Guardian's Hope (35 page)

“Once, not so very long ago, I almost killed
you. If I’d do it to protect Dov, who I just met, I’d certainly do
it for my sister.”

“No. You didn’t almost kill me. There is no
almost. You were willing to defend Dov and I admire your bravery,
but killing is a different matter. That night, if you’d been intent
on killing me, you wouldn’t have hesitated in the doorway. You
wouldn’t have given me the chance to turn and face you and perhaps
overpower you. If you were determined to kill me, you would have
driven that knife into my back and you would never have looked me
in the eye.”

“How can you be so sure?” she asked, a little
defensively.

“Because I have killed, Hope. You know this
and yet you really can’t comprehend it and I don’t ever want you
to.” He smoothed the hair from her face and, with his finger,
traced the outline of her eyes.

“Life is in the eyes, my love. Demon, human,
Paenitentia, it doesn’t matter. Life is life. And when you see it
in the eyes, something inside you cries out against the taking of
it. That hesitation can be fatal. You learn to look at the face and
watch the eyes. They sometimes telegraph what your opponent is
about to do, but you never, ever look into their depths. The eyes
hold too much life.”

“Nico, I’m not going in there to kill anyone.
I’m going to protect my sister until you can get us out. But make
no mistake, I’ll do what I have to do.”

“I don’t doubt your will or your bravery,
precious. I don’t want you in a position where you have to make
that choice.”

She saw it then, across the bridge, though he
was trying very hard to keep it from crossing. She saw fear. Not
only for her physical safety, though that was first and foremost.
He was afraid of what such a terrible act would do to who she
was.

“You think I’m an innocent. Isn’t that the
word you Guardians use to describe a human victim? It means they’re
unaware of the horror they’ve walked into. I’m not a victim, Nico.
I used to be an innocent when I lived in my father’s house and
thought his abuse was normal. I was unaware, but not anymore.

“I’m going into this with my eyes open. I’m
aware of the horror out there. It doesn’t change who I am. My
father couldn’t beat it out of me. Neither can this.”

“You don’t know that.” His eyes were pleading
with her.

“I do know it,” she said with such conviction
and vehemence that Nico took a step back. “I know it because of
you. All that you’ve done, all that has been done to you hasn’t
changed Magda’s boy. You tried to bury him instead of the boy who
was hurt, but it couldn’t be done. You tried to build a wall around
him, but he kept breaking out. That’s why you hated yourself for
the fighting and killing on the docks. Magda’s boy kept shouting
that it was wrong. That’s why you searched for Boris’ and Kurt’s
families. Magda’s boy told you it was right.

“I am my mother’s child. No matter what
happens, I’ll cling to that. I’ll cling to you.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist and
rested her head on his shoulder. The pulse in his neck throbbed
under her lips. She whispered softly, “You can’t protect me from
the world and its pain. You can only lend me your strength so I can
bear it.” She kissed his neck, his chin, his lips. “Lend me your
strength, my love, and tell me you believe I can do this.”

“I believe you can do this, precious, but I
want you to give Nardo a little more time.”

There it was again. Time. And it was running
out.

Nardo called from the bottom of the stairs.
Broadbent was ready and it was time for Nico to go.

*****

The two Guardians stood to either side of the
church door. At intervals throughout the night, they walked the
perimeter of the church, one at a time, never leaving the church
door unguarded. Between rounds, they stood guard and stared off
into the darkness in silence until Nardo couldn’t take it
anymore.

“Sure is a nice night.”

“Yes, it is.”

“I remember the night I took my vows, it was
cold.”

“Yes, it was.”

“Do you remember what the night was like when
you took your vows?”

“Yes, I do.” And then he heard her voice. It
wasn’t the bridge. There was too much distance between them. But it
was still her voice, as clear as the night sky, telling him to be
nice. Telling him that Nardo wanted to be a friend and a little
sharing wouldn’t kill him.

“It was cold and rainy,” he began. “I didn’t
have anyone to stand for me. I didn’t even know I was a
Paenitentia.”

Nico didn’t tell him everything. He doubted
he’d ever tell anyone except Hope the whole of it. He only told the
part about becoming a Guardian. Nardo actually laughed when Nico
told him about thinking God had struck him dead.

