SOUL GUARDIANS
* Book One *
MARKED
By
KIM RICHARDSON
MARKED
Soul Guardians Book 1
By
Kim Richardson
SMASHWORDS EDITION
*****
PUBLISHED BY:
Kim Richardson on Smashwords
Marked, Soul Guardians Book 1:
Copyright © 2011 by Kim Richardson
Smashwords Edition License Notes
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For my mother Danielle,
in Horizon
Chapter 1
Reborn
“Wait for me!” Kara jogged along Saint-Paul Street. She pressed her cell phone against her ear with a sweaty hand. “I’ll be there in two minutes!”
Her black ballet flats tapped the cobble stones as she avoided oncoming traffic. She jumped onto the sidewalk and ran through the crowd. Her portfolio swung at her side.
“I can’t believe you’re not here yet,” said the voice on the other line. “You had to pick today of all days to be late.”
“Okay, okay! I’m already freaking out about the presentation. You’re not exactly helping, Mat.”
A laugh came through the speaker. “I’m just saying …that this is supposed to be the most important day of your life. And you, Mademoiselle Nightingale, are late.”
“Yeah, I heard you the first time—MOTHER. My stupid alarm didn’t go off!” Kara dashed along the busy street. Her long brown hair bounced against her back. The smell of grease and beer from the pubs reached her nose. Her heart hammered at her chest. She knew if she missed the presentation, her hopes of landing a scholarship were over. She didn’t have any money for college. This was her only shot.
Thank God. I can see it now.
Over the heads of the crowd, Kara could just make out the sign, Une Galerie. Stenciled elegantly in bold black letters, the name hovered above the art gallery’s majestic glass doors. She could see shadows of people gathered inside. Her chest tightened. She was only a block away now.
“You know, the presentation won’t wait for you.”
“I swear I’m gonna kick your butt when I get there!” Kara growled into the phone.
She thought about getting off the sidewalk and running along the edge of the street. She looked back to see how bad the traffic was.
Then her heart skipped a beat.
Less than half a block behind, a man stood motionless and indifferent to the wave of humanity that flowed around him. He was staring at her. His white hair stood out against his dark grey tailored suit. Kara frowned.
His eyes are black, she realized.
A chill rolled up her spine. The man melted into the crowd and vanished, as though he were a mere trick of the light. The hair on the back of Kara’s neck prickled.
“I think I’m being followed,” Kara spoke into her cell phone after a few seconds.
“You always think you’re being followed.”
“No! I’m serious! I swear—this guy is following me—some psycho with white hair. I—I think I’ve seen him before. Or at least my mother has—”
“We all know your mother is a little nutty sometimes. No offence, I love your mom, but she’s been seeing and talking to invisible people since we were five. I think it’s rubbing off on you.”
“Listen. I was with my mom yesterday on Saint-Catherine Street, and she said we were being followed by someone. What if this is the same guy? Maybe she’s not as crazy as everyone thinks.” She wondered if there was a little truth in her mother’s visions. She loved her mother very much, and she hated herself at times for thinking her mom belonged in a loony bin.
Mat laughed. “Are you serious? It’s bad enough that your mom sees spirits and demons. If you start believing in all that, they’ll lock you up.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence. Remind me why you’re my best friend again?” Kara decided to drop the subject. She focused on the gallery sign as she ran. “Okay—I can see you now.”
Mat was leaning against the gallery’s brick exterior. His head was turned toward the glass doors. He pulled his cigarette from his lips and blew smoke into his phone’s receiver. “I think it’s starting. Hurry up!”
Kara felt her cheeks burn. Her heart pounded in her ears and muffled the sounds around her. She took a deep breath, hoping it would calm the fluttering in her stomach, and she sprinted onto Saint Laurence Boulevard. Her cell phone slipped out of her hand. It hit the pavement.
“Crap!” Kara crouched down to grab her phone.
A flicker of movement appeared in the corner of her eye.
“WATCH OUT!” Someone shouted. She stood up and turned around.
A city bus hurtled towards her. She stared, transfixed. The bus kept coming.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
An arm reached out to her. She saw a split second image of two monstrous head lights.
And then it hit.
Thirteen tons of cold metal crushed her body. She didn't feel any pain. She didn't feel anything at all.
Everything around her went black.
A moment later, Kara was standing in an elevator.
At first, streaks of white light obscured her vision. She blinked and rubbed her eyes. She shook her head. The elevator was elegant—three sides appeared to be made of handcrafted cherry panels decorated with golden-wing crests. The smell of moth balls lingered in the air, like her grandma’s dusty old closet. When her eyesight improved, she realized she wasn’t alone.
On a wooden chair, facing the elevator's control panel, covered in black fur, and wearing a pair of green Bermuda shorts, from which protruded two hand-like callused feet—sat a monkey.
It spun on its seat, wrapped its feet around the backrest of the chair, opened its coconut-shaped mouth and said—in a British accent—“Hello, Miss.”
Kara's jaw dropped, and she swallowed the urge to cry out. She stared at the beast, terror rising up inside her.
His hairless face crinkled into a grin, so that he looked like an oversized walnut. His square head sat directly on powerful shoulders. He raised his chin and looked down upon Kara. His yellow eyes mesmerized her. She couldn't look away.
He looks like Old Man Nelson from the hardware store, she thought wildly.
After a minute, Kara was able to force some words out of her mouth.
“H …hey there, little talking-monkey-person,” she croaked. “How's it going?”
Her throat was dry. She tried to swallow, but all she could do was contract her throat muscles.
“I have to remember to tell Mat about this tomorrow,” she whispered to herself.
The monkey frowned. Then he growled. “I'm not a monkey, Miss. I'm a chimpanzee! You mortals are all the same. Monkey-this, monkey-that. Might as well call me a dog!” A splatter of spit hit Kara's face as the words escaped his lips.
Kara retched as she wiped the spit from her face. It was yellowish green and smelled like a bad case of gingivitis.
“Ah …sorry, monk—chimpanzee.”
She rubbed her hand on her blue jeans. “Gross! This is really nasty—it’s all sticky!”
The chimp glared at Kara with disdain. “Chimp Number 5M51, if you please.”
