“Wow, those look like the symbols on Kellan’s arms,” said Juliet.
“Enochian,” said Shannon curtly, then added, “Next.”
Twice more they repeated the process. After the third door, Shannon stumbled backwards and would have fallen were it not for Meghan supporting her.
“Thank you,” she said, her eyes having returned to their natural brown, “That takes a lot out of me, but I’ll be alright in a moment or two so long as I don’t need to do it again.”
“Yeah, what exactly is ‘it’? “ asked Juliet as the three returned to where Kellan lay sleeping.
Shannon knelt before him, shaking him gently, then looked back at the younger woman. “They are defensive runes and should prevent Maurius or anyone channeling Chaotic energies from entering this building?”
“Ok,” began Juliet, “I understood pretty much none of that.” She looked to Meghan, who also shook her head.
Shannon turned back to Kellan sighing, in frustration, “I don’t have time to explain everything right now. It keeps bad things out.”
She shook Kellan again—this time harder.
“Hey!” yelled Meghan.
Shannon glared at her. “Do you want him to die? He needs to heal or he’s going to do just that. Now, stay out of my way.”
“Kellan. Kellan!” the young Sentinel did not stir. Shannon took her thumb and pressed it hard into the wound in his left shoulder. He screamed in pain. She held his head in both hands as his eyes started to flutter closed.
“No! Look at me. Kellan! Look. At. Me. You are wounded. Badly. You have been pierced by demonic runed alloy and you need to focus. You need to seek Nurisha and channel all you can into healing. Do you understand?”
He stared at her, eyes half closed. “Shannon?”
“Yes. It’s me.”
“How are you here?”
“You told me to come; you showed me when and how.”
Kellan looked confused. “No, I didn’t.”
“Yes you did, or you will. I mean future you will. Look, it doesn’t matter now. Talk to Nurisha. You need to heal!”
“Shannon?”
“What?”
“You’re pretty. Will you kiss me again? That will help.”
Megan and Juliet groaned. Shannon drove her thumb into the wound in Kellan’s other shoulder. “Nurisha, now!”
The three women watched as Kellan’s eyes lost focus and his lips moved, speaking words they could not hear. His breathing became rapid and, suddenly, he arched has back so violently that all three stepped back. Three times he convulsed and on the third, his eyes blazed to life, brighter than any had seen before.
Shannon sighed heavily and folded her legs beneath her as she settled to the floor. Kellan had lain back against the couch, wounds already beginning to knit. She reached out, taking his hand in hers. Tears filled her eyes, then left streaks down her face. She looked back to Juliet and Meghan, “He’ll be alright now. We just need to keep him safe and quiet for a few hours.”
Shannon stood and attempted to brush some of the dirt and grime from her pants and tunic.
Meghan slowly reached up to take her hand, stopping her. “I see what you are doing. I understand,” she said softly, then smiled, “I’m afraid your gear is pretty much a lost cause.”
Shannon stared back uncomprehendingly.
“Look, you are in a bit of shock and I get it. Let me help.”
“My clothes are fine.”
“Shannon, they are covered in blood. And there are more holes than there are solid parts. Then there are those,” she said, pointing generically toward the younger woman’s chest.
Shannon looked down and saw her tunic had been torn so badly that mere wisps of thread seemed to be holding it together. She looked back to Meghan, who smiled gently.
“You want our boy there to be able to focus at all, we need to wrap those girls up. Besides, I’ve got stuff you are just gonna love. I’ll hit up a buddy of mine and be back in an hour. What size are you?”
“Size?”
“Never mind, I have a sense of it.” Meghan turned to Juliet. “You should order in some food.”
“Yes!” Shannon exclaimed, “I’m famished.”
“Ok,” said Juliet, “What do you want?”
“You kids work that out. I’m outta here,” said Megan and a moment later they heard the back door slam, its automatic lock reengaging as it closed again.
Juliet turned again to Shannon. “Food? What kind? Shannon? What are you doing?”
