Rumors spread more quickly in Counter Demon Division than in the rest of the Legion. Before Kara had time to wrap her head around what had happened, most of the division had come to congratulate her on saving Jenny and Peter from the higher demons. She felt more trust within the unit. Soon Jenny and Peter left the Healing-Xpress and were back on duty joining in the conversations about their rescue. Cassiel, on the other hand, was more interested in how Kara had defeated the new breed of demons and got away.
“So this power of yours—this golden light—just shot out of your hand and killed the demon?” asked Cassiel, a strange eagerness flashing in his hazel eyes. He leaned across the great table studying Kara as though she was a ticking time bomb. He rubbed his chin. He looked straight at Kara again. “You think you could reproduce it for me? Can you control it?”
Kara hesitated then shook her head. “I don’t think so. When I tried to do it again—I couldn’t. I don’t know how to explain it. I can’t even tell you how I managed to do it in the first place. It just—happened.”
“Hmm.” Cassiel crossed his arms. “You think with some practice you might be able to do it again?”
Kara shrugged. “Uh—I guess so.”
But inside she wasn’t sure she could do it. She had only done it twice before—once with the elemental child against the demon lord, Asmodeus, and now against the new breed demon. She started to feel anxious. Cassiel expected her to be able to do it again, as though it was a simple task like riding a bike. She wondered if she should just tell him no. Would she still be a part of CDD then?
But it all made sense to her now. Jenny had told her that most of the guardians in CDD had something special about them. Kara knew now why she was here—she was to use her elemental power against the demons. David wasn’t chosen because he didn’t possess a unique skill like she did.
Cassiel clapped his hands. “Well then! Let’s get started!”
He pushed his chair back and stood up, a smile spreading across his face. His great body towered easily above everyone else. “Gabriel agreed to let us use one of the tents at Operations to practice. We’ll need the room, I think.”
He looked at Kara, and then turned to face the others. “Jenny. Peter. Al. Devon—I want you to come with us. Let’s see if we can help Kara conjure up her powers. On your feet guardians.” Cassiel moved easily through the cluster of chairs and desks and headed towards the elevator.
Kara watched him go. Dread made her feel heavy. It was bad enough that Cassiel expected her to be able to use her powers; now she would have an audience.
It wouldn’t be easy to get away from all the attention to look for her mother’s soul either. She still didn’t know where to look, but she knew she didn’t have much time. Asmodeus obviously wasn’t defeated, but very much out there, and he was using her mother’s soul as bait. She knew she would have to bite eventually.
She saw a head of purple hair bouncing towards her. “Hey … what’s up girl? You doing okay? You look a little spaced out.” Jenny and Peter stopped in front of her.
“Your face is white,” remarked Peter. “Do you want us to take you to Raphael? The woman can’t stop talking about you, by the way. It’s like she’s obsessed with your well-being.”
“Yeah, it’s really freaky.” Jenny widened her eyes.
“No. I’m fine. Thanks.” Kara forced a smile.
She sighed and looked at Jenny. “Actually, I’m not fine,” she whispered. “I don’t think I can do it again. That—that power. I don’t know how to summon it. And Cassiel thinks that I can.”
“You worry too much.” Jenny gave out a little laugh. “Come—I’m sure it’ll be fine. Cass is cool. He won’t be angry if you’re having trouble. He’s one of the good guys. He’s very patient, trust me.” Kara wondered what Jenny must have done to witness Cassiel’s patience.
Kara considered telling Jenny and Peter the whole truth. She wondered if she could truly trust them with the knowledge of her mother’s soul. Only David knew, apart from the archangels, and right now she needed friends more than ever. She took Jenny and Peter by their hands and pulled them closer to her into a tight circle.
“I have to tell you guys something,” she whispered, and looked over her shoulder.
“What?” said Peter and Jenny at the same time.
“You have to promise not to tell anyone.”
“We promise,” said Jenny, her eyes wide and glittering like jewels.
Kara narrowed her gaze. “I’m sure you heard about what happened a few months ago. With me, the elemental child, the life-quest—”
“Yeah. You kicked Asmodeus’s butt!” blurted Jenny.
“Shhh!” Kara looked over her shoulder. “Listen. I think he’s back—”
“Asmodeus? Are you sure? How do you know?” Peter pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose with a trembling hand. Kara thought for a minute that he might topple over.
“Pretty sure. And I think he took my mother’s soul.”
Both Jenny and Peter were silent for a moment. Kara wondered if she had done the right thing in telling them. A trace of regret started to form, but then Jenny and Peter shared a look and grinned, and she realized she had been right to trust them.
