by Robert Ross
Meghan nodded, “And what if I get taken out?”
“Well,” began Kellan thoughtfully, “Pre-dead you would have kept your client safe until 10:42 today and then she, um, you, just wouldn’t come back from getting beignets. But Ivan Ivanoff up there would figure something out, right?”
“I don’t skip out on contracts, Kellan, ever.”
“Dude, you’re dead remember. That’s like the best excuse ever.” Kellan waved his hands. “Besides, that is just not going to happen, this time.”
Bong 26 Bing
Kellan and Meghan both turned to see the elevator door slowly start to open. She put her hands on her hips and stared at Kellan intently. “No bullshit now, how important is this?”
The young Sentinel smiled wanly, “Oh, pretty important, kind of trying to help prevent the end of the universe.”
Meghan cocked her head and smirked, “Really? And you are the best hope for that?”
Kellan just shrugged apologetically. She shook her head again, “Fine, I’ll come, but portal us to my place, I need my gear.
Kellan opened the fridge and peered inside. “I’m gonna have one of your Innis and Gunns, ok?”
He heard the bang of a footlocker closing from within Meghan’s bedroom along with sounds of various items being strewn about. “Is it my last one?” she asked in a voice muffled by walls.
Kellan stared at the lone bottle. “No,” he said.
“You’re lying and why do you need a beer now; it’s the middle of the day.”
“Not for me. I have time lag. I think it’s night for me and I really want a beer.”
Meghan walked into the kitchen wearing what Kellan called her “Black Widow” outfit of ballistic armor with lashings for twin Glocks and katanas on hip and back respectively along with at least six throwing and tactical knives strapped in various places. Kellan held the bottle up for her to see, his face hopeful.
She sighed, “Go ahead.”
Kellan whooped, slid the bottle down into the opener and watched as its magnet captured it. He took a long pull from the bottle and gave a contented sigh. “I don’t think you will need all that,” he said gesturing to her gear with the bottle.
Meghan snorted, “Yeah, cause last time went so well.”
“C’mon Meghan, as I said, that was Afghanistani werwolves. This is Vatican Catholics; how dangerous can they be? Ideally, we’ll just sneak in, grab the spear and be off.”
Meghan reached for the bottle which Kellan released with obvious reluctance. She took a drink and handed it back, “I’m sure absolutely nothing will go wrong, Kellan, because so many things go right around you.”
He just shrugged noncommittally, “Hope springs eternal?”
Meghan shook her head, “Hope, Kellan, is not a strategy. Now what day is it?”
Kellan looked confused, “Huh, we just covered that in the elevator. Today is September 18th. What day did you think it was?”
She ignored him. “So now is still now and we haven’t gone back to then, yet?”
Kellan winced slightly, “Man, you really butcher time language, but yeah. Making time portals is a big deal, takes lots of juice and concentration. I try to avoid doing that in elevators, while time is dilated and civilians are about to enter. Besides, I need to let the last member of our little band know we’re ready to go. He was unaware of the whole time traveling bit, so need to fill him in on that too.”
Megan blinked several times opening her arms in surprise, “What last member? Kellan, you know I hate surprises. You said ‘he,’ so I’m pretty sure it’s not Shannon.”
Kellan just waved a hand dismissing her concerns, “Pish posh, he’s just one of the Council folks I was telling you about. You know for added muscle. No big deal.”
Kellan raised his voice and said, “Seramai!”
“It is a big deal, Kellan. I do not like going into dangerous situations with people I don’t know.”
“Seramai!” Kellan said again.
“I especially don’t like hooking up with monstrous creatures so you can bring whomever you like, but I’m going to tell the ugly bastard that—“
“Seramai!” Kellan said for the final time and instantly a circle of crackling blue energy formed in front of them causing the the wooden floor to smoke. A moment later the circle flashed so brightly that both Kellan and Meghan involuntarily blinked against the unexpected light. As their vision cleared, Seramai knelt on one knee within the circle, head bowed. He stood slowly to the soft creak of leather as his armor stretched around flexed muscles and he absently brushed flowing brown hair back from his face.
