by C Bilici
Stacey knew she was rushing headfirst at what was now the ground.
She yelled and swore and closed her eyes in a panic, which only made her more terrified. When she opened them, she saw Fenton gliding toward her, Hawaiian shirt flapping crazily.
He drew alongside and motioned at her, rolling his hands end over end.
He wanted her to flip over?
She pulled her head back to try and flatten out, slow herself like she’d seen people do in skydiving stunts. The rushing air grabbed her and tossed her end over end. Out of control, she twisted about like a leaf lost in a tornado. The whirling view of stone and roofs grew larger. After everything, she was going to die here, like this?
Paul and Jasper.
She was not about to let that happen.
Arms and legs spread out, she flattened herself and gained some control.
Fenton rocketed toward her and in slow movements turned until it looked like he was standing upright. Stacey copied his movements.
She hit the ground in a half kneel, one knee on a carved stone matching the one she had jumped off on that core that was now high above her. She shuddered, looked herself over. Apart from a bump on the knee, she was find. She’d hit the ground with no more force than if she had landed from her initial hop.
Her heart raced as she stood.
“You were supposed to wait for—”
“You fucking wanker!” She shouted and punched Fenton’s arm. “Arsehole.”
“Keep your voice down,” he commanded, looking about them, annoyed. “We were supposed to jump together. It’s hardly my fault if—”
“You should have explained it better then, dickhead.”
Stacey noticed now that there were people all around them, some looking concerned, others laughing and smiling. None of them looked like she was ever in any danger.
“Fine,” he said, terse. “I apologise. I’ve never brought anyone in before. Now, can we go?” Fenton beckoned her, scowling. He trod heavily in silence toward a building built into the ring about the base of one of the pillars. It looked like some sort of temple.
As her adrenaline faded, Stacey stopped glaring at Fenton’s back and looked at her surroundings. The skin of the sphere was littered with roads and buildings. The place which was a veritable town. Given the size of the sphere, Stacey wondered why it wasn’t bustling.
People walked about the streets between market stalls, some dressed in a similar fashion to Fenton, but only in that they wore loose clothing and little of it. Most of them were far more fashionable, some even fully clothed. A minority looked like they had just come from a Siberian winter. It was the former that held her attention, though. Some of the outfits were so scant calling them skimpy would be an overstatement.
“What’s with all the skin? Is this your secret base, or an underground rave party?” She saw an attractive woman walk before a flaming barrel, her thin short dress leaving nothing to the imagination or posing any barrier to the light behind her. As Stacey looked around, she saw that the woman was not the only one in such gauzy apparel without underwear. Stacey was the only one ogling, however. “Not that I mind.”
“Clothing can pose a problem for our sigils, and we might need them at any moment.”
“So, people go out like that? Does everyone have tatts all over their bodies?”
“Some.”
Stacey chuckled. “Why? Do you get all your kit off and fight nude?”
“I’ve certainly never had to, and don’t know anyone who has.”
“Then why do it?”
“Because I’ve known far too many Wards who were caught off guard, and I don’t intend on being one of them.” He fell into a silent brood after that.
She looked over the buildings around her. The architecture and construction styles varied, spanning continents and time periods. The majority was simple and rustic, little more than shacks constructed from anything and everything that looked like it might be readily available. Other buildings looked far more ancient with care given to their construction, but those were few and far between. It was parts shantytown, old west, archaeology discover, island village — wholly alien.
Soon they were at the steps leading up to the temple building she’d seen earlier. Fenton stopped and turned to face her. Stacey’s raised hand stopped him short.
“I know, I know. Best behaviour. Scouts honour.”
Fenton shut his mouth, his look saying he doubted she was ever a scout. She had been, for however short a time.
They walked up the steps to large wooden doors. The place looked ancient in design, almost Greek or Roman, and given the Enclave was protected from nature, it could well be for all Stacey knew. If it was, the stone work certainly belied its true age, showing no sign of wear and tear. How long had these Wards been around exactly? It certainly raised questions of what little history she thought she had known.
By the doors were two burly Wards in loincloths who stared at them as they approached. As Stacey drew up to the man closest to her she looked to his face, smiling. Being polite couldn’t hurt. Her smile fell as she saw his eyes were a constant dark cloud, the man opposite him the same. She slowed to stare.
“Why—”
Fenton pulled her into the building, silencing her.
Once inside he spoke close to a whisper. “The blind guardians. Leave them be.”
Stacey laughed loudly, the barks echoing within the entrance hall. “Blind Guardian.” She shook her head at his questioning look. “Never mind,” she said, exasperated when the look on his face said he neither got it nor cared to. Not many people would get the reference to the heavy metal band, but she wasn’t about to let that stop her holding it against him.
Paul and Tammy would have got it.
Fenton glared at her. “Quiet,” he said sternly.
When his back was to her, she flicked him the bird, then stopped to look about.
The inside of the temple wasn’t as dark as she’d thought it would be. Skylights in the stone roof opened to the pure white light of the Nexus, lighting everything sharply. Heroic statues of people with markings carved over their bodies stood at the walls, perhaps Wards long passed. Their clothing certainly aged them, but some of the outfits she’d seen outside also belied the age they lived in.
