Guardian Of Fate (Fate Series) (21 page)

"More!" Caleb demanded.

Hunter's lip curled as he glared at Caleb, but he continued to step back a few more feet.

"Enough, Caleb! Let's just get this shit over with," I said, my voice filled with hatred. "Let her go."

As if it were one continuous motion, Caleb pushed Nora away from him and grabbed my wrist, roughly pulling me into him. I turned my body around quickly in his arms, my back up against him, so I could watch to make sure Nora escaped.

"Hunter," I called out. "Take her back to Eric."

Nora looked at me, tears and regret in her eyes. "I don't want to leave you, Cassie."

At the same time, Hunter said firmly, "I'm not leaving."

"It would be so much easier if you guys just left. Please, it'll be easier on me."

They both stood unfazed by my desperate pleas.

"Hunter, just get her out of here!" I screamed.

Hunter grabbed Nora by the arm and forced her to the door. "Okay, okay! I'll go!" she cried as she opened the door. With one last look at me, she said, "I love you, Cassie," and walked out the door.

Caleb continued to use his arms across my chest to barricade me into him, as his lower body got intimate with mine, grinding against me. I cringed as he nuzzled my neck, before his lips came up to my ear. "I can't wait to be inside of you, Cassie," he whispered. I let out a guttural sound of disgust, and he laughed. "I've fantasized about the day that you would drink my blood."

An agonized roar came from Hunter and he started to prowl towards us like an angry panther ready to pounce.

I put my arms out as much as Caleb would allow, palms out, warding Hunter off. "Hunter, no! I'm okay."

Looking over my shoulder at Caleb, I said with disgust, "Let's just get this over with before I lose my nerve... or my dinner."

He laughed again, not put off by my insult. As we were, he led me over to the stool, forced me to sit, and picked up the glass filled with his blood. He lifted it in Hunter's direction, "Here's to the best man winning, brother."

I could almost feel Hunter's rage from across the room. "Damn it, Caleb!" I grabbed the glass from his hands, spilling some of it onto the floor in my haste. Wanting to put an end to Caleb's torture, I quickly put the glass to my lips and tilted it up. The blood was thick in my mouth as it slowly slid down my throat. I expected a metallic taste, but it was more bitter, and almost burned, making me gag from the pungency. I looked at Caleb and his blue eyes glowed back at me.

I had only taken a few gulps when I heard an angry cry and a loud crash from across the room. Instantly, I knew it was Hunter, but before I could even turn my head to see what he had done, the glass was thrown from my hands, crashing against the wall at the end of the counter, the white tiles streaked with red.

For a moment, I was too shocked to do anything but watch those little red rivers stream down the wall. I finally came out of my trance from another loud crash next to me. Hunter had Caleb up on the counter, leaning over him, as the electronics of what I assumed was the computerized cash register hung ruined over the side, stretched wires the only thing keeping it from crashing to the floor.

"It's too late, brother!" Caleb laughed. "I watched her swallow me. It's done. You were too late."

Hunter looked back at me and I saw the fear in his eyes. He watched me intently, staring directly into my eyes, as he continued to hold Caleb down. Caleb lifted his head and strained to see me around Hunter's broad shoulder.

Hearing Caleb's words and Hunter's reaction, a chill came over me as if a million icicles made their way through my body. I shook violently, not from anything internal changing, but from the fear of what I knew was now inevitable. I waited, anticipating something painful as I transformed into my demon state, but I felt nothing.

Caleb's arrogant smile vanished, his eyes squinted and a grim line set on his lips. I looked back at Hunter, my face apparent with all the questions I had, but he stayed as he was, merely eyeing me curiously. I think I was more nervous about their scrutiny at that point than my ultimate fate.

Impatiently, I asked, "So, what the hell? Am I a demon now or not?"

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

They both stayed as they were, staring at me with the same confused look on their faces. Finally, Caleb let out an angry growl, causing me to jump, and shoved Hunter off him. With murder in his eyes, he lunged at me, but Hunter quickly blocked the attack.

I was crouched behind Hunter, afraid and confused. Why didn't I feel any different? Shouldn't I have some evil thoughts going through my head? And why was Caleb coming after me now? He'd gotten what he wanted. Didn't he?

"You know what this means, don't you?" Caleb said to Hunter.

For a few minutes, I only heard the sound of their heavy breathing, then nothing; an eerie nothing. Hunter was still standing in front of me, guarding me from Caleb, or so I thought, until I stood up, looked around him, and saw that Caleb was gone. I stepped away from him, looking around the rest of the room. Caleb was nowhere in sight.

I gasped when Hunter suddenly grabbed onto my upper arms, squeezing so hard, it made me wince.

"What were you thinking?" he yelled, shaking my entire body in rhythm with his words. "Did what we share mean nothing to you? Hell, I shoul—"

Before I knew it, his mouth was on mine, his tongue violently forcing its way in as if punishing me for how he thought I'd wronged him. My fervor matched his once I got a taste of what, moments ago, I thought I'd never have again. Our desperation for each other was frantic, and the world around me became lost again, until Hunter violently pushed me back from him. His jaw clenched and relaxed over and over again as he glared at me, his breath still heavy. "We will discuss the hell you just put me through, Cassandra, but right now we have to get out of here." He pushed me towards the door, "Now get moving."

