Guardians (Chosen Trilogy Book 2) Read online

  Ken fell in beside her, warming to her openness. “I see. And is that something all lycans enjoy?”

  “Every chance they get.”

  “Excellent. Maybe we could do it together one day.”

  Felicia looked amused. “You really want to run naked through the woods with me? Has the pot gone to your head, surfer-boy? You do know you’re human, right?”

  “I’m up for anything.” Ken tried to sound indignant.

  “I’ll bet.”

  Felicia gave him a wide, infectious smile. Ken grinned back. “So what else do you lycans like to do?”

  “Whatever we like. That’s part of the beauty of being a lycan. We’re beholden to nothing and to no one. The world is our playground. And that’s why we’re helping out, of course.”

  “No rules?”

  “None that aren’t worth breaking.”

  “Awesome.” Ken liked her more and more. She didn’t sound the least bit complicated, something he was always on alert for. He was about to speak again when Felicia stiffened.

  “What?”

  “Look.”

  He stared ahead. What he saw brought him to a dead stop. The whispering grasses finally ended, against what appeared to be a craggy rock face that rose out of nowhere. Among the rows of crags and outcroppings, the high, dark reaches, Ken made out caves; entrances to unknown realms. Many of the caves at ground level were high, wide and arched, but above them stood many more, some smaller than a human and others just large enough to admit a man. Darkness pooled inside every entrance invitingly, ominously. As Ken watched, several creatures squirmed out of numerous entrances, then stopped suddenly as if seeing the light of day for the first time in many moons. Others moved off along the already trodden path toward the gate that led to Miami.

  Felicia pulled him down. “Careful. We need to get by them. Not mate with them.”

  The vampires and Lilith joined them. Eliza was in the middle of quizzing Lilith about the cave entrances.

  “There is not much to say,” Lilith told them. “Creatures are free to come and go above the sixth level. Take your time and you should slip past them. There are no guarantees.”

  “Time is something we don’t have,” Eliza said. “We need a distraction.”

  “Even then—”

  “I hear you.” Eliza raised a hand. “But I need suggestions. Not skepticism. Anyone?”

  “Or,” Ken said, pointing up at the skies, “we wait for the dark.”

  The day was waning overhead, passing into night. Whatever passed for light down here was about to give way to utter dark, and Ken for one was somewhat anxious.

  “Humans.” Milo shook his enormous head. “So naive. How have you lived so long?”

  “Me?” Ken said archly. “Or my kind?”

  “Both,” Eliza put in. “Vampires can see in the dark. Do you not think the creatures of hell might be able to do the same?”

  Lilith came to his rescue. “Still, it is harder for most of them to see through the full dark. It will be better than purposely making a distraction that might give away our presence.”

  They crept closer to the crags. As the grass grew sparser and details became clearer, Ken saw that a wide lake fronted the high rock faces. Its waters were black; obsidian waves rippled from end to end. Ken fancied he saw something undulating under the surface, a great spiny back that occasionally broke the waters, but it could have been his imagination.

  “We can skirt around this way.” Felicia pointed off to the left where the grasses swept in a wide arc and ended up against the lowest reaches of the caves. “There’s no activity. No recent spoor or smells. And the dark is coming fast.”

  When they reached the rough-hewn cave entrances, Felicia turned to Lilith. “You’re up. Which one?”

  Lilith pointed to the top. “The higher the better. Most of these spawn take the easy routes in and out.”

  Up they went, finding simple handholds in the rugged surface and clinging close to the cliffs. At first it was easy, but as he climbed higher Ken chanced a look down. The first thing he saw was the silent lake, its waters swelling away from the center where something briefly rose. The spiny back heaved and rolled, its long bristling vertebrae catching the last of the light before sinking into the depths.

  “Oh God.”

  Felicia prodded him from below. “Hurry. What are you doing?”

  “A freakin’ sea monster.”

  “Meh. I’ve seen one before. Now catch up to Lilith before she disappears on us.”

