daemonum angelus: Discovery of the Guardians
Quinctus

Kiara smiled at her reflection. Taking three hours to getready had definitely paid off.

Her dark brown curls were pinned up in a messy ponytail andher make-up was done to perfection, silver-green eyes complemented by smokyeye-shadow and lips covered in light pink gloss. Her crimson suede stilettoesmatched her handbag and dainty earrings flawlessly. Her tanned body was accentuatedby a skin-tight black dress that ended just above her knees and had lacedetailing at the back.

Tania stepped into the image and grinned. “Wow, you lookgreat. I could just as well stay home.”

“Are you kidding? Tania, with that outfit, all the guys inthat place will be looking at you all night.”

Her roommate did lookamazing.

Tania’s blonde hair was braided into a long fishtail, pulledback to expose her gorgeous face. Her grey-blue eyes were subtly outlined witheyeliner and her lips were painted red. She was wearing a striking scarlet minidress that hugged her chest, but flared out at her waist. Her black heels madeher legs look great.

Tania winked playfully. “That’s what I was going for.”Seeing Kiara’s cocked eyebrow, she explained, “Tonight is the night I get overPaul. No more sulking around. I’m beautiful and I’m funny and any guy would belucky to have me. So I’m going to party until I pass out and I’m going to meetthe boy of my dreams.”

Every second Friday, the male and female Guardians gatheredat Congregata, holding a giant party.And tonight was that Friday night.

Kiara nodded. “Well, I wouldn’t mind replaceing my perfect guyeither.”

“What about Xavier?”

Kiara turned away from the mirror, heels click-clacking onthe wooden floor. “Xavier’s great and I really like him, but any chance of usbeing together was ruined that night in the training hall. I mean, he’s beenavoiding me for an entire week. I keep hoping… And I probably won’t pursueanother relationship, but it would be nice to meet someone who can take my mindoff Xavier Carlisle.”

Tania hooked an arm around one of Kiara’s. “Well, ladies,you better hold onto your men tonight!”

They giggled as they pranced out of the room.

Congregata wasspectacular.

The walls were made of clay, the ceiling of glass, and theroom was about the size of a stadium. Dozens of UV and disco lights cast theroom into brilliant fluorescence, creating a surreal atmosphere of fantasy.Tables bearing refreshments were spread out beside the dance floor.

Dance music with booming bass elements blared through thespeakers that occupied every corner and hundreds of young bodies moved to thebeat, showing no signs of tiring.

After a busy night of dancing and socializing, Tania neededa break. So she grabbed a plastic cup filled with ice tea off a nearby tableand headed to one of the red chairs that lined the walls.

She sat down and sipped her drink, studying her peers withinterest. She enjoyed watching them, seeing who was talking to or making outwith whom.

Suddenly, someone plopped down on the seat next to her. Itwas a boy.

What am I saying?

It was a man.

He was tall and very powerfully built, wearing a pair ofdark jeans and a navy blue t-shirt. She couldn’t help but notice hisolive-skinned arms and the way the muscles in them rippled with every movement.He had a wide-bridged nose, high cheekbones, a dominant lower lip and low-seteyebrows. His hair was such a dark shade of brown that it could easily bemistaken for black. It grazed the collar of his t-shirt and a side-fringehalf-obscured his left eye.

Those eyes were unlike anything Tania had ever seen. Toanyone else, they probably wouldn’t be worth mentioning, but to her his eyeswere extraordinary.

Irresistibly long lashes framed them and the irises were thesame colour as his hair, so uniquely dark that they almost blended with thepupils. But in those eyes, Tania could read an entire story – a story filledwith suffering and hidden fear. Yes, the person sitting next to her was notjust a boy.

It was Aaron Rose.

She smiled at him. “Hi, Aaron.”

He nodded. “Tania.”

Holy cow, he has aBritish accent! She felt her knees buckle at the thought, but managed topull herself together.

They had never formally met, but this mere exchange of namesseemed to be enough of an introduction for them.

“So, are you enjoying the evening?” she inquired politely.