"What's going on, Hunter?" I asked, struggling against him. "Where's Caleb? What just happened?" I tried digging my feet in, but it was no use. He was too strong for me. Moving in front of me, he grabbed onto my arm and started to pull me through the door.

"It didn't work," he said flatly.

"What do you mean it didn't..." I didn't bother finishing, knowing it was no use trying to get him to answer my questions. He was dragging me towards the street in the direction of the motel. I yanked my arm so hard from him, that I thought I'd ripped it right out of the socket. It hurt like hell, and I screamed to prove it, but I was free. Hunter had already entered the deserted street in his stride to get us to the motel, but my feet remained planted firmly on the curb. He looked back at me and I could tell that he was surprised by my will not to follow him.

"I'm not going anywhere near my mom and Nora until you tell me what you mean by it not working. How could it not work?"

He stood below me on the street, his eyes level with mine and I could see the impatience clear on his face. Brushing his hand through his hair, he let out a sigh of resignation.

"Caleb's blood didn't work. He couldn't turn you with it and now he's
really
pissed off, so we need to get your mom and Nora to the Elders right now. I have a feeling his next step will be to visit Nergal and tell him everything."

"But how could it not work? I drank it! That's all it takes, right?" I asked, still confused.

He cupped his hand on my cheek, and his eyes softened. "Cassandra—"

"Hunter!" Eric yelled, running towards us from the motel.

Hunter turned toward him quickly and started giving orders to get my mom and Nora in the car right away. Eric never questioned him. He simply ran back into the motel room faster than I'd ever seen a man run before, back with my mom and Nora in tow within minutes.

They started running towards me, calling my name, both of them crying. I ran to meet them on the other side of the street, Hunter alongside of me. They hugged and kissed me, bombarding me with questions I didn't know the answers to. I turned to Hunter for help, but he was quietly talking with Eric. I saw Eric nod his head before they both looked over. From the looks on their faces, I knew we had to hurry and get to the Elders. They were our only chance, even though I wasn't sure if even they could protect us against the evil that would soon be headed our way if Hunter were right.

I ushered my mom and Nora towards the car, promising to tell them as much as I could once we were on our way. I started to get in the back when I looked over and saw Eric disintegrate into the darkness. He just vanished into the night.

Hunter walked over to the driver's side of the door where Nora was getting in.

"Nora, you and Sara, in the back. I'm driving. Cassandra," he said to me, "you're up front with me."

"But where did Eric go? He's not coming with us?" Nora asked as she moved to the back of the car, where my mom was already getting in. I noticed the concern in her voice. Was she worried that we wouldn't be protected enough? Or was she worried about Eric and where he'd gone?

"He's going to try to warn Anael. Caleb won't hesitate to tell Nergal about her betrayal now. If he finds out, he'll kill her. I asked Eric to find her and convince her to go to the Elders."

"But how can she go the Elders? She's not an angel anymore," I asked.

"It's her only chance right now. If she stays in Sheol, Nergal will surely kill her." Ironically, I said a silent prayer that she'd be all right.

Hunter got into the car, looked over his shoulder at me, and said, "Cassandra, get in the car."

As I opened the passenger door, I heard my mom ask, "You guys can die? How?"

"Mom, not now," I warned her, knowing damn well where her mind was going with this information.

***

For the first hour on the road, I described to my mom and Nora what happened after Nora had left the restaurant. My mom had already been told the details of what occurred before that. Apparently, she put up quite the fight trying to get out of the motel room when she found out what I'd planned to do. It took both Nora and Eric to hold her down and keep her from coming over to that restaurant. It was heartfelt to know the lengths that everyone was willing to go to in order to keep me safe, but it was also gut-wrenching to know the danger they were all in because of me.

I did my best to explain to my mom why I drank Caleb's blood. Even though she argued, I knew she understood that it was because of the kind of person she raised me to be. I was raised to be a Guardian, to save people's souls. That kind of calling didn't discriminate. If anything, the drive was stronger to save those you loved. If she had been in the same position, I knew she wouldn't have hesitated to do the same. 

After our arguments were exhausted, there was a long pause of silence as we drove down the dark, deserted road. I watched the forested earth pass by through the windows and thought about how calm it all seemed looking at it from the distance, but in reality, the wild contained a life of its own. To the creatures that inhabited it, it would probably seem far from calm. Just like us, they had their natural enemies always lurking, waiting for the opportunity to strike, hitting them when they were at their weakest. Even when they rested, they were required to stay attuned to the hidden dangers that could be around them to ensure their survival. In truth, they could never really rest. They were always being hunted. I knew exactly what that helplessness felt like, and I knew that we, too, would always be hunted.

