Sentinels of creation a.., p.38
Sentinels of Creation: A Scion of Amber Light, page 38
Juliet blinked several times. “I thought that would kill him?” she asked.
“Oh, it would under normal circumstances,” agreed Shannon, “that’s why the potion.”
“Do I want to know what’s in it?”
Kellan shook his head, but Shannon said, “Fae broth and Lucifer’s blood.”
Juliet pinched up her face and Kellan said, “Yeah, I’m not looking forward to it. I assume it’s going to taste like ass and I know it’s going to send a come kill Kellan and Shannon bat signal through the entire spiritual realm.”
“That’s why the phalanx of friends,” Juliet said softly. “Kel, they are going to reverse Harry Potter you.”
The Sentinel stared at her for several seconds as his eyes lost focus. Shannon looked at him. “Which movie is it?” she asked.
“Seven, part one,” replied Juliet.
Shannon nodded. “If he’s replaying them in order, this might take a few min—”
“Oh, very cool,” interrupted Kellan. “You’re right. They are doing a reverse Harry on me. Is it weird that just saying it out loud makes me feel better?”
“Definitely,” said Juliet.
“What’s a reverse Harry?” asked Shannon.
Juliet looked over at the Soulborn. “You’ve seen all the movies, right?” She nodded. “Okay, it’s when Harry comes of age and finally leaves the Dursley’s house. His enemies gather to kill him before he can safely get to the Weasley’s home.”
“I remember,” said Shannon, “his owl died.”
Kellan squinted at her. “Babe, Madeye Moody died.”
“I know,” she said defensively, “but I really liked the owl. He was so cute and fluffy.” She saw Juliet and Kellan’s expression, hardened her voice, then added, “Hedwig was also very loyal.”
The younger woman nodded. “She was that, but my point is that Harry’s friends got him safely away from that house. Your friends are going to keep you safe at yours.”
Kellan rubbed at his eyes. “None of them better get killed like Madeye.”
“Or Hedwig,” added Shannon.
“Or Hedwig,” conceded the Sentinel. He glanced at his watch and let out a low curse. “We’ve got to take this nasty thing at exactly the moment astronomical twilight ends, which is ten minutes from now.” Kellan stood and his eyes burst to life. Power gathered around him and he lashed out a hand. Ribbons of emerald energy flowed from his open hand as enochian runes flashed down his arms. The night air was split by a beam of white-green light that rotated into an open portal. It locked in place and Juliet looked through to see her parent’s front yard. Kellan smiled. “I figured you might want to hang with them tonight rather than be alone at your own place.”
Juliet nodded and felt her eyes begin to burn, but forced down the tears before they could flow. She got up and the three formed a tiny circle as they hugged each other. A furry face shoved its way among them and licked at Kellan and Shannon’s cheek. Juliet laughed despite herself then released them and stepped through the open portal. She turned. “Good luck, you two. I love you!”
Kellan and Shannon each raised a hand. “We love you, too!” The portal winked out, and Juliet Herrick stared at the open patch of yard. She heard the front door open and saw her parents framed by the foyer light. Juliet walked toward them as tears streamed down her face.
Chapter 39
A Phalanx of Friends
“We got you,” said Meghan. “We’ll see you at oh nine hundred tomorrow, when all this shit is over.” The former Marine reached for the handle to Kellan’s front door, but he placed his own against it.
Focalor, Kali, and half-a-dozen others had already taken positions around Kellan’s house. He smiled at Meghan, Ares, Mircalla, and Margaret. “We do not have time for one of your poignant monologues,” said Mircalla. The queen’s eyes slipped off Kellan’s to where Shannon was preparing something in the kitchen.
The Soulborn looked up and yelled, “Five minutes.”
“Ok, no monologue, poignant or otherwise,” said Kellan. “Just this. Thank you. I’ll never forget this.”
Meghan rose up and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank us in the morning, nerd.”
Ares extended a hand, which Kellan gripped enthusiastically. “No thanks are needed Sentinel of Order, we are friends are we not?” The god of war released Kellan’s hand, then added “However, since you felt the need to offer such thanks, it is good you did so now.” He laughed. “We could all be dead by morning.”
