Shadow Walker

Shadow Walker

BY: LA Banks

2010

Copyright © 2010 by Leslie Banks

Cover copyright © Carl Graves

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from LA Banks.

Smashwords Edition: December 2010

Contents

DEDICATION

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

PART ONE – BOOK I

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

PART TWO

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

PART THREE

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Neteru Compound Glossary of Terms

Neteru Compound Family Tree

TEEN READER’S GUIDE

About the Author

Coming in 2011

DEDICATION

As always, my greatest thanks goes to the Creator and all the angels who shepherd my steps through this journey called life, as well as to the ancestors who whisper in my ear about the people and things they think I should write about (and they keep me busy!).

But there are also certain people—earth angels as I like to call them—who make the process of being on this journey, which feels like a mission or quest sometimes, not just bearable but fun, funny, crazy and absolutely a joy. So I have to thank Lissa, Gretta and Sesvalah who held me up in prayer through the arduous process of getting this particular baby born. They were the true earthly midwives of this process to make Shadow Walker manifest. Then of course there are always the eager readers and the staunch street team (who forever has my back). I so deeply appreciate your enthusiasm and positive encouragement—you all bring the Light! At points you cheered me on and made me push, and gave me that extra coaching needed to muscle through the labor pains—even when it seemed like it might be a breeched birth. But no matter what, the book made it to come wailing into the world. Ha! We did it as a team. For that, I THANK YOU and LOVE YOU right on back!

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

No dedication is right without acknowledging the folks who lent their special talent, skill and sheer force of nature to make this happen, therefore special thanks goes to Lissa Woodson, who hung through the darkest times; to JL Woodson and Barron Steward, who made the website pop; to Leslie Wainger who edited this book back to life after it had suffered so many abuses; to Sara Crowe, who believed it back to life when all seemed lost; to Joe Konrath, the mad scientist who had alternative treatments for the patient that worked miracles (I love you, Joe—you are my hero!); to 52 novels Rob Siders, Carl Graves and Cheryl Perez who made it do what it do, helped it get up and walk; and to my long-time editor and friend Chandra Sparks Taylor who put the finishing polish on this project—bless you all!

Look for book 2, Shadow Seekers, sometime in 2011…

www.NeteruAcademy.com

PART ONE - BOOK I

Awakening

May I look upon my soul and my shadow.

—The Egyptian Book of the Dead

Chapter 1

The Compound

Sixteen years after the Armageddon

The demon was so close now that she could feel its icy breath on her neck. Sarah Rivera swung her bedroom lamp at it as she lurched toward the door, yanked it open and dashed into the dark hallway. The corridor was longer than it had ever been, as though something unnatural had drawn it out before her so that she could never reach the end of it to get to safety.

Running hard, she focused with all her might on the tiny emergency exit light that now seemed miles away. That beacon was the only source of illumination in what had otherwise become pitch blackness. Shadows loomed and stretched around the faraway light as though mocking it, mocking her, dimming its effectiveness as she reached out toward it.

Then, as if the air around her had become molasses, her legs suddenly felt heavy and mired in a sticky goo of atmosphere, making her struggle just to put one foot before the other. She tried to scream, even to call for her mother or father, but no sound came out.

Pure panic gripped her as she saw her best friend’s bedroom door ajar. Tami would help her. They could fight this beast together.

Sarah slogged through the density that clung to her legs and thrust her way through Tami’s open door. Tami was standing in the darkened room, hands on hips, face wearing her usual smart-ass smile. But her friend’s eyes weren’t right. They weren’t Tami’s eyes. They were the eyes of the demon!

The bedroom door slammed behind Sarah with a loud bang. Instantly the entire room went pitch black. Not even moonlight shone through the window. Sarah’s scream began in the pit of her stomach but never reached her throat. Her heart slammed against her breastbone. She could hear things moving in the dark, circling her, stirring the air.

In the next second, she was awake.

Sarah sat up quickly in the dark, panting. She immediately reached for her nightstand lamp and clicked it on, covering her heart with a hand. A slight sheen of perspiration made her tank top and panties cling to her body. The sheets around her were in a tangle about her legs, and she flung them off her. The pillows were gone from the bed, cast to the floor during the nightmare.

