saint Sebastian the Rose

by Glover, Michael W.

  With time wasting away, which Jacob thought was a good thing indeed, the two made their way into the room. He never felt more exposed than he did right now crossing the floor. A memory came back to him again: this was the way their mysterious figure had traveled. Jacob swallowed again.

  Sebastian did not want to linger so he pushed on to achieve their goal; the less time away, the less the chance of being discovered if anyone was about … and he felt sure that they were not alone. Coming to the entrance of the chapel they looked about the small alcove giving a quick inspection. He leaned into Jacob again but didn’t get the same reaction as before.

  “Before we enter, do you remember where you may have laid the book? I do not want to linger in a search; we must be in and out.”

  Jacob searched his memory as best as he could. His face twisted in concentration and uncertainty. A lot had happened in the time he was trying to remember and he was in a bit of a fog. He looked at Sebastian and focused.

  “I believe I know where I laid it.”

  With a plan in place, Sebastian moved to the doors of what was once one of his favorite places in the castle. The doors were slightly ajar. He slid his fingers into the crack between them; the resulting creak from the hinges sounded as though it came from a loud speaker. Jacob’s flesh crawled with dread.

  The doors finally gave way before them and the room appeared to be as they left it. Only a few candles still burned weakly. They entered, and Jacob rushed over to the area he hoped to find the book and the crucifix he had left behind; he prayed he would find the crucifix first. With everything working against them in their quest, it would be only natural that the pew where he had left the items in question had been one of those turned over in Baldric’s rage.

  Jacob fell to the ground in his mad search. Sebastian joined him, realizing this was not going to be as easy as they had hoped. Jacob worked his way over to one of the overturned pews. Sebastian looked feverishly also but occasionally looked up to survey their surroundings, not trusting their luck. His ears were primed for anything, but that was hindered by the unavoidable noise they both were making. He knew this would not be good in the long term; they must find the book quickly and be on their way or they would soon be discovered.

  Sebastian gave up the search briefly as a thought crossed his mind. He knew he was thinking ahead and he needed to focus, but the more he ran things over in his head the more sense it made to him. As he stood there Jacob grunted. He looked over to see Jacob holding a small black book.

  “You have it.”

  “Yeah, I found it,” Jacob said with delight.

  “We need to go,” Sebastian said urgently. Jacob bent over again, continuing his search.

  “The crucifix should be here near also.”

  “We need to go. Now!” Sebastian’s tone became more urgent as he was looking around. Jacob stood upright again with his eyes wide. Was there something Sebastian wasn’t sharing?

  Sebastian was not sure of anything, but his senses just told him their time was up as Jacob rushed to his side. They stood in silence for a moment. Had the mood changed? Were the candles and the shadows telling them more or were they just paranoid? A sense of impending doom fell over them. The time to leave had come, and they hesitated no longer.

  Their strides came quickly. Away from the disordered chapel they went, down the halls that once had been friendly, and into the Grand Staircase Hall. They moved into the expanse of the room, and Sebastian knew they were not alone. He scanned the room, his eyes locking on two figures at the top of the stairs looking directly at them.

  He grabbed Jacob and thrust him in front. Jacob understood when he glanced backward. Two figures descended the stairs, and he knew the chase was on. To battle now would be suicide. Just because he saw only two didn’t mean that there were not ten or more. They would not stand a chance, and that is why Sebastian was pushing at his back urging him to run for all he could.

  They ran down the seemingly endless corridor. Jacob was now in a cold sweat as some of his worst nightmares became real. He couldn’t hear them, but he knew they were there.

  As they reached the foyer Sebastian grabbed Jacob and whirled him around to stop trying to find the hidden panel. Before entering the doorway Jacob pulled a vial from his pocket and uncorked it. With shaking hands he emptied the contents on the door. Sebastian tossed Jacob in without warning.

  They ran again down the stairs into the blackness Jacob had once feared and now welcomed. As the silence was broken by sounds of surprise and pain, Jacob allowed himself a moment of joy knowing the holy water worked. The moment wouldn’t last, and they hurried down into the inky interior.

  Trusting his instincts and running with pure abandon, Jacob pressed forward with Sebastian on his heels, his inspiration coming from the visions of what could be. He knew they were close; he could feel their presence.

  There was the sound of the water under his feet and that reassured him. He saw the dim light of the stairs ahead of him and knew they would make it if they kept running. To the stairs he went, nearly running into the wall as he jumped onto them. As he ran up the steps he suddenly realized something was terribly wrong; he was alone. Jacob made his way to the top of the stairway and entered the room. Quickly he grabbed a sconce on the wall and stopped only for a second, just time enough to yell.

  “Help us!”

  The words had not even left his lips and he was running back down the steps with torch in hand. That is when the first scream of agony was heard. Sebastian had made contact with the first intruder and had certainly hurt him badly.

