by Sophia North
"Penny?" she asked, seeing that she had yet to raise her head.
Expecting to see naked fear in her eyes, Hannah was surprised to find that rather than shimmering with tears, Penny's gaze was full of rage. Dressed in her ceremonial Dragon cloak of crimson, she looked like a warrior princess of old.
"I'm going to destroy every last one of them by the time this is all over," she vowed earnestly. "Well, maybe not all of them, just the ones Vlad doesn't take care of first. He is nearby you know," she said, looking up to a balcony area set to the back of the temple. "I've been able to feel his presence again ever since he became Praetor."
"You have? Does he know?" Hannah asked.
Penny smirked. "Someday you'll realise there are some powers one does not share with one's husband. And the ability to track him supernaturally is most definitely one of them."
If Penny could sense Vlad, then Hannah should be able to feel Gabe as well. And yet, she couldn't. Her confidence in his intervention relied purely on her vision.
The sound of drumming ended their conversation. The ceremony was about to start.
"Hannah?"
"Yes?"
"Whatever happens, stay low and out of the crossfire."
"Penny, don't do anything..."
The word 'rash' never escaped from her lips. The White Women were back, but this time dressed head-to-toe in flowing scarlet red robes. Their faces were painted pure white, making them appear all the more garish.
"Good goddess, I always suspected those Extinction Rebellion freaks were sent by Satan. Now I know it for certain," Penny whispered as they approached.
Walking behind the 'freaks' came Pierce and his entourage. His Praetor protector and what Hannah guessed was some sort of Priest, or Holy Man. Whoever he was, he looked as hideous as the Scarlet women, with his painted white face covered in blue tattooed symbols.
"Aren't you the stunning bride?" Pierce commented using a finger to trace along Hannah's cheekbone. She turned her face from him, unable to bear his touch. He took exception to her pulling away and grabbed her chin to force her to look at him. "Don't resist me, Hannah. I'd hate to discipline you too harshly on our wedding day."
Her retort was to spit in his face.
Pierce wiped it slowly away, his eyes glittering in rage. "You will regret that act. But first, the ceremony. Then onto Penny the Dragon and her fate." Approaching the lady in question, he lifted one of her long locks of wavy red hair and rubbed it between his fingers. "My Master asked me to tell you, he's happy about the delay. It means he will gain two Dragons rather than the one he'd first expected. They are nice and ripe in there now. Much easier for the magical transference spell."
Penny threw her head back and laughed. "Yer Master will rue the day he sought the power of Dragons," she threatened. "And ye will too, Warlock puppet."
Slightly disturbed by the red head's words, Pierce grabbed Hannah's arm and hauled her to the altar in the alcove, where the Priest now stood.
The Scarlet women swarmed around Penny to restrain her, but she continued to laugh, so much so that she'd doubled over from it.
"Your Dragon friend is insane," he hissed to Hannah.
"If you say so, but I'm inclined to believe her. I've heard stories about what she can do...it's quite remarkable. But she is not the one you should fear," she taunted back, clearly implying who she meant.
Pierce growled low in his throat. "Even if your precious Gabriel comes for you, he will not be able to stop our marriage." Glancing over his shoulder, Pierce's Praetor body guard waited, a long broadsword gripped in his clenched fists.
The weapon was immense. Especially as the Praetor that held it was not exactly small. The hilt of the sword came up to his chest with its tip resting on the floor. The rippled steel was forged in a long ago land famed for its blacksmith's hot forges and excellent craftsmanship in metals.
Along its broad surface, intricate symbols ran along the centre seam. The edges on either side honed into the thinnest of razors. At the top of the hilt, a large blue diamond glinted from the oval platinum setting that held it.
Pulling Hannah closer to his side, Pierce turned to the ghastly Priest-like figure behind the altar. "Let's get this show on the road, Preacher man."
High above, the rescue party had moved into place and were watching the proceedings below from their respective vantage points.
"Your wife appears to have lost it," Lash whispered to Vlad, as they peered down from the shadows of the balcony.