“So, what are we going to do about it?” Jenny arched her brows and her smile widened.
Relief washed through Kara. And she felt a weight lifted from her shoulders.
“I was hoping you’d say that.” Kara couldn’t help but smile.
“The archangels know my mother’s soul is missing. But they won’t look for it because their first priority is finding out who’s killing the guardians, and not one missing soul. So I have to look for it myself. I need to find a way to sneak out after the practice session—and go looking for it.”
Peter’s gaze moved from Jenny and Kara to the many onlookers around them. “It could be anywhere,” he said. “Do you have an idea of where it might be? If we had a location, it would be a lot easier.”
Kara shrugged. “The only place I can think of … is the demon realm.”
Peter didn’t seem to hear her.
“Asmodeus is using my mother’s soul as bait. I’m sure of it. It’s me he wants, not my mom … probably to kill me. He’s threatening to destroy my mother’s soul—I can’t let that happen.” Kara suddenly realized she was nearly shouting, and fought to control her emotions. She lowered her head and ignored the questioning glances she got from the GAs walking by.
Jenny met her eyes. “We’ll help you. We’ll find your mother’s soul.”
Peter bent forward. “I’ll start looking on the holographic monitors when we get back. We can start looking for any kind of strange anomalies that are happening.”
“We’ll find her, don’t worry.” Jenny rested a hand on Kara’s shoulder. “You saved our lives, girl. This is the least we can do to pay you back.”
“She’s right. We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you, Kara.” Peter’s face twitched, and a nervous smile reached his lips.
Kara nodded. She wasn’t sure how to explain how she did it. All she knew was that rescuing them was the right thing to do. There was no way to explain what really happened. The elemental power within her was wild and intense—and it wanted to kill. Kara didn’t feel comfortable about telling anyone that.
“We should get going.” Jenny urged them on. “We’re being watched.”
A group of guardians eyed them suspiciously, and Kara realized how alone she really was. While Level Five was a special division, the guardians weren’t different from the rest of the Legion.
They walked to the elevator in silence. Kara hoped that she would find a way to distract Cassiel and the others long enough to sneak out.
The group trotted across the red dunes and headed towards the blue tents where the angels practiced their combat skills. Kara wondered if she was to practice in the open. It wouldn’t be a bad thing, since nothing was going to happen anyway.
Cassiel walked graciously inside the tent and pulled out
a wooden bench.
“Kara, stand in the middle over here—” said Cassiel. He placed the wooden bench twenty feet away from her. He stepped back, beyond the borders of the combat circle, and placed his hands on his hips.
“Later.” Jenny and Peter broke away from Kara and walked towards a bench at the far end of the tent. Jenny let herself sit with a loud thump and kicked out her legs. Her purple combat boots glistened in the sun. She waved at Kara.
Kara did as she was told.
“So now what? Do I just stand here like this?” She let her hands fall at her sides. She felt like a total fool. It was bad enough to have Cassiel and the few members of the CDD watching her, but now a few GAs had stopped practicing and were watching, too.
“Okay,” Cassiel folded his hands before him. “Let’s give this a try. I want you to focus, Kara. Try to remember how you conjured that power—and once you get it—try aiming it towards the bench. Go ahead, now. Try it.”
Kara glanced at the wooden bench. She wondered how long she would have to practice. She considered her options. She would have to try, or at least pretend to try, even though she knew she couldn’t wield the elemental energy. After a long moment of staring at the bench, she lifted her arms and aimed her palms at the bench. She tried desperately to remember what triggered her power. Nothing happened. She felt so stupid and useless.
“Kara. Clear your mind and focus on the elemental power you have within you—search for it inside. You can do this. You’ve done it before. Now, concentrate!”
Kara closed her eyes and concentrated. She searched within for traces of the elemental power, but the massive flow of power she’d drawn on while battling the new breed seemed to have faded. She knew it was inside her somewhere, she sensed it. It was like a wild energy fueled by emotion—the wilder and more intense the emotion, the more likely that the elemental power would surface. Yet she couldn’t access it now.
She tried to tap into those emotions.
Where are you guys? She whispered inside her mind. I need you now. Don’t make me look like a fool. Come on! Help me! Kara’s body shook as she strained to access that small fragment of power she felt hidden inside her. She pushed with all her might. But nothing happened.