Shannon turned to Juliet, smiling as she clicked the light on and off for the third time, clearly amazed. “Hmm? Oh, I’m sorry. He told me about things here, but it was hard to fully grasp it. I don’t know what kind of food can be easily prepared. Whatever is fine.”
“Haggis?” offered Juliet.
Shannon wrinkled her nose. “If that is all you can find, I won’t complain, but I don’t enjoy it at all.”
Juliet laughed. “I’m joking. You know, because your Scottish. I don’t even know where in Atlanta I could find haggis if I wanted to. How about pizza?”
Shannon shrugged noncommittally.
“Pizza it is,” said the younger woman as she pulled out her phone and began tapping on it.
Shannon’s eyes widened. “Does that make food?”
Juliet glanced up. “Huh? Funny. It’s my phone. I’m just ordering—oh. Umm, hold that thought. Let me get the food on its way then I’ll give you a crash course on the 21st century while we wait.”
45 minutes later, there was a knock from the front of the shop and Juliet hopped out of her chair. Shannon watched her scamper toward the door as her head swam with all that she’d been shown over the past hour. She had seen some truly magical things in her young life, but placed Juliet’s iPhone and its ability to talk to “The Internet”, as among the most magical. A talking oracle you could carry in your pocket. Shannon definitely wanted one.
“Here you go—Pizza! I got four different ones just in case.” Juliet set the four thin, square, boxes on the low coffee table and lifted each one in turn “Cheese. Veggie, UberMeat, and Garbage.”
Shannon breathed in deeply, her mouth watering at the delicious scents, but looked to Juliet questioningly: “Garbage?”
“Oh, it means both veggies and meat—lots of both.”
“I want that!”
Juliet pulled a triangular slice from the box and handed it to Shannon, who placed her nose near it and smiled, peering over the food at Juliet. “It smells amazing!”
“It is amazing. Food of the gods.”
“Really?”
“Well, not literally. Shannon take a bite.”
She did and Juliet watched her eyes widen.
“That’s what I’m talkin’ about—Pizza!”
Shannon swallowed. “Juliet, this is the best thing I’ve ever eaten. Ever!”
“I know, right? And this isn’t even great pizza. You need to try a Pizza from Fix, down the street. It’s to kill for.”
“I’d kill someone for this one,” Shannon said around another mouthful.
The two settled into a comfortable silence as Shannon continued to try each of the Pizzas in turn, finally pronouncing that “Garbage” was the best followed by UberMeat with Veggie and Cheese declared as a waste of good pizza material.
“Juliet?” Shannon began.
“Hmm?”
“Is there water nearby? I don’t mind fetching it, but the pizza and,” she waved a hand dismissively, “the fighting, have left me quite thirsty.”
Juliet slapped herself in the forehead. “I’m an idiot. Sorry. Sure, we have water. Kel, keeps a mini fridge in the back. I’ll grab you one.” She hopped up and disappeared into the back of the shop returning a moment later with three bottles. The first she set down next to where she’d been sitting, then she held the other two up for Shannon to see.
“This,” Juliet said, “is plain ol’ water.”
Shannon reached for it saying, “It’s so clear.�
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Juliet pulled it back from her and offered the second bottle. “And this…is Coca-Cola. Try this first.” Then she twisted off the cap with a soft hiss and handed it to Shannon.
“It’s cold.”
“Of course it’s cold. Drink it!”
“Why are you smiling at me like that?”
“Because you are like an alien who has never tasted Coke or Pizza and this is amazing.”
Shannon snorted. “I’m glad I’m such a source of amusement.” She placed her lips to the bottle and took a drink.
Juliet clapped softly at the reaction.
“I want to live here,” said Shannon reverently as she stared at the bottle.
A moment later, there was a bang from the back of the shop and both women leaped to their feet.
Meghan walked in carrying a large duffel bag and stopped, taking in the scene. She barked a laugh, looking first to Juliet and then to Shannon, who stood poised with a dagger in one hand and a mostly empty bottle of Coke in the other. “Only one dagger?”
Shannon relaxed, but looked sheepish. “I didn’t want to spill it.”
Meghan shook her head. “Pizza and Coke, huh? Good choices. How’s our boy?”
