Gauntlet Rite of Ascension

by Marcus Abshire

“Lead on.” I said to her, sweeping my hand out in front of me.

  “Yer not still stinging from that walloping I gave ye, I imagine?” She asked, walking past me.

  “As I recall, if it wasn’t for your dad you would be having dinner with me tonight.”

  “If yer lucky enough to be Irish, yer lucky enough.” She said with the air of reciting a poem.

  “What does that even mean?” I asked, teasingly.

  “It means ye will be at my room, tomorrow night at seven sharp to do as I please.” She took the lead as we went back down the steps, entering the Den.

  “As ye wish m’lady.” I said mimicking her accent.

  She turned to me with a look that said she was thoroughly enjoying herself.

  “It is often that a person’s mouth broke their nose.” She said and winked at me.

  I laughed for the first in months, feeling some of the pent up tension in me evaporate. We settled into an easy silence and I let her lead me through the Den’s winding corridors to where her father and Abaddon were waiting for us.

  “So, are you nervous about the Rite?” I asked her as we walked.

  She walked for a few moments in silence. I began to think she wasn’t going to answer.

  “Sure, but I have prepared myself.”

  “I didn’t really mean that. I know you are skilled with the blade. I was talking more about what you will be facing. I don’t think we’re going to be competing in a hammer throw contest.” I said.

  “I can handle any overgrown puppies they throw my way.” She said with a smirk.

  I could tell through the bluster that there was a small thread of worry. Her body language exuded calm confidence, but I detected a slight scent of fear of what she might face. She knew Vicktor was crazy and dealing with vampires, that kind of person was capable of anything.

  I hadn’t really thought about it, but she was a big target as well. Her dad was the leader of a large clan that had been rumored to be thinking of leaving the Pack and making Vicktor look bad. Vicktor might very well be planning on making her an example just as I’m sure he wanted to do with me.

  Eavan knew this; she was smart enough to have put this together a long time ago. We were almost in the same situation; she was as worried as I was; only she hid it much better.

  “C’mon, were here.” She said as we came to her father’s room.

  We went inside and saw Abaddon and Oengus sitting at a table talking loudly, both arguing heatedly.

  They each had their hands on large mugs that they would periodically drink from. Oengus sat back, keeping one hand on his drink while Abaddon was leaning forward, obviously pushing the conversation.

  “You know the time is now, Vicktor is corrupt and dangerous. The fact that he has central power is too much for one man to have. We see how easily it can be abused. The answer lies in spread out packs that each can decide what’s best for themselves, leaving the main Pack weakened and less influential.” Abaddon said.

  “I already said I agree with ye, the question is more about timing. There still is a chance the Pack can be salvaged.” Oengus answered.

  They both stopped seeing us come in. Abaddon sat back in his chair, admitting a stop in the argument.

  “Aye, so I see ye found the lad.” Oengus said.

  “I found him climbing the antennae array like a chimpanzee.” Eavan said teasingly.

  “So you placed the cameras successfully?” Abaddon asked me.

  “Yes, they should be sending the signal to Max as we speak. Hopefully by tomorrow we can get something.” I walked into the room and sat down at the table, Eavan did the same.

  “So that’s the plan? Use some wee little cameras to take down Vicktor?” Oengus said skeptically.

  I looked around and saw the same device we had in our room. It gave off a slight buzzing sound also. We were free to talk openly here.

  Abaddon began to speak when I answered instead.

  “That’s part of it. We need to make sure Vicktor is shown to be working against the Pack or else run the risk of just dividing the Pack further.”

  “And ye think some cameras will do that?” Oengus continued, showing contempt for the whole idea.

  “I think they’ll help. I know some of you older guys hate technology, but you got to get with the times.” I said.

  I don’t know why but his attitude struck me wrong and I felt my blood pressure rising.

  Eavan leaned back like she was expecting a large explosion. Abaddon had gone completely still.

