The Veil: Corruption (HASEA CHRONICLES BOOK 2)
Page 54
It helped that the Alliance had been around for centuries and barely anyone had even noticed their existence. It meant they knew we were doing a good job. I had been shocked – I hadn’t given humans enough credit for their ability to accept and adapt. I had no idea what it meant for the future of the Alliance, but for now, the bomb had been revealed and it hadn’t exploded…yet.
Yeth had disappeared. Even after an extensive search of the ocean surrounding Atlantis, there had been no sign of the terrifying Skinshifter. I only prayed that he had succumbed to his wounds and drowned. But a nagging feeling in my stomach told me that he would be back – and he would bring hell with him.
Alex had told us about the estate he had visited when he had been under the control of the Darkness. It had been abandoned, and those who remained were humans who had no clue that they had been living among hordes of deadly creatures from another world.
But the SOS had merely been a front. The real danger was discovered in a nearby industrial estate, where the remains of Yeth’s Army were evident. Inside the numerous warehouses, we found several unused armoured vehicles and helicopters, discovered vast munitions stores, laboratories, and a sizeable training complex full of deadly equipment. Yeth’s Army had been training for god knows how long, a tornado hiding in the shadows just waiting to be released.
*
Alex and I walked down the Pandemonian-influenced hallway towards Sage Faru’s office. Behind us, nine Guardians followed. They were the ones that Alex had selected, and we were about to get approval from the leader himself. The doors swung open, and Sage Faru stood in the centre of his quarters, hands folded behind his back. We formed a row and waited as Sage Faru regarded us all with his flickering white eyes.
“These are the ones you have chosen, Alexander?”
“They are, Sage Faru.”
He walked down the row staring at each of us in turn. He passed by Iralia, Aran, Danny, and Hollie, stopping at Sophia.
“Please step forward.”
Sophia glanced at Alex and then stepped forward. Midnight clutched onto her shoulder in the form of a beautiful bird with keen, green eyes. She had aged about five years after the intense battle with Yeth’s Army. The girl who stood in front of the Sage was now decidedly a young woman – but her rosy cheeks and long blonde hair remained, reminding us all of the little girl we knew and loved.
“I had not yet decided what to do with you. You broke vital Alliance laws.”
“Sage Faru, I—” she began.
He raised a hand, and she fell silent. “Alexander, you vow to protect her?”
Alex nodded. “With my life.”
“And you are aware that this journey could very well kill her.”
“We won’t let that happen,” I blurted, and the Sage cast me a stern look. I closed my mouth.
“I know, Sage Faru,” answered Alex. “And Sophia knows it too. What she did was wrong, but she did it for the right reasons. All she ever wanted was to help us. It was our fault that it came to this. I want to honour her wishes. I trust her with my life, and I want her at my side.”
The Sage said nothing for a moment and then he nodded. “Very well. Sophia’s life is now in your hands. Keep her safe. For the honour of Midnight’s sacrifice.”
“We will. I promise.”
Sophia stepped back into the row, and Sage Faru kept moving, passing a recovered Delagio and Grey. He stopped once more, near Scarlett. But he wasn’t looking at her. He was looking next to her, where Mikey stood, arms behind his back and a tense expression on his face.
“Michael, please step forward.”
Mikey did as he was asked.
“Alexander, can I ask about your decision to bring your brother with you to such a dangerous place?”
Michael had recently joined the Alliance after his return from a Coven hidden deep in the highlands of Scotland. As a Bloodling, it was his right to join, and Alex had come to accept that.
“Can I please answer that question, Sage Faru?” asked Mikey.
“Very well.”
“I insisted on coming. Alex is my family, and I want to help him get his father back.” He gestured towards Scarlett. “People I love are sacrificing their lives. It seems wrong that I sit here and do nothing while they are putting themselves at risk. I am a part of this world now, and that means doing everything I can to keep those I care about alive. The Rebirth Clinic has trained me, and now I can defend myself as well as anyone else.” He gave Alex a grin. “Plus, if you don’t let me through, I’ll just find a way to get to Pandemonia regardless.”
Sage Faru let out a chuckle. “Stubbornness must run in the family.” He turned to Alex. “The decision lies with you. Whatever you decide I will enforce. What will you do?”
Alex looked at Mikey, and then at me. I said nothing. I didn’t want to influence his decision. “I would rather have him close to me where I can keep him safe. He can come.”
Mikey gave a subtle pump of his fist and moved back into the row.
“What of your parents?”
It was my turn to speak. “We have a solution.”
The Sage nodded. “Very well.”
He walked to the end of the row where Troy stood, his head several inches above the rest of us. The new Guardian squared his shoulders and straightened up as if he were in the military and being inspected by his commanding officer.
“You are part of Trojan. Has Huntmaster Shyran Devaris given you permission to do this?”
Troy nodded. “He has.”
