Sentinels of creation a.., p.37
Sentinels of Creation: A Scion of Amber Light, page 37
“Sera, the Spartans all died at Thermopylae,” said Kellan, but the god of war seemed not to hear.
Ares raised a closed fist and yelled, “Kellan will be as Leonidas for whom we fight!”
Meghan laid her hand on Ares’ own, and whispered, “Also dead…let’s move on from the Spartan example, okay, lover?” She turned to Shannon. “When are we doing this, Red?”
Shannon gave the nephilim a half smile. “According to the doctor you took me to and…” she glanced around the table anxiously, “…and based on what she had me…look out for…we’re either going to do this tomorrow or wait another month if you’re not ready.”
“We’ll be ready,” said Meghan confidently.
“What if I’m not ready?” muttered Kellan, mostly to himself.
“Shut up, Kellan,” lilted Meghan, then shot him a mischievous grin, “from what Red says, you’re always ready.”
The Sentinel drew his lips to a line and stared at Shannon. She winced under the weight of his gaze and mouthed sorry.
“I assume,” interjected Mircalla, “that you have all the necessary components for this potion of yours, Soulborn?”
Shannon nodded. “Not much to it, really. The base liquid is from the Fae Twilight Court’s cauldron of plenty and Lucifer’s blood provides the cada…cada.”
“Catalyst,” offered Kellan.
“Yes,” said Shannon with a smile, “Lucifer’s blood provides the…catalyst.”
“What could possibly go wrong?” mused the Sentinel. “We’re literally going to drink magic fairy soup with a splash of Satan blood to rip Order’s mantle from me.”
“Are you not committed to this course of action, Sentinel of Order?” asked Ares.
Kellan felt the weight of everyone’s eyes, but none more than Shannon’s. He gave a soft chuckle, then rose and walked to stand behind her. Kellan put his hands on her shoulders, bent, and kissed the top of her head. “I’ve never been more committed to anything, but let’s not delude ourselves here. Creation has rules and we mean to break a big one.” He pointed at Meghan. “I watched an archangel get tossed head over heels like a rag doll when he tried to interfere with me saving your life.” Kellan held up two fingers. “I watched two archangels stopped cold when they tried to prevent me from killing Asmodeus. There’s a rule against them interfering with free will. They tried to break it, and got their celestial asses handed to them.” Silence descended on the small gathering. It remained for several seconds until Kellan broke it. “Again, I’m not saying this because of a lack of commitment. Quite the contrary, but let’s be clear. This is a big fraking deal. Sentinels cannot have kids. Having kids is co-creation, and apparently that’s a no-go zone for Sentinels.”
Shannon reached up and grasped Kellan’s right hand as it still rested on her shoulder. She looked back at him and he saw the tears in her eyes. “It’s not too late,” she said. “We need not do this. If you think it’s too dangerous, or if you don’t want—”
She stopped as Kellan leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Highlander, I don’t care how dangerous it is.” He swept his gaze across the room, “and that should scare the crap out of every one of you.” He pointed at Draugluin, “Everyone knows you have the self restraint of a Siberian Husky.” Ares laughed, but Kellan rounded on him. “And you, Seramai, you’d like nothing better than for us to set off some cataclysmic universal conflict. Meghan, you’d do anything for Shannon. Don’t even deny how much you love her.” The nephilim shot a quick glance to Shannon, then lowered her gaze. Kellan gave a mirthless laugh, “In Nicolae, we have a vampire whose life I saved. In Mircalla, the sovereign whose daughter literally has a soul because of me. And of course, there’s Maggie, who would not even exist had I not empathically healed her mother and father’s necrotic flesh.” Kellan raised both hands and yelled, “You are all compromised. You’re not thinking clearly.”
