The Kin

by Elsye Harwood

  ***

  Thankfully, the rest of the day passed without incident and at lunch time David wandered down the road and had a coffee and something to eat at the place Tully had recommended.

  He returned feeling a lot easier in himself and had to wait only a few minutes for the Roman to open the library again. Then he spent the rest of a pleasant afternoon reading about vampires, ghosts and anything else that went bump in the night.

  At five, Tully arrived at his desk and told him that he was closing the library for the day. He asked David if he would like to join him for dinner.

  There was a grey-haired woman in the kitchen when they arrived. Tully introduced her as Nadia, their housekeeper, who had her own flat on the ground floor. She greeted David warmly in heavily accented English and then she notified Tully that she was off for the night and he would have to make the dinner.

  Not at all fazed by the announcement, Tully set about preparing the food, but before that he poured them both a glass of red wine.

  “So, how long have you been in Rome?” he asked David as he chopped vegetables.

  “I arrived late last night and came straight to the library this morning.”

  “Where are you staying?”

  “At a hotel down the road, I can’t remember its name. It’s cheap though, and that’s what counts.”

  Tully smiled. “How long are you planning on being here? There’s no restriction on how long you can use the library, don’t worry. ”

  “Thank you, that’s a relief. I think two months, maybe three. Really, it depends how long my money lasts.”

  At that moment the door burst open. David glanced over and saw Marcus standing at the door and staring at a strange hole in the wall; he seemed to be contemplating something.

  “I don’t think his meeting went well,” Tully whispered.

  David glanced at the older Roman, who shrugged and pulled a face. When he looked back the young man had shed his jacket and was walking barefoot towards them with his shoes lying discarded on the floor behind him.

  “He’s an idiot,” Marcus declared. “An incompetent old fool.”

  “I hope you didn’t tell him,” Tully replied pleasantly.

  “Almost, but I caught myself. You’re seeing him next time because I will say something if I see him again,” Marcus said taking a glass from the draining board and pouring himself a drink of wine. “What you are doing?”

  “What does it look like I’m doing?”

  “Where’s Nadia?”

  Tully smiled at his friend. “It’s her night off. Are you joining us or are you seeing a lady friend?”

  Marcus ignored the question. “So you’re cooking?” Tully nodded. “What’re you making?”

  “I thought I’d give David a traditional Italian meal, so I’m making spaghetti bolognaise,” Tully explained, indicating the vegetables and meat ready for cooking.

  Marcus lifted an eyebrow. “Well, that’s original.”

  “If you don’t want it, you know where the McDonald’s is. Or are you out tonight? I’m going to need an answer soon so that I know how much to make.”

  Marcus took a sip of the wine. “I’m afraid you’re stuck with me. And thank you, I’d love your traditional Italian fare.” Then he turned his attention to David. “So what did you conjure up this afternoon, or did you behave yourself, like me?”

  David blushed. “I read about things that go bump in the night.” He felt the bright green eyes upon him as the young man moved around and sat down at the rustic kitchen table.

  “Were you scared?” he asked staring at him intensely.

  “I wasn’t, but I am now,” David quipped, before he could stop himself, but to his relief the young man burst into laughter. Encouraged, David continued. “I’m actually really curious, do these things exist?”

  “He doesn’t know anything. Elliot left it all to us,” Tully explained whilst dropping the meat in the pan. Marcus glanced at him, then looked back at David. “Marcus, be nice,” the older man added.

  The young custodian glanced over again. “Give me some credit, Ma… Tully.” Then he answered the question. “David, if a hand can form from your blood, don’t you think it’s possible that these other creatures could actually be real?”

  David regarded him cautiously. “I suppose.”

  “It’s why the Order was formed. We’re here to protect people and to ensure that they don’t find out about these nasty things. We keep this ancient knowledge safe and out of harm’s way, so idiots don’t try and use it for their own gain, and we safeguard it for future generations who might need to fight these creatures in the future.”

  David chewed his lip, thinking about the enormity of what he was being told. “I know that you’re not religious but do you still come under the jurisdiction of the Vatican?”

