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ones on our side are known as Guardians, and their purposes vary from one to another. Some are charged with guarding ancient artifacts that possess powers useable by both sides and humans as well. Some are chosen to protect the Nephilim, those children born to humans who have been intimate with an angel or demon. Some are charged with guarding portals between worlds. You are one of those chosen, Jackson.”
    He was silent for a long moment. Sarah didn’t speak, deciding to let her words sink in. He lowered his gaze to the floor and shook his head slowly from side to side.
    “ Why me? You have to have the wrong guy. I have done nothing to deserve this.”
    “ It is not for me to say why you’ve been chosen,” she said gently, closing the distance between them. Against her own will her hand came up to rest on his shoulder. The firm muscle rippled beneath her palm as he shifted beneath her touch. “I am here because Father chose you, and he has his own reasons. My job is to tell you that you’ve been chosen, to guard you until you’ve made a decision, and show you the extent of your powers should you accept.”
    He snorted, then chuckled, his shoulders shaking with amusement. “That’s a good one,” he said between chuckles. “You, guard me? What are you, like five foot two?”
    Sarah could not help stamping her foot in annoyance. She could hardly believe the irritation that flared in her at his ridicule. She had never been teased before and found she didn’t care for it. “You need to take this seriously,” she admonished. “Or have you already forgotten the demon that I confronted on the roof of this building?”
    Jackson instantly sobered. “That demon was after me?”
    “ In a manner of speaking, yes. Because you’re chosen, you’ve been marked by both heaven and hell as undecided. Until you choose a side, heaven and hell will compete, in a manner of speaking, for your allegiance. Eligos, and others like him, won’t stop until they’ve got you on their side, and Father help you if they find any darkness in you to latch on to.”
    Jackson fell silent, and Sarah noticed a muscle ticking in his jaw as he avoided her gaze. His lips were no longer moving but his clouded eyes spoke volumes.
    “ I sensed darkness in you Jackson,” she continued. “That day on the street when I touched you, I felt what you were feeling. Something dark is lurking there; anger, bitterness, sadness. You need to tell me what it is so that we can find a way to keep the Evil One and his minions from latching onto it. What happened to you?”
    “ I don’t see why you need to concern yourself with that,” he snapped. He closed the distance between them, looming over her menacingly. If Sarah did not have the power to turn the man into a pile of ash, she might actually be intimidated.
    “ It does concern me Jackson,” Sarah countered, raising herself to her full, but meager, height. “As long as you are undecided and Eligos is preying on your weaknesses, it is my concern.”
    “ No,” he protested, he voice raising an octave.
    “ My assignment-“
    “ It seems to me that your assignment has nothing to do with you diving into my personal life,” he said, cutting her off. “There’s a demon on my ass. You’re an angel. Get rid of it.”
    “ And what of your commission? Being chosen as a Guardian is a great honor.”
    “ I don’t want it.”
    Sarah could feel the anger growing and surrounding them both as he began to pace, his breath racing in and out of his lungs as he struggled to keep his cool.
    “ The invitation stands for seven days. Until that time is over, you are still a target.”
    “ I don’t care. I’ve dealt with bigger demons than that one from the roof, you can believe that.”
    Still avoiding her gaze, Jackson swung open the front door. Only then did he look up at her pointedly. Deciding that she had done enough for one night, Sarah followed his unspoken instructions.
    “ This isn’t over,” she said