by N M Thorn
“Excuse me,” hissed Aidan rising, his eyes glowing with the white light of his magic. “You’re not going to order me around like I’m some little apprentice in your school.”
“You’re forgetting something, Mr. McGrath,” objected Ms. Bonneville.
She snapped her fingers and the silver chain wrapped tightly around Aidan’s neck. Aidan grasped at his neck. The chain was too delicate to cut off his air, but it was burning through his skin.
“You’re certainly not one of my students, Mr. McGrath. You’re a god of the Otherworld and your powers are mightier than mine,” continued the Head Mage, observing his reaction calmly. “But you swore your loyalty to us for one year. So, no matter how powerful you are, you can’t go against your oath. And you know it. Besides, little Ms. Donovan’s future also depends on how well you behave and your ability to comply with our orders. So, yes, I can, and I will tell you what to do next and when to do it.”
She snapped her fingers again, releasing Aidan’s neck and letting the chain drop back to his chest. Aidan fell back into his chair, massaging his neck with his fingers. She was right. He swore his life to the Guardians for one year and now he had to deal with the consequences of his decision.
“Before I swore my loyalty to the Guardians, you said that you’ll let me take care of my business first,” reminded Aidan. “You promised to assist me with my mission.”
“And I did,” said the mage. Then she sighed and shook her head, correcting her last statement, “I still do. I’m not trying to manipulate you, Mr. McGrath. I did everything I could, and if I learn anything that can help you, I’ll let you know at once. But if the same page is missing in both Books of Words in this realm, there is no way to restore it. Trust me, if there was any other way to help you, I would do it without a moment’s hesitation.”
“But you’re forgetting something, Ms. Bonneville,” replied Aidan through his teeth.
“What’s that?”
“There is one more Book of Words,” said Aidan, crossing his arms.
“I didn’t forget that, Mr. McGrath,” said the Head Mage. She got up and stepped behind Missi, putting her hand on her shoulder. “The third Book of Words is with the Destiny Council. There is no way to get it.”
“What do you mean?” asked Aidan. He had never met with the Destiny Council in person, but he was aware that they were residing in some other dimension outside the human world. Nevertheless, he thought that the Guardians and Wardens had a way to get in touch with them. “I thought the Guardians Order works for the Destiny Council. You should be able to contact them.”
“Yes, the Guardians Order reports to the Destiny Council, but we do not summon them. They summon us. They communicate their orders through the Destiny Keeper and there is no way to summon him. He comes here when the Destiny Council deems it necessary.”
Aidan was about to start arguing, but he caught sight of Missi and stopped himself. She mouthed the word “no”, making big eyes at him.
“Fine,” said Aidan and got up. “I’ll go back home and look for some other ways to help my friend.”
“Good choice, Mr. McGrath,” agreed the Head Mage with a blinding paper-white smile. “Melissa and I will continue working on the issue with the missing page. If we learn anything that can help you, we’ll contact you. Father Beaumont will return to Florida with you. I want him to stay by your side. In case you need his assistance.”
“Fine,” said Aidan again. At this point, he stopped caring about what Ms. Bonneville had to say and he just wanted to be out of here. “I want to say my goodbyes to Tessa and after that Raoul and I will leave.”
“Mr. McGrath,” said Ms. Bonneville, putting her well-manicured hand on Aidan’s shoulder. “I hope you realize how young Tessa is. Her current state is extremely vulnerable. You shouldn’t say anything to her that may affect her current situation. She needs to remain here and learn to control her power and magic.”
“I know that,” said Aidan coldly, his gaze slipped down to the mage’s hand on his shoulder and she quickly pulled it off. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to say anything that could make her question her decision to be a part of the Guardians Order.”
He turned around and slowly strolled toward the exit door. Raoul got up, bowed to the Head Mage and walked after him.
“Mr. McGrath,” called Ms. Bonneville after him.
He already put his hand on the door handle ready to walk out but stopped and threw a tired glance at her.
