Page 214 of Evil Hearts

Prologue: Quinn

I f I didn’t have wings, I’d be derby driving to get the same high. The crunching of metal against metal. The steel walls closing in from every angle. Cars kicking up clouds of dust as they slide into one another. It’s every man’s perfect dream to get away with a car crash and walk out unscathed, mine included.

Derby racing has fascinated me since before my charge was old enough to drive. Parker and one of his buddies love taking turns behind the wheel, and they’ve always won at the derby shows for their vehicles getting minimal damage. It helps that I’ve used my brute strength to stop an oncoming collision. They’d ended up getting first place at the fairgrounds that day.

At the derby shows, the smallest vehicles line up first and crash into each other, then the medium size, and then the big monster trucks. Whichever cars make it to the end of each round go up against each other in the finale. I get to spend all my time as a Guardian Angel watching over Parker while he lives out his dream of racing. It’s an experience I’m glad to be a part of. It’s just a shame I can’t get behind the wheel myself.

“Truly a shame,” hisses a voice from behind me.

I whirl on my heels and flick out my right wrist. My flaming sword slides free from my brown leather corded bracelet. I hold out the blade and narrow my eyes at the Shadow Demon.

The Shadow Demon gives me a coy smile. Its entire body ripples of the darkest inky shadows. “Truly a shame,” it repeats again, “you cannot drive a car at least once.”

My grip on the hilt tightens. I keep my gaze narrowed and trained on the evil creature. I roll my shoulders and my wings stretch their full length behind me as I will my body to remain calm and ready to slice the Shadow Demon in half. I’ve seen Shadow Demons shred a Guardian Angel to pieces, and it’s not something I ever wish to see again. “I didn’t realize your kind could read minds.”

The Shadow Demon smiles, revealing several rows of sharp, jagged teeth. I repress the urge to shudder. “Your kind? You make it seem as if we aren’t brethren.”

I scoff at the creature. “We’re not brethren. We’re from two separate worlds.”

“Not as separate as one might think,” the Shadow Demon hisses. Its forked tongue flicks several times as if to test the air around us.

Guardian Angels are to strike them down before they can reach the souls we guard. And yet, this is the first time I’ve ever heard a Shadow Demon speak. The Shadow Demon hasn’t moved an inch to where Parker is just a few strides away behind me.

“What do you want?” A muscle tics in my jaw. The sooner the Shadow Demon is gone, the more relaxed I’ll feel.

The Shadow Demon cocks its head, bulging red eyes watching me intently. I shift on my feet and my knuckles turn an off-white when I tighten my grip on the hilt of my flaming sword. Firelight from the blade dances across the Shadow Demon’s red eyes. “I want what we all desire.”

My brow furrows at its words. “What?”

“Freedom,” the Shadow Demon hisses. “You have the freedom to make your choices. Whilst I can only do one thing.” Its red gaze slides to behind me, and I stiffen, my muscles coiling tight. I’m glad for my tall stature and especially grateful for my brawny size. Especially if it means I’m the only thing stopping Parker from getting killed.

“I’ll kill you,” I tell the creature.

Its red gaze flickers back to me. “I am aware, Guardian.”

“Then why do you care?” I demand. “What do you want?”

“So many questions for someone who knows all.”

My jaw clenches harder. “I’ve never claimed to know anything.” I raise my sword. “Now, for the last time, what do you want ?”

The Shadow Demon takes a step forward and leans closer to me. The edge of my blade nearly douses the creature in flames. It doesn’t even flinch. “For you to live out your dream, since I cannot live mine.”

Before I can utter a reply, the Shadow Demon thrusts itself onto the tip of the sword. The flames engulf the creature, and it lets out a horrible, high-pitched scream as the fire disintegrates it.

I lower my arms and stare at the sword in my hands. The Shadow Demon ended its existence. I tilt back my head, glance up at the overcast sky, and swallow hard. Maybe the creature had grown tired of not being free? Or maybe it simply wanted an easy way out.

Letting out a sigh, I let go of my flaming sword, and it slides backward and into the corded bracelet once more. I turn to glance over at Parker. He’s getting ready to climb into the car he brought to the derby race.

The longer I stare at Parker, the louder the Shadow Demon’s words echo in my mind. Maybe I could do it, just this once. Get behind the wheel of the derby car and show just how much control I have over the situation. I’m a man to, don’t I deserve a chance to drive? Parker won’t get hurt, and his car won’t have a single ding or scratch on it. The corners of my mouth twitch as I head over to where Parker is.

Parker will thank me in the long run, when he comes out as the victor.