On the ride back to Operations, travelling by sky-car and then the elevator, Kara relived the events from the council in her head. If she succeeded in her new mission, she would be with her mother very soon. It was her only chance to make things right. Failure was not an option.
But some of the events with the High Council had left her feeling less than perfectly happy. Clearly, some of the members didn’t believe her and wanted her dead, which meant a big part of the Legion was also in doubt. But Kara was even more determined to prove her innocence. She wasn’t a liar, or a traitor. Her new mission, this life-quest, was the perfect opportunity to show them all…including David.
Kara thought of all the possibilities that having her life back again would offer her: She’d be with her mom again. She’d have a chance at her career as an artist, and she could maybe even slip into a little love? She stole a look at David and felt herself go limp. He had accused her of playing with his emotions—of using him—did that mean he cared for her? Now he was giving her the cold shoulder again. And something was different about the way he looked at her. She thought she saw fear flash behind his eyes a few times. But why? What was he so afraid of?
They strolled along in the ruby sand on their way to the large white tent. Gabriel hovered over a table and examined some documents. Five other guardian angels lingered around and talked amongst themselves. None of them turned to greet Kara and David. They all ignored her. Some smiled at David, but most of them avoided eye contact with Kara.
She felt a sting in her chest. “Does the entire Legion know about the Mark?” she asked David.
“Words travel fast here. I’m sure everybody knew about it before we were called to the council meeting.”
“Great,” she sighed. “They’re all treating me like I’m guilty. But I’m not!”
“Don’t waste your time with them…you need to stay focused on your new mission.”
She stared at the small gathering of angels. “Hey? I’m the only rookie…everyone here is a Petty Officer? Is that normal?”
“I don’t know.”
“And look…Benson is here.”
David scowled. “Well, well … my favorite douche bag. What were the odds of him showing up?” Benson looked at David with contempt. He puffed out his chest and squared his shoulders.
Kara bit her lip and followed David towards the group. Gabriel lifted his head as they approached and met her eyes. She looked quickly away and stood next to David.
“Kara Nightingale,” said the Archangel, “glad you could join us.”
He waved a large hand over to the group. His attention then turned to David. “You don’t have to stay with Kara, David. She will be well taken care of.”
David kicked some red sand and looked up. “I’m here for moral support, Gaby,” he grinned. He met Benson’s glare and blew him a kiss.
A moment later, Benson sneaked away from the group and moved closer to David so that only he and Kara could hear what he had to say. “Didn’t know you liked your women dirty, David?” Benson cracked a smile.
Kara saw David’s jaw tighten. “You’ve got five seconds to get lost.”
“I would have never pictured you frolicking with the enemy,” said Benson, as he cocked an eyebrow and stared at Kara, before looking back at David. “I didn’t think it was your style.”
A cool smile curled David’s lips. “My style is my foot up your butt if you don’t leave.”
Kara sensed a rush of anger spilling inside her. “Stop it! Why are you doing this? I haven’t done anything…”
“I don’t speak to traitors…I kill them.” Benson smacked his fist into his hand and his face twisted in an almost animal expression. He looked at David. “I’d watch my back if I were you.”
Rage flashed in David’s eyes. “Thanks for the advice, dumbass, why don’t you run along now…I hear your mother calling.”
“She’ll have you killed, you know.” And with that, Benson walked back to the group.
It was worse than Kara had hoped. If Benson openly loathed her, who else did? David looked in a worse mood than when they left the council. His expression was livid as he stared at the ground.
“You’re…you’re never going to believe me, are you?” Kara’s voice started to crack. “You still think I’m a traitor … don’t you?”
“I don’t know what to think anymore,” said David softly.
What was more frightening than the dangerous life-quest was losing David’s friendship. Kara felt him drifting away from her. She forced herself to look away from David. Gabriel was about to begin his briefing.
Gabriel straightened himself, a scowl on his brow as he pursed his lips. He placed his two hands on the table facing the angels and addressed them. “Listen up, guardian angels! You are gathered here now because you have all been chosen to carry out a life-quest. Do not be mistaken. This is no ordinary assignment—and some of you will not return…”
At that moment there was a sudden collective silence. Kara looked around at the five guardian angels’ looks of bewilderment spread across their faces as they gawked at Gabriel.
“We have acquired information regarding the whereabouts of the elemental child,” continued Gabriel, his dark eyes darting from face to face. “Our Scouts inform us that the child is in the hands of some higher demons and is being held in one of their many demon safe houses. They move the child around from house to house…and they use decoys, so we’re not sure in which safe house the child could be.” Gabriel paused as he concentrated.