He then began to scratch his behind and only stopped once he noticed Kara’s disgusted expression.
“You'll be arriving at your destination momentarily.” And with that, he turned his attention back to the control panel—hands away from his butt.
Gradually, Kara began to feel more awake, as though she had woken from a long sleep. Reality slowly crawled back in. She bit her lower lip as she told herself to think.
Don’t panic!
“Um, what destination? Where are we going?” she asked.
Chimp 5M51 turned his head and smiled, exposing rows of crooked yellow teeth. His eyes locked onto hers. “To Orientation, of course. Level One.”
“Orientation?”
“Yes. All mortals who have passed must go through Orientation. That's where you're going.” Chimp 5M51 clamped his feet around the edges of the chair and extended an abnormally long arm in the direction of the elevator's control pane. He pointed to the brass buttons.
Kara leaned over for a better view. The panel read:
1. Orientation
2. Operations
3. Miracles Divisions
4. Hall of Souls
5. Department of Defense
6. Council of Ministers
7. The Chief
“OUCH!” cried Kara, “Hey—what the—?”
Chimp 5M51 had picked a flake of dry scalp off Kara's head. He popped it in his mouth and swallowed. “Mmmmh. My apologies, I couldn't help myself. I am a primate, after all.”
“Freak,” mumbled Kara crossly, as she rubbed her scalp.
A feeling of dread slowly rose up inside her. She stared at the panel. “This—this doesn't make sense. I—I'm dreaming. This is a dream!”
Kara shut her eyes and pressed her back against the elevator wall, trembling. “It can’t be happening. It just can't! I need to wake up now!”
“You're dead, Miss.”
Kara opened her eyes. The word dead echoed in her ears. The weight of his words started to pull her under. She fought against the sick feeling of panic.
“I'm not dead!” she hissed, “I'm right here, you stupid BABOON!”
“—Chimpanzee!” Spat Chimp 5M51. “Think what you must,” he said, as he lifted his chin. “But, think about this. Can you remember the events before this elevator?”
Kara floundered, trying desperately to remember. Bits and pieces flashed inside her brain: a white light …metal … darkness …
The bus.
Kara dropped to her knees. The city bus had hit her—pulverized her core and crushed her like a tomato. But then she remembered something else, something that didn’t make any sense. It was coming back to her now, like a faded memory sharpening into a clear picture. It flicked before her eyes. She saw an arm reach out and touch her during the bus crash.
Someone tried to save me?
“See? You're dead,” said the chimp, matter-of-factly, and Kara detected a hint of amusement in his voice.
She pressed her hand against the left side of her chest. Kara couldn't feel a heartbeat. She pressed down on her rib cage. Nothing. She clasped her wrist. No pulse. No beating. No movement at all.
“See. No beating. No heart—you're dead,” declared the chimp again. She felt herself wanting to punch him.
But before she could start freaking out, she was thrown off balance as the elevator stopped abruptly.
“Level One. Orientation!” The chimp announced.
“Wait!” Kara pushed herself away from the elevator wall and wobbled up to the chimp. “I don't understand. What's Orientation?”
With his finger still on the button, he turned his head. “Orientation is where all the new GAs are categorized.”
Kara stared stupidly into chimp 5M51’s yellow eyes. “What are GAs?”
“Guardian Angels.”
“Huh?”
Kara heard the swish of doors opening. A hint of a smile reached the chimp’s lips. He raised his arm and pressed his hand on her back—
She flew out the elevator.
Chapter 2
Orientation
Kara belly-flopped onto a cold stony surface. Face glued to the floor, she raised an eyebrow. The floor vibrated against her cheek. She winced. Chaotic noises hit her ears, as though thousands of voices were speaking at the same time.
She lifted her head off the ground and looked around. Her jaw dropped.
She was surrounded by people. As she jumped to her feet, she saw they were gathered inside an assembly hall the size of ten football fields. Lines of people of every shape, size and ethnicity twisted through a maze of offices and corridors. The air was humid, and it smelled remarkably like the ocean.
Crack!
Kara turned just in time to see the elevator with chimp 5M51 disappear back into the ground. “Well, there goes one monkey I’m not going to miss,” she muttered to herself.
The commotion was louder than a rock concert. Kara pressed her hands to her ears. There were thousands of them, and they were all dead—just like her. They pushed and shoved one another, itching to get to the front of the line. This wasn’t exactly how she had pictured the afterlife, especially not with self-satisfied apes that picked from your scalp. But then again, she had never really given much thought about the spirit world, or death for that matter. She was only sixteen. She had felt invincible.
Kara was alone, lost and dead. She knew she should be feeling something like happiness. After all, she’d just discovered that life after death existed. Beside her, an oversized middle-aged man chatted happily with an old bald man. They looked pretty excited. Most of the walking dead around her seemed overjoyed, except for a few people who looked like she felt—nauseated and horrified.
Not knowing what else to do, Kara joined the line nearest her. She stared at her feet. Don’t make eye contact. Don’t make eye contact. She wasn't up for a chat, especially with some stout dead old guy who was prancing around as though he’d just won the lottery.
But she wasn’t ready to die just yet …she wasn’t finished. All her hopes and dreams—vanished into thin air. The soundless empty hole where her heart once lived was cold. She knew her life was over.
“Ahem.” Someone cleared their throat.
Oh no. Kara kept staring at her feet.
“Excuse me, miss. Are you feeling okay?” the man persisted.
Was there any hope that she could avoid sharing? Couldn’t she just disappear?
Unfortunately for Kara, it appeared that he wanted to share. “You know, it's really not that bad,” continued the voice.
Kara stole a look and saw that the voice belonged to the fat old man. His face was plastered with a lopsided grin. He licked his pink lips in anticipation. “We're in Horizon! Alive! Can you believe it! Well—sort of alive. We're dead but alive! Isn't this great!”
Kara lifted her head. She tried to fake a smile, but the corners of her mouth were sewed in place. “Yeah. It’s really great.”
The man beat the air with his arms. “This is so exciting!” And with great effort, he leaped into the air and twirled. His tiny legs kicked underneath his gigantic undulating belly. He hovered for half a second and then landed with an echoing boom. “Who would have thought that Horizon actually existed! Life after death—it's real!” If he wasn't already dead, Kara was sure his heart would burst out of his chest like red chunky sauce and hit his neighbor smack in the face.