He sat back in his chair and she was forced to admit that hehad an amazing body. “It’s not really my scene, but you, on the other hand,seem to have been born for mingling.”

She giggled and leaned towards him. “Can I tell you asecret?” Taking his shrug as a yes, she whispered, “I hate all of thesepeople.”

He grinned without revealing teeth. “What about ChineseArnold Schwarzenegger?”

He motioned towards an Asian teenager who’d clearly had onetoo many protein shakes.

Tania shook her head. “He’s actually a klepto.”

“Alright. And frat-boy over there?”

“Fairly predictable; he banged half my classmates.”

“Ginger Paris Hilton?”

“Can’t wield a weapon to save her life.”

Aaron chuckled and she loved the sound of it – loved thatshe could ease some of the pain in his eyes, even if it was only for a second.“Wow, you really do know everything about everyone, don’t you?”

She shrugged and downed the last of her ice tea. “I merelyobserve what people put on display. If you really know how to hide yoursecrets…” She paused to look directly into those eyes. “… I won’t discoverthem.”

He stared at her for a moment, and then swiftly turned hishead away. “What bout Eva Longoria?”

Tania looked up to see to whom he was referring and almostlaughed. “That’s Kiara. She’s actually my best friend.”

He turned to face her. “So you don’t hate everyone, then?”

“Of course I don’t hate everyone.I like you, don’t I?”

A smile played on his lips and an expression of happinessflitted across his dark eyes.

Kiara was alone and, frankly, bored to tears. Tania hadintroduced her to almost everyone in the room and forced her to make smalltalk. It had been agonising. And now Tania was at the other side of the room,talking to someone who could’ve been Taylor Lautner’s bulkier brother, allthoughts of her roommate forgotten.

So Kiara made her way to one of the tables to pour herself acup of water. Then she noticed the girl next to her extract a tiny bottle of vodkafrom her pink leather handbag.

The redhead looked around to see if anyone was watching.Kiara quickly averted her gaze, but focused on the girl again a few momentslater.

She’d screwed the lid off and was about to tip the bottle’scontents into her orange juice, when a firm hand closed over hers. A strong,yet benevolent male voice sounded from behind. “Hi, Savanna.”

The girl smiled in an overtly friendly way. “Riley… Hey,how’s it going?”

“Good thanks. I see you brought along an uninvited friend.”

Savanna giggled. “What’s a good party without some Smirnoff, right?”

He took the bottle out of her hand, screwed the lid back onand dumped it into the trash bin at the end of the table. “No alcohol allowed,Sav.”

She sighed, but didn’t look angry at all. “I know. Headboyon duty, eh?”

He mocked a salute. ‘Yes, ma’am.”

They laughed and Savanna sauntered off. Kiara finally tookthe chance to really look at this Riley.

And it nearly took her breath away. Here was her perfectpicture of Dorian Gray impersonated. He was tall and built like an athlete,with the flawless beige skin of a Calvin Klein model. He had a slim nose, plumplips with a natural upward curve and honey-coloured eyes that held anexpression so kind she felt a strange warmth coursing through her. His darkblonde hair was styled into the most perfect quiff she had ever seen, but stillhad that attractive out-of-bed quality.

But the feature that made her heart give a little leap wasthe beautiful dimples that graced his cheeks.

He was absolutely gorgeous.

What do they feed theguys on this island?

“Headboy? I didn’t even know they had that here.”

Riley grinned, revealing a smile so bright it could light upa room. “They don’t. I’m not really the head boy; it’s just a nickname. Can’tfigure out whether I should take it as a compliment or an insult, though…” Hechuckled and it was so genuinely gleeful that she had to join in.

“Why did you confiscate Savanna’s vodka, then?”

“Oh, I volunteered to keep an eye on the students.”

Her heart dropped. “You’re a teacher too?”

“No, I’m not a teacher. I’m seventeen and I volunteeredbecause I want to be headmaster one day.” Kiara rolled her eyes withoutnoticing it. “And that face?” He was frowning and it somehow looked wrong.Riley’s face was made for smiling.