  Ken started up, trying to stay close to the young girl’s heels. As the night closed in, sounds began to travel further, and the grunts and screeches of the traveling terrors filled the high, empty cavern of the night. Ken scraped his fingers against the rock and tried to keep his sword from clanging too loudly. Felicia urged him on and then came the vamps, scuttling up from below like poisonous spiders. Ken fought off a chill of fear. What the hell was he doing here with these creatures? It wasn’t as though any of them were good friends.

  At last, Lilith moved into a cave. Ken followed her quickly, ducking his head as the ceiling lowered. Pitch blackness surrounded them. Sounds were limited to grunting and breathing.

  “Come forward carefully,” Lilith whispered. “We are near a ledge.”

  Ken joined her. The interior was dimly lit, the faint light filtering down from high above. Maybe another plain existed up there, but he didn’t care. He stared down and around, taking stock of the place. The inside was like a high chamber that descended lower and lower, far past the limits of sight. In every rock wall was a warren of passageways, all twisting and looping and snaking lower, passing over great drops and breaks in the path, arching over each other. In the center of all this chaos rose a grand staircase, hewn out of stone, impossibly high and steep, full of sharp turns and switchbacks, a pillar of permanence at the heart of this random warren.

  Lilith pointed vaguely through the gloom. “Down there is the gate to the sixth hell. We should go quickly before we are seen.”

  Eliza was close enough to Ken’s shoulder to make him jump when she said, “Why can’t we just descend straight down to the first hell?”

  “It is easier, and safer, to find the ways between hells. The grand staircase and its warrens are too dangerous and full of spawn. Some even live here. But the ways between, the lesser known paths, are both quicker and less populated.”

  Eliza made a noise that managed to convey both understanding and impatience. Lilith slipped over the ledge and crept down the wall and, for a few moments, she was exposed. Ken examined every angle, every shifting shadow. None of them turned in her direction, nor made any sound of surprise. By the time Lilith had crouched in the safety of a little wall nook the Californian was holding his breath.

  Felicia nudged him. “Now it’s your turn.”

  Slowly, carefully, they traversed the veritable burrow that circuited the staircase, stopping once to let several pale white forms slither past and another time to give some space to a shambling ogre with curved horns that scraped sparks off outcrops every time he turned. Eventually, they reached another ledge and a cave entrance, and Lilith nodded in anticipation.

  “Let’s go.”

  The sixth hell spread out before them as they exited the cave, tentatively at first. Somewhat confusingly, a silvery light still illuminated this place, bathing the landscape in stark relief. The scene was depressing and quietly threatening. A low plain stretched away from the lowest foothills of the caves, barren and wasted except for several ragtag huddles of abandoned and derelict buildings. From vacant sheds to crumbled houses and deserted office buildings the nightmare scenario reminded Ken of some doomsday movie he’d caught at the Cineplex.

  “What was this place?” he murmured. “It could almost be Earth.”

  Lilith shrugged. “It is said that all the seven hells were once an Earth. Each time Lucifer and his brethren overthrow one it is absorbed into the current hells and another Earth is born. Your own Earth could we
ll be the eighth level of hell if Lucifer has his way.”

  “Wow.” Ken drank in the scene, tasting ashes. “How do you know all this?”

  Lilith shrugged. “I went to school.”

  She moved off, climbing down, leaving him scrabbling around the question of her education. A cold wind blasted past his face as he regarded the appalling ruin of the sixth hell. Could his own land end up this way? As nothing but decay and debris, not even the faintest spark left to show what beauty had gone before?

  This was the Devil’s ultimate victory—to leave hope in ruin.

  Ken bent harder to the task, girding himself for a hard slog and an even harder battle.

  FIVE

  It all kicked off as I was coming out of the shower. Lucy had demanded a room of her own and, with Giles hiring the entire building, I didn’t have the grounds or—truth be told—the heart to say no. I took a two-bedroom suite with its own kitchenette, and Belinda moved in with me, smiling about us finally being able to share some valuable alone time together. The first thing I did was hop in the shower, and the second thing that she did was make a move to join me . . .

  But then we got the call.

