Across the Stars and Ashes (Guardians of the Night Book 3) Read online

  Across the Stars and Ashes

  Pixie Lynn Whitfield

  © 2013/2014

  The Guardians of the Night Trilogy

  All cover images used with written permissions.

  All names, names of places, etc. are created by author. Any found elsewhere are purely by coincidence.

  Part One

  Prologue

  New York, 1962

  “William, what are you doing here? You’re going to get yourself killed.” Kathleen’s panicked voice trembled. She looked around the dimly-lit room before meeting his concerned gaze again.

  “I told you I would come back for you,” he whispered, reaching down to untie the ropes that bound her to the chair.

  “I always keep my promises, love.” He paused to kiss her on the temple as the last binding fell free and she started to stand. “But we have to hurry. They know.”

  Kathleen’s eyes widened. “How?”

  “Not too hard to figure out, I’m sure. It’s easily sensed on both sides, darling. Time to go.” He made to grab for her hand, but noticed she’d frozen in place and stared past him. Turning, he saw the tall figure barely outlined in the shadows of the doorway. It didn’t matter that he couldn’t see the face. The height alone told him who it was as he took a protective step in front of the woman he’d come to save.

  “Let us pass in peace, Seth.” William’s rough voice held a dangerous edge.

  The Fallen stepped forward, his face now bathed in the soft orange glow of the ceiling light. His mouth turned down into a grim frown.

  “You know I’m not permitted to let her go, William. This relationship…it has broken our law.”

  Kathleen was Exiled but it didn’t stop the Masters and their Warriors from hunting her down when she’d started dating a vampire. Even the Exiled were watched, and if they slipped from the Fallen laws, were destroyed. She’d been captured and held in isolation until William found a way in to rescue her. It was a tiny room, only enough space for the chair she’d been retrained to and the small ceiling light providing her just enough of a glow to be kept from complete darkness. There weren’t any windows, so she’d lost track of time. A few Warriors visited her briefly, Seth being one of them, and brought her food and water on occasion. Other than that, she’d been left alone for the most part, tied to that chair, until William burst through the door.

  “Seth.” Kathleen whispered, her voice sounding rushed and worried. She reached out and gripped William’s arm. “Please. We aren’t going to cause any trouble.”

  Seth met her eyes, where she saw the tension and an inner conflict waging the battle within the stormy gold irises. His hand remained at the hilt of his sword, but he still hadn’t made an attempt to move any closer to the couple.

  “Is it true? You’re pregnant?”

  Kathleen swallowed the nervous lump in her throat. William was right. They knew. Or at least he did. If this Warrior had found out, did that mean the one Master she’d feared knew also? There would be no escape. She closed her eyes and nodded in response to his question, unable to form any clear words. When she opened her eyes again, she found him still staring at her.

  “The alarms have been set. There will be more guards here soon, so you need to hurry,” Seth told them as he began to step away from the door. William let out a sigh of relief and began to pull Kathleen toward the exit with a rushed enthusiasm.

  The Warriors came charging at the couple when they’d barely made it into the hallway of the establishment. William pulled a gun from the holster at his hip and began firing while standing protectively in front of Kathleen. She looked around at the unfolding scene and began to panic.

  “There’s too many, William!”

  He only grunted and continued firing through the building crowd of Fallen to hold them back from coming closer. There were shouts, mostly in their language. Kathleen understood them. They were yelling to kill the vampire…but to keep her alive. She knew what she was going to have to do to get them out of there. Turning, she caught sight of Seth in her peripheral coming from the room and standing at the edge of the surrounding circle of Warriors. William was out of bullets, his gun discarded on the ground, and hand held protectively in hers. Swords from all sides were pointed at them.

  “Which direction to go out?” Kathleen whispered toward William, but kept her attention on the Fallen. He must’ve read her forming plan through her thoughts because he immediately squeezed her hand.

  “No. Don’t. Using that kind of power might hurt the baby, love.”

  Suddenly, Seth ran forward and hit the wall near them with his sword. It was a diversion tactic. But it was enough.

  The crowd roared at what they thought was an attack, excited that the stand-off was at an end, and began to rush at them. Seth, still the closest to the couple, gripped William by the collar of his shirt and pulled him around in a full circle toward where the exit would be. William punched him and shoved him hard against the steel wall as Kathleen moved forward and began to hum with power.

  Not many Fallen channeled their elemental powers. She chose to practice hers regularly so that she could use it when necessary…and this was certainly a necessary moment. It seemed Seth knew that she was going to do this, creating the diversion and pulling William in the direction of where the exit is so she knew where to turn. As her body began to glow brighter and brighter, the Warriors tried to back away in a rush, only to get in a crowded, packed panic with nowhere to go. White light emitted from her eyes, and bright violet-pink flames erupted from her hands. She wasted no time to send her power through them, their bodies flying back from the force of the impact. Many lay burned and unconscious among piles of concrete rubble from torn walls and blasted doors. An opening through the once packed hallway revealed itself for their escape.