Almost in tears, she leaned forward and rubbed her temples, feeling like her bedroom was closing in on her. Her head ached in a strumming throb. This was the third nightmare in a week. She was tired of trying to convince her mom and dad that the dreams had nothing to do with the stress of taking placement tests for school. Each time the demon in her dreams got closer. Tonight it had gotten too damned close. That had to mean something. It all felt too real.

But it annoyed her to no end that her parents were always so preoccupied with their own lives and problems that they could never seem to make time to really listen to her or to take her seriously. Other people had problems, too. They weren’t the only ones in the world going through hell.

If she were psychic, like they were, and had a daughter who was slowly coming into her extrasensory powers, like they did, she would make the time to listen. She was sure of that. But they didn’t. Sarah frowned. They claimed she had performance anxiety and then blew her off. Maybe it was easier for them that way. Who wanted to deal with a kid who had issues when you had more important stuff to address?

Sarah let out a forlorn sigh. She could hear her father’s voice booming inside her brain like low, rolling thunder. She leaned forward and clasped her hands on either side of her head. Yes, she could hear them. They were somewhere in the compound…. Were her parents fighting?

She threw back the covers to completely untangle herself and easily navigated her way through her semi-darkened bedroom to yank on some sweatpants and her sneakers.

Their words were hard to make out, but the urgency in her father’s tone was unmistakable. Never in her life had she heard her dad sound like that; never had she experienced hearing someone so clearly inside her head. She needed to get closer.

She slipped out of her bedroom and quietly made her way down the hall, still jittery from the all-too-recent nightmare, barely noticing the blood-red moon outside her window.

She had only gone twenty-five feet when she saw her brother, Alejandro, sneaking out of his own bedroom.

"Pssst," Sarah said.

Al gave a quick start and whirled around to face her. His surprised expression turned into his normal glower once he saw it was her.

Don’t do that, he whispered furiously. What’s your problem?

Did you hear it? Normally she only had biting comments for her irritating twin brother, but not tonight. She was glad he was there with her.

You heard Mom’s voice inside your head, too? he asked, still frowning.

Sarah shook her head. Just Dad…what’s up?

They’re fighting, Al said, stating the obvious. Never heard ‘em go at it like that before, though. This isn’t one of their normal arguments. He glanced down the hall. I’ll let you know if I find out anything.

They stared at each other for a moment. For once she wished her brother would just drop his defenses and be on her side. He was a telepath just like her. If they teamed up, they could find out what was wrong faster. Most times Al didn’t seem to be able to do that. But this was so much bigger than who was supposedly their parents’ favorite or who was demonstrating special abilities first, or any of that other craziness. Sarah briefly closed her eyes and bit her bottom lip, trying to find a way to reach her twin. When she finally looked at him, she could feel the wall Al always kept between them beginning to crumble.

Please, Al…can’t we do this together? I’m really worried. She held her brother’s gaze until he looked away. What if they’re breaking up or something? she finally whispered, hugging herself. I didn’t hear what Dad was saying…I felt it.

Al ran a hand through his hair. When I heard Mom’s voice, it was like glass shattering inside my chest. I need to get closer so I can hear what’s going on.

You mean so you can eavesdrop, Sarah said dryly, and as soon as she said it, she wished she hadn’t.

Yeah, well, then why are you out here?

I know. You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m just used to sparring with you, but tonight…

Exactly. And that’s why I don’t wanna be around you, he said, folding his arms over his chest. You judge people, Sarah. But whatever is going on with Mom and Dad is more important than whatever you think.

Al smirked when she had nothing to say in response. Sarah scowled as he turned and began creeping down the hall again, then sighed and followed. It was better than nothing.

She and Al had long since learned all the back service corridors and stairwells of the old hotel that their parents had converted into a mountain safe house for their family sixteen years ago. In fact, all the Neteru Guardian team members lived there as one big crazy combination of blood relatives mixed in with warrior friends for life that shared no actual blood ties—uncles and aunts were more titles than real biological links. But it didn’t matter. They were still considered family. All the kids grew up like brothers and sisters or functioned like cousins under the same roof. All of them had long since learned their way around the property, unbeknownst to the often battle-distracted adults, and had spent hours of play going through the secret passageways of the old hotel.

So, getting to the war room unnoticed—where they suspected their parents were—would be a piece of cake. Or would have been—until Tami opened her bedroom door and joined them in the hallway.

What’s up? Tami said after a brief yawn, looking at them with a curious smile.

