Watcher's Reckoning Read online

  “Thanks, Mack.” Darian smiled. “Send him out first thing in the morning. The sooner we have a truce, the better.”

  “Sure thing, boss.” The burly man left much quieter than when he showed up.

  “Well, that was interesting,” Raphael said after Mack left. “Though I suspect he’s already trading with the bandit. Mack didn’t have to tell us anything about the missing supplies. It seems he was trying to initiate an open agreement, rather than going behind your back.” He tapped a finger against his chin and continued. “Or he has other plans. How well do you know Mack? Do you trust him?”

  “I’ve known Mack for years. He lived in this area his entire life and lost his family to the demons, along with many others. But you’re right, we should add that to our list of things to do.” Sara exhaled loudly and slouched back into the sofa. “These bandits have attacked a couple of the caravans from one of the other small communities. If Mack managed to develop a working relationship with them, we need to discover exactly what they’re looking for and why.”

  “It sounds like Mack traded the guns he found for food,” Darian suggested, leaning against the windowsill. “I wonder if this guy Slim is hoarding canned goods to collect more weapons. If so, what does he need them for? Hopefully, we don’t already have someone looking for a leadership role through fear and intimidation.”

  “We should probably investigate the Council’s problem first,” Sara replied. “Raphael wouldn’t be here unless he needed our help.”

  Raphael cleared his throat loudly and avoided Darian’s gaze. His obvious misery made Sara’s heart ache.

  “I was hoping Darian would look at Silana’s home. It’s possible he may be able to feel or notice something that I missed.”

  “Because of my previous connection to the book,” Darian concluded.

  Raphael nodded, and Sara looked at her partner. It’d been a long time since she saw him scowl as deeply as he was now. The pain from his memory of that time radiated through their bond, and she felt helpless to provide him any comfort.

  “We’ll meet you there within the hour,” Darian said, directing his gaze to the Runemaster.

  “Thank you, Darian,” Raphael replied as he pushed himself from his chair. He started to speak again but changed his mind and disappeared.

  Sara stood and joined Darian at the window, snaking an arm around his waist. “You’re not alone this time,” she whispered.

  He pulled her into a tight embrace, and his breath ruffled her hair. “I know.”

  Chapter 4

  Darian

  Darian and Sara arrived outside the gates of Santuario. Unless the circumstances were extremely urgent, he always stopped at the gates rather than using the portal inside Mikel’s tower. He spent the first couple decades with the Council not knowing the two men who guarded their gates. Since then, he made a point to see them whenever he could.

  “Darian and the beautiful lady Sara, welcome home.”

  One of the two men standing sentry at the gate bowed deeply, but Darian caught the mischievous grin on his face.

  “Vic, how are you today?” Sara responded, approaching the guard and wrapping him in a hug.

  He eagerly returned the embrace, and Darian noticed the second sentry roll his eyes. Sara pulled her bag off her shoulder and reached inside, retrieving a plain, wooden box.

  “Is this for me?” Vic asked, feigning surprise.

  “No, of course not,” Sara replied, pressing the box into Vic’s outstretched hand. She turned toward the man next to him and smiled, taking a bundle wrapped in brown paper from her bag. “James, this is for you.”

  “You know I don’t expect anything, unlike my counterpart.” James glanced at Vic but didn’t hesitate to take the package from Sara’s hands.

  “Whatever you say, James.”

  “Now that we’re done with the niceties, can you open the gates?” Darian asked.

  “Don’t get all snappy,” Sara replied. “I believe you’re the one who started this tradition.”

  The guards chuckled and approached the gates, each placing a hand on one of the stone doors. They swung open, and Darian marveled at the ease with which the two men manipulated tons of solid stone. The sentries were sworn to secrecy, and despite Vic’s flippant behavior, he took his responsibility quite seriously. They held the keys to the Council’s sanctuary.

  “James’ gift is better than mine!” Vic cried out as they passed through. “You better share those cookies.”