She studied the man for a moment. “What's Horizon?”
He stopped twirling to give her an answer. “Utopia. Shangri-la. Zion. Elysium. Horizon is the afterlife. It's real and we're here! Isn't this wonderful?”
Kara scowled as the man spread his enthusiasm to his next victim, in another row of the dearly departed. She felt a presence behind her and turned to see that at least a hundred newly expired folk were bringing up the rear. The noise level increased, if that was actually possible. Kara hung her head and tried to cry—but no tears would come. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared into space.
Time seemed to have no effect at Orientation. Before she knew it, Kara was next in line to enter one of the score of office buildings that surrounded the acres of happy dead. She wrinkled her face and stared at the building. From the outside, it looked like a regular office: beige painted walls draped with beige colored paintings, beige industrial carpeting and glass windows with beige horizontal blinds.
Creative.
The door was the only thing that looked out of place. It was ancient, with a mammoth sized wooden frame, and it was decorated with a brightly lit neon sign which read: Oracle Division # 998-4321, Orientation.
Kara frowned. She wasn't sure whether or not she should knock. Sooner or later she knew she would have to make up her mind, for thousands of impatient dead people were anxiously pushing her against the door.
She sighed. “Okay, here goes nothing.”
Making a fist with her right hand she raised it to the door. And as her hand lingered in the air, the door swung open with a screech. The office was jam-packed. She sneaked in and stopped. A salty gust of ocean fragrance embraced her. Hundreds of scattered papers covered the ground and littered the desks. Filing cabinets filled the office, stacked on top of each other, twisting all the way to the ceiling—and giant crystals balls.
It was like a crazy bowling alley. Huge glass balls rolled across the office flattening everything in their path. Tiny old men ran balanced on top of the spheres like circus acrobats. Their silver gowns flowed behind them. Using their bare feet, they maneuvered the balls effortlessly in all directions. Like single entities, man and ball moved as one.
The crystal balls bumped into cabinets, and the men rummaged through the contents. They tossed their long white beards over their shoulders, flipped through papers and caused an avalanche of white parchment. Kara’s eyes flicked to a drifting sheet of paper making its way down towards her. She jumped up, caught it and read:
Guardian Angel: Peter Jones
Class order # 4321
Rank: Rookie 2nd year, W-1 Guard squad, (lowest rank)
Assignment: Elizabeth Grand. 5585 Sherbrooke Street, front entrance.
11:42 am. Crushed skull by slipping down 2 flights of stairs.
Status: Pass. Saved Charge. Soul untouched.
Kara shook her head. She bent down and picked up another paper from the floor and read it. It was similar, except that this time it was Tina Henderson who had saved Affonso Spinelli from choking to death on a meat ball, at Luciano's Porte Vino Restaurant.
Were all these papers about guardian angel assignments? She let the paper slip from her hand. She snooped around the filing cabinets. Papers rustled under her feet as she moved around the office. Along the way, she discovered several smaller rooms from which more men emerged treading above their glass spheres like oversized unicycles. They all appeared very much engaged at the moment—
“KARA NIGHTINGALE!”
Kara nearly jumped out of her own skin. Her legs wobbled as she made her way through the towers of filling cabinets and followed the voice. Around the corner to her left, she spotted another office. The door stood ajar. There, above a large crystal ball, sat another one of those men, surrounded by piles of paper. He jumped down to a great semi-circular wooden desk. He wore a frown on his brow and gestured impatiently.
“Come in. Come in. No time to waste. Lives to save!” he said in a strange high pitched voice.
Kara dragged herself inside the cramped office. More cabinets were stacked on top of each other and spread across the walls. A five-foot round pool was mounted in the back corner. The aroma of salt water was strong in the little office. A low tick tock distracted her. Following the sound, Kara spotted a huge grandfather clock leaning against the wall to her left, its long pendulum swinging from left to right.
She walked over to the desk and stood with her hands at her sides, biting her lips. She opened her mouth to speak—but shut it again. Alive, when she'd get nervous, her heart would pound so hard against her chest that it would sometimes hurt. But not this time. No hammering or pounding, only nervousness with a silent core. It didn’t feel normal.
She forced the words out of her mouth. “How—how did you know my name?”
The old man stopped ransacking his desk and finally grabbed a file. His eyebrows shot up on his forehead. “Ah, yes, yes. Here it is. Kara Nightingale …aged sixteen …hit by a bus …pretty nasty way of dying …so sorry about that …soul was already chosen to be a guardian …” He stroked his beard and was silent for a moment.
Kara cleared her throat. “Um …excuse me, sir? Um—what am I doing here—?”
The man’s head snapped up. “Doing here? Why …you’ve been chosen, that’s what! And now we need to get you started on your new job. Okay. Let’s see here …what’s the assignment again …? Oh dear. I think I’ve forgotten.” His face cracked into a grin. “It’s not as easy as it seems—to see into the future. You tend to get the present and the future mixed up! Now—where is that piece of paper?”
Kara frowned deeply. “I don’t understand—what new job? I have a job?”
The file slipped from the man’s hands. He fell forward to collect the papers. “Oh! Right!” His face lit up. “Well—you’re dead, obviously. And you’ve been preselected to become a guardian angel! To work at saving lives! Isn’t that wonderful?” He crumpled the papers in his excitement. “And today is your first day on the job!” He scratched his bald head. “Or is this your second day? Oh dear.”
Kara stared at him. “Me, a guardian angel? No freaking way!” She remembered movies she’d seen with guardian angels protecting men and women from evil. She wondered if she would get a pair of wings.
“Well, let’s see here—right. As a rookie you’ll be stationed in the W-1 Guard Squad, of the Guardian Angel Legion, lowest rank. Your duties today will be to observe. Your combat training will commence after the orientation period is over—after your first trip.” His kind eyes glistened as he looked upon Kara.
She tried to speak, but her lips were glued together. She shivered. She wasn’t sure if it was because of the excitement of the situation, or pure fear.
“Your Petty Officer will enlighten you with the details.” He closed the file, slammed it down against the desk with a bang, clapped his hands and bellowed, “DAVID!”
