by Peach, Hanna
They didn’t make it to the second gate. Instead they were led into a flat empty section of this outer garden. A man, robed like his compatriots in orange, stood waiting for them.
“Elder,” Vix’s voice was uncertain and full of reverie. She seemed uncertain of what to do next.
The man smiled. He opened his arms and said, “Vixen. It has been too long.”
Vix cried out and rushed to embrace the man. Israel hung back so as not to disturb their reunion. Vix and the Elder continued talking until Vix moved to one side and held an arm out to Israel. Israel stepped forward and smiled.
Now Israel could clearly study the Elder. He was a pale, thin man. He could have been in his late thirties if not for his green eyes that twinkled with the exuberance of youth mixed with the sharpness of a man who had the wisdom of the ages. He seemed to barely move as he watched Israel. He didn’t waste anything – not a word or a step. Everything had purpose. This was the sense that Israel got from him.
The Elder called out a string of words in a language Israel didn’t understand, musical but harsh, like the singing of a blade. Vix’s face contorted. Israel didn’t have to know what was being said to realize that this was not good. Not good at all.
Israel heard the monks who stood behind him spring to life. Israel spun and braced himself as they raced forward towards him. There were half a dozen monks against Vix and him. He may, if he were lucky, take two of them down with him before they overpowered him. Perhaps Vix could get three.
As Israel blocked the first attack, he barely heard Vix screaming for them to stop, her words sounding hurt and desperate. At least they hadn’t drawn their weapons, which meant they didn’t want him dead. Yet.
Damn Vix for convincing him not to bring their blades with them. “They would see it as a threat,” she had said.
Israel moved around and under their attacks, returning each one with a punch or kick of his own. He realized that he was faster and stronger than the monks as his fist collided with a monk’s stomach, causing him to fly back like a rag doll.
If I can take out demons, mere mortals shouldn’t be as big a problem, right? Israel thought, trying to keep up his confidence as he faced the attack by the six monks.
Israel managed to knock out one of the monks and duck two more attacks before one fist, then another caught him in the side, knocking part of his breath out. A kick to the back of his left leg brought him down to his knees. A high kick caught the side of his head, pulling him down to the dirt.
Before he could push himself up, he heard swords being unsheathed. The appearance of sword points held him in place. Through sets of robed legs he could see that the Elder hadn’t even moved yet.
Israel was hoisted upright. He found his feet and stood, held in place from all sides again by his cage of swords.
Vix had two monks flanking her. Disbelief of the Elder’s betrayal kept her eyes wide. Israel spat blood and grit out of his mouth, coloring the ground.
At least, Israel thought dryly, if they kill me, I won’t have to clean up after myself.
The monks directed him forward until he was face to face with the pale man. The Elder stared at Israel before reaching out with a thin hand. He heard something rip. Israel looked down and realized the man had torn his shirt. The Elder was staring at his chest, his hand held out inches from his skin as if to touch him. There wasn’t a thread of emotion on this Elder’s face that would explain his behavior. What kind of weird game was this old guy playing?
Elders. He’d only met two, Michael and this guy, and both of them turned out to be assholes. Israel couldn’t decide whether he disliked the Darkened or the Elders more.
Israel called the Elder a few choice words, causing Vix to gasp. The Elder looked up into Israel’s face now. Oddly enough, the Elder seemed amused and not at all angry at being likened to various kinds of excrement.
The Elder barked out another string of words, and immediately all the points of the swords began forcing him one way. Israel glanced over at Vix. They were leading her, too. It seemed, if this were at all possible, that her eyes had grown more desperate.
“Vix,” he called out, “what the hell is going on?”
Israel had to yell at her again before she found her voice.
“A test.” He could barely hear her over the crush of feet across the dirt as the monks continued to poke him in a particular direction.
The Elder was walking alongside them. It may have been Israel’s imagination, but he seemed to make no sound when his feet hit the ground.
“A test?”