  The gates closed, and Darian took a deep breath. Nothing else could feel like home. The gleaming white tower pierced the sky before them, and the deep red brick beneath their feet spread out across the courtyard. The familiarity of it all made him wish he didn’t have to leave, but he had responsibilities to the people at Sara’s farm, and he wouldn’t abandon them.

  Sara poked him in the ribs, making him jump. “You act like this is your first time seeing this place,” she said with a grin. “Let’s go find Raphael.” She strolled with purpose toward the row of small homes on her right.

  “Maybe I was just remembering the first time I saw it with you,” he replied, falling into step next to her.

  “Then you and I remember a very different version of that,” she said. “I believe you left me in the portal room heaving my guts up.”

  Darian chuckled. “Fair enough. So maybe it wasn’t our first time.” They passed several homes before stopping in front of Raphael and Magdelin’s house. “But I do remember the look of awe on your face when we entered the gates and stood before the tower.”

  Sara turned to face him when they reached the door. Her eyes searched his, and he knew she saw his hesitation and reluctance to do the task they’d come for. She placed her hand on his cheek and smiled. His eyebrows rose in surprise when she remained silent and turned to knock on the door. She’d changed so much in the last couple of months.

  The door swung open, and Magdelin greeted them with a half-smile.

  “I assume you’re looking for Raphael,” she said, standing in the doorway. “I’ll send him over to Silana’s.”

  It was unusual for Magdelin not to invite them in, setting Darian’s nerves even more on edge.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, tentatively taking a step forward.

  “Yes.” She twisted her fingers around the floral-printed fabric of her skirt. “You interrupted a … personal moment. He’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  Her eyes avoided his, and he knew she wasn’t being completely honest.

  “If you need me, you know you only need to ask,” he said, taking a step back and placing his hand on Sara’s shoulder.

  “I know, Darian. Everything is so complicated right now.” She finally met his gaze, and he saw sorrow. “I need you to find Silana, or I fear Raphael will…” She glanced over her shoulder. “Go on, he’ll be there shortly.”

  Magdelin closed the door, and Sara looked up at Darian. He shook his head and led her down the road.

  “What did you feel from her?” he asked when they were several houses away.

  “Sadness, worry, fear, all laced with a touch of anger,” Sara replied, biting her lower lip. She pulled him to a stop in the middle of the narrow street. “I know you told me about the demon trying to possess you, but there must be more to it for Magdelin to be acting so out of character.”

  “Raphael is immune to the book’s power,” Darian began, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “But most everyone else here is not. If he cannot contain it, the power would consume everyone.”

  “Surely, he didn’t hide it here,” Sara responded, waving her hands at the dozens of homes surrounding them. “Raphael is brilliant. He would’ve already thought of that.” She bit her lip again, and her brow furrowed. “But didn’t he say he could no longer enter the room? Why is that, if he’s immune to it?”

  “I have no idea,” Darian replied. “My best guess is that the demon is only barely confined.”

  She dropped her hands to her side, her shoulders
slumping. He knew her mind was still scrambling for answers.

  “Come on,” Darian suggested, pulling one hand from his pocket and reaching for her. “Silana’s home is just ahead.”

  Darian pushed open the thick wooden door and the smell of lavender greeted him. A narrow vase on the nearby counter held several wilted flowers, their petals littering the polished wood. The interior of her home was much the same as all the others, with an open floorplan and two bedrooms off the farthest side. The small kitchen was spotless. The living room on his left was equally clean, a reflection of the woman’s need for organization. Sheer fabric covered the high windows on each side of the room, allowing the breeze to enter but limiting the amount of sunlight.

  Darian strolled through the space and peered into the first bedroom. A floral bedspread covered the narrow mattress, and a tall armoire stood next to the open window across from it. Dust covered the surface of the furniture along with the hardwood floors beneath his feet.

  “She must be using the other room,” Sara said quietly, but her voice still echoed against the walls.