  Tully answered, as he stirred the sauce. “No, but we often work in conjunction with them and do our best to maintain a good relationship with the Church. We’re not reliant on them for money and the Order predates the Church anyway; you could say that they tolerate us, and though they wouldn’t admit it, they do also need us.”

  “How old is the Order?” David asked.

  “We were set up by the Emperor Hadrian in 118 AD,” Tully replied.

  “CE. Common era,” Marcus interrupted sanctimoniously.

  Tully ignored him. “Hadrian heard about a danger to Rome and the Empire, which his armies couldn’t fight. So he tasked a group of people to deal with it, which they did, and then he asked them to look out for more of these threats and to keep records of what happened and how to fight the danger.”

  Marcus took up the tale. “Christianity was legalised in the Roman Empire in 313, and though physically, the Empire fell and Rome was sacked, the genius – and by that I mean the spirit of the city and the Empire – was kept safe and protected by the Order. The entity and concept that was Rome lives on in the Church and the Empire’s achievements, which still influence the whole world.”

  “The Eternal City,” Tully added. “Marcus, help with the pasta please.”

  David sat cogitating on what he’d been told as the two Romans moved about the kitchen getting the food ready.

  “So now the Order protects the whole world,” he surmised.

  “Something like that,” Marcus agreed cheerfully as he strained the pasta.

  “How did you join it?” David asked burning with curiosity.

  “It’s hereditary,” Marcus informed. “We’re both descended from the men who first founded the Order.”

  “Which is why Marcus can be such a snob at times. It’s in the blood,” Tully added.

  “And he worries too much, an annoying Tully trait, which should have receded in time but unfortunately hasn’t.”

  “Someone has to worry, because you don’t,” Tully replied as he set bowls out on the table.

  Before Marcus was able to respond, the ringing of a phone interrupted the exchange. Tully pulled a face.

  “Don’t answer it, Marcus, please.” The younger man stared at his friend for a moment then walked over to where he’d left his jacket and took the phone from the pocket. He studied the number and shrugged helplessly, and moved away to speak to the caller.

  David could hear him speaking in Italian to someone, and from the conversation he guessed that it was a woman. Tully ignored him and set about serving the food. By the time Marcus returned both Tully and David were already eating.

  “Turn it off, please,” Tully instructed his friend before he had a chance to sit down. “No phones at the table, you know the rules.” Sighing, Marcus switched the phone onto silent and put it on the side.

  “So, David, do you know anyone in Rome?” Tully asked as he expertly handled the pasta onto his fork.

  “No one. I’m planning to do some research first and then I’ll buy a guide book and look around.”

  “You can’t do that,” Marcus declared. “It’s not the same, you need someone who knows the city and can s
how you the hidden places no one else ever sees. Tully and I will give you a tour at the weekend.”

  “It’ll have to be Sunday after the service,” Tully said.

  “We don’t need to go to that,” Marcus decided.

  “Ah, yes, we do. Both of us. So you’ll have to get out of bed.”

  “I’m out Saturday night.”

  “Well, make sure you come back at a reasonable time and preferably alone. It’s important, Marcus.”

  The young Roman rolled his eyes. “All right, I’ll be back, and then after that, David, we’ll show you Roman Rome.”

  “What about the medieval parts?” Tully queried.

  Marcus pulled a face. “You two can do that on your own.”

  “David, as you can see, Marcus has a selective take on history, he only does the parts that he likes. There’s a lot more to Rome than the Romans.”

  Marcus interrupted. “I agree, but medieval Rome was and is tedious and confusing, so if I can avoid it, I will.”

  “In your opinion,” Tully said. “I, on the other hand, happen to find the history fascinating.”

  “Thank you,” David managed to say. “I’m very grateful. It’s an honour that you’d take the time to show me.”

  “And I’m obliged to you because the thought of it will help me get through the boring monotony of yet another church service,” Marcus said looking at Tully, who avoided his eye and refused to take the bait.

