Dentelle #3 Guardian series

By Heather Bowhay

Amethyst – book 1 of the Guardian series is currently free. Linked is the 2nd book, and this is Dentelle, the 3rd installment in the Guardian trilogy.

Lexi Adams cheated death when she successfully linked and became the only living Dentelle. And while she’s ecstatic to be alive, her troubles are just beginning. She’d hoped to keep her Dentelle status a secret, but that didn’t happen. Once the Guardian Senior Council learns she’s a Dentelle, they begin interfering in all her affairs. Imposing new rules, they even dictate where she’ll live and who she’ll date. As an Amethyst, Lexi was forbidden from dating Guardians, and as a Dentelle she still is, but the Senior Council makes one exception: they are allowing, and even promoting, a relationship between her and Ash. The question is why?

While dealing with the nuances of being a Dentelle, warring with the Senior Council, and trying to keep her relationship with Jason – the man she loves and hopes to link with – a secret, a series of harrowing events take precedence. An Amethyst friend is abducted, a person very close to her heart goes missing, and the Ray-pacs resurface, namely, her arch nemesis, Kieran. In order to save someone she loves, Lexi embarks on a perilous, solo journey. Personal sacrifice is her only option, but she hasn’t considered her heart and soul may be in jeopardy, too. Refusing to give up hope, Lexi vows to fight to the end. But can she win the biggest battle of her life and defeat Kieran once and for all?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Heather Bowhay
• Release date: Aug 5, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301466603

Heather Bowhay

I live in Washington with my husband, Dan, our two young adults (who are sometimes home but usually at college), our three cats, Lyon, Maci, and Tyger, and my mom and brother live with us too. I've put my teaching certificate to good use and love facilitating Strategies for Success - a six week course for personal and professional development. I work hard to find the balance: time for family, exercising, cooking, reading, and writing. Promoting a fun learning environment but without intensive lesson planning is awesome. "Amethyst" is my first novel in the Guardian series, followed by the sequel, "Linked," and the final book in the trilogy, "Dentelle." They are all available in ebook format. In 2019, I also co-authored (with my brother) and published on Amazon the first two books in a YA fantasy series: Awakening and Mysteries of Margorth.Thank you to Randi, a complete stranger, who was the first to review Amethyst and who also rated it 5 stars!

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DENTELLE

By Heather Bowhay

Published by Heather Bowhay at Smashwords 

Copyright 2013 Heather Bowhay

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Disclaimer

This is a work of fiction. The events described are imaginary, and all the characters portrayed in this book are fictitious and not intended to represent any specific persons, living or dead. At times, certain settings may be referred to by their true names, but the incidents portrayed or taking place there are entirely products of the author’s imagination. At no time should the reader infer that any of the events in this book ever occurred.

~To all the readers, especially those of you who have taken time to leave a rating, write a review, or contact me on my blog. I love hearing from you!

~And to my dad, I miss you! I will always remember your advice, Two hands for beginners.

~H.L.B.~

DENTELLE

By Heather Bowhay

Copyright 2013 by Heather Bowhay

CHAPTER 1 – UNWAKEABLE

Acadia National Park, Maine

Darn blood-suckers had swarmed in and launched an all-out attack. Squirming in my sleeping bag, I shook my head side to side and swatted the air around my face. But the damage had already been done. Perceiving me as a human buffet table, the mosquitoes had feasted unmercifully while I’d slept. What a frightening sight I’d be by morning light – with a face flared up like an acne mine field. So much for bug spray. After swiping the last of the nasty little buggers away, I grabbed the edge of my sleeping bag and pulled it to the tip of my nose.

The sky, an inky-black canvas for a million stars and a few scattered clouds, stretched endlessly. But it was the bright, waning three-quarters moon that captured my attention. I cursed under my breath.

The moon.

Oh yes, the moon. My evil nemesis. Worse than a pack of blood-sucking skeeters any day. And here it was shining down on me, like a friend from the heavens above. But I knew better. Really, it was taunting me.

Breathing deeply, I checked my emotions, reminding myself that only a full moon warranted my darkest wrath. For Guardians, a full moon meant broken links and a day of freedom, but for Ash and I, it meant nothing of the sort. Instead, it was a reminder of our indestructible bond. I don’t think the word linked even defined our connection; chained was much more accurate.