  Darian agreed and turned toward the second bedroom, its door closed. He knocked tentatively, which also echoed through the quiet house. He waited several moments before turning the knob and pushing open the door. Sara gasped behind him, and he struggled to contain his own shock.

  A blast of cold air assaulted him, but his real shock came from the room’s condition. A floral quilt, matching the one in the first bedroom, lay piled in a heap on the floor at the end of the bed, exposing long tears in the mattress and sheet. Tattered sheers hung from the open window, fluttering in the breeze. The small picture frames and knick-knacks on Silana’s dresser were pushed to one side, and shards of glass covered the surface from the shattered mirror above it.

  “What happened?” Sara asked. “It’s like there was a fight in here. And why is it freezing?”

  Darian pulled his gaze from the destruction and looked at his Sentinel. She rubbed her bare arms, below her t-shirt’s short sleeves, trying to subdue her obviously chilled skin. Movement behind her caught his eye, and he saw Raphael standing just outside the room.

  “How long has she been gone?” Darian asked.

  “How should I know?” Sara answered.

  “Since last night,” Raphael replied, startling Sara.

  “What do you see in this room?” Darian continued to question.

  “A shadowed haze about waist high, covering the room.”

  Darian turned back to Silana’s room. The cold made his skin crawl and his chest tighten. He closed his eyes and reached for the air as he always did. It was sluggish at first, then seemed to recognize him and surged forward. Panicked gripped him as he struggled to control the onslaught as it circled him like a predator. The bitter cold lashed out at him, leaving trails of blood on his arms.

  “Darian, are you doing that?” Raphael asked with a tremor in his voice.

  “Yes and no,” Darian replied through clenched teeth.

  “Don’t touch him, Sara,” Raphael warned, his voice rising with his anxiety.

  “Do you have an empty stone handy?” Darian asked, straining to hold back the power that swirled around him.

  “I brought one, just in case,” Raphael said, setting it on the floor at Darian’s feet.

  “Sara, I need you to leave the room. I’m extremely unstable at the moment.”

  He felt her move closer and force her way into his mind.

  Didn’t I tell you that you aren’t alone this time? Besides, your fire doesn’t burn me, old man.

  You aren’t helping by placing yourself in danger, he warned.

  Keep your mind open to me, and I will help you contain it.

  Darian growled at her stubbornness. If I keep my mind open, he will consume you.

  I’m stronger than that, she replied. Now quit arguing, and do whatever it is you plan to do.

  Darian reached out with his right hand and attempted to summon his fire. The frigid air stifled his efforts to summon the weapon he wanted.

  “Well, that sucks,” Sara said. “Here, use mine.”

  A spear of light formed in her hand, connecting with the small blue gem on the floor. He wrapped his fingers around it and once again tried to control the cold power that circled him. It refused to obey, and Darian cursed.

  “I think I have to take it in before I can channel it into the gem,” he hissed.

  “Are you sure?” Raphael asked.

  “I’ll help him purge the big nasty when he’s done,” Sara replied.

  She sounded flippant, but Darian could hear the tension in her voice. He choked back a laugh and took a deep breath. Only his Sentinel would call the evilest demon known to the Council ‘the big nasty.’ He quit fighting against the tendrils of power, and they slammed into his body, forcing him to stumble backward.

  Thank you for allowing me back in, Watcher, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.

  Don’t get comfortable, Darian snapped back.

  Sara’s small hand grasped his and wrapped his fingers around her spear of light. He turned toward her and saw fear in her eyes. She shook her head, her determination soothing him.

  Memories of his last struggle with the demon’s Master surfaced. Had it not been for Raphael and Cyrus, the Master would’ve owned Darian. The thought of letting the darkness back in forced him to pause. Raphael was still here to help him purge it, but Cyrus wasn’t. He shook off his doubt, searching his soul for the shadow he knew was there. He found it easily as it frantically wrapped itself around and through Darian’s body. He mentally grasped the shadows, pulling against them, calling on the fire in his blood to burn through the demon’s attempt to take over. Despite his efforts, the shadows continued to claw their way through him, and panic seeped into Darian’s resolve.