  “Say ye get yer precious video evidence. What then, are ye gonna have a trial? Are ye gonna play lawyer and convict Vicktor to community service?” Oengus asked, his voice had slowly risen to where he was almost yelling.

  “Yes, I’ll show the Pack what he’s been doing.” I answered back. I was struggling to control my anger. I knew the plan was solid, but Oengus seemed too thick to understand.

  “As ye know, we older types don’t understand technology as well as ye young pups. Say Vicktor claims the video is a hoax; say he convinces us old farts that you made it all up. What then!” Oengus had risen off his seat and had both hands planted on the table leaning towards me.

  “Then I’ll challenge him to back up his claim, as Pack law states, if he feels I am lying then he can prove it. If he accepts I’ll show I’m trustworthy by ripping his heart out, if he refuses then I’ll show how weak he is and not worthy of leadership by ripping his FUCKING HEART OUT!”

  By this point I had also planted both hands on the table and was leaning forward both of us facing each other, neither of us backing off.

  I saw a deep yellow infuse Oengus’ eyes and I swore his face rippled as he began to undergo the change.

  The room was deathly silent. Eavan had pushed herself back and instinctively placed a hand on her sword. Abaddon still was an unmoving statue, watching, waiting.

  Oengus bowed his head and I saw his body rise up and down. At first I feared he had started to shift and would attack. A second later I heard the deep rumbling of laughter coming from his barrel chest.

  Oengus raised his head and I saw a large grin splitting his face.

  “I just think ye might lad, ye just might.” He said.

  “Sit down boy, have a drink, we have much to discuss.” Oengus said.

  I sat down and looked at Abaddon, he nodded once and Eavan stood up to get us all a drink.

  Chapter 28

  We sat around the same table, but by now we were all slightly bleary eyed and our speech was beginning to slur. The Beast did wonders for our health, it healed our wounds and gave us enhanced senses and speed, it made us almost immortal.

  One weakness it had was alcohol.

  I don’t know if it was because consuming alcohol was a decision we willingly made and therefore was part of the whole control factor or if alcohol was just one thing our bodies couldn’t burn off fast enough.

  Whatever the reason, we were all pretty drunk.

  The only exception was Eavan. She sat across from me with a sly grin, like she was in on a joke only she knew about.

  We soon had explained the plan and had discussed the different aspects of it. Oengus seemed to like most of it, but he did have a few suggestions that were good and offered his assistance which we accepted over a large drink and a few Irish toasts. Oengus had a toast for everything.

  After that we got into the status on other clans and small packs, discussing who we could count on and who we should be wary of. Most of it was the same stuff I learned from Katrina, but Oengus always seemed to know just a bit more than I had been taught.

  The conversation then drifted into different topics, each more varied as the ale kept flowing. We eventually started talking about different governments and leaders, debating the pros and cons of societies around the world and through history. Even though Abaddon and Oengus had lived through what I was taught in history classes and knew things I never would, they never ignored me or dismissed my opinion. They would show me where I was wrong
or how I learned something different than what happened, but I felt I was a part of the discussion and even was being led to give more about my opinions and ideas than they did.

  “Ye can’t have an Empire without a strong determined leader, someone who is willing to make the hard decisions.” Oengus said.

  He and I had almost fallen into a conversation between us; Abaddon sat mostly quiet and added things occasionally.

  “An Empire is only as good as its people. Without the consent of the governed the Empire fades and crumbles to the greed of the governing.” I argued.

  “Bah! That kind of system is slow and cumbersome, never having the ability to quickly adapt to the changing world.”

  “Good! We have seen all too often what happens when governments can be fundamentally changed by the whims of the people. It leads to mob rule and that leads to bloody revolutions.” I said.

  “France was no place to be in 1789.” Abaddon added.

  “Above all else a leader must be strong. Without strength he will fall to the ambition of those seeking power for themselves.” Oengus said.