Six months of full moons and our link had not broken once. Why? Well, I didn’t know and neither did anyone else. There were no explanations, because I wasn’t a Guardian. I was a Dentelle – the only Dentelle. And apparently, I was writing history with every day I lived. At first we’d kept our perma-link a secret, only telling our closest friends. But after a couple months, we’d decided the secret was too big and came with too many unknowns, and in time everyone would start asking questions. Deciding the extra support would be beneficial, we’d told everyone in the Bellingham Circle – meaning the Walkers and the Nelsons. An astonished Mr. Walker had deliberated on the best course of action and eventually decided the Senior Council needed to be informed. By now, everyone in the Guardian Network probably knew there was a Dentelle in Bellingham.

Poor Ash; his misfortune had been linking with me. And together – we were trapped.

In an effort to focus on something more pleasant, I searched the sky for constellations. Immediately, I fixed my sights on Cassiopeia and wished I hadn’t. Hardly uplifting, gazing at a constellation named after an Ethiopian queen who was punished by Poseidon for her vanity. Punished. That’s how I felt, like the Gods were punishing me, too. But why?

Trying to ease the kinks in my back, I wiggled around some more and then stretched. Maybe the mosquito attack wasn’t the only reason I’d woken up. More likely it was the jagged rock digging into my spine. Or maybe it was just the unfamiliar sound of waves slapping the rocky shoreline below or the cool gusts sweeping off the ocean. Whatever it was, it didn’t really matter now, because I was wide-awake.

Except…something didn’t feel right. Goose bumps prickled my arms as waves of apprehension swept over me. My gut was telling me it was too quiet, even for our off the beaten path location.

Jason’s older brother, Michael, certainly had connections. Somehow, he’d gained permission for our group of ten to do a little backcountry camping in this primitive area of Acadia National Park. We were a good half mile away from the 300 close-knit sites in Blackwoods Campground. Despite the cool, crisp air, I felt stiflingly hot inside my sleeping bag. Even my thermal t-shirt and yoga pants clung to my body as if pasted to my skin with sweat.

Everything was quiet now. The breeze had stopped. The forest slept. Even the waves had stopped slapping the rocks. All I heard were warning bells ringing in my head. My instincts were telling me something was wrong. I bolted into a sitting position, looked around, and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Ash, Laci, and Max on one side of me all sleeping peacefully. Well, all was peaceful until Ash rolled onto his back and started snoring like Darth Vader. I smiled to myself. Totally normal, for sure.

My imagination must be working overtime. The only thing amiss in our campground, or the universe, for that matter, was Ash’s snoring – and our unbreakable link. For final reassurance, I turned the other way to make sure the rest of my friends were accounted for. On my left, looking like a goddess even in sleep, Madison’s thick mane of black hair flowed around her flawless face and cascaded over her neon-pink sleeping bag. Briefly, I wondered why the bugs weren’t swarming her. Knowing Madison, she probably had some secret insect-repelling beauty product that cost a fortune.

I’d learned quickly that Guardians were hardcore when it came to camping. They didn’t use tents or mats. Unfortunately, all this Essence of mine hadn’t alleviated any of the aches and pains I’d acquired while sleeping on rocky ground. I was seriously considering siding with Madison the next time she fought for camping upgrades, but then I’d have to admit I was a glamping-sort-of-girl after all.

Next to Madison was Jason’s sister, Hannah. Her blonde hair was still in a single braid, but wispy strands had escaped in all directions. When my gaze fell upon Jason himself, my heartbeat quickened. Even while sleeping, he stole my breath away. The radiant moonlight highlighted his short blonde hair and strong angular jaw line. I sighed.

Falling in love with him had not been part of my plan. I’d even fought off the attraction and the feelings, but something had kept me going back for more. More of his hurtful brush-offs, I should say. No woman should put up with that many rejections. I still couldn’t believe I had. Luckily for us, I’d found out in time there was a logical explanation for his cutting behavior: he’d been trying to protect me, and he’d been trying to follow Guardian protocol. Once he’d finally stopped fighting fate and admitted his feelings for me, our love had flourished. At least now I understand how love makes people do stupid things and I can empathize.

Besides being ruggedly handsome, he’s intelligent, well-read, and confident. I find his zest for life and self-confidence insanely attractive. I believe he is my soulmate, and I believe our love can last a lifetime, but the odds are stacked against us. First off, Amethyst-Guardian relationships are not permissible under the Guardian laws, so we are currently in violation there. Breaking Guardian code is something he struggles with every day, but he’s told me our love is worth the risk and the fight. We even have our friends lying for us. And it still sucks that he gets burned every time he touches me – not beneficial from a romance standpoint. Worst of all, I have a link with Ash that might last forever. Complications stemming from our perpetual-link have only compounded over the last several months, and things are about to get interesting with the Senior Council stepping in to voice their opinion on the matter.