Margaret shouldered her way in front of Ares while managing to join the other two women in glaring at the god. For his part, Ares seemed confused at their sudden displeasure with him. “Stay safe, Godfather,” said Margaret, “See you on the other side.”
“Thanks, young padawan. With you out there, how could we be otherwise?”
“As touching as this is,” interrupted Mircalla, “we are closing the door now and will be applying defensive glyphs because yours would not survive the severing. I will see you in the morning, Sentinel of Order.” Kellan’s brows rose in surprise and the queen gave him a genuine laugh, such as he’d never heard from her before. “Oh, my very young Sentinel, you made it possible for my Ah’Anon and I to bring life from death. Did you think I would let a little thing like the sun stop me from defending you two until the severing is undone? I have been anointed with the same salve I gave Ah’anon the first day he met you. Fear not, the sun will prove no danger to me this day.” She pulled on the door and Kellan stepped back. Just before it clicked shut, Mircalla whispered, “Have faith, all will be well.”
A moment later, the Sentinel felt both Chaotic and Universal energies being applied to the door. He turned to face Shannon. Past her, the windows to their backyard all glowed with empowered glyphs. There even seemed to be a soft red and amber glow emanating from the hall that led to Kellan’s office and their bedroom.
Shannon walked up holding two earthenware mugs with the words Saddleback Leather Co. hand stamped on each. She saw his expression and shook her head. “You truly are a daft man. The potion won’t hurt your precious mugs, but I was told it had to be contained in a vessel made by human hands, not machines.”
“I wasn’t worried about that,” scoffed Kellan. Shannon handed him a mug and smirked. He sighed. “Well, they are first editions, and Dave changed the designs. You can’t get them any—”
“I know," she said, then pointed at the oven's digital clock. The light blue numbers glowed back at them, 8:45. Shannon locked eyes with her husband and said, “Last chance. We drink this, there’s no going back.”
Kellan’s eyes burst to life. He cupped her face with his left hand and said, “Why, in heaven’s name would I want to go back? Now, you said I have to hold every drop of Ordered power right?” She nodded. “Well, I should be able to do that for about a minute before I explode into bitesized Kellan bits, so I hope this Devil-Fae brew of yours works.” The Sentinel glanced from Shannon, and said, “Jarvis, are you ready?”
The AI materialized to his right. “I am ready, Sentinel Kellan. The contacts are fully energized, however, they will cease to function once you are severed from your power.” Kellan gave Jarvis a curt nod of understanding, and the AI continued. “Very well. Once you have summoned the fullness of your power, I will project a facsimile of Nurisha to join us. I will serve as a conduit between you both so communication will be possible throughout the process. She will need to secure herself and be fully aware of when you imbibe. Do you have any questions, Sentinel Kellan?”
He didn’t respond, but instead took a step back as enochian runes ran down his arms. Kellan’s eyes glowed so brightly that his violet-tinged irises seemed to disappear into the whites of his eyes. Cracks formed all along his face, hands, and arms. Each of them leaked wisps of emerald light.
The air between Shannon and Jarvis sparkled for a moment. Nurisha stood among them. She looked around in wonder, then stepped toward Kellan. “My Sentinel,” she said softly. “My Sentinel, the power burns you.” Glowing tears filled her pupiless eyes and she reached up to touch his face. “I am so sorry. Such pain. I wish it could—”
“I’m okay,” said Kellan through gritted teeth. “Do I have all you within me? It feels like I do, but I can’t lose concentration to check.”
She nodded. “You hold the fullness of me within you. The riverbed is dry.”
“You’ll be okay, right?” he asked, shuddering. “You promised me you would be okay.”
“I will be fine,” soothed Nurisha. “I can maintain my sense of self for the twelve hours you are severed from the Mantle of Order.” She smiled. “The winds of oblivion will blow, but I will cling to the rock on which you called me from darkness.”
“Ten seconds,” said Jarvis.
“You’ll be there, waiting for me when I come back. Promise me again, Nurisha. You’ll wait for me.”
“Always and forever, my Sentinel.”
“Time,” said Jarvis.