“I just wanted to remind you that you cannot leave this realm without notifying me first,” she said, her fingers fumbling with the pendant on her own chain.
Aidan smirked. His hand wrapped around the door handle tighter, warping the thick metal. “Just because you can’t help me, it doesn’t mean I will give up on my original mission. I will never leave my friends unprotected when they need me. So, I may have to travel to the Land of Dreams. Do I need to have your permission for that?”
“I didn’t expect anything less of you, Mr. McGrath, and I’m not asking you to betray your friends,” replied the Head Mage. “The Land of Dreams is one of four magical nexuses that are located in our realm. As long as you stay in our world, you don’t need my permission. But if you wish to visit your Celtic Otherworld or Slavic Nav or Prav, you can’t do it without notifying me first. Did I make myself clear, Mr. McGrath?”
“Crystal clear,” muttered Aidan. He swung the door open and walked out without looking back at the old mage.
Aidan sat on the cold bench inside a small pavilion located in the heart of the beautiful gardens. This was the place he was meeting with Tessa. He checked his wristwatch. It was showing three thirty. Tessa was a little late, and it was making him nervous. He kept asking himself if his last conversation with the Head Mage somehow affected Tessa’s situation with the Guardians Order.
When he finally felt a soft touch to his shoulders, he gave a little start. Tessa giggled at his reaction, her cold hands sliding under his shirt, and softly kissed his hair. He craned his neck, tilting his head backward so he could see her. She was standing behind him, gazing down, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
“Tessa, you have no idea how glad I am to see you,” he whispered, holding her gaze. And he meant every word of it. After the conversation with the Head Mage, he required a few minutes where he didn’t need to be on constant alert, measuring every word that was said to him.
She laughed softly, her voice sounding like delicate silver bells, and bent down. He felt the soft touch of her lips to his. It was an awkward, upside down kiss, but it electrified his body. Desire took over as a heat wave spread through him. A moment later, she pulled away, leaving him breathless.
“Tessa,” he exhaled. His voice sounded like a moan and he lowered his head, trying to cool off, forcing his longing for her to simmer down so he could think clearly again.
She walked around the bench and stopped in front of him. He stared down at her boots, afraid to raise his eyes. He was sure that if he would look up and meet the warm gaze of her brown eyes, there would be no power in this world that could stop him from taking her into his arms and teleporting both of them back to his Ft. Lauderdale penthouse.
Tessa caressed his hair and when he still didn’t raise his face, she took one knee, lowering herself on the ground between his legs and looked up into his eyes, fogged with desire.
“My handsome ancient god,” she murmured playfully as she pressed her palm against his flushed cheek, “what did I do to offend your mightiness? What kind of sacrifice do I need to make to get back in your graces?”
Aidan finally met her eyes. She was more beautiful, more desirable than he could ever imagine. Before he could stop himself, he seized her shoulders and pulled her up. His lips hungrily crushed hers and a growl, hungry and feral, rumbled in his throat. She responded with a soft moan as she leaned into him.
He let her go a moment later and lowered his head again. She sat down on his lap, draping her arm around his shoulders. Aidan took a
few deep breaths before starting the conversation.
“Tessa, there is something I need to tell you,” he said quietly.
She probably recognized the seriousness in his voice, because she got off his lap and sat down on the bench next to him.
“What’s up, Aidan?” she demanded, sounding like the Tessa he used to know back in Florida. “Spit it out already.”
“I’m leaving,” he replied, “and I have no idea when I’ll be back to visit you here.”
“What do you mean?” asked Tessa with ringing notes of nervousness in her voice. “You swore your fealty to the Guardians. I’m sure the Head Mage will call upon you sooner or later. Most likely sooner…”
Aidan nodded. He didn’t need this reminder, but Tessa was right. “I’m sure, she will,” he agreed with a sigh, “but not before I take care of my original mission. And because of this, I must leave, my love.”
“What is this mission?” asked Tessa. She put her hand on his cheek, forcing him to look at her. “You never told me. If it’s something dangerous, I want to go with you. I have some serious powers and I want to be there to protect—um, help you.”