Vlad's chest started to rumble in low laughter, making Lash believe they'd both gone stark raving mad. "Bless his white rabbits," he guffawed incomprehensibly. "Don't worry, mate. My wife is fine. But if I were you, I'd keep my head down as much as possible. She's got one hell of a reach. I'm still paying through the nose to rebuild the two towers and battlements she destroyed the last time Haan pissed her off."
Chapter Forty-Six
CROUCHED BEHIND THE low stone balustrade of the balcony facing the altar, Gabe clenched his fists in frustration. He wanted to jump down and tear out Pierce's throat, but an emotional reaction could cause chaos, and he would do nothing that would put Hannah in any further danger.
The tall Praetor standing beside the gobby Yank represented an unknown variable in his plans. Covered completely in a long black robe with a deep hood to hide his identity, Gabe could not be certain it was Aiden beneath it. His breadth and height seemed to indicate it was his former Prefect, but he needed to see his face to be sure.
"Mr. Rosetti, call me crazy but...shouldn't we do something?" Lawrence asked in a harsh whisper at his side.
The wedding ceremony was about to start and Gabe had yet to make a move in order to prevent it from happening.
"For fuck's sake, don't talk! Tall and gruesome might hear you. Speak to me with your thoughts, if you must. But I'd prefer if you refrained. Our friend down there may be a different sort of Praetor altogether and I'd rather not take any chances until I know for certain what we are up against," Gabe silently projected to Lawrence and the rest of the rescue party.
Lawrence turned to him in surprise. "Mr. Rosetti! I can hear you in my head," he replied aloud before clamping his hands over his mouth. "Oh dear, my apologies...I'll try to be quiet," he added with his mind. "But if you don't hurry up and save our girl, I may be forced to act. Hannah cannot marry that beast of a Yank."
"You will not do or think about doing anything," Gabe reprimanded him harshly, although secretly pleased by the young man's loyalty. A good egg was Lawrence. Concentrating his thoughts, he sent out another message. "Which goes for the rest of you as well. As Legatus, I am the only one who's thoughts are definitely off-limits. And for the love of the Creator, no one answer me and reveal our numbers."
From below, a raised voice broke the silence of the temple.
"We are gathered here today to bind this man, and this woman, in the holy state of matrimony..." The priest began, his voice filling the temple.
"I do not consen..." Hannah attempted to cry out, but was quickly silenced by Pierce's hand being clamped over her mouth.
The priest paused at her outburst.
"Please, continue. Wedding nerves," Pierce remarked with a grimace when Hannah's teeth sank into the soft flesh of his palm. Instinctively he slapped her, sending her sprawling to the floor at his feet.
Seeing it as an opportunity to get away from the altar and buy some time for Gabriel to make his move, Hannah tried to scamper away. But Pierce grabbed her by the hair and pulled her back to his side.
Hannah's reply was to fight him even harder.
Struggling to contain her, Pierce yelled for assistance. "Praetor, I command you to take hold of this bitch!"
The vampyre did not move an inch.
In his disbelief at being ignored, Pierce's grip slackened, allowing Hannah to get away again...albeit not very far. Her legs were tangled in the long gown of silk she wore and the silk slippers did not help either.
Enraged by the vamp's disobedience, Pi
erce reached inside his trouser pocket and produced the creature's Marker. "I order you to bring Hannah to me and hold her until the ceremony is finished," he demanded, waving the disc at the vampyre in emphasis. "Haan gave you to me to control, you pile of molten rotting flesh, and don't forget it!"
Up on the balcony, Gabe had a firm grip of Lawrence to ensure he didn't do anything stupid. Hannah would never forgive him if something happened to her overzealous assistant.
Keenly watching to see what the Praetor would do next, Gabe held his breath. He'd been getting mixed signals off the vampyre and if he refused to follow Pierce's bidding, it would mean they were going to be dealing with a whole different kettle of fish.
In a robotic turn, the Praetor advanced on Hannah's sprawled form.
So much for Gabe's theory of him possibly resisting the one in command of his Marker. Thank God. A Praetor able to refuse the power of his Marker would have been a first and Gabe didn't relish the idea of one such creature being in existence.