I finally realized that this was what he meant back in the motel. I didn't have to go to Hell with him in order for us to be together. He was willing to run with me, however long and far we had to go, no matter how many demons we had to face. He was my best chance at survival because he loved me, and under his protection of love is where I'd feel safest. My mom and Nora would continue to be in danger if I stayed with them. Just like the creatures of the wild, they could never really rest with me there. Hell wanted me, and I wouldn't continue to lead them to the ones I loved. No, my mind was made up. I knew what I wanted. I would leave with Hunter once we got Nora and my mom to the Elders.

"I'm going with you," I blurted out, looking at Hunter across the seat.

He turned to me, confused at first, but a knowing look came over his face and he nodded when he realized what I was telling him.

"Cassie, no!" my mom yelled, coming up between the seats and grabbing my shoulder. "You have to stay with us... with me! The Elders will take care of all of us."

"Not Hunter," I argued. "He risked everything to be with me, Mom. And he's proven that he can take care of me. I'm going with him." I turned in my seat to face her, tears threatening to spill over my lids, "You guys will never be safe if I stay with you. I can't bear knowing that I'm always going to put you in danger. What I did in that restaurant? I'd do it again if I were put in that situation. You know they will keep coming after me, and that means they will keep coming after you." The tears escaped and ran steadily down my face. "I'd rather die than know I'd caused anything to happen to you. Please. You have to let me go."

Her tears matched my own as she slowly brought her hand up to my cheek to brush them away. There was so much love in her eyes and so much pain at the same time. It was killing me to know that I was hurting her, but if she remained safe, it was more than worth it.

"You're so much like your father," she told me quietly.

My body lurched forward and crashed into Hunter's arm that had flown across my body as he slammed on the brakes. The force with which my chest hit his arm knocked the wind out of me, and for a moment, I thought I might suffocate. Compelling my lungs to save me, my breath finally came out with a choke and followed with rapid shallow gusts of air that matched my heart rate. I looked in the back to make sure my mom and Nora were all right. I saw that they were shaken up, but they didn't seem to be injured. My eyes darted around, looking for the cause of the sudden stop, when I noticed Hunter staring straight ahead. I followed his gaze through the windshield, but couldn't see anything except the deserted road in front of us.

Squinting, I leaned forward to try and get a better view of what had him so entranced. "Hunter—" Then I saw them. Just past the edge of the light coming from the headlights of the car, were several people standing in the middle of the street. My heart sunk into my stomach, as the hairs stood up on my arms.

With a sudden jerk of his hand, Hunter put the car in reverse. He took his foot off the brake and we slowly started to roll backwards, but he stomped on the brakes again when the people ahead of us disappeared. I twisted around to see out the back window, but there was only darkness beyond the glowing red of the brake lights.

I turned back towards the front and screamed. Standing directly in front of the car were several men staring back at us through the windshield, their blue eyes flashing with the illumination of the car's headlights. Two of the men moved towards the sides of the car, stopping just outside of Hunter's door and mine. Their movements were that of soldiers ready for battle, the sheer size of them enough to scare any enemy away. There was no doubt that these were the demons from Hell, and they were prepared for war.

I stared at the man outside my door, terrified as I anticipated him opening it and pulling me out. But they only stood there, as if on guard. Nora let out a loud cry and I turned to look back at her, my skin prickling with fear. She was staring out of the windshield, pointing. When I followed her lead, my heart stopped at the sight before me.

Caleb stood directly in front of one of the headlights, but he was not alone. Anael was being held against him. He had her by the hair, forcing her head up, lengthening the skin of her neck. As if in slow motion, I saw the sword in his other hand come up towards the base of her throat, his eyes piercing mine through the windshield with the movement. There was a sparkle of light reflecting off the hilt of the sword that caught my eye. Several blue jewels, almost identical in color to the demon eyes that stared back at me, were embedded into the gold of handle. I'd never seen it before, but my gut told me it was the Sword of Final Death... and they were going to kill her with it.

"No!" I yelled, not thinking of what I was doing as I moved my hand to the door handle. Hunter grabbed at my other arm, holding me back.

"You stay in this car!" he said with steely reserve. "If you go out there, the rest of us are dead. Your mom, Nora, me. They'll have who they want. I'm going to go out there and hold their attention while you drive away—"

"No, Hunter!" I begged, grabbing onto his arm now. "They'll kill you!"

"There's no other way now, Cassandra. This is the only way to get all of you out of here. They won't kill me." He leaned over and I closed my eyes as he pressed his strong lips gently to mine. The kiss was short, but everlasting as I thought again how this would probably be the last time I'd be feeling them.

"Trust me," he whispered.

My heart melted as tears flowed down my face easily. "Hunter, I love you," I told him quietly, but with every bit of my soul wrapped around those words.

His eyes closed as if he were taking my words into his body and vaulting them in his heart. His hand came up to my face and he lightly stroked my lips with the pad of his thumb. "I didn't think it was ever possible, but
you've
turned
me
. Maybe not my soul, but definitely my heart. I will always love you, Cassandra. I know now that I have since the day I came for you. Never forget that."