  Jacob made his way towards Sebastian as Sebastian made his attempt to exit. This time the effort came from Jacob as he thrust the torch around Sebastian and into the face of an emerging vampire reaching for his friend. The scream that echoed was guttural and reflected real pain. Sebastian then nearly carried Jacob up the last few steps and into the room where a waiting party had assembled and slammed the heavy stone closed. They didn’t wait, quickly making their way back to the upper room.

  For the next few seconds they waited in silence. All was quiet but for the heavy breathing of the two returning heroes. A massive blow against the door caused it to shake and bow with force. On the other side, the blows came one after the other. Dust fell from the door, and a crack formed. Sebastian fell against the door, aided by several of the monks. Jacob dropped back a little, expecting the door to fly open under the bombardment. Their heartbeats kept time with the thudding sounds from the other side of the door, which were mixed with the sounds of what seemed like hungry dogs.

  The monks who flanked Sebastian stood with resolute defiance against the small barrier between them and death. Father Donovan stood in the center of the room with his gaze fixed steadily on the door while he rested on his staff. He glanced at his watch and looked back at the door, which vibrated. The barrage slacked and then stopped suddenly. Then there was only quiet. Not even the sound of a retreat could be heard.

  After a while Father Donovan motioned for the defenders of the door to retreat. Jacob and Jessica tensed up and made their way further from the door and close to a wall.

  “I think we are safe now.” Father Donovan looked around and saw the twins backed far away. He pointed to his watch, and Jacob looked to his as well. The time was after five-thirty a.m.

  “They must find their place to stay before the sun comes up, and that is not long away. They will not seek refuge here in the monastery because they do not control it. They would not risk being found. It seems we have survived the night,” Father Donovan said.

  Sebastian leaned against the wall and sank down to the floor.

  chapter TWENTY-SEVEN

  THEY WAITED FOR ALMOST half an hour before anyone moved or said anything. Father Donovan turned to Sebastian and Jacob and asked, “Did you find anything?”

  Jacob, who was still tense from the chase, had completely forgotten the purpose of their journey. Sebastian jogged his memory.

  “The book.”


  “Oh yeah!” Jacob pulled the small book from his pocket and handed it over to Father Donovan for inspection.

  The book was only about four inches across, six inches long and one inch thick. Father Donovan turned the book over, inspecting it thoroughly. After satisfying himself with the outside, he opened it to find rubbings. Father Donovan looked up at all who were holding him in their gaze, and he closed the book and slapped it in his hand.

  Sebastian stomped across the castle, creating as much noise as he could, almost daring any unwelcome visitor to challenge him now in the open. As he made his way, he cursed the fact he could not move around in the day and would have to wait till the night came.

  He entered the Grand Staircase Hall and had to look twice; surely his wishes would not be that easily granted. Standing on the first landing was someone who he knew should not be there. His muscles tensed, but the figure did not move.

  Sebastian paused for a second, and it came to him—he knew who this was beyond any doubt. Looking into those fiery red eyes jarred his memory. This was his Companion—the one who had first come to him in the woods, the one who had entered Sebastian’s peaceful place.

  The figure stood silently and then slowly moved to the stairs. Taking measured steps like each one was important and might be his last, he walked down to the floor level. Sebastian relaxed slightly and moved slowly to the center of the room. The Companion also moved to the center with steps as quiet as a grave.

  There they met, keeping some distance between them. The room was still dark. The sun still had not made the horizon, but was softly lighting the lower sky. The Companion appeared the same; his hood fully covered his head, and the only signs of life were the penetrating eyes that shone like brightly lit rubies. Sebastian was the first to speak. He knew his Companion would be next; without doubt he had something to say.

  “I see you like to find me in my places and without invitation.”

  “I need no invitation when it comes to this place; there are none of us who do, as you should know.”

  “Why do you come to me now, here?” Sebastian asked. “Do you not have a place you need to be before this next hour is up?”

  “Your sarcasm is not welcome. You are running out of time, and I do not know if you are sensitive to that fact. I would have hoped you had prepared yourself better. For you have been lucky, I think, that more have not been lost in their carelessness.”

  “How do you seem to know all of this? You must tell me all that you know, or I shall begin to treat you as one of my enemies … if you’re not already.”

  “I would have hoped that you would begin to trust me by now,” the Companion said, sounding somewhat amused.

  “Trust? How can I trust you? I do not know who you are, or what part you play in any of this. Our kind does not trust, because we are not trustworthy. We only plot and play to our own benefit at the loss of others we do not care anything about, unless they can be used to our gain,” Sebastian spat back at him.

  The Companion raised his head slightly, and his features showed faintly in the night’s light.

  “Ah, but you seem to have forgotten one among us who does not fit that description—yourself.”

  Sebastian lowered his head. He felt nothing he did would ever make up for all of the people who helped or sacrificed for him.

  “I am afraid I too am unworthy of that. Where would I be without these people? I would either be dead or like …”

  “Like me,” the Companion finished Sebastian’s statement for him. Sebastian looked back up at the figure before him and knew by the tone in the voice that his words had surely hurt him.

