Prologue

 

Sometimes it seems to surround you, the pain, the shame, the fear of the reaction from the ones you trust most. A constant feeling of uncleanliness and self-doubt that you should have done something different.  The perception that we can control the actions of others is a lie. The Dark feeds this to hide their plans for dominance, to ensure the Balance leans in their favor.  The first step is understanding you are not alone.  No one is immune to such travesty; it could happen to anyone, even the most elite and strongest of them all.

 

 

 

Introduction

 

Nights like this were just horrible for Steven.  The never-ending failure after failure sometimes actually made him sick to his stomach. He kept on thinking, Why do I put myself through this?  He knew why–the hope of getting his life back on track with the help of his roommate. Calvin dragged him out of their apartment, where he was perfectly content to have a night of wallowing in self-pity. The only escape from that gray feeling was writing his novel.  Now, he was no Maxwell F. Hurley, but it got him away from thinking about losing his job with Scarlett.

Scarlett Roberts: the smart, funny, caring, attractive, rich media socialite, moved to this pathetic town from California.  So, where she went, Steven followed as her personal assistant.  There was no doubt they had a great working relationship.  They clicked, even though her life was like that kid’s game…the one where you had to put the shapes in the holes before vibrating them out.  Never once had he dropped anything she requested; he was able to anticipate most things she would require. Then, four months after he arrived, the F.O.R. gave him the gut-wrenching phone call.  That stupid organization only spent a couple of minutes explaining how they knew what was best for her.  The kicker was they asked Steven to become a member to show him absolute power, but he would have no contact with Scarlett.  Anger engulfed him as he told that manipulative cult to go to Hell.

It may have been the wrong move; Steven was miserable now. When he was her assistant, he was somebody.  Now, he was approaching his mid-twenties– no job, no girlfriend, and right now… he was sitting in the corner of the bar with the music blaring so loud it vibrated inside his head.  To make things worse, his night was about to end up like most others.  It was almost time to go home alone, while his roommate would pick up any girl he wanted.

Calvin was a pilot for the fire department. He airlifted wounded firefighters who were dropped in by helicopter to fight forest fires.  His mocha skin combined with his tall, athletic build was his arsenal as he confidently approached girls.  Steven was short, balding from the back of his head, and spent most of his free time writing stories he never shared with anyone.  Why couldn’t he just go home?  He needed to find a job.

Calvin was a lifesaver, though, and becoming a good friend.  He listened to Steven from the initial impact of what happened with Scarlett.  The solution he had, to no surprise, was to find a girl to take his mind off his troubles.  So, from time to time, he’s been trying to get him a willing girl, usually meeting with a collapse.  Maybe tonight would be the night.  Calvin motioned for him to join him with a group of girls on the other end of the bar.   With a deep breath and a sip of liquid courage, Steven got up from the table.  He tried to hide the pain from banging his knee on the table.  It hit him just right to make him limp.

“You okay, man?” Calvin put his arm around Steven.

Steven tried to hide the pulsating throbbing of his leg.  “I’m good.  I think the table shrunk on me.”

Calvin didn’t waste any time trying to promote his friend.  “My man here was the personal assistant to Scarlett Roberts.” 

The girls were leery if he was telling the truth or not.  “The Social Media Diva?” the brunette girl asked him as she downed her shot.

Steven nodded.  “Until recently. I’m Steven.”

“I’m Mindy. This is Eve,” the girl standing closest to Calvin introduced.

“Scarlett Roberts?  What happened?  Did you get fired?” Eve asked as she finished her drink. 

This line of questioning was getting uncomfortable.  “Long story, don’t really feel like getting into it.” 

“I don’t believe you.” Mindy was checking her phone. “Any proof?”

Steven reached into his pocket to show the photo album on his phone.  There were pictures of him and Scarlett at a couple of parties together.  One time they went kayaking to a small island in the middle of this lake for a photo shoot.  Then he showed her the time she brought him to Sweden for a Christmas ski trip sponsored by the F.O.R. 

“Wow, you weren’t kidding.” Eve genuinely seemed impressed.  “You really were her assistant.” 

Steven smiled as he snuck a peek at one more photo before putting his phone away.  “It was a good job.  If you know anyone who needs a personal assistant, let me know.”  He tried to joke, but it came off a little pathetic.