It always amazed Sarah how Tami’s great figure could make even a pair of cut-off sweats, a rumpled tank and a bed-head ponytail look good. Her best friend stretched, yanked the scrunchie off her long, dark-brown hair and tugged it into a tighter updo, and then put her hand on her hip. Her curious hazel eyes were lit with mischief, and that, combined with the hypnotic stare that she’d inherited from her once-vampire mom, always made resisting her questions a hard thing to do. C’mon, guys, spill.

This is family business, Al muttered. You should go back to bed.

Sarah glanced at her brother. It was odd how even when he was being snarky toward Tami, his tone softened.

Oblivious, Tami just looked at him for a moment as if he had lost his mind. My BFF here mentally called me, so don’t you tell me to—

I didn’t call you, Sarah said quickly.

Sure you did, Tami replied. Here. She tapped her temple with a finger and gave Sarah a wink.

Yeah, Sarah thought. Ever since her cool older cousin Ayana—or Yaya, as she was always called—who was nineteen years old to her fifteen, had gone off to school, she and Tami had been soul-linked like that. If she was ever in trouble, Tami would know it and vice versa. That was how it had been with her and Yaya. If ever she felt bad, down or blue, Yaya just knew it and came to her with all the right words and a well-timed hug. Sarah swallowed hard, trying to hold back the emotions that might make her voice quaver.

Now she and Tami were connected just like she and Yaya had once been, which was more like twins than she and Al. They’d said one day Yaya would be her mother-seer in a battle compound. But Tami was so different from Yaya. And Tami was also different from Sarah herself, even though in all truth, Sarah had to admit that Tami was her best friend. Still…Tami had an attitude with an edge; Yaya had a soothing gentleness that wrapped around any wound you brought her to inspect.

Her parents fighting downstairs made the ache for Yaya blossom within Sarah’s chest. She missed Yaya so much. She wished things between her and Al were different, too. But it was what it was. Sarah looked at Tami, silently begging her to just leave things alone.

T, Sarah said, exhaling heavily, our parents are fighting…and it sounds bad. We’re going to find out what’s going on. She glanced at her brother, who’d already started down the hall. I’ll be back.

Tami looked concerned but just gave her a quick hug and then made the call me sign. She slipped back into her room while Sarah hurried after Al.

They took the back way, which ran behind what was now the war room before heading down two flights of stairs. Sarah tried her best to ignore the forms cavorting in the dark corners. The shadows seemed especially playful tonight. Actually, she called them playful, but she had never bothered to find out what they wanted. Her mom and grandma said they were harmless and that being able to see what was really in the shadows was all a part of her second sight. Some gift. But since no one else in the house could see them, she didn’t really want to know what these eerily stretching shapes meant. Right now, she stayed close to Al as she hurried past them and ignored the fact that they seemed to be laughing at her.

She and Al stopped outside the war room and splayed their hands against the wall for better reception.

They didn’t even seal the room, Sarah said in awe. She turned and looked at her brother. It’s wide open to a telepathic siphon.

More than that, I bet if we try hard enough we can get an image to come into our minds, he said, closing his eyes. They must be really pissed to leave themselves vulnerable like that.

Her brother’s comment chilled her. Sarah closed her eyes, straining to hear.

The twins fell silent once more, losing themselves as they tuned in to the voices just beyond their reach. Sarah felt her hands almost become one with the paint on the service corridor exit walls, her awareness drowning out the sound of her heartbeat and that of her brother’s. Muddied voices soon gave way to clarity. She could feel the impact of the emotions like a gut punch first, and then the sound came after it, like a Doppler effect.

I don’t give a rat’s ass, Damali! her father shouted. I don’t want those kids going to the Academy until we find out who or what is snatching bodies! Some agent of evil is kidnapping students, snatching these kids out of thin freakin’ air! We forced the Armageddon, Damali, and made it come early. So now who knows what the real timeline is for the return of the ultimate evil? What about that ain’t clear?

Sarah’s and Al’s heads snapped around, and they stared at each other, eyes wide in shock. Their father was no longer speaking to their mother in his normal controlled diction. He’d lapsed into hard slang and his Spanish accent was now getting thicker by the second the more upset he became. That always happened when her dad went ballistic.

Bodies? Al mouthed. Kidnapping students!