“I just can’t imagine why anyone would like to beheadmaster.”

He shrugged his strong shoulders. “Well, you get to ruleover the Guardians even though you’re not one anymore.”

“Yeah, but isn’t that kind of dangerous? I mean, they couldturn on you and you’d be defenceless…”

He laughed and she felt an odd flutter in her stomach. “Ilike your view on politics.”

She grinned. “Most people do.” Then she held out a hand.“I’m Kiara, by the way.”

He shook her hand gently, his skin calloused against hers.“Riley Stern. Pleased to meet you. So, when did you get to Insulam, Kiara?”

“I came in from Manhattan two weeks ago.”

He beamed, his dimples casting his face into perfection.“It’s always nice to encounter a fellow American. I’m from Beverly Hills.”

She smirked. “You get associated with TV shows too?”

He pursed his lips together and nodded. “I get 90210 a lot.”

They chuckled and Kiara felt her heart warm up. Even thoughthey’d just met, conversation with Riley was effortless.

“This is going to sound weird, but you’re the nicest personI’ve met all night.”

He grinned. “Thank you. I’d say the same thing, but I’mafraid it wouldn’t have the same effect, since you’re the only person I’ve mettonight.”

She shrugged. “I’m going to accept the complimentnonetheless.”

The music suddenly switched to a slow song and he held out aslender hand. “Might I have this dance?”

Kiara curtsied playfully. “You may.”

He led her to the dance floor like a proper gentleman, thenplaced one arm around her waist and used the other hand to take hers.

Their fingers were intertwined and Kiara felt like she wasfloating; everywhere they touched, her skin tingled with delight.

They swayed in perfect synchronisation without talking. Thesilence seemed to convey everything they wanted to say.

Riley didn’t know what time it was, what day it was, whatyear it was. All he knew was that his heart was beating a million miles aminute and that he was dancing with the most extraordinary girl in the world.

Kiara’s head was leaning against his chest, silver-greeneyes closed and dark curls escaping from her ponytail, and her hand was warmand trusting in his.

He rested a cheek on the top of her head and grinned. He’dnever felt so much affection toward someone he’d known for such a short periodof time.

He wanted to dance with her forever, wanted to make herlaugh and wanted to protect her from ever getting hurt.

All Riley knew was that he was in heaven.

And then the music stopped and Nathan Houghs’s voice called,“Party’s over, kids. Please get to your assigned exit. Girls to the portal atthe east side. Boys to the west.”

Kiara looked up at Riley and the dazed expression on herstunning face assured him that she had been in heaven right along with him.

She turned her head to where the girls were already gathering.“I have to go.” The sadness in her voice was evident.

Before she could leave, he wrapped both arms around herwaist in an embrace. Her hands came up around his neck. “I don’t want you to.”

She took a small step back and smiled. “I’m still on theIsland. We can talk on the letter pad.” Then she pressed her lips against hischeek. “Goodbye, Riley.”

The skin where she’d kissed him was warm and he beamed atthe feeling. Just before going through the portal, she turned to wave at him.

He waved back and then headed to the west side of the room.

Tania and Kiara were both spread out on their separate beds,reflecting on the night’s events. “So, who was that guy you were sitting withall night?” Kiara asked.

Tania beamed, her grey-blue eyes lighting up. “That wasAaron.”

“You seemed to like him.”

“Well, that’s the understatement of the century.” Sheclutched a pillow to her chest dramatically. “Oh, Kiara, he looks like heshould be on the cover of Men’s Health.And he’s such a good guy too. We just talked and talked and never got bored.He’s interested in my opinion and has intelligent views of his own… But let’stalk about you. You and Riley were getting quite cosy.”

Kiara couldn’t stop herself from smiling. “When we weredancing, it was like we were the only two people in the world. The feelings Ihad tonight were so unexpected, yet so… meant to be. It’s difficult toexplain.”

“It’s okay. I get it. It’s good that you’re not hung up onthe whole Xavier-thing.”

Suddenly, Kiara’s eyes widened. “Xavier… Oh fudgecakes, Icompletely forgot about him.”

