Read part 1: The New Guard 1 A dark fantasy illustration of Madrina , the heartless princess, walking through a grand obsidian hall. Behind her, the powerful Patron sits on a throne of jagged black glass. Shifting shadows, demons, and spirits bow in fear as she passes, capturing the eerie and supernatural atmosphere of 'The New Guard' story. The Mortal Daughter She had everyone, minor demon or spirit, jumping out of the way as she walked toward the obsidian hall. She is furious, and every demon that saw her knew their life is at an end if they don't clear the way immediately. She is not known as the heartless daughter for nothing; her cruelty and ecstatic delight in the suffering of others is well known. The demons called her a sadist—not to her hearing, of course. She usually sent them to get her mortals that she used to play and watch as the demon tormented them. Her name is Madrina , and she is just twenty-five years old. She walked on, hissing at an old spirit that...
Jessica sat on the bed watching as a ghost materialize out of the mirror. Random People Jessica hunched over her computer on the 50th floor, racing a deadline that had piled up like unpaid bills. Exhaustion clawed at her eyes, but she had to finish. Then the screen blinked out. White text flared across the void: “ YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN. ” A heartbeat later, the desktop returned—spreadsheets, cursor, coffee rings. Jessica froze, shook her head. Hallucination from too many late nights. She glanced at the clock: 2:00 a.m. The office was empty; she hadn’t noticed anyone leave. She slammed the laptop shut, stuffed papers into her bag, and bolted. She locked her office and jabbed the elevator button. Fifty floors down, the night doorman stared without blinking—eyes pure white, like polished marble. Jessica opened her mouth to ask what was wrong; the question died in her throat. She fled past him. Outside, a lone cab idled. She raised a hand, then saw the driver’s face—same blank stare, meter ...