Sarah shook her head frantically. She didn’t want to know what they were talking about. Her father had said someone—or maybe it was actually something—was out there kidnapping people from school. Snatching bodies? Where, how, how many kids were missing? It was so horrible she wanted to just turn away from the telepathic eavesdropping. This had been a bad idea. But curiosity won out as Al pointed to the wall and they both went back to listening.

You have to have faith…and they aren’t babies any more, Carlos, her mother was saying, her tone firm but calm. Sooner or later the kids have to learn to battle the same things, if not worse, than we fought.

What? They’re only fifteen years old. All of ‘em—every kid in this compound! That thing we chased back to Hell during the Armageddon was not supposed to surface for twenty-one years! Every telepath we know said so. And now—

We don’t know that’s what it is, Carlos. It doesn’t have to be the ultimate evil, it could be—

They aren’t ready, D!

You mean you aren’t ready, Carlos. And that’s why they have to go to the Academy—to learn how to fight what will be coming for them a few short years from now.

They don’t have to go while the school is in crisis, Damali. That’s all I’m saying.

That’s all you’ve been saying since they hit puberty and started presenting their talents. I told you then it was time for them to go into intensive training with the others, but you wouldn’t listen to me. Now they’re—

"You and I both know these kids are special, D. They aren’t like the kids from other Guardian compounds—they’re from the Neteru squad and need a few more years of individualized attention."

Just stop it, Carlos. It’s now or never. I’m just as worried about them as you are, and I love them just as much as you do. But as their mother, I know we can’t take them to the next level as parents. To keep them here is to handicap them, and I won’t allow that. Not with what they’re facing as their destiny. They have to get the intensive talent training, all day, every day, plus all the regular stuff, like history, technology, math, science—everything that we don’t have time to teach. How are we supposed to do that while we’re out in the world battling everything that goes bump in the night? The closer it gets to the return of the Unnamed, the more we’re seeing demon raids on innocent humans. Am I wrong? So when will we be here at the compound to keep them safe, huh? When will we be able to take time to keep them sharp on how to slay vampires, how to take down a werewolf or how to behead any number of hellhole vermin without getting nicked? When you figure that part out, Carlos Rivera, you let me know. Until then, they’re going to the Academy.

There were two beats of silence, and she imagined her father standing there, his face getting a little red, eyes slowly turning silver, and fangs lowering, which happened whenever he got annoyed—tonight he sounded way more than annoyed.

And what? her father finally said. I’m not ready to have my only baby girl and my only son snatched down a damned demon hole! His voice was rising again. Is that wrong? Am I out of line for feeling parental concern?

Sarah nearly gasped aloud when the strong surge of her father’s anger, frustration and, to a lesser degree, his fear pulsed through her. All of a sudden her mind’s eye snapped completely open in a way it never had before. Suddenly she could see the inside of the war room. She and Al must have gotten in sync and now were concentrating together so hard that their powers had combined to show them what was going on beyond the wall. Never in her life had a vision exploded inside her head like this one did.

Her father was walking in a tight circle, gathering ammunition, picking up shells and a shotgun, as well as stuffing his vest with grenades. Her mother was at the door, arms folded, blocking his exit. They weren’t breaking up. They were having a standoff. But it was clear that he was going demon hunting tonight no matter what her mother said to him.

Her father was in rare form. Tall, muscular, caramel colored, with short dark hair and dark eyes that were flashing fire. Although they were arguing, she could see the look of appreciation in her mother’s expression as she watched him pace angrily around the room. But her dad was no pretty boy, handsome as he was. Beneath his normal city street charm as her uncles called it, there was no mistaking that demon-killer instinct lurking just beneath his surface. Something had detonated that in him tonight. She just wished she knew what it was. Bodies were missing? Whose? What had grabbed them? No wonder he was flipping out. Plus, the reminder about her own and her brother’s destiny to fight evil made her weak in the knees. She didn’t want to be a demon hunter! Not now, not ever.

Her dad was a warrior, merciless when protecting his own. Vampires were, by nature and reputation, ruthless—and her dad used to be a vamp before he went into the Light. That was no secret. Everybody in the family knew it, all the other Guardians knew it, and it was the thing that gave him a little extra street cred when he told people he had a bad feeling about something. She just wondered why her mom wasn’t listening to him about something as important as this.