Yep. A future with Jason looks bleaker every day.

A mosquito buzzed around my ear again, triggering an urge to scratch all the bites. I slapped the rogue bug away and began rubbing my neck and cheeks. Generating a brilliant idea, my brain finally joined the party, and I launched a full-blown Essence attack on myself. The relief was instant. I snorted at my stupidity. Should have thought of that like ten minutes ago.

I lifted my gaze from Jason to his brother Michael, and then on to Michael’s girlfriend, Sienna, who also happened to be his Guardian partner. They attended Husson University here in Maine and were both majoring in business. When I looked at the last sleeping bag, I frowned, partly because it was empty, and partly because it was in disarray. Izzy, along with Michael and Sienna, was a member of the Bangor Circle of Guardians. But she was an Amethyst.

Maybe nature had called and she’d hurried off to a secluded area. I made a face – nothing more exciting than searching for a tree in the dark, squatting over poison ivy, and hoping you didn’t roll into a ditch or something. Guys had it so easy.

Odd, though; I hadn’t heard her or any other noises. And Izzy’s sleeping bag looked like it had t-boned and been dragged several feet away. Curious how her pillow was still in place next to Sienna. Rubbing my eyes, I considered going to find her. Slowly, as if that would make it any quieter, I unzipped my sleeping bag. But before I could stand up, I felt a pounding in the back of my head.

Snapshots. Not good! I closed my eyes and the swirling colors shattered the recesses of my mind. Quickly, the fragmented colors pulled together and formed images:

Two big, bulky figures, carrying Izzy through the woods and up the mountain

A bound and gagged Izzy being thrown into a van

Izzy, tied to a chair, surrounded by a group of people

A guy with glowing amber eyes, reaching out to touch her…a Ray-pac?

The images ended, the colors dispersed, and my eyes shot open. My heart sped up, and as I jumped to my feet, I tried to make sense of the premonition. It appeared Izzy had been kidnapped…and right under a bunch of Guardian noses. How was this possible? How could no one have noticed? Unreal!

As I shook Ash and Madison, I knew this was not a random abduction. Izzy was an Amethyst, and there had been a few other Amethyst disappearances in recent months. These occurrences were causing great concern throughout the entire Guardian Network. When I’d first encountered that psycho maniac, Kieran, up by Nooksack Falls, he’d informed me that an Amethyst’s Essence could not be stolen. But later, he’d made contradictory comments to Ash, and now we suspected the Ray-pacs had indeed found a way to strip an Amethyst of his or her Essence. Besides that, Kieran has attempted to capture me several times. I’m just lucky he’s failed each time.

Blood flowing through my veins turned to ice at the thought of Kieran. He was still out there somewhere, and we had unfinished business. Someday he and I would meet again, and it wasn’t going to be pretty when we did.

Diverting my attention back to the task at hand, I became frustrated. Why weren’t Ash and Madison moving? Wake up, you guys, I yelled. Izzy’s been kidnapped. But it was weird. Neither Ash nor Madison reacted to the violent shaking. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say they’d both been knocked out cold. Reaching past Ash, I tugged at Laci and Max, but they were unresponsive, as well. Spewing several choice words, I looked around frantically. What now?

Taking a different approach, I decided to focus solely on Ash. Moving directly above him, I seized his arms, pulled him into a sitting position, and spoke telepathically, Ash. Wake up! I screamed in his head. I’d learned quickly that yelling telepathically was just like yelling out loud – it could easily blast out the eardrums. Totally bizarre, but that’s how it worked. "Wake up, now! Izzy’s been kidnapped."

Finally, Ash stirred. What? Just slow down and stop screaming in my head, woman. I can’t understand a thing you’re saying.

"You need to get up. Now!" I said with renewed urgency.

He sat up, grabbed my shoulders, and gave me a cheesy grin. Why are you sitting on me, Lexi? Don’t get me wrong, I mean it’s not a bad thing to wake up and find a crazed woman in your lap, but this screaming and with your boyfriend right next to us – don’t you think…

Ash, just shut up and listen, I said aloud and dragged him to his feet. He immediately sobered when I told him about my premonition.

What’s up with these people? he asked after several unsuccessful attempts of his own to wake our friends.

