The Ascended (The Saving Angels 3)

I now knew why I felt the presence of pure evil in the room.

Mark was a Descended.

Standing up, I ripped my eyes from his and moved them to the pair of links we had come to save. I met the kindhearted eyes of the brother Lynn had never met. I smiled, hoping to reassure him. Finally, I turned my attention to Mark's sister. For months, my focus had been on saving her once we lost Grace and Faith. It had become crucial that we save at least one of the softhearted Guides that The Light had blessed each Band with. My eyes met hers, expecting the same warmth her Link held, but was shocked when I saw the calculating look in her eyes.

"For a supposed, Ascended you're awful slow," she said in a hard voice that didn't match her appearance.

Realization crashed into me as I used my new gifts to study her.

Someone was indeed evil in the room and it wasn't Mark.

Chapter 13

I swept my eyes back toward Mark and could clearly see what I had missed. Mark was not standing in the shadows avoiding me, nor was he blocking his emotions from me. I could just barely make out the metal cuff that surrounded his ankle. It had to be attached to some kind of power source that kept him from leaving the area.

"You blocked my emotions from him?" I asked incredulously, still reeling in shock.

"Of course I did stupid. I didn't want to miss out on watching you figure it out. I do have to admit, I’m a little disappointed at how long it took you to put the pieces together. The way father has been singing your praises, I expected something more," she said, eying me disdainfully.

"Now now dear, I've told you before, cattiness is not a human trait I admire," Victor said, stepping into the room. "Well Krista, look at you all grown up in your new leadership role. If I was partial to those still in the Heavenly Realm, I would say it looks quiet lovely on you," Victor said, eyeing me in a way that instantly made my stomach curdle.

Victor had always been a power freak and his shallow admiration towards me wasn’t so shocking.

I heard a growl of outrage behind me as Victor continued to drink in my presence.

Though it was irrational and the worse possible moment, but I could not contain the surge of joy that shot through me as the growl of disgust filled the room. Turning around I saw that Mark had moved out into the open as much as his electronic jail cell would allow.

My heart crashed violently inside me as I finally searched into his eyes which were nothing like the last time I had looked into them. Gone were the dead, lifeless eyes that haunted my waking moments. Instead the liquid chocolate brown shined brightly back at me.

"Well isn't this heartwarming," Mark's sister said.

"Tsk-tsk, Harmony, cattiness," Victor admonished her gently. His affection for her went against every conceived notion I had of him.

"I am capable of affection Krista, after all, she reminds me so much of myself at that age," Victor said, picking my thoughts from my head.

I cringed and securely closed the door surrounding my thoughts to stop any further intrusion.

"You did this to her?" I asked, sickened by his words.

"This was my wish for all of you," he said, eyeing Mark with obvious disgust. "Imagine the power I would have held.”

"You would give your own flesh and blood to The Dark One?" I asked, not bothering to hide my disgust.

"It’s an honor," Harmony said, sneering at me.

I shook my head, looking at her with pity. She was just another pawn that The Dark One and Victor were using.

"Don’t give me your pity Krista, I’ve spent years perfecting my gifts. Haven’t you even wondered why you haven't been able to connect with your precious Link all these months? That was my doing. I’ve blocked every attempt either of you have made, cutting both of you off. I broke your Link just like father requested," she said gleefully, gloating in her deeds that had destroyed my link with Mark.

I expected anger to well up in me at what she had done, but my pity for her only increased as I clearly saw the disillusions Victor had been feeding her for years.

"Oh my God, I said I don't need your pity, Angel whore," she said, spitting the words at me.

"Harmony dear, you mustn't let her get to you like that. Come along my dear. We shall leave her alone with something that no longer belongs to her," he said, indicating Mark in the far corner.

I felt disgust flowing through me at his referral of Mark, like he was nothing more than an innate object or something.

"Mason, here," Harmony commanded. I watched with shocked curiosity as her link rushed to her side like a puppy, shooting me an almost apologetic smile.