His hold over the Praetorian Guard was already in serious question. A rogue Praetor would be a massive problem to deal with.
Down on the tiled floor, frightened out of her wits, Hannah tried to turn, somehow rise to her feet, as he came towards her. But her efforts were futile, the vamp quickly had her in his grip and was pulling her back to Pierce's side.
"Right," Pierce expelled once she was back into position in front of the priest, "where were we? How about we skip ahead to the important stuff? And as for you," he said to his Praetor servant, "I'll keep this in hand for insurance." He flipped the Praetor's Marker like it was a coin and held it clenched in his fist.
Nodding at Pierce over his request to speed things along, the priest beckoned for one of the attendants to step forward with a silver tray. On it rested the three pieces needed to reform the Chalice of Karma - the bowl, the cylinder and Gabe's Marker. The Serpent Brotherhood were behind its theft from his suite.
Gabe watched as the long skeletal fingers of the priest assembled them together, murmuring strange incantations as he went along. As each piece came together, the seam where they met glowed blue. Whatever magic within them was released as they were reunited. When his Marker, the final piece of the puzzle, was finally added the object transformed into a richly embossed golden goblet, encrusted with gems.
Observing the incredible transformation from Pierce's side, Hannah's eyes widened in recognition as it glimmered in the firelight. It was the cup from her vision.
Up on the balcony, the addition of his Marker had caused Gabe to double in pain. It took every ounce of his will power not to shout out from the agony searing his flesh. Beneath his shirt, his Praetor tattoo throbbed and pulsed with the same blue light.
The priest beckoned for the ‘happy’ couple to come forward. Hannah balked but the tight grip of her Praetor captor forced her ahead.
Taking hold of her hand, the creepy man drew the edge of a blade across her palm, then positioned it over the cup. Her blood ran freely down into its depths. Satisfied with the offering she'd made, up next was Pierce.
"The mixing of your blood will form a new karmic link between you both," the shriven officiate explained, "and break the previous one. Thus, your love will bloom again once each drinks from the Chalice of Karma. No other bonds will exist other than yours."
Horrified that her bond with Gabe would be destroyed in favour of one with Pierce, Hannah again tried to refuse to take part in the ritual. Shaking her head vigorously as the cup approached, her captor's strong hand held her firmly in place, as Pierce forced the cup to her lips.
Back on the balcony, Gabe leant against the stone wall clutching his chest, unable to move. Not even Lawrence's pleading stare, full of confusion, could capture his attention. The suffering he felt was far too great.
As the taste of blood filled her mouth, Hannah had no choice but to swallow it down. Pierce's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he raised the chalice and emptied it down his throat.
The cup glowed brilliantly. Their Karma had been transformed.
"I now pronounce you man and wife," the priest informed them.
Gabe collapsed, the pain in his body instantly receded the moment the transformation had been completed. Lawrence rushed to his side, hoping to revive him.
Weakened as he had never been in his entire existence, Gabriel roused slowly. "Hannah..." he whispered harshly. Determined to see what was happening in the temple, he pulled himself up, with Lawrence's help, to peer over the stone balustrade.
What happened next nobody could have predicted. Pierce was about to kiss his bride when a shimmer of movement found the Praetor standing behind the unsuspecting Warlock. Latching onto his throat, the vampyre drained him in seconds. Then ripped his head off for good measure.
"Damn, the Warlock did like the sound of his own voice." It was the first time the creature had ever uttered a word. Tossing Pierce's head over his shoulder, he turned to the priest. "Is it done?"
The decrepit husk nodded. "The first link has been severed."
"Then get ready for the proper wedding, Padre, whilst I take care of link number two." Dragging the tip of the long broad sword along the floor as he paced before the altar, the Praetor called out, "Gabriel, I know you are here. Come out, come out, wherever you are, Legatus Legionis - your humble servant wishes to kill you."
Lawrence couldn't help himself. "Good god, what are you going to do?" he burst out in a harsh whisper. Below, the Praetor's gaze snapped to the balcony, scouring it intently.
