Sentinels of Creation: A Tale of Two Gardens (Sentinel's of Creation Book 2)

by Robert Ross

  “Well, you don’t see that every day,” said Kellan with a sigh as he stared down at the three corpses all wearing black military uniforms with twin lightning bolt “S” letters on the collar.

  Meghan winced as she applied tissue sealing compound to the knife wound on her shoulder and cursing herself for not having seen the weapon early enough to keep it from sliding between the seams of her body armor. “Yeah, Nazi’s in the Vatican. It’s all a little too Indiana Jones for me. Hey, where’d Sera get off too?”

  “Hmm, oh, he said he was going to take a peak up this last ramp and see if he could get eyes on the spear itself. The big guy figured there would be a super nasty up there to protect it.”

  “There is but one soldier guarding the Spear, Sentinel of Order,” said Seramai as he took the final few steps down the ramp to rejoin Kellan and Meghan on the third platform.

  “Just one,” asked Kellan, then added, “How bad can that be?”

  Seramai shrugged as he knelt down beside Meghan, “He appears to be a Marine special operator.”

  “One can be pretty bad then,” said Meghan as she started to gingerly move her body armor over the, now dressed, wound. Seramai stopped her and stared intently at the white sealing foam that had hardened over the knife wound.

  “That will almost certainly leave a scar,” he said.

  “Yeah,” said Kellan about that, “Why haven’t you been healing her along the way? She won’t let me because I have to take the wounds on myself. You get to do it as a freebie.”

  Seramai seemed to ignore Kellan as he continued to look into Meghan’s eyes, “I like scars on a woman.”

  She grinned back, “Well then, you are just gonna love me, ‘cause I’ve got scars in places you don’t even have.”

  The warrior barked a laugh, stood and turned to Kellan. “To your question, I cannot simply heal others. That is not my gift. What happened before was—“ the large man paused as if seeking the right words, “unique to the situation. As I said below, I will explain at a later time. To Meghan, not you. If she chooses to share that information, well, that is up to her.”

  Kellan just narrowed his eyes and felt his jaw muscles knot as he worked them, but Seramai simply clapped the Sentinel on the shoulder and nodded to the final ramp.

  “Right,” said Meghan standing and adjusting her gear, “Let’s get you the pig sticker and blow this popsicle stand.”

  At each of the other two platforms, soldiers from a previous era had been present. As soon as the small party approached each platform, they attacked without word or warning. When the the three were halfway up this final ramp with no sign of attack, Meghan turned and crouched down. The two men likewise took a knee.

  “I don’t like it,” she said. “Sera, you said this last one looked like a modern soldier. What if he’s got a biological or chemical agent up there? What if the bastard has a suitcase nuke?”

  Seramai raised an eyebrow, “I saw no such device, and as for biological or chemical agents, both the Sentinel and I are immune to such things.” Meghan gave him a flat expression and Kellan winced as the warrior looked confused by their reaction. “What?” he asked.

  Meghan smirked at him and pointed two fingers toward her own face. “Oh,” said Seramai, then with even more realization, “Oh! Yes, well, you would need to be protected from such things. My apologies, I am not frequently in the company of mortals. I’m sure Kellan here would grant you a shield, isn’t that right, Kellan?”

  The Sentinel simply sighed and shook his head. “Yeah, well, setting aside the pain you are going to receive from your valkyrie for lack of sensitivity, I am not sure how well my shields will protect from those—“

  “Oh my god,” shouted Meghan in alarm. Both men stood whirling in the direction she was facing. Halfway down the final ramp stood a soldier in urban camouflage gear. “Justin? Justin? Is that you?” She took a step toward him but Kellan and Seramai each placed a hand on her shoulder restraining her. The man was tall and broadly built. He had a round face and with dark brown eyes and skin. His lips turned down in a sad expression as he and Meghan locked eyes.

  “Hello Captain. I can honestly say I never expected to see you again.”

  Kellan felt his mouth fall open and Seramai turned to Meghan. “You know this man?”

