Crossings: A Sovereign Guardians Novel (27 page)

My father had loved me.

I didn't bother to brush the tears from my eyes as I focused on yet another picture. This one he'd kept on the nightstand beside his bed.

It was my parents' wedding picture.

They were both so young, and they were smiling. Anyone looking could tell how in love they were. My father was in a black tuxedo with a white bow tie. My mother was wearing a simple, white gown. A long veil covered her auburn hair. She didn't have on a necklace, but she was wearing a beautiful pair of silver loop earrings.

I picked up the photograph and held it closer so I could better see the details of the picture. The design on the earrings was the same design on Keller's ring and Granger's chain.

I remembered this picture. I had seen this years ago. Gran had shown it to me long after my father had hidden all the pictures of her. She had wanted me to know my mother even if it was just by seeing a picture of her. She had wanted me to see a time when both my parents had been happy. At least now I knew why the design on Keller and Granger's jewelry always looked familiar to me.

Granger and Keller had told me that sometimes guardians brought comfort to those on earth by bringing a letter or leaving something for those left behind to know their loved one had passed on and was at peace. Maybe having their talismans use the same design on my mother's jewelry somehow helped with the strength of their shielding. Or maybe they believed the familiarity of the design might bring me comfort, even if I didn't know why. Then again, maybe it was all simply a coincidence, but with the guardians involved, I doubted it.

My legs couldn't hold me any longer, and I sunk down onto the mattress. I rolled over onto the pillow, and I cried into it until I had no tears left. I cried for all the time I'd lost with my parents, and for all the love I knew my father had for me but that he'd been too afraid to share.

Once all the tears were gone, for the first time in forever, I felt at peace with myself.

The sound of a phone ringing caught me by surprise. On the nightstand was a phone that obviously still worked. I had never realized there was a second phone in the house, but it didn't surprise me that my father would have had a line placed in his room.

Picking up the receiver, I expected it to be Keller. I was surprised when the voice on the other end was Faith's.

"Pagan, is that you?" Faith's voice came across the line and into the room.

"Faith?" I couldn't stop the surprise in my voice. "I thought you were off on a cruise with your parents."

"Well, I was supposed to be, but something's happened."

Coming out of my own sadness, I realized Faith's voice didn't sound right. "Faith, are you okay? You sound like you've been crying."

"I could say the same thing about you," she sniffled.

I sat up straighter, worried now about my friend who was never anything but upbeat and happy. "I'm fine. Really. It's you I'm worried about. Want to tell me what's wrong?"

"I'm parked outside your house," Faith said. "Could I just come inside, please. I really need to talk to you. It's about my parents. We cancelled our trip because they're getting a divorce."

My heart ached for her, especially now that I understood what it was like to have a parent's love.

"Of course you can come inside. Give me a second, and I'll be right down to unlock the door."

I knew I'd want to show Keller my father's room later, so I didn't even bother to shut off the lights. My feet took the steps running, and I managed to get to the door and open it at the same time Faith arrived on the other side.

She stood there on the front porch, no doubt surprised by my own tearstained face.

"Oh Faith!" I grabbed her arm and tried to pull her through the door, but she hesitated. "Come on inside so we can talk, Faith. I'm so sorry about your parents, but I'm so glad to see you."

I shut the door behind her and turned the lock, remembering my promise to Keller to stay safe. Faith and I faced each other and then we shared a tight hug as though we hadn't seen one another for weeks instead of simply days. So much had happened since school had ended, that it felt like forever since we'd talked. If only I could tell her everything. It would be so good to be able to confide in her. Of course, I couldn't tell her about Keller and Granger, but I could share with her some of what I now knew about my father. Faith knew I believed he'd never loved me. If I showed her his room, she'd probably be a little freaked out at first, but she'd be happy for me. But that could wait until later. She needed me right now.

"Come on into the kitchen, and let me get you something to drink. Sorry I don't have any birthday cake ice cream this early in the morning," I tried teasing her. "I know it's your favorite for breakfast."

I was relieved to hear Faith laugh at my joke. Maybe just talking would be enough to help pull her out of her depression. I'd really never seen her look quite so frazzled. For someone who was always so put together, it had taken me aback to see her so unkempt when I'd opened the door.

Her hair was in a messy ponytail with small pieces escaping on both sides. Her normally perfect polish was chipped on her hands. The shirt she was wearing was neat and ironed, but her shorts were wrinkled and didn't match the rest of her outfit. I had simply never seen Faith look this way, and I was definitely worried.

Her eyes roamed the kitchen and spotted the large bowl of batter I'd mixed up.

"About to cook something?" she asked me, raising one eyebrow and motioning toward the bowl with her head.

"Uhm, well, I was," I stammered, not sure how to answer.

"Looks like a lot of batter for one person. I heard Ms. Ellie was out of town."

I wondered where she'd heard that, but then again in a small town, it didn't really surprise me that she knew.

"I was making some pancakes for Keller and Granger," I said casually, not wanting her to read anything into it. "They're both doing some work this morning on the farm, so I told them I'd cook up some food for when they got back."

"Have they been gone long?" Faith asked casually.

"Uhm, not really," I hedged, wanting to turn the conversation away from my guardians and suddenly wondering how mad Keller would be that I let Faith into the house. I didn't know why, but I was suddenly feeling very nervous. It might be dangerous for Faith to be here. Even though she wanted to talk to me, the best thing I could have done as a friend was to keep her out to keep her safe.

Sweat starting breaking out on my back, and I felt a huge sense of foreboding. Surely I was overreacting. If something was really wrong, Keller or Granger would have returned by now. Maybe I should dial Keller just to make sure everything was okay.

