Demon War: Shadowguard Academy Book 4 Page 3

  Because of me, his son is dead. And I don’t know if he holds that against me.

  Fabian hadn’t acted like he wanted a relationship with me when we first met. Will he feel the same now? He’s the only connection I have to my biological parents. I can’t help but want him to be part of my life, no matter how small.

  “Elder Fabian,” the witch calls out. She and the warlocks stand, bowing respectfully to one of their clan’s leaders. “We did not expect you to join us this evening.”

  “It would be wise to not make assumptions about my actions,” Fabian replies, none too kindly. He approaches the table but doesn’t take a seat. I wait for him to look at me, but his attention rests on Belial.

  From the corner of my eye, I see Belial lean back in his seat, as if he doesn’t have a care in the world. “Nice of you to show up, Fabian.”

  The old warlock grunts. “In the interest of not wasting anyone’s time, we shall put Aspen’s relocation to a vote.”

  What?

  “All in favor of moving Aspen to a more neutral location, say aye.”

  Ayes pepper the room.

  Frantic, I search for Belial’s reaction.

  He wears a dangerous smirk, and his piercing stare rests on my grandfather. The room grows cold. “How amusing. You all actually believe this is a democracy.”

  “You aren’t the only one who cares for Aspen’s safety,” Master Osei says with appeasing calm. “Her family and friends are distressed.”

  “I’ve informed the Van der Klays Aspen is safe with me,” Belial replies.

  I blink with surprise. He has?

  “And you can confirm as much when you return to Shadowguard Headquarters and report what transpired here this evening,” he states, effectively ending the conversation.

  But the room is not so easily swayed.

  “If you would let go of your stubbornness, Belial, you would see it is not wise to keep Aspen in one place for too long.” It’s Victor who bravely speaks up. “The longer she remains, the more likely it is Azazel will find her. We must keep her on the move.”

  That sounds terrible. I want to say as much out loud, but Belial is quick to continue the argument on my behalf.

  “I can handle Azazel.” Belial’s eyes flash—a telling sign he is close to losing his temper.

  “Our security wards have already been breached within miles of here,” the witch speaks up, meeting Belial’s gaze unwaveringly. I’ve got to give it to her. She’s got guts. “His demons have come too close to your location. It is only a matter of time before he finds her.”

  My stomach rolls, and terror floods through me. I never want to be at the mercy of the crazed original demon ever again. Instinct tells me I won’t survive it.

  Victor, no doubt sensing my panic in my elevated heart rate, reaches out and squeezes my hand reassuringly.

  A low growl reverberates across the table.

  I look up to see Belial glaring at the vampire.

  Victor snickers, but he wisely releases my hand.

  “Aspen will not be leaving this safe house,” Belial clips. “Not until I agree that it is no longer safe. Now, how about we move to the more important item of business: exposing Head Minister Hendricks as a fraud and earning more Guardian allies in the process.”

  “What?” Do they actually have a plan to take down the head minister?

  My question is ignored.

  With a grim expression, Master Osei says, “That will not be easy. As you can see by my presence here, the Head Minister has convinced the council that the threat against the Shadowguard is minimal.”

  “But what about the rescued victims?” A lycan asks. “Surely, they’ve revealed the truth?”

  My thoughts exactly.

  Unfortunately, Master Osei reveals the worst, “None of the victims have spoken out.”

  What?!?

  “How is that possible?” Victor exclaims.

  “Hendricks has been in power for a long time,” my professor explains. “His influence stretches far and wide. I suspect he has coerced the victims and their families to keep quiet.”

  “But he knows what Azazel is doing to Guardians,” I can’t help but blurt out. “He lets them go into the field, knowing Azazel is turning us into minions for his army. How could the victims not speak out against him?”

  “I cannot pretend to know, Miss Van der Klay,” Master Osei replies. The wrinkles around his eyes are drawn tight. “But I do know there are those of us who are wary of the head minister’s leadership at the moment.” He looks to the rest of the table. “I say this group needs to capitalize on that wariness to recruit new allies from the Guardian ranks.”

