saint Sebastian the Rose

  “Do not hold out hope of your father returning to you.”

  “What can I do?” Jacob asked sharply.

  “You can do what your father asked you to do—look out for each other and let us take care of the rest. Be on guard for anything.”

  Sebastian had barely finished his statement when the twins’ eyes grew big and their mouths opened to speak at the same time.

  “That night in the Grand Staircase Hall,” they both muttered.

  “What are you talking about?” Sebastian was confused and curious.

  “We wanted to have some fun, and after talking with Father Lemoine and hearing the tales, we wanted to see some ghosts. We snuck down to the Grand Staircase Hall to stay the night. That’s when we saw you leave the castle, and when we saw someone else sneak in.

  Sebastian moved around the room, seeing more than he had ever wanted to. He knew there would be more than everyone knew, and this confirmed it.

  “There will be more attacks; I am sure of this,” Sebastian stated.

  “Tonight?” Jessica asked with a start.

  “I hope not, but we have seen what they are doing; their strategy should be obvious. They may take us one by one. First was Father Matthew, but that may have just been by chance and opportunity; then the monk who was guarding your father, but that also may have been inevitable since he was in the way.”

  Jacob understood the simplicity of attrition, very much like siege warfare—you just have to whittle down and outlast your enemy. Vampires who have lived for so long surely understood the various methods of warfare, having seen many wars over time. Sebastian understood their fear even though he had overcome his own.

  “We are taking steps now.”

  Even as he spoke the words monks were filing into the study. One by one they came. Far from the reverent docile monks they were familiar with, these appeared to be soldiers, men of discipline of a vastly different nature.

  They no longer wore simple robes and slippers; those were replaced with ornately embroidered dark shirts, sturdy pants, and boots. They all carried a variety of items, but one was unmistakable … long spears topped with wicked silver points.

  They continued filing in, creating a perimeter around the trio, with Father Lemoine completing the circle, dressed much like his brothers, though definitely more intimidating. With the feeling of being in the kind of protective custody a king would normally enjoy, the twins stood up to show some sign of appreciation for what these men were prepared to do.

  “We are taking no more chances,” Sebastian said.

  Jacob looked at these men and felt a common bond, for all had lost here. He knew what he wanted.

  “Where do I get mine?”

  chapter TWENTY-FIVE

  THEY MARCHED THROUGH the monastery, a procession of their own personal brigade of knights. Everywhere they passed they saw the efforts being made to prepare for a siege of their blessed monastery, an ancestral home to ancient vampires. Surely the castle now took on an even more mystical feel.

  Monks who before were busy with daily prayers and typical tasks were now dressed for battle and concerned with preparing a proper defense.

  Jacob thought of how very different these men looked now. Before he knew them he did not have much respect for the monks. He couldn’t understand how someone could devote oneself to such a life. He owed this view to the fact he was only eighteen and he had different priorities. Now he held them with a totally different kind of respect; these men were prepared to do battle with the supernatural, with things he did not understand.

  Their first destination was the armory. They reached Father Lemoine in front of several cases housing many different weapons. Not paying any attention to these he pulled the cases away from the walls, exposing the compartments behind them. Jacob and Jessica’s eyes grew wide with anticipation; here were the weapons Jacob longed for and the holy relics that held Jessica’s fascination.

  Looking around as Father Lemoine was pulling out different items, the twins saw Sebastian looking back at them as he walked from the room. As much as the twins felt safe with the brigade, they did not want to leave the company of Sebastian. Where was he going, and when would they see him again? Was he leaving for the night? The questions were never-ending; they felt like naïve children in this new world.

  Once outfitted in more appropriate wear, they made their way with Father Lemoine to another one of their stops; this one had also become very familiar—the chapel. The twins hesitated to enter and looked at their guide for instructions.

  “Once a person has made the commitment to take up the fight, they must spend time in prayer and be blessed. A soldier must find his path—a path of his own,” Father Lemoine told them. Jacob did not quite understand, and he hated not understanding.

  “A path to what?”

  “That is what you have to find out yourself. It is your path, and only you can choose the course you take.”

  The chapel had been a strange place of awakening for the twins, and they were not sure if this was a place they were ready to face again.

  Jessica looked to the doors and placed a hand on one to push it open. There in front of the altar that had once held his broken body was Sebastian. If there ever had been a vision to behold, this was one for the books. Sebastian stood there like a warlord in the low flickering candlelight.

  Sebastian’s features showed like that those on the statues that lined the walls. He appeared to be something out of time, something out of a storybook. The smoke from the burner filled the room, giving it an ancient presence.

  As they came closer to Sebastian, his clothes could be seen more clearly. His tunic was of a deep red and emblazoned with a rampant lion in gold and black. His appearance looked like an updated version of something from long ago.

  “Here you become more than you are. Here you will know more than you know. To be touched by death one knows more than all that life can tell him. If you choose of your own will to join our brotherhood, then come forth, symbolizing your entry into your new life; may it be long.” Sebastian held out his hands in welcome.