  For a moment they ate in silence and David had to admire Marcus who was wearing a white shirt and yet somehow managed to finish his meal without getting any splatters of tomato on it.

  “Have you seen the view?” he asked suddenly.

  David shook his head.

  “No, we haven’t been out there yet,” Tully explained. Marcus stood and taking his glass went over to the windows. He slid them open and stepped out onto the balcony. Tully indicated that David should follow, so he too picked up his glass and wandered out.

  The young Roman was leaning against the balcony wall. “This is why she’s called the Eternal City, David, she’s undying, and there are parts of her that are far older then the Church. She adapts, changes and continues. People can come and go, but she lives on.” He paused and allowed David the chance to take in the spectacular view from the balcony, which included St Peter’s. “When I look here, I don’t mind what fate’s chosen for me. I can cope with it, because I’m doing something important and I’m fulfilling the oath I made to protect and keep my home safe.”

  “Shall we let him read the book?”

  David turned to see Tully standing in the doorway.

  “I don’t see why not.” Marcus replied still drinking in the view.

  “David, would you like to know how this Order came into being?” Tully asked.

  David nodded. “Gosh yes, I’d love to.”

  “Come this way then and you can read the first official account of the Order of the Arcane Knowledge.”

  David followed Tully and was surprised when he was led into the older section of the apartment, which was covered with portraits and wood panelling. They entered a sitting room filled from floor to ceiling with book-shelves, while suits of armour stood on guard around the room. Tully stopped at a shelf filled with books, all of which had the same coloured spine and seemed to be part of a series.

  “Part of our job is to keep all the old books updated, but we also write up all our investigations. Then every few years we put them together in a book, which becomes part of this collection.” He reached up and pulled one down. “This is the first. It was written by Marcus Junius Silanus, who was a member of the prominent Junii family. He became a powerful man in Rome, but he had a secret life; unfortunately, he also died young, so never really fulfilled his potential.” He paused and studied the book for a moment. “As you can imagine, being a member of the Order can be quite dangerous.” He glanced up and smiled ruefully at David.

  “The other author is our friend, Marius Tullius Varens. He was a member of the equites or knight class and a professional soldier. He, on the other hand, lived a long time and remained in the Order until he died. The two met and became friends, despite the class difference, when serving in the east under Trajan.”

  He looked at the book in his hands again. “It was a life-changing experience for both of them. When they got back the new Emperor Hadrian told them to write it up. But they had to make it like a story, and not stiff and formal like the reports he’d been reading from his generals. So that’s what they did. They each wrote up their side of the experience and made it lightweight and easy to read for their Emperor. We’ve all followed the same directive since then. Read it and Marcus and I will try and answer any questions you have.”

  David took the book and opened it, finding to his surprise that it was in English and quite short.

  “This one was rewritten in the ’fifties, and translated into English, as most people understand it now. If you’d prefer, we have a Latin copy as well.”

  “English is fine, thank you,” David replied hastily.

  “Good. Let’s go back, shall we?”

  Tully led the way out of the room but as they were about to re-enter the modern part of the flat David stopped, shocked by one of the paintings.

  “That’s Marcus, isn’t it?” he asked looking up at the portrait of a young man from the renaissance period. “I don’t know much about it but it looks original. Is it Raphael?”

  Tully walked back and stared. “It’s not only physical features that run in families, power and influence do as well,” he said by way of an explanation and strode off. David gave the picture another quick look then scurried after.

  Marcus was where they’d left him on the balcony. He glanced around as they came back out. “I hope you don’t mind, but I started the scotch while I was waiting for you.”

  “Sounds perfectly reasonable to me,” Tully responded and settled down in an easy chair. “David, there’s one for you. Take a seat, it’s a beautiful night, you don’t have to go home and start reading immediately.” David thanked Marcus and took a seat next to Tully.

  “Latin or English?” Marcus asked suddenly.

  “English,” Tully replied sipping his drink.

  “I’m going to read it between researching to give my brain a break,” David told them.

  Marcus nodded. “Sounds like a good idea to me. Very sensible, David.”