  “And how do you propose we do that?” Fabian doesn’t try to conceal his skepticism.

  “Don’t focus your efforts on discrediting Head Minister Hendricks. Instead, spread the news of Azazel’s crimes. Make it common knowledge. More and more Guardians will step out of the shadows to help.”

  “And what if the head minister chooses to discredit our rumors?”

  “Provide proof he can’t deny?”

  “Such as?”

  Master Osei looks my way.

  The rest of the table follows suit.

  My eyes widen. “What?”

  This is the first time my grandfather has bothered to look at me. Now, I wish he would’ve spared me his piercing stare. “You can provide the truth while the others remain silent.”

  “Her word is hardly proof,” Victor points out, not giving me the chance to respond.

  “There are memory spells which can be performed,” Fabian continues, undeterred. “We can reveal her experience to witnesses, and they can corroborate her story.”

  Reveal my experience?

  Panic claws at my throat. I don’t know what spell Fabian is talking about, but if it has anything to do with my memories of that horrible night, I am not interested.

  “Can that really be done?” Victor sounds intrigued by the idea.

  “It can,” the witch confirms, gazing at Fabian with admiration. “But only the most powerful of our clan can do it.”

  “Well, that will certainly help prove Azazel’s crimes. When can it be done?” The vampire asks.

  He’s promptly, and aggressively, shut down.

  “Absolutely not,” Belial growls. He’d kept silent, but not any longer. “Aspen has been through enough. No one will force her to relive that trauma.”

  Part of me is embarrassed I’m allowing Belial to speak on my behalf. I’m not weak. I have a voice.

  But the other part of me, the part still experiencing debilitating fear whenever I think of what I’ve faced, is glad for his interference.

  Everyone at the table dips their heads with sympathetic expressions, understanding how difficult this situation is for me. Everyone, that is, except my grandfather.

  “The girl doesn’t need to be coddled.”

  “Her name is Aspen,” Belial snaps. “I suggest you use it.”

  Fabian’s eyes flash. “Very well. Aspen doesn’t need to be coddled. You’ve locked her in this safe house, letting her wallow in self-pity, while the rest of the world is on the brink of unfathomable destruction. I think she can take a little discomfort for the sake of saving innocent lives.”

  If I thought the temperature in the room dropped earlier, now it is freezing cold.

  I shiver and warily glance at Belial. I fear he may do the unthinkable and actually attack my grandfather. I prepare to jump up and intervene before this can come to blows when our meeting is interrupted.

  “Master Belial,” a frantic voice calls out.

  All eyes shift to the doorway as a mundane demon, one of Belial’s employees, appears. The demon grips the doorframe with tight fists, breathing heavily.

  “Grik,” Belial addresses the mundane demon, rising from his seat. His agitation with my grandfather is gone, replaced by subtle alarm. “What is it?”

  “News from the Shadowguard,” he huffs, eyes wide. “There’s been an att
ack.”

  “An attack?” Victor questions.

  “What?” The lycans chorus.

  “Where?” Belial’s booming voice demands the demon’s attention.

  That’s why I’m taken aback when the mundane’s red eyes shift to me. “New York, Master Belial.” Regret fills his gaze. “At St. Michael’s Academy.”

  Chapter Four

  “We have to do something!” I race behind Belial, frantically trying not to lose sight of him.

  Two seconds after we heard the news, the meeting had dissolved into a chaotic mess. The warlocks and witch created portals to return home. The lycans and vampires used potions to create their own means of transporting out of the safe house. The only ones left were Fabian, Master Osei, Belial, and me.

  After a clipped exchange, it was decided that Master Osei and Fabian would travel to the academy to assess the situation. The moment they disappeared, Belial took off. I trailed after him to some unknown location in the safe house, desperate to figure out our plan.