Kara glanced sideways and turned her head. A handsome teenager, a year or two older than her, popped into the doorway. His broad shoulders were covered by a brown leather jacket, which hung closely around his muscular build. He strutted his way towards them. Two golden stars marked his forehead, just above his brow.
“Yes, oracle? You called—your holiness?” Smiling widely, he combed the top of his blonde hair with his fingers. He stopped beside Kara and gave her a wink. His laughing eyes were the color of the sky. Normally, Kara would have blushed, but seeing as she was without blood flow, she felt a strange tingling instead, from the tip of her head all the way down to her toes, as if her body were under attack by hundreds of prickling needles.
The oracle jumped up and extended his arms. “Clara, meet David McDonald. David, meet Clara Nightingale.” His eyes darted from Kara to David. “She is to be your new rookie.”
“Uh—it’s Kara, not Clara.”
The oracle stared at her as if she had said the strangest thing. “Oh, right! Forgive me, Kara.”
David laughed. “They usually get it right after about a hundred times.”
Kara studied David’s face. His lips parted and twisted into a sly smile. He clasped her hand in his and shook it. She felt an electric current flow from her fingers to her toes. His hand wasn’t the blood warm touch she remembered feeling when shaking a mortal hand, but it wasn’t cold either. It was perfectly cool.
“Hey, there, Kiddo,” he said, as he flashed a row of dazzlingly white teeth. “Nice to meet ya. And it’s McGowan. Not McDonald.” He let go of her hand and lifted the collar of his leather jacket.
“Um—hi …it's just …let me get this straight,” stammered Kara. “I’m getting a new job as a guardian angel, and you’re going to be like my boss? Is that what’s happening here?”
“You better believe it, cutie.” David marched up and grabbed her dossier from the oracle.
“I think I’m losing my freaking mind.”
“No—you're just dead.”
Dead, Kara thought. She wanted to dissolve on the spot. She might be dead, but her core could still feel pain.
“Come closer, Clara,” said the oracle. With his feet, he steered his crystal ball away from the desk and came towards her. “It is time for you to take the oath! Or did you take it already? Oh dear. Here I go again, mixing everything up! Have we been here before?”
Kara shook her head. “Uh—no. What oath? I never took an oath.”
“Oh good,” sighed the Oracle. “It is the oath all guardian angels must swear to. A sealed oath which can only be broken if the soul dies.” A sudden glow emanated from the crystal ball, bathing the oracle’s feet in a soft white light. The brightness subsided. A cloud-like mist formed from inside the globe. It swirled around, changing its form with every twist. The oracle pressed his wrinkled hands together in front of his chest, his eyes still fixed on Kara’s. To her great surprise, they started to change color—morphing from blue to brilliant golden.
Kara’s eyes widened as she backed away. “Wait! What if I don’t want to become a guardian angel? Can’t I just go back home?” This was all happening so fast that she wasn’t sure she wanted to be part of it.
The oracle shook his head. “I’m afraid not. This is how it has to be …there is no other way. Your life as you knew it is over. Today—you’re starting your new life and your new job.”
She blinked, her mind working overtime. It had to be better than doing nothing, being really dead. And then there were the broad shoulders of Petty Officer Dav—
“Come closer,” said the oracle sternly.
Fighting the urge to run away from David and the oracle, Kara stepped forward. “Wait a minute—I think you’re making a mistake. I don’t think I’m the right person for this job—”
The oracle put a finger to his lips and nodded imperiously. “The Chief has chosen you, Clara, to join his army, to become one of his guardian angels, a true and sacred honor.” His golden stare hypnotized Kara. “Now, you must repeat after me.”
Kara nodded.
The oracle continued. “I, Clara Nightingale—”
“It’s Kara.”
“Oh no! Did I get it wrong again? My memory is not what it used to be.” The oracle smiled and wiped his brow.
“Let’s start this again.” He cleared his throat. “I, Kara Nightingale, declare myself servant of the Legion of Angels. I will perform my duties as a guardian angel wholeheartedly. May the witnesses of my oath hold me to it.”
Kara felt foolish but repeated everything word for word anyway.
“We will hold you to it!” declared the oracle and David together.
And then something strange happened. First, the oracle’s skin started to blaze a soft golden color, and then he leaned forward and pressed his thumb on Kara's forehead. His touch burned a spot between her eyebrows and sent a sizzle of electricity from her head to her finger tips. She felt heavier somehow, as though the simple touch had weighed her down. After a moment the oracle leaned back, and Kara watched his eyes slowly return to their natural blue color. The crystal ball shimmered and then lost all of its brilliance.
She reached up and touched her forehead, running her fingers along the spot where she had felt it burn. Her brows drew together. She could feel the outlines of a star—just like David’s. The oracle had branded one on her as well.
“I have a star on my forehead?” said Kara, which was more of a statement rather than a question, as she rubbed her brow. A tiny smile reached her lips.
“It is the symbol of the Legion of Angels. You are a guardian angel now—you swore the oath.” The oracle steered his crystal ball back to the other side of his desk and sat back down. He glanced at the clock. “And now you have a job to do. Time is of the essence! Daniel!”
David flipped a black duffel bag over his shoulder and strutted over to the pool. “That’s me. Let's go, Kiddo. We only have a half hour to get to Mrs. Wilkins, before she dies in a freak dishwasher accident.” He climbed up the little ladder hanging over the edge of the pool and stepped onto the ledge.
Kara frowned. “Hold on. You mean to tell me, that to reach Mrs. what's-her-name, we have to jump into the pool?”
“That's right,” answered David as he lowered his bag and jammed the file into it.
It was too weird. But then again, she was dead—walking, talking, with a golden star burned into her forehead.
She took a few tentative steps towards the pool. “Wait a minute—how come I wasn’t saved? Where’s my guardian angel?” Images of her life flicked inside her head—her family, her friends, her paintings. “Why wasn’t there anyone to save me?”
David zipped up the bag and threw it over his shoulder. He flicked his eyes down at Kara and grinned widely. “You were saved—well, your soul was, that is.”
“Huh?”
His eyes were thoughtful as they rested on her. “Your soul was chosen. You were destined to become a GA. It was just a matter of time before you died and were shipped up to Horizon! We’re running low on guardian angels you see, and you were next on the list.” He winked.
