Sentinels of creation a.., p.29
Sentinels of Creation: A Scion of Amber Light, page 29
“Universal energy,” murmured Kellan, half to himself as he squinted into the distance. “So, he’s a wizard. A human or nephilim attuned to—”
Margaret grabbed Kellan and spun him toward her. “Necromancer, not wizard. He manipulates universal energy to raise the dead and control those animated by such ambient power. Mother told me about them. The council executes anyone convicted of necromancy.” He noted the look of near panic as her eyes lost focus a moment, then fixed on him. “My power is gone. It’s gone, Kellan! Just a trickle is bubbling up into the lakebed. What are we going—”
The Sentinel reached up and gently laid his hands along her arms, gauged the distance of the approaching creatures, and said, “It will return, Maggie. Just remember what we practiced in the Workroom. You and Nicolae stay here. Cara and I will blunt their attack.”
“But you can’t—” she began.
“We can, and if we end up in trouble, you’ll have power to spare by then. I promise. We’ll be fine until your power has replenished enough to help.”
Kellan lying to Maggie? projected Cara questioningly. Many bad things coming. Many. The dire wolf tilted his head as if staring at something in the night sky. Soulborn once say ‘something wicked this way come.’ Cara sense strong wicked coming. Not now, but soon.
Before Kellan could react to Cara, another voice filled his mind, causing him to clench his jaw in frustration.
That is what took me away from you, my Sentinel. I sought to heal cracks in the gate to our universe, but it was folly. There are too many and Ordered power has no effect on them. The gate remains closed and neither Perditor nor his Emissary may enter, but they whisper offers of power to those who will ally with them.
“That would have been helpful to know,” Kellan growled, and saw a shadow of confusion fall across both Margaret and Nicolae’s faces. He waved it aside. “Too many voices in my head sometimes.” The Sentinel drew deeply from his river of power, eyes bursting to life. He pointed to the two vampires. “Keep each other safe.”
Cara closed ranks beside Kellan. The dire wolf’s head now rose just above the Sentinel’s waist. Kellan rested his hand there and the two felt power as it coursed between them. Images flashed through Kellan’s eidetic mind with perfect clarity. Lupa nudging a wobbly puppy toward him. The pup latching onto his arm, binding Cara to Kellan for all time. Never since that day, more than two years ago, had the Sentinel felt what he was now feeling. The wild, unbridled Universal energy that flowed through Lupa’s entire line had been woven together in perfect symmetry with his own Ordered power. They shared a moment of unified intent as Kellan looked down to meet Cara’s gleaming eyes. The dire wolf’s lips curled back in what others might have thought to be a snarl. Kellan knew different. The Sentinel returned his noble friend’s smile and the two broke into a run, matching each other, stride for stride.
Chapter 30
A Noble Friend
Kellan spun in a tight circle as his Sentinel’s sword cleaved through four djinn glyphs that converged on him. They puffed away. He bound his intent to Gaia’s will and leaped into the air. Several pillars of water, fire, and spinning air lay scattered beneath him. Each marked the grave of a djinn. A dozen ghoul corpses continued to scratch about in the rocky dirt while half again as many lay perfectly still. The entire area seemed covered with glistening slime from the countless skinwalkers he and Cara had dispatched.
Still, more were coming, a seemingly endless horde summoned by the dark wizard. This necromancer is really starting to piss me off, thought Kellan. At least he hasn’t replaced any of the djinn. Still, four left is more than I’d—
Kellan whipped his body to the side as a gout of fire lanced upward from the ground. He could almost smell the air burning, then it was gone. Kellan dropped to the ground beside Cara. The dire wolf quickly pawed at a small pillar of orange flame, that marked where he had dispatched the fire djinn. “Nice job,” said Kellan enthusiastically. “Now we only have three more of the blue bastards to deal with.” The Sentinel pulled on one of Cara’s ears in the manner he loved so much.
A thought crossed Kellan’s mind and he drew half of his remaining power into himself. The sky darkened as flat-bottomed clouds blotted out the starlight. The air crackled with accumulated energy and Kellan willed its release. Wind and lightning swirled around the two as if in some choreographed dance of elemental power. Frozen forms appeared to writhe in the night as each bolt of lightning created a strobe effect all around them.