  A new warmth joined his fire, scorching his veins and blinding him. He squeezed his eyes shut and fell to his knees. His hand slid down Sara’s spear, but she wrapped both of her hands around his, forcing him to hold on. He heard her scream but couldn’t separate her pain from his own. The Master’s soft chuckle was the last thing Darian heard as darkness engulfed his mind.

  Chapter 5

  Seraphina

  “Get out, you evil bastard!” Sara yelled.

  Ah, the Sentinel. It’s a pleasure to meet you, my dear.

  “The feeling is not mutual,” she hissed, struggling to control her panic as Darian collapsed on the floor beside her. She still held his hand on her spear, but she shortened it to half its size as she followed him to the floor. Not only could she see the evil presence in the air, a cloudy, shadowy thing in Silana’s room, but she felt it consuming her partner. It sparked an inner rage she didn’t know she possessed, and she flooded her Watcher with a blinding light. The shadows retreated as the slimy voice entered her mind again.

  I’m not here to take your Watcher, the voice whispered. I have bigger plans now that I’m no longer confined to that damned book. I look forward to seeing your beauty in person, my dear.

  Before she could reply, the presence in her mind vanished, and the air around her cleared. Raphael stumbled past her and rushed to the window. A fierce foreboding washed over her. Darian had feared this demon more than anything else, and it was now free. Nothing good would come from this.

  “What did it say to you?” Raphael asked, though his palms pressed against the wooden frames, and his gaze focused on something outside.

  “We haven’t seen the last of him,” she replied, releasing her grip on Darian’s hand and dismissing her spear of light. “He’s released from the book.”

  Darian’s large frame fell to the floor, unconscious, as Raphael slowly turned around to stare at her. His haunted gaze only added to her concern.

  “I assume he left through the window,” Sara said, flexing her sore fingers.

  “Yes, I watched the veil of shadow gather together, then soar out the window.”

  “Do you think he took Silana?” she asked.

 
“Yes, I do.”

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Mikel and Raphael carried Darian from Silana’s house to his own a few doors down the street, Sara following close behind them. They helped her remove the scorched remains of his shirt and trousers, only to reveal severe burns running along his skin that followed the path of his arteries.

  “Since when does he get burned by his own fire?” Sara asked as Magdelin tended to his wounds.

  “He doesn’t,” she replied curtly.

  “I suspect it was your efforts to purge the demon that caused them,” Raphael added, glancing at the healer with an apologetic look. “The amount of magic you poured into him was not insignificant.”

  Sara refrained from replying, her guilt overshadowing her concern for Magdelin’s shortness. The healer was always overly understanding and kind. This new attitude worried Sara. She hadn’t been around during their previous battles with the Overlords, so she had to assume it was Magdelin’s normal reaction to dealing with stress, even if it seemed out of place.

  “He’ll be fine in a few hours,” Magdelin said, rubbing her temples as she headed for the door.

  Sara watched her go, sadness drifting through the space between them. She turned to Raphael. “Will Magdelin be okay?”

  He also watched the healer leave. Tears pooled in the corners of his eyes, which he quickly wiped away. “Yes, she’ll be fine.” He faced Sara and attempted a half-smile. “While the world is in a difficult place right now, we hoped to have some peace. This demon is more powerful than any of the Overlords.” He shook his head and looked at Darian’s sleeping form. “His arrival will be our greatest challenge.”

  Sara looked at Mikel, standing just behind Raphael. Mikel’s gray eyes were unfocused, his frown severe. Raphael followed her gaze and turned. He tilted his head to the side and left Darian’s bedroom, and she knew he meant for her to follow.

  She lightly touched Mikel’s arm as she walked by, and he blinked several times.

  “Come have a drink,” Sara said.