The Ascended (The Saving Angels 3)

"Shawn and I purchased netting for us to surround our campsite with, per Haniel's instructions, to help give us some kind of barricade against any attack. The netting won't keep them out, but at least it will serve as a warning," Robert said, making it clear none of this was new information to him or Shawn.

"What about when we're hiking?" Jenna asked in a shaky voice, clearly not a fan of anything that could creep up on us either.

"Don't worry honey. We'll be on high alert as we hike up the mountain," her Link Keith said looking fierce.

An uneasy feeling suddenly curled its way through me. This would be another sad example of the fact that I was the odd man out. Of course, how could I complain about the absence of my Link in a situation that just the other day I was prepared to do alone?

"Ugh, I hope we don't run into spiders when we're hiking," Jenna mumbled.

"What spiders?" I practically screeched. Daemons I could handle, but if a spider fell out of some tree and landed in my hair, I would lose it completely.

"I got your back Sis, don't worry," Shawn teased. He had experienced my bug phobia firsthand when we were picking out furniture together at a garage sale and a big fat hairy spider crawled across the arm of an old recliner we had been contemplating. Needless to say, my screeches could be heard in the next county. After that, I flat out refused to even consider the recliner, convinced that a nest of them was hiding beneath the cushions.

"Thanks," I said, grateful I could always count on my brother.

"So apparently, we have multiple obstacles to face," Shawn said, doing a spectacular impression of Haniel.

His words broke the tension that had enveloped us all since learning that Victor would have multiple Daemons and who knows what else at his disposal.

Shawn's little joke started everyone talking at once. We all seemed to be in fairly good moods considering the uncertainty of the situation. When Jacob's small band arrived, we were all laughing and joking. Haniel of course, took his customary meditative position in the corner of the room. Once again, I was passed around in warm embraces. After the hugs had been issued, I found myself surrounded by my fellow Guides as we chattered about mundane things, steering clear from any subject that was off-limits. I could sense their keen interest in me and knew they had discussed my hybrid powers, but was relieved that none of them asked about them. After a half-an-hour of chitchat, we got ready to head out.

The guys got to work loading up the back of the Explorer with all the gear. They laid the second and third row seats down to maximize space. It was decided that Shawn and Robert would drive the Explorer and the rest of us would ride in the passenger van that John had rented from the airport.

Lynn gave Robert a searing kiss before she climbed into the last row beside Sam and me. The other Guides and Protectors piled into the second and third rows while John and Jacob sat in the driver and passenger seats.

It was a long scenic drive to the Cascade Mountain Range, where Mt. Shasta was located. After several hours, our tired crew finally pulled onto the narrow dirt road that Haniel had marked for us on the map. The trees encroached on the vehicles from all sides with many of the branches trailing along the exterior of the cars. After a quarter of a mile, the narrow lane ended, disappearing into the vast denseness of the mountain terrain. "Amelia's Paul," as we called him, since Jaime's Protector was named Paul also, slid the door open. We all took turns filing out of the large vehicle and standing in the narrow gap of empty space between the van and the forest that threatened to swallow us whole.

"Well this ought to be fun," Lynn muttered to Sam and I as we studied the woods beyond us.

Sam and I both shot her grimacing looks, causing her to burst out laughing which got a questioning look from Robert as he opened up the hatch of the Explorer.

"I wonder where Haniel is," I said to my friends.

"I see you made it here after all," Haniel said, stepping out from the forest in front of us. "I believe the journey should have taken less time to travel," he continued pointedly, looking at the new hiking boots that incased my feet.

I grinned at him sheepishly. "You couldn't expect me to trek through this terrain with my tennis shoes on," I said, trying to defend myself.

"Evidently not," he responded in a way that would have sounded sarcastic coming from anyone else but him.

"Besides, everyone decided that boots were the only way to go," I said, indicating the boot covered feet of all my friends. The whole crew had immediately jumped on board when I noticed a billboard advertising the REI store on the way here. We all made quick work out of finding the right boots and heavy-duty socks. Even the guys, with their tough attitudes didn't want to have to deal with bugs climbing in their shoes.

"I see. A wise decision," Haniel said, dishing out rare praise.

"Exactly," I said impishly before heading off to help my friends divvy up the supplies.

The weight of the food, water, tents and backpacks filled with clothes was distributed evenly between the Protectors. They left the lightweight sleeping bags with shoulder straps for us "delicate Guides," as John put it, to carry. The wise crack of course earned him a firm sock in the arm from Kieran.

"I'll show you delicate," she taunted him, dancing away from as he tried to grab her. "No, way, I'm much too delicate for a big strong man like you to touch," she added, using her supernatural speed to keep herself at arm's length.

"Okay guys, we got a change of plans. The girls will get the heavy stuff," John joked, making a grab for the sleeping bag I had cradled in my arms.

"Uh oh, no way am I lugging all that stuff up the mountain. I'm a delicate girl for sure," I said laughing.

"Me too," Sam chimed in, raising her hand in the air.

"Um, smart move girls," Kieran said, finally stopping long enough for John to catch her. "Whatever would I do without my handsome stud to carry my heavy belongings," Kieran said from the security of John's arms in a voice dripping with southern charm.

"Playing with fire there my dear, you know I can't resist that sweet honey-filled voice," he said huskily before dipping his head down to claim her eager lips.