Kindle Edition
Amazon
Category:
Young Adult/Teen
Publisher: CHBB Publishing
ISBN-10: 1939769280
Pages: 332
Copyright: December 14, 2013
ISBN-13: 9781939769282
Price: $2.99 (eBook)
While battling through hell, Emma has to face unimaginable evil and the loss of her first love only to find that fate has bonded her to not just a guardian of good but to one born of pure evil as well.
Emma’s world is falling apart, and Kade, the only one who seems to hold her together, is missing. With death lingering right outside their door, decisions must be made before it’s too late.
The Midway has refused to send help, so they are left to seek out the only other who can stop Lucian.
A perilous quest sends Emma and a few Guardians into the Underworld, where the unimaginable abide, to beseech the Prince of Darkness himself. Lucifer.
Now, they must endure the deadly levels of Hell, which not one …mortal or immortal… has ever survived.
Prepare for love, loss, and the unexpected.
Excerpt
Chapter 1
“Damn, those stinking evil bastards!” Malachi yelled, pounding his fist on the table. “They just took out one of our cameras.”
I could barely make out his booming voice. Everything hit me all at once, spinning out-of-control in a whirlwind. I felt nauseated and overwhelmed. My sweaty palms clasped over my face as I blacked out and fell to the floor with a thud.
“Hey, are you alright?” Dominic asked, kneeling down beside me. “You hit the floor like a ton of bricks.”
“Yeah, I just—” I couldn’t speak. The sudden rush of tears flowing from my eyes became my answer. It was all too much to bear.
Malachi’s eyes were fixed on a small screen which gave him access to see everything going on outside. With six different camera views, he could see all the flashes of Darkling, desperately trying to find a way in.
There had been no sign of the Fallen, but they’re smart. They used the Darkling to do their dirty work, and we all knew they were still out there…waiting.
“Hey, it’s alright, Emma. Don’t worry about the floor. It’s fine,” Dominic jested. “See?” He tapped the wood with his knuckles. “Not even a dent.”
He offered me his hand, pulling me off the floor, before assisting me to one of the couches. “You should really get some sleep.”
I sank down into the fluffy beige cushions, and pulled a throw blanket over me.
“He’s right, Emma. There’s nothing we can do but wait.” The voice came from Samuel, my father. Just the thought—my father—seemed so odd.
I quickly wiped my face dry, and glanced at Alaine through the bedroom doorway. Her hands were covered in blood, and she looked weary, still trying to keep Caleb stable and alive.
James was at her side. I could tell they’d worked a lot together in the past because whenever she called for a medical instrument, he immediately handed it over.
My eyes flitted about the room, before they landed on Danyel’s door. I didn’t see any light in the crack of the doorway, so I assumed he was sleeping.
Sleep. I didn’t think I’d know the meaning of that word for a while.
Samuel walked over and joined us in the living room, plopping down on the other couch. As he landed, he winced in pain. He’d broken a few ribs from his recent encounter with the Fallen, but still managed to smile.
His room had now become the operating room.
“I guess I’ll be sleeping out here tonight,” he said.
“No. Please take the last room. You need it much more than I do,” I offered. “Besides, I’m going to stay out here tonight.”
He deserved a warm bed, especially with his injuries.
It hit me how little I knew about him. I knew absolutely nothing, besides his name and that he was my birth father. There were so many unanswered questions…seventeen years’ worth.
“No. I can’t take your room, Emma,” he replied.
I knew he was just being polite.
“Suit yourself. I’m already stuck in a comfortable position, so that lonely bed in there will be totally wasted.”
“You’re too kind, Emma. Even though I know you’re doing it on my account.”
“I’m not. I swear. I really want to be out here. I like the couch. It’s much softer than the bed,” I said with a smile.
The real reason I wanted to be in the living room was because I wanted to be close to the door, just in case Kade came back with reinforcements. I had to know he was okay.
“Thank you, Emma. I appreciate it,” Samuel said. He slowly rose off of the couch, and gave me a quick kiss on the top of my head.
“You’re welcome. Good night.”
“Good night, Sweetheart.” He shuffled off into the room and snapped the door shut behind him.
My mind drifted to Kade.
Where was he?
Was he safe?
Thoughts of his return melded into memories of my parents. I missed them so much.
Before the full pain began to set in, Malachi spoke. “Don’t worry, Emma. Kade will be fine,” he said, as if he could read my mind.
“How far is it to Midway?” I asked.
“There is a portal about eighty miles away.”
“Portal?” I asked. “Wait. Did you just say eighty miles?”
“Yes, on both accounts. There are portals set up around the earth, which transport us to and from Midway, and also the Otherworlds. It’s mostly for those who don’t have wings.”
“Yet! We don’t have wings…yet,” Dominic butted in. He wandered back to the kitchen table with a handful of medical supplies, attempting to tend to his own injuries.
“I thought all angels had wings?”
“Not all. Guardians, don’t have wings. Eventually, when we move up in rank, we will earn our wings; but some spend their eternity without them.”
“Why wouldn’t they give Guardians wings?” I questioned.
“We are sent into the mortal world, and need to blend in, looking as human as possible. Showing our wings to mortals is forbidden, so as not to be tempted, the Guardians aren’t given any. However, we are damn good looking, but that can’t be helped. It’s all part of the total Angelic package,” Dominic snickered, followed with chuckles from Malachi and Alexander.
“Sure. Whatever.” I rolled my eyes.
I’d give Dominic one thing though. He sure knew how to lighten the mood of a room. His snarky, pride-filled charm was one of his best traits, along with his good looks and perfect physique. He had mastered his game, but who wouldn’t after being alive for hundreds of years?
As much as Dominic was a “ladies man”, he wasn’t really my type. Then again, I really wasn’t sure what my type was. I’d never really had a boyfriend, or even cared about boys, until I was zapped by Kade. Even now, I wasn’t sure what was up with that.
There was definitely a connection between us, and Alaine told me she’d had the same connection to Samuel. As they explained it, Kade and I were somehow bonded.
That was madness, because even with our unbelievably strong connection, there was no way we could ever be together. Kade was a pureblood, and I wasn’t. The last thing I wanted was for him to be sentenced to death because of me.
Malachi gave me an exasperated look from over the computer screen. “Emma, like I said before, Kade knows exactly what he’s doing. He’s been in this kind of situation many times before, and if anyone can get to Midway without being detected, it would be him. He’s the fastest of all of us, and I’m sure he’ll be back soon—hopefully with reinforcements. Just get some sleep. If anything happens, I’ll wake you.”
Wow. Was that kindness and concern coming from Malachi? I knew he had it in him.
“Thanks,” I said. At least I could rest now, knowing I’d be alerted if anything happened.
It seemed like hours before my mind finally settled, and sleep found me.
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