“You will be put into pairs and assigned to three different locations,” continued Gabriel after a short moment. “All of you will be geared up with the weapons and tools you will need to survive. We know this is probably the hardest assignment of your GA careers, but remember, you have been chosen out of thousands because we know you can succeed. You all have what it takes.”
The last time she checked, Kara didn’t have any special talent. Could she paint a demon to death? Drown it in some gouache?
“Keep in mind that you are responsible for your partner. Let’s not make this harder than it already is. Good luck.” Gabriel stepped back and folded his hands in front of him.
An oracle steered his great crystal ball to the front of the table carrying a folded piece of paper. He opened the paper and cleared his throat. “The groups are as follows,” he called, holding the file in front of him.
“Benson Henderson and Ravi Aruna!” Kara watched as Benson walked over to stand next to a thirty-something East Indian man.
“Lindsey Steel and Carlos Lopez!” Lindsey was a thick, forty-something brunette who stood at about five foot ten. To Kara, she looked more like an Amazon than a guardian angel. She turned her head as Carlos walked over to Lindsey, his five-foot-five frame appearing fragile beside hers.
Kara blinked as she looked around, realizing that this meant there was only one guardian angel left to be paired with her: a twenty-something woman, who was probably regretting her acceptance of the life-quest right about now.
The oracle’s eyebrows shot up on his forehead as he continued. “And for our last group, Brooke Miller and Kara Nightingale!”
Kara bit her lip and shot a glance at David, who gave her a reassuring nod. Fidgeting on the spot, she moved towards her new partner who was walking towards her. Kara saw a reflection of disappointment in Brooke’s eyes, for just a second, but it was long enough for Kara to see. Then Booke’s face cracked into a wide smile and she extended her hand. “Hiya! I’m Brooke,” she said. Her long blond ponytail bounced behind her.
“Kara.” The two girls shook hands and turned to face the oracle.
Kara blinked as she watched Gabriel stepping forward.
“And one more thing,” declared Gabriel. “As you know, if you succeed in this life-quest, you will indeed get your mortal life back as it was. But if you decide to stay in Horizon, the Legion will promote you to First Officer. So, you will have a choice.” He stepped back, clasped his hands
behind his back, and lifted his chin.
The oracle fidgeted on the spot and cleared his throat again.
“Guardian angels…each group will have precisely two hours to complete their mission. If you stay longer than that — pay attention now— your M suits will expire…did you all hear me? Good.” His blue eyes glistened with unease.
For a moment he studied the three groups, and then he grabbed three separate files which were piled on top of one another on the table. He opened the first file and glanced quickly inside before shutting it.
“Group 1—Benson Henderson and Ravi Aruna. Here is your assignment,” said the oracle, as he stretched out his tiny arm and waved the closed file in their direction. Ravi walked up to the oracle and took the file from him, opened it, and read it while returning to his spot. Once Ravi had finished reading the file, he handed it to Benson. Kara watched Benson’s eyes widen as he kept on reading.
“Group 2—Lindsey Steel and Carlos Lopez!” he called. Lindsey broke away from Carlos and took the file from the oracle. She opened the file only when she was back beside Carlos. Their heads nearly touched as they absorbed the information on the file.
One group left, thought Kara. Her eyes flashed to David. He stood with his arms crossed, scowling at the oracle.
“And lastly, Group 3!” the oracle called as he opened the remaining file. He took a quick look inside before closing it again.
“Brooke Miller and Kara Nightingale…here is your assignment.”
Kara couldn’t move. Brooke gave Kara a nod and then hopped over to the oracle. She grabbed the file and came bouncing back, her large blue eyes glistening, as she settled beside Kara. She and Kara opened it and read:
Group 3: Life-Quest
Guardian Angels: Brooke Miller, Kara Nightingale
Rank: Petty Officer W-2, Rookie 1st year, W-1 Guard squad
Assignment: Rescue Elemental child, from Demon safe house #3;
1228 Pine Avenue West. 9:00 pm.
Kara pulled out a blueprint of a house.
“Please report back here within two hours,” the oracle told the groups. “You will be debriefed and sent out again if the child is still missing. Quickly now…report to the weapons tent for gearing right away!”
The old man clapped his hands. “Off you go! Off you go!”
Kara watched the other groups breaking away and marching towards the weapons tent. David jogged over to her.
“So … do you know what to do?” he said, as he jammed his hands into his front jean pockets, avoiding her eyes. “You think you can handle this?”