The Sage turned to Alex. “I cannot help but notice you have several new Guardians here. Would you not prefer to choose those with more experience from the ranks who offered their services to you?”
“I would prefer people who I know are going to have my back without question. Everyone here put their lives on the line to help protect me, just like every other Guardian. I don’t think that their time in the Alliance has anything to do with it. Besides, Pandemonia is somewhere only two of us here have been. We are all walking into a dark, unfamiliar world, and no amount of service to the Alliance will make the slightest bit of difference.”
The Sage gave a slow nod. “Guardians, you must join this cause of your own volition. If you wish to leave now, you may do so, and no one will think any less of you.”
I waited for people to leave. For the courage they had shown in agreeing to come with us to fade and for self-preservation to take over. I wouldn’t have blamed any of them.
No one moved.
“Guardians, do you vow to support Alexander and Gabriella in this cause? You are prepared to put your lives at risk for this endeavour?”
Nine Guardians said yes.
“Then you are all officially part of the new Orion.” He drew a deep breath. “Guardians, take the rest of the day to prepare. You leave for Pandemonia tomorrow.”
*
The hardest part for Alex was still to come.
I wrapped a comforting arm around his waist as we slowly walked to his front door. He held out a hand and hesitated for a moment before knocking. A few seconds later it opened, and Elaine’s tear-streaked face appeared.
“Hi, Mum,” he said.
Elaine grabbed him into a crushing hug. “Oh Alex,” she wept, stroking his face. “I remember. I remember everything.”
“Let’s talk about this inside.”
We went into Alex’s house and into the kitchen where John was sitting at the kitchen table with a drawn face. An array of newspapers lay on the surface; their headlines were filled with everything Pandemonia. Mikey was sitting next to him with his hands clasped together. He looked drained.
“I told them,” he croaked.
John looked up at Alex. He had been crying, and his eyes were bloodshot and red. “I can’t believe this is happening. Are…are you really a part of this?” He gestured at the newspapers.
Alex nodded. “I am.” He gestured a hand at me. “So is Gabriella.”
“And now my son is too.” John rubbed his
hands against his eyes. “I can’t believe my son is a…a Vampire.” He glared up at Alex. “Was this your fault? Did you let this happen?”
His accusation made Alex step backwards as though it was a physical blow.
“Don’t blame him!” bit Mikey, staring at his father. “This was not his fault. I let my guard down, and I got bitten. It’s no one’s fault but mine.”
John climbed out of the chair and stood up, folding his arms around himself. “I’m sorry. This is just all so hard to take.”
Mikey lowered his head, staring down at his clasped hands. “Does this change the way you feel about me?”
John placed a hand on Mikey’s shoulder. “You’re my son, and I love you.”
Mikey took in a ragged breath and rested his hand on his father’s.
I swallowed back a lump that had formed in my throat. The love that John had for Mikey was evident. He was clearly trying his best to hold it all together. Elaine took hold of Alex’s hands. “When the television reports came in, it set something free in my head. It was like this lock opened.”
She drew a deep breath. “Your father was a Chosen, wasn’t he? He was taken from me. I remember how I felt. I couldn’t cope. That man…your leader. Sage something…he had someone make me forget. But I couldn’t…not really. I couldn’t stop loving him.” I looked past Elaine at John, who turned to stare out of the window. I could only imagine how much her words hurt him.
Alex nodded. “He was kidnapped, Mum. But I’m going to get him back.”
Her eyes widened. “He’s still alive?”
“He might be, yes. He was taken to the other world. The place everyone is talking about. I’ve assembled a team to travel to Pandemonia to try and find him. If he’s alive, then we are going to bring him home.”
Elaine looked aghast. “No!” She tightened her grip on his hands. “Don’t go. I-I can’t lose you too. I couldn’t bear it.”
“Mum, we have to do this,” said Mikey, standing up.
Johns’ face went slack. “No…not you too. No, I won’t allow it!” He grabbed on to Mikey’s arm.
“I’m sorry, Dad, but Alex deserves to find out what happened to his father. I would want to know the same if it was you.”
Elaine shook her head. “No, Peter wouldn’t want this.”
A trail of tears slipped down Alex’s cheeks. I didn’t know what to do with myself; I felt out of place, like I was spying.
“I have to, Mum. I have to do this.”
“I am your mother, and I will do whatever I can to protect my children. If that means forgetting about your father, then that’s what I’ll do. You don’t have to do this.”
Alex let out a sigh. “Mum, I do have to. He’s my father.”
John looked up. He seemed so desperately unhappy. “Is that how I’ve made you feel? That you would see a man as you’ve never met as more of a father than me?”
His chin began to quiver. “I know we’ve not always seen eye to eye, but you are my son, Alex. I love you.” He shattered, and the man that Alex had always painted as a disinterested bastard was replaced with a desperate man who didn’t want to lose his family. He gestured towards Alex, and when he walked towards him, he gathered both him and Mikey into a hug. “You are my boys, and we are a family. Please don’t do this. Don’t go. I’ll try harder. We’ll be a proper family. Just stay with us, please.”