He moved around the table, rested his hands on the back of his chair, then shook his head. “I’m not chastising you. I’m blessed to have such friends, but you can’t look to me for restraint, not this time.” He stared across the table and locked eyes with Shannon. “Not this time,” he said again. “Not with her. Lucifer said he would burn the world just to find Aibreann again. Don’t, for a second, think me less capable of doing the same.” He pointed across the table and watched the tears streak Shannon’s cheeks. “Our souls were knitted together even though our bodies were born centuries apart. I do not know where she ends and I begin. Now, to that you say, she and I can fuse those souls and bring forth another? We can create someone who is neither me, nor her, but both?” Kellan tilted his head back and laughed uncontrollably. “And you expect me to show restraint, to care about unintended consequences?” His voice lowered in both tone and volume, “Not this time, my friends. This time you’ll have to raise your hands and restrain me if we’re going to change course.”
Kellan slumped into his chair and sighed, heedless of the many pairs of eyes that rested upon him. “Kellan Thorne,” said Ares, “I will not raise my hand in restraint.” He slammed the table again. “Will anyone here do so?” Seconds ticked by and no one moved. The god of war nodded. “Good. This is good. We are committed.” Amber mist gathered around him, then condensed to form Roman armor as he stood. Ares lifted his right hand far above his head. He flexed his fingers several times and a gleaming red gladius appeared. Air whipped about the tents enclosure, and the god pointed first to Kellen, then his Soulborn. “I could not see you on the red planet when last I said these words, Sentinel of Order. I am honored to say them again in your presence. All that Ares has to give is now yours.” He brandished his gladius, then yelled, “Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war!”
Chapter 38
An Evening of Joy
Juliet knocked again, waited, then tripped the latch to Kellan’s front door. Light and sound immediately spilled out into the cool evening air. “Wow,” she said softly, “now that’s not something you see every day.” The young woman slipped inside and closed the door behind her. No-one seemed to notice her having entered and she took a moment to enjoy the pure lunacy that was her life.
Meghan appeared to be involved in some kind of faux conflict with Draugluin. The nephilim’s black wings were on full display as she repeatedly struck at the Were Patriarch. For his part, Draugluin had morphed into his lycanthropic form, halfway between man and wolf. His long onyx talons raked at Meghan’s equally black wings. Each time one would strike the other, an almost metallic clang sounded and rose above the conversational noise.
Margaret stood to one side, hands outstretched with tongues of flame rotating over one, while ice daggers did likewise over the other. Juliet recognized the exercise from when Kellan had first become a Sentinel. She smiled at how adept Margaret had become at mastering the delicate maneuver. Each time flame and ice met to puff into steam, Tansi would clap. Each time she clapped, translucent wings would appear from her shoulder blades, and the fae floated up several feet. Lamia laughed as Tansi said something Juliet knew must have been both child-like and poetic. All the while, Mircalla stood farther back in the kitchen, watching her daughter with an unreadable expression. The vampire queen’s eyes shifted suddenly to lock with Juliet’s own. She blurred and was at the door a half-second later.
“Why are you here?” asked Mircalla. “You should not be.”
“Uh,” stammered Juliet, then made an awkward curtsy. “I’m sorry your…majestic queenness. I was just walking home.” She gestured to Kellan’s large front window. The blinds were partially closed, but the curtains were open. “I saw a bunch of people and was curious. Kel hates crowds so—”
The queen nodded and placed a comforting hand on Juliet’s cheek. “I’m sorry, child,” she said, “I did not mean to frighten you. In truth, it is for you that I was frightened.” She slid past the younger woman, closed the curtains, then returned. “This is not the night for a visit, I’m afraid. It will not be safe for you. You should go.”
“What’s going on? Is Kel in trouble?”
Mircalla chuckled. “When is Kellan not in trouble?”
Juliet grinned. “Fair point. Let me ask it this way, is Kellan in more trouble than usual?”
The queen nodded. “Both he and the Soulborn will be in grave danger this night.” She sighed and looked back at the jovial gathering, then added, “In fact, tonight they are both willingly placing themselves in what may be the gravest danger of their lives.”
Juliet’s brow furrowed, “Then why hasn’t someone talked them out of it? I mean if it can be avoided why not just—” The young woman broke off as she caught sight of Kellan and Shannon coming in through the back door. They were laughing together, Kellan had his arm around her waist, and he leaned in to speak directly into the Soulborn’s ear. Shannon twisted out of his grip, shot him a wolfish smile, then shook her head and pointed to the kitchen clock. The Sentinel pressed both hands to his heart in an affected performance of disappointment. A couple seconds later, Kellan snuck up behind Meghan, and playfully flicked her ear.