Kellan knelt beside Cara and said, “If I lure them in, can you do that outward howl-attack thing you did before?” The dire wolf stared at the Sentinel with a very human look of disbelief in his eyes.
No, projected Cara along with several other images.
Kellan sighed, “Well, when you put it that way, yes, I do think you would have already done it again if you could. No, I do not think you were simply trying to be dramatic. Look, it just occurred to me so I asked, okay? It seemed like a reasonable question.”
The wind started to die down and Cara projected several more images. Kellan nodded with understanding. “Well, you blew away an entire cohort of baddies, so it certainly looked like an attack to me. How was I supposed to know it happened when you leveled-up?” Cara let out a low growl. “What do you mean that’s not accurate? Get mad at Maggie not me. She said leveled-up. I didn’t. Fine, if we’re alive later, you can tell her. Enough. I don’t want my last words to be about something stupid and this—”
“Sentinel Kellan. Sentinel Kellan, are you there?”
“Jarvis? You’re breaking up. I’m a bit busy right now so—”
“Sentinel Kellan, there is tremendous electromagnetic interference in your area. I have had to retask several satellites to manage even this level of communication. I don’t mind saying that doing so was exceptionally difficult for me and, of course, would have been impossible for any—”
“Jarvis,” interrupted Kellan.
“Yes? I am here,” replied the AI.
“Do any of those satellites have lasers?”
There was a several second pause, then Jarvis responded. “Why, no Sentinel Kellan, they are communication satellites. Why would they—”
“How about ghoul killing missiles?”
Jarvis’ voice took on an emotionless quality, “No, the satellites do not have any ghoul-killing missiles either.”
Kellan checked his reserves and noted he had less than a quarter remaining. The sky above had begun clearing. He and Cara took off in slightly different directions, but still toward the small hill that Margaret had identified earlier.
“Shannon wanted me to tell you that she cannot make a stable portal to your location. She is quite upset.”
Kellan deflected two djinn glyphs, as he continued up the hill, then said, “Please tell my lovely wife that I’m terribly sorry for any distress she might be suffering while safe in Roswell.”
“Very good, Sentinel Kellan, one moment.”
“Jarvis!”
“Yes?”
“You weren’t actually going to tell her that, were you?”
“Of course.”
Kellan’s summoned weapon cleaved a skinwalker into three gelatinous blobs, and he growled, “Why would you do that, Jarvis?”
“Because you asked me to,” replied the confused AI, then added, “Now Shannon would like to know how many ghouls you are fighting.”
“Lots, Jarvis, along with a bunch of skinwalkers, and a few djinn.”
“Thank you for such a helpful response,” said Jarvis sarcastically, “but may I access your optical data to more accurately assess the tactical situation?” Kellan gave his mental assent and felt his contacts energize further as the AI began to assimilate information directly from his optic nerve. “Three djinn remain in your immediate vicinity, but they do not represent the greatest danger.”
As if in response, a djinn materialized from a spray of water just to Kellan’s left and rapidly drew a glyph. It streaked toward the Sentinel and he frantically created a partial rune of his own. The two empowered glyphs collided, merged, and the reformed symbol streaked back towards its original creator. The glyph struck the water djinn full in the chest and erupted in flame and steam. Seconds later a small, bubbling fountain, was all that remained.
Kellan gave a grunt of surprise, then muttered, “I’m actually kind of shocked that worked. Jarvis, make a note that elemental glyphs can be altered in addition to being destroyed. I need to poke into that with Focalor.”
“Noted, Sentinel Kellan, however, based on my current analysis, you will not likely survive to, as you say, poke into that.”
Cara projected a frantic warning and Kellan quickly erected a shield behind himself. He spun just in time to see a ghoul’s razor sharp talons rake against it with a shower of emerald sparks. The Sentinel thrust his hand toward the creature. Green mist formed around his hand and a dagger settled there. He dismissed the shield and drove the gleaming weapon into one of the undead’s milky white eyes. It froze in place, then green fire shot out the other eye and its mouth. Kellan pulled back and watched as the ghoul collapsed to the ground. It twitched once, then became still.