Kellan and Shannon locked eyes with each other, lifted their cups, and drank.
For a single heartbeat, nothing happened, then Kellan’s eyes dimmed and it felt like his whole body had been bathed in cool water. Nurisha and Jarvis both vanished. Kellan took a step toward Shannon, and stumbled as his legs started to give way. She caught him and they clung to each other for several seconds. “Did it work?” he asked.
“I don’t feel any different,” she said, then gripped his hand. Her brow furrowed, and she shook her head. “I can’t draw power from you.” Her eyes suddenly looked fearful. “Kellan, I can’t feel you either. Think something to me.” He did, and she shook her head again. “Nothing!” Shannon’s nose began to redden and her eyes filled. “This is horrible. It’s so quiet.” Her voice took on a hint a panic. “What was I thinking? This is my fault. This is—”
Kellan caught her up in a tight embrace and held her as she trembled. He kissed her neck, then whispered in her ear. “It’s not a mistake mo anama. We knew this was likely to happen.”
Shannon sniffed, drew a hand across her eyes, and leaned back from him. She took a long shuddering breath, then let it out. “You’re right. You’re right. It’s just…knowing a thing isn’t the same as living a thing. I’ll be okay.” She focused on Kellan. “What about you?”
He smiled. “Fortunately, you freaked out one millisecond before I would have, so I had to be strong and gallant. Thanks for that.” Kellan tapped at his temple. “Still as stone in there. No power. No river. No Nurisha.” He opened his arms. “I’m just plain old Kellan Thorne again, well except now I have a whole wife and only half a book store.”
She stared at him for several seconds then gave a snort and covered her nose. “You are such a daft man. Why on Earth do I love you so?”
“Because I’m adorable?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No, I don’t believe that’s it.”
“Well, maybe it’s because—” The house rocked as if in a mild earthquake and the two stared at each other. “You felt that, right?” asked Kellan. Before Shannon could respond, the entire living room glowed as light blazed outside the front window. Kellan moved toward it, but Shannon caught his hand in hers. He looked at her.
“I know you’re scared for them,” she said softly. “I am too, but there’s nothing either of us can do. Tonight, you are just a man, Kellan.” She pulled him toward her. “And I am just a woman.”
“And the cops are just going to break down my door,” he said, “It sounds like a war zone out there.”
She kissed him. “Focalor has surrounded the entire house with something to make people not notice.”
“Perception glyphs?” he asked.
She kissed him again, this time longer. “That sounds like what he said. I wasn’t really paying attention. Focalor promised no one would notice.”
The house rocked again, this time from the back. “Well, I’m noticing,” murmured Kellan around another of Shannon’s soft kisses, “and it is more than a little distract—”
She slipped the fingers of both hands through his hair and pulled Kellan in for a deeper kiss. He felt her passion rising and it held its own power as it flowed into him. Finally she broke the kiss and stared deeply into Kellan’s eyes. With his disguising contacts no longer functioning, they were nearly all violet with only the slightest circle of blue. “Kellan Caufield Thorne. You were mine before you were born, and I will be yours after I’m dust.”
Light exploded from a back window, but all Kellan saw was how it reflected off Shannon’s hair as it framed her face. He opened his arms and she leaped into his embrace. Even without Ordered power to enhance his strength, Kellan moved effortlessly down their hallway. Shannon whispered into his ear and Kellan laughed, then both of them stared at their bed.
Cara turned from where he’d been growling at the bedroom window. Instantly, his expression changed to one of friendly greeting. The dire wolf’s eyes shifted from Kellan to Shannon, then back again. Without another sound, he quietly leaped from the bed and padded from the bedroom. They watched as Cara turned, gripped the doorknob in his mouth, then slowly backed up until the door clicked shut.
Shannon buried her face into Kellan’s neck and started shaking with laughter. A second later she squeaked as he tossed her on the bed. Shannon bounced once, then opened her arms and Kellan went to her.
Chapter 40
A Promise of Destruction
Kellan’s eyes flew open as he was jolted awake by something he couldn’t recall. He looked to his right and saw Shannon sound asleep beneath a mound of unruly red hair. All he could see was her nose peaking out from among the curls. Kellan gave a cursory glance to the bedroom window, and noted how soft morning light filtered in between the wooden blinds. He tapped his nightstand and a watch illuminated in its charging stand. 7:55 am. Kellan yawned, then snuggled closer to Shannon and closed his eyes.
