Vandel - Into the Fire: Under Fire, #1

Copyright

Into the Fire

Book One of the Under Fire Series

Copyright 2015 by Kim Vandel

First Edition

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, posted on any website, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without written permission from the publisher.

Author information: http://kimvandel.com

Cover and interior design: Kim Vandel.

Pur flame design: Rodger Archer.

This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either a product of the authors imagination or used fictitiously.

Summary

When Kate meets Nathan, he reveals the existence of the Guardiansmen and women with God-given superpowers. But not all Guardians honor their calling to protect innocent lives. Some choose to prey on the innocent instead.

Nathans touch leaves Kate with a flame-shaped mark on her wrist, the sign shes been chosen as a Guardian. Suddenly she finds herself in the middle of a conflict thats been burning between the Guardians and their Fallen brethren for over a thousand years.

For Mom and Dad

Thanks for always being there when I need you.

Chapter One

I heaved a sigh as I closed my calculus book. It was hopeless. Within the first two weeks of fall quarter, I was going to destroy my dream of medical school.

I shoved the book into my backpack and joined the rest of the students fleeing the auditorium. On the steps outside, I paused long enough to check my phone. Dad still hadnt returned my calls but no surprise there. I hadnt really thought he would.

Heat flared on my wrist as I returned the phone to my hoodies pocket, and I fought the temptation to dig in with my fingernails. That spot on the inside of my wrist had been burning and itching all morning, and now it was red because I couldnt stop scratching. Like I needed one more thing to deal with.

I pulled my hood up to provide some cover from the sprinkle of raindrops and headed for one of the University of Washingtons many libraries. So far, Suzzallo was my favorite and not just because there was caffeine available in the lobby. With its Gothic arches and stained glass windows, Suzzallo looked like it was part of the Hogwarts campus.

A dozen different conversations echoed against the stone walls of the lobby as I entered, and I navigated traffic to reach the caf where the hiss of steaming milk replaced the echo of voices. Thankfully, the line was short this morning. Only one person stood between me and the comfort of caffeine. The guy was a walking stereotype of the university professora goatee and a tweed jacket with leather patches on the elbows. He probably had a pipe or pair of wire-rimmed glasses tucked in one of his pockets.

He handed his money to the girl behind the counter, exposing a tattoo on his wrist, and I tilted my head to get a look at the design. Three small, red-orange flames fit together to form a larger one. Maybe not such a stereotype after all.

The professor thanked the girl, dumped his change in the tip jar, and stepped away from the counter. Right onto my toes. I stumbled back, and he swung around to catch me. When his hand touched my arm, heat shot down to my wrist. I tugged my arm loose, and the heat faded.

Sorry about that. Are you all right?

Im fine. I rubbed at my wrist. He must have hit a nerve or something.

Are you sure?

Yeah, dont worry about it. Happens all the time. It was the truth, sadly enough. I should have invested in a pair of steel-toed All Stars years ago.

Regret washed across his features. I really am sorry. See you later.

I frowned as he moved off toward the barista. Yeah, hed stepped on my toes, but it wasnt like hed ruined my whole day. Then again, at least hed apologized. That was more than most people did.

As I stepped up to the counter, I reached into the pocket of my jeans for a ten-dollar bill. My last ten dollars. The thought was so depressing that I ordered a venti mocha with extra whip. If I was going down, I was going in a supernova of glory.

While I waited for the mocha, I pulled my hood back and scanned the crowd. The professor sat by the door reading on his phone between sips. The guy at the table closest to me had fallen asleep on top of his textbook despite the energy drink sitting on the table. His friend was plugged in to a laptop with a pair of ear buds, probably trying to shut out the drama coming from the girl at the next table over. Based on her half of the phone conversation, there was an epic breakup in progress.

As she threatened to post incriminating pictures online, I grabbed my mocha. When I lifted the cup to drink, fire pricked my wrist again. I gritted my teeth against the sting, switched the mocha to my left hand, and turned from the counter.

A new group of students entered the lobby, and I promptly choked on my second sip. I did a quick check to make sure I hadnt spilled down the front of my hoodie. It was black, but still. Wet showed up no matter what. The hoodie was clean, but I couldnt do anything about my hair. Between the rain and my hood, it was beyond help. I attempted to smooth it down, but I could feel strands of hair flying up around my head like Id been playing with a Van de Graaff generator.

Three girlsall of them blondes with fake-n-bake tansaccompanied the one guy. Laughter preceded them into the caf, and I stood paralyzed, half afraid they would recognize me and half afraid they wouldnt. Well, that he would or wouldnt, but why why did he have to show up on a day when it looked like Id been using a balloon on my hair instead of a brush? I voted for not recognizing today.

Not that it would make any difference if Rob Peterson recognized me. I wasnt his type. My skin was too fair and my hair too dark. But I did enjoy staring at him. You know, admiring Gods handiwork.

One of the girls spotted me and came over with a smile that revealed a lot of very white teeth. Jen and I had attended Northshore Christian Church for years, and wed both graduated from Redmond High School last June. She was one of those people you really wanted to hate but couldnt because she was so nice. She didnt rub in the fact that she was perfect because she really didnt think she was.

Hey, Kate. How are you?

I smiled back without revealing quite so many teeth. Im good.

Hows school going for you?

Okay. Just trying to stay on top of everything.

I know, right? I only have three classes this quarter, but I have no idea how Ill get everything done.

Rob turned in our direction, and I shrank back.

Jen, are you going to order something? he said.

Yeah, Im coming. You guys remember Kate, dont you? She goes to Northshore too.

I got a semi-genuine wave from Rob and the other two girls and waved back. Then I wished I hadnt. Hopefully no one noticed Id discovered a new skin disease.

Please dont keep them waiting because of me, I said.

Well, its good to see you. We should do something together. What about that Chase Thomason concert? Its coming up in a couple of weeks, and a bunch of us are going. You should come with us. Itll be fun.

An image of Rob with his blonde, bronzed groupies filled my head, and I tried to picture myself with them. I stood out and not in a good way. Then again, going in a group with Rob was better than not going with Rob at all, right? And odds were that I would look better for the concert than I did this morning.

Um, okay. That would be good I guess.

Great! Get your ticket, and Ill let you know what time were meeting up. Maybe well go get something to eat after the concert. She waved and moved off toward her friends. See you Sunday.