Sentinels of Creation: A Tale of Two Gardens (Sentinel's of Creation Book 2)

by Robert Ross

  Frazier suddenly shrieked and reared back on his haunches, front hooves rising up and then slamming down amidst clods of earth. Shannon crouched, instantly filling her hands with twin daggers as she noticed a thin film of frost had formed across the whole of Solomon’s Seal. “Frazier!” she yelled, “Get out of here. Glenn Ferry. Now!” The stallion’s eyes widened in fear exposing the whites and Shannon caught the slightest distortion to his left. A moment later, Frazier leaned forward and bucked his massive legs. They connected with something and Shannon saw the air distort further as something flew several yards away.

  She reached inward and drew fully from the emerald stream, feeling her eyes warm with effort. Around her, reality warped as a pale green shield snapped into place. Shannon narrowed her eyes as Kellan’s power made visible what had been cloaked before. A massively armored demon crashed to earth several feet outside the circle. It slowly regained its feet and turned black eyes first toward her and then the stallion. Shannon created a tendril of wind and whipped at Frazier’s flank. The horse needed no further encouragement and launched itself at a gallop, disappearing into the trees.

  The demon turned back to Shannon and bent down to retrieve a long spear from where it had fallen. It glared at her. “Soulborn.” The words came out like a curse and the creature spun the spear twice as it advanced into the circle. Small dark clouds formed above and Shannon lashed out with two daggers glinting as she hurled them at the demon. It blocked both with the spear then raised it with one heavily muscled arm to catch the lightning bolt Shannon called forth from the accumulated clouds.

  The demon bellowed and spun in a tight circle whipping the spear point toward her and redirected the energy provided by her summoned lightning strike. Shannon bent time and leaped out of the way just as the bolt scorched the earth where she had stood moments before.

  Even with time bent as it was, the demon tracked her. The black eyes rested within deep bony sockets making it seem as if they were merely glowing red embers. Massive black ram’s horns grew from either side of its head. And its skin was comprised of thick overlapping plates of chitinous armor that covered it from head to foot. Shannon had encountered many demons before today, but none such as this.

  A circle of frost expanded outward from her as she channeled, gathering the ambient heat, then converted it to plasmatic fire as Kellan had shown her. A pillar of white flame erupted around the demon melting the ground and engulfing it in a conflagration so hot that Shannon would have been consumed were it not for her shield. She felt her stomach lurch as the demon stepped forward, armor plates glowing brightly but unharmed. It looked at her and laughed mirthlessly, “I was born in fire, little mortal. Your stolen magics are beneath my notice.” It paused cocking its head as it stared at the crouching Highlander. “Nothing to say? I was told to expect more.”

  She sneered at the demon, “That’s Kellan. He’s the talker. I’m the doer.” With those words, Shannon slammed the heels of her hands together causing a spiral burst of wind to catch the demon and hurl it backward. She leaped after it twin daggers flashing and struck hard at its neck and chest. Both blows deflected harmlessly off the creatures armor and Shannon barely rolled out of the way of its spear thrust. The demon lashed out with its leg, catching Shannon in the side and ripping through her leathers with a bony protrusion. She gasped and reached down, pressing her hand to the wound. It came away wet with bright red blood. Shannon stumbled to her feet and backed into the circle trying to keep the stones between her and the demon.

  She sought the emerald power within her and found it all but depleted, then channeled a tendril of fire which buried itself into the wound. Shannon grimaced in pain as the fire cauterize her side, but refused to cry out. The demon shimmered and vanished causing the Highlander to cast about furtively, then curse herself a fool for releasing the power. She took it up again barely in time make visible her assailant and dodge another spear thrust. Shannon panted as she sprinted around the stones then braced her back against the center obelisk.

