“Master, we failed to trap the Knights in the Oubliette -”
“I'm aware,” Solon interjected as his gaze set upon Messalla.
“There has also been a sighting of Baron Kriminel. He is free and roaming the Upper Earth, near Temple Eliyon,” he said. Solon took a sip.
“I am also aware as I am the one that set him free. As for the Knights, well, I made someone dear to me a promise I would not. So no further action against the Knights will come by our hand,” Solon said as he looked at Messalla who was avoiding his direct stare.
Messalla being a tall man, cut his hair from his normal spikes into a low fade bringing attention to his hoop earrings. Solon sighed as he felt the impending doom about to fall upon him, but proceeded to allow things to play out and laughed as he had already been forewarned of the coming events.
“Messalla. Tell me, what of the Knights?” Solon asked.
“Meaning sir?”
“Don't play coy with me. What do they know? What's brewing on their side of the battlefield?”
“Sir, although I am a brother of this order, do not mistake my loyalty to this seal for betrayal of another. Rufus does not question my dealings with Magnum Opus nor does he make me choose sides, I would appreciate if you would grant me that same courtesy,” Messalla said staring.
“Is that so? Eventually Messalla, we must all choose sides. You chose your side when we stood at Coven Orchid. Or have you forgotten?” Solon asked with a devious look on his face.
Messalla stared unwavering as he too was at the highest level in the order. The other Rubedos looked towards Messalla as they attempted to piece together Solon's cryptic words.
“Leave us,” Solon said to the other men, and they obliged. Messalla knew of Solon’s intimidation tactics, but his training as a Knight had him unmoved. Solon grabbed Messalla and reached for his heart, causing his skin to sizzle and burn. Messalla stared at him acting as though the pain un-phased him, grabbing Solon’s hand and throwing him across the room.
Messalla’s skin began to heal itself and he straightened his coat, heading for the door. Solon locked the doors and began to turn his legs into a sticky liquid; causing him to be pinned to the ground. His heart began to beat fast as he tried to calculate his exit.
“Why does everyone feel superior enough to raise their hands to me?” Solon asked as he grabbed Messalla by the collar and began punching him. “I asked you a simple question, one which only requires a simple answer. Tell me, what your Black Knights know of me? Do they know I released Kriminel?” he pressed on.
Messalla shrugged and stabbed Solon in the throat. Solon fell back against the wall as Messalla reformed his legs. He summoned a sigil from his abdomen and thrusted a thousand knives at Solon. Solon was pinned against the wall, nearly lifeless.
Messalla silently took off the red coat of Magnum Opus and threw it on the ground. As he walked out, the other Rubedos stared at him.
“Who else wants a go?”
Dosos and Ornaeus charged their sigils and sent thousands of bullets flying his way. Messalla turned his shirt into a shield reflecting the bullets back to them. Dosos changed the bullets into birds, and as they flew away, Messalla disappeared.
27
Hail! Cornelius Agrippa!
The other Rubedos looked upon Solon who was pinned against the wall. Johnny Dee walked up to him as his eyes faded and caressed his face.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Poor Solon. I pity the sight which I behold. But you shall be avenged. We will honor you, forever. Solon the Great,” Johnny Dee said as the back of Solon’s eyes went black.
“But sir, he's still alive,” Dosos said as Johnny Dee raised his hand to silence him.
“No. Our dear Solon has had his time. And he is done. Now it’s time for the rightful leader of this order to step up,” he answered.
Johnny Dee rang the bell; summoning all to the courtyard where all levels of Ordo Magnum Opus gathered. Cornelius and Janna looked at each other confused as they lay in bed embracing one another. He looked out the window and could see everyone gathering in the courtyard.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“I don’t know. Let’s go see,” he said, grabbing his robes. Dosos and Ornaeus laid Solon upon a stone and Johnny Dee pretended to weep.
“See here, my brothers. Our dearest Solon has been slain by the Order of Magia Chaotica! They have taken our leader, my love and waged war upon us. Be we shall not be shaken. Mark my words brothers, tonight marks the beginning of their end!” he shouted, to the cheers of the Alchemists.