Puzzled, her palms moist against the wall, Sarah strained harder to hear. It just didn’t make sense. If her dad wanted to defend them all against something terrible, then what was her mom’s problem? Legend had it that her dad had taken the word ruthless to a whole new level while in the Dark Realms. She’d seen the vamp trait of being ice cold when it came to revenge in both Al and Tami, but the ruthless gene seemed to have skipped her entirely. Sarah let out a soft sigh. She definitely took after her mother and was more prone to diplomacy rather than brute force.

Well, at least Dad hadn’t totally dropped fangs yet, she thought. Even though her Mom had told her long ago that, technically he wasn’t a Vampire any longer, at least not since he’d been pardoned by the Light, some things were still fused in his DNA. His fangs were one of those leftover things from his past, like his temper. When her father’s fangs started showing at full length, it was a sure sign he was about to blow.

Then let’s do a sweep, me and you—as Neterus, her mother finally said, tucking a Glock nine-millimeter in the waistband of her fatigues. If we can shut down any demon portals that have opened up near the school, then they go. But we cannot home-school these kids forever until all evil in the world is vanquished. That just isn’t a part of their destiny.

Sarah and Al glanced at each other once again. They had long gotten used to hearing about their destiny and the war they would inherit as their parents’ children.

It was common compound knowledge that, sixteen years ago, just before she and Al had been born, the world as everyone knew it had come to an end. To hear their parents tell it, everything had changed big time. It was hard to imagine a world different from the one they now lived in, but within all their lessons and as a regular part of the conversations around the compound, everybody referred to the secret war that had gone on for centuries between The Light and the Dark Realms. Then all of a sudden the battle had come to a head because their parents chased the darkness into the depths of hell, and the Armageddon—the last battle—hit the streets, where normal humans finally saw what had gone unseen for eons. Governments fell, economies crashed…. She could feel Al’s question forming in his head just like it was forming in hers—was it happening all over again, but this time earlier than the prophecies foretold?

Back then, pockets of humanity had eventually returned. But if another huge war like that broke out, what would people do? Food was already scarce, disease was rampant, people fought like animals for clean water and anything that would make life bearable. Her family said that living in the world as it was now was like living in a nightmare. For months now, leading up to her planned departure for the Academy, she’d been having horrible nightmares…the kind her mother and Nana said would pass, but their eyes told her differently. They knew something was wrong, too.

Just like she’d always been able to feel things a little deeper than the others could, right now the hairs were standing up on her arms. What if their destiny was here now? What if evil wasn’t going to wait until they were twenty-one? That was what nobody else in the compound seemed to get. Sarah covered her heart with one palm and squeezed her eyes shut tighter. Her heart felt like it was slamming a path out of her chest. This whole destiny concept wasn’t going to be fun—it would be bloody and terrifying, as far as she could tell. Besides, what if the evil that missed them the first time was now on a rampage, snatching kids from school in search of the Neteru compound brood? They were so not ready to go to war, to be any kind of heroes, much less to save the world.

But then again, what was she going to do, stay home alone while her parents were off fighting demons and the other kids were at school? At least at the Academy there’d be safety in numbers. Sarah said a silent prayer. Please, please, God, don’t let the Armageddon be happening again.

Most of the survivors of the Armageddon lived in colonies established by the new world leader, who her parents said was an agent of the Antichrist. It was forbidden to mention his name, because according to Nana Marlene, words and names had power, especially when spoken by those with supernatural strength. Regardless, those colonies were strictly governed and fiercely protected. But not everyone chose to live there. Not everyone trusted that new leadership. Her parents clearly didn’t.

But what could be going on outside their little oasis, if her parents and aunts and uncles had driven evil back to the Dark Realms years ago? Where had the students and staff gone missing from—in the little-town colonies around the compound? At the Academy itself? It was all too bizarre.

It didn’t seem likely they could be attacked here. Sarah repeated the facts to calm herself now, the same way she would when she had bad dreams. She had to relax; she was just freaking herself out.

Her dad had used his powers to relocate them to the Greenbrier Hotel deep in the Appalachian Mountains. It was well-hidden and inaccessible except by air or by energy transport. All the roads leading to it had been destroyed in the war. It was from here that all the adults in the family continued to fight against any remnants of the Dark Realms, alongside other guerrilla Guardian colonies around the world. But here, home, was supposed to be safe. It was. It was. It really, really was.

