by John Corwin
"How's college?" I asked.
She shrugged. "It's okay, but it's so boring going to a nom school when you know about all the cool stuff at Arcane University and Science Academy."
I chuckled, though a sobering thought flattened my smile as I remembered the last time she'd seen action with us and mowed down a gang of armed vampires with an assault rifle. She'd saved our lives, but at the cost of emotional trauma.
Katie turned to my girlfriend. "I'm really happy for you, Elyssa." She held out a wrapped package. "It's not much, but I figured graduating to a full-fledged Templar means you deserve a gift."
Elyssa's eyes softened. "Thanks, Katie. It means a lot to me."
My stomach clenched. Should I have bought her a gift, too?
Shelton's eyes caught mine. He smirked, probably knowing exactly what I was thinking.
Other members of my extended family were also there, including Felicia Nosti and her nom boyfriend, Larry. I was happy to see them still together after a few months, since she wasn't usually one to stay committed to anything or anyone. After her and Adam's parents had died, she'd gone off the deep end, doing drugs, and abusing her body in all sorts of other ways, culminating in her becoming a vampire and doing dirty work for Maximus. He'd nearly killed her, allowing her to be infected by vamplings, but Nightliss had cured the curse somehow by purging Felicia with the blood of the vampire who had turned her.
I spoke with her for a while, moving on to other friends, Ash and Nyte, former schoolmates from Edenfield High School.
"Justin!" Ash shook my hand with bone-crushing force.
I winced. "Easy, dude. You're gonna break somebody's hand if you're not careful."
Ash smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. I got excited when I saw you."
Nyte snorted. "Life has been an adjustment ever since the Maximus ordeal."
The rogue vampire had used my blood to make a potion that turned noms into vampires. Ash and Nyte had taken the potion and joined the blood-sucking crowd. But when I altered a spell intended to kill all the vampires in Maximus's Atlanta compound, the alteration removed the vampirism from the vampires present, instead. Even though my intervention had taken the fangs and desire for blood from my two friends, they'd retained supernatural strength and crystal-blue eyes—a side effect of my blood having been used in the vampire potion.
"I'll bet," I said.
Nyte grinned. "So we decided to join the Templars."
Ash nodded. "Mr. Borathen—"
"Commander," Nyte said with a sigh. "He isn't the dad of your best friend anymore; he's your leader."
"I know," Ash said, grinning at Elyssa. He and Nyte had been her besties before I'd stumbled into their lives.
I spotted Elyssa's father walking from the house and flinched in surprise at the woman walking by his side.
"Nightliss?" I said.
Elyssa's forehead furrowed at the sight. Ash and Nyte both went silent with awe, their mouths dropping open in unison.
"Dude, that's the angel?" Nyte said. "She is so hot."
"Is she single?" Ash asked.
"I'll be right back," I said, and made my way through the crowd, Elyssa following close behind.
Thomas Borathen, leader of the Atlanta Templars and father of my girlfriend, regarded me with his cool blue eyes. "Mr. Slade," he said in a professional tone.
"Hello, sir," I said, giving Nightliss a quizzical look. She smiled.
"Hello, Dad," Elyssa said, and went in for a hug.
In the past, her father had spurned such things, but after his son Jack's death, things had changed. He embraced her in a firm, albeit brief hug, and stepped back. "I'm proud of you, Elyssa."
"Thanks, Dad" she said, unable to repress a beautiful smile.
He checked the time. "Cadet, you should be joining the others for the march. I'm calling this to order."
She offered him a smart salute, kissed me on the cheek, and went inside the compound to join the procession.
"What's going on, Nightliss?" I asked.
She took my hands. "I've found a new calling, Justin. I hope you'll be pleased."
I looked to Thomas, but his stony expression gave nothing away. "Are you going to become a Templar, too?"
She smiled. "Not exactly."
I narrowed my eyes at her. "What's going on?"
Katie wandered up to our group, grinning brightly. "Did you tell him?" she said to Nightliss.
"Not yet."