“What’s going on?” Cornelius asked, when silence fell over the courtyard. He slowly walked up to the lifeless body of Solon and gasped.
“Hail Cornelius Agrippa! Our new Grand Alchemist!” Johnny Dee shouted.
The Order clapped and cheered as though they celebrated Solon’s death. Cornelius didn’t know what to say or do; shocked at what just transpired. Janna stood silently behind Cornelius and took his hand as she smiled out of the corner of her mouth.
“Who did this?” Cornelius asked.
“Messalla, but he won’t get away with it. We must bury him soon,” Johnny Dee answered.
Dosos lowered his eyes at Johnny Dee, but remained silent as he played with one of the bird feathers from his duel with Messalla. Messalla was hurt, but was able to open a portal to the Blue Palace. He fell outside and Miss Chrissy heard the thump and a crash as he flew through the glass window. She and Valina pulled him to the infirmary where Lady Shinza began pulling bullets from his skin.
“Are there any Knights on site?” he asked, grunting as Cesare walked through the door.
Messalla rolled his eyes as Cesare was the last Knight he wanted to see. Interrupting his visit with Mila and caused Cesare to be as pissed as he was suspicious.
“Leave us ladies,” Cesare said ordering the BGs out.
Messalla stared at Cesare as intensely as Cesare stared him. His body was in pain and Cesare stuck his finger in one of Messalla’s bullet holes. He grunted but not to a scream; a reaction expected from a Black Knight.
“The Alchemists turned on you?” he asked as he stuck his finger in another bullet hole.
“Yes. I expect they will wage war on the order,” he said, getting angry.
“And Solon?”
“The last I saw of him, he was shish kebabed to the wall with a hundred knives,” Messalla said. Cesare stuck a bloody finger in his mouth and stared.
“Now then, it is time you choose sides. To become a fully initiated Magia, you must relinquish your vows to Ordo Magnum Opus and free yourself of the title Rubedo,” Cesare said standing up.
Messalla, who had studied alchemy for most of his life could not easily part with that which made him whole. Cesare knew it, but wanted to test his loyalty.
“Fine,” Messalla said hopping off the table. “Once I give up my powers, I don’t want any more shit from you Cesare. I will be a Knight and only a Knight.”
“As it should be,” Cesare said smiling.
The two Knights walked down the hall, and Cesare grabbed Miss Chrissy. “Lock the place down. No Alchemists are allowed in. We’re at war.”
Chrissy knew it. As the sisterhood to the Black Knights, if one warred, so did the other. Quintus met Cesare and Messalla in the hall; taking note of Messalla’s condition.
“Yo! What the fuck is going on?” he asked.
“Protect the girls. We’re expecting company,” Cesare said as he dragged him down to Mila’s suite.
“Now, I’m not adept in alchemy, but can you tell me if she has been hexed?” he asked as Messalla walked into the room. He instantly stopped and waved his hand above her body; revealing her many bruises and cuts.
“What the fuck did you do!?”
“Nothing. Someone has shrouded her with a concealment spell,” he said, as she began to convulse.
The men pinned her down, but Cesare felt from her the energy of another man. He stepped back in shock as his mind quickly shook the tho
ught from his mind. She opened her eyes but couldn’t speak.
“Mila? Baby? What happened?” She stared at him and felt on his face.
“Who are you?”
“What do you mean who am I? Its Cesare,” he said sounding defeated. She looked lost and her eyes began to bleed.
“Well that’s no good. Someone has also erased her memory of you,” Messalla said standing up.
“What do you mean? Speak!”
“Use your Magia and tell me what you feel.”
“Nothing. Not a damn thing.”
“Exactly. I think what has happened here is a soul extraction. We have a ritual called the Pass of the Three Horned God -”
“Why in the fuck would you Alchemists have such a ritual?!” Cesare shouted, grabbing Messalla by the collar. Messalla lowered his eyes, releasing Cesare’s grip and straightening his coat.