  “I do not know anything about you except the fact you have not tried to outright hurt me or anyone else here and that you have … helped us. I know it was you who took out the two in the woods. You saved the lives of the twins, and I am very grateful. Maybe you also do not fit that description?”

  “Do not be so sure of anything. I would not say I am not selfish in my own endeavors. I am what I am,” the Companion said.

  “Why are you here?” Sebastian asked.

  “Time … time is running out. You must prepare, and this I cannot stress more. Your time is up. They will come, and they will take this castle and lay waste to all who inhabit it unless they are beaten,” the Companion said hurriedly. Then, more slowly he added, “What is your plan?”

  Sebastian thought for a second, and then spoke.

  “We plan to hold the castle and fight them off.”

  “All well and good, but you underestimate what you are up against. If you stay here and fight … you will lose.”

  Sebastian did not particularly care for his conversations with his Companion, for they always seemed to be talking of his inevitable doom.

  “What would you suggest?” Sebastian asked meekly. The Companion took a step forward and stopped.

  “You must take the fight to them,” the Companion explained. Sebastian reflected a moment before answering.

  “I cannot fight with them in the day,” he said. The Companion took another step forward and stopped.

  “They understand the consequences of inaction and the threat; you know this,” the Companion was once again playing cat and mouse with Sebastian’s brain.

  “We do not know where to look,” Sebastian said, fishing for more. Taking another step towards Sebastian, the Companion came within six feet and stopped.

  “You are aware more than you know, and now you possess the keys to all. Do you not know of any place where they may be held up? Familiar places, old places—places you have known for a long time and ones that used to hold the secrets to the past—those places that have faded from memory as to their importance.”

  Sebastian knew his Companion had told him enough. The rest he could figure out. He looked at him: the cloaked figure was very near now. He was slightly taller than Sebastian, and even with his glowing eyes he seemed slightly less menacing somehow. His presence seemed different than the others, and Sebastian did think in some way he could trust him.

  Feeling confident in his judgment Sebastian took a step closer. His Companion took one backward. There they lingered in a moment of uncertainty. Sebastian knew this was as close as he was going to get to his Companion as he stood in the dark.

  “Time, Sebastian. You of all those here should be aware of how we measure time … like our mother in the sky that we measure against the days. We know her cycles and holidays to be celebrated like farmers in the fields. This governs our actions more than any other creature on this planet, for we have no other choice,” the Companion finished his thought and let the silence linger.

  There they lingered as if time had stopped, and there was no need to worry. The silence was now broken by footsteps down the hall. They both looked to the entrance across the room for the source, and then a couple of the monks entered with the twins in tow. All were astonished. The monks took ready positions as the twins stood in silence. The Companion looked back to Sebastian, unconcerned with the new spectators.

  “Time is against you. The more time they have the more numbers they will add to their ranks. They will overrun you with sheer force. You must cut them down. I wish I knew more, but that is all I have.”

  He walked away from Sebastian and headed directly for the entrance where the small group of onlookers had emerged. Sebastian motioned for the monks to hold fast.

  The twins were in absolute awe as he approached. The Companion walked with grace, never altering his gaze in the slightest. He approached and measured each and every one of the quartet.

  Jacob and Jessica both knew who and what he was without a doubt. As he came within arm’s length, he held Jacob’s stare and turned his head when he was shoulder to shoulder. Those eyes bore into Jacob with such intensity that Jacob knew there would be nothing he could do to inflict any harm to him.

  The Companion continued down the hall, fading into the shadows that still dominated the interior of the castle. The twins could not take their
eyes off the diminishing figure. Jacob still felt so transfixed he was unsure of what he was doing or what he wanted to do.

  Sebastian looked around the room, making sure there were no other surprises. This room always felt as though it had a knack for the dramatic, and he felt the less time he spent in here the better. The twins quickly followed him as he walked to the door where they knew he had to go.

  Father Donovan immediately followed. Sebastian’s library became something of a situation room for plans and discussion. They pored over the little book, searching for any clue that might help, but they still were not sure how the book could be of any use; it appeared random and unorganized.

  “I agree we have to find them now during the day and gain the upper hand. I believe our friend is aware of more things than we know. The question still comes to this: where do we look?” Father Donovan asked Sebastian.

  Sebastian had been thinking that he had figured this out but was not sure if he wanted to share his thoughts. He knew it would mean his friends going off without him. He handed the book opened to a specific page to Jessica.

  Jessica looked for anything that might make sense. She read the page over to herself but didn’t understand. She looked to him and asked, “This poem?”

  “Read it,” Sebastian said.

  A place to worship

  A fallen guard does sleep

  Over ones he keeps

  Jacob listened and almost laughed when he realized what she had read.

  “Haiku! The vampires write in haiku?”

  Father Donovan didn’t so much laugh as he leaned back and scratched his beard. Jessica shrugged her shoulders.

  “What does this poem have to do with our situation?” Jacob was really befuddled. Father Donovan was next to speak, picking up on the connection.