Katie looped her arm through mine. "You're gonna be so surprised," she said, and led me to the front row where most of my friends sat.
I cast a glance back at Nightliss, confused and a little worried. She hadn't been at full strength since Ivy had healed her from Daelissa's curse. I hoped she wasn't about to do something she wasn't ready for.
We took our seats and waited for the procession. Katie released my arm. I couldn't help but notice her glancing down the row at Ash. He looked at her, and quickly turned away, his face red.
"Are you two still seeing each other?" I asked.
She shook her head. "No. After they went vampire, I just couldn't look at him the same. I mean, I'm glad you took away the vampire part, but I guess we never reconnected, you know?"
I nodded. "Looks like he still has feelings for you."
A sad smile clouded her face. "Yeah. I just don't feel like I'm ready for another relationship. They all end badly."
I didn't even want to remind her of Brad Nichols. He'd been a recruit of Maximus's, but since Maximus hadn't been mature enough to properly turn a nom into a vampire, he'd infected Brad with the vampling curse, turning him into a member of the blood-sucking walking dead. He'd promptly massacred half a dozen corrupted high school officials who were trying to blackmail me. The incident remained a dark stain in my memories, but Katie had lost her virginity to the guy, so I couldn't imagine how brutal his death had been for her.
"Ash and Nyte have been training with Templar initiates," Katie said. "I think they're really serious about using the abilities you gave them. Maybe if Ash applies himself and proves himself to me, we can try again." She sighed, her hand brushing against mine. "Elyssa is so lucky to have you, Justin. We all are."
I tugged on my collar, feeling a bit embarrassed by the sudden praise. "You're all lucky to still be alive," I said. "I think I've nearly gotten you killed on two or three occasions."
Her laugh echoed across the crowd right when everyone stopped talking. She clamped a hand over her mouth, looking mortified.
A trumpet blared, and a drum punctuated the air with a precise military beat. A rank of Templars in shining armor, red crosses atop white shields emblazoned on their chest plates appeared from the direction of the old stone church to the side of the house. They wore no helmets, and I recognized one of the people in the line as Christian Salazar, the commander of Templars in Colombia. Templars bearing flags with the same symbols marched behind the commanders, followed by drummers and trumpeters.
The commanders stopped before Thomas Borathen. The drums and trumpets sounded a final cadence and stopped playing, leaving a sudden silence hanging in the air.
Christian saluted Thomas, and said in a loud clear voice, "My legion is at your command, sir knight." He gave a short bow and backed into line. Each commander followed suit. I counted thirteen in all, and wondered how many had gone over to the dark side of Bara Nagal and the Synod.
After Thomas accepted each of their offerings, he shouted a command. The drums rapped a complex series of beats, and the trumpets blared a somewhat familiar melody. I heard a gasp of awe and followed other's gazes to see an army of Templars marching from the church. Ranks upon ranks appeared, marching to the military cadence in perfect unison. I had never seen so many Templars in one place, and wondered if each commander had brought every unit under his command, or if this was just a sample of the entire army.
For nearly half an hour, the drums rat-a-tatted as the Templars filled the pasture where horses normally grazed. With a final beat, the drums ceased, their f
inal strikes punctuating the air.
A sense of awe and anticipation hung heavy in the air as Thomas Borathen walked up the stairs of a tall gray podium. An Arcane Templar made a motion with his wand, probably casting a voice amplification spell, and stepped aside as the Templar leader stood atop the platform. It seemed this was something much larger than an initiation ceremony.
"It has been a trying last several months for the order of the Knights Templar," Thomas said, his voice sounding almost as if he were right beside me. "The revelation of the Divinity's origin fractured our order. Former brothers in arms are now enemies."
"And sisters in arms," Katie whispered, obviously trying to keep things equal opportunity.
"Because of this rift, we have lost the ability to protect our initiates against certain curses, and to grant them enhancements they need in the war against chaos. We have lost the solidarity that makes Templars a barrier against evil. This threatens law and order."
Murmurs of agreement sounded in the crowd.