At the back of the main hall, a massive stone circle table was surrounded by people. It was a huge, solid ring raised up on thick slabs of rough hewn rock. Four large, throne-like seats were about it, each one occupied.
As they neared the table, Stacey saw lines and markings in the surface of the stonework. A long triangle pointed at each seat and its occupant, and evenly distributed between those were thin lines. It dawned on her that these were the Cardinals — cardinals in the sense of the points on a compass, and not some religious order, as she had been thinking. Whoever they were they were muttering in deep conversation, the onlookers listening intently.
An older man with a long white beard saw and walked toward them. He looked every part the wizard other than the over-sized polo shirt and sarong wrap he wore about his waist. He stopped in front of them halfway to the Cardinals.
Fenton bowed his head to the man in respect who returned the gesture.
“It’s been a while, Fenton,” the man said, voice hushed.
“I’ve not had call to visit the Cardinals in some time.” Fenton spoke in the same respectful manner.
“A good thing, no doubt.” The man gave a sad, knowing smile that Fenton shared. He turned to Stacey, his smile becoming more earnest and friendly. “And this is?”
“Leigh, Stacey Trampler. She’s recently been under unusually heavy attack from Umbra and lost several friends as a result. Two taken, two killed. I must speak with Despina urgently.”
The man raised his eyebrows. “That’s quite bold of them. Is she sensitive?”
Stacey snorted at the word being used in reference to her again.
“I believe so. It’s the only explanation that makes sense to me. She was able to de
tect my sigils and is, as far as I can tell, uninfected.”
The old man shook his head in thought. “Despina will be finished shortly. I’ll ask her to see you as soon as possible.” Leigh made to return to the table side. Fenton touched his arm and he looked back.
“Leigh. They attacked a kindergarten in broad daylight.”
Eyes wide, Leigh hurried to the closest chair, its back to them. He leaned in and motioned toward them.
“What?” A woman’s voice rang out, cutting off the conversation of the other Cardinals. She stood, her chair grating on the stone floor as she turned. She seemed to pause as she saw Fenton. She quickly recovered and strode to them with purpose, drawing all eyes to them with her.
“Fenton,” the woman said, nod as curt as her speech.
Stacey thought the woman’s greeting held more than just a hint of questioning, as if she hadn’t expected to see him ever again. They clearly knew one another. Probably in the biblical sense.
“Despina.” Fenton bowed his head again, the gesture deeper and held longer than it had been with the old man, too long to be genuine.
Stacey thought about curtseying to break the mood, but decided against it.
“Is what Leigh tells me true?” Despina looked deeply worried and ignored Fenton’s slight.
“I’m afraid so.” Fenton lifted his head at last and gazed into the woman’s eyes.
She was beautiful, middle-aged and Mediterranean, and spoke with a hint of accent. Her dark wavy hair had streaks of dyed highlights, and she had bright hazel eyes that held intelligence. Her tanned skin was light freckled and she had a full, curvy figure, her thighs and calves toned yet by no means thin. All this was easy to see by the short white halter dress she wore, which glowed against her bronze, aided no doubt by the light from that nowhere place. By her name, Stacey assumed she was Greek in origin. It also explained the look of the abode Fenton had taken them too, and Despina’s tan.
Despina looked Stacey up and down in return. “Your friends were abducted?”
Stacey nodded, attempting to swallow down the rising lump in her throat. She thought about correcting the woman, telling her they were more than just friends but she didn’t feel she could speak.
“They are her lovers.” Fenton said it for her.
Stacey thought she detected a slight raise to the woman’s eyebrows, and the hint of a smile.
“That changes everything.” The woman turned and scowled at the old man who looked down in shame. He’d left out vital information it seemed. “And they killed two others? Attacked a school?”
Stacey nodded and spoke for herself, now able to. “Kindergarten. Killed my friend right there, in front of the kids. Probably would have killed them too if we hadn’t gotten them out in time. And they killed one of my other friends in her home.”
Despina nodded in thought. “We need to find out what is so important about you while keeping you and everyone else you know safe. You will stay with me. Leigh, have Antonio make preparations.”
Stacey frowned as the woman called out commands in a flurry of activity. The other Cardinals continued their meeting despite her, obviously used to such disruptions.
“Wait a minute,” Stacey said.
No one heard or payed attention to her, continued about their business. She put her fingers to her lips and let out a shrill whistle that echoed about the stone room.
Everyone, including the other Cardinals stopped to stare at her, many indignant.
“Hold it!” she shouted. She could see Fenton smirking at her periphery. So much for him telling her to stay quiet.
Despina stared her down with a glare, but Stacey wasn’t about to be sidelined.
“My boyfriend and girlfriend have been taken. I’m not going anywhere, or doing anything, until I know they’re safe. Is that clear?”
Despina’s lips pressed thinly together in barely contained anger. “Where on Earth did you find this girl, Fenton?”