Meghan stared wide-eyed and Kellan nudged her, whispering, “…tell the ugly bastard that—?”
The former Marine stepped forward confidently, hand outstretched to Seramai, “—that I am looking forward to working with him on this mission.”
Seramai accepted her hand and slid his up her wrist to grasp it there while locking eyes with hers. He smiled. “Kellan didn’t mention bringing a valkyrie with him. What a nice surprise. I love surprises.”
Meghan stared back into his brown eyes that seemed to pulse ever so slightly with amber iridescence and Kellan leaned in with a mischievous look on his face. “Yeah, about surprises. You see, Seramai, Meghan has this thing about surprises. She—“
“Loves them,” Meghan interrupted as she covertly ground the heel of her boot onto Kellan’s foot, “I just love a good surprise and you certainly seem like a good one.”
Chapter 10
Spear of Longinus
The portal winked out and with it, the glow that had illuminated the surrounding area. Meghan, Seramai, and Kellan were left in utter darkness. The Sentinel felt his eyes warm as he channeled the power and looked around while Meghan cursed, fumbling for her tactical light.
“This is so cool,” began Kellan, “I can see different frequencies of light while I’m channeling. Who knew?” He then felt a strong hand rest on his shoulder and Seramai spoke in a feigned whisper that did nothing to diminish its resonate tones.
“Please, Sentinel of Order. Could you exercise a touch more decorum? Perhaps you could act a bit more like God’s unchecked hand on the world, and a bit less like an adolescent slitting his first throat.”
“Holy crap, Seramai, nice childhood you must have had,” Kellan replied as he ran his fingers along cold stone.
“There,” said Meghan giving a frustrated sigh. The room blazed with light causing Kellan to wince and squint as his eyes adjusted. The three were standing in a stone room that looked to be only about six feet by six feet. Looking up, Kellan was surprised to see that the room had no ceiling but just continued upward until it was lost in gloom. He looked down and found Meghan starting at him flatly, “What the hell, Kel? Nice portal job. Where are we? The smallest dungeon cell ever?”
Seramai chuckled and Meghan gave him a grin as Kellan frowned at them both. “I told you that it was hard to make a portal here. This was the only spot it would form within the whole of Vatican City. Last I recalled, we all agreed to risk this rather than trying to avoid being spotted walking in from Rome. I mean it’s not like anyone would stop to ask why Black Widow and Spartacus were dropping in on the Pope.”
Both Seramai and Meghan spoke over one another and Kellan raised his hands. “I don’t care.” He stared first at Meghan. “I don’t care that Black Widow didn’t have double kevlar woven battle armor with ceramic plates.” Kellan turned Seramai. “I also don’t care that Spartacus was a slave and only wished to have armor like yours. I was making an amusing commentary on your anachronistic garb.”
“Amusing to whom?” Seramai asked. “Meghan, did you find it amusing?”
“I rarely find Kellan amusing. I think he confuses annoying with amusing. They both start and end with the same letters.”
The Sentinel ground his teeth. “I’m already regretting having you two along. Now do something useful and see if there is a hidden door or something.”
“Why don’t you jus
t fly straight up and see if there is an exit that way?” Asked Meghan.
Kellan had been squatting down pressing along one wall and spoke over his shoulder, “I can’t fly, Meghan. You know I can’t fly. I told you it’s the vampire that can bloody well fly.”
“Yeah, I know, but I just like reminding you from time to time.”
Kellan was about to reply when a sharp grinding sound came from the wall nearest Seramai who immediately went into a crouch, short sword in hand. The three watched as a section of wall continued to rise in small increments as if being winched upward by some manual means. Light spilled through as the opening widened and Kellan snapped shields around the three of them. Moments later they found themselves facing a man in his late sixties or seventies who was dressed in formal Cardinal attire complete with red skullcap. To either side of the Cardinal stood two massive creatures measuring over eight feet high. They were humanoid but only in the most general sense and each seemed to be carved out of rough marble or granite. They wore no clothes, had no sex organs, and stared with a vacant expression except for deep-set eyes in which bright blue pinpricks of light burned. The creatures crouched as they entered the room causing Kellan and his friends to take several steps back until they bumped into the far wall.