It’s like they’re comatose or something, I said. Shaking Madison didn’t work, so I slapped her face a couple times. In the past I might have gained some satisfaction from that, but not anymore. Actually, I felt sorry for her. I think she really had been in love with Jason, and then I came along and stole him. If someone took him away from me, I’d be devastated. I’d hate that person with a vengeance, too.

Pulling a lifeless Max out of his sleeping bag, Ash shrugged and said, We don’t have time for this. Send Madison a blast of your Essence; see if that works.

I tried that already. She’s totally out. Standing up, I hurried over and knelt beside Max.

Ash grabbed my arm and looked at me, his eyes gleaming in the night. That’s it.

What’s it?

If Ray-pacs are involved, then I’d guess one of them has a Flair that puts people in a deep sleep or something.

Seriously? I gnawed on my lip. Well, then why didn’t it work on us?

Ash grabbed my chin. I don’t know, Lexi. With us, things are always…you know, different. Listen though, I have an idea – your Essence blasts aren’t working, but maybe if I put Max’s hand on yours, he smiled, he’ll wake up when he gets torched by that famous Amethyst burn.

My eyes widened. Brilliant. Ash, you’re brilliant.

I know; I know. I’m just a regular old…

Oh, shut up! I interrupted. No time for inflated egos. We don’t even know if it will work.

Of course it will. He jabbed his thumb into his chest. I’m always right, he said, and I swear he winked, too. I couldn’t help but stifle a grin. Even though his ginormous attitude could provoke random acts of violence, he always managed to get us through seemingly impossible situations.

The plan worked, and it worked rather well. Max’s arms and legs jerked out like he’d been electrocuted, and then he shot to his feet. Even though he knocked us over and emitted several choice words along the way, I was ecstatic to see him conscious. In the face of danger, we all turned to Max for guidance. He exuded confidence and maintained a clear, focused mind. I was always happy to have him on my side.

In no time, I’d zapped everyone awake and filled them in on Izzy’s disappearance. Before we could even formulate a plan, Sienna had a premonition, and we knew Izzy and the Ray-pacs were nearing the top of Cadillac Mountain – about three miles away. We determined our best shot was to reach them before they descended the other side on their way to the parking lot. Once they forced Izzy into a van and took off, it would be harder for us to track her. The one thing we had going for us was that the Ray-pacs couldn’t handle Izzy without getting burned. That meant they had a few middle-men, ordinary criminals – the kind of low-lifes even I could best in a fight.

A few seconds of strategizing and then everything happened fast. Max, Jason, and Michael had Flairs that would get them to our destination first. I worried they might be outnumbered, but they showed no fear. Max shape-shifted into a cheetah, his animal of choice – when speed was a critical factor – and he tore into the woods. Jason, being an Imitator, followed right behind, but shifted into the animal he preferred most. With esteemed appreciation, I watched his body transform, growing in length and size, becoming slender and elongated, until eventually he was pounding the earth on four, soft-padded paws. My familiar, tawny-colored mountain lion swished his powerful tail and disappeared into a dense weave of trees. While I still marveled at his abilities, I no longer experienced shock every time he shifted. Michael, with his teleportation Flair, faded from sight soon after his brother.

The rest of us took off at record pace, relying on our linked powers of speed and agility to move us quickly up the mountain. Laci, who’d recently been successful in expanding her shield to protect several Guardians at one time, took lead position with shield up. I felt safer knowing she was protecting us from any number of things, since we didn’t know what kind of Ray-pac abilities we were dealing with. Proceeding with some caution might prevent us from flying right into a trap.

As we raced through the Pitch Pine forest, I could almost taste the nearby Atlantic Ocean with each breath. The forever-changing terrain during our swift elevation climb would have been challenging for the average person, but not for Guardians. Good thing I’d had six months to adjust to my new linked abilities. One minute we were sliding dangerously close to the edge of the cliff, and the next we were leaping over giant boulders or tearing through boggy wetlands. After running on flat rocks through an open area, we suddenly merged into a spruce-fir forest. The darkness caught me off guard, and a tree branch brushed roughly against my cheek as I flew by. I must have inadvertently spoken telepathically to Ash, because even though he was in front of me and couldn’t see me, he was suddenly in my mind.

"What? Did a little branchy-poo hurt Miss Almighty Dentelle?"

"Of course not," I replied testily.

"Need a kiss to make it better?" He laughed.