  “I disagree, yes a leader must be strong, but he must also be wise and humble. When a leader is nothing but strength he falls prey to his own power. When he feels his might is right, he allows the government to violate the rights and freedoms of its citizens for the greater good. It is always for the greater good that the greatest atrocities are committed.”

  “When we focus on ensuring each individual is treated fairly, regardless of rank, or class, we then begin to see the true power of a society. We begin to see a flowering of freedom that grows into the tree of liberty. It is under this delicate and fragile tree that we must live with proud determination, never allowing our strength to override our decency for the collective. It is when we disregard the individual for the collective that the beginning of the end starts. Above all else a leader must understand he is but a servant of the people and it is not his will, but the will of the people that he wields.” I finished.

  I had never said anything like this before. I had never really thought about it until tonight. I had been learning throughout high school and college about the facts of history, but never about the in-depth philosophy of that history and what it teaches us.

  I obviously had a strong affinity for the American system, but had learned about other types of governments, but felt with my whole being that I was right.

  I took a deep pull from my mug, my little speech left me dry.

  Oengus looked to Abaddon and they exchanged a meaningful glance. I couldn’t quite understand it, seeing as how by this point I was seeing double, but I was able to discern something of pride in Abaddon and agreement.

  “It’s getting late and we have a lot to do tomorrow. We should be taking our leave.” Abaddon said.

  Oengus nodded once and raised his mug in another toast. My head swam and I wasn’t sure how many more toasts I could handle. Somehow, my mug had refilled itself and I looked over at Eavan only to see her watching me with open amusement.

  I was never a big drinker, in fact I don’t think up until tonight I had ever drank anything other than a beer Max stole from his dad. It was warm and tasted like ass.

  “Here’s to a long life and a merry one, a quick death and an easy one, a pretty girl and an honest one, a cold pint, and another one!” He said and turned his mug up.

  I didn’t want to be outdone so I brought up my drink and gulped it down; its cold wetness filled me with a warm radiance.

  I slammed my mug down at the same time as Oengus and Abaddon and we all laughed drunkenly. I looked across the table and was struck again at how beautiful Eavan was with her fiery red hair and deep emerald eyes. Without a care in the world I opened my mouth and said, “Your eyes are the most beautiful I have ever seen.”

  At least that’s what I thought I said, what came out was, “Yur eysh ur da mushbeutifl I haser scheen.”

  The table came rushing up at me as I passed out and slammed my head on the table, snoring almost instantly.

  I awoke to a terrible headache. The light streaming in from the window shot lances of red hot fire into my eyes as I squinted. I sat up and felt my heartbeat throbbing in my head, pounding a rhythm of painful waves.

  “Unnngh.” I said, holding my forehead in my hand.

  “Hurts don’t it?” Abaddon asked.

  His voice seemed very loud to my sensitive ears.

  “Why do I feel so bad? Shouldn’t my Beast have healed me by now?” I asked, hoping there was some trick to get rid of this hangover.

  “It seems the power of the Beast ends at healing hangovers. Don’t know why really, although I have my theories.”

  “Such as?” I took the glass of cold water Abaddon handed me and drank it all down.

  “The Beast is all about mastering our inner urges, taming our wild side, if you will. Consuming alcohol is a conscience choice to lower your inhibitions, to embrace a simpler mindset. I think the nature of the Beast only rewards those that willfully fight those urges, it’s almost a punishment for forgetting.” He went to the small kitchenette and rummaged in the fridge.

  “You think the Beast is punishing me for drinking too much?” I asked, disbelieving.

  “Either that or it was the eighty proof ale Oengus brews himself.” Abaddon said, laughing.

  The smell of fried eggs hit me and my stomach turned over.

  I forced myself to eat some and finally started to feel halfway normal.

  “So are you clear on what to do next?” Abaddon asked over a large plate of eggs, bacon, sausage and toast.