“To see whether you are who I say you are. Proof.”
Israel felt the knot in his stomach tighten. Tests were never good. “What kind of test?”
Vix just shook her head, looking so forlorn and dejected that he may have even felt sorry for her if his ass wasn’t on the line. “I can’t say.”
“Vix,” Israel insisted as loud as he could, “what kind of test?”
Vix just continued to shake her head. Crap. Whatever he was being thrown into, he would have to handle it himself. Vix had obviously lost her ability to cope.
So a test. Tests aren’t so bad, right? Hopefully it would be some kind of sit-down general knowledge test. Somehow he didn’t think so.
Okay, so the plan was… ace the test, then get them both out of there. Easy, right?
Israel gulped. He found himself at the edge of a wide rectangular hole in the ground about five meters long and several meters wide. About twenty meters away, on the other side of the hole, separated by a wooden platform, the Elder stood with Vix still being held by her two guards. Across the center of the hole’s length was a row of bamboo sticks that rose out of the bottom of the hole to ground level. Sticking out from the base of the hole were the sharpened ends of shorter bamboo sticks, hundreds of them. This was definitely not a sit-down general knowledge kind of test.
The Elder made a motion with his fingers, and Israel heard a rhythmic clicking noise. It was then that Israel noticed the man cranking some kind of wooden gear. Israel’s eyes widened.
“Oh crap,” he murmured to himself.
The wooden platform was receding towards where Vix and the Elder stood, revealing more of the same twisted hell-hole before him. It was then that Israel noticed dark stains on some of the sharpened bamboo. Was that... blood?
The gear stopped cranking. The hole was now about three times the original length.
The Elder yelled out something indistinguishable to Israel’s ears. The swords holding him in place began to push him over the edge. He hissed as the sharpened edges began to pierce his skin as he resisted moving forward. Stabbed from the back or fall into a pit and stabbed from the front. What a choice.
Israel felt the sensation of tottering. The edge of the hole started to crumble under his feet. A sharp jab at his back made him flinch, which was enough to displace his weight forward. He felt himself falling.
His instincts kicked into gear. He bent his knees into the fall and pushed himself off the side of the edge, his fingers splayed out in front of him as he arced in the air, aiming for the first tall bamboo stick. He landed on it with his hands and it wobbled. He had to keep moving.
Just like pakour, he told himself as he pushed off the first bamboo stick. Just think of this as an urban obstacle course.
Pakour. The movements of his muscles were so familiar and soothing. Israel’s body took over. He flipped and spun in the air, using the taller “safe” bamboo sticks as touch points before lifting off into the air again. He became almost weightless, his body exhilarating at its chance to be freed from his mind.
When Israel’s feet landed on the platform in front of the Elder, he was ready. Immediately Israel dropped to the ground and swung his leg to sweep the Elder’s feet from under him. The Elder had no sooner hit the ground than Israel was on him, a forearm to his throat.
“I’ve passed your damn test, so call off your damn guards and quit playing games. We’re here trying to warn you.�
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Israel heard Vix gasp. For a moment nobody moved.
A smile broke out across the Elder’s face and a deep laugh came from his mouth. Israel frowned, confused. Was this guy serious? Israel had him by the throat and all he could do was laugh?
“Israel, Israel,” the Elder said. “Let me up. We are not enemies.”
Israel applied a little more pressure to his throat. “Funny, that. But I don’t believe you.”
“Look around you, Israel. See how my guards are at ease. No one is attacking you.”
Israel narrowed his eyes in suspicion. If this was some kind of trick to get him to take his eyes off the old man... Israel flicked his gaze up quickly before returning to the Elder’s amused face. The old man was right. All the guards that had threatened him so vehemently before were now standing at ease.
Vix came over and placed her hand of Israel’s shoulders. “It’s okay, Israel. Let him up.”
Israel couldn’t believe his ears. “You... you were in on this, too?”