  The phone rang. Belinda, half-dressed, the top half not the bottom, leaped over the bed to grab it, offering me fine views even better than those of Orlando that stood outside the window. She listened quietly for a few seconds and then turned to me, that haunted look once again stretched across her face.

  “They need us downstairs. Asmodeus has been pinpointed by the witch coven less than a mile away.”

  “Now?”

  “Now.”

  “Jesus. Don’t forget your pants.”

  I threw some jeans and a t-shirt on and headed for the door, barely remembering socks and trainers. Belinda was a second behind me, shrugging into her leather trousers even as I threw open the door. An elevator stood right beside our room and I immediately pressed the button.

  “Hope you’re ready for this,” Belinda said. “We’re going up against Asmodeus, one of the strongest of all demons. Death has always been right around the corner for me, but this . . .” she shook her head sadly.

  “We’re together,” I said as the doors opened. “All of us. And we’ll fight together. You no longer have to do this alone, Belinda.”

  She nodded, still a little melancholy but putting on a brave face. I took another look at the t-shirt she’d chosen earlier and pointed its merry slogan out to her.

  Smile and be happy.

  “That was for our shower tryst, Dean.”

  “Ah. Well, to be continued.”

  The doors whooshed open and we made our way out to the parking lot. Several vehicles were already revving their engines. The entire group was present, including Lucy and the vampire kid, Ethan. My spirits rose fast, though, to see so many capable warriors ready to go.

  “Move your ass.” Belinda ran and I joined her in the lead car. Tires squealed and we raced out. Cheyne explained that demons with the power of Asmodeus could appear in a variety of disguises. From that of a man or woman, of any form, to an animal, a terrifying demon and even a fallen angel, that looked startlingly similar to the old renderings of supposedly real angels. The beast’s true visage, a horned demon with eyes like bubbling lava, a wolf’s snout, claws for hands and veiny, transparent gray wings was rarely ever seen.

  “So how do you track these demons?” Tanya Jordan asked the question.

  “A demon is still a demon,” Cheyne explained. “No matter the disguise. A pig is still a pig when dressed in top hat and long tails, yes? Well, this is the same.”

  I blinked at that one and made a mental note never to accept an invite to a witch’s party. Cheyne explained that demons could be tracked through the unique signature they emitted much like the witches had tracked down the eight Chosen and Gorgoroth’s Destroyers—by spelling parchments and artefacts unique to them. Special identifiers.

  “We’re a little like bloodhounds tracking a scent.” Cheyne tapped her crooked nose. “When we catch ‘em in here there ain’t no escape.”

  Giles pulled our vehicle onto I-Drive. Now that we had a general location it became immediately obvious where the demon was. Flames washed the skies beyond Wet ‘N Wild, along a quieter stretch of road that held only a few shops and eateries. As we came closer Cleaver spoke up.

  “What the hell are these guys searching for? These artefacts, what exactly are they?”

  “We don’t know that yet,” Cheyne said. “Could be anything. The library is working on it.”

  “Damn lot of good that’ll do us now.”

  “You’re a fighter, Cleaver. A boxer. Just go with the flow.”

  I took in the scene as we approached. A sinkhole appeared to have opened up in front of a warehouse that sold sports apparel. The hole was wide, though, probably twenty feet in diameter. Cars teetered on the edge and even as we pulled up I saw a red Oldsmobile lose the friction battle and go crashing down out of sight. Earth and rocks spattered up from inside the hole, shooting high into the sky and we heard a screech that made the hairs on my arms stand on end.

  Belinda jumped out, head down. “Let’s do this.”

  I followed in a hurry. The balmy weather gave me a false sense of security. Nothing bad ever happened when it was this syrupy warm, did it? I heard sirens on the wind. I saw Johnny drifting toward me as we neared the edge.

  I looked down.

  And got my first real look at a hierarchy demon.

  The man stared up at us, dressed all in black and wearing a well-cut suit and designer tie. He stood knee deep in filth, in rubble, in human detritus. Bodies lay broken or squirming at his feet. His fists were clenched, his mouth twisted into a content smile. My stomach turned, but it was the eyes that held us all, the fire-pit stare that held us, mesmerized us, and seemed to drag us all straight down to hell.