Cara bounded up to him a moment later. The dire wolf was definitely the worse for wear. Several patches of fur had been burned away, though not as badly as before. Blood streaked his gray and black face, but Kellan couldn’t be sure if it was Cara’s, his foes, or both. The Sentinel glanced quickly around for immediate danger. Seeing none, he quickly scratched Cara behind the ears and said, “Jarvis, tell Shannon that we’re doing ok and I don’t think she will be able to make it here until we’ve dispatched Doctor Strange’s evil cousin up there.”
“You are not doing fine at all, Sentinel Kellan. In point of fact, you are doing quite the opposite of fine. Your adversary is being fed a virtually unlimited amount of Universal energy through one of the many fissures Nurisha mentioned earlier. This necromancer, as you call him, is channeling that power to animate both ghouls and skinwalkers. He can continue to do so until such Universal power is exhausted, which, by my estimates, it will not be. You must sever him from its source before your own reserves are expended.”
Kellan quickly looked inward and found Nurisha standing within his river of power. It swept past her, but only rose halfway up her calfs.
Jarvis materialized beside him and Nurisha smiled at the AI. He blushed and gave a subtle half-wave. “Oh for the love of all that’s holy, you two…really. Cara and I are about to be snuffed out and you want to take the time to flirt?”
“Time barely flows here, as you well know, my Sentinel,” admonished Nurisha.
“Indeed,” added Jarvis, “Beyond that, it has been quite some time since I have seen Nurisha. I believe my response was appropriately reserved given your current circumstance.”
Nurisha stepped onto the bank and brushed a hand affectionately across Jarvis’ cheek then turned her pupiless eyes on Kellan. “The rules governing our universe begin to shatter, my Sentinel. I have seen it. If you are to survive, you must, likewise, break that which has been unbreakable.”
Kellan sighed. “Last I checked, just about every angel I’ve ever encountered has thought me to be the poster child for reckless fools.”
She nodded. “Thought you to be is the operative phrase, Kellan. I’m afraid your recklessness has not been keeping up with the times. Ordered power alone will not prove sufficient and your ability to gather Universal could not possibly compete with what is being made available to your adversary.”
“Well, those are my options, Nurisha, so I either make them work, or we’re all screwed.”
She shook her head. “You have a third option. Let me show you where I have been and what I have seen.” Nurisha reached up and placed a finger aside Kellan’s temple. His inner world shattered like broken glass spinning in all directions. He watched as she rose from Earth’s blue sphere to wind her way among each planet in the solar system.
He saw her leave its familiar planets behind and head off into the vast cosmos. She moved through spinning galaxies at the speed of thought, pausing again and again to explore different planets. As she did so, Kellan began to see patterns emerge.
Yes, my Sentinel, you are correct. They were each exoplanets capable of sustaining life. The universe teams with it. I have traversed the darkness of creation and found countless worlds where such life exists. In each such world I saw Creation’s hand, but in none of these did both Order and Chaos exist separately. Only here, on this world, on this Earth, did I find it to be so. Only here did either Order or Chaos attain personality or individuality, because only here did you exist, my Sentinel.
Kellan watched as Nurisha stood on the beach of some distant world. Twin moons cast a crimson glow all around her from the system’s red giant star. Emerald tears streaked her cheeks as she looked up at the night sky. Again, her voice came to him.
I am alone in all the universe. I cannot convey to you the breadth of creation or its complexities. I do not pretend to understand either, myself. However, in all that, I am alone. Each sentient being is unique, but not alone. I do not say this out of sadness, although I am sad. I say it because, in all the universe, Creation has set His eyes on but one blue jewel that gleams amidst the darkness. His narrow path begins and ends with Earth.
Kellan shuddered as the vision faded. Nurisha cupped his face in her hands. “I traveled past every world to where the farthest, faintest particle now exists. I found the gate Creation has set around this universe, Kellan Thorne. Beyond it I sensed the wild Universal power in the void between worlds. I touched the gate but did not try to cross for fear that, if I did, all that I am would cease to exist.”