Shannon glanced over to the unconscious Kellan. “Still sleeping. Wounds are almost all closed up. He’ll be waking soon.”
“Good, then you come with me so I can get you all suited up before he does. I don’t want him tearing something open by seeing you like,” she waved up and down, “that.”
Shannon slide her knife away and drained the rest of her Coke, then grinned mischievously at Meghan. “He’s seen more than that.”
Both Juliet and Meghan froze, then said together, “What?”
“That bastard,” Meghan added, “You were what, 15 when he met you?”
“I think I’m gonna be sick,” said Juliet.
Shannon looked confused. “I was 14 when we met,” then held up her hands, waving them in negation. “No, wait. You don’t understand. I’m talking about when he met me—later. I was much older. 25, I think.”
“Future Kel?” asked Juliet
Shannon nodded.
“He’s still a bastard, or he will be,” grumbled Meghan looking confused.
“Timey Wimey,” said Juliet.
“Wibbly Wobbly,” finished Shannon brightly, “That’s what Kellan always says. Oh, and to be clear, he was a perfect gentleman when future him came to see me. I seduced him. Tripped him right into my bed.” said Shannon, lifting her chin.
“Oh,” said Megan in surprise, “I suppose that makes him less of a bastard then.”
Juliet just grimaced, “Gross, Shannon. Just gross.”
Megan rolled her eyes at the younger woman and motioned to Shannon with the duffle. “C’mon. You—in the back. Now”
Even though Kellan had expanded the shop’s bathroom when he first opened, it was still a tight squeeze with Megan directing, standing in the tub, and Shannon donning clothes in front of the mirror.
“What is this made of?” she asked, rubbing her fingers between the fabric.
“Ballistic nylon with a double kevlar weave. There are also thin ceramic plates that cover vital organs. That shit’ll stop a bullet cold.”
Shannon raised an eyebrow. “Knives?”
“It laughs at knives.”
Shannon had been pulling her mane of red hair back into a tail, but turned to Meghan and grinned. “You are my new best friend.”
“Look who’s awake,” said Juliet with a flourish, gesturing in Kellan’s direction as he sprawled lengthwise across the couch.
Shannon flashed a wide smile and folded herself next to him. She leaned in and gave Kellan a long, deep kiss.
“He looks surprised,” whispered Juliet.
“He looked surprised,” mumbled Meghan, “now he just looks like the teenage boy they all are in their heads. Hey. You two. Cut it out.”
Shannon pulled back and stroked Kellan’s cheek. “You had me worried there for a minute,” she said.
He laughed nervously. “Yeah, well, you know me. I’m always the cause of worry.”
“Oh shut up, you idiot,” said Meghan, pulling Shannon out of the way and sitting down beside Kellan. “Don’t pretend you have any idea what’s going on or why she’s acting like this.”
“C’mon Meghan, I know exactly—“
“Kel?”
“—what’s going…”
“Kel!”
“Ok, fine. I don’t know what’s going on!”
Meghan looked smug. “Better. Well, apparently, future you traveled back in time to see past her to warn you about present this.”
Kellan looked to Shannon. “Huh? I did? I will? What did I tell you?”
She shook her head solemnly. “Can’t say.”
He furrowed his brow. “Why not?”
Shannon sighed. “You said you would say that and now I’m supposed to say—“ she held up a finger to her lips, “Spoilers…”
“Oh My God,” cried Juliet. “She’s River, Kellan! She’s River fucking Song. She’s even got the hair! This is totally worth you almost getting killed.”
Kellan stared at her with a flat expression. “Thanks, Juliet. Now, watch your language. You know your parents blame me for it. And Shannon, why are you dressed like Black Widow? I’m so confused.”
“Ok, everyone shut up,” said Meghan, holding up her hands. “I don’t speak geek, or nerd, or whatever you idiots speak. First, she’s not dressed like a spider. She’s wearing combat battle armor, because being around you is bloody dangerous. Second, despite her fighting prowess, she clearly has poor choice in men, having apparently gotten entangled with you at some point in her past—which somehow is also your future.” Meghan stood and rounded on Shannon. “Now you, stop with the ‘spoilers,’ act and tell us what the hell is going on.”
