I glanced back in concern at Mark and John. I was relieved when I saw that their conversation at least looked amicable. They stopped and John headed my way when they noticed me watching.
"Oh great," I mumbled to Sam, sinking back into the couch.
"Krista, I'm really sorry I yelled at you guys like that. Mark and Haniel are right. I had no right to do it. When I saw Mark carrying you up the stairs I thought you were seriously injured and for a brief moment I thought our enemy had attacked you. I lashed out unreasonably when I discovered the true reason. I hope you can accept my apology," he said sincerely.
"Of course I can," I said, slightly embarrassed. "I could only imagine what it looked like with Mark carrying me earlier." Everyone's nerves were on edge and seeing one of our own injured, was guaranteed to send some panic through our group. "We should have been smarter, but believe me it wasn't my intention to take a nighttime swim," I said, smiling at him.
"I would guess not," he said, laughing. "Well, I guess I better go see how much trouble I'm in with the little Missus, for the trouble I've caused," he said, grimacing as he searched out Kieran.
I watched his retreating back and saw Kieran talking with him earnestly before she gave him a quick, hard hug. I guess that is the beauty of being Linked; staying mad at each other was next to impossible, I thought, standing up to seek out my own Link.
Mark met me halfway across the room, grabbing onto my hand. We walked down to his, room that he was sharing with Shawn and Robert. "You okay?" He asked pulling a blanket up over me as I settled against the pillows on his bed.
"Yeah, I feel a lot better. Sooooo, I hear you were my knight in shining armor tonight," I said playfully.
"Just put it this way, I can't handle seeing someone yell at you like that. They may be older, and perhaps wiser, than us, but they are not our bosses," he said. "It's okay, though. John apologized and I'm fine with that as long as it doesn't happen again," he said, lying next to me on the bed and tucking my head under his chin. I snuggled close to him loving the body heat he provided. My eyes drifted closed, exhausted from my foray into the ocean and its aftermath. Sinking deeper into sleep, I smiled in my dream knowing Mark would be joining me soon.
But he never came. I was all alone. Jerking awake, I sat up blinking in the darkness. I knew instantly that something was terribly wrong.
Chapter 16
I rubbed my tired eyes trying to make sense of how I knew something was wrong, and then I felt it hit me like a Mack truck.
Evil had entered our refuge.
I reached over and shook Mark awake. I placed my finger on my lips to silence his questions. Reading my expression and my thoughts, he knew instantly what I was silently telling him. Surging to his feet in one fluid movement, he reached a hand down to pull me to my feet with the same precision.
We crept to the door as quietly as possible, listening for any foreign noises outside the room. The door burst open, knocking us backwards as two Daemons wearing the bodies of two burly men charged into the room.
The force of the door sent me flying backwards and I landed in an ungraceful heap on the bed. Feeling disoriented from my flight through the air, I frantically sat up searching for Mark. One of the Daemons lunged at me, but Mark was there quickly, sending the Daemon smashing into the wall. Rolling on the floor, Mark used the hardwood floors of the bedroom to his advantage as he gripped the Daemon by the hair and slammed his head against the ground in a crushing blow.
The other Daemon used Mark's preoccupation to advance on me, obviously well coached on their task to take out the Guides. Scrambling off the bed, I scooted down the wall and snatched the slim wrought iron lamp off the dresser, jerking the cord out of the socket in the process. I backed into the corner preparing for the Daemon approaching with dead eyes. I fought the urge to scream as his grubby hands reached for me, but grasped empty air as Mark jerked him away from me and threw him across the room. The Daemon crashed against the dresser, taking the shelves that lined the wall down with him. The Daemon rose to his feet, incensed from his airborne flight across the room and charged Mark like an enraged bull.
I felt helpless huddled in the corner while Mark fought him, but Haniel's instructions had been clear. As Guides, we were expected to stay out of harm's way. It was hard to see who had the upper hand as they exchanged blows. I watched horrified as Mark's head slammed against the wall. He stood up facing the Daemon, swaying slightly, it was obvious he was winded from the blow he had taken. His hits looked less precise and more sluggish.
Watching him struggle, I began to doubt Haniel's words. What good was I to Mark, huddled in the corner like a helpless waif? Grasping the lamp more firmly in my hands, I charged the Daemon, striking the back of his head with as much force as I could muster.
My attack did little more than distract him for a moment, but it was all Mark needed as he took the Daemon out with a well executed kick to this windpipe. Grasping his throat with one hand the Daemon staggered and landed on his knees. Mark used his bent elbow to slam into his temple sending the Daemon sprawling in a heap at his feet.
Dropping the lamp, I rushed to Mark's side. I ran my hands down him searching for an injury.
"Krista, I'm fine," he said crushing me to him. "Are you okay?"
Stepping back, I surveyed him and was surprised that he was right. Except for a small cut in the corner of his mouth, he looked fine. "I'm alright too," I said as I used the pad of my thumb to wipe away the blood on his chin.
Mark grabbed my hand and together we silently stepped out of his room. The house was pitch black as we slowly made our way down the hallway. I anxiously wondered where my friends were. I wanted to shout a warning to them, but knew that we needed stealth on our side until we could get our bearings. We heard a soft thump in the second guest room to our left. Mark put his hand on the knob and twisted at the same instant that he threw the door open.
I was unprepared for the sight that met my eyes and felt sour bile burn its way up my throat.
The curtains on the window were torn down, allowing enough moonlight into the room to illuminate a crumpled female body on the floor and two bloodied Daemons in a heap by the window. A third Daemon stood towering behind someone who was down on his knees. The Daemon's hands were knotted in the Protector's hair to maneuver him where he wanted him to go.
The Protector hung lifeless with all fight gone from him. His hands reached weakly for the body that was crumpled on the floor as anguished tears poured from his eyes. My blood turned to ice when I saw that it was Thomas.
Mark's outrage came out as a warrior cry. He battered the monster in the gut with a deadly foot, forcing him to let go of his victim. Grief like I had never felt before flooded through me as I watched Thomas crawl toward the limp body on the floor. My head did not want to make the connection of who the crumpled body was. There was no need to check for a pulse. Thomas's cries of heartbreak made it clear his Link was gone.
"No!" I yelled.
Not my Grace, not my sweet loving Grace that brought sunshine to every room she entered. My heart shattered into a million pieces as I watched Thomas curl up on the floor beside her, dragging her lifeless body into his arms. Haniel's words from long ago ran through my head, Protectors cannot live without their Guides.