“Let’s see your qualifications; get us new drinks.”  Eve handed him an empty glass.  “Let’s see if you can get it right.”

Steven immediately knew they were Manhattans.  It was one of the rare drinks that Scarlett didn’t care for.   Calvin was shaking his head not to do it, but Steven couldn’t help himself.  If he got them drinks, then perhaps it would show them he was something special.  The girls smiled when he returned with the drinks.  They took a sip, then left the two guys and joined a different bunch.

Calvin blew it off as he went to talk to another girl, but Steven just stood there, dumbfounded.  How could that happen?  Another incident that proved he wasn’t anything.  Calvin was on his way to secure a night with a different girl.  That meant Steven was on his own, just like always.  It was that time to go home for an escape into his fantasy world on his computer. 

First, he had to get his jacket from the table… if no one stole it.  A little surprise was at the table.  The seat was now occupied by a beautiful girl sitting alone.  The closer he got to the table, the more he could see how stunning she came off.  “That’s my coat.” He pointed.  The girl turned to get the coat and slowly grazed her fingernails across the back of his hand. The air was clear as Steven’s nerves started to make him sweat.  Perhaps, this was the spell to get over Scarlett… he meant, from losing his job.

Steven didn’t know what time it was when he rolled over in his bed to feel the empty spot where his mystery girl once lay.  The aroma of her perfume was still in the room.  This night was truly a treasure.  He got out of bed to see the nice sight of his lady of the night, still here, staring out the window.  “Truly a beautiful view.” He slowly walked up to her.  “I was hoping you didn’t leave.”  Very gently, he moved her purple hair out of the way as his other hand went to go around her waist.

“DO NOT TOUCH ME!” she screamed as she turned around.  In an instant, Steven was being held in the air by his neck.  He tried to pry her strong hands from his gargling throat.  The mysterious lady threw him down onto the end table next to the couch.  Pieces of the furniture scattered, some of the smaller pieces of wood lodged in his body.  The next thing he knew, he got thrown across the room.  Pieces of drywall covered his beaten body.  The last thing he saw before passing out; it appeared misty wings came out of her back before she jumped out the window.

 

 

 

CHAPTER ONE

 

Alex’s hometown of Copper Top Mountain seemed different now that she was back.  There wasn’t a small feeling because the town had grown exponentially.  Maybe it was the fact she knew the Dark was rising along with it. Even though she still couldn’t sense them, it still felt encompassing.  Her long, black, weaved hair lifted up a bit as she turned around to ensure Komptin was still behind her.   Alex caught herself doing that a lot lately; since she couldn’t feel his Lite either.

The massive German shepherd moved up to join her side.  He enjoyed the scratch of the ears as they both left Marty’s to grab a double cheeseburger.  Tonight, they were going on a hunt for nothing in particular, but secretly, Alex was hoping to run into Shawn.  He was a Demon now, who went by Merik.  They were due to have a much-needed little chitchat.  Still, before that happened, it was burger time.  Normally, she would sit outside to enjoy the night, but she felt old sitting amongst all the teenagers.  One of the girls did catch her eye, though.

She wore dark eyeliner with long jet-black hair.  Her smile was contagious as she held hands with a boy with light brown hair dressed in nice clothes.  Alex didn’t want to stick around there.  “Come on, Komptin.  Let’s get out of here.”  She licked her fingers as she threw her wrappers in the garbage.  The only thing she kept was a vanilla milkshake she planned on mixing with her Apollo energy drink.  The two hunters from the Lite began to walk through town as a preliminary expedition.  Alex was still teaching herself to rely on Komptin more to notify her of any Infiltrators or Demons in the area.  It was not a pleasurable experience getting attacked on her blindside.

The hunts were difficult enough, but with her sense of the Dark being stripped away made it a lot harsher.  Admittedly, that wasn’t the worst of it.  The connection to the Lite, which seemed to balance her… was severed as well. That left a constant feeling of cold emptiness from not being able to feel the warmth.  She still had her powers, but it just wasn’t complete; she felt abandoned.

Alex sipped on her energy milkshake as she started up the stairs to her home church.  Anne was unlocking the padlock.  The makeshift plywood doors were basically just to keep the innocent person honest. It wouldn’t take much if someone really wanted to get into the church.  The church renovations were coming along, but much slower than Anne would probably like.  The F.O.R. really did a number on it before they left.  Though, seeing Anne always brought a little joy to Alex.  It was weird she was here so late.  With stealth, Alex was able to lean into her ear.  “Whatcha doin here?”