“No!” yelled Kellan and Juliet at the same time.
Meghan shook her head in disbelief, “What? You don’t want to know what is going to happen? Are you insane?”
“That knowledge could corrupt the timeline,” said Juliet in a matter of fact way, “You can’t do that.”
“Corrupt the…” sputtered Meghan, “Do you hear yourself? Based on what?”
Juliet looked down and murmured, “Doctor Who.”
“What?”
The younger woman looked up again and put her hands on her hips. “Doctor Who, ok?”
“Jesus, Kellan, you are making your decision of what tactical knowledge you should accept based on a British television show?”
“Well, when you say it like that, Meghan, it sounds crazy,” said Kellan, looking embarrassed.
“Stop,” interjected Shannon. “I don’t care what you three say. My Kellan was very clear about this and I trust him. I’m not saying anything. Well, accept, ‘Spoilers.’”
Meghan grabbed the last slice of garbage pizza, knocked the box on the floor, and sat on the table. “I’m surrounded by idiots.”
“Hey Shannon?” asked Juliet
“Hmm?”
“What’s it mean if those glyphy things on the door start to turn red?”
Shannon spun around and saw Juliet pointing to the alley door where the last vestiges of a defensive enochian glyph changed from green to red, then vanished completely. As it did so, a massive portal rotated into existence, knocking tables and bookshelves as it materialized. Moments later a robed man standing well over seven feet stepped into the room and glared at the small assembly.
He spoke and his voice resonated like thunder against distant hills.
“Sometimes, one has to do a thing oneself to ensure it is completed.”
Shannon stared in horror at her nightmare come to life. He stood tall and beautiful with smoldering deep red eyes, olive skin, and cheekbones sharply chiseled as if made of marble. She could feel the power coursing through him and saw red streamers begin to play all about his body, then turned to see her companions all staring in mute awe.
“Kellan!
” she yelled, but her words were carried away by the crackling energy as she saw Asmodeus about to strike. Shannon grabbed Kellan’s bare arm and he felt her nails dig deeply into his flesh. The connection made, she reached inward and drew deeply upon his power, more deeply than ever she had before. As always, Shannon felt it burn within her, seeking release as she struggled to give it form. She felt the heat in her eyes fade completely as the shield snapped around the four of them, even as violent crimson energy struck them all, hurling them against the far wall.
“Kellan. It’s happening. It’s happening now.”
He stared at her a moment, then she saw his eyes focus and his jaw clench— all remnants of awestruck revelry gone. “Thanks, Shannon. I’m here. I’ve got this.”
She nodded and touched his cheek, her eyes blazing back to life, then leaped to the right calling over her shoulder, “Protect them! I’ll be fine.”
Accepting while not fully understanding the connection between the two, Kellan nodded at Shannon and snapped shields around both Meghan and Juliet. Meghan was already moving, both Glocks out and barking angrily, causing Asmodeus to rock backwards.
“Juliet, stay down. Don’t move.” For once the young woman just nodded and huddled behind a half fallen bookshelf as Kellan turned to launch himself into the fray.
“Consider your next action with due care young Sentinel,” said Asmodeus with a smile that did not touch his eyes. Kellan felt panic rise within him as he saw both Shannon and Meghan struggling as he gripped each by the neck, several feet from the floor.
Shannon’s eyes glowed with a fierce determination and small clouds formed throughout the room. Bolts of energy lanced out from each and struck Asmodeus, who winced and shook her violently even as her eyes dimmed, having expended all the borrowed power.
“Stop!” yelled Kellan.
Asmodeus again turned his attention to the young Sentinel. “Of course, but then I will need something from you.”
“Fine. What do you want? Take it and let them be.”
“What I want,” the Archdemon said casually, “cannot be taken. It can only be given as my servant tried to do with you earlier. Sadly, he failed. Twice. That will result in some unfortunate ramifications for him, but no need to worry about such things now.”
Sentinels of Creation: A Power Renewed Page 26