Behind the stone wall, Gabriel clamped his hand over the foolish man's mouth and pulled him to his side. Concentrating what little strength he had left, he cloaked their presence with his mind. Another cool Praetor trick in his arsenal.
"Easy, man. Don't lose it on me," Gabe admonished Lawrence silently, aware the rescue party were also listening. "I'm going to do what needs to be done. Surrender...but when I bend the knee, our attack begins."
Struggling to his feet, Gabe revealed his presence as requested. "You may try Aiden, but I wouldn't bet on it."
Chapter Forty-Seven
NOT FULLY COMPREHENDING what was happening, Hannah stood rooted to the floor, unable to move because of the horror she'd just witnessed. One minute she'd been forced to drink blood, pronounced Pierce's wife in a wedding ceremony from hell, the next, widowed and being claimed by yet another monster.
Hearing Gabe's voice through the fog, she looked up and nearly cried out at the sight. He had come for her, just as her vision had predicted. Her eyes flew to where Penny stood, eager to send her friend a 'see, I told you everything would be fine' look. But when their gazes locked, Penny gave no sign of being overly pleased with the development.
And nor was she. The black and white cat cradled in her arms had yet to complete his task of freeing her from the magical manacles that bound her. Gabe's arrival on the scene could potentially upstage the hellfire she was about to unleash. If only he could have hung on for a few more minutes. Leo was almost done licking his way through the thick iron cuffs.
Her faithful pet's arrival had been the source of all her mirth earlier, along with his long whiskers tickling her legs when he'd announced his stealth arrival by slipping under her long cloak undetected. He must have realised things were amiss when her captors had gone into her flat to retrieve the Dragon cloak for the ceremony and found his way to her because of it.
Gabe's descent to the floor with a soft thud drew everyone's attention. Shimmering to Penny's side, he smiled down at her as he whispered, "Not this time, Dragon. Sleep."
Penny's last conscious act was to release Leo from her arms, allowing him to escape from the back of her cloak before drifting off into a deep slumber.
High above, Vlad sighed in relief. He now had a predictable target to aim for, because a conscious Penny doling out her Dragon power would have made things far too unpredictable for his liking. She was not known for backing down from a fight.
Lowering Penny gently to the floor, Gabe turned
to face his nemesis standing in front of the altar at the far end of the temple. "Aiden, I'm disappointed in you. I thought I'd taught you better than to get mixed up with someone like Haan and his treacherous plans."
The Praetor in question started to laugh. "You always get these sorts of things wrong, isn't that right, old teacher?" he sneered contemptuously, as two Praetors brought Tiberius into the temple, draped in chains. "Why not try again...brother."
No, it couldn't be, Gabe's thoughts railed. No one had survived that terrible night other than him. But the Praetor's eyes told him the truth. They were the same green as his and filled with the same level of malice they'd always held for him. There was no denying it, those eyes belonged to his eldest brother, original heir to the Legatus title.
"Raphael," he growled in recognition.
"Well done, baby brother. Perhaps Tiberius did manage to get through that thick skull of yours...oh wait, no. No, I don't believe he did. For if he had, I would not be standing here about to take everything from you."
Tiberius strained against his chains. "Raphael, what you propose is not possible!" their old teacher and mentor declared adamantly.
"Cease your pathetic squawking, we both know it has been known to happen. Romulus and Remus, Cain, Able...Castor and Pollux. Two brothers, always two brothers destined to rule together. And yet in the end one of them always ends up dying - usually by the other's hand. Funny how the cosmos has a way of repeating itself."
Gabriel listened to his brother’s rant with growing interest. He'd no idea what he was on about with his whole 'brothers' theory, but somewhere in his delusions there had to be a clue on how to defeat him.
Attempting to get Raphael to reveal more, Gabe prodded him in the one place his older brother always failed to control...his pride. "You never cease with your grandiose notions, do you? Or have you forgotten it was I who always beat you. So if one wanted to wager on who'd end up dead between the two of us, smart money would not be on you, Brother."