"The Synod, for all practical purposes, has fallen into chaos and ruin." He paused, looking around as if to emphasize the point. "Those of us who have remained united for the cause say, no more!" Thomas pounded a fist into his palm.
At this, a great cheer went up from the assembly, and the ranks of Templars sounded a single solid roar echoing in the chill air.
After the noise faded, Thomas continued. "Today we bring not only new initiates into the fold, but we also gain a new weapon in the battle against chaos."
The air became absolutely still as everyone waited with bated breath to hear the next words.
"I give you Nightliss, Seraphim, and the Clarion of the Knights Templar!" he shouted.
The crowd roared as Nightliss ascended the podium, looking fragile, petite, and cute—certainly not what one would expect of the new Divinity, although they'd obviously opted for a new, less pretentious title.
I sat open-mouthed as Katie beamed at me, gripping my arm and cheering.
The angel moved to the podium while Thomas stepped back. "I am honored to accept the responsibilities granted me by the Templar order," she said in her peculiar accent. She smiled, looking toward me for a moment. She seemed to steel herself, fists clenched, eyes closed. Ethereal ultraviolet wings fanned from her back, bathing her body in a halo of dark light. She opened her eyes to reveal glowing orbs, opened her hands and held them high. "The Templars will be a mighty force," she cried out in a voice that sounded like several voices speaking at once. "Order will be restored!"
Everyone leapt to their feet, cheering and roaring while the Templar army raised silver swords high in the air. As one, they swept the swords, point-down to the earth, and knelt, foreheads resting on the hilts.
I had to admit, I was pretty awed by the spectacle, and found myself kneeling with the others in the crowd.
"You!" Nightliss called out.
I looked up and saw her pointing toward me. I pointed uncertainly at my chest. "Me?" I said in a small voice.
"Justin Slade, please rise."
I did, feeling my face grow warm as all eyes settled on me.
"Without you, none of this would be possible. Without you, I would have died." She floated down from the podium, ultraviolet wings stretched wide, shimmering like black smoke, and landed in front of it. "Please come forward."
Glad we were near the front, I stepped toward her, legs feeling like jelly as everyone watched me. I'd never much liked the attention of the crowd. In high school it generally meant people were making fun of me. But this was different—so much different.
Nightliss smiled, looking cute and scary as hell at the same time as she took my hand. Despite the glow, her hand felt no warmer than usual. She stepped to my side and raised our hands high as cheers erupted.
"Slade! Slade! Slade!" the crowd chanted.
I managed an uneasy grin, but couldn't move my mouth to speak.
"Today, a new alliance is forged, and we go forth to victory!" Nightliss cried.
The cheers nearly overwhelmed my supernatural hearing.
Nightliss led me up the podium stairs where Thomas joined us. He gave me an almost smug look, as if happy to see me suffering stage fright.
"Today," he said, "marks a new chapter in the Templar order. No longer will the Blessings be given in secret. Let us begin the ceremony."
I wasn't sure what to do, so I stood with Nightliss and Thomas as initiates came up to the podium and were introduced. Nightliss pressed her hand to the chest of each one, speaking a few words of encouragement, and apparently imbuing them with supernatural gifts. I shook hands with each person as they passed by. Some regarded me with awe. Or maybe my deodorant had failed thanks to the cold sweat of stage fright.
It made me wonder what in the world these people knew about me, or if my sudden fame was because I got to hang with Nightliss.
Elyssa's beaming face appeared at the top. She already had a blessing from Daelissa which protected her from vampling curses and a host of other things, so I didn't know if Nightliss gave her a gift or not, though she pressed a hand to my girlfriend the same as she had the others. Thomas shook her hand, and pinned a Templar cross to her outfit. I could tell he was fighting to maintain a stern look while pride threatened to burst from his chest.
Elyssa reached me, and held out her hand. Since I wasn't exactly a Templar and didn't feel bound to be all strict and stuff, I pulled her to me and planted a big kiss on her right in front of everyone.