Nurisha lifted up on her toes and kissed Kellan’s forehead. When she pulled back he saw more tears filling her eyes. “The gate is failing, my Sentinel. Cracks have formed, far too numerous to seal, if sealing were even possible.” She shivered. “Through those fissures I sensed a hunger in the darkness. The gate will fail. Perditor and His Emissary will come. All will end, unless you prevent it from becoming so.” She made a vaguely outward gesture. “This necromancer is nothing. He is merely some human, attuned to Universal energies, who has succumbed to Perditor’s empty promises whispered through cracks in the gate.”
Kellan shook his head. “That necromancer doesn’t feel like nothing, and if he’s nothing, we’re in big trouble. According to you two, that nothing is kicking my ass.”
“Because you play by old rules that no longer apply, my Sentinel. That is what I need you to understand and believe. Order and Chaos exist only here for a reason. Order was renewed in you for a reason. Your Soulborn exists for a reason. I exist for a reason. Maurius and Zagan existed for a reason and the Incarnation of Chaos was shattered…for a reason.” Nurisha glanced to the side as if seeing something hidden from Kellan. She whispered, “Cara exists for a reason.” Her eyes locked on the Sentinel’s own and she said, “Go find the reason!”
Kellan stumbled forward as the world around him reasserted itself. He would have fallen, but was pushed upright by two large paws. The Sentinel blinked and found himself staring into Cara’s softly glowing eyes. The dire wolf stood on his hind legs and licked Kellan’s face. “I’m okay,” whispered the Sentinel, then chuckled. “Thanks for the vote of confidence. I know I may not look it, but I am.” The dire wolf shifted his weight, fell back to all fours and tensed as if to run. Kellan grabbed the scruff of his neck. Cara looked up questioningly. “I’ve been encouraged to break some rules. How do you feel about doing something I’ve been expressly warned not to do?” The dire wolf huffed something vaguely affirming.
Kellan glared at the cords of Universal power that were twisting around the, now nearby, hill. “Jarvis!”
“I am here and I am prepared to do something you’ve been expressly warned not to do. How may I help?”
“I need you to call Maggie on her cell phone,” said Kellan, then frowned when Jarvis didn’t respond. “Did you get that?” asked the Sentinel.
“I did receive your message, but am a bit taken aback. I thought I might be of more direct assistance than simply calling a toddler.”
“I’ll be sure to tell Maggie you called her that,” snarked Kellan. “In the meantime, I need you to convey to the world’s most powerful vampire, and Sentinel of Chaos, that I need her to look for my signal, then drain whatever power she’s accumulated in one focused burst toward me.”
Jarvis sounded alarmed. “You want Margaret to attack you?”
“You were not listening,” lilted Kellan, “toward me, Jarvis, not at me. That is a very important distinction, please don’t lose it in translation, because I will not be defending against an attack. If she directs all that power at me rather than toward me, I’ll likely get accidentally dead.” The dire wolf huffed and shook his head. “Exactly right, Cara” said Kellan, “I agree. I don’t want to be dead either.”
“I have delivered the message, Sentinel Kellan. Margaret understands the distinction and awaits my conveyance of your signal. May I ask what that signal will be, just so I do not miss it?”
Kellan drained all his remaining reserves and began channeling them in layers upon layers of shielding. “You won’t miss it, Jarvis. I imagine I’ll probably shriek for help like a little girl or something.” The Sentinel locked eyes with Cara. “Keep pace with me. We’re going to cut the head off this snake.” The dire wolf yipped in response and the two began running together. Djinn glyphs, skinwalker scythes, and ghoul claws raked at them, slowly peeling away Kellan’s shielding. As the ground began sloping upward, Kellan yelled, “When we get halfway up the hill, I want you to go on without me.” Dozens of images flowed from Cara, all conveying the same message…no, not leaving best friend…Cara protect.
“You’ll do what you’re told for once, Caraid Uasal,” Kellan said. “I need you to trust me. The best way you can protect me is to go on without me. Get to that necromancer and take him out. I’m going to clear the path for you, like you did for me earlier.” More worried images flowed into Kellan’s mind. “No, Cara, this is the only way. You either trust me or you don’t.”