“I think I can manage.” Kara watched David as he eyed the file in her hands. “Uh…you want to take a look?”
“That won’t be necessary.” Gabriel came striding behind them. “This isn’t your assignment, David. And the location isn’t of your concern.”
David turned to face Gabriel. “It is when I’m her Petty Officer, Gabe!”
“You’re not on this assignment.” Gabriel towered over David, his dark eyes threatening as he tightened his jaw.
“Um…it’s okay.” Kara lifted her hands in protest. “I don’t mind David taking a look…seriously, it’s fine.”
David took his hands out of his pockets and made them into fists. “You know as well as I do that this is an impossible mission!” he yelled at Gabriel, his face cracked in contempt.
“You shouldn’t even be here, David.”
“YOU’RE SENDING THEM TO THEIR DEATHS!” said David angrily.
Kara thought it strange that he was pointing only to her at the mention of them. She could see that David was really concerned.
“What?” asked Kara, puzzled. “What are you saying, David? The Legion wouldn’t send us on a suicide mission, would they?”
Gabriel pulled out a massive hand and grabbed David by the arm with such force that he lifted him off his feet, as though he were a toy soldier.
“I’ve had enough of you today! It’ll be a pleasure to escort you out personally.”
Kara took a step back as Gabriel started to emanate a golden glow. The air around them tightened and the light dimmed.
David kicked his legs and shot Gabriel a dangerous look. “Go ahead, Your Holiness … I’d like to see you try.”
“Enough!” shouted Kara, her eyes wide, shocked that the words had actually escaped her lips. “Uh, sorry…Mr. Archangel, sir, uh, Your Majesty,” she stammered. “Um…I’d like David to help me choose my weapons … please?” Kara pursed her lips, scrunched her forehead and tried her best to make sad puppy eyes.
Gabriel studied Kara for a moment, still holding David off the ground with one arm.
“If you think he can help you…then I will let him stay.” He dropped David to the floor and bent over him. “Open your mouth again, and I will rip out your tongue.”
David stuck out his tongue in Gabriel’s face when he looked away for a second.
Kara walked over and pulled David back on his feet. “Very mature, you know that? You’d think you were twelve.” She looked across to the weapons tent and could see that Brooke was already gearing up. “Let’s go, I need some weapons…and I’m running out of time.”
“Sure,” David said. He and Kara marched up to the weapons tent, with Gabriel following closely behind.
Kara could see that the GAs from the first group had finished gearing up and were headed down towards the pools. She watched Group 2 stuffing blue arrows and daggers into their duffel bags. And over at the far end of the tent, Brooke was trying out a long silver dagger. She sliced the air with it. She looked up and saw Kara and David approaching. Her face broke out into a grin.
“Hiya, what do you think of this one?” Brooke jumped into the air and stabbed the invisible foe in front of her. She landed with a slight thump and looked up at them, eyes blazing. “I think I can cut me up some shadow demons with this little baby!”
Kara had a strong feeling that she and Brooke were going to get along just fine.
“Awesome,” said Kara, as the corners of her mouth lifted. Brooke looked bad-ass with that dagger in her hand, and she moved with great skill. As a Petty Officer, she was a few years ahead of Kara in terms of combat training. She was also strong and athletic.
Having had hours and hours of combat training herself, Kara felt pretty confident that she and Brooke could rescue this elemental child. How hard could it be, really? She hoped that they would get the real safe house where the child was being held captive. Her instincts and her strong desire to get her old life back were strong motivation to rescue the child.
Kara smiled as she grabbed a long curved silver sword from the weapons stand. She brought it up close to her face and saw that the stars embedded along the blade formed seven tiny circles. She rotated her wrist and watched the blade flicker in the light. It was as light as a feather and cool against her skin.
“It’s a soul blade. Usually rookies aren’t allowed to use them—too powerful—but I think in your case, they’ll make an exception,” David looked over to Gabriel and raised his voice to make sure that Gabriel had heard him.
Gabriel, who seemed very interested in a white globe on one of the many littered tables, didn’t look up.
“You’re going to need these, too.” David pulled off Kara’s backpack and started to fill it with red and white orbs. He held up one of the red orbs. “The red ones are called firestones—smash it near a shadow demon and it will implode, swallowing the demon with it.” He arched his eyebrows as he waited for Kara to respond.
“Okay,” Kara said.
He placed the red orb in her backpack and then held up a white orb. “The white ones are moonstones—they give off rays of light that are harmful to any demon, even the higher demons. Like this…” David’s arm shot up in the air with the orb within his hand. “You don’t have to be too close; I’ve used it at about fifty feet away, and it worked.”