  Kathleen’s energy drained quickly during those few minutes, causing her to almost collapse. William gripped her around the waist and held her upright. Sweat beaded on her temples. Her vision blurred.

  “Shit.” William muttered, cursing more under his breath, swinging his attention around to find Seth. “Some help maybe, Angel Eyes?”

  Seth grunted in annoyance but glanced around to make sure the others were down before stepping forward to offer his assistance. Kathleen’s energy had drained from the surge of power, and now she leaned heavily between the two creatures as they began to make a slow walk toward the exit.

  “Seth, what do you think you’re doing?”

  They stopped at the sound of the cold voice, just outside the door. The couple felt the night air touch their face before having to turn and face the most frightening obstacle they’d hoped to avoid. The Fallen aiding them stood rigid. William noticed the flash of fear in his gold eyes before turning.

  “Father,” Seth acknowledged, swallowing the nervous tickle at the back of his throat. But Seth had a gift only a few others had: he could scan thoughts, even of his own peers. Including his powerful father, a Fallen Master. And as he did a quick run-through, he realized his father didn’t know about Kathleen and William’s abomination. He’d only heard whispered rumors, but no confirmation. It could be an advantage to get the pair an escape.

  “I’m letting them go. She’s Exiled. Our laws are a bit outdated there. I learned after interrogation that there’s not a threat from them.” His words came out more rushed than intended. William continued to hold the exhausted Kathleen nearby, watching the two Fallen with suspicion. Three guards that hadn’t been caught in the action from before stood with guns ready and aimed at the three of them. The Fallen Master stared for a long time, thinking through
the words.

  “No threat? Look what happened here because of them,” he said at last, taking a glance around the devastated entryway. “And no doubt, she’ll end up pregnant with a monster, if she’s not already. I can’t let her go. And since he showed up, kill him.”

  Seth hesitated. He wasn’t supposed to question his loyalties. He was supposed to take his orders. “No.”

  “Did you just tell me no?”

  “I’m not killing him. And I’m letting them both go,” his voice came out strained, growling. He turned to the couple and started to usher them back to the door.

  “Then that’s that.” It was the last thing he heard his father say before chaos descended again. Kathleen opened her eyes wide and screamed, then stepped forward and shot another blast of power forward. When he turned, the Fallen Master was unconscious with a curved branding blade in his hand—a special brand infused with magic and used to bind a Fallen to servitude to the branding Master for eternity. It induces a zombie-like or robot-like state of mind and the creature has no control. Once orders are given, they follow them with no questions. It was the ultimate punishment to a Fallen. One would’ve rather chosen being Exiled. At least they’d still have their power of choice then.

  Seth turned and stared at the young woman in shock. She was already collapsing again, and William was picking her up to cradle her in his arms. He looked to the three guards that’d been standing near them, but they were down, too.

  “We should go now,” William cut into his hazy thoughts, stepping over the threshold of the door. He stared at Seth expectantly as if he was waiting for the Fallen to follow. After a pause and a quick shake of his head, he gripped the hilt of his sword with confidence.

  “You two go. Get far away. I’ll be staying here.”

  This seemed to rouse Kathleen as she stirred and stared lazily up at him in confusion. William frowned in worry.

  “What? What if you get branded? You need to leave, too.” Kathleen whispered.

  “If I do, then I do. Just go,” he said as he started back inside. He stopped just before closing the door and called out to Kathleen for the last time, remembering one of her thoughts he heard over the last few days being captive. “Oh, and Kathleen, I know that you’ll have wonderful children. Don’t worry.”

  Chapter One

  Zarah

  Present Day

  Zarah was fidgeting again. That must’ve meant the drugs were wearing off. It also meant someone would be in for a visit soon to give her a new dose. The metal of her silver cuffs clinked against her chair as she tried to move around. Her wrists and ankles had burns on them, but she tried to not think about the pain.

  It’d been five days since she was brought there, tossed into a small room and cuffed to a stiff chair. She’d been kept continuously drugged, leaving her mind in a fog of headaches and dizzy spells. Contact with the Fallen had been sparse.

  When she first arrived, she met Seth and Draven’s father, a Fallen Master named Lucas. He acknowledged her long enough to ask about the two brothers—separated for years by an unfortunate accident—before guards descended, beating her back with silver rods and slapping cuffs onto her wrists and ankles. She’d tried pleading with President Perkins, asking him to hear her case on behalf of vampires. It all happened so fast. A needle plunged its way into her neck, and as the fog began to cloud its way in, she was dragged to the dim room with the chair.

  Every time she began to move, when the metal started to make noise, a Warrior would barge in. He’d dump ice-water over her head, causing her a brief moment of intense clarity…gasping and screaming…before the needle struck her neck again. This had been repeated twice since she’d been placed in the room. Now, Zarah was preparing for the third after hearing her cuffs move as she tried to adjust to a more comfortable position.

  The lock started to turn and her breath hitched. When the door opened, she met Zeke’s eyes.

  Zeke, the Fallen Warrior that brought her here.

