The Veil: Corruption (HASEA CHRONICLES BOOK 2)

by Stuart Meczes

  I shuddered at the thought.

  “But you’re right about one thing,’ he continued. “There is blame to be placed, but it deserves to be go where it belongs.” He curled his fingers around my chin and lifted it up so he could look into my eyes. “And that is with those Soldiers of Sorrow bastards who attacked all those innocent people in that restaurant and turned my brother into…” he took a deep breath, “into a Bloodling Vampire. And the bastard who gave the orders. They are the ones who need to answer for what happened. Not us. Not you. Do you hear me?”

  His words broke through the wall of guilt I’d built around me, and I couldn’t disagree. He’s right. It was those testa de merdes. Not us. I nodded my head.

  “Good.” He pressed his lips against mine and the charges tingled down my spine. “I love you, Gabriella.”

  “I love you too. Always.”

  He kissed me again, harder.

  Before I knew what I was doing, my hands were wrapped around the back of his neck and we were kissing with such passion and ferocity that I could taste blood on my lips. He tore at my jacket, ripping it apart as if it were made from silk. The rags were cast aside, joined by my t-shirt. I lifted up his vest and kissed his chest, neck, and shoulders – all the parts that weren’t covered by the tattoo.

  His skin was hotter than it had ever been, like he was suffering from a fever. He didn’t seem to care or even notice, running his hands up my back and sweeping his fingers along my patches of Umbra skin, which made tiny shudders roll down my body. We kissed in breathless bursts as we tore the rest of each other’s clothes off.

  Alex picked me up, and I wrapped my bare legs around his waist. He trailed a row of kisses from my stomach all the way up to my breasts, and onto my neck. With a burst, he threw me down onto the bed, sliding himself down on top of me. He pinned my hands above my head, and I breathed in sharply as he planted more kisses on my neck and collarbone.

  My eyelids fluttered and as the pleasure of being so close to the one I loved took over, all the anger, frustration, and pain slipped away leaving just...us. In the back of my mind a voice told me that I shouldn’t be doing it, but I wanted to. Things had been so messed up; I just wanted to feel my soulmate close to me.

  Alex released my arms and I raked my fingernails down his back.

  He’s not well. I can’t do this.

  I pressed a finger against his lips and started to push him away. He gave a gentle squeeze to the spot on my right side that he knew would turn me on. I let out a gasp and then replaced my fingers with my lips. Every kiss sent more and more of the charges racing through me – they were now tingles of pleasure that made every touch and kiss ten times more intense. I let my head fall back into the pillow as he ran his hands up my arms and entwined his fingers in mine.

  Yes, I can.

  *

  I slipped out of bed and retrieved the clothes from the floor that were still wearable. Alex was dozing with an expression of such serenity on his face that I tread on tiptoes so that I didn’t wake him. Nudging open his wardrobe, I pulled out one of his t-shirts, a red one with a Nintendo controller on it, and slipped it on. I was about to open the door to the lounge when I heard him clear his throat. He was pulling himself into a sitting position.

  “No goodbye kiss?”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to wake you.”

  He flopped a corner of the bedcovers backwards and forwards in his hand. “It’s fine. I don’t really like sleeping these days.”

  I can’t imagine what horrors you see in your dreams.

  I moved back over to the bed and gave him a long kiss. ‘There we go,” I said with a smile.

  “Where are you off to now?” he asked.

  “I have to go and see Danny. It’s his Trials today.” I moved back over to the door and put a hand on the handle. “Are you going to come later?”

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not sure. Maybe, if I feel up to it.” Slipping out of bed, he picked up a towel from the rail and wrapped it around himself. “Before you go, can I ask you a question?”

  ‘Sure.”

  “The Indigo thing. Do you think Mikey was targeted?”

  I nodded. “Positive.”

  “So we have another traitor.”

  “Looks like it.”

  “Then I need to get down to the Interrogation Cluster. There are five SOS who might have answers just sitting about. I need to make sure the interrogators asked the right questions. Maybe they’ll let me help out so we can find out who organised the attack.”

  I let my hand drop away from the door handle. “You haven’t met Vidar. He runs his interrogations like a dictatorship. I have a slim chance of sitting in on one, and I’m a Huntmaster. There’s no chance you’d get a look in. Besides I think that seeing the Rogues who attacked Mikey is almost guaranteed to make you lose control. But you’re right, and it’s a good idea to follow that lead since we have it. So I’ll speak to Faru. Maybe he’ll let me oversee.”

  Alex appeared to consider my words for a moment and conceded. “Promise me you’ll find out who those arseholes got the order from.”

  “I’ll promise I’ll do everything I can.”

  “I know you will. And if you find out what you need, what then?”

  “Then I’ll take a huge team to the source of this little SOS rising and put a Blood Brother through each of their skulls. For Mikey. Sound good?”

  “Sounds fantastic,” Alex agreed with a dark smile. He looked down at his hands and the smile faltered. “And hopefully I’ll be well enough to help you do it.”

  I didn’t say anything.

  He clicked his fingers and padded over to his bedside table, pulling out an envelope. “I almost forgot. Can you see that this gets to Eldore in the Armoury? It’s important.” Walking over, he held it out to me. “Don’t worry about getting Danny a joining gift,” he added.

  “Of course,” I said, taking it from him and slipping it in my pocket. “Hopefully I’ll see you at the trials later,” I said, giving him a kiss.

  “Maybe. Listen, I know you have a lot on your plate, but if you get a chance, could either you or Scarlett go and check on Mikey? Make sure he’s okay and tell him I’m thinking of him?”