Anne jumped with a small scream.  “Alex!”  Her chipmunk-cheeked surrogate sister grabbed her chest.  “You scared me.” Anne was never good at hiding her emotions.  It clued Alex in that something was up when she noticed Anne kept looking over the Lite Sentry’s shoulder down the road.  Her best friend had a nervous expression. She would be a horrible poker player.

Alex turned around to see what she was staring at.  There wasn’t anything coming… not even Komptin alerted to anything.  “What are you doing here so late?”

“Just had to get something,” Anne said with a bit of nervousness in her voice.  She escaped into her purse, perhaps trying to find a reason for being there. 

“Really, what?” Alex playfully toyed with Anne.  Alex pried open Anne’s purse with one finger.  That, full out, told Anne that Alex knew she was hiding something.

Anne playfully slapped Alex’s hand.  “Nothing big.  Just something I need for tomorrow.” She opened the plywood doors to the echoing chamber of the church.

Alex stared at Anne with squinted eyes.  “Okay, let’s go get whatever it is, then.”

Anne made a scrunched face.  “Really, you don’t have to. I can get it myself.”  The Lite Sentry stared at the Church Historian.  “Fine, Alex.  Come on.”  Anne made it to her office rather quickly, as if trying to rush Alex out of there.  She went to open her door but dropped the keys.  “Ooops,” she nervously laughed. 

At first, it was kind of cute, but now Alex was getting annoyed.  “What are you hiding, Anne?”

“Nothing, I had to get…” Anne got her office door opened to immediately start scouting the room.  “My report files.  See, I need to finish it for the Council.” Anne seemed relieved that her idea had come to her.   Almost a taste of pride that she came up with that so fast.  Now Anne was telling the truth, but there was something else.  Alex could tell because she was nonchalantly gazing down at her watch.  “Shouldn’t you be hunting right now?”

“I’m going right after I leave here.” Alex studied Anne some more.  “Why?  Are you trying to get rid of me?”

“No reason.  I mean, I’m not trying to get rid of you.” Alex watched Anne put her handwritten reports into the briefcase.  The Council didn’t like to use computers for the reports for fear of hackers.  So, everything was handwritten, and four times a year, a Vatican liaison would come to take the files.

“So, you’re not trying to get rid of me?” Alex was studying her reaction. Anne was trying to think of something to say but couldn’t.  “Anne?”

“I really should get going, Alex.  It’s getting late.” The two of them left after locking her office.  Alex escorted Anne out of the church.  They both turned to leave the grounds when, in the far distance, a pair of headlights appeared.  Alex caught Anne shutting her eyes as if hoping Alex didn’t see them.

It was rare Alex trembled from nerves, but the sight of the car caused her body to shiver.  Alex already knew the answer to the question she asked.  “Who’s in the car, Anne?”  

 

***

 

“Kameron,” Midnight calmly called out to her friend.  Her attention was on the road as Kameron blankly stared while driving.  “Kameron,” a little louder.  Kameron continued, didn’t say a word as there was no emotion.  “Kameron.” Then a small thud came from underneath the car, leaving the carcass of a rabbit in the road. 

Scotty was sitting in the middle of the backseat.  The only movement was his eyes from above his phone before looking back out the rear window.  After shaking his head in disbelief, he went back to his phone.

Midnight just slowly positioned herself to view Kameron, who continued driving with a blank stare.  “Want me to drive?”

“No, why?” Kameron grabbed his bottled water from the cup holder.

Midnight faced forward.  “No reason. I’m sure Bugs Bunny over there didn’t feel a thing.”

“What?” Kameron put down his water.

“Nothing.  Something on your mind?” Midnight verified their flight information on her email. 

“No.” Kameron remained stoic, but he did move his eyes a bit as he saw a sign for the Catholic Church. 

Scotty chimed in from the darkness of the backseat of the small car.  “Why are we leaving on a red eye?”

Midnight started to speak in her defense.  “It was the only flight we could get back. Whose turn is it as Air Marshall?”

“Yours,” Scotty pointed out.  “I don’t think it really matters.  I can’t sleep on planes anyway.”