“I have never done the ritual. I have no reason to. But the quest for immortality has lead a few Alchemists soulless. But Alchemy doesn't work without a soul, so they found a way to rectify the situation,” Messalla said, noticing Cesare’s skin turning a shade of blue. “Let me test something,” Messalla said as he pinched Mila’s arm. Cesare felt it.
“Hmm. You two have done a soul binding?”
Cesare nodded as his phone began to ring.
“Well this is a problem.”
“Why?”
“When they took her soul, they took yours and replaced it with something dark. That is why your flames grow weak,” Messalla said. Cesare shot a cold look at him.
“Can you fix it?”
“Yes. Because you two are connected, they were only able to take a part of your soul which will make it easier to retrieve it. The dark energy must be expelled from her first because it is currently filling the void. The longer your soul is away, they could potentially take the rest piece by piece. The only issue is, I will have to be an Alchemist to fix this,” Messalla stared at him.
Cesare was torn, as he wanted to stay with his wife, but a darkness was quickly consuming him and he craved a battle. “Do what you have to. Chrissy, Bibi, please watch her and him. Call me if anything goes wrong. I’ll be back shortly,” he said as he headed back to the rooftop. Cesare needed answers, and a release before he could simmer down enough to help his wife. Messalla stared at Mila who looked as though she were caught in a dream.
“What’s wrong with her?” Chrissy asked.
“Part of her soul is gone. Her mind is trapped in an illusion of sorts,” he answered as Mila began to convulse, passing out once again.
“Shit. I need to go get some stuff from home. If I’m not back within the hour, that means I may be in trouble. I am being framed for Solon’s murder and they will use that to initiate war with the Magia. So if anyone looks strange, don’t let them in. Some Alchemists have the ability to shape-shift or alter their outer appearance. Be careful ladies.”
“Wait? Solon’s been murdered?” Bibi asked with her eyes widened.
“No. I’m sure he’s not dead. Maybe pissed off, but not dead. It would take more than a hundred knives to kill him,” Messalla said storming out the door. Mila's skin began turning a shade of blue causing Chrissy to smile.
“Beebs look,” she said. Bibi gasped. “Mother is helping her. She's going to be ok. See, we don’t need alchemy,” Chrissy said.
The ladies lit candles and incense in the room to allow her spirit to find its way through the darkness. They sat on the bed next to her hoping their presence was felt. Mila cracked a smile as they held her hand.
***
Cesare made it back just in time as Rufus bid the Reapers farewell. He grabbed another bucket of ice and began crunching to calm his nerves as Rufus relieved himself of Matilda.
“When I tell a bitch no, that’s what the fuck I mean. For fucks sake! I can’t take that fucking crying shit. That’s why I always fuck with the BGs. Real women. No bullshit ass crybabies,” Rufus went on with a grimace on his face.
“Come on Rex, her daughter was just gang-raped,” Lance said.
“No shit! Wolves and sheeple orders are infamous for this bull and that’s why I didn’t want her ass to go!”
“I'll ask Mila and Bibi to visit her,” Cesare said.
“Ah, don’t bother. Marissa's a lost cause. Not all women have the strength to become a Blue Goddess. They are truly the toughest bitches on the planet. Sex is on a level like no other. MY kind of women,” Rufus said.
“Well, I can’t argue there,” Adonis added thinking of his wife Bibi.
“How long does this sleeping shit last?” Rufus asked, kicking one of them.
“Not sure, but I don’t have all night,” Adonis said taking Cesare's ice bucket and splashing one of the men with the water and ice. He woke up shouting and shaking, clawing to take the white cloth from around his head.
“You don’t know who you're fucking with!” the man shouted as he removed the cloth from his head. He was a bald white man with a red symbol tattooed upon the top of his head. “You Magia think you know everything! You know nothing. Simply pawns upon the chessboard waiting for the Demiurge to play its hand. And like it has been foretold, you act as expected. Wreaking havoc everywhere you go,” he said taking a stand.
Lance scrunched his face at the naked man and Adonis punched him in the mouth.
“Who are you working for and why are you doing sacrifices as the Order of Mopses?” Rufus asked folding his arms.