“I was chosen?”
“Yup. By The Chief himself. Thinks you’ve got what it takes to do the job. And—speaking of the job, we have to go—” David threw out his hand and beckoned her to join him.
Who is this Chief? And why did he choose me? What’s so special about me?
“So—how do you know what's going to happen to her—that woman—before it happens?” Kara clamped her hands around the metal pool’s railing. It was cool. “I mean, how is that possible?”
“You forget where you are. Oracles can see into the future. It is their gift. They know days before that someone is about to die. So they assign a guardian angel to save that person's soul. It's your job to save them, no matter what, before the demons devour it.”
“Demons?” Kara’s eyes widened. She felt her body tense. It took a few seconds to gather herself. “Are you freaking kidding me?” An image of her mother flashed in her mind’s eye.
She turned her attention to the oracle who was ignoring their conversation completely. His eyes were gold again. He stared into space, still as a statue. Kara wondered if the little man was scrying into the future at this very moment.
“The oracle's busy now. He's doing his job; now it’s our turn.” David grabbed hold of Kara's arm and pulled her up the little staircase, settling her next to him. His gaze narrowed. “Now—listen carefully. Are you listening?”
“I’m all ears.” But Kara couldn't shake it off, the feeling of dread. Demons were her mother’s favorite subjects—a crazed woman’s imaginary foes—right? “No-no one said anything about demons.” She tried to put on a brave face for David, but she knew it wasn’t working.
“Don’t worry. Nothing’s gonna happen—it’s a real easy assignment, trust me. We’ll be back before you know it.”
He smiled and studied her face. His blue eyes glistened. “Up here, water is important. Remember that. It’s the gateway between Horizon and Earth—it's how we travel.” He flashed another smile, his teeth exposing their radiance. “So we have to jump in. You ready?” He grabbed Kara by the elbow, edging her forward.
Kara stared at the pool's reflections, imagining demons in the deep water—waiting for her.
“All right then,” said David, “on the count of three—”
“What? Wait! I'm not sure I want to do this—”
“One …”
Kara jerked her arm around, desperately trying to rid it of David’s iron grip.
“Two …”
“Wait!” Squealed Kara. “I can't swim!”
“Three!” David pushed himself off the ledge and jumped, dragging Kara down with him.
She splashed into the water and sank to the bottom. The water didn’t feel like water at all, more like fog, or a heavy mist, like when you’ve stayed too long in the shower. Kara could breathe easily, somehow, probably because she had no lungs. She turned her head and tried to look for David, but she began to spin fast—horizontally—with ear-piercing shrieks as whitish bubbles seemed to consume her. White light exploded all around her. Shielding her eyes, Kara managed to look down. The light was coming from her. Her entire body was illuminated by fluorescent white light. She felt a sudden pull and watched her body disintegrate into millions of brilliant particles. She started to flow away.
With a last flash of light, everything around her disappeared.
Chapter 3
The M Suit
Kara forced her lids open and looked around. She frowned.
The shadows of the world around her were a hazy blur, as though she had opened her eyes under water. She felt dizzy, almost like the time she stole a bottle of wine from her parents’ wine cellar and drank half the bottle. But this was different. She was trapped in a strange body. She searched inside this body and found herself. She willed the body to move. She moved her fingers, then her arms. This new body felt like she was wearing it on top of her other self; a skin-tight suit. Is this normal?
As the dizziness lessened, her nerves calmed. She concentrated on her hearing. She could hear the distant sounds of traffic and the soft murmurs of people talking. She blinked. Shapes became focused. It was as though she were watching the world through someone else’s eyes. She looked down at her new body and pressed her hands against her chest. Nothing. No beating of the heart, no lungs compressing. Empty.
Her eyes slowly adjusted to the shadows around her. She was in a humid alleyway. It stank of last week's garbage. She followed the smell and spotted cats eating from the metal dumpsters. Tall brick buildings masked the light. Shapes moved within the shadows. Kara recoiled as two grubby looking men eyed her from a dark doorway, whispering at each other.
They can see me?
Then something touched her shoulder—
Kara jumped backwards and nearly fell.
“Relax, Kara, it’s me.” David reappeared. He wore the black duffel bag on his back. His cheeky Colgate smile made his face a little too handsome. Kara turned away so that he wouldn’t see the flush she felt staining her cheeks. Then she remembered—she couldn’t blush. She had no blood.
“How you feeling?” he asked, as he clasped her shoulder.
Kara grimaced. “Like my sixteenth birthday hangover.” She lifted her head. The world around her was in focus now, but the ground still wavered slightly. She felt excited to be back, even if it was only for a short while.
David stared into space, a silly grin on his face. “Yeah …those were fun times.”
He sighed and turned back to Kara. “But that’s normal. It’ll go away in a few minutes.”
He let go of her shoulder and dropped the duffel bag on the pavement. He bent down, rummaged through the bag and pulled out a map. After studying it for a moment, he stuffed it back and pulled out a brown leather wrist watch. “Good, we’re only a few blocks away.” He leaped to his feet and strapped the watch around his wrist.
A breeze masked the dumpster smell for a moment as it brought in exhaust fumes, hot pavement and dog poop from the busy street. Kara brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. She brought her hand up to her face and studied it, wiggling her fingers, focusing on the fact that she was in a body that didn’t belong to her.
This is beyond weird.
Back in Horizon, before taking the big plunge, she remembered feeling like her old self, just without the internal organs—but like herself. But now back on Earth, after her death, this body felt alien. She wasn’t sure she’d ever get used to this.
“The M suits take some time to get used to the first time. Believe me; I know!” David clapped his hands together. “Man, I remember my first time …I was totally spacing out.” He laughed, his eyes sparkling.
Kara smiled. He reminded her of the college boys she’d seen around the city: young, beautiful and full of themselves. They oozed an eau d’arrogance. Most of the high school girls drooled over these boys. She had labeled them, the Untouchables. David was one of them. He was very handsome, with a strong athletic build. She felt uncomfortable being so close to him. Their eyes met for only a second, and Kara was sure he had just read her mind. He smiled.