  She nodded. “I do. He is lieutenant Justin Walker a special operator who I inserted and extracted on a number of missions.” Her voice trailed off as she seemed to speak more to herself than the others, “but he was killed on a mission in Pakistan.”

  Lieutenant Walker shook his head slowly. “No Meghan, I came here to obtain the very weapon you now seek and, instead, became trapped by it.

  “But, all the other guardians below us? How did you get past them and yet not get the Spear?” She asked.

  “Yeah, and how were they all alive when we got here if you killed them?” added Kellan.

  Justin sighed sadly. “So long as the Spear remains in this reliquary, death has no hold on those within. One touch by the unworthy and we are cursed to remain as we are until He comes again.”

  Kellan and Meghan shared a look and simultaneously said, “Huh?”

  “The Incarnation.” said Seramai, voice full with understanding. “That curse was meant for Longinus only, soldier. It was he who struck the blow.”

  Justin spread his hands, “And yet here I am. I watched those soldiers from bygone eras reanimate and take their posts even as I am now forced to do. I must guard this accursed Spear until someone can wrest it from me and this place.”

  Kellan took a step toward him. “Look, Justin, you are only one guy. Why don’t you just let us—“

  “Stop!” yelled the soldier in a voice so loud the cavern seemed to rumble. His skin took on an ethereal glow as the air rippled with unseen power. “I am the last guardian. You may not pass.”

  “Oh Kaay,” said Kellan taking a half step back, “Now he looks like the final guardian of an ancient relic of unimaginable power.”

  Seramai unsheathed his short sword and said, “Soldier, I will give you a worthy death.”

  The lieutenant shook his head sadly and stared intently at Seramai. “I know who you are. I have seen your hands on the world and while I have always avoided death at your hands, I would welcome it now. But it cannot be.”

  Kellan growled under his breath, “He knows you, Seramai? I really hate secrets.”

  “All will be revealed Sentinel of Order. In time,” came his whispered response.

  The two men tensed as they prepared to close on the soldier, but were both pushed aside as Meghan stepped between then. Lieutenant Walker raised both hands offensively as ribbons of energy began to run along his arms.

  “Lieutenant stop!” and her command sounded like a whip cracking. Justin lowered his hands, looking confused, and she continues softly. “Lieutenant. Justin. Listen to me. If you kill us here, we will just become the final guardians and you will remain as the others have. Your only hope is for us to remove the Spear from this place and allow you to,” she paused, “move on.”

  “I cannot. The force compelling me is too strong to resist. I have tried, Captain.”

  “Try harder.”

  His eyes grew hard, “It is impossible and even if I let you pass, what makes you think the Spear would find you worthy. I know you of old, Meghan Daugherty, and you are less worthy of its power than even I was. And him!” Justin glared at Seramai. “He is practically the personification of all that the Spear was used for and seeks now to prevent.”

  “Justin,” she said voice barely a whisper. “Not me and not Seramai either.” She gave a half turn and gestured to Kellan. “He will take the Spear of Destiny. He is the Sentinel of Order, God’s unchecked hand on the world. He can do this.”

  Lieutenant Walker looked Kellan up and down as if seeing him for the first time and let out an incredulous breath, “Him?”

  Kellan frowned, “Hey now, I am perfectly capable of taking this holy toothpick out of here. Don’t you worry
about that, sparky.”

  “Not helping,” Meghan whispered.

  “Bah, this is pointless,” yelled Seramai and charged up the ramp, sword raised. He leaped and drove it toward the soldier’s neck, but Walker raised two glowing hands and caught the blade between them on its downward stroke. It seemed to vibrate there for a split second, then the soldier leaned back, bracing himself on one foot while kicking out with the other. Air burst out of Seramai as the kick landed, pushing him back and off the platform entirely. A moment later they heard a thud as he hit the floor far below. Kellan was too stunned to speak as the soldier casually tossed Seramai’s sword over the edge then turned his attention back to Meghan.

  “Holy shit, Meghan,” yelled Kellan in alarm, “We need to go check on—“

  She interrupted him, keeping her eyes firmly fixed on Lieutenant Walker, but waved a hand unconcerned, “He’ll be fine.”