  The twins took a cautious step toward the front of the chapel, never taking their eyes off their friend, who they knew would always surprise them.

  “We pray for ourselves, for guidance. We pray for our friends, for protection, and we pray for those who have left our family—may they find the path that leads to peace.”

  Sebastian motioned for them to kneel before him as he also knelt to bow his head in prayer. The twins followed suit and there in the center of the chapel they were deeper in their thoughts than ever before. Maybe it was the lighting or the incense that affected them; surely they needed this time to take into account their father. There had been no time to grieve; their life had not come into focus yet—a life without the only man whom they could always count on.

  ***

  The night was passing by slowly and more quietly than Father Donovan had expected. Making his way up the stairs, he quieted his thoughts and looked at his watch: 3:41 a.m. Pushing through the door to reach the tower’s top he spied big Father Dagrun with his guard. Father Dagrun’s appearance did not appear to have changed like so many of the other monks. He turned as he noticed Father Donovan approaching.

  “All is quiet?” Father Donovan asked hesitantly.

  “All is quiet, and hopefully that is how it will stay,” Father Dagrun replied. “How are things below?”

  “The castle has been sealed, and we wait.”

  “What of our guests? Do we hope to get them to someplace safe?”

  “I believe they have a mind for staying, and it would seem they have found a calling. I only hope we may protect them from themselves; they would do anything at this point. They are too near their grief, and revenge is on their minds. That combination is combustible, makes people do things they would not normally consider,” Father Donovan said, obviously worried.

  “I believe we should all come inside for the remainder of the night. We may prove
to be tempting targets up here for our friends who are watching,” Father Donovan said, taking one last look around.

  Together, all of the monks retreated from the perimeter of the tower’s walls and back down the stairs that led to the heart of the castle, the Lonely Tower. The door was barred and sealed with hopes that the fortifications would hold against an assault.

  ***

  Time had passed, they knew, but how much was hard to tell. Here in the chapel one was cut off from the world. The three of them looked like they belonged here in this room full of statues: they remained, kneeling and unmoving.

  Jacob felt his consciousness awaken slightly, like coming out of a dream, and he raised his head and opened his eyes to look around. There he saw his sister still deep in herself and then saw Sebastian sitting in front of them watching. Jacob reached out and touched Jessica’s hand; she moved slowly to look around.

  “Where did you go?” Sebastian asked.

  The twins looked at him and thought to themselves what a strange question … but how strange was it really? As they thought about it they realized they had gone somewhere. Jessica was the first to respond.

  “I went home, back to where I felt safe with my family.”

  Sebastian turned to Jacob and posed the same question.

  “Where did you go?”

  “I went to the library, here, downstairs. I went there to fight off those who took my father.”

  “We each go to our own places—those places we hold dear and those places where we wish to go,” said Sebastian. “The important thing to focus on now is where we wish to go from here, from this point onward. You both have chosen to be here. Your steps to join the Brotherhood of the Word have just begun. Every person here in this monastery has been affected by the force that seeks us now; you are following in their footsteps. Do you have any questions?”

  “I thought the Brotherhood of the Word was just about the work with the books here, but that’s not all, is it?” Jacob asked.

  “No. The Word is a secret we hold most dear and one we never speak; it is only told to those who know the truth and have committed themselves to the cause. This is something we keep to ourselves and keep from the vampires at all cost. You will find out in time …”

  Sebastian slowed and stopped speaking as the flicker of a candle caught his attention. One of the candles higher up was lit, one that was not lit before. Then another candle flickered to life, one after another, like being turned on with a switch.

  The three of them gathered in the center as candles at every statue base around the room came to life. Within a minute all of the candles blazed and the glory of the small chapel shone again through the haze. With the darkness limited and the shadows dancing around, life had returned to this place again, but the life did not belong to the trio. A voice played from one of those shadows, and all of the candles danced at the sound of it.

  “Time … is something I have a lot of, but for you, time is in precious short supply.”

  “Baldric!” Sebastian said through clenched teeth as Baldric emerged from the shadows. “I do not listen to your words; they are laced with lies.”

  “Why would I lie to you?

  “You told me we had time.”

  “Yes, but I take what I want when I want and as I have need.” Baldric’s mouth curled up in an evil smile. Jacob tried to force himself past Sebastian but was held back.

  “I will have my father back, or I will have your head!”

  Baldric’s smile disappeared and went back to his flat expression, one that was far more menacing.

  “Those are the words I long to hear from any foe. You are very brave to stand before me and say them. Maybe you are worthy yourself. We shall have to wait and see,” Baldric said cryptically. Sebastian braced at his remarks. He only wanted to get the three of them out of the chapel without confrontation.

  “Why are you here if it is not to steal another one from us?”

  “I am afraid my dear Constance is not too happy, but I think differently. Clearly they have gone a long way to proving themselves worthy in their encounter. But my friend has lost something along her way and requires her property be returned,” Baldric told them, slowly making his way to the edge of the altar.