“I don’t think I’ll be sleeping much,” Kameron interjected.

It was quiet before Scotty unexpectedly asked, “Do you think Paige is playing both sides of the fence?”

Midnight scowled at Scotty.  “How can you say that?”

“She’s part of the Council,” Kameron reminded him.

“Yah, because everyone tied to religion is stand up.” Scotty went back to his phone to look at needlepoint catalogs online. 

“Why would you even think that?” Midnight was still in shock over Scotty’s remark.

Scotty put down his phone. “Think about it. She has access to find all these former F.O.R. members.  She just happened to directly supervise Lane, who turned out to be one of those Demon things.  He never went after her during that fight.”

“No, she sent us to find Alex,” Kameron reminded him. 

“Yah, and when we did, there were Demons there, where we almost died.  All ends cleaned up nice and neat,” Scotty pleaded his case.  “I’m just saying.”

Kameron and Midnight both made eye contact with each other. He did have a point.  They pulled up to the church, where Anne and Alex were on top of the stairs.

 

***

 

Alex felt the blood rush to her face when the car pulled up.  Even though she hardly had her pale face turn red, she could feel a couple of shades turn.  She turned to Anne, “Kameron?”

Anne closed her eyes as she nodded.  “He just came to say goodbye.  He’s leaving on the red eye tonight.”  She put her hand on Alex’s back.  “This might be a blessing in disguise.”

“How do you figure?” Alex stared at the car, waiting for some sort of movement.  “He wants nothing to do with me.  He’s the one who is leaving.”

“You broke up with him.” Anne prevented her voice from rising.  “All he wanted to do was be there for you.”

Alex didn’t say anything; all she did was stare at the car.  Then some movement finally came as the back and passenger doors opened.  Alex’s heart skipped a beat when that happened, but then it just turned out to be Kameron’s new friends from San Diego. 

She didn’t really get to know them all that well.  All she knew was they got thrust into this war.  The agent with brown hair was a cocky thing, and the tight-bun blonde was a very governmental type of woman.  Alex couldn’t help but think she and Kameron were perfect for each other.  They would probably end up together.  “Good for him,” she found herself saying aloud.

“Sweetie?” Anne asked her. 

Alex could barely be heard.  “Nothing.”

The driver’s side door opened, then out came Kameron, who confidently came around the car to join the other two.  He stood there, barely off church property, staring at Alex to make the first move.  Alex almost thought it was just to show he didn’t fear her no matter what.  The two just stared at each other, which was very uncomfortable for the other witnesses of the ‘Alex and Kameron show.’

Anne rubbed Alex’s back before she headed down the stairs to greet the group.  “Hello, I don’t think we’ve officially met.  I’m Anne, the Catholic Council Historian.” She offered her handshake. 

Midnight was the first to accept the offer.  “Midnight.”

“That’s a unique name.”  Anne was always curious about how people got unusual names.

“My parents were a little hippy, so naturally, I joined the Secret Service,” she joked. 

Anne smiled.  Then she offered her hand to the other agent.  “I’m Anne.”

Scotty put down his phone and eyed Anne.   “I’m Scotty. My parents watched Star Trek.” 

“Nice to meet you.” Anne turned around to see Alex and Kameron still hadn’t taken their eyes off each other. 

“This is a bit awkward.” Scotty went back to his phone. 

Anne walked over to Kameron, only taking his eyes off Alex to hug Anne.  “Thank you for rescuing her,” Anne whispered in his ear.

Kameron very quietly replied so only Anne could hear it.  “You just tell me where to be.”

Anne fought herself from crying at the conviction in his voice.  She just didn’t understand why Kameron and Alex couldn’t just get back to how they were.  “Just be patient.”  She felt him pat her on the back as if he understood what she was referring to.  She smiled at him as she pulled away.  Kameron went back to staring at Alex with no emotion on his face.

Midnight decided to try to break the silence.  “What happened to the church?”

Anne welcomed the conversation.  “Oh, the F.O.R. decided to start an unscheduled remodeling project.  They completely tore the place apart.”

“It looks like it was a beautiful building at one point.”  Midnight eyed the tension between Alex and Kameron. 

“It really was.  We’ll get it there again.”  Anne noticed that Scotty wasn’t really paying attention to what was going on.  “Would you like a tour?”