“We are Mopses. We are Ordo Viscenti Regalus. We are the Southern Wolf Pack. None will matter in the end. You Magia may have thwarted the Powers and possess Gabriel's horn, but there are six more trumpets that will sound. Even now, Wormwood falls as we speak. The waters of Earth will be made bitter to the taste as the third trumpet is blown. The great Seer has seen it, yet the reality of this world has been hidden from you,” he said causing Rufus to pick him up by the throat.
“How do you know this? What do you know of the Seer? Answer me!”
“Dante of the Order of Dactyls sits atop the Owl Tower and watches the world burns, as the sons of God bind the sons of man, to bring about the fourth Reckoning of this world. One that none of you orders in all your power can prevent. The great cleansing begins now,” the man said pointing at a shiny star in the sky.
Rufus drug him to the edge of the building and threw him off. The man laughed as he made his way down; only the sound of a splatting thud silenced him.
“Who's next? Rufus asked slapping the next man awake. Lance, who was still smoking, caught the sound of wolves howling in the background.
“Shit!” he said throwing his cigarette.
“You got silver bullets in those guns?” he asked Adonis.
“Always. Why?”
“Can’t you hear them coming?” Lance asked with a deep, violent look in his eye.
“Then let’s go!” Adonis said pulling out his guns. They hopped over the side of the building, landing on the concrete below. They stood ready. Silently listening to the approaching pack.
Lance looked up at the waxing moon, the bright star shining ever bright and wondered if it truly was another angelic horde falling towards Earth. His thoughts were broken by the sound of Adonis firing away at the wolves who were just feet away.
As they engaged the wolves below, Rufus woke the next man. His mind was set upon the words of the first man whose body was exploded upon the concrete below.
“Hello pretty. Wake the fuck up!” he shouted as the man came to. “I have a question for you! Why is Ordo Viscenti Regalus sacrificing witches in the name of Mopses?” This man did not laugh or say a word, simply stared at him.
“I don’t think he heard the question Rex,” Cesare said, taking a handful of fire and rubbing it on the man's torso.
He screamed as the fire passed upon his skin. He grit his teeth as his breathing sped up.
“Now then, answer with words,” Rufus said.
The man began to shake his head as Cesare burned him again. Below, the wolves kept coming
at Lance and Adonis; both running out of bullets. Adonis reached for a short sword hidden in his boots and began slashing.
Lance guns to knives, but didn’t mind the occasional “Old school kills” as he called it. Rufus and Cesare however made no headway with the second man as nearly 85% of his body was scorched. In Cesare's frustration, he forcefully woke the other four men, grabbing the second man by the throat.
“Alright you assholes. Rex has questions that need answering. If you do not comply, the following shall be your fate,” he said dragging the wiggling man to the ledge and throwing him off the side. He screamed all the way down, splatting just a foot away from Adonis.
“Cesare you shit!” he shouted as the man's body exploded on him. Cesare laughed but diverted his attention to the other four men, one amongst them being John.
“I see that the darkness has not killed your spirit, rather blackened your soul,” John said staring at Cesare intensely. Rufus felt this was about to go bad, but went along with it.
“Do you remember those nights as a child, when you would bend yourself to the will of the Bishop and no relief came until my order saved you? We baptized you to become a warrior for God, to cleanse your sins, for He hates sodomites as much as sorcerers does He not? That makes your sins twice as great” John said laughing.
Cesare swallowed hard. He never talked about his past with his fellow Knights and only his wife Mila and mother knew of it. Rufus sighed as he was beginning to understand his favorite Knight; his ruthless anger, cold vengeance and his unwavering duty to destroy Christendom.
“You, Cesare Borgia, were Tomás Torquemada's greatest student. And alas, he draws breath. He is coming for you. He wants to come back to our side, where you belong,” John said laughing.
“Shut the fuck up!” Cesare yelled as he grabbed John and began punching him. He continued to punch until his fist went through his skull. The warm squish of his brain did not stop Cesare from punching.
Knights of Enmity: The Barons Have Fallen (Descending Fires Book 1) Page 33