Margaret grabbed Kellan and spun him toward her. “Necromancer, not wizard. He manipulates universal energy to raise the dead and control those animated by such ambient power. Mother told me about them. The council executes anyone convicted of necromancy.” He noted the look of near panic as her eyes lost focus a moment, then fixed on him. “My power is gone. It’s gone, Kellan! Just a trickle is bubbling up into the lakebed. What are we going—”
The Sentinel reached up and gently laid his hands along her arms, gauged the distance of the approaching creatures, and said, “It will return, Maggie. Just remember what we practiced in the Workroom. You and Nicolae stay here. Cara and I will blunt their attack.”
“But you can’t—” she began.
“We can, and if we end up in trouble, you’ll have power to spare by then. I promise. We’ll be fine until your power has replenished enough to help.”
Kellan lying to Maggie? projected Cara questioningly. Many bad things coming. Many. The dire wolf tilted his head as if staring at something in the night sky. Soulborn once say ‘something wicked this way come.’ Cara sense strong wicked coming. Not now, but soon.
Before Kellan could react to Cara, another voice filled his mind, causing him to clench his jaw in frustration.
That is what took me away from you, my Sentinel. I sought to heal cracks in the gate to our universe, but it was folly. There are too many and Ordered power has no effect on them. The gate remains closed and neither Perditor nor his Emissary may enter, but they whisper offers of power to those who will ally with them.
“That would have been helpful to know,” Kellan growled, and saw a shadow of confusion fall across both Margaret and Nicolae’s faces. He waved it aside. “Too many voices in my head sometimes.” The Sentinel drew deeply from his river of power, eyes bursting to life. He pointed to the two vampires. “Keep each other safe.”
Cara closed ranks beside Kellan. The dire wolf’s head now rose just above the Sentinel’s waist. Kellan rested his hand there and the two felt power as it coursed between them. Images flashed through Kellan’s eidetic mind with perfect clarity. Lupa nudging a wobbly puppy toward him. The pup latching onto his arm, binding Cara to Kellan for all time. Never since that day, more than two years ago, had the Sentinel felt what he was now feeling. The wild, unbridled Universal energy that flowed through Lupa’s entire line had been woven together in perfect symmetry with his own Ordered power. They shared a moment of unified intent as Kellan looked down to meet Cara’s gleaming eyes. The dire wolf’s lips curled back in what others might have thought to be a snarl. Kellan knew different. The Sentinel returned his noble friend’s smile and the two broke into a run, matching each other, stride for stride.
Chapter 30
A Noble Friend
Kellan spun in a tight circle as his Sentinel’s sword cleaved through four djinn glyphs that converged on him. They puffed away. He bound his intent to Gaia’s will and leaped into the air. Several pillars of water, fire, and spinning air lay scattered beneath him. Each marked the grave of a djinn. A dozen ghoul corpses continued to scratch about in the rocky dirt while half again as many lay perfectly still. The entire area seemed covered with glistening slime from the countless skinwalkers he and Cara had dispatched.
Still, more were coming, a seemingly endless horde summoned by the dark wizard. This necromancer is really starting to piss me off, thought Kellan. At least he hasn’t replaced any of the djinn. Still, four left is more than I’d—
Kellan whipped his body to the side as a gout of fire lanced upward from the ground. He could almost smell the air burning, then it was gone. Kellan dropped to the ground beside Cara. The dire wolf quickly pawed at a small pillar of orange flame, that marked where he had dispatched the fire djinn. “Nice job,” said Kellan enthusiastically. “Now we only have three more of the blue bastards to deal with.” The Sentinel pulled on one of Cara’s ears in the manner he loved so much.
A thought crossed Kellan’s mind and he drew half of his remaining power into himself. The sky darkened as flat-bottomed clouds blotted out the starlight. The air crackled with accumulated energy and Kellan willed its release. Wind and lightning swirled around the two as if in some choreographed dance of elemental power. Frozen forms appeared to writhe in the night as each bolt of lightning created a strobe effect all around them.