  The demon walked into view. It spun the spear with casual confidence as its black eyes appraised her. “Soulborn,” it said again, then spat on the ground. “You are not even worthy of my contempt let alone my anger.” It smiled and Shannon felt chilled to the center of her being. Never before had she seen a more malevolent expression, even when facing Asmodeus. “Without anger, I will kill you. With no animus will I take those tiny daggers you prize so much and sever you limb from limb, while there is yet breath in you. I will leave your parts beneath each of these stones, then I will pass through them to my brothers and sisters.” The demon held the spear lengthwise and thrust it forward, “This spear will power our dark portals and I will travel to the second garden. I will shatter time itself and we will start again. No war in heaven. Our Father will again embrace his Morning Star.” The demon paused as if considering something. “If it is any consolation, I won’t really be killing you, because once I finish my task in the second garden, you will never have existed at all.”

  There was very little Shannon liked less than demonic monologuing, yet it seemed they could rarely help themselves. She had fixated on one word the demon had used. Daggers. The soulborn remembered Kellan telling her of his time with Micah and how the sword, or dagger, would always be the most powerful weapon against all unnatural creatures for it was an extension of will, mind, and spirit. Shannon drew her last dagger and screamed, infusing her throw with as much Ordered power as she could channel. The air cracked like thunder when her weapon warped the air as it streaked toward the demon, but the creature was still too fast. At the last moment, it interposed the spear shaft between himself and the blade. Shannon groaned as she saw the dagger drive into wood instead of flesh. For a moment, she thought it might pass all the way through, but instead the spear glowed brightly as the wood seemed to heal around the dagger. In moments, the spear was as it had been, unmarred, but with blade and grip protruding from either side of its wooden shaft.

  Shannon staggered, falling to one knee, her back against the center stone as blood dripped from half a dozen wounds. She reached inward to find only a trickle of green energy remained. None of her attacks had worked. It was as if this demon had been specifically created to withstand anything she might attempt. Worse, now it looked like she was going to die here. Shannon felt angry tears begin to fill her eyes. The highlander had long figured she would eventually die to some demon or other inhuman, but not like this. Not so far from the one man she had ever loved. Not when so much depended on her succeeding. She looked up as the demon raced toward her spinning the Spear of Longinus and readying its killing thrust. Shannon ground her teeth as her mind raced, eyes fixed on the dagger embedded in the spear shaft. That goddamned demonic bastard, she thought reaching her hand outward and draining the last of her borrowed power. She bellowed at the demon as it leaped high into the air, arcing toward her. “That dagger is my mother’s,” Her voice lowered into a growl, “and I want it BACK!”

  Power lanced from Shannon’s outstretched hand, propelled by her iron will, and fused to the dagger. She pulled her arm backward and saw the spear rip from the demon’s grasp. It streaked toward her and she snatched it from the air. Shannon set the shaft against the center stone, braced it with both hands, and angled it toward the falling demon. The creature had no wings with which to alter or slow its trajectory and Shannon grunted with effort as the weaponless demon’s full weight slammed against the Spear. Time seemed to slow as the shaft bent under the strain. She could hear the wood start to splinter and then, like when her dagger had struck its shaft, the spear resisted. Glowing brightly and becoming warm in her hands, Shannon felt the shaft straighten. Like all those who sought to possess it but were found unworthy, the spear would not change. It had tasted divine blood and would remain as it was the day Longinus wielded it. The demon shrieked in fear and anger as its armor plates parted beneath the Holy Spear. Shannon blinked as hot black blood sprayed her face and she was pressed hard against the cente
r stone. She couldn’t breathe. The demon’s bulk slid lifelessly down the shaft crushing her. Blackness started to close about her and Shannon felt herself fall backward through the stone.

  Chapter 17

  Search for the Cabal

  The black Impala’s tires squealed in protest as Kellan wheeled into a visitor’s spot at Meghan’s condo. He quickly slid out and closed the door which gave a loud creak as it slammed shut. Kellan was already two steps away, but turned and frowned at his car. He walked back, and slowly opened the driver’s side door. Creak The Sentinel’s eyebrows raised in alarm. He crouched down and slowly closed the door. Creeaakkk.

  “Oh, hells, no,” said Kellan out loud as he fully opened the door and examined the hinge assembly. “Baby, we do not abide creaks and rattles. Has someone hurt you?” The car remained silent except for the soft ticking of its cooling engine. Kellan reached in and ran his fingers along the hinge trying to find anything out of place.

  “Kellan?”