Aidan cupped her hand with his and closed his eyes for a brief moment, enjoying her touch. “I’m sorry. I can’t tell you,” he replied quietly. “You need to stay here, my love. You must follow the rules of the Order. You’re on your probation period and you can’t do anything that would trigger your original judgment. I’ll be fine. After all, I am a god, right? Immortal? I’ll come to see you once all this is over. I promise.”
She sighed and placed her head on his shoulder, her arm encircling his waist. Aidan embraced her, lowering his head atop of hers and stilled. There was nothing else to say. It was a goodbye.
At least for now.
Chapter 14
~ Aidan ~
“Aidan, where are we?” Raoul spun around, taking in his surroundings.
“Elements Martial Arts. My martial arts school,” explained Aidan absentmindedly. He sat down on the chair behind the desk and gestured at Raoul to join him. It was late, and all the students and instructors were gone. The school was dark and empty.
“Why?” asked Raoul but pulled a chair out and sat down. “I thought you were going to take me back to the Church by the Sea. I have to bring Father Collins up to date with everything that’s going on.”
“And you will. I promise to take you back to the Church. But first we need to read this,” said Aidan. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the piece of paper Missi passed him earlier. “Missi brought this letter from Paris and it’s addressed to you. But she said that we need to read it together when we got back to Florida.”
Raoul took the paper from Aidan’s hand carefully, like he was afraid that it would explode with his touch.
“To Raoul le Bel,” read Raoul and raised his eyes at Aidan. His hands shook, and he dropped the paper on the table, staring at it like it was a scorpion, ready to sting.
“Read it, Raoul,” said Aidan, pushing the piece of paper closer to him.
The Warden unfolded the paper and read aloud, “Remember Friday the 13th.”
“What the hell?” Aidan frowned—the note made no sense. “Whoever wrote it wants you to watch the horror movie? I hope you know what it means, Raoul, because I have no idea.”
“Yes, yes,” mumbled Raoul. His face lost all its color and his fingers were trembling. “Of course, I know what it means.” He peered into the piece of paper he was holding, his eyes darting from left to right as he was re-reading it over and over.
“Raoul, I need to know,” demanded Aidan slightly inclining forward. “Who is this letter from?”
“This letter is from my old friend. Luc de la Crosse. We were accepted into the Wardens Order at the same time,” explained Father Beaumont, putting the note on the table. “He was the only person who used to call me Raoul le Bel. This note is a warning.”
“Raoul the Fair?” muttered Aidan. He glanced at the young Warden and smirked. “Seems to be appropriate. But why ‘Friday the 13th’?”
“Friday the 13th is a warning,” repeated Raoul. “Luc is trying to warn me not to trust”—he bit his lip and shook his head—“not to trust anyone in our Order. This was the codeword we came up with many cen—years ago. In case our organization was compromised.”
A codeword? Aidan rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying to process the few words that Raoul managed to deliver.
“I always thought that all Wardens were deeply devoted to their organization and loyal to the Destiny Council,” he muttered, shaking his head. “Why would you and your friend need to come up with a codeword to notify each other about a betrayal in your ranks?”
Raoul leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table and searched Aidan’s face for a moment. “Because it’s happened before. The Wardens Order was corrupt. The Wardens were betrayed and hunted like wild animals all over the world, imprisoned, tortured and burned at the stake. Many died, a few managed to escape with their lives… The Order was practically destroyed. Only with the involvement of the Destiny Keeper, did we manage to save all the scrolls and books of the Wardens’ Archive.” His voice faltered, and he reclined back in his chair.
“So, your friend is trying to tell us that history is repeating itself? The Wardens Order was compromised again?” asked Aidan. “That would explain how two Books of Words were mutilated, and no one noticed an intruder.”
“Yes,” agreed Raoul, “Wardens and most likely Guardians too. We can’t trust anyone. That’s what my friend is trying to warn us about.”
