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  Preface

  There comes a moment in every human life when you sit and wonder if you could have done one thing different to change the outcome of your situation. That moment was now for Vie. She was tortured by the decisions she made that landed her caged like an animal, expelled from her human vessel, and staring down at the lifeless body of the girl she knew as Vivian Thorne. If she would have changed one thing, would it have made a difference? Could she have saved Vivian’s life?

  Vie couldn’t give up hope. She was a Guardian. She had to think. She called down to Vivian, telling her to hold on and that help was coming. Surely Carter would be searching for her. Then she remembered the sequence of events that led her to this hell hole and realized that Carter Stone would not be coming to save her. Suddenly, Vie heard footsteps. Lucian’s men had come. She watched helplessly as they entered the tunnel and dragged Vivian away. Vie started yelling at them to let her go, but they didn’t even glance her way or flinch at her fury.

  Ignited by her anger, she used every ounce of strength she had to try to separate the bars of the gilded cage she was imprisoned in. It was hopeless. Lucian had secured her in a place that rendered her abilities useless. She fell to the ground, fighting back the tears. She started thinking back to just a few hours earlier when she was at the dance in the arms of Carter Stone. The boy she loved more than anything else in the world, the one she called her soul mate. Vie closed her eyes, allowing her mind to go back. Back to where it all began, back to the very beginning.

  Chapter 1

  Wish Granted

  “Violet…Vie…V…!” Gabriel yelled as he scanned the room looking for his friend.

  “I know you’re here Vie.” His smooth voice called out to her. Vie was the nickname Gabriel had given to Violet when they met. Gabriel thought Violet was a name for a flower and Vie, a thorn perhaps, but a flower no way.

  “How did you find me?” Violet stepped out from behind the large porcelain column in the corner of the room.

  “Easy…he replied. I just followed the voice of an angel. Really not that hard to find you when you’re singing Vie,” Gabriel joked.

  “Oh….I didn’t know you could hear me?”

  “I guess I forgot I do that when I’m upset”, Violet reminded herself as she turned away.

  “Yes, and we all thank those emotions that bring that joyous music from your lips to our ears.” He held his hands up in in air like he was delivering a sermon and continued on. “Our paradise here would be a little less perfect without your voice…that voice…simply angelic,” Gabriel praised.

  “Very funny Gabriel!” She turned her back to walk away from her friend.

  “Funny?” He pondered. “Not funny Vie…TRUE!”

  “Besides, you have no reason to be sad,” he said approaching her with caution.

  “Oh really?” she responded with a snarl while moving quickly to meet his gaze.

  “You don’t understand. They see you for exactly who you are and as for me, well no one sees me. I can be great if they would just give me a chance.” She turned away again hiding her face from Gabriel, embarrassed by her sudden outburst.

  “Violet,” Gabriel offered his hand to her.

  “No!” she shouted.

  “Don’t tell me I am not ready again or I am going to scream!”

  “Vie,” he pleaded as she quickly interrupted him.

  “This is my destiny…I can feel it!” her voice somber again.

  “Gabe, did you ever know something so profoundly that it consumes your entire being?” Her beautiful, one of a kind violet eyes began to glass over. Those eyes were just irresistible. Just like the final color of the rainbow at the entrance of the gates. The color that connected both worlds was glistening in her eyes. When you looked into them, you knew you were home.

  “Vie!” Gabriel matched her angered tone.

  “Gabriel,” she interrupted him again. “You just don’t get it. I need to talk to them again… make them understand. They have to let me go, they just have to.” She shouted at him defiantly.

  “Violet…” he bellowed with a new strong commanding voice. Not one Vie had the privilege of hearing often from her friend.

  “Stop Talking!” he ordered. Violet’s eyes were wide open and she was still frozen by the tone Gabriel now took with her.

  “Gabe.” She pleaded in a quite whisper “I just…” Violet stopped suddenly mid-sentence and lowered her head.