The Cardinal smiled warmly as he walked directly to Kellan and extended his hand. The Sentinel shared a quick glance with his companions and reached out to take the Cardinal’s hand, but instead the Catholic Prince deftly scooped up Kellan’s hand bent over it and placed a kiss on the softly glowing green stone which flared at the touch of his lips.
“Greetings Sentinel of Order,” said the Cardinal, “I am Cardinal Karras. On behalf of His Holiness, Pope Francis, I bid you welcome to Vatican City. Please follow me and I will lead you to someplace more fitting for discussion.” With that he turned to leave, but Meghan stopped him.
“Hey, will the living statues be coming too? They don’t seem very welcoming.”
Karras glanced over his shoulder, “You have nothing to fear from our Golems, Ms. Daugherty. They exist to protect us from unnatural or Chaotic forces. You are neither.”
Without another word, Karras passed through the doorway followed by the Golems. As he did so, the wall began to slowly grind downward causing Kellan and his companions to following quickly behind. For long minutes the small group walked in silence through winding, rough hewn, passages. LED lights illuminated the way at regular intervals but seemed far too modern for the ancient walls. Finally they came to a massive wooden door, wrapped in bands of iron that bore the patina of age. Karras reached to his neck and smoothly lifted a key which hung there by its attached leather strap. The lock released smoothly and the foremost Golem pushed it open.
The room beyond was as elegant as the passages were stark. Along the walls hung rich tapestries and ornately carved bookshelves. Thick area rugs with intricate patterns were placed beneath chairs, couches, and tables that were interspersed throughout the chamber. At one end of the room stood a large fireplace in which crackled several equally large logs. Doors stood to either side of the fireplace and each were attended by brightly colored Swiss Guards, hands gripping traditional halberts. The two golems retreated into massive alcoves which seemed carved for that very purpose. The blue fire faded from their eyes and the creatures appeared, for all the world, like simple, inanimate, statues.
“Please,” said Cardinal Karras as he gestured to several chairs and a settee arrayed before the fire. Kellan shifted one chair slightly to give himself a better peripheral view of the room and settled in. Seramai reclined into the settee, leaning back into one corner and crossing his legs while giving Kellan an enigmatic smile. Meghan settled in next to the warrior and he gave her a quick grin. Kellan squinted at her. What the hell is going on there Kellan thought to himself. Did she just blush? Meghan Daugherty does not blush. The former marine caught Kellan’s appraising gaze and glared at him. He smiled at her. That’s more like it he thought.
Karras pulled a long golden rope that hung alongside the fireplace and rested himself on the large, high-backed chair, which was placed between Kellan’s chair and the settee. “I’ve take the liberty of having some refreshments brought. We are quite a ways beneath the city so it might take a few minutes to arrive, but at least the fire has been prepared. It can get quite cold and damp this far down.”
“You seem to have been expecting us,” said Kellan.
Karras chucked warmly, “Well, we were expecting something. Wards throughout the city had gone off indicating multiple attempts to gain entrance. That is why we activated the Golems. There is, of course, no way to tell whether someone is friend or foe before they arrive.”
“Of course,” said Kellan confidently. Meghan smirked and gave him a subtle shake of her head.
“So you have warded the entire City except for that one room,” Seramai said appreciatively. “Nicely done and I assume the lack of a ceiling is so you can pour all manner of things down on the unwary.”
“Just so,” said the Cardinal, “Depending on the need most anything can, and has, been used.”
Seramai leaned forward, “Indulge me. What kind of things.”