Kellan knelt beside Cara and said, “If I lure them in, can you do that outward howl-attack thing you did before?” The dire wolf stared at the Sentinel with a very human look of disbelief in his eyes.
No, projected Cara along with several other images.
Kellan sighed, “Well, when you put it that way, yes, I do think you would have already done it again if you could. No, I do not think you were simply trying to be dramatic. Look, it just occurred to me so I asked, okay? It seemed like a reasonable question.”
The wind started to die down and Cara projected several more images. Kellan nodded with understanding. “Well, you blew away an entire cohort of baddies, so it certainly looked like an attack to me. How was I supposed to know it happened when you leveled-up?” Cara let out a low growl. “What do you mean that’s not accurate? Get mad at Maggie not me. She said leveled-up. I didn’t. Fine, if we’re alive later, you can tell her. Enough. I don’t want my last words to be about something stupid and this—”
“Sentinel Kellan. Sentinel Kellan, are you there?”
“Jarvis? You’re breaking up. I’m a bit busy right now so—”
“Sentinel Kellan, there is tremendous electromagnetic interference in your area. I have had to retask several satellites to manage even this level of communication. I don’t mind saying that doing so was exceptionally difficult for me and, of course, would have been impossible for any—”
“Jarvis,” interrupted Kellan.
“Yes? I am here,” replied the AI.
“Do any of those satellites have lasers?”
There was a several second pause, then Jarvis responded. “Why, no Sentinel Kellan, they are communication satellites. Why would they—”
“How about ghoul killing missiles?”
Jarvis’ voice took on an emotionless quality, “No, the satellites do not have any ghoul-killing missiles either.”
Kellan checked his reserves and noted he had less than a quarter remaining. The sky above had begun clearing. He and Cara took off in slightly different directions, but still toward the small hill that Margaret had identified earlier.
“Shannon wanted me to tell you that she cannot make a stable portal to your location. She is quite upset.”
Kellan deflected two djinn glyphs, as he continued up the hill, then said, “Please tell my lovely wife that I’m terribly sorry for any distress she might be suffering while safe in Roswell.”
“Very good, Sentinel Kellan, one moment.”
“Jarvis!”
“Yes?”
“You weren’t actually going to tell her that, were you?”
“Of course.”
Kellan’s summoned weapon cleaved a skinwalker into three gelatinous blobs, and he growled, “Why would you do that, Jarvis?”
“Because you asked me to,” replied the confused AI, then added, “Now Shannon would like to know how many ghouls you are fighting.”
“Lots, Jarvis, along with a bunch of skinwalkers, and a few djinn.”
“Thank you for such a helpful response,” said Jarvis sarcastically, “but may I access your optical data to more accurately assess the tactical situation?” Kellan gave his mental assent and felt his contacts energize further as the AI began to assimilate information directly from his optic nerve. “Three djinn remain in your immediate vicinity, but they do not represent the greatest danger.”
As if in response, a djinn materialized from a spray of water just to Kellan’s left and rapidly drew a glyph. It streaked toward the Sentinel and he frantically created a partial rune of his own. The two empowered glyphs collided, merged, and the reformed symbol streaked back towards its original creator. The glyph struck the water djinn full in the chest and erupted in flame and steam. Seconds later a small, bubbling fountain, was all that remained.
Kellan gave a grunt of surprise, then muttered, “I’m actually kind of shocked that worked. Jarvis, make a note that elemental glyphs can be altered in addition to being destroyed. I need to poke into that with Focalor.”
“Noted, Sentinel Kellan, however, based on my current analysis, you will not likely survive to, as you say, poke into that.”
Cara projected a frantic warning and Kellan quickly erected a shield behind himself. He spun just in time to see a ghoul’s razor sharp talons rake against it with a shower of emerald sparks. The Sentinel thrust his hand toward the creature. Green mist formed around his hand and a dagger settled there. He dismissed the shield and drove the gleaming weapon into one of the undead’s milky white eyes. It froze in place, then green fire shot out the other eye and its mouth. Kellan pulled back and watched as the ghoul collapsed to the ground. It twitched once, then became still.