Midnight checked her watch.  “We’d love one.”

Scotty immediately commented.  “Nope, don’t want to.”

“Yes, you do,” Midnight insisted.

Scotty continued to play on his phone.  “Nope, really don’t.” 

Midnight slapped him in the back of the head.  “Yes, you really do.”

“Ow, what the…” He rubbed the back of his head.  Then the expression on Kameron’s face as he stared at Alex convinced him otherwise.  “Oh, why not?  I would love to explore a building of false promises from an abandoned parent figure.”

Anne was taken a bit aback by his reaction.  “So, I take it you’re not religious.”  Midnight cleared her throat as if telling her not to go down that route.

Scotty lifted his head to confirm.  “Ah, no.”

“Well, you can enjoy the architecture then.”  Midnight grabbed Scotty’s hand.  “Come on.”  Scotty reluctantly followed her up the stairs. Anne was fast enough to get ahead of them to unlock the door.  Alex didn’t move; she just stared at Kameron.  Midnight stopped next to her.

Alex broke her stare down with Kameron to turn to the blonde woman.  “Thank you for saving my life.”

Midnight just kept her eyes forward on Scotty who was getting uncomfortable as he went in with Anne.  “All he wanted was to get to you.”  She turned to Alex with a business card in her hand.  “If you need anything, you can call me.”

Alex took the card.  “Thank you.”  She turned back to Kameron. Komptin moved his massive head to look at Alex, then at Kameron, and finally back to Alex before joining Anne back in the church, where he morphed into his gargoyle state. 

Midnight joined the others, leaving Alex staring at Kameron.  The two didn’t move. Alex just locked eyes with him.  The only movement he made was putting his hands in the pockets of his black trench coat. It must have been a couple of minutes before Alex got fed up with Kameron being so stoic.  “Are we just going to stand here and stare at each other?” Kameron shrugged his shoulders.  This made Alex blow up.  “Well, you’re not going to say anything?”

Kameron was calm.  “What do you want me to say, Alex?”

His calmness infuriated Alex even more. To the point of yelling.  “Say anything!”

Without skipping a beat, he just replied, “Anything.”

Alex stepped off the stairs.  She just wanted to hit him. How calm he was...  Did she mean anything to him?  How could he act as if he didn’t care about her?  Luckily, Anne came out of the church with Scotty and Midnight. 

“We need to get going,” Scotty shivered.  “Thanks for that,” he sarcastically said to Anne.  “Take care.”

Anne sighed heavily.    

Midnight joined Anne.  “Don’t take it personally; he’s really a good guy.” 

“No, I’m not!” Scotty yelled from the bottom of the stairs. 

Anne smiled at Alex.  “I know what it’s like to have complicated friends.”  She rubbed Alex’s back in support.  The three agents were at the bottom of the stairs, staring up at the two girls and the dog.

Alex resisted the urge to run to Kameron; she wanted to feel his embrace again.  She started to breathe a little heavier. It actually made Alex a little sick to her stomach.

“I don’t want this to be goodbye,” Anne told Kameron.  All Kameron did was nod, prevented from saying something, as for a moment, his facial expression turned to sadness before he buried that feeling.   “Take care.  Have a safe flight.”

“Can’t wait, love the red-eyes.” Scotty opened the door to the car before turning to Alex.  “Thanks, it was fun, especially having a gun stuck to the back of my head.”  Midnight kicked the door to get him into the car. 

“No problem, anytime,” Alex gave a quick quip back. 

Midnight saw the tension was still thick between her friend and Alex.  “Maybe next time you can save us.”

“Count on it,” Alex assured her.  “I owe you one.” 

Anne and Komptin walked down to Kameron to hug him goodbye.  “We’ll take care of her.”

“Thank you.”  He knelt so Komptin could say goodbye.  Anne and Komptin moved off to the side in hopes Alex would come down or Kameron go up.  It seemed like an eternity before Kameron just hurt Alex more, when he said, “Alex.” 

“Kameron,” she returned, as it was evident now she was fighting her emotions as she watched him get into the car to leave for the airport.  Alex closed her eyes before starting to walk down the stairs.  “I’m going on a hunt.  Let’s go, Komptin.”  The second she got off the church property, her eyes flashed blue, and her fists ignited as she headed toward the woods.