Karras steepled his hands, tapping fingers to lips absently. “Well, holy water of course. Holy oil, both burning and not. Molten metal. There are accounts, before my time, of other, more exotic, materials being used, but I cannot attest for the veracity of such accounts.” Karras brighten as the door to Kellan’s left creaked open and two young priests entered carrying trays. “Ah, the promised refreshments.” The two priests silently placed the contents of their trays on the table and backed out of the room. Karras stood and looked to Meghan. “Tea?” She nodded, smiling and Karras poured her a cup.
“Coffee for me,” said Seramai, “Black.”
“And you, Sentinel,” the Cardinal asked turning to Kellan who smiled mischievously.
“Well, do you have—“ The Sentinel cut off as he could feel Meghan’s eyes burrowing into him. “Coffee for me too, thank you Cardinal,” his voice thick with resignation as Meghan gave him a self-satisfied nod.
“Excellent, the pastries are quite good as well. Please help yourself.”
Seramai leaned forward, lifting the tray heavily laden with cookies and other items, then offered it to Meghan. Kellan watched as she held the warrior’s gaze for a moment and took several items off the tray. Oh for the love of god thought Kellan. Seramai likewise took a couple items and glanced up, catching Kellan’s eye long enough to see him shake his head, then placed the tray back on the table.
The Cardinal leaned further back into his chair and said, “There, now that everyone’s settled and we’ve been appropriately hospitable, perhaps you could enlighten me as to the purpose of your,” he paused for the barest of heartbeats, “visit.”
Kellan was about to answer, when Seramai gestured with a cookie and said, “Kellan wanted to relieve you of the Spear of Destiny.” He gestured to Meghan and back to himself. “We were backup in case of unforeseen resistance from, for example, Golems.”
Kellan cringed as the older man looked to him, “I see. So you were going to break into our home and steal one of our most treasured relics. The very spear that pierced our Lord’s heart.”
Kellan smiled wanly. “Steal is such an awful term. We were just going to borrow it. You know, to keep it safe.”
“Really,” said the Cardinal, “To keep it safe? I think it is fairly safe right now. Nothing short of an Archangel or Sentinel could remove the Spear of Longinus from its reliquary.”
“Which is exactly who’s coming for it,” said Seramai as he casually reached for another cookie, “These really are quite good.”
Karras looked confused. “When you said exactly, who were you referring to, yourselves?”
Seramai laughed, “Oh no, Father. We’re the good guys. The Cabal is going to send one of their unfallen Archangels to breach your walls and make off with that spear. I suspect the only reason they haven’t so far is that it’s p
retty much a suicide mission for whatever Archangel tries it. No way a bit of Sentinel blood is going to hide them from Godly wrath after that theft.”
Kellan was shaking his head in disbelief at Seramai’s directness and leaned forward, “Cardinal, the Cabal is—“
“I know very well who they are, young Sentinel. Did the Council of Havilah send you?”
“Uh,” said Kellan dumbfounded.
“Send us,” laughed Seramai, “I am a High Counselor of Havilah.”
Karras seemed shocked. “Are you? That changes much. I don’t recognize you by name or face and believe I know all the High Councilors.”
Seramai grinned broadly. “Oh you know me, Father Karras and I know you. Perhaps this will help.” Seramai lifted his hand and traced the air. As he did so, trailers of red-orange light formed behind his moving finger. When he was done a complex glyph hung in the air for a moment and then broke apart with a shower of sparks. Seramai grinned again. “Does that help?”
Karras’ eyes had grown wide with recognition. “I’d say it does, Lord—“
“Seramai,” said the warrior, eyes locked with those of Karras.
“Seramai,” the Cardinal repeated with a nod.
“So, the spear,” said Seramai, “Would you mind fetching it for us, then we’ll be on our way.”
“Oh, I cannot remove it from the reliquary. I doubt even you could, Lord Seramai. The Sentinel should be able to, but even that is not certain. The best I will be able to do is take you to the reliquary but there I must leave you to succeed or fail.”
Seramai slapped both hands to his thighs, “And that, dear priest, is all anyone can ever ask for—the chance to succeed or fail. Time to go then.” Seramai stood, offered a hand to Meghan, who graciously accepted, and joined him beside the fire.