“But you know, after a few suits, you’ll hardly feel them anymore—they kinda become part of you.” David straightened out his jacket and flipped the collar up. “Yeah …that’s more like it.”
Kara frowned. “What do you mean by M suits?”
“Mortal—humans—Earth dwellers. If you’re not part of the Legion, you’re a mortal.”
“So you’re saying I’m wearing a human suit?”
“Yup.”
Kara made a face. “That’s disgusting!” She shook her head. “I still can’t figure it out. How did we get here?” Her brown eyes searched his face.
“You see,” explained David, as he studied her, “when we jumped into the pool, back on Horizon—remember? Right, well, we were sorta transported to Earth.” He lifted his arms and pointed to his chest. “In these babies.”
“Right—in these body bags,” said Kara, and she looked down at herself. She studied her arm. She pulled back her sleeve and passed her hand over her skin. “Feels—different?” she said and looked up into his eyes.
David nodded as he smiled at her. “I know. You’ll get used to it.”
“So these bodies, just magically appeared?”
“Ha!” He laughed. “You’re funny. But—ah—no. See, when we travel between Horizon and Earth, we need to submerge ourselves in water—the pools, remember? Water serves as a gateway between the two worlds. It also allows us to create our M suits and then shed them later. Don’t ask me how, it just does. And we call the process, Vega.”
Kara blinked. “I’m a freaking puppet without the strings.” Her mind flicked inside her mortal body, anticipating movement. She shifted her weight from one leg to the other—a thought was all it took now. The body responded. Like water sucked into a sponge, her spirit was absorbed entirely; body and soul moved as one. She didn’t need to will her body to move anymore. It was quickly becoming second nature to her. She rested her hands on her hips. Perhaps it wouldn’t be as difficult as she first thought. “I think I’m getting the hang of this.”
David watched her and grinned. “In Horizon, we don’t need flesh and blood bodies, our bodies are immortal. You’re still the same person you were, just not in the same mortal body. You think and feel exactly the same. It’s like you never left your old body. But our mortal bodies are gone—and as a GA, you can only submerge yourself in M suits to walk on Earth—your soul would die without them. Think of them as another version of your old body. But I have to admit, I love wearing suits—they make me feel invincible!”
Kara felt her mind ease with every passing moment. It wasn’t so bad after all, this new life that was starting to emerge.
“Okay, wow …so where do we go from here?” asked Kara, as she practiced moving her limbs. She took a few steps, staring at her feet, grinning. She had to admit, it did feel pretty awesome once you got used to it.
“We have exactly less than fifteen minutes to get to Mrs. Wilkins before she slips and dies—in a freakish accident. You ready?” David cocked an eyebrow. “It’s time to reveal my extraordinary talents!” His teeth gleamed, and he rubbed his hands together.
She looked up into his grinning face and shrugged. “I guess?”
“Don’t worry, I’m here with you,” said David. “And you, you will be witnessing a true master of his craft—first hand! I’m that good.”
Kara shook her head. “Wow—are all guardian angels this cocky, or am I just really lucky to be stuck with you?”
“I’m the hottest thing in Horizon, baby,” said David, his eyes flashed mischievously. He threw the black bag over his shoulder, straightened out his jacket and strode off. “Let’s go!” He yelled back.
“Sure thing, hot stuff,” laughed Kara.
She ran to keep up, trying not to trip on her new legs. Soon the alley way disappeared, and they found themselves in sunlight, facing a busy street. Tall palm trees decorated the length of the street on either side, like enormous lamp posts. Their leaves ruffled in a light breeze, bringing forth the smell of the ocean. Instantly, Kara knew she wasn’t in her home town anymore. She spotted a metal street sign at the corner. Northeast 5th Street was stenciled in white at the top, on a green platform. She had never been here before.
“Where are we?” asked Kara after a moment. She stared at a giant aloe plant.
“Fort Lauderdale, Florida, baby,” answered David. He strutted up the street with ease, and Kara assumed this wasn’t David’s first trip to Fort Lauderdale.
They walked along 5th Street, zigzagging through crowds of shoppers. The smells of onion, garlic, fish and spices surrounded them. She imagined a juicy cheese burger.
“Can we eat? I mean …do we need to eat? Like …can we taste food?”
“No. These are mortal suits, not real mortal bodies. We don’t eat.”
“That sucks—I was hoping to try a slice of pizza or something.”
“You could try …but it’ll be like eating paper.”
“I think I’ll pass, thanks.”
Kara followed David closely. She still felt uneasy about wandering the streets in a new body. She looked passersby in the face and wondered if these people noticed something different about her. “Do you have a mirror on you?”
“Why do you want a mirror?” David stopped walking and met Kara’s eyes.
“To see myself. I’d like to see what I look like.”
“Oh—of course. You want to make sure you are still you—come over here.” David walked up to a parked car. He made sure no one was looking. “You can check yourself out with this.” He pointed to the side mirror.
Kara leaned in and took a peek. “I look exactly the same? Same eyes, nose, hair? Great—I even have the same zits! How’s that possible?”
“Because you’re you.”
“But what happens if someone I know sees me? They’ll freak out!” Kara pictured her mother’s frightened face. She figured she’d probably die of a heart attack, seeing her dead daughter wandering the streets like a zombie.
David grabbed Kara by the elbow and steered her away from the car. “They won’t because you don’t look exactly the same to them . . . you’ll appear a little different. You’ll have the same brown eyes and brown hair, but you’ll look like a cousin or something.”
“Oh. I don’t have any cousins.”
They walked along another block until they reached North Andrews Avenue and turned south. Couples with children passed them by and Kara thought of her own family. At that moment, she felt miserable. She missed her mother. Even though she was a little mad she was the only mother Kara ever knew. She imagined her mother’s grief-stricken face and wished she could tell her somehow that she was okay.
“Do you miss your family?”
David was silent for a second. “Sure I do. I miss them all the time, but I wouldn’t trade my life in Horizon for anything. I love my job. We’re part of an elite group—chosen to keep the mortals safe. The rush I feel on a mission—you can’t get that same feeling doing anything else. It’s dangerous, and I love pushing the limits. I’m good at it. It’s like …this is what I’m supposed to be doing. Besides, we get to play with the coolest weapons!” His face lit up.