"Very funny," I responded. Coming up fast behind him, I leaped and used his shoulders as a springboard. Flying high, I landed a good twenty feet in front of him, right behind Laci, Madison, Hannah, and Sienna. I glanced back at him. His shoulder-length hair flowed behind him, and I thought maybe he was shaking his head. I smiled. While I definitely wasn’t in love with him, I did love him. He’d become one of my best friends, and secretly, I think we both enjoyed the mental sparring. I guess if I couldn’t be linked with Jason, Ash was my next choice. Need some tips on how to keep up with the ladies? I teased.

"You better stop checkin’ me out and watch where you’re going, or a bigger, more brutal branch is gonna knock you right onto your cute little…" The last of his words were interrupted by loud booms reverberating throughout the forest. Even the ground began shaking under our feet, bringing our small group to an abrupt halt. Quickly, we gathered around Laci.

In a quiet voice, she said, Okay. This is it. Max says they are ready for some help. There are at least seven Ray-pacs blocking the path between us and Izzy.

Sienna jumped in. Yes, Michael just told me he overheard a Ray-pac conversation. He’s trying to gather Intel while teleporting, unnoticed, between the Ray-pacs. They plan on keeping us busy while giving the other three guys time to escape with Izzy. Even as we speak, they are moving Izzy down the other side of the mountain.

Laci tucked an unruly curl behind her ear and said, Okay, good information. Just a sec. She was silent for a moment, relaying that information to Max. Finally, she nodded and said, Max wants Madison, Ash, and Sienna to join them. He doesn’t realize you’re with us, Hannah. You were supposed to stay behind.

I knew Max didn’t want Hannah in harm’s way now that she was a mom.

Don’t worry about me, Hannah interjected.

Your call, Laci said with a shrug. Lexi, you and I will go after Izzy. Any questions?

Nada, Ash said impatiently. Nudging me, he said, Good plan. We don’t want the Ray-pacs figuring out you’re an Amethyst, and they easily could if they got close enough. This way no one has to worry about you. Glancing at the group, he spoke aloud, Laci, you and Lexi shouldn’t have any trouble clobbering three unlinked idiots. But keep your eye on this one, anyway. He smacked me lightly on the side of the head.

I can handle myself, I said arrogantly. Secretly, I was bummed I’d miss out on the big action. Then again, my Flair was defensive, so I wasn’t much help in a real fight. And rescuing Izzy was our top priority. But you guys be careful.

Let’s go already, Madison said, rubbing her hands together. I’m so in the mood to slay Ray-pacs.

My thoughts exactly, Ash said with the same eagerness.

Madison shook her head. Under her breath, she said to me, And Jason says no unnecessary risks. I nodded and opened my mouth to speak, but she continued, And no, she whispered furiously, I will not be passing on any more messages, so don’t bother.

We had a hate-hate relationship for sure. She hated that Jason and I were in love, and I hated that she was linked to him and could talk to him telepathically whenever she chose. I touched her arm and said, Don’t worry, I won’t. She might have thought I touched her arm so I could send her a nice little blast of Essence before the big battle, but I’d done it for purely selfish reasons. I smiled when I was rewarded with Jason’s voice saying to Madison, "Tell Alex I love her."

"I most certainly will not," she snapped. A passing cloud unveiled the moon, and a luminescent light exposed her smug expression. I just smiled and let go of her. No one except Jason knew that I could hear linked Guardian conversations if I was touching one of them. Actually, it was an inside joke between us. Oftentimes, he passed me messages through Madison, and she had no clue it was happening.

Loud cracking noises alerted us to branches snapping high above. Before anyone had a chance to move, Laci declared loudly, I got this. We all gazed upwards and watched as several large treetops plowed into her invisible shield, not six feet above our heads. The kinetic energy must have been colossal, because the limbs shot away from us like projectiles, even clipping maple trees in the process.

Once we recovered from momentary shock, our small group separated. Laci motioned for me to follow her. Our plan was to circle around to the other side, bypass all the chaos, and reach Izzy undetected. But before I made a move to follow, I noticed movement up the hill and realized the Ray-pacs were descending. I watched in appreciation as Madison performed a counterattack. With her arms outstretched, she lifted sticks, stones, and broken branches off the ground, unleashing them back up the hill. Not about to be upstaged, Ash went to work. A shimmering blue orb formed at his fingertips, growing larger and larger until it was twice the size of a normal Frisbee. Once he launched the first sphere, another immediately formed in its place. Shortly after, he had a series of bright, hot energy discs weaving through the trees and up the mountain.