An uneasiness crept through Sarah as her brother turned away to continue listening. Her parents weren’t just regular Guardians of the Light—they were Neterus, the highest level of warrior, chosen as the leaders by all other Guardians. And their children’s destiny training was supposed to begin at the Academy, the secret, exclusive school set up to train the best warriors of the Light. How could the place that housed kids from all the Guardian teams all over the world not be safe?

But from her parents’ argument, it was clear that trouble was brewing at the Academy. Bodies. They had mentioned bodies. If that was true, then maybe she and Al weren’t going to get the chance to learn slowly or to get a little older before taking on the Dark Realm, or even get to meet other Guardian kids their own age. Maybe it meant they would get thrown right into combat or something equally bad. All her life she’d dreamt of just having a chance to be normal, not to have to live in hiding… maybe be around other people besides her relatives. Now it seemed like maybe none of that would happen.

That sucked.

Sarah glanced at her brother. Al would jump at a chance to carry weapons and blast demons. She could feel the excitement coursing through him, and it made her sad. Even if they didn’t like each other very much, she still loved him and didn’t want to see him dead. Resigned, Sarah closed her eyes again and touched the wall.

Okay, her father was saying when she tuned back into her parents’ conversation. We do a sweep tonight, then. My main concern is that the Morrigan could be involved. If that’s true, we’re screwed.

If we’ve gone up against the Unnamed One and the entire Vampire Council, her mother argued, then I’m not afraid of the Morrigan.

Sarah gasped, and Al cut her a sharp look to be quiet. But didn’t he get it? The legends they’d always heard about, the history they had been taught over and over, was coming to life!

The Morrigan might be involved in this…fallen Guardians who used their talents for the dark side. They were as bad as Vampires, as far as she was concerned. From everything she’d ever been told, the Morrigan would do anything for favors, extra human comforts, and for power to lord it over people who were stuck in controlled colonies. Sarah jerked her attention back to her parents, both hearing them and seeing them in her mind’s eye. Now she really had to know what was going on.

I never said anything about fearing the Morrigan, her father snarled, his fangs cresting in anger. I said we’re screwed because they know our ways, knew our defenses before they fell…know about the Academy. They can hurt our children, Damali.

Her father paced away from the munitions tables and raked his fingers through his hair. Now kids are missing, Guardians are being picked off one-by-one. If we don’t find this bastard now or find out who’s actually doing his dirty work and how…

History and legend were coming to life right before her eyes as their parents prepared for a night raid. Al and Sarah glanced at each other again, knowing that their dad was now talking about Zaphon, although nobody used that name for him anymore. All Guardians knew that Zaphon was still a threat, but they were always told he wouldn’t surface until they were at least twenty-one years old. Her parents had breeched Hell to drive him back where he belonged and had badly injured him, which was what kicked off the Armageddon early when his dad found out.

But what if the Dark Realm had discovered a way to heal him early? What if, because her parents had forced the Armageddon early, this was the real time when it had been meant to happen—well before she and Al were ready to deal with their so-called destiny to fight in it?

Horrifying thoughts took flight inside Sarah’s head. Panic made it hard for her to breathe.

Carlos, her mother said, her voice soothing, and Sarah wondered how her mom managed to sound so calm. I know you wanted to smoke the beast’s heir before he claimed power over the world, but you just might have to accept the fact that maybe it’s our children’s destiny to handle that, not ours.

Sarah felt like she was about to pass out for a second. It could not be her and her brother’s destiny to go up against Zaphon. She didn’t care what they’d been told all their lives about destiny. She’d never thought that meant Zaphon. No, no, no, no, no.

I’m not accepting that philosophical bullshit, Damali! her father shouted, pointing at her mother. It’s my job as their father to give them a leg up and a safer world!

You tell her, Dad, Sarah whispered inside her mind, squeezing her eyes shut tighter.

"You did. We did, her mother said firmly. But we are not God, not by a long shot."

Her father stopped pacing, placed his hands on his hips and let his head drop forward wearily. It was a while before he looked up at her mother again. When he did, his expression was softer, and there was a different kind of intensity in his eyes. Sarah let out a short breath of frustration. This was the way all their fights seemed to end—her mom just broke her dad down with relentless, tenderly stated facts, and he wound up kissing her. It was the most inexplicable magic she’d ever witnessed. But she was conflicted that her mother had employed the tactic tonight. Feeling torn, half of her emotions wanted to go to school, the other half wanted to wall up in the safety of the compound until whatever was kidnapping students was found. But who wanted to be stuck at home when there’d be a chance to meet other kids her own age, regardless of the danger?