  “She will not be getting her sword back. That one is mine now. She will have to come and get it from me if she wants it. I have grown rather fond of it once it was taken out of my back,” Sebastian replied.

  “Oh, she does not want the sword back, not yet. She wants her book back.”

  “What book?” Sebastian asked.

  “It’s a diary of sorts; she is extremely fond of it as you might well guess, Sebastian. You know how particular we are about the records of our own lives. It is all I can do to keep her from coming in here and tearing the place apart.”

  Sebastian looked at the twins and saw on Jacob’s face he knew something of this. He turned back to Baldric, who was edging closer.

  “You should come with me now, turn away from these mere mortals who are not worthy of you. You are my son, my heir to all that is mine. Take them if you want. It is for you to decide who you will have by your side; that is always up to you.”

  Sebastian was gradually pushing the twins back, not wanting to get in too close with Baldric. Jessica seemed to be going the right way, but Jacob was fighting him with every step.

  “You are not my father. You killed my father and that is a debt I have yet to claim.” Sebastian only wished he was in a position to follow through with his threats, but that was not the case now.

  “And what of yourself? You who are like us, the walking curse whose heart has no beat. Will you go on with the lie that is your existence, the hypocrite to all he preaches?”

  Sebastian knew Baldric was baiting him. Baldric loved the manipulation of the game; he was a master chess player and involved its strategy in all of his pursuits. He knew there would be a time and a place for them, but not here, not now, not in his most cherished place.

  As Baldric came to the kneelers he put his hand to the first and flung it out to the side. Coming to the other he crushed it without pause.

  “You do not seem to understand what will become of this place and all that are within its walls. They will die a slow and painful death.” The words came from Baldric like vile promises.

  His appearance twisted and became more hideous as he spoke, and his very presence seemed to grow, drawing in the shadows around him. Sebastian sensed the time for fleeing may have come and gone. Baldric looked at Jessica and reached out his hand.

  “Maybe she will be my first? Would you like to come with me? Come with me and I will show you a new world.”

  Jessica, though initially repulsed by him, felt something in his words and looked more closely into the eyes that seemed to be telling her kind things, things she did not totally understand.

  Sebastian understood the draw and power of this ancient one. He felt the push of Jessica behind him and knew it was time to take action. He turned and pushed the twins once again away from him, trying to keep himself between them and danger. Jacob and Jessica fell backward, knocking over the empty holy water fonts. Sebastian, who himself had fallen to the floor, turned to look at his attacker closing in on him. Baldric reached out with his hands to complete a seemingly easy conquest … too easy.

  The banging came from behind as battering on the doors to the chapel began. The door had been sealed when the twins had entered, for their privacy and protection. With a sudden burst the doors flew open with Father Dagrun in the lead as he splintered the wood. Baldric faced a new foe, but he was not intimidated with Father Dagrun’s size or confidence. He intended to dispatch of him quickly and attend to his other business.

  Father Dagrun moved to the side as Father Donovan strode into the room from behind the big monk. He walked right over the twins and stood behind Sebastian who was at his feet. He looked to him and raised his head up to meet the stare of Baldric. Baldric reflexively stepped backward without any prodding.
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  “You will leave this place,” Father Donovan spoke plainly and softly as he stared.

  “You will pay dearly, old man, and I shall enjoy your suffering.”

  Father Donovan did not pay any heed to him and brought up in front of him a staff. On the head of this staff there was a cross of silver and in its centers were clear crystals that formed the arms of the cross. He held it before him and spoke with force.

  “Leave this place.”

  Baldric’s face twisted in pain, and his eyes flashed dangerously. Just when one thought he might lash out with ferocity, every candle in the chapel extinguished in an instant and darkness fell over the room. The commotion that came was over almost the instant it had begun.

  As the candles came to life one by one, they illuminated the wreckage that remained. There were pews in pieces, and several statues were on the floor. The dust was still hanging in the air as Father Donovan looked around. The twins, who had been behind them, stood waiting in front of Sebastian. They had taken their positions in the darkness, knowingly facing their fears.

  chapter TWENTY-SIX

  THE FOLLOWING HOURS were spent with all in the castle gathered in only a few places. Many congregated in the armory, surrounded by weapons, which gave them a sense of security. Others were assembled in one of the other minor towers of the castle. The tower seemed appropriate for a place of safety; towers were always more heavily walled and fortified than most of the castle. They were major parts of the defense of the structure.

  From here inhabitants gathered and were afforded narrow windows for either observing or shooting arrows or dumping cauldrons of hot oil on enemies. Many times these towers bordered entrances to castle gates and were set up as guard posts. Sometimes they were equipped with hidden hallways to the entry where they could set upon anyone attempting to breach the doors. Even more elaborate set ups featured triggering mechanisms that would drop heavy loads of rock and debris upon enemies and block any further entrance.