she was your heaven, I believe you were absolutely right. I am comforted to know you have someone so wonderful, so full of love, to share your life with. Though it pains me to know I shall never again see you in person, I feel a measure of the joy you must feel, being in her world. I am forever grateful for that, as I know your mother will be when I eventually share these things with her.

  The news of Sean’s fate troubles me deeply. I am at a loss for what I should say to you about this issue. Though I know you have every right to hate him, after all he has done to you, Kate, and so many others, I feel urged to remind you that he is your brother. You cannot hate what you love. I know these words seem foolish, but there is truth therein. Instead of hate, I would have you choose to love him. Nurture that love until only love remains. Perhaps I am preaching again—it is Sunday. But you knew that. You were late again. Maybe that’s why today stuck out in your mind. For all I know, you may have remembered my strange behavior. Running in from the church after being in there for near a half hour—only to dash upstairs to my study and then eventually run back out into the pouring rain.

  I cannot seem to focus
my thoughts. I would apologize, but you know it happens to me frequently. I hope you will allow me my dose of senility. I do not wish to keep Kate waiting for long. So I will suffice myself by once again expressing my love, and I appreciate all of the choices and sacrifices you will make. I hope you are remembering to pray. There is One who understands all your needs. I would hope that I taught you enough that you would go to Him. You have many worries on your shoulders, and though I wish I could meet with you face-to-face, help is never far. Remember that.

  My family has always been my greatest earthly treasure, and I am comforted to know you understand the worth of love.

  I would love to hear from you again, Patrick. Until such a time as that is possible, I will rest in the knowledge that you are well, happy, and loved. And not just by Kate.

  My deepest love forever,

  Da

  I lowered the letter, glancing over at Patrick. Tears were in his eyes, but he met my smile. I lifted a hand to his knee, rubbing gently. And in that perfect moment, nothing needed to be said.

  Fourteen

  Jack was waiting for us in the driveway after school on Wednesday. The twins were so used to seeing him by now that they weren’t the least bit fazed by the sight of him. But I was instantly on my guard.

  Though he had a smile on his face when he urged the twins to hurry inside for some cookies, I could read between the lines. He was afraid. Nervous? Something was definitely wrong. I waited until I heard the twins disappeared into the house before popping the trunk. While Toni struggled to hop out, Jack caught and held my door as I dragged my backpack free of the car. Toni was straightening behind the car, forcing the lid of the trunk back down.

  As soon as I was clear Jack closed my door. He grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the house. Jack was already pulling me toward the house, but he didn’t start explaining until Toni was at my heels and close enough to listen in.

  His words were clipped. “Jason came over after his classes. He saw a Demon parked on the street a few houses back, just watching the house.” My stomach clenched. I tried to get a look at the road, but Jack was shielding me too well. Jack continued in a rush. “As soon as Jason made eye contact, the Demon drove off.”

  “Was he alone?” Toni asked, coldly professional. I hated it when he got serious—it scared me.

  Jack nodded once. “But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have friends. The Demon Lord would never send just one.”

  Unless it’s a Demon hoping to make a million dollars. I swallowed stiffly.

  We were to the porch now. “What are we going to do?” I asked in a whisper. I hoped they wouldn’t hear the tremble it held.

  “Not much we can do,” Jack muttered ruefully. “Your grandma doesn’t want to scare the twins by moving back to Bourke in a single afternoon. She’s going to see if she can take them somewhere to spend the night—a friend’s house or something of the sort.”

  “Have you called Patrick?” Toni asked, already whipping out his phone.

  Jack shook his head. “Haven’t had the time. This happened about five minutes ago.” He jerked the door open, releasing me only to wave me inside. I stepped into the entryway, heard the twins clamoring for the cookies in the kitchen. Everything seemed normal. Only it wasn’t. Everything had changed.

  Toni was invisible, already murmuring quickly into his phone. I tried to tune into the words he was saying. “Patrick, we have a possibly problematic situation. Jason saw a Demon outside Kate’s house . . . Just a couple minutes ago. No, he’s not there now . . . She’s okay. She’s inside. Jack’s here.” He walked into the living room and the excited voices of the twins drowned him out easily.

  I wanted to follow him, but Jack was speaking to me again. “I tried to get your grandma to relax a little, but it wasn’t working. Maybe you want to give it a try?”

  I nodded once. “Where’s Jason?”

  Jack looked toward the kitchen. “In there. I’m calling him my godson for now. You go on in—I’m going to give a call to Claire, see if she can come over too.”

  I took a steadying breath and followed his instructions. I walked to the back of the house, stepping into the warm kitchen with a fake smile on my face. Jason was sitting at the table, talking with the twins, but he was distracted. He glanced up at my entrance, and Grandma pretended to introduce us. Her voice shook minutely, but the twins didn’t seem to notice.

  Introductions past, Grandma focused on the twins. “How would you two like to spend the night at a friend’s house?”