“Friday the 13th,” mumbled Aidan, twirling a pen between his fingers. “The Wardens Order was betrayed and nearly all members were destroyed…” Aidan dropped the pen and stared at Raoul with intensity in his blue eyes. “How old are you, Raoul de Beaumont?”
“Aidan, don’t,” pleaded Raoul, hardly meeting his eyes. “Don’t press me. Don’t try to guess—”
“Raoul, how old are you?”
“Younger than you are.”
“Not by a lot, I think,” retorted Aidan, scanning the Warden with his magic. “A few centuries, give or take. What year were you born in, Raoul le Bel?”
“Aidan, please, as a Warden I can’t disclose my true identity. My past life was wiped out when I accepted the mantle of a Warden—”
“Raoul, I thought you learned to trust me in the last few days,” said Aidan with reproach. “I swear, I’ll keep your secret. You don’t need to give me any details. Just tell me the year of your birth.”
Raoul dropped his head to his chest and whispered, “I was born in the year 1282 of our Lord—”
“Oh God, Raoul, you were—,” started to say Aidan but cut himself off. “I’m sorry, I am not going to say anything else. Except — do you think the Destiny Council was compromised too?”
“I hope not,” replied Raoul. “Their Book of Words is our last chance to find that missing page and find out what’s going on. But I don’t know how to contact them. As much as I hate to say it, the Head Mage told you the truth. There is no way to contact the Destiny Council.”
“There is a way,” objected Aidan quietly, rising. “But I need to do it on my own. I hope you can understand.”
Raoul got up, a sad smile curving his lips. “I do, mon ami, I understand. You’re going to contact your mentor and ask him for help. I’m not sure I want to be here for that. Can you take me back to the Church?”
Aidan put his hand on Raoul’s shoulder and snapped his fingers, instantly teleporting them to the Church by the Sea.
Aidan left Raoul on the steps of the Church and teleported back to his office in the martial arts school. He sat down in his chair, stretching his long legs under the desk. For a while, he was sitting quietly, thinking, his fingers playing with the pendant on his chain. He wanted to summon his mentor. He missed him and loved him like his own father, but the thought of telling him that he swore his loyalty to the Guardians was terrifying him.
His mentor hated
the Destiny Council, and he had good reason for that. Sooner or later, Gwyn will learn the truth, anyway. It would be better if he finds out from me. Aidan got up and walked out of the office. Slowly, he opened the door into the dojang and stepped on the soft matts. He crossed the floor and sat down in front of the mirrored wall, crossing his legs.
Except for one night every year, Gwyn ap Nudd never left the Otherworld. Usually, when Aidan needed to see his mentor, he traveled to the Otherworld himself. But Ms. Bonneville made it clear to him that for the full year that he committed to the Guardians Order, he cannot travel to the Otherworld without her permission.
After the warning that Missi gave him and the troubling note from Raoul’s friend, Aidan thought it would be better if the Head Mage of the Guardians didn’t know about his intentions. He leaned forward and touched the mirror with his fingers, drawing a complex rune. When the drawing was completed, he touched it, infusing it with his magic.
“Gwyn ap Nudd, I summon thee,” he whispered, watching an oval communication window slowly opening in the mirror.
For a while, the window in the mirror remained dark. Aidan started to get nervous when a brilliant white light, flooded the window. When the light dimmed down, Aidan saw a tall, muscular man standing behind the mirror. Besides jeans that were torn on his knees, he had nothing else on. His cat-like eyes were glowing with the white light of his magic from under his thick dark eyebrows. His full lips were pressed into a straight line and he looked troubled. The man threw his long black hair off his face, exposing his slightly pointed ear and folded his arms, gazing down at Aidan with concern.
“Aidan, my boy,” said Gwyn ap Nudd, frowning, “what’s going on? You’re summoning me instead of visiting?”
“Gwyn, I can’t travel to the Otherworld,” said Aidan, averting his eyes. “For one year, I’m bound to this realm by my oath. For now, this will be the only way we can communicate. I summoned you because I need your help.”