Cara bounded up to him a moment later. The dire wolf was definitely the worse for wear. Several patches of fur had been burned away, though not as badly as before. Blood streaked his gray and black face, but Kellan couldn’t be sure if it was Cara’s, his foes, or both. The Sentinel glanced quickly around for immediate danger. Seeing none, he quickly scratched Cara behind the ears and said, “Jarvis, tell Shannon that we’re doing ok and I don’t think she will be able to make it here until we’ve dispatched Doctor Strange’s evil cousin up there.”
“You are not doing fine at all, Sentinel Kellan. In point of fact, you are doing quite the opposite of fine. Your adversary is being fed a virtually unlimited amount of Universal energy through one of the many fissures Nurisha mentioned earlier. This necromancer, as you call him, is channeling that power to animate both ghouls and skinwalkers. He can continue to do so until such Universal power is exhausted, which, by my estimates, it will not be. You must sever him from its source before your own reserves are expended.”
Kellan quickly looked inward and found Nurisha standing within his river of power. It swept past her, but only rose halfway up her calfs.
Jarvis materialized beside him and Nurisha smiled at the AI. He blushed and gave a subtle half-wave. “Oh for the love of all that’s holy, you two…really. Cara and I are about to be snuffed out and you want to take the time to flirt?”
“Time barely flows here, as you well know, my Sentinel,” admonished Nurisha.
“Indeed,” added Jarvis, “Beyond that, it has been quite some time since I have seen Nurisha. I believe my response was appropriately reserved given your current circumstance.”
Nurisha stepped onto the bank and brushed a hand affectionately across Jarvis’ cheek then turned her pupiless eyes on Kellan. “The rules governing our universe begin to shatter, my Sentinel. I have seen it. If you are to survive, you must, likewise, break that which has been unbreakable.”
Kellan sighed. “Last I checked, just about every angel I’ve ever encountered has thought me to be the poster child for reckless fools.”
She nodded. “Thought you to be is the operative phrase, Kellan. I’m afraid your recklessness has not been keeping up with the times. Ordered power alone will not prove sufficient and your ability to gather Universal could not possibly compete with what is being made available to your adversary.”
“Well, those are my options, Nurisha, so I either make them work, or we’re all screwed.”
She shook her head. “You have a third option. Let me show you where I have been and what I have seen.” Nurisha reached up and placed a finger aside Kellan’s temple. His inner world shattered like broken glass spinning in all directions. He watched as she rose from Earth’s blue sphere to wind her way among each planet in the solar system.
He saw her leave its familiar planets behind and head off into the vast cosmos. She moved through spinning galaxies at the speed of thought, pausing again and again to explore different planets. As she did so, Kellan began to see patterns emerge.
Yes, my Sentinel, you are correct. They were each exoplanets capable of sustaining life. The universe teams with it. I have traversed the darkness of creation and found countless worlds where such life exists. In each such world I saw Creation’s hand, but in none of these did both Order and Chaos exist separately. Only here, on this world, on this Earth, did I find it to be so. Only here did either Order or Chaos attain personality or individuality, because only here did you exist, my Sentinel.
Kellan watched as Nurisha stood on the beach of some distant world. Twin moons cast a crimson glow all around her from the system’s red giant star. Emerald tears streaked her cheeks as she looked up at the night sky. Again, her voice came to him.
I am alone in all the universe. I cannot convey to you the breadth of creation or its complexities. I do not pretend to understand either, myself. However, in all that, I am alone. Each sentient being is unique, but not alone. I do not say this out of sadness, although I am sad. I say it because, in all the universe, Creation has set His eyes on but one blue jewel that gleams amidst the darkness. His narrow path begins and ends with Earth.
Kellan shuddered as the vision faded. Nurisha cupped his face in her hands. “I traveled past every world to where the farthest, faintest particle now exists. I found the gate Creation has set around this universe, Kellan Thorne. Beyond it I sensed the wild Universal power in the void between worlds. I touched the gate but did not try to cross for fear that, if I did, all that I am would cease to exist.”