  He stepped in, shutting the door behind him. Zarah swallowed but her throat was dry. Too dry. She was thirsty in more than just one way. It’d been too long since she’d last fed. It was getting dangerously close to rabid levels if she waited much longer. Her stomach cramped at the thought and she winced.

  “You can skip throwing the water on my head this time. I’m aware enough. Just get it over with,” she grumbled before turning her face away from the Warrior. Her throat burned.

  “I’m not here for that.”

  Zarah turned back to him, a curious frown pulling her brows in. She watched him look back at the door briefly before stepping closer toward her. Realization dawned on her that he was counting his time in the room. He obviously didn’t have long.

  “What are you doing?” Her voice laced with suspicion.

  He stood at his comfortable distance, but within reach to hold a bottle of water to her lips. “Drink. It’s safe, I promise.”

  Tentatively, she opened her lips to the pouring liquid. Most of it went down her chin as she gulped but she didn’t care. With each drink, she felt the slow return of hydration and a burst of energy. It wasn’t the blood she really needed, but it helped ease some of the building tension. Gasping, she pulled away when the bottle was empty and stared up at Zeke with silent questions etched on her face. He capped it and tucked it back into a small bag he was carrying.

  “I’m not a hero, Zarah. Don’t expect that,” he said after a long silence, not meeting her gaze.

  “Then, why are you here?” Her voice snapped. The anger rose. She wanted the cuffs off and began to struggle despite their burn.

  “Quiet!” He hissed at her before looking back to the door again. “I don’t have much time to talk to you.”

  She stopped, waiting for him to continue.

  Zeke let out an exasperated sigh. “You’re the hero.”

  “What is that supposed to mean? I can’t be any kind of hero.”

  “I heard what you told your brother before we left. About a video? Draven? I knew Draven once. He was my best friend. I thought he was dead…” Zarah heard the distance in his voice as he seemed to recall memories.

  She swallowed. “So you knew who he was when we were at The Compound? And you still took me?”

  He raised an eyebrow at her. “You volunteered, remember? Besides, I was on orders. I’m not Exiled.”

  “Well if you’re such a faithful little Warrior-boy, then get out. I’m done with this conversation.” Zarah fumed.

  Suddenly he was in front of her. She hadn’t seen him move, and it’d made her jump. He was leaning over her, his arms on each side of her propped on the armrests of the chair, his face mere inches away. She held back a strangled cry.

  “I know things aren’t what they seem. I know it’s been wrong. I’ve realized a lot recently. This war is wrong. But you will change it. You will do great things.” He’d barely finished when the door opened and an unnamed Warrior stepped in. She watched the surprise flicker across the Fallen’s face before he frowned at the two of them.

  “What’s going on here?” Her eyes cast down to his hand and saw chains. This suddenly felt like a different kind of visit.

  “I was just about to give her another dose,” Zeke lied coolly, pulling a syringe out of his vest pocket. She noticed his composure was solid, at-ease and calm, no matter what the situation may have looked like when the other man had entered.

  “No need. The thing is going in for a meeting this time and it’s been requested that it be alert. No more doses.”

  Zeke stared at the guard for a passing minute of silence. Zarah couldn’t keep her eyes from the chains. They were silver. Which, she should have expected that much. Her throat grew dry again at the thought of them being wrapped around her.

  “A meeting for what? With Lucas or President Perkins?” Zeke finally asked, his rough voice coming out slow. She suspected he was trying not to sound too curious. He likely failed at that since the guard narrowed his eyes.

  “Both, a
s far I know. I don’t know the details. If I did, it wouldn’t matter. Since you seem so chummy with the monster, Soldier, you can go. Office. Orders are to put these on with the cuffs.” With that, Zarah watched the chains toss across to Zeke as the other Fallen left the room in an annoyed huff.

  Zeke was holding silver links when he turned to face Zarah. She stared up into his eyes, a sad field of clover-green. Remorse struck her, and then she realized she was feeling his emotions. She gasped from momentary surprise, but was glad he didn’t notice. She quickly reigned in and let a calm take her over as he knelt down with a key to unlock the cuffs from the chair.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered, his head down. It was so quiet, she’d barely heard him, even through her sensitive hearing in her vampire blood.

  “You don’t have to do this,” she began.

  “I told you, I’m not a hero…” he interrupted as he continued working on the cuffs, unclasping them from the chair to helping her stand, only to relock them together with her hands in front. Her legs remained mostly free at least. For that, she was grateful. Then he began to wrap the silver chain around her. Once around her neck, a loop around her torso, and a final loop around her waist. It all clasped together in the back, leading to one long piece like a leash. She cried out in pain and collapsed to the floor, writhing and fighting against the bindings.

  “…You’re the hero, Zarah.”

  Chapter Two

  Zarah

  “Nice of you to join us.”

  Zarah blinked up through her hair. She could barely stand with the pain of silver coursing over her skin. The bright lights of the office stung her eyes after being in the dim room for days. She tried to focus on the voice in front of her.

  “Yeah I’ve been busy, I guess.” She coughed and her knees buckled. Zeke’s hands reached out, helping her back to her feet.