  “Vie, I’ve been trying to tell you but you never let me speak.”

  “Fine, say what you have to say and then go,” Violet demanded with hysterics building. “Leave me alone….just let me be.” Suddenly Gabriel put his hand over her mouth, looked her in the eyes and shouted “WISH GRANTED!” Gabriel stood back waiting for her response.

  “What?” she uttered in disbelief of what her friend was saying.

  “I’m going?” her voice began to quiver.

  “Are you kidding?” she questioned him, her voice still in total disbelief.

  “You better not be kidding. Are you?” She looked at him with wonder in her eyes waiting for his response. Hoping and praying that he was not kidding and that she was actually going to finally fulfill her destiny.

  “No,” he finally replied excitedly. “I’m not kidding you Vie. The council has decided you are ready.” He stated with some questions still in his voice. “Well okay, not exactly ready. It took some convincing from yours truly but they have agreed to let you go.” he chattered on.

  Violet could not believe what she was hearing. Although she dreamt about this day a million times and wanted it more than anything, she never expected the council to agree to it. It had been decided...she was going. After a few minutes of letting this new realization settle into her thoughts Violet asked, “How? When did they decide?”

  “A few minutes ago…and we’re leaving now.” Gabriel replied with a charming smile.

  “Now…like right now?” Violet was suddenly stunned by the realization of it all.

  “Yes Vie. Are you sure you want to do this? You know the risks?” Gabriel reminded her sternly.

  “I have never been more sure of anything in my entire existence!” Violet could feel the excitement return to her voice.

  “Well then, let’s do this.” Gabriel announced like a line right out of a Hollywood movie.

  “We meet Raphael on the ground at sunset,” Gabe said.

  “How? What do I do? Who will I be? How will I…,”Violet fired out questions frantically.

  “Umm, Vie?” Gabriel touched her arm. “Calm down,” he replied in his reassuring voice. “It is just like we planned. You were there with us at the briefing. You know how this is all going to happen. It will be your job to find him, Carter Stone, and show him his destiny. Raphael and I will handle everything else. Are you okay?” Gabriel studied her face to see if he could tell what was troubling her.

  “But how will I find you there….I mean, will I know you?” Suddenly the realization of her mission seemed frightening without her friend by her side.

  “I’ll find you Vie,” he spoke with utter confidence.

  “You’re really not that hard to find you know,” he laughed at the irony of the moment.

  “But I won’t be me, will I?” Stopped in her thought wondering about what she will know and feel.

  “No.” he responded sadly like he was parting with his best friend.

  “Well not completely.” Gabriel spoke with uncertainty.

  “What do you mean?” Violet’s thoughts were a little confused now.

  “You will appear physically as the vessel. You will enter her body, have her life and memories but you will still be you with all of your thoughts and attributes. No worries there Vie. But there will be a few exceptions.” He
began to explain.

  “Like?” Violet’s voice started getting anxious again.

  “Like…while you are occupying the subject’s vessel you will still have your mind, heart and soul in control.” Violet thought that sounded great.

  “But,” Gabriel paused.

  “But what?” she answered back. “Merging with another human has it complications Vie.” Gabriel quickly looked to Violet for a reaction. With no surprise to Gabriel, Violet was completely steady with this news still standing eagerly by awaiting more details about the said complications.

  “Go on…go on,” she said anxiously.

  “Well he continued, sometimes the soul of the vessel fights to maintain control.” He then added quickly “but it’s never able to hold on very long before it surrenders to the dominance…that would be you.”

  “Okay, not sure I follow?” she said.

  “Well, all you need to know is when you merge you may have some confusion from the subject’s heart and soul to contend with, but that’s nothing you shouldn’t be able to handle, right? I mean you’re always going on and on about how prepared you are for this kind of stuff.” Gabriel tested her.

  “Yeah, yeah that’s right. I can do this. Piece of cake! I know I’m the best we’ve got.” Violet boasted.

