The Ascended

Mark pulled away and I couldn't help my small moan of disappointment as I latched my mouth back on his.



"Krista, we need to stop for a minute," he said, pulling away, holding my head firmly between his hands.



"Why?" I gasped, working to get oxygen flowing through my foggy kiss-induced state.



"Because, you’re having a hard time breathing sweetheart. You don't have the appropriate energy to kiss the way I want to kiss you. We're on unfamiliar territory here, my kisses no longer replenish your needs."



"Um, yeah they do," I said, still gasping for breath.



He chuckled. "I mean like they used to. We no longer have the power to heal each other."



"I know," I said as grief for what I had destroyed threatened to crash over me.



He tilted my head back and was able to read the grief on my face. "Krista, this is the way it should be," he said gently. "Look at what you can do. Your gifts exceed everything we could ever imagine, tenfold."



He leaned down and lightly kissed the sensitive skin high on my cheekbone, right below my left eye. I closed my eyes, shivering by the sensations his kiss had stirred inside me. I heard him chuckle quietly and knew that even without being able to read my mind, he could read me like an open book. He moved his lips to my eyelids where he placed an equally sensitive enticing kiss on the closed lids. I murmured my pleasure, letting my body relax completely in his arms. I knew I was shirking my new duties, and I was sure my wanton ways would deeply disappoint The Light, and my mentor, Haniel, but I couldn't seem to find an ounce of care in me. I knew I was acting selfish and letting my new gifts go to waste, but as I lay curled up in Mark's arms, I felt I was exactly where I should be. I had lost him once—I would not let that happen again.



"Well, well, well, as sweet as this was to watch from the monitors, I really must break up this happy reunion," Victor said, strolling into the oversized room with a disgruntled Harmony tagging behind him. "Krista, it loathes me to admit it, but you truly are a remarkable being. It's a shame you bought into the Ascended facade though. You would have made a spectacular addition to my following. Harmony shares many of your gifts, yet your ability to transport to another location seems to elude her. Unless, perhaps she's not applying herself appropriately," he continued in a biting tone that contradicted the genial outward appearance he was shooting for.



Harmony muttered something derogatory under her breath. Victor turned on her with lightning-quick reflexes, firmly wrapping his hand around her slender throat. "Don't think for one moment that your newfound relationship with The Dark One will save you from my wrath," he said, tightening his fingers around her neck, making her skin take on a bluish tinge.



I pulled myself to my feet, wanting to do something to stop him, but the electronic cage kept Mark and me at bay. I wondered why Harmony didn't use her gifts to break his hold on her throat.



"She is not insolent like you and Mark," he snarled at me, pulling my thoughts from my overworked brain. I would have tried to block him, but it took all the energy I had to stand. "She knows her rightful place and respects those that have created her," he said, shaking her by the throat to emphasize his point.



Tears of pain leaked down her cheeks and after a moment he released his hold on her. I watched, sickened as Harmony fell to his feet gasping for breath.



"I'm sorry father," she said. "Please forgive me," she begged, pulling on his pant leg much like a toddler would.



"I know you think you're sorry my dear, but you must learn to respect those that give you life," he said, pulling her to her feet.



"I will, I promise," she said. Her relief over his forgiveness was glaringly obvious.



"Now, where were we? Oh yes, we were discussing Krista's ability to do something as a newborn Ascended, that you as a full-fledged Descended have been lazily unable to accomplish," he said to the now remorseful Harmony.



"I don't know how she does it father," Harmony said in a plaintive voice.



"Then perhaps we will have to search for a solution that will give us insight into this gift of yours," he said, directing the statement toward me.



"I would rather cut my tongue out than help you further your sadistic plan," I said, stepping back away from the electric field.



"Once again Krista, your insolence tests my patience. I believe with the right motivation you will be a little more compliant," he said, turning on his heel. "Come my dear, let's go see how our other guests are doing."



My stomach dropped as I watched Harmony and Victor leave the room. His point was clear. For the third time in a handful of months, I was once again at Victor's mercy. Even with Haniel's help, we had somehow allowed Victor to get the upper hand. And I sure didn’t help by transporting into this electric cell rather than help my friends. I couldn't help thinking that maybe The Light just wasn't strong enough to avoid an eclipse by The Dark. Good versus evil had been battling it out for years and we were merely pawns in the whole scheme of things. I sank back down on the ground, no longer having the will or inclination to stand up.



