Free Awakened by Ednah Walters Page A

bedroom door. “Next time Bran contacts you, tell him to talk to Izzy or Kim.”

    Those two Barbie dolls? Over my dead body. “Bran chose to ask me for help, not them.”

    “And have you asked yourself why?” His bushy eyebrows rose as he stared at me.

    I opened my mouth to respond then closed it without speaking. Why hadn’t I asked myself that question?

    “He probably knew the others would recognize him for what he is, a demon scout,” he finished.

    A heavy silence followed, and I sat back with a defeated sigh, misery constricting my chest. It made perfect sense Bran would choose someone who wasn’t a threat to him. In my ignorance, I assumed we had a special bond. How stupid.

    “Look at me, sweetheart.”

    I couldn’t.

    “Lil?”

    He was back at the kitchenette table. I couldn’t meet his gaze so I stared at his chin. “Yes, Grampa?”

    “I’m sorry to be so blunt, but it’s a dangerous war we fight and demons play many games. They can’t be trusted. I just don’t want you hurt.”

    Too late for that. I nodded.

    “Think seriously about what you want.”

    “I don’t want to go to Xenith.”

    “And I don’t want you to, sweetheart. I don’t mean to push, but the sooner you start training, the better.”

    I closed my eyes, so many emotions twisting my insides I felt ill. “Next week…I’ll start next week. Right now I have homework, and then I’m going swimming with Kylie.” There was defiance in my tone, but I didn’t care. I needed my five days of normalcy, of not thinking about being a Guardian or the monsters out there.

    Grampa squeezed my arm. “Sounds good.”

    I got up and walked to my bedroom, flopped on the bed and stared at the ceiling. I remembered the storm I caused yesterday when I’d felt scared, angry and frantic. I let thoughts of blue skies, soft, fluffy clouds, fresh snow and gentle breezes drift in my head, things that made me happy, calm. They didn’t work.

    I got up, dived inside my drawer for my swimsuit, changed and added sweatpants and a hoodie. Sandals replaced sneakers. I grabbed my terry robe and left my bedroom. Grampa’s door was open, and I saw him sitting on his bed.

    “Going for a swim,” I called out, grabbed an apple from the kitchen counter and let myself out of the trailer before he answered. The air was dry, and not a single cloud drifted in the sky. Today the weather was warm for fall. Sometimes I forgot Utah was a desert.

    Kylie’s mother and a friend, a short and heavy blonde, sat outside their trailer cooing to a chubby baby girl in a playpen. I crossed the street and approached them, envying their simple, uncomplicated existence. Wouldn’t it be nice to go back twenty-four hours, when all I worried about was fitting in and having friends?

    “Mrs. Danes?”

    Kylie’s mom looked up and smiled. “Oh, Lil. How are you doing, hon?”

    “Good. Could you tell Kylie I’ve already left for the pool?”

    “Sure, hon.”

    I hurried toward the two-story motel, munching on my apple with gusto. As usual, my eyes were drawn to the weeping willow tree. My thoughts drifted to Bran. Where was he? What was he doing right now? Demon or not, I hoped Grampa and the Cardinals would agree to help him.

    There were dozens of cars in the parking lot of the motel but no guests in the foyer when I walked through the motel’s double doors.

    “May I help you?” the young lady manning the front desk asked, running a critical eye over my attire, the robe on my shoulder.

    “My name is Lil Falcon. I was told residents of the RV Park can use your pool.”

    “Uh-huh.” She pulled out a key card and pointed at a hallway. “Go on straight then turn left. Bring back the key card when you’re done.”

    The medium size pool was empty and perfect for swimming laps. The water reflected the large windows dominating the northern wall and the cedar ceiling. A hot tub sat to my left, and white and green deck chairs were scattered around the deck.

    I