Tomorrow they were supposed to be leaving to start their first year at the Academy. Left to their father’s opinion on the matter, none of the kids in the compound would ever leave home—especially not her and Al.

You are my angel, her dad said softly, going to her mom.

Al let out a huff of breath and shook his head. Aw, man, here they go, he muttered in a hard whisper. Skip all that and get to what’s kidnapping people, will ya?

Technically, Dad is right, Sarah fussed under her breath, giving Al a sidelong glance. She’s part seraphim, part Powers level angel.

You are so stupid. That’s not what he meant. Al turned away from her, shutting his eyes tighter. Geeze, where did they get you from?

Their father slid his arms around their mother’s waist and pulled her in tight, then buried his face against her neck.

Sarah pulled back from the wall. This is private, Al…we shouldn’t—

Shut up and listen, he said between his teeth. If you’ll be quiet, maybe we’ll learn where they’re going.

Tentatively Sarah leaned closer to the wall, not sure she wanted to see the depth of her parents’ affection for each other. It was enough for her to know that the argument wasn’t leading to a breakup, but seeing them kiss was not something she felt comfortable with. To her relief, they were just hugging each other. Her mom’s arms were draped around her dad’s neck as though he could solve all the problems in the universe. And if her mom believed that, she sure did. Sarah could feel herself relaxing as her father’s voice rumbled low and deep and calm.

I just wanna be sure my family is safe, baby, he murmured against her mother’s hair.

It’ll be all right, Carlos, she told him.

We’ll take a few Hunter and Warrior class Guardians. Big Mike, Rider and Yonnie. In and out.

In and out, her mother echoed in a more relaxed tone as she stroked his back.

I’m going, too, Al whispered, suddenly turning toward Sarah and breaking her trance.

Are you crazy?

Look, I wanna know what bodies they’re talking about. If it’s happening at the school, that must be why Dad is so bent.

Al turned to leave, and Sarah caught his arm.

Bent. Bent? Do you want to see Dad drop fang when he finds out you snuck out after them? Have you completely lost your mind, Al?

Al shrugged out of her hold. You’re just chicken shit, Sarah. Afraid of the dark. Admit it. But if they think fallen Guardians could be in on this, plus kids are missing at school and Guardians are getting snatched…I’m in. This is my chance to see some real live action. I’m not like you, satisfied with sitting on the sidelines and afraid of my own shadow. Mom and Dad left themselves open enough psychically for us to put a light tracer on them—that never happens, okay. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Stay here if you want, but I’m going.

Sarah cursed silently to herself as he strode off. Al was always such a hothead! Always wanting to jump in feet first, no matter what the consequences. He never appreciated the fact that she could always, ever since they were little, feel whenever something terrible was going to happen to him. That was a burden. Didn’t he understand that? To know as sure as you knew your own name that something tragic was looming over someone you loved—but not knowing what to do about it—was crazy-making. Telling him only seemed to make him bolder. Telling her parents only made him resent her when they insisted he be careful or revoked his grounds privileges. And tonight… She had such a bad feeling about tonight that it put gooseflesh on her arms.

Dammit, she could feel her own incisors lengthening. Her brother always knew how to push her buttons. Why did she have to inherit fangs from her dad instead of her Mom’s angel wings!

Calling her chicken shit and afraid of the dark was definitely one way to send her to Def-con 5—mainly because it was true. Her stupid brother had no idea how much she was afraid of both the dark and her destiny or the very valid reasons why. They’d all said that when she was born, she was the one who’d come out crying and fighting mad with her fists balled up, and he was the calm one. Go figure. But that all changed when the shadows started scaring her as a toddler. Al didn’t see the stuff she could see lurking in the darkness. So, yeah, the last freakin’ thing in the world she wanted to be was some demon hunter. She hated working in the dark, night-vision capability notwithstanding. She’d seen enough by fifteen years old—had seen things in her sleep that haunted her with all the lights on. It didn’t matter that Nana Marlene said it would pass. But she’d never give Al the satisfaction of saying all that tonight.

You’ve never flown at night by yourself, jerk! Sarah finally said between her teeth, jogging to catch up to her brother’s long strides. And they are so gonna kick your dumb ass.