“Hey, I hear you man. Scared the shit out of
me and I knew what was happening. And you were just a kid.”

“I was,” Nico nodded in acknowledgement. He’d
always thought of himself as a man in a boy’s body, but now he saw
the truth. “I was just a kid. It was a blessing when the priest
found me and sent for Boris and Kurt.”

Chapter 36

The twins were patrolling the area known as
the Dead Zone; no bars, no all-night diners, no corner bodegas to
break up the monotony of patrol. It was all warehouses and small
industrial shops with names like ‘Ralph’s Glass Works’ and
‘Monahan’s Best Body Shop’.

“Does Monahan have a worst body shop?” Dov
always asked every time they were assigned this section and Col
never failed to laugh.

The night was so soundless and they were so
bored that they both jumped when Col’s phone rang.

“You’re supposed to keep that thing on
vibrate. You scared the shit out of the rats.” Dov laughed as Col
shushed him and put the phone to his ear.

“Hey, Nora. Whatcha got?”

“He’s here,” she whispered. “But he’s not
staying. He’s got someone with him. Oh shit, gotta go.”

“We’re on our way.” The line went dead. He
wasn’t sure she’d heard.

They were running for their Harley’s before
Col had the phone back in his pocket.

“We ought to call somebody,” Dov yelled as
the motorcycle roared to life.

“Yeah? Who?” Col called back “‘Sides, there’s
no time.”

Three of the Guardians were at the church and
Canaan was patrolling what they referred to as Death Valley, an
area of the city where phone service was sporadic at best.

Traffic was light enough at this hour of the
night to make the trip in only minutes. Still, when they got to
Bloodsucker’s, the place was empty except for Nora waiting at the
back door.

“They couldn’t have gone far,” she said, “I
was afraid to follow him.” Her teeth chattered as she spoke. “He
came in while I was alone, cashing out the drawer. Just pushed me
out of the way and took all the cash, even the change. Didn’t leave
me anything to open with tomorrow. All he said was, ‘You’re in
charge. Don’t screw up’. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. The
big, ugly guy didn’t say anything, just watched. He scared me more
than Smith.”

“Give her your money,” Col said as he pulled
a wad from his pocket. He stuffed it into her hands. “This ought to
get you started. We’ll help figure the rest out tomorrow night. Use
some of it to call a cab.”

Dov added his money to the pile and they left
her standing in the doorway staring after them.

“You go that way, I’ll go this. If one of us
spots him, call. Then we make like we’re playing tag. Just havin’ a
good time on the bikes. Don’t let him know we’re following.”

“Gotcha.” Dov roared down the alley and into
the street.

Col nearly missed them. He was almost past
the street when he saw them and made the turn so fast he just about
dumped the bike. He sped past, barely looking at them and stopped
to call Dov when he rounded the next corner. For the next few
minutes, they played a game of cat and mouse, chasing each other up
one street and down another, sometimes passing in opposite
directions, laughing and hollering like they were two half-drunk
kids having a good time, but they never lost sight of Smith or the
wall of flesh lumbering beside him that radiated the smell of
demon.

They tried calling Canaan, but were
immediately sent to voice mail, so they called Grace. They were so
excited, they had to share it with someone.

“We got him, Gracie!” Dov told her about the
call from Nora, the trip to Bloodsucker’s and the game with the
bikes. “Yeah, 2757 Borden. Don’t worry. We got another hour before
sunrise and we’re on our way home.”

“We could have taken them, bro. I could’ve
taken the demon and you could’ve got Smith. Oh shit! I meant to
tell Gracie about the demon. He’s a big sucker, isn’t he?”

“We did the right thing. Canaan wanted him
followed to his house and you’re right, that fucker is big. Suppose
you needed help. We might’ve lost Smith. You can tell them again
when we get home.”

*****

The two Guardians opened the door to the
church and stepped inside. Broadbent stood in front of the altar,
straightening his scapula and brushing off his sleeves. Except for
his sweat soaked hair, he looked much the same as when they had
left him there hours ago. He nodded to them and, with great
dignity, walked slowly down the aisle. When he reached them, his
dignity wobbled a bit along with his knees and they both reached
out to steady him. Up close, they saw that his eyes were still
glazed.