  “Yeah, we have the cameras up, now we wait and watch. Tonight I try and contact Max and see if he saw anything.”

  “Tell me again why I can’t just monitor the camera signal myself.” I asked Abaddon.

  “We don’t know what kind of technology Vicktor has. We can’t take a chance that he might hack into our computer so the best and most secure way is to have Max hide the signal with the others coming and going from the antennae, then store it on a memory card that we can then download once were in our room, secure.” He explained.

  “The kind of tech you’re talking about only exists in the movies, or in the science magazines about future advancements.” I argued.

  “Stuff like that is commonly held by governments and intelligence groups in secret. It’s a great way of keeping ahead of the game, let everyone think it’s years away while using it against your enemies. The Pack has access to stuff that most governments don’t.” Abaddon said.

  “We don’t secretly have access to blasters do we?”

  “What’s a blaster?” Abaddon asked, puzzled.

  “Not a movie fan, huh?” I asked.

  “I fail to see what movie watching has to do with blasters.” Abaddon said.

  “It’s not important. Forget it.” I said, suppressing a smile.

  I finished breakfast and left our room, making my way outside. The closed confines of the Den had started grating on my nerves and I needed the openness of the outdoors.

  The Den’s territory consisted of hundreds of acres of surrounding forest. This land was considered within the length of my “leash” and I eagerly went outside into the morning light, my headache fading into a dull throb as the fresh air washed away some of the cobwebs Oengus’ ale has spun.

  I walked across the perfectly manicured grass and entered the deep forest. I went over to a large tree and took off my clothes, folding them in a neat pile at its base.

  I took a deep breath and willed my body to shift forms. There was a sweet pain as I quickly changed from my human form to that of the Beast.

  My senses all came into a deeper focus and the thick fabric of the surrounding environment snapped into a clearer reality, the greens greener and the scents full of more complexity.

  The moon’s cycle was getting closer and closer to being full and I felt the nature of the Beast growing in conjunction with that cycle. I wanted to rush off, finding the joy in the run and th
e chase, hoping to calm some of the unbridled energy the coming full moon provided.

  I stood up to my full height and took a deep and long draw of the air, searching for something to chase or hunt. A wild energy filled my belly and a strong sexual desire swept through me as I detected the strong musky scent of a female Ascended in the forest. My vision began to focus on the trail left behind as I stealthily and quickly began to track the most intriguing and exciting scent I had ever encountered.

  As I traversed the rough uneven terrain I realized that I recognized who I was following. Her odor in Beast form was different than when in human form. The Beast added a frantic energy to her that was only hinted at in her more civilized shape. I could almost see her deep green eyes and her fiery red hair as I let my senses direct me, bringing me closer to my target.

  The deep fragrance of her scent permeated the air as I got closer. I knew I was almost on her and slowed down and willed myself to move in utter silence. I slowly and meticulously inched closer, knowing she was nearby.

  I came to a slight dip in the forest floor and saw her poised to attack. She faced away from me; her entire focus was on the deer that stood twenty feet way, grazing on the grass that grew in a small open area. The light from the sun shone in rays through the small breaks in the trees and the deer was fully visible.

  Eavan crouched with perfect stillness; her posture was wholly one of rapt attention to her prey. Her fur was a deep red, almost crimson. I was struck by the sheer physical beauty she possessed in her Beast form. I felt a pang of sadness as Sara’s face swam in front of my eyes, a memory of feelings threatened to consume me as the deep pain of regret and loss flooded over me.

  I stayed there, waiting for the memories and hurt to fade. Eavan’s sudden movement drew my attention and as she leapt for the deer my hurt vanished as it was replaced with the excitement of the hunt, even if it wasn’t my hunt.

  But it just could be.

  Eavan closed the distance between herself and the deer in a second and hit her prey with astounding force. I was completely surprised when she rolled over with the deer and then got her footing and let the deer go, watching it race off into the woods, unharmed.