“Why are you so upset? I thought this was what you wanted.”

“Because I’m still hoping that Xavier and I can be together.And now I led Riley on and I didn’t mean to.”

Tania giggled. “Oh, I think you did. You just admitted itwas ‘meant to be’.”

Kiara sat up to look at Tania and raised her voice. “Sincewhen are you so against Xavier?”

“I’m not against him. Riley is just much better for you.Trust me, you rarely replace a guy with Abercrombieand Fitch looks and the disposition of a Golden Retriever.”

Kiara found herself grinning again. “He is nice, isn’t- No!I am not going to play them off against each other. This is not a lovetriangle. Riley and I are friends; I’m falling for Xavier. And that’s all thereis to it.”

“Whatever gets you a good night’s rest, darling.”

“Yeah, the thought of Estries scared me at the beginningtoo. But once you face a supernatural in battle, you realise how capable we areof defending humanity against them. We wouldn’t have been charged with thatresponsibility if it were otherwise,” Tania explained, nude-coloured heelsclicking on the linoleum floor.

She and Kiara were strolling through the College’scorridors, on their way from History to Physical Training.

“Well, the last time I ‘faced’ a supernatural, I hit it overthe head with a vase,” Kiara retorted. Tania chuckled and she joined in almoststraight away.

Suddenly, the intercom beeped and the headmaster’s voicefilled the hallway, “Savanna Wilkens, Trish McCartney, Tania Houghs and KiaraWestwin, please report to my office immediately.”

Kiara scowled. “What’s that about?”

Tania beamed from ear to ear and grabbed her roommate by thewrist. “That, my friend, is how you get summoned for a mission.” And then shehauled Kiara to the nearest elevator.

When they reached Headmaster Houghs’s office, the othergirls were already there.

Savanna was leaning against a bookcase, red hair untied anddark green eyes uninterested. Trish’s hazel eyes, on the other hand, were asalert as a soldier’s, her pitch-black hair braided.

Nathan Houghs was seated behind his mahogany desk,expression calm and fear-inspiring as always. His strong hands were folded infront of him and his cold eyes studied the girls intently.

“Good morning, girls.”

“Good morning, Headmaster Houghs,” the four of themchorused.

Nathan took a brown file out of one of the desk’s drawersand handed it to Trish, who flipped it open instantly. “Miss McCartney, you arein charge of this mission. We have located a witch who broke away from the coven.It’s considerably easier to take care of them when they are alone. She goes bythe name Sophia Keltin; there is a photo included in the file. We have beenable to trace her and her current location is somewhere in the V&AWaterfront shopping centre in Cape Town, South Africa. You will use the portalto go to one of the restrooms, where you will not be seen. You know theprocedure from there. Miss Westwin, you are only a trainee on this mission andmust therefore try to avoid direct combat. Tania, she is your responsibility.Get suited and leave as soon as possible.”

It was ten o’ clock on a Monday morning and the Waterfrontwas completely abandoned. All the lights were out and the exits locked. Theshops were open, but there were no employees or customers present.

Tania halted in the hallway and shook her head. “Guys, thisisn’t right. I’ve been here a hundred times and this place has never beenempty. There’s something strange going on.”

“So, let’s replace that witch and get out of here,” was Trish’sanswer.

But Tania couldn’t manage to put her trepidations aside.This was a trap. She was sure of it.

And then she felt the hairs on her arms and neck stand upand her skin prickle. Her stomach was in a knot and her blood pounded in herears.

Her fears were affirmed when Kiara said, “We might not beable to get out that easily.”

Then Tania saw them,

In the shadows of the stores surrounding them, dark figureswere lurking. Their eyes were glowing and their fangs were out.

Vampires.

She gulped. “Kiara, why are all of them looking at you?”

“They must be working for whoever sent that letter,” Kiarareplied in a whisper.

Savanna had already lowered into a crouch and was snarling.“There are four of us and five of them. I’ll take two.”