Impressed, I turned and hurried after Laci. Have fun, Ash. But don’t go getting yourself killed, I told him.

"You know I will…have fun that is."

Laci might be small and petite, but the girl could really move, and she moved with precision, which was more than I could say for myself. Over the last several months, I’d been adapting to the extra speed and strength I’d gained from linking, but I was still a novice. My friends assured me I’d be all expert like them in time. Fast cars and adrenaline-packed movies had always captivated me, but they were nothing compared to the thrill of running a mile in minutes, leaping great distances into the air, or lifting obscenely heavy objects. Granted, I was fast, but I certainly wasn’t grace in motion. Gnarled roots and pot holes still had me losing my footing occasionally. Practice would never make me perfect, but it should eliminate some of my inadequacies.

A mass of clouds hid the moon again, casting dark shadows throughout the timber. Twigs snapped loudly underfoot, and my heart pounded with excitement as we whizzed through the ever-changing terrain. I worried about the safety of my friends. There was always a chance one of them wouldn’t survive this Ray-pac fight. And even though my Essence was a force to be reckoned with, and I could heal any injuries, I was powerless once someone died.

Just as I was wondering about our game plan for rescuing Izzy, several bolts of lightning lit up the sky and assaulted Cadillac Mountain. Strong, gusty winds accompanied the multi-colored flashes, and the surrounding trees whipped wildly. Dry lightning storm? A brilliant flash of light whizzed not ten feet away and ripped through a tree, generating a spray of bark and splinters. Taken by surprise, and not realizing Laci had stopped moving, I cruised right past her at full speed. Before I could apply my own brakes, I skidded into a clearing where three guys, all built like Dwayne The Rock Johnson, were escaping with Izzy. Sliding my way across a rather large, flat granite surface, my grand entrance was neither quiet nor controlled.

What the hell? one of the voices rumbled, and they all turned around at once. The moon appeared, giving me a clear view of the three menacing dudes. Normally, I didn’t judge a book by its cover, but the three ratty faces looking back at me were definitely those of hard-core criminals. Death penalty candidates, for sure. And if I had to guess, I’d say the guy with the squashed nose and closely-set eyes delighted in his profession.

My thoughts, running wild, conjured grisly images – ones with Mr. Squashy Nose pleasurably dismembering a body with blunt instruments. I slapped my cheek and told myself to snap out of it. "No more Dexter episodes," I mumbled under my breath. Drawing quick short breaths, I bounced on the balls of my feet as if preparing for one of my Tae Kwon Do sparring matches. I’d re-enrolled in martial arts and loved the sparring techniques. In class I always held back, though. Didn’t want to hurt an Innocent. Not today. These guys were far from innocent. I was ready to kick bad guys all over this granite mountain. And a defensive Flair that allowed me to anticipate my opponent’s moves was going to help me do just that.

But my biggest advantage was Laci. Speaking of that girl, where was she? As if reading my thoughts, she waved from behind some bushes. The guys couldn’t see her because their backs were to her.

The tallest guy, who had a comatose Izzy swung over his shoulder, shook his head in annoyance and directed the other two, Take care of this nuisance and then meet me at the van.

Do you want her dead or alive? the one with the fat face and protruding ears asked.

Neo said no witnesses. So take care of her and get rid of her body. Throw it over the cliff or something. But be quick about it. After he finished talking about me as if I was nothing more than a thorn in the side, he turned and walked away. Straight toward Laci’s hiding spot.

Good, I thought. She’ll shut him up soon enough. Laci might be dealing with the ringleader, but I’d be fighting in a two against one battle. While that hardly seemed fair, I knew I could take them both with my eyes closed. A satisfied smile spread across my face; I was pumped up and in rare form. As Ash would say, It’s ninja time. If he’d taught me anything, it was that a little arrogance went a long way. And he would know.

Loud rumblings intensified from the mountain top, but I paid no attention, because my two opponents were advancing from both sides – ready to attack. My Flair kicked in, and with sudden clarity I knew Mr. Fat Face was going to dive for my feet in hopes of knocking me to the ground. Leaving my fighting stance behind, I shot through the air, pivoted, and executed a side-kick. My speed, combined with the force of my kick, sent Mr. Fat Face sprawling backwards onto his butt. With his obscene amount of body weight, he crashed-landed into a large blob. He looked stunned. I could almost see the dizzy symbols rotating around his head like in cartoons.