  Josie blinked. “Seriously? In the middle of the week?”

  Grandma forced a shrug. “Why not?”

  “Because it’s a school night,” Jenna pointed out.

  “So? Your friends go to school too, don’t they?”

  “Can we really?” Josie nearly gasped.

  “Make some calls. See if anyone will take you two ruffians.” Her voice was rough, and she wasn’t meeting my eye. Her aura was overwhelming, impossible to decipher.

  Things happened in a blur. The twins spent ten minutes arguing about who they could go stay with. Jack wandered back into the kitchen, offering Grandma a slight nod that told her the twins could be split up. That problem solved, the twins eagerly left to pack their bags. Grandma followed them without a word.

  I sat at the table, my bag slumped against one of the legs. I had an uneaten cookie sitting in front of me, but I couldn’t make myself touch it. I stared at the wall, stung by Grandma’s blatant silent treatment.

  Jason offered me a sympathetic look before returning to guard duty at the front of the house. Jack soon joined him, but I wasn’t alone for long. Toni walked into the kitchen, snatching up a cookie on his way to the table. He sat beside me, watching my blank face while he chewed.

  He swallowed the bite of cookie. “Are you okay?” he asked.

  I sent him a look that needed no translation.

  He grunted, then took another bite. He spoke through the crumbs. “It’s not that bad, you know. It was only one Demon.”

  “What if he comes back?”

  He shrugged. “Then we’ll be ready for him. Kate, this is what we do. A little faith, please.” He gestured with his chin at my cookie. “You going to eat that? No? Mind if I do?” He grabbed it up before I could open my mouth, finishing the entire thing in one bite.

  Jack returned abruptly. “Toni, when will Patrick get here?”

  Toni struggled to speak around the gooey mouthful. “Any second, I guess. He was almost to the warehouse to check in with Dr. Radcliffe and the other Seers. I doubt he’s following the speed limit, either. Or any other laws of the road, for that matter.”

  Jack was thoughtful. “Claire is on her way too, and she’s bringing Maddy.”

  “So what’s the plan?” Toni asked. “The twins are going somewhere . . .”

  “To stay with friends for the rest of the night,” I supplied, hoping that the action of speech would make me feel more proactive.

  “And the way your grandmother packs, they’ll be ready any minute,” Jack added.

  “Separate houses?” Toni clarified.

  Jack nodded. “I figured you and me could each take one.”

  The invisible Guardian pulled a face. “Just what I always wanted—to attend a little girls’ sleepover.”

  “Are we blowing this out of proportion?” I had to ask.

  They both turned to look at me but didn’t bother to reply.

  Patrick arrived just in time to see the twins off. Grandma was herding them out to the van, Jack and Toni right behind them, both completely invisible.

  Patrick conferred with Jason by the front door, their voices loud in the deserted house. Jason caught Patrick up on all the details we knew, also informing him that Claire was on her way with more backup.

  I remained at the table, my head balanced in my hands. I heard Patrick’s shoes scuff as he stepped into the kitchen behind me. He hung back for a few long seconds.

  He spoke quietly from the doorway. “Kate, everyt
hing’s going to be okay.”

  I didn’t move. I didn’t visibly react at all.

  His already stressed voice grew more worried. “Kate?”

  Reluctantly I lifted my head, but I didn’t turn to him. I just continued to stare at the wall, “I don’t know why I’m so surprised. I mean, we knew this would happen. You knew it would. I just didn’t think . . . my own house . . .”

  He came up behind me, his hands settling over my tense shoulders. “Nothing has happened yet. We’re just taking added precautions.”

  “Should we tell them?” I asked softly. “About the reward?”

  He didn’t answer right away. “I’m not sure. I don’t think it makes a real difference at this point.”

  There was a knock on the door, and Jason was quick to answer it. We heard the murmur of voices, then Maddy’s thick Texan accent overrode the rest. “I’ll keep watch with you out here.”

  Seconds later my protectors were filing into the kitchen. Claire was in the lead, with Alex, Ashley, and Hanif right behind.

  “Thank you for coming,” Patrick said quickly, still gripping my shoulders. “I realize you’re busy training—”

  Alex cut him off. “We can run through our plans here.”

  “It’ll be a nice change, not having Radcliffe’s constant droning,” Ashley added.

  Hanif offered me a small smile, as if he understood what I was going through.

  Claire was speaking to Patrick. “Should we move her?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t know where we’d go.”

  “A hotel?” she pressed.

  I cringed at the thought of abandoning my home to the Demons, but I didn’t have to voice my thoughts before Patrick was speaking again.

  “No point. If the Demons are watching the house, they’ll only follow us. If they aren’t watching, they still know this is her home—they’d be patient. They’d wait until we came back, when we weren’t as prepared. At least here we have an advantage. There are more variables in a public area. If it comes to a fight, we’ve got a better chance here.”

  “Maybe we should relocate her permanently, then,” Claire offered without pause.