Elaine walked over, and the family hugged each other with such emotion it made it difficult to breathe. Two children were trying to say goodbye to their parents, knowing they might never see each other again. My parents had been taken from me. I’d never had a choice in the matter. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how difficult this decision was for them.
Alex kissed his mum’s cheek, slowly and with so much love it broke my heart. “I love you, Mum.” He gave John a final hug. “I love you both.”
He broke away and came to stand with me. Mikey tried to pull away, but John held onto his hand, looking utterly desperate. “Please don’t do this.”
Elaine turned to me. “Please, Gabriella, talk some sense into Alex. He’ll listen to you. Please don’t let my children do this.”
I felt a knife twist in my stomach. All I wanted to do was tell Alex to forget his crusade. To stay with the family he knew and to forget the one he didn’t. But I knew that the journey through the Veil was about more than just that. He needed to free himself from the darkness once and for all. As much as I wanted to pretend it didn’t matter, it did. This journey was unavoidable.
“I’m sorry, Elaine. This is his choice to make.”
Alex steeled himself and turned towards me. I was trembling and could barely control my emotions. “Gabriella…” he croaked.
“Are you sure?”
He paused for a long moment.
“Yes.”
He put his arm across Mikey’s shoulder and together they left the kitchen, closing the door. Elaine and John were hugging each other and crying as if the world was falling apart. Taking a heavy breath, I turned towards Alex’s distraught parents and clenched my fists. What I was about to do broke my heart.
I took a deep breath. “Elaine, John…listen to my voice. The words I am speaking to you now are reversible, but only when the time is right. You are forgetting your children. As far as you know, they never existed…”
*
The newly-formed Orion stood armed and ready on the threshold of the chamber that held the Veil. The area around us was cavernous, filled with alien plants that disappeared hundreds of feet above our heads and hidden animals that twittered among twisting vines and moving shrubs. In front of us stood a hulking set of golden doors with the words of our motto printed on it.
Dilecti Surgemus - Socii Pollemus.
Chosen we rise. Allied we prevail.
Alex stood next to me, hands coiled into fists. He had his Crimson Twin sheathed across his back. It had been hidden in the base the day of the attack and was now returned to its rightful place. At our side stood Isiodore and four other Unicorns laden with supplies. They were padding the ground with their hooves and making nervous whinnies. I could barely stop myself from shaking with a mixture of adrenaline and fear. The tension was like a presence that filled the antechamber with its foreboding energy. Every Guardian’s face was tight with nerves. For some it was a step into the unknown. For others it was a return to a place they feared.
Sage Faru stood in front of us, clasping onto the handles to the vast doors.
“When you get through to Pandemonia, the Light Wardens of Fenodara will be waiting to receive you. They will take you to see the high council, who will help set you on the path of your mission.”
My heart was beating so hard I thought it would burst out of my chest. I felt nauseous.
“Once across, you will no longer be able to mind merge with me. The barrier between our worlds is too great. You will be on your own.”
This was it. What we had planned for so long, what we felt sometimes would never happen. But despite everything, we were here. I could barely breathe.
“Are you ready?
I looked down the rows. Eleven nervous Guardians nodded back at our leader.
Sage Faru swung the doors open, and a blinding glow spilled out. When my eyes had adjusted, my mouth fell open. Ahead stood a shimmering section of the Veil. It was so large and magnificent; it made me feel small and insignificant. The surface shimmered like a pool of divine water. Around the edges, it flecked out like silver fire. A steady hum pulsed from within. The power the doorway held was palpable. I could feel it thrumming through my body all the way to my core. Ahead of us stood the gateway to Pandemonia. Another world.
One full of danger.
Sage Faru stepped to the side and clasped his hands behind his back. “Good luck to every one of you. The prayers of the Alliance travel with you. I pray you find what you seek”
Alex turned to me and smiled. “Ready?”
I nodded back at him.
He encircled his hand wit
h mine, and together we stepped into the Veil.
Orion’s journey will continue in The Veil: Redemption.
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About the author
Stuart Meczes was born in South London, but he now spends his time living between Thailand and Worcester. He recently graduated from his course in English and Creative Writing at the University of Birmingham and now writes full time.
In addition to the ongoing Hasea Chronicles series, he is penning several other titles, including fantasy children’s series Tommy and the Simbots, the first of which will be released winter 2013.
The Veil: Corruption is his second novel.
Table of Contents
Prologue
PART I
WHISPERS
1
Gabriella
2
Alex
3
Gabriella
4
Alex
5
Gabriella
6
Alex
7
Alex
8
Gabriella
9
Alex
10
Alex
11
Gabriella
PART II
TRIALS
12
Alex
13
Gabriella
14
Gabriella
15
Danny
16
Danny