“Whoa there, soldier. We aren’t equipped to fight vampires.We didn’t bring any hawthorn stakes.” This came from Trish.

Tania’s eyes flicked around and an idea started to form inher mind. “Would regular wooden staked help?”

“It won’t kill them, but it’ll put them out of the fightlong enough for us to escape,” Trish said.

Tania nodded. The vampires attacked.

A blonde-haired, red-eyed bloodsucker was on Tania in aninstant. He grabbed hold of her wrist and tried to haul her body closer to his.

He’s fought Guardiansbefore. He’s trying to get to my heart, because he knows it’s the only way tohurt me.

But he wasn’t going to succeed. Tania swung her left legaround to kick the vampire in the stomach. The force was enough to push himaway.

Then she noticed sunlight pouring through a window in theshop behind her attacker. She snatched a dagger from the belt at her hips andhurled it at the bloodsucker’s chest.

He chuckled cruelly. “Steel won’t hurt my flesh.”

Tania grinned. “Wasn’t aiming for your flesh.”

His shirt was now slashed open, exposing his heart. Sheclenched her teeth together and shoved him into the shaft of light.

The vampire let out a painful scream, smoke rose from hisskin and he turned to ash.

Tania rushed into the clothing store that spread out infront of her and started gathering wooden hangers. When she had a few, she putthem on the shop’s counter and started sharpening both ends of each hanger withher dagger.

And then she heard something behind her. The faintestmovement. She spun around, knife in hand, found nothing but an empty store.

So she turned back to the makeshift stakes and continuedworking, until something crashed and a clothing rack flew into her, pinning herto the counter. It was heavy and the wheels had been removed; she was trapped.

Her attacker finally made an appearance, ducking out frombehind a mannequin. He was tall and bony, like a skeleton, and his skin wassallow. He grinned wickedly. “Time to suck you dry, little Guardian.”

Tania wriggled to get loose, but there was no escape. Andthe bloodsucker was coming closer. Until he was right next to her, caressingher cheek with a crooked finger. Disgust welled up in her.

Then, as his face disappeared into her neck, she reachedback, fingers travelling across the marble counter behind her. His nose grazedher skin and she shivered. “Your blood is pumping so severely. Tell me; are youthat happy to see me?”

She finally found what she was scrabbling for and grinned.“Oh, I’m elated.” Her hand closed around one of the sharpened hangers and sheslammed it through the vampire’s back, severing his spine and tearing his heartapart.

He fell to the ground, the weight of his body shifting theclothing rack just enough for her to escape.

Tania took a steadying breath, grabbed the stakes and headedback to the fight.

Savanna had also used the sun to dispose of one of herattackers and was savagely ducking the other’s blows.

Trish was slicing out with her sword, hacking into a vampireat a speed faster than he could heal.

And then there was Kiara. She was struggling with greatvigour, but a bloodsucker was dragging her to the nearest exit.

They’re trying tokidnap her.

In a sudden surge of adrenaline, Kiara kicked out andmanaged to dislodge the vampire’s hold on her arm. Then she yelled, “Tania,give me a stake.”

Tania obeyed and threw two sharpened hangers in Kiara’sdirection. The attackers’ eyes widened when her brunette roommate caught bothof them, grinned cruelly and drove one through his heart.

It didn’t kill him, but he lost consciousness and collapsedonto the tiled floor.

Kiara flung the other stake with absolute precision and itstruck Trish’s vampire in the chest, putting him out of the fight.

It didn’t take Tania long to take care of the finalassailant.

Kiara’s face was set in glorious determination andbrutality. She looked like the warrior she was.

Tania approached her. “Well, aren’t you a little badass?”

The other girl was still panting. “Thanks for the stakes.”

She shrugged. “I’m responsible for you, aren’t I? Whathappened to avoiding combat?”

Kiara grinned. “He said that I should ‘try to avoid directcombat’. I tried. Didn’t quite work for me.”

The unconscious vampires’ shirts had been sliced open andthe girls were dragging them into spots of sunlight, where they could jointheir comrades as ash.