Kara opened her eyes and relaxed her arms. “I told you I can’t do this!” She stared at her palms. “I can’t access it. It’s like I can’t control it. I can’t will it—”
A sudden snort of laughter came from some of the guardians watching her. Al and Devon whispered to one another and laughed at Kara again. Anger flared inside her.
Cassiel walked towards Kara. “You need to relax. Take your time. Stop worrying that you can’t do it, and try to focus on where it is. You can sense it, can’t you?”
Kara began to regret this practice session. Al and Devon’s mocking only made it worst. She hated to be the center of attention. And with Cassiel pushing her, she just wanted to leave. But she knew she couldn’t—for her mother’s sake.
She met Cassiel’s eyes and shrugged.
“Sort of. I can feel a warm tickle inside, but I can’t reach it.”
“Do you remember how you felt the first time it happened?” asked Cassiel. “Were you afraid—or angry? Can you try to tap into those emotions? I think it’ll help.”
Kara stared at her hands. “Sure. I’ll try.”
“Good. Let’s try this again.” Cassiel turned on his heel and walked back to the group.
Kara rubbed her forehead and lifted her arms again. She closed her eyes and travelled back to her encounter with Asmodeus. She remembered the fear she had felt—and the anger. A warm sensation started to flow.
Come on guys, don’t let me down, she whispered.
The warmth increased and continued to spread. But as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared.
Another chuckle reached her ears.
Kara felt humiliated and deflated. How long would she have to stand here like an idiot with guardians laughing at her? She heard a loud snort—they wanted her to fail. She clenched her fists, and pressed on. She wouldn’t give them the satisfaction. To hell with them.
But nothing happened. The CDD team dispersed after a while and were all talking and laughing amongst themselves. Only Cassiel still seemed eager to help Kara. He clapped his hands as he paced around Kara. “Okay—let’s try it again.”
“Cassiel, we’ve been here for hours,” said Devon.
He stood up and turned his attention towards Kara. “Obviously, she can’t do anything. She’s nothing special. She’s useless, and she’s wasting our time—”
“Watch your freaking mouth, dumbass!”
Kara looked up. And her eyes met David. Her body shivered. She watched him make his way towards Devon and Al. She hadn’t realized until this very moment how much she had missed him.
Devon straightened himself, squared his shoulders and stepped towards David. Kara noticed he was at least a head taller than David, and a lot thicker.
“Did you just call me, dumbass? Who the hell are you? You’re just a worthless little petty officer?” Kara didn’t like the way he said petty officer, as though it was something bitter in his mouth. Devon lifted his eyebrows at David, and looked at him with a mixture of disdain and surprise. “I could squish you like a bug, boy, for that kind of talk. You little maggot!”
“Big words for the big dumbass. Did you think of that yourself, or did you get your crony here to feed you your lines?” David stepped up to Devon and flashed his teeth. He looked Devon up and down and raised his brows. “Man, what the hell are they feeding you at level five? You’re huge!”
“You better get out of my face, if you know what’s good for ya.” Devon towered over David, his face pinched in a deep scowl.
“Can’t do that,” mocked David, his eyes flashed mischievously. “You see, no one talks badly about Kara when I’m around. And now I’m going to have to kick your butt, big man.” He puffed out his chest.
Despite herself, Kara smiled. She locked eyes with David momentarily, and he winked.
Al pushed Devon aside and stood before David. “Why don’t you run along, Shorty—” he gestured with his hand, a few inches from David’s face. “—this is official CDD business. Your simple petty officer brain can’t handle it. Beat it.”
David smacked Al’s hand away and stepped closer, until their faces were only an inch apart. “Why don’t you piss off, unibrow. I’ll stand where I please,” David hissed, and his grin turned predatory. He squared his shoulders.
Kara started to feel anxious. She couldn’t help but feel grateful David was standing up for her. But she didn’t want David to get into trouble or ruin his chances to get accepted into CDD. She looked at Cassiel for help, but he just stood there with his arms crossed and a strange smug expression on his face. He looked at her momentarily and then back to the fight. She wasn’t sure if Cassiel was pleased to see David defending her, or to see his troops bullying David. Kara considered throwing him a rock to wipe off his self-satisfied look.
“David, forget it,” Kara pleaded. “It’s fine—really. No big deal.”
Devon squeezed himself in between Al and David. “David, eh? The same David that’s been trying to get into CDD for like … forever? You’re that loser?” He mocked. “Check it out, Al. This is the loser that everyone’s been laughing about back in the unit.”
“Shut up, Devon.” Kara was angry. She knew how much the division meant to David. This wasn’t fair.