A second later, the bedroom resounded with a loud crack. Kellan’s mind immediately recognized it as the same sound that had awakened him minutes before. Plaster dust drifted down from the ceiling. The Sentinel pushed himself into a sitting position and squinted at the ceiling fan mounted above their bed. It swayed slightly. As he was staring at it, the entire house shook, and the ceiling fan broke free of its mount.
On instinct, Kellan lifted his right hand and tried to channel Ordered power to form a shield. Nothing happened. The fan tore from the ceiling. It bounced once as thin electrical wires drew taught.
“What’s hap—,” murmured Shannon sleepily, then let out a cry of alarm as Kellan slipped an arm under her, pulled her tight, then rolled the two of them off the bed. They fell in a heap onto the hardwood floor. Half a second later the fan’s wires gave way, and it crashed onto the bed. Kellan twisted his neck to see the large hole left behind along with a few errant wisps from burning insulation. He felt a soft tap on his neck. Kellan turned to look at Shannon.
She smiled up at him. “Not exactly how I planned to start the morning, but,” she wriggled beneath him, “If you are planning to remain laying there—” Kellan rolled off and started to circle around their bed. Shannon realized he was heading toward the bedroom window and leaped up. She skittered across the bed, barely avoiding the remains of the fan, and grabbed Kellan’s arm as he reached for the window blinds. “Stop!” she yelled. He gave her a frustrated sigh. “Stop,” she said again, this time more softly. “We both promised…no looking.”
Kellan pointed angrily at the window. “They could be dying out there, Shan.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” she replied, “They are my friends, too.”
Kellan squinted at her. “Why are you being so calm? I’m the calm one. You are the angry one.”
She arched an eyebrow at him, leaned forward, and traced her fingers across Kellan’s chest in a walking motion. “Maybe I am turning over a new leaf. Maybe I’m going to be the calm one from now on. In fact, I could calmly move that fan out of the way and—”
Kellan gave a snort of laughter. “You are incorrigible.” She slipped a lock of hair behind one ear and blinked at him. “No!” he said, gesturing at Shannon, from head to toe. “I’m walking out of here right now before I become entranced by…by all that.” He gave a final reluctant glance toward the window, then headed for the bedroom door. He felt Shannon’s eyes follow, but didn’t look back. “Don’t pout, Highlander. I can feel your pout. Trust me, we gave it our all. Now, we have to have faith.” Kellan walked into his closet and pulled on a pair of boxers and shorts. He quickly scanned Shannon’s side of the closet and selected her favorite pair of summer pajamas. She had pushed the ceiling fan to one side of the bed and was lounging against the headboard. “I’m still not looking,” he lilted as he exited the closet and threw her pajamas toward the bed. “Put those on, behave yourself, and I’ll make coffee. We have less than an hour til this potion of yours wears off and I want to be ready to check on everyone as soon as it does.”
Several minutes later, Kellan was pouring hot coffee into two mugs, when Cara swiped at his leg with a paw. The Sentinel looked down. “What?” Cara made several vocalizations, but Kellan shook his head. “Sorry, you may have been able to keep your magic mojo, but without mine, I can’t hear you.” Kellan tapped his temple, then shook his head again. “Do you understand?” Cara nodded, mewled again, then moved his head toward the living room. Kellan, looked in that direction. Shannon was curled up in her favorite chair by the empty fireplace. She seemed to be staring off into the middle distance. Kellan circled around the breakfast bar with two cups of coffee.
He lifted them both in her direction, and said, “Dude coffee.” She shook her head slightly as if clearing an errant thought and smiled at his reference to their favorite Bones Coffee Company favor, White Russian. The coffee bag had a skeleton on the label stylized to look like Jeff “the Dude” Lebowski from one of their favorite movies, The Big Lebowski. Kellan furrowed his brow. “Something wrong?” The front door rattled in its frame and he sighed, “other than the obvious I mean?”