"Krista, it's going to be okay," Mark said, sinking down next to me, rubbing my arm to comfort me.



"How?" I asked. "Our extended family is being held captive somewhere in this labyrinth of a building. I'm scared of what he has done to them, but most of all I'm scared of what he has done to Haniel," I continued quietly.



Mark paused halfway up my arm. "Krista, do you have feelings for Haniel?"



"Of course."



"I see," Mark said, pulling away.



Puzzled, I looked at the withdrawn look on Mark's face. "What?" I asked confused.



"Nothing," he mumbled, sinking back.



Confused and hurt at his sudden mood change, I allowed myself a small peek into his mind and nearly laughed out loud with relief.



"You dork. I don't love him like that," I said, smiling at him.



"Are you sure? Every time you talk about him your voice takes on a different quality. I know you two have been spending a lot of time together and you believing that I had betrayed you might make you turn to someone else."



"I could never turn to anyone else. It has always been you, and only you," I said as he dragged me back in his arms. His lips smothered out any further talk as he made it clear I was only his. I returned his kiss with fervor, feeling my energy coming back in small measures.



"Dang," I said, pulling back slightly to replenish my lungs with air.



"You could say that again," Mark said with a small laugh, resting his forehead against mine.



"Dang," I said lightly, making him chuckle before his lips reclaimed mine once again. This time though, the passion still flowed around us. The kiss was gentle and tender as he cupped my face gently, holding it in place.



I laughed, standing up reluctantly. "As nice as this is, we need to find a way out," I said.



"I know," Mark said also standing.



"Let me look at your ankle thing," I said, sitting on the edge of the small couch in the makeshift jail.



Mark pulled up the cuff of his jeans so I could inspect it closer.



I lifted his bare foot and placed it on my lap. His foot was tanned and smooth to the touch. I ran my hand over the top of it and smiled when I saw the look that passed over his face. Shelving that tidbit for another time, I focused on the task at hand. The contraption around his foot was clasped on tightly, making it impossible to slide it down off his foot. The hardware itself looked simple enough, but I could see that only a key would work to remove it, unless of course Mark and I were talented at picking locks, which we weren't. I looked around for some kind of device to pry it open with.



"There's nothing," Mark said automatically, knowing what I was searching for.



"Okay, well that won't work," I said, moving on to a different solution. I approached the unseen barrier and cautiously stuck out my finger in front of me. I felt a red hot surge of electricity race up my hand, making my hand and wrist go numb. I winced in pain, stepping away.



"Krista, don't do that," Mark said, cradling my hand in his.



"So, as long as your ankle thing is on, we're trapped here," I said, stating the obvious. "Can we try to short it out?" I asked, looking around for water.



Mark shook his head. "I've tried that. It doesn't work. The electrical mechanism must be waterproof.



"Okay, so we can't short it and we can't get it off. What if we ignore the pain and charge the barrier?" I asked.



Mark looked at me skeptically. "What about the monitors? My father will just send in Daemons to take care of us."



"I'm not so sure about that. I have a feeling Victor had all of them engaged in other activities."



"What about your weakness?" He asked, trying to be the voice of reason.



"I'm already starting to feel better. I don't think I could pull off another transport anytime soon, but I was able to read your thoughts not too long ago, which means some of my energy has been replenished.



"Oh you did," he said, shooting me a sexy smile.



"Maybe just a sneak peek," I said, smiling also.



"Okay, so we test the boundary," Mark said, dragging me back to reality. "I've done it one other time and it hurts like Hell. Plus, it takes several minutes to get your nerves to recover the assault. Last time I did it, my father had his goons in here within seconds because of the alarms I set off. If no one comes rushing in, we know you're right about him being busy elsewhere."



"I say we do it together. I’ll try to use my gifts to help protect you. Maybe if I concentrate hard enough, it won’t hurt you that much."



"That sounds good, but what about your pain. I’d rather have it the other way around," he said bitterly.