Kara wondered if David had had many girlfriends back when he was alive. She knew the answer to her own question, and realized she was being silly. But another question burned in the back of her mind. “Can—can I ask you something?”
“Sure. What do you want to know?”
Kara avoided his eyes. “How …how did you die?”
“Oh, that,” laughed David. “Well, it wasn’t anything spectacular. I drowned.”
“You drowned! Oh my God! That’s a horrible way to die.”
“Well, actually, I drove my parents’ car off a bridge. So it’s a little more badass.”
Kara imagined the scenario in her head. “What was it like? I mean …to drown? Did you suffer? It must have been terrible.”
“The last thing I remember was a feeling of flying—which was really cool by the way,” said David. “Then the car hit the water, and I hit my head on the steering wheel. I blacked out. And then I woke up with a monkey breathing down my neck.”
“Right, the chimp in the elevator.”
David adjusted the bag on his shoulder. “Then I joined the Legion—became famous with the ladies—pissed off a few angels . . . and the rest is history.” He paused for a second before continuing, his expression thoughtful. “What about you? What do you remember about your death?”
Kara scratched the back of her neck. “I didn’t feel anything when I died—I mean I didn’t feel any pain. I remember the bus coming at me. I remember thinking it was too late to run out of the way—then it hit. The next thing I remember—I was in an elevator.” She shook her head. “I thought I was dreaming.”
“I think we all go through that.” David pointed. “There it is, 187 North Andrews Avenue, apartment number three—your first assignment. Let the show begin!” He glanced at his watch. “We don’t have much time. Quickly!” He jogged to the front of the grey stone building and ran up the metal staircase, three floors to apartment number three.
Kara stared up at him from the bottom of the stairs and shrugged. “Great. I’m stuck in The Amazing David show.” But she ran up the stairs, her body completely in tune with her.
“The key to a successful assignment is to do the job quickly and discreetly. Save the mortal—and get out. No need for any demons if you save the mortal.”
“Um, these demons,” said Kara, “what do they look like?” She couldn’t help but cringe while she waited for the answer. If demons existed, there was a slight chance her mother saw them too.
“Depends. There’re lots of different kinds of demons. Some can look like monsters from your worst nightmares, and others can look just like you and me—mortal.”
“With black eyes?”
“Yeah—how did you know?”
Kara’s head spun. She tried to gather her thoughts. “My—my mother saw them I think. She—she called them demons. She said they were after us. I mean—we all thought she was nuts. I never saw anyone or any demons. I wanted to believe her. I tried so hard. She made it sound so real—but I couldn’t. I spent most of my life hiding her away from everyone—so they wouldn’t put me in foster care. See, my father died when I was five—so it’s just—it was just the two of us.”
“Well, she wasn’t crazy.” David cocked his head to the side. “Some mortals can see spirits and demons—they’re called Sensitives. They formed a secret mortal society and have been dealing with the Legion for hundreds of years. Your mom is probably one of them.”
“Sensitives,” repeated Kara. “I …I guess you’re right.” Her guilt weighed her down. Her mother wasn’t crazy. She remembered her mother screaming and pointing to invisible foes, and now Kara was filled with regret. Her mother had been telling the truth all these years. It only made her feel worse.
“Now—watch and learn.” David rang the doorbell.
After a moment there was a screeching noise as the intercom went on.
“Yes …?” answered a coarse woman’s voice.
David cleared his throat and gave Kara a wink. “Hi, Mrs. Wilkins? My name is John Mathews—I’m here with my friend Karen. We’re from Saint-Thomas’s high school, and we’re collecting donations for the swimming team. We’re sure to win this year . . .”
There was a loud scrch from the intercom. “Oh! Yes, yes. Of course. Come on up!”
The door buzzed and vibrated as David pushed it open. “Her son used to be on the same swimming team. Let me do all the talking,” he whispered, “your job for now, is just to observe—see how I take care of the damsel in distress! My good looks sometimes are enough.”
“Sure thing, lover-boy.” Kara followed him into the building. The air was thick and had a faint stench of lingering mold. She wrinkled her nose. Dirty brown stains painted the light grey walls, and leftover gum was smeared into the cruddy carpeted stairs. Dead cockroaches, the size of mice, lay on the floor next to the walls, and live ones disappeared into tight crevices. Voices from the neighboring apartment’s television seeped through the walls.
When David reached the top of the stairs, he turned around. “And another thing,” he said. “Mortal suits are temporary. They only last a few hours. Staying too long on Earth will give the demons our location. The longer we stay here, the easier it is for them to find us. They can sense us. That’s why we have to hurry. But—don’t worry, demons don’t just show up. We still have lots of time to do our job. But, if ever you do see one, don’t panic!” He studied Kara’s face. “The worst thing you can do is freak out and scare the mortal. She’s not supposed to know anything about demons—or about us. We have strict rules about these things. Besides, I’m here to protect you. Do you understand?”
Kara nodded, biting her lip, although she wasn’t entirely sure she wouldn’t freak out if she saw a demon coming her way. “Okay. Um, the demons—can they hurt us? I know we’re dead but—” Her mind travelled back to when she was a child. “When I was little I used to have horrible nightmares about monsters—I used to see dark shapes following me all the time. My mom would say that they were demons, and that they wanted to eat my soul. Is that true? God, listen to me—I’m such a freak.”
“You’re not a freak,” said David, his eyes suddenly kind. “You’re a guardian angel—and not a bad looking one either.”
Kara rolled her eyes. “But seriously, can they hurt me now—or are we like invincible? Do we have special angel abilities?”
David faced a door covered in peeling white paint. “Demons are the only ones who can take a guardian angel’s soul. If a demon takes your soul, then you stop existing. And there’s no coming back. But with training, you’ll develop your abilities. Look, for now, just leave the demon to me—if there is one. Today—it’s watch and learn.”
Kara struggled to stay calm. She didn’t want David to think she was a wimp, especially not on her very first day on the job. “But what do I do if I see one?”
David knocked on the door. “Show him the finger and maybe he’ll disappear. No, seriously, just stay near me. Nothing’s gonna happen. I’m here.”