Mircalla had been watching as Juliet drank in the scene, then said, “I think you know why, don’t you, child?”
Juliet gave a barely noticeable nod, then turned worried eyes to the vampire. “Are they going to be okay?”
“I do not know,” replied Mircalla, “but their course is set and we are all determined to keep them safe.” She placed a hand on Juliet’s shoulder and smiled. “Know this. If any harm comes to Sentinel or Soulborn, it will be because all those you see here have already perished in their defense.”
Juliet shrugged off the hand and scowled at the queen, previous fear forgotten in the moment. “Thanks, Mircalla,” chided Juliet, “that makes me feel a whole lot better. I’ll just totter off to bed now, and get a good night’s sleep.”
“Excellent,” said the queen, completely oblivious to Juliet’s sarcasm. “However, you do have enough time to wish them well. Astronomical twilight gives way to night at exactly 8:47 tonight. Be sure you are gone from this place before then.”
Juliet indicated her understanding then started weaving her way toward the kitchen. She had made it about half way through the small living room when her way became blocked. She looked up to find Ares staring down at her, a broad grin on his bearded face.
“Hi Sera,” she said, “I’m trying to get over to Kellan and—”
“Is this not the best night, little one!” boomed the god as he waved expansively. “Look at the assemblage. Fae, djinn, gods, and demons all here for a common cause. I tell you, Juliet Herrick, I have never seen its like.”
The young woman raised up on toes and sniffed. “Are you drunk, Sera?”
“Gods do not get drunk,” he replied haughtily, then reached for the nearby couch arm to stabilize himself.
“Clearly not,” she said dryly, “but have you been drinking?”
“Only to excess,” he laughed. “One always drinks before war and we shall have a war tonight such that if bards still existed, they would spin songs to make angels weep.” Ares’ face clouded a moment as if just recalling something. “Angels,” he said looking around, “we have no angels. That is disappointing, but not surprising. Such sticklers.” He focused on Juliet as if just seeing her. “You should not be here. Kellan will be upset if you were killed. You are quite weak and fragile so it is likely you would die quickly.” He waved a hand. “Begone!”
Juliet sighed. “I’m going as soon as I get past you and say hello to Kel and Shannon.” Ares stepped aside. She started to move past him, then paused. “Sera?” she began questioningly. The god of war arched an eyebrow in response and she continued, “I know you aren’t drunk or anything, because of the whole gods don’t get drunk thing, but hypothetically speaking, how effective would you be if you were trying to fight drunk?”
Ares wavered slightly and gripped the couch more tightly, then said. “It is a good question. Hypothetically speaking?” Juliet nodded. “Well, hypothetically speaking, close quarters conflict causes the Mantle within me to manifest more strongly. It removes any and all deleterious toxins, enhances healing, many things. When conflict arises, the god of war is always ready.”
Juliet reached up and patted his burly chest. “Good to know, Sera, thanks.” She saw Kellan and Shannon exit the back door and hastened after them, while Ares, once again, proclaimed his sobriety.
Juliet found Sentinel and Soulborn sitting alone by their fire pit, chairs pulled closely together. Cara lay sprawled just in front of them, his head between paws and expressive eyes darting between the two. As she walked toward them, the dire wolf rose, stretched, and made a mewling sound. Kellan and Shannon turned and smiled at her approach. The Sentinel waved at her, and said, “Hey Juliet, what do you hear?”
The young woman stopped as emotions threatened to swamp her previous resolve to keep their exchange light. She swallowed hard, then grinned and said, “Nothing but the rain, boss.”
Kellan gestured to one of the empty chairs. “Then grab your gun and bring in the cat.”
Juliet pointed at the Sentinel with thumb extended up, and replied, “Boom, boom, boom!”
Shannon recognized their exchange from a recent Battlestar Galactica marathon they’d shared with Juliet. The Soulborn said, “No offense, Juliet, but wouldn’t Meghan be more the Starbuck lass than you?”