Canaan was waiting outside at the bottom of
the stairs. He held out his hand, “Broadbent ad Sebastian, I
welcome you to the ranks of the Guardians of the Race.”

Broadbent solemnly raised his right fist to
the place over his heart where the lilies blossomed around a new
black skull with red tears falling to the banner below. The black
skull, symbol of his willingness to die for his calling, and the
red tears of blood he would shed for the cause throbbed beneath his
hand.

“I serve at my Liege Lord’s command.”

Each in turn, Nico and Nardo formally greeted
him. “It is my honor and pleasure to call you brother.”

On the way to the car, Nardo asked, “So, how
does it feel, Professor?”

“Like I’ve passed through all levels of
Dante’s Inferno and found my way back.”

“Yeah, that pretty much covers it,” Nardo
laughed as he slapped his friend on the back.

*****

Hope had her coat on and the phone book out
on the counter. Her finger skimmed over a yellow and red marked map
on one of the first few pages. She was wearing the long denim skirt
and oversized turtleneck that she used to wear when she first came.
Her hair was pulled back tight in a bun at the base of her
neck.

“Where are you going?” Grace asked more out
of curiosity than suspicion. It wasn’t unusual for one or both of
them to run errands in the early morning and Hope was unfamiliar
with the area.

“I’m looking up Borden Ave.” Hope’s roving
finger stopped. “Ah, got it. There’s no Borden Street, so this must
be it.” She tore the page from the book and headed for the door. As
she grabbed the keys from the peg she asked, “I’m taking the
junker, do you mind?”

The junker was Grace’s car, inherited from
the twins. “Yes, as a matter of fact. Not the junker. I mean what
the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m going to talk to Smith.” She turned back
from the door. “Look, he’s running. That’s the only reason he would
take all that money and if I can’t get to him before he leaves for
good, Faith may be dead before we find her. I have to go. Now.”

“Canaan and Nico are on their way. At least
wait until they get here.”

“Why? So they can tell me they won’t let me
put myself in danger? No, Grace. I won’t be in danger. I can handle
one lone man. Tell them where I went. Tell them I’ll call. Tell
them we’re running out of time.”

Grace grabbed her arm and Hope angrily shook
her off. Her eyes were blazing. “Don’t…”

“Two are better than one,” Grace said at the
same time. “You go start the car while I get my coat. Give me one
extra minute to leave a note.”

*****

Dov and Col came barging into the kitchen,
threw their jackets on the island and kicked off their boots,
heedless of Grace’s rules. They were flying high on their adventure
and success.

“Oh Gracie, we’re home,” Dov yelled their
usual greeting and when there was no answer, “I wonder where
everybody is?”

“Don’t know. Want a beer?” Col already had
his head in the pantry refrigerator where Grace kept all the cold
drinks. He didn’t wait for an answer, but popped the tops off two
bottles and returned to the kitchen. They’d chugged half a bottle
when the garage door opened again and Broadbent came through
followed by Nardo, Canaan and Nico.

Dov toasted Broadbent with his bottle. “Hey,
new Guardian! How’s it hangin’?”

“It’s hanging quite well, thank you for
asking.”

“Yeah, congrats, professor. What was it
like?”

Canaan cleared his throat. “You know better
than to ask, Col. I’ve told you before, it’s personal and for each
man it’s different. Where’s Grace?”

“Don’t know. We called but no one answered.”
They heard the outer door in the den open. “That’s probably her
now.”

But it wasn’t.

“We wanted to come and pay our respects to
the new Guardian.” Manon went to Broadbent, kissed both his cheeks
and rubbed away a smudge of lipstick with her thumb. Her eyes
widened for a moment and then she smiled. “He’s a handsome one, is
he not?”

“Ooo, that’ll come in handy fighting demons,”
Nardo teased.

Nico stood off to the side with his eyes
lightly shut. “
Hope
?”

Otto shook Broadbent’s hand and pulled him
into a manly hug. “Welcome to the ranks, son.”

“Thank you, sir.”