Smirking, Al gave her a casual shrug as he walked away. I’m not gonna fly alone. Uncle Yonnie is going, so by rights, me and my best hombre, Valencio, got this.

Panic raced through Sarah as her brother bound up the steps and disappeared.

Missing Guardians, the Morrigan, a midnight mission—and now her brother was running off into the night like he was crazy to watch her parents fight demons or possibly their worst enemy. This night was going from bad to worst.

And unfortunately, she had to do something about it.

Chapter 2

Sarah ran back up the stairs and down the hall to Tami’s room. She needed reinforcements. None of them were ready. They needed training. And now her brother was leaving the compound with their cousin Valencio on an unauthorized run like he’d lost his damned mind!

Tami opened her bedroom door and waved Sarah in before she’d even reached it.

What gives? Tami said, looking at Sarah with wide-eyed concern. You’re seriously stressed out. I could feel you ever since you hit the bottom of the stairs. Are your folks really headed toward splitsville?

Sarah shook her head and pushed her hair up off her neck. They were arguing about letting us go to the Academy.

What? Tami asked, stunned.

Apparently there’ve been kidnappings at or around the school, and some rogue Guardians have gone missing.

Tami’s jaw dropped. Get. Out.

Yeah, and my parents are going to investigate new demon portals near the school, and my stupid brother and Val are going to follow them!

Are you serious? Tami said, grabbing Sarah by both arms. That is so cool! I’m in.

"Wha—No that is not cool. It’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard in my life! Sarah said, struggling out of her best friend’s hold. Our parents are going to go down a freakin’ demon hole to bust things up!"

But think of it, Sarah… what a rush, Tami said, looking like she was in rapture from the idea alone. And since we can’t fly because we didn’t get blessed with wings like the guys did, we can be Al and Val’s navigators.

Sarah slumped in defeat. There was no arguing with Tami when she got like this. Her mother had been a vampire for forty years, they said, before she got her life and soul back. Add to that, Uncle Jack Rider’s wild personality and you got a kid as crazy as Tami. So much for being the voice of reason and stopping Al from doing something dumb.

All we have to do is get beyond the compound energy safeguards so we can mind-link with them. You link to Al, I’ll link to Val. It’ll be insane!

Sarah folded her arms over her chest. Yeah. It is insane. One problem. Al will never let us tag along. It rankled her to no end that her brother had thrown out the challenge that she was too chicken to go knowing that she really was, and yet if she tried to go, she knew he’d tell her she couldn’t. It would serve him right if she did force the point and showed up with Tami.

Tami folded her arms over her chest. He has no choice. It’s called extortion. Either we go with them, or we blow the whistle on the whole mission.

Sarah smiled slowly. Having something to hold over her brother’s head did have a certain charm to it.

He’ll be so pissed, Sarah said, grinning.

Uh-huh, Tami said, going to the door, her answering grin saying she knew she had hooked Sarah with the one thing she couldn’t resist. So we all go or nobody goes. She held the door open. After you.

***

This is complete bullshit! Al said through his fangs as he yanked his black t-shirt over his head.

He so got on her nerves. What a jerk. Why all the compound guys wanted to be like him and all the girls had wanted him at one point or another was beyond her. Her brother was cocky, arrogant and a royal pain in the behind. He got in trouble and stayed there. So what if he was tall, lean and muscular? Who cared if his skin looked like gold under the blood-red moon? Good looks and ability weren’t everything. It sure didn’t beat brains at a time like this.

She watched her brother run his fingers through his thick, soot-colored curls like he didn’t have a care in the world. He glared at her, his dark eyes an intense replica of her father’s—like that mattered. He wasn’t her dad and couldn’t tell her what to do!

He flexed his shoulder blades and forced out huge, pristine white wings, his eyes going silver in the process. It just wasn’t fair. Al had gotten the good looks and the wings to go along with the superior telepathic ability and fearlessness. He was the perfect combination of their father’s vampire and mother’s angel DNA. Her twin brother had clearly robbed her in the womb, leaving her with an unruly mop of brown curly hair, a flat chest, a complete lack of curves that her mother claimed was an athletic build, mediocre telepathic ability and fangs that only popped out when she was angry. Oh, yeah, plus there was some freaky attraction between her and stuff in the dark. But at least she’d come away with all the common sense.

And since, as her dad always said, fair exchange was no robbery, it was her recurring mission to keep her out-of-control brother in check. Tonight was definitely one of those times.