“No offense taken,” replied the young woman, then added, “however, Meghan Daugherty wouldn’t know Starbuck from a Starbucks, so…” She let the words trail off.
Kellan tried to nudge a chair toward Juliet, but Cara intervened. He bounded over and leaped up, placing two massive paws to either side of her head. He licked her face until she started giggling and pushed him off. Cara sat on his haunches, mouth dropping open into an exaggerated doggy grin. Juliet tugged on his ears in the manner he liked so much, and called over to Kellan. “He’s huge. How did that happen?”
“He leveled up fighting a necromancer in Transylvania,” said Kellan.
“That’s not true, Juliet. Don’t listen to the daft man,” said Shannon with a laugh, then motioned to one of the open chairs.
Juliet sat and Cara placed his head in her lap, eyes hopeful. She began scratching behind his ears, then asked, “So, if he didn’t level up fighting a necromancer,” began Juliet with a sneer toward Kellan, “how did he get so much bigger?”
Shannon shot a confused look, first to Kellan, then to Juliet. “Oh, my sweet boy did do that,” she said. “He chewed that evil bastard’s heart right out of his chest and saved Kellan.” Juliet’s eyes widened and Cara huffed at her because she’d stopped scratching.
“You just told me it wasn’t true, Shan,” said Juliet incredulously.
“The Transylvania bit wasn’t true,” replied Shannon. “It was Romania, but Kellan never knows where he is, so I’m not surprised, but I suspect he just wanted to make the whole thing sound a bit more dramatic.”
The Sentinel leaned over and kissed Shannon’s cheek. “You know me so well, mo anama.”
Juliet shook her head and muttered, “Because fighting necromancers and having sentient wolves ripping hearts from chests isn’t dramatic enough.”
“What?” asked Kellan and Shannon together.
“Nothing. Not important.”
Kellan looked at his watch. “Hey it’s after 8:30, you really shouldn’t be—”
“I know, Kel,” huffed Juliet. “Everyone’s made me quite aware that I’m mortal, weak, and gonna die if I hang out here. I’m going. I just wanted to…” she shrugged, “…you know, wish you guys well, I guess. I mean it’s weird because I know what you’re planning to do tonight which, quite frankly, is kinda gross because its you, Kel. Then again, it’s also really cool, so I’m conflicted.”
“Sorry,” they said together.
“Please stop doing that. You know I don’t like when you do that talking together thing.”
Kellan and Shannon shared a look, then said, “Okay.”
Juliet barked a laugh. “I hate you both almost as much as I love you. Please stay safe. Mircalla looks worried and Sera looks happy. Those two things combined, means this is a very dangerous night.”
“More for them than us,” said Kellan softly. “I actually feel pretty guilty about the whole thing, but” he gestured toward the house, “they all refused to be dissuaded.”
“You shouldn’t have tried to dissuade them, husband,” chastised Shannon.
Kellan sighed. “The Highlander thinks I diminished their offered sacrifice or some such medieval bullcrap by—”
“She’s right,” said Juliet. “You can’t be the only one to put your life on the line for others, Kel. Speaking of which, have you heard from Raphael, Michael, or Ariel?”
“No,” replied Kellan, “but, truth be told, I didn’t expect to. Raphael made clear to both of us that he couldn’t support our decision.” The Sentinel gave a mirthless chuckle. “Michael said we were sullying the honor given us when we were chosen to be Sentinel and Soulborn.”
Juliet’s lips quirked up and she said, “That does sound like him.”
“He’s nothing if not consistent,” added Shannon, “but I was a bit surprised that Ariel didn’t come.”
Kellan slipped his hand in hers, then asked, “And what would have happened if she got hurt protecting us? Do you think Michael could stay away?” The Sentinel shook his head. “No, Ariel didn’t want to put Michael in the position where he would have to choose between defending her in battle and doing what he believes to be right. I respect her choice.”
The two women nodded, but Juliet said, “Kel, maybe you should accept the decision of those who are here with the same grace you’ve accepted those who are not.” She pointed at the house. “They love you both and want to be here to protect you from…from whatever you’re about to do.”
“I’ve made a potion to sever Kellan from his Mantle,” said Shannon, then took a sip of wine.