  The Sentinel started at the sound of his name, lifting up and slamming his head into the edge of the doorframe. He turned rubbing his head as a torrent of profanity died on his tongue.

  “Mrs. Taballareo? Is that you? What are you doing here?” Kellan looked at his watch. “Shouldn’t you be in school?”

  The elderly Italian woman’s face broke into a grin and all the weathered lines that marked a life well lived spread outward. She reached up and tweaked Kellan’s cheek. “You are sweet, Kellan,” then noticing his vacant expression, added, “just still not very observant.”

  He smiled. “Mrs. Taballareo, I have become much more—“

  She interrupted him with a soft touch on his arm, “It’s been over 25 years since I was your teacher, Kellan. Honestly, you can call me Mia if you like.”

  Kellan’s eyes widened. “Why would I do that. You are Mrs Taballareo?”

  “Kellan, I retired five years ago.”

  “You did?”

  “I did.”

  “Oh, well, that sucks.”

  She sighed and gave Kellan a look and he said, “Oh, well, that stinks?”

  “Not for me it doesn’t. I’m enjoying retirement. Mrs. Spicer took over my first grade class and she’s doing wonderfully.”

  Kellan looked dubious. “I don’t know her.”

  Mia laughed. “Why would you know her?”

  “Hey,” said Kellan feeling defensive, “I still come to Canterbury Woods and donate books. I also read to the kids.”

  Mia waved her hand dismissively, “You are still too sensitive, Kelly”

  He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed, “Yeah, well, that’s me. Mr. Sensitive,” then flashed his old teacher a grin, “You know, there are only three living people allowed to call me Kelly.”

  She returned his smile, “I’m glad to know that I’ve been grandfathered into such a select group, but I must be off now.”

  “Wait, what are you doing in Cabbagetown? Did you know Meghan Daugherty lives here?”

  “I live here, Kellan.”

  “You do?” he said surprised.

  “I’m hip, Kellan. Now I’m going to meet the girls for lunch so, stop slowing me down.”

  “Hey, you called out to me,” Kellan said laughing.

  “Well, I’m aware of how much you love that car and you know Sam is a wizard with old cars.”

  “Baby, is not an old car,” said Kellan then added, “Who’s Sam?”

  “You know Sam. Sam Waterhouse.”

  “The art teacher?”

  She smiled wistfully.

  “You and Sam Waterhouse?”

  She nodded.

  “Well, what do you know about that,” said Kellan putting his hands on hips. “How long has this been going on and what do you guys do together.”

  “About three years now and as for what we do together, lots of things. I imagine much the same things you do with that redheaded Scot of yours.”

  “Shannon?”

  Mia snickered, “Yes, Shannon, unless you keep a stock of them hidden away. Although, from what I hear, doing so would not be very good for your health.”

  Kellan looked confused, “How do you know about Shannon?”

  Mia just nodded back toward the condo.

  “Meghan?”

  “Miss Daugherty is the source of a fair bit of gossip. We do hot yoga together.”

  “You do?”

  “We do. In fact, I just saw Meghan in the gym. She’s there with this giant of a man. He’s a pretty one too. Saruman or something”

  Kellan snorted. “Seramai. Although given Meghan’s track record with men, Saruman is a good guess. Well, that’s good info. Saves me time running up to her place. I’ll meet up with her in the gym then.”

  “Be careful, last I saw, they seemed to be doing their very best to beat each other up.”

  Kellan sighed, “Yeah, Meghan finally found someone with the same bizarre mating ritual she has.”

  Mia smirked, “Well, you would know, Kellan, wouldn’t you?”

  His mouth fell open. “Oh my god, Mrs. Taballareo!”

  “Pish posh, Kellan, girls talk and I’m not dead yet.” She looked at her watch. “But I am late.” Mia grabbed him by both wrists, raised up on toes, and gave Kellan a kiss on the cheek. “Please do come by again soon, you know you were always my favorite.” She smiled then waved and headed down the street.

  Kellan watched in bemused silence then called after her, “Hey, have Sam give me a call. I’m worried about Baby’s door.”