David’s scowl deepened. “Call me a loser one more time, and you’ll see what a small-timer like me can do to your freaking face.”
Al lifted his right hand momentarily, and made a fist. “We crush losers for fun—”
“Stop it!” screamed Kara. Her body trembled. “What is wrong with you people!”
Devon turned to Kara. “Stay out of this, freak.”
For a moment, Kara just stared at Devon. She wished she had a rock to throw at him too.
“Cassiel!” shouted Kara. “Do something!” r />
Cassiel glanced at Kara. A smile materialized on his face. What is wrong with him, she thought. It was as though he was glad this was happening. It wasn’t making any sense.
“Use your feelings, Kara, and direct them to the bench.” Cassiel’s gaze was intense. He threw his arms in the air. “Use that anger! Do it! It’s going to work. Do it now!”
“What? Now? You can’t be serious.” She wasn’t a freak show—Cassiel didn’t care about her, he only cared about her power. Kara saw how Cassiel was trying to provoke her, but he had no idea how powerful or uncontrollable she really was.
Kara saw something black and pointy slip from Al’s sleeve and rest in his palm. It glistened in the light like a black diamond—a Death Blade, Kara realized in horror. How could he have a demon blade in Horizon? Her chest tightened. Al was going to stab David with it.
“Stop!” she called out again.
Anger welled inside her. Her body trembled. She felt a burning hot liquid pouring through her core. Her vision sharpened. The heat spread through her from the tip of her head down to her toes. Her fingers tinkled. It oozed out of her pores, like droplets of sweat. Feral power flared through her, like a wild animal trying to break free from its tether. It wanted to be released.
David’s face was livid. He pushed Devon back. “I told you to watch that mouth!”
Al wrapped his fingers around the handle of the blade. He readied it in his hand.
Kara’s body jerked. She blinked and the world before her took on hues of gold. She raised her hands, two beams of gold blasted from her palms, and Kara was propelled backwards with intense force.
The beams struck Al. Light wrapped around his body like golden ribbons until he was completely covered. He screamed and his body convulsed. He went still and fell motionless to the ground. No sound came from him.
“You killed him!” shouted Devon. He pointed to Kara with a shaking hand. “He’s dead! You killed him you freak!” He knelt down beside his friend, his eyes wide in terror.
Kara stared at her hands and shook her head. “I’m—I’m sorry … it was an accident! I didn’t mean to do it.”
She made fists with her trembling hands. The elemental power shifted inside her for a moment and then melted away. The shock of what she had done weighed her down. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She knew this was bad, very bad. How could she have done this? Why couldn’t she control it? Desperation and anger flared inside her.
She scanned the ground around Al’s body. The blade had disappeared. She realized that someone had taken it.
Cassiel raced over to Al’s body. He pressed his palms on Al’s chest. White light illuminated his hands, as though tiny light bulbs were stuck to his palms. But after a moment the light went out, and he turned to face Devon with a look of concern.
“He’s not dead, but he’s badly injured. We need to get him to Raphael straightaway.”
Kara watched as Cassiel lifted Al’s body as though it weighed no more than a feather. He brushed past Kara and carried him out of the tent. He didn’t look at her.
Devon walked up to Kara. His eyes flashed dangerously. “You’ll pay for this, freak. I don’t care what the archangels say about you—you’re dangerous, and I don’t trust you. Your days are numbered.”
Kara didn’t answer. Devon kicked up sand with his boot and hit her in the face with it. He then turned on his heel and took off after Cassiel.
Kara wiped off the red sand. She couldn’t stop shaking. David ran towards her.
Kara stared at her opened palms and stretched out her fingers—these were the hands of a murderer. She clasped them into tight fists. She trembled.
“H—he had a blade, a Death Blade, David. I saw it.” Her voice shook and she didn’t try to hide it from him. “He was going to stab you with it.”
David took her hand and squeezed it gently. “It’s okay. I believe you.” He narrowed his eyes. “Where’s the blade now?”
Kara shook her head. “I—I don’t know. It’s gone. I swear he had one!”
David was silent for a moment. He let go of Kara’s hand and combed his hair with his fingers. “That means we can’t trust anyone anymore. CDD’s been breached. Who knows how many more demon spies there are in the Legion? But right now we have bigger problems—without the knife, no one will believe us.”
“This is bad … isn’t it, David?” She wondered what the Legion would do to her.
She had screwed up before, but this was the worst. She didn’t think they would be lenient this time around.
“Yes. This is really bad,” David replied.
Chapter 9
Trial