A collective gasp went up from the crowd, followed by a cheer. When I let Elyssa go, she seemed a little dizzy, as if she couldn't believe I'd just done that. I winked at her.
"Congratulations, Templar Borathen."
Her lips curved into a smirk. "Thank you, Mr. Slade."
My blood caught fire.
The next cadet approached, a lean, muscular guy. When I shook his hand, he gave me a disappointed look. "Don't I get a kiss?"
As the next initiate came up the stairs, something in the back of the seated crowd caught my attention. A young girl frantically waved her hands at me. Not just any girl.
It was Ivy.
Chapter 18
For some reason, neither Nightliss nor Thomas seemed to see my sister. I looked and saw two more initiates remaining. I couldn't just leave until the ceremony was over, but something had to be terribly wrong for Ivy to be here. This couldn't wait. I really had to talk to her. I stared at her, wishing I could just pause time and find out what was going on.
The last two initiates finally passed by. I leaned to Nightliss. "I have an emergency to take care of."
She gave me an uncertain look but nodded.
I descended the podium as Thomas gave a speech, and made my way down the center aisle, feeling eyes on me the entire way. I reached the house and went to the corner.
"Justin, something terrible is about to happen," Ivy said.
I reached out a tentative hand, and felt warm skin. "You're not projecting," I said. You're actually here." I went to hug her.
"I couldn't project here. The perimeter is warded." She pushed me away before I could embrace her. "We don't have time," she said. "You have to warn Thomas Borathen that the Synod wants him dead."
"The old Templar leadership? I think he knows that," I said.
"He's a good man," Ivy said. "Bigdaddy said so a lot of times, and I heard him arguing with Daelissa not to do this. He said for her not to let vengeance control her."
"What? I don't understand."
Ivy gripped my hands. "Tell him now. Please."
"Why do you care?" I asked.
She bit her lower lip. "Bigdaddy said it's wrong. And I got to thinking about the things you told me about Daelissa, Justin. She can be mean. I followed her one time and saw her do bad things to people because they wouldn't obey her."
"Has she repaired the Grand Nexus?" I asked.
"No," Ivy said. "We don't have time to talk. I have to leave."
"Wait," I said. "I'm trying to save Mom. Can you te
ll me where she is?"
Ivy made a frustrated sound. "In the basement of the house. But you can't get to her. Not even I can." She scrunched her face and blinked away in a puff of shadows.
"Damn it," I said, pounding a fist into my hand. I looked up at the podium as Thomas spoke, and considered Ivy's warning. What if—I saw a shadowy figure positioning what looked like a rifle on the crenelated walls atop the flat church roof. Everyone seemed too intent on Thomas's speech, even the patrolling Templar sentries.
I raced around the front of the house to keep myself hidden from view, and down the path to the church. I spotted a Templar standing guard at the front of the church and ran to him.
"I think there are people on top of the church," I said.
"Please, go back to the assembly," he said. "We have people positioned on the church standing guard."
"I need to be sure they're supposed to be there," I said.
The man seemed to reach a decision. "Of course. I'll go with you."
"Thanks," I said, and turned toward the church.
A flash of blinding pain struck me in the lower back. I twisted, felt the sting of metal tear my flesh, saw the man thrusting a knife at me. My hand flashed to his wrist. Gripped it and squeezed until I heard bones crack and a scream of pain. His foot flashed out. I somehow dodged, letting my demonic instincts take hold as I had when fighting against Thomas Borathen when he wanted nothing more than to take my head clean off for daring to date his daughter.
One of his fists slammed into my chest. I dodged the next blow directed at my throat, and lashed out with my hand. Heard his arm break. Then I slugged him in the face. He dropped like a rock. The people on the church roof had to be with this guy. Assassins.
I wanted to shout an alarm, but the crowd burst into loud cheers. I saw the other commanders lining up in front of the podium, and realized with sudden horror why the assassins hadn't struck at Thomas yet. They didn't want just him. They wanted to kill as many leaders as possible. I ran to the church doors. Locked. I kicked them with all my strength and nearly broke my foot. Magically reinforced, those bastards!