“I’ve packed a whole bunch, too!” Brooke bounced into view, her ponytail flailing behind
her. “And…one of these!” She pulled out a white net, the size of a large trench coat. She looked at Kara and David, her blue eyes sparkling, “Shadow chains. I’ve used them once before and they were amazing! We trapped the shadow demon in it, and it couldn’t transform into shadow anymore…and we killed it!”
She flashed a smile at David as she stuck out her hand. “Hiya, I’m Brooke.”
David took a step forward and took Brooke’s hand. “David,” he said, as he gave her his trademark wink. “David McGowan.”
Kara was jealous of the attention he showed Brooke. He used to bombard her with his winks, but he hadn’t winked at her since he had seen the mark on her leg. She’d been feeling disconnected from him ever since, like she’d lost a best friend. She looked up at his beautiful face and his lips. The memory of the kiss flashed before her. She shook her head, trying to clear it, but other images came flooding in…images of his strong arms wrapped around her body, of him holding her close. It was too much. She looked away.
“You’re that David?” Brooke raised her eyebrows. “You’re kidding!” She let go of the shadow chains and pressed her hands against her shaking head. “I can’t believe it’s really you!” She studied his face, “I’m a huge fan!”
David flipped his leather jacket collar up and jammed his hands in his pockets. “Yup…that’s me.” He cocked an eyebrow.
“Okay, lover boy…we…” said Kara, as she pointed to herself and then to Brooke, “gotta go save the kid! Life-quest, remember? Chosen ones?”
“I know, I know.”
David helped Kara finish packing her bag with some extra salt shakers and an extra soul blade, the size of a dagger. She hid it under her jeans, strapped around her calf.
“Kara Nightingale! Brooke Miller!” An oracle rolled towards them. Silver cloth glistened in his hands. “Your Sparks…here.” He stretched out his little arms and handed them their gloves. “Hurry up now! You don’t have much time left. Off you go! Off you go!” He waved his arms impatiently.
Kara stared at her Sparks. Twinkling like diamonds, they hardly weighed anything.
“Ready?” said Brooke.
Kara shoved her gloves in her backpack, zipped it up, and threw it over her shoulders. “Ready.”
She followed Brooke and David and the three of them walked over towards the pools. They passed tents with groups of guardian angels practicing their combat training. She could hear the clangs of metal on metal.
They approached the first rows of pools. The air was thick with salt and loud splashes and plops surrounded them. Kara looked up and saw Group 2, Lindsey Steel and Carlos Lopez, standing near the edge of a pool. Their lips moved in unison…and then they jumped. With a wallop, they hit the water at exactly the same time. A second later a brilliant light shot up through the water, and they vanished.
Kara bit her lip and followed Brooke to the metal staircase, David at her shoulders. Brooke climbed the steps easily and waited for her on the platform.
David grabbed Kara’s arm. “Hey.” David turned Kara around to face him. “Remember what I taught you in combat training…how to parry, how to riposte, and how to attack?”
She nodded. “I do.”
“There’s still so much we didn’t cover yet…you’re just a rookie.” David’s face twisted in a frown. “You shouldn’t be doing this!”
“I want to do this, David. And I’m happy I was chosen. This is my chance to go back home…to finish my life…to have my life back. There are so many things I still want to do…to experience. Don’t you understand how important this is to me?” She searched his blue eyes. “Besides, why do you care? I’m a traitor, remember?”
David winced and stepped back, his face wrinkling into a scowl. They stood staring at each other for a moment without moving, without saying anything. Kara saw a shadow of pain glistening behind his blue eyes. “Just be careful,” he said softly.
Kara studied David’s face for a moment. She could still sense his suspicion, as though he wore it like a heavy coat.
“I will,” she answered.
Securing her backpack, Kara grabbed the metal staircase and pulled herself up to the top. She stepped beside the grinning Brooke. The pool’s reflections rippled along the water’s surface. The smell of salt filled her nostrils.
“You ready?” said Brooke.
Kara took one last look down at David. She watched him as he gave her a slight nod. His face had no expression. “I’m ready,” she said as she turned to face Brooke, and cleared her mind of thoughts of David.
Brooke flashed her teeth. “Okay, on three?”
Kara nodded.
“One…”
She blinked.
“Two…—”
If she had any spit, she would have swallowed.
“THREE…—!”
Kara pushed herself off the ledge of the pool and plunged into the water beside Brooke.
Chapter 14
Elemental