“Yeah—I feel a lot better, thanks.” Kara sighed. She concentrated on David’s relaxed demeanor to ease her mind. She realized she had no idea what she would do if she saw one.
The door creaked open to reveal a plump lady in her sixties. “Hello, dears—come in, come in,” she said, as she waved them in. “So—you’re both on the swimming team?”
“Yes,” said David and Kara in unison, as they entered a small entranceway. Kara could see parts of a kitchen from where she stood, partially hidden behind walls which then opened up to the left to reveal a dining and living area. The small apartment reeked of dingy carpets and potpourri and a smidgen of cat pee. How she missed her grandma.
Mrs. Wilkins surveyed the young couple. “Hmm. Well, you’re a nice looking pair, aren’t you?” Smiling, she wiggled her oversized body excitedly, sending waves rippling all the way down to her feet. “My Stanley always came home from practice dying for some juice. I’ll fix you some.” She turned slowly and teetered towards the kitchen.
David glared at Kara. Shaking his head, he showed her his watch and mouthed, No!
Kara peeked into the tiny kitchen and spotted the dishwasher’s open door, and on display, a row of sharp knives flickering in the kitchen light, sticking out from the plastic cutlery basket in the dishwasher—the murderer.
“Um, that won’t be necessary, ma’am,” said Kara. “We …we just had some coffee not too long ago,” she lied, putting on her best fake smile. “We’re not thirsty, really.”
Mrs. Wilkins halted and turned around. “Oh. I see. You young people are always in a hurry.”
Kara scratched the back of her neck. “Um, yes—but thank you very much.” Grinning, she stretched the corners of her lips as far as they would go.
Mrs. Wilkins frowned and studied Kara once more. She pinched her lips together. “Well, then. I’ll go get my wallet.” She wobbled down the wallpapered hallway and disappeared behind a door.
“That was close,” breathed David. He glanced at his watch and grinned. “Well, Kara. Today is your lucky day. One minute left, the charge is safe, and there are no signs of demons. This was an excellent first assignment. Man, I’d kill for a beer right now.”
Something moved in Kara’s peripheral vision. She turned her head. In a dark corner of the hallway, down past the door where Mrs. Wilkins had disappeared, Kara saw a shadowy shimmer. At first, she wasn’t sure she saw anything at all—maybe her eyes were playing tricks on her. But as her sight adjusted to the darkness, the shadow appeared again. It was little more than a shifting fog that flashed and disappeared. As it glistened in the dim light and flickered in and out of sight, it took solid form long enough to expose fragments of a corrupted and twisted body. The shifting shadow glided towards them.
Exactly like her nightmares.
Chapter 4
Down the toilet
David dropped his bag. He shoved both hands into it and pulled out a long silver dagger with his right hand and grasped a brilliant white orb in the other. “Kara, move!”
But she couldn’t. Glued to the spot, Kara’s body suddenly turned ice cold, as though the temperature in the room had dropped by twenty degrees. Weakened by the evil the creature oozed, Kara felt icy hands tighten around her neck, suffocating the life out of her. “What’s happening?” She brought her hands to her throat and felt the weight of the demon pull her down. Darkness lurked inside her, threatening to consume her mind.
But Kara wasn’t about to let this ugly demon kill her. She was stronger than that. With inner strength, she strained and fought against its evil. After a moment, the cold released itself and dissipated.
“Quick—Behind me!” David pushed Kara hard to the ground. He ran past her and planted himself in the middle of the hall, swinging his weapons before him.
And at that moment, Mrs. Wilkins decided to join the fun.
“What’s all this racket?” She bellowed as she bounced into the hallway between David and Kara. First, she saw David who was holding a very large dagger, and then she turned her attention to Kara on the floor a few feet behind him looking very pale.
“Good, Lord!” Shrieked Mrs. Wilkins, cowering against the wall, “what are you trying to do with that knife!” she cried. “Are you going to murder us—cut out our innards and sell them on the black market?” She squealed as she clutched her chest.
“Lady, we’re here to protect you!” cried David, his eyes locked on to the shadow.
Mrs. Wilkins followed the direction of David’s eyes and saw the demon at the end of the hallway. She gave out a yelp. Taking on a solid form for a moment, the demon showed its true self, a putrid core of intertwined monsters. Wormy tendrils formed legs that it used to propel itself towards them. It flickered, before changing back into black mist.
“Go back to the Netherworld, shadow demon!” David thrust the white orb before him. Brilliant rays of white light shot out of the globe. They flew straight at the shadow demon. They hit. The demon let out an ear-piercing cry as its solid form reappeared covered in light. Convulsing, it flicked and changed back into a black cloud and vanished.
“Kara!” shouted David as he turned around and faced her. “Take Mrs. Wilkins outside—quickly—before more demons come!”
Kara blinked. She stared into David’s face, her feet glued to the ground. Images of demons flashed inside her head—her childhood nightmares were real. Her mother had been telling the truth all along. The demon which tormented her in her dreams, time and time again, had just appeared a few feet away from her. She shook herself out of her trance and forced herself to concentrate on David’s words. She had to do something. She flicked her eyes and watched Mrs. Wilkins. The woman’s body was trembling, her face screwed up in complete terror and bewilderment. She needed Kara’s help. She was the guardian after all. Compelled to do the right thing, she pushed herself up and jumped towards Mrs. Wilkins, tripped and fell flat on her face. Oops.
Mrs. Wilkins on the other hand, decided to move. Trampling over Kara, she stumbled into the kitchen, screaming like a banshee.
“Kara!” yelled David, as he saw Mrs. Wilkins wobbling into dangerous territory. “Mrs. Wilkins’s in the kitchen! The dishwasher! Keep her from it!”
A chill prickled on Kara’s M suit as she felt the temperature in the hallway drop again. She lifted her head off the ground and flinched as another shadow demon appeared behind David. “DAVID! BEHIND YOU!” She pointed towards the corrupted creature.
The shadow demon flicked back to a mist and grabbed David from behind, enveloping him in a black cloud. For a moment, Kara thought the demon had devoured him—there was nothing but a black fog where David had stood. Suddenly, the creature materialized back into its true self and David emerged. He leaped into the air as he fought the shadow demon off with his dagger—stabbing and slicing off parts of the creature. Black liquid sprayed the walls.
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