“Israel, what’s going on?” Alyx’s face appeared as a ghost by Vix.
Of course. Alyx would have been pulled into his mind when the danger was becoming apparent.
“I’m okay, Alyx,” said Israel, ignoring the strange look Vix was giving him. “Apparently, it was just a test.” Israel let an edge of sarcasm lace his voice as he glared at Vix.
“What? Where are you? Who is testing you?”
“I’m in China.”
“China? Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”
Israel gritted his teeth. “Not exactly talking to you, remember?”
“I’m just trying to make sure you’re not killed, Israel.” Then she mumbled, “You don’t have to be such a bastard about it.”
Israel rolled his eyes. “I’m okay. Vix is here. Can you yell at me later? I’m in the middle of something.”
Alyx opened her mouth but she halted. “This conversation isn’t finished.”
Israel nodded. “No. It isn’t. When I get back, we need to talk.”
Alyx looked startled but she nodded and disappeared.
“Talking to someone?” Vix asked, an eyebrow raised in question.
Israel frowned. How to explain…
“He has been Guardian bonded,” the man said without a hint of surprise to his voice. “His Guardian would have been alerted to the danger he faced and was reaching out to him to determine what was happening... this Alyx, he must be an old and powerful Seraphim to have been chosen as your Guardian.”
“She is a warrior,” said Israel. “A young warrior. And she’s plenty good at kicking ass even without her own magic, thank you.”
The Elder’s eyes widened. “Bonded to a warrior? Without a gift?”
“No offense, but from what I’ve heard of your gifted Seraphim, they wouldn’t know how to swing a sword to save their own precious lives.”
The Elder frowned before an incredible look of sadness tore at his features. “Then it is true. The Elders have completely forgotten our purpose here.”
Israel wanted to ask so many questions. What was their true purpose? How long ago had this Elder been a part of their society? Why did he leave?
The Elder cleared his voice. “Israel, perhaps you can let me up now?”
“Oh, right.” Israel rolled off the Elder and up to his feet. “So why the show?” Israel asked as he held out a hand to help the Elder up. “And why the hell did you have to rip this shirt?”
“I wanted to feel where your heart was placed. But I didn’t have to. The scar across where your heart should have been is proof that it was not in a mortal position. The test was to see how you would react and also to check that you had been bonded.”
“Why didn’t you just ask me to take your stupid test?”
“I had to see what you would do under pressure, Israel. If your gifts were not known to you yet, which I believed they wouldn’t be, then you had to be placed under pressure for them to take over instinctively. Besides, you needed to feel real danger to activate your bond.”
“Gifts? What are you talking about?”
“Look at the course you just undertook,” the man swept his arm out towards the deadly hole. “Do you really think that you could have succeeded if you were fully human?”
Israel studied the hole. It did look impossibly long and the safe bamboo platforms were tiny and unstable and placed inhumanly far apart. Was it possible that this man was telling the truth? He had gifts?
Israel shook his head. “But it’s just parkour. I was trained. Anyone trained in gymnastics or parkour could have done it.”
The man smiled. “I have lived here a long time and I have not seen one mortal accomplish what you have just done.” He glanced at Vix. “The only other person who has successfully crossed that test is standing before us.”
Vix. Vix also succeeded. Israel felt his insides begin to rumble. No, it couldn’t be possible. How could it be that the skilled part of him was thanks to the cursed part of his blood? His demon blood. Israel felt his face contort. “No.” He shook his head. “I refuse to believe that I succeeded because I am… a half-breed.”
The man’s face softened as he studied Israel. “Your blood does not make who you are, Israel.”
Israel barely heard him. His mind was swirling with bitter thoughts. It was only when he felt a firm hand on this shoulder that his eyes came back into focus on the Elder standing in front of him.
“Come,” the Elder said. “I can see there is much to talk about.”
* * *
Vix, Israel and the Elder were sitting cross-legged on the matted floor in a simple room in the monastery. The only furniture in the room was a small table that sat low between them and an old-looking wooden chest by one wall that held the teacups and saucers that were now spread across the table.