Walking toward the refrigerator to check Keller's number, I was surprised to see Faith standing there with the paper in her hand.

One eyebrow was cocked up as she looked at the number and name written on it.

"Keller Jones? And I assume this is his number? And let me see, breakfast in your house while Gran's out of town. Are you holding out on me, Pagan?"

Faith's voice wasn't the friendly tone I was used to. Her words were filled with venom, and I watched, dumbfounded as she threw the paper down the garbage disposal and turned on the switch.

"Ask my mother about men, Pagan. She'll tell you they are nothing but trouble. I've broken up with my boyfriend, and I suggest you do the same. My father cheated on my mother after all their years together."

She advanced on me, poking her finger at my chest. "Do you think you love him? You were about to call him, weren't you? What's the matter, can't stand to go for even a few minutes without hearing his voice?"

My head shook back and forth, trying to understand what was going on. "Faith, you need to calm down. I know you're upset about your parents, but yelling at me isn't going to change that."

Faith's hands flew to her face, and then she looked at the sink where she'd destroyed the paper. "Oh my gosh, Pagan. I'm so sorry!" She sounded like my friend again, when she ran over and hugged me. "I don't know why I did that. I'm so sorry!"

"It's okay, Faith. I know you're under a lot of stress right now. I wish I could tell you everything is going to be okay soon, but I don't know how long it will take. I do know I'm here for you, for however long it does."

Faith smiled at me, and I was reminded of the girl I'd met the first day at school, who'd saved me from a cafeteria of people I didn't know. Everybody had a right to freak out, especially when they had the kind of news Faith had received. Look at me; I'd had quite a few freak out moments over the past few days. I was a little nervous she'd torn up Keller's number, but I would get him to write it down again for me once he came back.

An idea hit me and I asked, "I don't suppose you have Keller or Granger's number do you?"

"Oh, Pagan, I'm sorry. I do, but the numbers are in my cell phone, and I left it at my house. I'm sick to death of my father trying to call me and apologize for the mess he's made of our lives. I'm just not ready to talk to him right now."

"Why don't you sit down at the table, and I'll start working again on my pancakes. You're welcome to join us for breakfast, if you'd like."

Faith smiled at me. Her real smile, and I was glad to see it. "You're sweet, Pagan, but I shouldn't stay. I just came by on a whim, feeling like you'd be here, knowing if I could talk to you for only a minute, you'd help fix everything. I can't stay away from home forever. There's a lot my family is going to have to work out before we can move forward, and I guess we can't do that if I keep avoiding them."

I nodded in understanding. If there was one thing I could relate to, it was messed up families.

"Would you mind if I used your restroom before I left? I'd like to see if I can repair some of the damage to how I look before I go home."

"Of course. Let me go with you upstairs, and you can use some of the makeup I have in my room if you want."

I turned to go up the back staircase and Faith followed, close at my heels. The sensation that something was wrong grew even stronger. I was starting to panic. There was something evil moving in. Of course I was scared for myself, but if I'd put Faith in danger, I didn't know what I'd do. She was an innocent in this crazy thing I called my life.

Swallowing the fear I felt, I pointed to my bedroom and as calmly as I could showed Faith where my bathroom was. Maybe if I could get her to go into my room and shut the door, I'd be able to keep her away from whatever was wrong.

Once she disappeared inside, I struggled with what I should do. If only I could call Keller.

My eyes scanned the hall, and I saw the light shining from my father's room. My father was no longer around to protect me, but maybe I could gain some strength from being near his things. The muscles in my stomach were in knots, and I moved down the hall as if in a trance.

By the time I reached the door to his bedroom, I'd made a decision. I might not be able to save myself, but I had to get Faith out of the house. There was no reason for her to be caught in the middle of anything that might happen. I walked into the room and was reaching to turn off the lamp, when a voice stopped me.

"Your father's room?"

Faith was standing in the doorframe, staring at all the pictures on the wall.

"Yes."

She moved silently into the room, her eyes scanning the walls, taking in all the pictures before they landed on the one of my mother and father. She leaned over and picked up the frame. Her hand was trembling as she held it. She turned her head and looked at me, and when she did it suddenly all became clear.

The evil was here
.

Faith's voice changed, and the look on her face was terrifying as she ran her fingers over the picture.

"Mommy and daddy all happy and in love."

In one swift motion, she flung the frame at the door. The inhuman force behind the glass frame slammed the door shut as the glass shattered. With a flick of her wrist, I heard the door's lock snap into place.

I backed as far away from her as I could. My heart was beating out of control. I couldn't believe this was happening. How could it have been Faith all along? And if it was her, then why now? Why wait until today?

I had never been so terrified in all my life. There was no one here but me to stop her, and without my mother's love, or the power of my guardians, how could I ever win against a demon?

Faith closed the distance between us with lightening speed; her feet seemed to never touch the ground. She leaned in close, and I saw red rimming the dark pools in her eyes. Her tongue was forked and it slithered in and out of her mouth. She breathed in and sighed as though my scent brought her great pleasure right before she slid her demon tongue down the side of my face.

I shivered in revulsion, trying not to be sick as she hissed, "Mmmm...
heavenly
."

I rubbed my cheek against my shoulder, repulsed by the demon who no longer resembled my friend. My voice trembled as I tried to form my words.

"Why? Why do you want my soul?"

"You should have been mine all along," she hissed. "You were promised to me the night you were born, but your precious guardians interfered. I've let you live because I like to play games, and I've had the time to wait. It's been amusing watching them both fall all over themselves, fighting like humans for your attention, watching you string each one of them along, breaking their hearts."