"No offense, but I’m hoping my gifts are going to protect me too," I said, trying to lighten the mood.



"Funny. Just one of these days though I’d like to be the one to save you okay?" he said, kissing me lightly on the tip of the nose.



"Fine by me, I could use the break," I said, giggling at his mock growl. "Okay let's do this."



He reached over and grabbed onto my hand. "I think if we step back and take it at a run, it will help."



I nodded my head. "I'm ready when you are," I said, gathering the emotions together that I planned to use to distract Mark from the pain.



Mark tightened his hold on my hand as we stepped as far back as we possibly could get without standing on the furniture. We looked at each other one last time before we raced toward the invisible boarder. I used all the energy my worn out body could muster, sending it all Mark’s way. The electrical current was more intense than I was expecting and I fought the urge to jerk back. An instant later we were through, tumbling to the ground as the current continued to race through my body. We carefully stood up on the other side of the barrier as the alarm wailed throughout the room. I looked frantically around for a weapon in case Daemons charged through the door, but saw nothing of use.



After several tense seconds with no recourse, I turned to Mark and smiled, finding him peering at me oddly.



"What?" I asked.



"That was incredible," Mark said appraisingly.



I giggled as a blush slowly crept up my face.



"Are you sure you’re okay, how did if feel going through the barricade?" I asked curiously.



"Your gifts are truly amazing. I didn't feel a thing."



"Yay, I'm glad," I said, feeling more lighthearted than I had in a long time. Standing on the other side of the makeshift jail made all the difference.



"How about you? Did you drain yourself protecting me once again?" He said, all laughter gone.



"I feel fine. Matter of fact, I feel oddly energized. It's like the electrical current recharged me or something. Maybe it worked the same as Shawn shooting me up in the heart with adrenaline."



"He gave you the shot in your heart? He and I are going to have a serious talk if we make it out of this alive," Mark said, striding across the room toward the antique wing chair in the corner of the room.



I watched in amazement as he flipped it over like it weighed nothing. He pulled off two of the legs of the chair at once, like he was pulling weeds outside. He placed the two of them to the side and pulled off the last two legs before joining me.



"Here, it's not much, but at least it's something," he said, handing me two of the legs to use as weapons.



I looked down at them admiring his handiwork. He had pulled them off at an angle so they each had the small piece of wood they had been mounted on still attached, giving it the look of a wooden hammer.



"Good idea," I said, giving him a small smile as we headed toward the door. I turned the knob, expecting it to be locked, but it turned easily in my hand. I looked at Mark puzzled.



"I guess my father never thought I would make it this far. Before you guys showed up tonight, Harmony used her warped gifts to keep me compliant. I haven't had a thought or emotion that was completely my own until tonight. He wasn't taking any chances of me Ascending and being able to fight Harmony off."



My heart twisted at his words. I felt awful that he had suffered so much over the last few months at the hands of his sister and his father. "I'm surprised you even made it," I whispered, knowing full well what normally happened to Guides and Protectors when they were separated.



"I think I did because I knew you loved me. Any time Harmony wasn't playing her sick games with my mind, I would recall moments you and I had shared, and I think that helped. Once you Ascended, Harmony tried to use that against me to make me turn, but it only made me hang on to the memories even tighter."



"I'm so glad you did," I said, humbled that he had put more faith in our love than I had.



"Ready?" Mark asked, pushing the heavy mahogany door open.



I nodded my head.



Mark stepped out protectively into the bright hallway. I followed behind him as he slowly moved down the hallway in front of me. I felt secure having him here, even with my new gifts. I had worked hard not to be envious of my friends and the bond they shared with their Protectors, but watching them over the last few days had been tough. I knew that Mark was no longer obligated to protect me, but it made me melt a little that he still embraced that role.



The hallway was well lit and as stark white as the one my friends and I had seen earlier. Several doors broke up the space of the long hallway. We paused at each one so we could check them out and I was surprised that they were much like the room we had just left. We passed another living type room and a large, oversized state of the art kitchen with every modern amenity available. We grabbed a couple of butcher knives to wield with the makeshift clubs from the chair Mark demolished. We moved past each room once we discovered they were clear of Daemons and showed no sign of our friends.