  “Ahhh, now there’s the Violet I know and love!” Gabriel said as he clapped his hands.

  “Gabe?”

  “Yes Vie.”

  “Could you please not refer to her as ‘the subject’? It really diminishes the fact that she has a life and a soul completely separate from this mission,” Violet lectured.

  “Sorry Vie, I’m in briefing mode.” Gabriel answered embarrassed by the words he used.

  “Anyways,” Gabriel continued, “we usually have no trouble overcoming the weakened human state and our spirits are able to merge and remain in full control for the time that we are united. But…” Gabriel paused.

  “But what?” Violet inquired suspiciously.

  “Well a secondary issue might be that no one has ever merged for this amount of time. Our fear is, well to be frank, the unknown. But we are fairly confident that this particular case should not offer much resistance with our mission because the subject, I mean ‘Miss Thorne’, Gabriel corrected himself for Violet’s benefit, is almost ready to part from her world.”

  “Oh.” Violet looked at her friend with sadness glaring from those beautiful violet eyes.

  “Don’t be sad Vie,” Gabriel reached for her chin and lifted it up to meet his eyes. He could see that the idea of death from one world still saddened her even though rewards of an eternity in paradise would make one question this sadness. Gabriel quickly changed the subject.

  “Look, I know you Vie. You’ll have to keep both feet on the ground and move quickly with the plan. Always stick to the plan and be good. I trust you’ll pack your halo?” Gabriel joked.

  “I never leave home without it.” Violet winked at Gabriel.

  “Oh, so you still have one of those? A halo I mean? I would really like to see that on you for this mission. It doesn’t get much use here from what I can see.” Gabriel loved to tease Violet about her non-angelic behaviors.

  “Remember Vie, we only have one year from today. On June 6, our time will expire and so will his if we don’t succeed.” Gabriel returned with a stern glare of a true leader.

  “I understand. Oh, and one last question if I may sir?” Violet asked like a soldier speaking to her superior.

  “What does she look like? Is she beautiful?” she asked with hope in her voice.

  “Ah Vie, no one is more beautiful than you.” he replied.

  Violet was physically magnificent. Not that she saw this about herself, but her real beauty lied in how truly unique she was. Gabriel always tried to make Violet see what he saw in her, but failed miserably at the task. It was something she would have to discover for herself he often thought.

  Violet never really fit in anywhere except with Gabriel and the other Guardian’s. When Violet arrived unexpectedly at the Gates she took to Gabriel right away. She followed him around like a lost puppy. While Violet wasn’t hand-picked like the rest of the Guardians, she was proficiently skilled and determined to be a part of this special elite group. Once Violet got an idea in her head, there was no stopping her. She took every opportunity to showcase her top-notch natural abilities in training so the council would see just how truly valuable she could be to them. Even the council saw very quickly that Violet was a one of a kind rare breed deserving of a chance to join these privileged few warriors in their mission.

  The Guardians were created, not born and they were each given special abilities- powerful ones to protect against the forces of evil. They were the “Gatekeepers” in their world but they also served as Guardians that kept a close protective watch over all of humankind, safeguarding it against evil. But that evil was about to be unleashed and what Violet did not know was that she was their best chance of stopping it…him…the “dark one” they called Lucian. His war started long ago when his father was cast out of their world. He swore one day he would have his revenge. The council was told that he was about ready to make good on his threat and both worlds were in danger.

  The council had no choice but to send Violet, ready or not. The only thing the council feared was putting Violet in harm’s way. Sending her on this mission would do exactly that. It was a risk they had to take to protect both worlds. This decision did not come without thought of consequences but the council believed Gabriel could keep her safe. They knew they had no other choice…they needed her. Only a few people on the council knew why Violet was so important to this mission and one of them was their leader Camulus. These details were to be kept silent by Camulus’ order and no questions were to be asked. The others blindly obeyed his request. Violet was the key to saving the boy and keeping both worlds safe from the evil that threatened them all and that was all the others needed to know.