When the last one was disposed of, Kiara wiped a hand acrossher forehead. “Shouldn’t we have determined their identity somehow?”

Savanna shrugged, red hair framing her feline-like features,“Why? No one cares who they were.”

“They used to be people.

Then Kiara heard a soft whimpering sound coming from theshop behind her. She turned around and frowned. It was a grocery store and itappeared to be deserted.

Trish came up next to her, wicked grin on her angelic face.“I bet that’s our witch.”

All four of them pulled out their lighters simultaneouslyand made their way into the supermarket. The store had dozens of outward-facingwindows that lit it up brilliantly.

They split up to search different aisles and Kiara ended upbetween shelves of dog food. At the end of the corridor, she was confronted bya glass display case with a mini bakery at the other side of it.

Everything was quiet, but Kiara was convinced that she hearda sound nearby. And then she realised what.

Breathing – the harsh exhalations of anxiety.

Someone must be hidingbehind the display case.

“I found her,” Kiara shouted and the other girls were nextto her in an instant, crouching and ready for action.

The person behind the case had shot up and was pressedagainst the far wall of the bakery, only a few steps from where the fourGuardians were standing.

Kiara let her lighter drop the floor and exhaled sharply.She felt sick to her stomach.

It was a girl. Her white sneakers were tattered and stained,her jeans’ seams frayed. She had straight black hair with dyed blonde tips,caramel-coloured skin and light green eyes with slanted pupils.

And she could not have been older than thirteen.

Trish stepped forward and it induced extreme panic in thegirl. She let out a sob and tears started to roll down her cheeks. “Are youSophia Keltin?”

The girl nodded, her face transformed with fear. “Yes. Yes.Please don’t hurt me. I’ll do anything. Please.”

Savanna flipped open her lighter’s lid and a dancing flameappeared. “Time to go back where you came from, witch.”

Sophia cried out and shook her head fervently. “No. Please!Please, don’t.”

Savanna took a step forward, but Kiara grabbed hold of herarm. “Come on, Savanna; you can’t kill her.”

“And why is that?”

Kiara scowled incredulously. “Look at her. She’s just agirl. She isn’t hurting anyone.”

The redhead yanked her arm out of Kiara’s grip. “Why are youarguing with me on this? You just slaughtered a bunch of vampires.”

“They were attacking me.”

Savanna bared her teeth. “And if you let this one go, itwill come back to attack you later. These creatures are demonic filth that needsto be exterminated.”

Before anything could be done to stop it, Savanna threw herflaming lighter at the terrified girl. Sophia’s blood-curdling screams filledthe air as she was burned alive. Kiara gasped in horror and buried her face inher hands to sob.

When the screams finally died down, Kiara spun to faceSavanna. “How could you do that?” Her voice came out in a hysterical yell.

“It’s what we do. If you don’t have the stomach for it, youshould go back to Manhattan.”

Kiara was disgusted. Nothing but a pile of ash was left asproof of Sophia’s existence.

Tania bowed her head and whispered, “Nos sunt semper contra malum.”

Kiara sniffed a few times and then wiped away her tears.

Mission complete.

1994

“So, you’re just goingto leave now?”

Naru was sitting atthe other side of the red table. The café was small and unknown –the perfect place for a secret meeting. He was wearing a leather jacket and hisblack hair was standing in a million different directions.

Virginia shrugged,trying to supress her sorrow. “What else can I do?”

He looked down, thepain clear in his every movement. “You know what you can do.”

She slammed her fistdown on the table. “I’m sick of people blaming me. My exile is entirely theMeeting’s fault, not mine.”

He slid a gentle handover hers. “You know I’ll never be able to judge you, Ginia… I’m just reallygoing to miss you.”

“We can still see eachother every now and then.”

Naru pulled his handback and sighed. “You know that’s impossible.”

“You’re the onlyfriend I have left.”

“What about Nathan?”

She shook her head.“We both know Nathan turned his back on me a long time ago. I just hope thatyou never do the same.”

“Virginia, even thoughwe are saying goodbye, I want you to know that you will always be my bestfriend.”

“I know.”