“So you see, Elder,” said Vix after she had outlined why they were there, “we came here to warn you. We thought the Black Stone safer where it is rather than it would be if we took it.”
Israel took another sip of his tea. It smelled grassy and fresh and it tasted as such. The warmth sat in his belly like a hug from the inside.
He noticed the Elder studying Vix’s face.
“No one at Aradale knows of your existence here, if that is what you’re worried about,” said Vix. “Israel made the connection himself when he saw my reaction when the location of this Black Stone was revealed.”
The Elder nodded. “It is here. Carved into the door which encloses the innermost temple. It is very safe here.”
Vix nodded. “Then we shall find a way to assure the others that it is safe here and not to be moved without revealing the details of who you are.”
The Elder bowed his head to Vix. He then turned to study Israel. “How long can you stay here?”
“We are due back tomorrow evening,” said Vix.
The Elder nodded. “I need to spend the rest of your time here with Israel. Alone.”
Israel almost spilled his tea. “What?”
* * *
Alyx was so furious she couldn’t get back to sleep. She crept out of the main Castelli del Grevepesa building before anyone else was up and found a quiet spot in the surrounding Tuscany countryside to let off some steam in a punishing training session.
Israel had gone off with Vix. To China. Just the two of them.
“I’m okay. Vix is here.” Remembering his words caused another flood of anger to rush through her. Well, if Vix was there, then Vix could make it all better, couldn’t she. Vix wouldn’t mess up like she did, would she. Perfect Vix. Tears pricked her eyes. She was supposed to be the one with Israel, the one he confided in, the one he partnered with. Not Vix.
Alyx realized this possessive feeling towards Israel, this protective instinct that ruled her actions and behavior towards him, which made her act crazy, feel crazy... she was completely and totally in love with Israel. Nothing but love could make anyone act and feel this crazy. And, Angel help her, did she feel crazy.
/> * * *
Later that morning, Alyx and Jordan headed back to Florence in an old single-cab truck which Jordan drove. Alyx was so lost in her own thoughts that she hadn’t even noticed Jordan was silent until he spoke, “I want to move on from this, Alyx.”
Alyx turned to look at his profile, his eyes still on the road ahead of them. His unruly hair was swept back into a ponytail and Alyx noticed shadows under his eyes.
Jordan continued, “I’m disappointed. But… I understand. Getting over your first can be… the most difficult thing in the world. More difficult than facing an army of Darkened, even. When your heart is so filled with love and loss for another, there is no room for anyone else. There is no room for me. Maybe in time…” His lip tilted up in a small smile and he reached out to squeeze her knee. “What you need now more than anything is a friend. I’d like to be that friend.”
Alyx felt a rush of gratitude for this Rogue. She grabbed his hand on her knee and squeezed it. Jordan took his eyes off the road long enough to smile at her. His words echoed in her mind. Maybe in time…
Alyx and Jordan arrived at the Galleria a few minutes after it opened and found one of the few remaining parking spaces left nearby. They approached the front of the Galleria, where there was a set of stairs leading up to the entrance.
Inside, Alyx noted the security guards that stood watching the few tourists milling around. She and Jordan moved through the building feigning interest in the paintings and sculptures, especially the ones situated close to the exits so they could also study the ways of getting in and out of this building. They moved along the walls and rooms until they came to the section of building that housed the Three Archangels. It was presented up high on a pedestal away from the walls so that Jordan and Alyx could walk all the way around it. The statue, depicting three men appearing to stand upon flames that sprayed up around their feet, was made entirely of what looked like black marble. The figures were larger than life, with wings that soared above them in grand arcs.
* * *
Israel followed the Elder through the dense forest surrounding the monastery. For the last God-only-knows how many hours, they had been trudging up this mountain. The air here was fresh and cool against the layer of sweat that had built up over his body.