  “Are you crazy, he just got lightning kicked and fell a couple hundred feet.”

  “He’ll be fine,” she said again and before Kellan could argue further he heard cursing from below and the sounds of heavy feet pounding up the ramp. She took a step forward keeping her arms open and eyes on Justin.

  “Lieutenant, I need you to listen to me. We can get you out of here.”

  He shook his head violently. “No. No you can’t and this is where I should be regardless. I should never had tried to take the Spear. I knew they wanted to use it for a weapon. I knew it and came anyway.”

  “You were just following orders,” Meghan said softly.

  “Orders,” he scoffed. “Those Nazi’s below were following orders too. Orders do not excuse atrocity. The Spear should stay apart from the world where it can do no harm.”

  “But others are coming for it, Justin. And we were sent to keep it safe. If they obtain it,” she paused not knowing how best to describe what Kellan had told her, “If they obtain it, all the sorrows you’ve seen as a soldier will pale in comparison.”

  Meghan’s words had an effect and the soldier lowered his hands. “I believe you Captain, you never steered me wrong and pulled me out of hell more than a few times.”

  She took another step toward him, “Then believe me now, Justin. Let us pass.” He looked at her uncertainly as Seramai finally crested the ramp to the last platform, his face a thunderhead of anger. Meghan heard him coming and lashed out with her left hand palm up in a stopping gesture that caused him to pull up short.

  She took one more step and Kellan’s stomach lurched as the soldier’s stance and demeanor turned aggressive again energy building.

  “Meghan…” he said warningly.

  “Stand down, Lieutenant!” she yelled in a voice that brooked nothing but obedience. The soldier seemed confused but didn’t attack. “Lieutenant, I said Stand. Down!” She could see the conflict within him. He practically shook with it so she pushed harder. “Is that how you respond to a superior officer, Soldier? A-ten-hut!”

  With what seemed like an almost relieved sigh, Lieutenant Walker snapped to attention, angled hand to forehead in a picture perfect salute. He stood staring straight ahead like a statue as Meghan closed the last steps between them, circling her left arm around his waist, beneath his right arm, which still held a trembling salute.

  “Good night, soldier,” she said in a whisper Kellan could barely hear, and deftly slipped her tactical dagger between Walker’s ribs to pierce his heart. His eyes widened but the Lieutenant made no sound as his knees buckled. Meghan couldn’t hold him with the one arm, but Seramai was already beside her, cradling the soldier and laying him gently to the ground. The crackling energy faded as Justin looked up at Meghan eyes fluttering a moment before becoming fixed. Several tears slipped from her eyes to fall on the dead soldier’s cheek and run down to the floor. “Your watch is over, Justin. Rest now, you just rest.”

  Seramai put a comforting hand on Meghan’s shoulder and she looked up, eyes full of tears. “He was a good solider,” Seramai said, “and you gave him the honorable death he sought.”

  She nodded, wiping her hand across her nose, “Doesn’t make it feel any better though does it.”

  The warrior general helped Meghan to her feet and embraced her, “No, it never does.”

  Kellan watched as she melted into his thick arms and looked away as she sobbed quietly. Kellan knew she didn’t like being seen like this, but also knew it was one of the most heroic and selfless acts he’d seen done by two people in his entire life.

  After long moments, Meghan pulled back from Seramai and turned to see Kellan had retreated to the platform with his back to her.

  “Kellan!” He turned to her. “Get your ass up here and take this accursed spear. I’m done with this place!”

  The three crested the last ramp and stood on the final platform. Before them stood a massive wooden cross. A deep notch had been carved in the vertical beam and within it rested an ancient roman long spear. Its shaft was a dark brown and marked with numerous scars. Likewise, its tip was chipped in several places.

  Seramai grunted.

  “What,” asked Kellan.

  “Not very impressive,” the general replied.

  “That’s how you know it’s real,” interjected Meghan. “Kellan, grab it.”

  “Ok, ok, give me a second,” he said walking closer to the cross. Rust colored streaks could be seen in spots covering both the spear’s blade and shaft. Kellan reached out to take the weapon and then pulled his hand back.