  The older woman didn’t turn around but raised one hand and waggled it in acknowledgment.

  Sam and Mia, thought Kellan as he turned toward the condo’s locked gate and unconsciously channeled Ordered energy. He jumped halfway up the chain linked gate, deftly placing his left foot in one of the open links, then pushed left to where his right foot met the adjacent brick. Power coursed into his legs as Kellan pushed off the wall, arced well above the barbed wire top of the gate, then curled and landed in a crouch on the other side.

  “Dude,” came a shout from behind him causing Kellan to whip around as he released the power. “That was some badass parkour right there. You must have jumped ten feet right up that wall!” I am a complete idiot, thought Kellan, I have got to be more discrete for god’s sake. Yeah, ‘cause discretion has always been one of your strong suits.

  Kellan dismissed his internal dialogue and gave a half hearted wave to a black millennial with a perfectly coordinated hipster outfit. “Thanks, man, but it really is a lot easier than it looks. See ya.” With that he turned and made his way around the corner as nonchalantly as possible.

  Meghan dodged left, sweat spraying from her face, and reached up with both hands to grab Seramai’s wrist as his fist missed her jaw by scant inches. She twisted and brought her right knee up, slamming it into his solar plexus. Kellan winced in sympathetic pain as the larger man grunted and bent forward. Meghan positioned her right hand against Seramai’s shoulder and smoothly bent to grip his thigh with her left. She heaved and Kellan’s breath caught as she hoisted him above her shoulders. For a moment, as the early afternoon sun shone through the gym windows, Kellan was distracted by what seemed like a strange winged shadow against the far wall, but only had a second to consider it before Seramai cried out.

  “Meghan, Red Planet” called Seramai and Kellan’s attention snapped back as his eyes met those of Meghan’s which seemed to luminesce with the same soft amber glow he’d seen beneath the Vatican. Her lips were curled in a victorious snarl as she spun. “Meghannnh! Red. Planet!” shouted Seramai again and Kellan could see what was coming next. The young Sentinel squinted and partially averted his gaze as the sound of Seramai being unceremoniously slammed into the ground came to his ears.

  He glanced back to see Meghan, eyes their normal brown, bouncing on the balls of her feet and rubbing hands together in a dismissive fashion. Seramai, lay on his back staring up at her and groaned softly, “Red Planet?”

  The former Marine lo
oked down at his supine form as if just noticing him. “Oh, shit,” she said. “Seramai, did you use the safe word?”

  “Only twice,” he said sitting up. “You didn’t hear it through the fog. You must concentrate, my love. You have power, but no control. You must have both.”

  She knelt beside him and gave the warrior a soft kiss on the lips, “I”m sorry. You’re right, I honestly didn’t hear you say it.”

  “Jesus, Meghan, he only screamed it twice.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t say that I screamed,” offered Seramai.

  “Dude, you cried out like a little girl,” said Kellan with a laugh then added, “Not that I blame you. She’s fucking nuts. And what’s this my love, stuff.”

  Meghan stood and Seramai accepted her offered hand. She pulled him up then reached for a nearby towel, dragging it across her face and chest. “Hi Kel,” she said, “Seramai here is smitten. Aren’t ya?”

  “Quite smitten,” he said with a smile.

  Kellan looked from one to the other. “What have you two been up to,” then becoming suspicious, “And how did you even know to come now, Seramai?”

  “Come?” asked Meghan, “He hasn’t left. We flew in from Rome yesterday.”

  “You did?” asked Kellan, processing.

  They both nodded and Meghan added, “Since you asked, yes, we did have a wonderful time and,” she paused, “Seramai showed me some very interesting things.”

  Kellan frowned slightly and glared at the large man, “Harrumph, I bet he did, and why did you pause like that?”

  “Like what,” she said innocently and Kellan caught Seramai giving her a sidelong glance.

  “You know, like what,” said Kellan. “You totally paused when saying his name, like you were going to say something else.”

  Meghan laughed and slapped Kellan’s shoulder causing him to rock sideways, “You are so paranoid, Kellan. Come on upstairs. I want a shower and you can fill us in on what’s been happening in your freakish little world.”