Celestial Guardians: Uniting Dimensions (Celestial Guardians Series, #1)

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Nel's POV

I first felt fire—an uncontrollable blaze searing through my veins, scorching every inch of me. It wasn't the kind of fire that consumed me; it was the kind that forged, reshaping me from the inside out.

I collapsed to my knees, clutching my chest as waves of energy coursed through my body. My heart thundered like a drum, each beat unlocking something deep within. Flashes of light and fragments of memories erupted in my mind—stars exploding in the void, ancient symbols glowing on celestial scrolls, and a voice I hadn't heard in years.

"You were sent to protect her."

Her.

Jamaica.

The name hit me like a lightning strike, jolting me out of the haze. My vision blurred, but not because of the light or the pain. It was her. I saw her as she was now—glowing, radiant, her massive wings spreading against the backdrop of the city skyline.

She had awakened. And with her awakening, mine had begun.

I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to stand despite the pressure bearing down on me. My surroundings seemed distant, irrelevant. I could hear the faint chatter of people in the café behind me, oblivious to the cosmic storm unraveling inside me.

And then, like a dam breaking, it all came flooding back.

The Celestial Mother. My purpose. My mission.

I staggered back against the wall, gasping as the pieces clicked into place. I was sent here to protect Jamaica. To guide her. But I had failed. For eighteen years, I had lived as a shadow of who I was, my memories stripped, my purpose forgotten.

Until now.

I looked down at my hands, now trembling with a faint glow. The symbols on my wrists slowly reappeared like embers reigniting. The marks—once dormant—now burned with purpose, a reminder of the oath I had taken before descending to Earth.

"Nel, you will be her shield, sword, and guide. But once you step onto Earth, your memories will fade. Only when the Savior awakens will you remember your duty."

The Celestial Mother's words reverberated in my mind, sharp and clear.

My gaze shifted upward, seeking her. It wasn't just instinct; it was something more profound, a connection that transcended the physical. I could feel her—her fear, her confusion, and beneath it all, her strength.

I clenched my fists, the faint glow around me intensifying. "I'm coming, Jamaica," I muttered under my breath.

I didn't know how I would reach her, but the pull was undeniable. My entire being was tethered to hers, like a compass pointing toward its true north.

As I stumbled forward, a sudden thought froze me in my tracks.

Kevin.

The name sent a shiver down my spine, and another surge of memories came with it. Kevin wasn't just a friend; he was one of us—a Celestial Guardian. But he was different. His presence felt... fractured and incomplete.

I closed my eyes, focusing on the connection. The bond between the three of us was faint, like a flickering flame, but it was there. I felt Kevin's turmoil, confusion, and the faintest glimmer of awakening.

A sharp pang of guilt twisted in my chest. He was lost, just as I had been. But unlike me, he had no guide, no tether to pull him back to his purpose.

My jaw tightened. We were running out of time.