Why you little… Mr. Squashy Nose yelled and then continued with a stream of expletives as he stalked toward me.

Knowing he was coming in with a left hook, I ducked and then just for fun – rolled across the ground. Bouncing to my feet, I stood tall and smiled at him. He grunted in frustration and came at me tight-fisted with both arms swinging. I side-stepped, jumped over a mossy log, and laughed when he sliced nothing but the night air. Angrily, he turned on me.

You’re gonna have to do better than that, I said.

His shock, when I leaped several feet straight up, was clearly evident when his eyes grew large as saucers and his mouth fell open. Unfortunately for him, I came down with a hammer fist and all but obliterated his already squashed nose. Upon impact there was a horrific fracturing sound, and then blood sprayed every which way. Falling forward, he crumpled to the ground and moaned. He clawed at the dirt, creating a large dust plume around himself. After his initial outburst ended, he crept to his knees and clenched his nose, howling the whole time.

My insight alerted me that Mr. Fat Face was back in action and about to clobber me from behind.

I’ll take care of you…you little wench, he barked.

I spun around. Good luck with that. Grabbing his leg mid-air, I surprised myself when I lifted him off the ground. Spinning his body around in a circle several times, I waited until I had plenty of momentum, and then I sent him spiraling into a bushy spruce tree.

About that time, and much to my surprise, Mr. Squashy Nose, who was now Mr. No Nose, staggered to his feet. His face and shirt were covered in blood, and one hand was still pressed against his face. You’re one of them, aren’t you? he said warily. You’re just like Neo.

No, I said calmly, rubbing my hands together. I am nothing like Neo. Even though I wasn’t sure who Neo was, I had a feeling he was the mastermind behind the kidnapping attempt. Hoping to gain some information, I said, If you tell me why this Neo wants my friend, I won’t obliterate what’s left of your face.

He glared at me with his beady eyes and shook his head. I’m not sayin’ nothing. But you should be scared little girl. Neo is gonna rip you apart.

If that’s how you want to play, I said calmly, then so be it. I was ready to destroy him. The violent inclinations scared me, because normally I was a peaceful person. And as a member of the Guardian Network, I’d vowed to help people – dedicated my life to it – but the Ray-pacs triggered a darker side. I became a short-fused stick of dynamite – ready to blow without any thought to whom or what might be destroyed during the explosion.

Both Jason and Ash had assured me such feelings were normal, healthy even. In order to save the right people, there would be times we’d have to eliminate the wrong people. One time Jason had been really angry with me. He’d accused me of not caring about my own self-preservation. He’d said that was dangerous and stupid. I’d never forgotten the words from his lecture that day. Alex, there are going to be times when you are in a do or die situation. If you’re going to take the stance of a feline when you’re surrounded by a bunch of rapacious canines – and yes, I mean that word literally – then you better choose to be a cougar, not a kitten. I love you, and I will not lose you again.

He was right. But what I didn’t like, were the feelings of anticipation and satisfaction that accompanied the violent tendencies toward the Ray-pacs.

Clenching my hands into fists, I realized my morals could be pondered on a different day. Mr. No Nose, who wasn’t about to give up, launched himself at me. I blocked left, side-stepped, blocked right, and then brought my hand up in a blur and grabbed his wrist. When he splayed his fingers, my other hand shot out, and I yanked his fingers, twisting them until I heard several snaps. Appalled, I let go and backpedaled a few feet, almost tripping over a rock.

You…b-broke my fingers! he screeched, pulling his arm into his body. His faced scrunched in rage. For a moment, nothing happened. Then his one good hand shot inside his jacket pocket.

Not feeling one bit sorry for him, and outraged at the part he’d played in Izzy’s kidnapping, I spun around and with a reverse side kick, pretty much destroyed his mouth and whatever was left of his nose. His head flopped back, his hand fell from his pocket, and he dropped to the ground.

I shuddered; with a ripped off nose, twisted fingers, and bloodied body, his zombiesque qualities were daunting. At least he was no longer moving.

Hurrying to his side, I reached in his pocket and pulled out a gun. The overwhelming stench of blood, smoke, and body odor kicked my gag reflexes into full gear. Choking, I shuffled away from him and removed the magazine from the semiautomatic pistol. After pulling the slide back, a cartridge ejected itself from the chamber. While I still didn’t like guns, I had a basic understanding of how they worked and knew how to shoot one. Jason had given me private lessons, which had been rather fun. Our last practice had been during a full moon when he could touch me without getting burned, and the memory of the rewards I’d received for hitting the target brought heat to my cheeks. Bulls-eye for a kiss. Let’s just say that by the end of the lesson, my lips were bruised – in a good way, of course.

