Shackled (The Lord Series) by Amy T

234. Olivia - The Gurdian IV

The cemetery is dark, silent, and creepy as hell. I point to an old crypt. "There's a secret tunnel inside. Which leads...."

"To Hell," Ansel grumbles.

I press my lips in a thin line. "I thought Lords were not afraid of Hell. Don't you make a pact with Lucifer when you receive your demon?"

Ansel squeezes my hand. "The pact is with Cain."

We head inside the cemetery. Ansel wraps an arm around me while putting the other one on his holster.

The wind rustles some branches and Ansel swears under his breath.

"Boo," I whisper in his ear.

"Come on, let's get this over with. I just keep having this feeling that something is wrong."

"You really are scared," I grin.

Ansel tenses up. "Not for me, but for you. The demons in the Catacombs might not like me, and I might not come out alive. But I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."

We enter the crypt. "What is that supposed to mean? That the ones in the Catacombs won't like you?"

"My demon is...different."

"Oh, I knew that," I say. "Your eyes are not the same shade of red as those of your blood-brothers. Do you want to wait for me here?" I joke because I know Ansel won't leave me alone. Ansel's hold on me tightens. "Hell no. I would gladly let those demons tear me apart if that means I'll keep you safe."

I roll my eyes. He's so dramatic. "I don't think that will be necessary."

Luckily, no surprises await us in the crypt and I show Ansel where the secret traps are. Camila and I had quite a hard time trying to figure them out. It takes around half an hour of carefully walking to reach an old metal door that guards the entrance to the Catacombs. I press my palms to it and it opens. We enter. The door closes behind us. Shit.

I forgot how awful this place is.

way to get inside.

my arms around me. The only feelings I have are those of misery and absolute despair. My instincts are screaming at me to run. I swallow hard and take a step forward. Something brushes against me. "Mortals, you made

Ansel starts to scream.

Ansel. I reach out my hands and try to find Ansel

pair of red eyes appear before

Ansel keeps screaming.

recognize the voice of the demon speaking to me. "I came to retrieve the box I left

few more times before he finally

you also stole something from us-something that didn't belong to you. It was our duty to guard it. And for that, you will die. Unless you bring it back."

it, and for that, I'm truly sorry. As for returning it, I'm afraid it's impossible. The

"No, no," Ansel says.

the Fallen," another demon

until I send my father

her! She's a hellstar!"

me. Why did Ansel have to

still has to pay the price for taking

all the demons in

she...died," I say. "Look, I only need the daggers I left here so I can make some things right. When I return with them, you can do whatever you want with

silent as they are thinking, but not Ansel. Oh no,

hellstar." I'm a what? What's a Pandora hellstar? "You can't kill me either since I'm her Guardian, but you can punish me for whatever Olivia and Camila did to wrong you." The

Ansel is my what?

What's a Guardian?

are never Guardians," a demon

You can take from my blood so you can see my past and know that

He has a lot of explaining to do when

moments of silence follow, and then, "Very well." Ansel is yanked away from me. "The Fallen will pay the price instead of his mate. He will lose his

I whisper. They can't take

Ansel starts screaming again.