  Gabriel continued to play games with Violet, fumbling to find the dossier on the subject she was about to inhabit, complete with photos.

  “Let me just check….I know it’s here somewhere.” He ruffled through the pages of his file.

  “Let’s see here…” he glanced up carefully with one eye locked on Violet, noticing anticipation on her face.

  “Her name is…Vivian.”

  “Yes.” Violet couldn’t stand it anymore. She lunged at Gabriel and pulled the file straight out of his hand.

  Violet opened the file and saw the photo of Vivian Thorne. “She’s beautiful.” Violet said suddenly somber.

  “Yes, she is.” Gabriel answered back. He seemed surprised that Violet didn’t notice the obvious. Vivian Thorne bared a striking resemblance to her.

  “Vie.” Gabriel said.

  “Yes?” she answered with a question.

  “Don’t you see it?” he said.

  “See what?”

  “Vivian…you…the resemblance?” Gabriel thought she was just playing with him now. “I mean surely you can see it. Right?” he asked.

  “Me and her? You’re kidding me right? Gabriel you have got to do something about your vision. Eyes like an eagle? HA! Not anymore. Don’t worry; you’ve got me on this mission. I’ll be your eyes old friend…I’ve got your back!” She joked at his expense. Gabriel could tell by her face she was not kidding and she really did not see how much the two of them had physically in common. He decided to let it go since Violet clearly was taking a pass on the notion.

  Violet smiled and repeated her name.

  “Vivian Thorne….Vie Thorne,” she said out loud with some familiarity. “It has a nice ring to it don’t you think Gabe?” She pranced around Gabriel already finding a way to get comfortable with her subject.

  “You know,” Gabriel spoke with curiosity, “It surprises me that what she looks like is so important to you. I mean I thought you hated that about their world…the emphasis on the physical beauty?” Gabriel replied as he walked Violet to the entrance gate
.

  “That is true, I do hate it. But what I can’t change I need to adapt to. Looking like her can only help on this mission,” Violet stated matter of factly. Sadly, he couldn’t help but think she was right. Physical beauty with humans is almost an obsession. “When will they learn?” Gabriel thought to himself.

  “Here.” Gabriel tossed the entire file of Vivian Thorne over to Violet.

  “Post it to that wonderful photographic memory of yours. We will arrive when the sun sets on their world,” Gabriel said.

  “Oh, and one more thing Ms. Thorne,” Gabriel said grabbing her hand.

  “Yessss Gabriel!” Violet said in a huff.

  “Remember, I am in charge. You take orders from me, not the other way around. No rule breaking. Are we clear?” he warned.

  Vie’s beautiful violet eyes rolled condescendingly at Gabriel and then a sweet smile was painted on her face.

  “I mean it Vie.” Gabriel raised his voice ever so slightly to show the seriousness of what he was saying.

  “So, are we clear?” Gabriel asked again for clarification from his wayward freshman apprentice.

  “Crystal!” Her lips straight lined.

  “Sir, is that all sir?” she joked waiting to be dismissed from Gabriel’s army.

  “I mean it Vie. This is serious! I fought to have you here with us because I know how you feel this is your destiny and I do too, but if I feel for one minute you have gone all renegade on me, it’s over.” Gabriel’s voice changed from authoritative to concern.

  “Point made Gabe.” She raised her hand to her brow to salute her new captain.

  “I won’t disappoint you Gabriel. I promise.” She looked at him with her violet eyes humble now, her hands placed together in front of her face, bowing her head. “Thank you Gabriel,” she whispered, “I am eternally grateful!”

  “Hmmmm,” Gabriel mumbled. “Ironic huh? The eternal part I mean.” He questioned Vie’s sarcasm in the remark. She just smirked.

  “I thought you would like that.” She flung her arms around Gabriel, squeezing him as tight as she could, laughing and jumping up and down.