  Except, the original demon refuses to acknowledge me.

  “We can’t let anyone get hurt!” I shout at his broad back.

  “We won’t be doing anything.” He strides into a room without so much as a backward glance. I don’t hesitate to follow. Immediately, I realize we’re in his bedroom. The king-sized bed covered in black satin sheets gives it away.

  I don’t let myself feel flustered. So what if I’m in his private space? It makes no difference.

  “What do you mean?” I press, following him to the other side of the room.

  He throws open an armoire. Dozens of blades, all varying in size, glint in the room’s light. I pull back, stopping myself from running into his back and shoving him into the sharp weapons.

  Belial begins to strap weapons to his body. “I am going to the academy. You will stay here.”

  “What?” I’m not strong enough to force him to face me, but that doesn’t stop me from grabbing his arm and yanking back.

  Slowly, almost mockingly, he rotates towards me.

  I scowl. “You are not leaving me here!”

  “Little mountain, there is no way you can convince me to take you. That is exactly what Azazel is hoping for, and I will not hand him victory so easily.”

  “I’m not defenseless. I have access to my magic,” I remind him, indignantly.

  “Magic you haven’t bothered to use in weeks,” he points out, not bothering to soften the blow of his words. Then, he turns and continues arming himself.

  I want to object to his claim, but I know I have no grounds.

  Many times, Belial has offered to help me practice my newfound magic—a mix of witch abilities and Hermona’s Guardian power. But I rejected every single offer.

  I’d wanted nothing to do with the abilities which led to my father’s ultimate demise. At least, I didn’t at the time. Now, I see how foolish that decision was. I’ve said I want to right my wrongs. To do so, I will need to use every tool at my disposal. That includes the all-encompassing power flowing through my veins.

  “My friends are there,” I say, pleading with wide eyes. “Lex is there.” My foster brother is one of my best friends, probably my best friend. The thought that anything might happen to him, or anyone else at the academy, makes my stomach clench.

  Belial closes the armoire. His expression is filled with pity. “Your presence will do more harm than good, Aspen. Please. Trust me to go and ensure the safety of your loved ones. I vow I will do everything in my power to help them.”

  Conflicting emotions war within me. I so badly want to continue arguing with him, but I know every moment he spends here is another moment the academy faces the threat on their own.

  A groan escapes my throat. I curse the defeated sound.

  “You swear? You will protect them?”

  “You know I cannot lie,” Belial’s tone softens.

  “I still want to hear you swear it.”

  The original demon obliges me. He crosses his right hand over his heart and says, “I, Belial, promise you, Aspen Van der Klay, I will do everything in my power to protect the academy from whatever attack they face. Everything, except risk your own safety.”

  Inside, I scream my objection at his addendum. But I hold it back.

  My shoulders fall, as does my head. “Thank you.”

  Belial steps close, tucking a finger under my chin, forcing my gaze up. I’m mesmerized by the emotion in his lavender eyes.

  “There is no need to thank me, little mountain. I would do anything for you.” There’s no denying he believes what he says. And there’s no denying I believe him as well.

  “Thank you,” I say again, unable to help myself.

  He smiles softly. “I will see you soon. Until then, try to stay out of trouble.” He leans forward, presses a modest kiss to my right cheek, and then he’s gone.

  Time passes at an agonizingly slow pace. I’ve opted to wait for Belial’s return in my bedroom. There are too many eyes in the safe house; Belial’s employees are everywhere. I don’t want them to witness my rattled state.

  I glance at the clock. Less than five minutes have passed since I last checked the time. I release an exasperated groan. “Ugh! This is torture!”

  “I’m certain everything will be all right,” Olina says for the tenth time in the past hour. The mundane demon offered to keep me company shortly after Belial’s departure. I suspect the original demon made a pit stop and asked her to watch me before he actually left the safe house. But despite her soothing words and calm presence, nothing can pull me from my agitated state.