  Asmodeus was dressed like a banker, a politician. If you’d seen him walking along any high street you wouldn’t have given him a second glance. It was only when his mouth opened and I saw the flicking forked tongue and the rows of sharp teeth, the blood on his lips like smears of wine, that I could tell the difference. Then an unearthly shriek split my hypnotic state apart and I almost slipped over the edge of the hole.

  Cheyne and Giles waved their instructions. “Logan. Trevochet! Get it together. We have people alive down there. Tanya, wait at the edge with Belinda. If the demon gets up here it could go hand-to-hand. Ceriden, Jade, with us!”

  They leaped, scrambling down the hole, straight at Asmodeus. Lysette screamed after Giles. He was no supernatural creature, just a man, but one with a huge set of cojones, going after this demon head on. Cleaver jumped into the fray too, probably assuming they’d just missed him out. I watched as our people slid and slithered down the incline, dislodging rubble along the way, and saw Asmodeus grin.

  I glanced sideways at Johnny. “You ready?”

  “Sure am.”

  I focused. I knew Lucy and Ethan were behind me, relatively protected, but the niggling fear still made my skin crawl. I shook it off, feeling a sudden warmth in my chest. The power was coming. Down below, Jade the elf struck at Asmodeus hard, a blow that would have shattered a brick wall. The demon caught it on one arm, seemingly surprised when the arm flopped down against his own chest. The bones had broken. The demon tried to waggle the appendage, but little happened. The look of surprise changed to amusement.

  “Weak, pathetic garbage.”

  The demon’s voice was gravelly, deeper than anything I’d ever heard. It made me shudder. But the thing was still smiling, swinging its one good arm at Jade and managing to knock her off balance and against the side wall. Then it swung around and faced Ceriden. The tall vampire flew at it, striking at chest level, forcing it back and over the tops of still-moving bodies. It grabbed a handhold in the pit wall, swung Ceriden around and sprawling. Then Cheyne was half a dozen steps away, her lips moving, her fingers waving in errant patterns like a child scrawling on a chalkboard.
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br />   The ground underneath the demon became a wave. The thing pitched forward, landing face first. Cheyne looked like she was performing another spell that, by the pushing motions of her hands, might even bind it to the ground. My own power was pumped and ready to join with Johnny’s, but we held off, giving Cheyne the chance to end this quickly.

  We should have known better. The suited figure feigned a struggle then, when Cheyne started to push forward, rose quickly to its feet. A power wave shot out from its body, felling everything around and traveling vertically up the sides of the pit. I felt it pass me by and shoot up into the balmy night.

  Giles shouted, “Stop him!”

  Cleaver dived head first. The demon leaped over him. Johnny and I unleashed our own wave of power, funneling it so that it struck Asmodeus in the chest and knocked him to the ground. He landed atop two writhing bodies, making them cry out. Again Johnny and I struck—the power rising readily between us—and again Asmodeus wilted. I heard Johnny laugh. Probably not a very good idea.

  Then Cleaver hit the demon, smashing its already broken arm, and hurled the body over his shoulder. His shotgun appeared in two hands and he lined it up over his bended knee, finger already tightening on the trigger.

  “Say bye—”

  Asmodeus exploded into action so quickly he defied sight. The movement was so fast; so beyond the physical capabilities of the body he inhabited, it shredded skin. Cleaver hit the floor, shotgun pointed up toward the sky, and Asmodeus barreled into Cheyne. I flung my power in the demon’s direction, striking only the side of the sinkhole and dislodging a large chunk of masonry that tumbled end over end.

  Asmodeus was on his hands and knees, snarling up at us like a trapped, dangerous dog, only a million times more threatening.

  Lucy.

  I couldn’t help it. Her safety overrode all. I turned slightly, then felt something hit me. It was a train, or a car, surely not the man in the suit. My chest exploded in agony. I fell backward. Two feet planted themselves near my head and I stared up into dripping jaws and molten eyes.