Nurisha lifted up on her toes and kissed Kellan’s forehead. When she pulled back he saw more tears filling her eyes. “The gate is failing, my Sentinel. Cracks have formed, far too numerous to seal, if sealing were even possible.” She shivered. “Through those fissures I sensed a hunger in the darkness. The gate will fail. Perditor and His Emissary will come. All will end, unless you prevent it from becoming so.” She made a vaguely outward gesture. “This necromancer is nothing. He is merely some human, attuned to Universal energies, who has succumbed to Perditor’s empty promises whispered through cracks in the gate.”
Kellan shook his head. “That necromancer doesn’t feel like nothing, and if he’s nothing, we’re in big trouble. According to you two, that nothing is kicking my ass.”
“Because you play by old rules that no longer apply, my Sentinel. That is what I need you to understand and believe. Order and Chaos exist only here for a reason. Order was renewed in you for a reason. Your Soulborn exists for a reason. I exist for a reason. Maurius and Zagan existed for a reason and the Incarnation of Chaos was shattered…for a reason.” Nurisha glanced to the side as if seeing something hidden from Kellan. She whispered, “Cara exists for a reason.” Her eyes locked on the Sentinel’s own and she said, “Go find the reason!”
Kellan stumbled forward as the world around him reasserted itself. He would have fallen, but was pushed upright by two large paws. The Sentinel blinked and found himself staring into Cara’s softly glowing eyes. The dire wolf stood on his hind legs and licked Kellan’s face. “I’m okay,” whispered the Sentinel, then chuckled. “Thanks for the vote of confidence. I know I may not look it, but I am.” The dire wolf shifted his weight, fell back to all fours and tensed as if to run. Kellan grabbed the scruff of his neck. Cara looked up questioningly. “I’ve been encouraged to break some rules. How do you feel about doing something I’ve been expressly warned not to do?” The dire wolf huffed something vaguely affirming.
Kellan glared at the cords of Universal power that were twisting around the, now nearby, hill. “Jarvis!”
“I am here and I am prepared to do something you’ve been expressly warned not to do. How may I help?”
“I need you to call Maggie on her cell phone,” said Kellan, then frowned when Jarvis didn’t respond. “Did you get that?” asked the Sentinel.
“I did receive your message, but am a bit taken aback. I thought I might be of more direct assistance than simply calling a toddler.”
“I’ll be sure to tell Maggie you called her that,” snarked Kellan. “In the meantime, I need you to convey to the world’s most powerful vampire, and Sentinel of Chaos, that I need her to look for my signal, then drain whatever power she’s accumulated in one focused burst toward me.”
Jarvis sounded alarmed. “You want Margaret to attack you?”
“You were not listening,” lilted Kellan, “toward me, Jarvis, not at me. That is a very important distinction, please don’t lose it in translation, because I will not be defending against an attack. If she directs all that power at me rather than toward me, I’ll likely get accidentally dead.” The dire wolf huffed and shook his head. “Exactly right, Cara” said Kellan, “I agree. I don’t want to be dead either.”
“I have delivered the message, Sentinel Kellan. Margaret understands the distinction and awaits my conveyance of your signal. May I ask what that signal will be, just so I do not miss it?”
Kellan drained all his remaining reserves and began channeling them in layers upon layers of shielding. “You won’t miss it, Jarvis. I imagine I’ll probably shriek for help like a little girl or something.” The Sentinel locked eyes with Cara. “Keep pace with me. We’re going to cut the head off this snake.” The dire wolf yipped in response and the two began running together. Djinn glyphs, skinwalker scythes, and ghoul claws raked at them, slowly peeling away Kellan’s shielding. As the ground began sloping upward, Kellan yelled, “When we get halfway up the hill, I want you to go on without me.” Dozens of images flowed from Cara, all conveying the same message…no, not leaving best friend…Cara protect.
“You’ll do what you’re told for once, Caraid Uasal,” Kellan said. “I need you to trust me. The best way you can protect me is to go on without me. Get to that necromancer and take him out. I’m going to clear the path for you, like you did for me earlier.” More worried images flowed into Kellan’s mind. “No, Cara, this is the only way. You either trust me or you don’t.”