  “What?” asked Meghan.

  Kellan turned to her, “I’m not sure. It just radiates so much power.”

  “Yeah, no shit,” She said, “We’re hundreds of feet beneath the Vatican looking to liberate the weapon that, quite literally, was thrust into the heart of God. Man up and grab the fucking spear.”

  Kellan nodded and reached inward feeling the warmth come to his eyes as they began to glow. He turned back to the spear and had a quick intake of breath. Seen while channeling his power, the Spear radiated colors. Deep red auras played up and down the shaft while green ribbons lashed out and where the two met, violet sparks formed, then settled back into the many blood stains.

  Gritting his teeth, Kellan reached out and pulled the Spear from its resting space.

  Energy ripped through him and Kellan thought he heard himself scream as the world around him shattered in a manner reminiscent of the Binding in Eden. Rapid images flashed through his mind’s eye as he saw a tree being cut down and its wood fashioned into the Spear’s shaft. Iron was worked into its tip. Soldiers trained with it. Soldiers fought with it. Soldiers killed with it. It changed hands as time flew by, finally being held by a young soldier standing on a hill. Kellan watched as the soldier leaned on his spear and impassively looked up at three condemned prisoners on their crosses. He had his orders and lifted his spear to pierce the chest of the man hanging on the middle cross. Water and blood sprayed out but the condemned man did not move. He was dead. The soldier wiped at his face and spat because some of the blood had gotten into his mouth. A voice boomed in the air causing the solider to widen his eyes in fear because no one else gave indication of hearing it. Soldier, you are content with what you are. Then that you shall remain until we meet again.

  Kellan started, hand still outstretched having just grasped the Spear. He looked around and saw Seramai and Meghan staring at him with concern. He shuddered. “Did you two just see that?”

  “See what, Sentinel?” asked Seramai.

  “We didn’t see anything, Kellan. You just touched the spear, cried out, and froze there for about ten seconds or so. What happened?”

  Kellan shuddered and shook his head. “Uh, I really am not prepared to talk about it right now.” He stared at his friend pleadingly and she simply nodded.

  “So, can we leave now or was I wrong and your unworthy ass has gotten us trapped here for eternity.”

  As if in answer a glowing blue portal rotated into view. “Hot damn,” she yelled and leaped through.

  “Meghan wai
t!” yelled Kellan but it was too late, “That’s not my portal,” he said to Seramai who simply shrugged and stepped through.

  As Kellen stepped out of the portal the word resolved back into being and he sighed with relief. Seramai and Meghan were standing before him and talking to Cardinal Karras. Apparently, from the Cardinal’s frame of reference, they had only been gone a few short minutes. His eyes found Kellan’s and the young Sentinel watched as he saw the Cardinal’s gaze turn to the Spear he held.

  The Cardinal stepped up to him, hesitantly reaching out a hand, but Kellan pulled the Spear back. “Best you don’t, Cardinal,” Kellan said in as friendly a manner as he could manage. The old priest nodded as much to himself as Kellan and stepped back.

  “Where will you take it,” he asked.

  “You don’t want to know,” Kellan said with a smile. “No one is going to know other than me so that way there is no reason to try and extract information they don’t have. Suffice it to say, that I plan to take it a long way from here and leave it very well guarded.”

  Karras seemed satisfied. “And when you are done?”

  “I will return the Spear to you, here. You have my word.”

  Karras nodded. “Thank you for that, Sentinel of Order. I have lowered the outbound wards so you are free to create a portal from this place if you wish.”

  Kellan opened his mouth to respond, but Meghan pushed him out of the way. “We definitely do wish that, Cardinal, and thank you. Kellan, make with the sparkle eyes and open a portal.”

  Kellan shook his head. “Meghan, I told you before. You are not coming with me. I don’t want you knowing where I take the Spear.”

  She frowned at him. “What are you blathering about. You are damned right I’m not going with you. General handsome here owes me a romantic Roman holiday, don’t you, General handsome?”