Fenton shook his head, smiling. “I have been asking myself that very same question.”
Despina put her hands on her hips, boring holes into Stacey’s eyes with her gaze. “I am the Cardinal of the South. Do you know what that means?” She paused, Stacey thought for effect as she didn’t wait for an actual answer. “This entire regions people are my responsibility, and paramount above all else. That includes the people who are oblivious to the Umbra, the Wards and their protection. Like you, your boyfriend and girlfriend. Do you understand me?”
“Yeah. I understand you. But you can’t keep me here against my will.”
Despina’s eyes flared with anger, blackness creeping from their centres. “Do you think this is your corner police station on a TV show? You have no means of leaving.”
Stacey sneered at the woman. “You keep me here and you’re no better than the fucking monsters.”
Despina’s eyes flickered with doubt. “It is not the same thing. If you are out there, running around like the ignorant fool that you are, you pose not only a risk to yourself but to others. It has already cost two people their lives that you know of — two people you purportedly called friends — and two others who are even dearer. And almost many others. Children, no less, by your own admission.” She turned to face the table, turning back to Stacey before she went. “I’m sorry, but your lovers are probably already dead. The sooner you face that fact the better. I can not, and will not, risk anyone else’s life for them. You will stay here until we can figure out why they want you.” She returned to the table and continued issuing orders.
Stacey turned to Fenton in anger, hoping he could read the pleading in her mind to fix this. She had to be out there.
He held up his hand as he went after Despina.
Despina was right. Even if she left the temple or Despina’s abode, where would she go? She hoped to high hell that Fenton had both a plan and her back.
“Cardinal,” Stacey heard him say, using the woman’s official title.
Despina fell silent, her shoulders tensing. She turned to look at him. Stacey thought she saw hurt in the woman’s eyes. Something had existed between them, but no longer. Maybe a long time ago.
Fenton walked to her side and they had a heated conversation in private, which ended with Despina gesticulating wildly in Stacey’s direction and poking Fenton in the chest several times before brushing him away with a sharp wave of a hand.
Fenton walked back with a grave look, took Stacey by the arm and marched her out of the temple.
“What the fuck just happened?” Stacey said once they were well outside and away from the building.
“Despina has agreed for me to take you under my protection and continue to investigate the matter.”
“I don’t have to stay here?” Stacey could hardly believe her ears, and nor could she hide the confusion from her voice.
“You don’t. But she will be sending people periodically to check on our progress while also conducting their own independent investigation. They will focus on the why while our main focus will be in finding—”
“Paul and Jasper.” She said their names, feeling like it had been an age since she’d uttered them. “How the did you manage that?”
“I agreed to do something that I swore I never would.” Fenton’s face soured.
“What? Does she want you to suck on her toes or something?” Fenton scowled at her in distaste. “Don’t think I didn’t notice that there’s been a lil’ somethin’ somethin’ between the two of you.” His features softened. “Yeah. You two got history, but we’ll talk about that later.”
“No. We won’t.”
“Maybe.” Stacey bit the inside of her lip. “So? What is she making you do?”
“I’m to convince you to be my apprentice.”
Stacey scowled. “You what?”
“You’re to become a Ward.”
Stacey let out a snort of a laugh, her hands finding her hips. She frowned when he didn’t say anything further. “Shut the fuck up!”
CHAPTER TWE
LVE
JASPER AWOKE IN a murky darkness, shapes darting about her as she thrashed in panic.
She couldn’t remember how she’d gotten here, nor had any idea how long it had been. She remembered being attacked, trying to escape, the black shrouded man-creature coming for her with that grin. Darkness.
She twisted about and looked down at her torn clothing. It was in tatters and still slick with blackness. She couldn’t tell in the dim light if it was the stuff from the creatures or blood.
Then she remembered.
Her hands tore at the remnants. She felt sick from the black stains being so close to her skin. Clothes removed, she thrust them away from her and floated in her underwear as they drifted away.
She looked herself over in panic, hands shaking. There were cuts, scratches and bruises, but she seemed alright. For the moment. Her arms enclosed her body and she wished that Paul and Stacey were with her. A sob wracked her chest.
What had happened to them? Had they been taken, too? What would they be doing to Paul and Stacey? Was she now alone, both in this place and in life?
She didn’t have long to mourn or ponder any deeper.
A dark shape wound its way toward her through the murk, growing in size and clarity as it came.
She desperately wanted to run, but she couldn’t. Not in this place. Here, floating was the only option.
As the creature closed on her, Jasper wept for her lost loves.
She didn’t know if she would be able to fight for her life. Fight to see and kiss their smiling lips again.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
THE AIR WAS bracing, the sun barely up enough to begin warming it. Stacey sat with a coffee on Fenton’s porch and thought back on the night’s events and conversation. Her seat was pulled forward so she could put her feet up on the aged, white railing running the length of the decking. The rising sun started to softly brush her naked legs.
She’d slept in her underwear and a large flannel shirt she’d gotten from Fenton and was still dressed the same. She had no idea what time it was, but she hadn’t been able to sleep.