With Mr. No Nose down and out, I glanced over at Mr. Fat Face. Stock-still against the tree, he didn’t look like he’d be moving anytime soon, either. He deserved to die. I hoped he would because I didn’t have it in me to walk over there and finish him off. I shook my head and exhaled loudly. My Guardian friends would not have been so lenient; they would have sent him to the afterlife without a second thought. Grumbling, I slipped the pistol into my waistband, turned on my heel, and sprinted into the trees. Time to find Laci and Izzy.

CHAPTER 2 – NATION’S FIRST SUNRISE

A few hours later, the battle was over, Izzy was safe with us, and everyone in my group was alive. That’s not to say everybody looked great. Michael, Jason, and Max bore some nasty abrasions and had acquired a few deep injuries. Then again, being in the vanguard always meant taking the brunt of the battle wounds. Two of the Ray-pacs had been shifters and that had ignited something equivalent to a wild- animal-rip-each-other-apart battle. Izzy and I had revitalized all the Guardians, but Jason and Max needed a little extra attention for those broken bones and internal injuries. Essence still had no effect on physical appearance, so while the guys might feel great, they’d look pretty banged up for a few days. After I’d officially joined the Bellingham Circle of Guardians, it hadn’t taken long before I understood why daily martial arts training was an unwritten requirement for all members of the Network.

Just to liven the mood, I’d given them each one final, massive blast, which had been described by Ash as a dizzying rush and by Michael as a mind-blowing blitz. The result was an amusingly chatty group of Guardians all sharing personal narratives from our midnight adventures.

Sitting atop an outcropping of granite boulders on Cadillac Mountain, we awaited the much anticipated sunrise. That’s why Michael had taken us all to Acadia National Park in the first place. Apparently, because of the height of the mountain and its eastern Maine location, it was supposed to be one of the first places in the U.S. to witness the sunrise. Michael and Sienna, who lived only 50 miles away in Bangor, made it here on a regular basis, and said the sunrises were always spectacular. Currently, the moon and stars functioned as soft-glowing night-lights, but I wondered what landforms might be revealed when the sun crested the horizon.

Settled between Jason and Ash, I rested my hand discreetly on Jason’s leg. Discretion where Jason was concerned was still necessary. Especially since not everyone in our group knew we were together. With the exception of our tight-knit Bellingham Circle, our relationship was a secret from the rest of the world. As Jason’s woodsy scent cut through the salty, humid air, my heart rate spiked. I wanted nothing more than to lean over and kiss him. Instead, I closed my eyes and allowed myself to contemplate a life where he and I were linked. How amazing it would feel to be all alone up here on the mountain, snuggling in one sleeping bag. I always felt safe in his arms. In that perfect moment, mingled Essence and skin to skin contact could easily lead to a night of passion and…

Sienna, Madison, and Ash really brought the heat, Michael boomed with enthusiasm. My eyes popped open and I jolted sideways, causing Jason to glance at me suspiciously. I grinned, showing all teeth. Perfect warfare Flairs, Michael added his voice laced with admiration. I’ll be first to admit I’m jealous. I knew the Ray-pacs didn’t stand a chance once you guys joined the party.

Damn straight, Madison said, her tone exuding confidence, as always.

That’s what we’re here for, man, Ash jumped in. Impressive the damage done with a few energy spheres, huh?

Madison responded promptly. Don’t know what you’re so proud of? she remarked sourly. If you were truly skilled, you’d cause less damage to nature and hit your mark more often. Accuracy and appropriately sized spheres would save us a lot of clean-up time afterward. She cleared her throat. Bigger is not always better.

Her comment produced several snickers, but Ash was quick with a comeback. No way, sweetheart. That’s where I completely disagree with you. In fact, he said, lowering his voice and speaking in a more evocative tone, I’d be more than willing to prove you wrong. Size totally matters.

I squeezed Jason’s leg and giggled. We were always debating whether Ash or Madison possessed the biggest ego. In fact, everyone in the Bellingham Circle placed bets on who would win the most arguments that week. Let’s just say I usually bet on Ash and lost more money than I won. It was like those two had been cut from the same cloth but were two completely different patterns. In general, they acted like they despised each