  “You can’t know that,” I say, pacing the length of the room, hoping in vain to work out some of the anxiety building within me. “We are completely in the dark right now.”

  “Master Belial is more powerful than you give him credit for. You must relax.”

  “I’ll relax once I know what happened!” For all I know, Belial and the others could’ve been too late. The academy could be destroyed by Azazel and his minions, the world on the brink of complete chaos, and I have no idea.

  Olina sighs. She gives up trying to reassure me. Picking up a worn, leather-backed novel, she begins to read.

  I continue to pace. My imagination wanders to so many worst-case scenarios, I can’t keep them straight.

  The seconds continue to drag by.

  A soft knock interrupts the quiet.

  Olina goes to the door and opens it with caution.

  I recognize one of Belial’s guards. The bulky mundane demon stands out when compared to the leaner, less formidable looking employees.

  “Yes?” Olina asks.

  The guard’s eyes flick to me. I’ve been getting more and more strange looks from Belial’s employees lately.

  It all started after my run-in with Azazel. No doubt, news of what happened spread throughout Belial’s household, making the mundanes wary. Before, I was just a Guardian-in-training their boss kept in his house, almost like a pet. Now, I’m the mysterious half-witch whose blood opened the Gates of Hell.

  Olina clears her throat. The guard’s attention moves back to her. He almost looks sheepish.

  “Apologies, Miss Olina,” he speaks with more etiquette than I expect. “I am under orders to stand guard in this room with Master Belial’s guest.”

  “Orders?”

  “Yes, Lady Aspen.”

  Ugh. I absolutely hate that title.

  “Orders from who?” I press, crossing my arms as I meet the guard’s uneasy gaze.

  “Master Belial.”

  “Has he returned?” Olina asks the question on the tip of my tongue.

  “No, Miss Olina, but he sent word ahead of his arrival.”

  “Why would I need a guard if he’s coming back?” Already, I’m beginning to panic. Something must’ve gone wrong for Belial to order one of his guards to post up in my room. “Is Belial all right?”

  “I am not permitted to speak on the matter,” he returns, actually sounding a little regretfu
l. “But I am certain Master Belial will come by once he arrives with news.”

  At that exact moment, a loud crash booms through the safe house.

  The guard doesn’t waste one second. He steps into the room then whirls around and locks the door. “Stay back,” he barks over his shoulder.

  Yeah, right.

  Olina and I share a look.

  She shakes her head, silently pleading with me to stay put. We both know that’s not going to happen.

  “I’m going out there,” I announce, moving to the door.

  “No, Lady Aspen. That is not wise.”

  I understand his reservation. From his perspective, it’s a no brainer. But he doesn’t know I can sense Belial’s presence in the house. It’s like a tingling in the back of my brain, letting me know he’s near.

  If Belial is here, but he wants me kept in my room, then something interesting is definitely going on. And I’ll be damned if I missed it.

  “Look,” I begin, trying to reason with the mundane demon, “I know you are just trying to do your job, but unless you plan to use force to keep me in here, I’m leaving.”

  He shifts, uncomfortable. “I cannot let you do that, Lady Aspen.” His hand travels to the sword on his hip. It’s an empty gesture. I know he won’t actually use the weapon against me, but I can’t let him hold me in here either.

  “Yes, you can.” I lift my hands, and blue flames erupt in my palms. I manage to hide how unnerving it feels to access the power so easily. “Now, please move.”

  My newly freed holy fire does the trick.

  The guard gulps. “Master Belial will have my head.”

  “I will make sure that doesn’t happen,” I tell him. “I promise.”

  I see the war raging in his red eyes. But, ultimately, he concedes and steps aside.

  Smart demon.

  Chapter Five

  Olina trails after me. So does the guard. Just before striding out of the room, I overheard Olina call him Ladros.

  More noise reaches us. I follow the sounds, winding through unfamiliar halls of the safe house. I really haven’t ventured very far these past few weeks. That ends today.