  “You have my word.”

  “Thank you.”

  I opened the bedroom door and walked out into the lounge.

  “So how exactly are you going to explain being in here for two hours instead of five minutes to my bodyguards?” he said, leaning against the doorframe.

  I glanced out of the lounge window to make sure the coast was clear. “Don’t be silly,” I replied with a wink as I popped it open and swung a leg out. “I’m taking the naughty teenager exit.”

  He laughed. “That’s my girl.”

  14

  Gabriella

  The Warren’s speaker system crackled and an automated voice swept across the base. “The Trial of the Chosen will begin in half an hour. Participating recruits: Elliot Barker, Andrea Bilson, John Chen, Daniel Jackson, Hollie White, Richard Hugo-Rose, Troy Williams, and Lucy Winters, please make your way to the preparation area at the Prolesium entrance. Guardians who wish to spectate, please take your seats in the observation stands.”

  “That’s your cue, buddy,” said Delagio, patting Danny on the back. The pair stood up, and the recruit smoothed down the leather of his uniform. It was the same as the ones we wore, except there was a hollow recess on the jacket where the HASEA emblem sat. That would come once he had passed the trial and the joining ceremony was complete. Then he would officially be one of us.

  “How do I look?” he said.

  “Like you’re ready to kick some ass,” I replied.

  After climbing my way down into the Warren grounds, I’d made my way back to my apartment and had a long shower, letting the warm water wash away what it could of my worries. I’d emerged feeling fresh, and I changed into a white maxi dress and sandals. Then I’d delivered Alex’s envelope to Eldore. I didn’t need to ask to
know what it contained; I knew him too well. Every Guardian got one free weapon forge request. I’d used mine on the Blood Brothers. Alex hadn’t used his yet. It was a symbol of his gratitude to Danny. But it also meant that I wouldn’t have to think of a joining gift, which took some of the pressure off me.

  Afterwards I’d gone to look for Danny and found him in the dojo finishing the last bit of his training with Delagio. Watching him practice, I had little worries about his performance in the trials. When the pair had finished sparring, we’d headed back to Del’s apartment to wait there for the event to begin. Grey had been perched against the wall by the door, clicking his fingers and producing a flame like a human lighter.

  “Any tips?” Danny said to Grey as we left the apartment.

  “It all happens a bit fast – it’s more about instinct than tactics. Just keep a cool head and you’ll do fine, mate,” he said.

  “Where did you finish when you did yours?”

  Grey frowned for a second. “Uh, third.”

  “Bullshit,” said Del. “You came fifth. You had a shocker on the ability test remember?”

  Grey rolled his eyes. “Why would you show a guy up like that, man?” He turned to Danny. “I’m sure you’ll do fine, bud.”

  As we passed by Alex’s apartment, I stopped to knock for him.

  “I don’t think he’ll be going,” said Zeffa with a shake of the head. “He opened the door about an hour ago, said he wasn’t feeling so great and was going to try and get some sleep.”

  “I checked on him about ten minutes ago,” added Sam. “He’s out for the count.”

  I glanced between the group and the door, conflicted.

  “If you want to stay with Alex, it’s cool,” said Danny.

  I want to be with him, but there’s nothing I can do. Its probably better he just sleeps. I’ll come and check on him later. “No it’s fine,” I said. “I’ll let him rest up.”

  “Yeah, well no one is allowed in to see him at the moment anyway,” said Sam while avoiding my gaze. “Strict orders.”

  “Don’t worry, Gabriella, we’ll keep an eye on him. Go and enjoy the trials,” said Zeffa with a wink.

  “Thanks,” I said with a nod. We moved on.

  “I don’t want to pry, and I know it’s not my place,” said Grey as we descended the stairs into the main hall, “but what exactly is going on with Alex?”

  The question hit me like a fist to the stomach. I’d known it was one I’d have to answer sooner or later, but until now I’d managed to avoid it.

  “Grey,” warned Del. “If Ella or Alex wanted to tell us what was going on, then they would have.”

  “I know, but I mean come on, last time we saw him, he was smashing the place up and vomiting black stuff out of his mouth. Surely we have a right to ask what’s going on?”

  We passed under the large portrait of Sage Faru, his watchful white eyes seeming to focus on everyone at once. I hope you’re in there working on ideas to save my soulmate. “Grey’s right,” I said with a sigh. “You deserve answers. Everyone does. It’s just that right now we don’t quite know what’s wrong with him. All we know for sure is that it has something to do with that tattoo that attached to him when he defeated The Sorrow.”

  “That ain’t no tattoo,” said Delagio, shaking his head. “Tattoos don’t move.”

  I cast him a look. “You’ve seen it move too?”

  “A couple times when we were on missions. At first I thought it was my mind playin’ tricks, but when we were coming back from the Waterloo mission, I saw one of them marks slip onto his neck.”

  I nodded. “Grey, what you said about possession isn’t far off the mark. Something is affecting him, the tattoo – marking, whatever – that’s just its outside appearance. Whatever is happening to him is bad, but Faru is aware of it and has taken measures to control it. We won’t stop until we find a way to solve the problem. So as Huntmaster, I’m asking you to leave it alone and let us deal with it. If you need to know any more, I promise I’ll tell you. Is that fair?”

  Not the full truth, but hopefully enough to bide some time.

  “Yep,” said Danny.

  “Sure thing, boss,” said Del.

  “I’m cool with that, Huntmaster,” said Grey. “As long as you’re sure we can trust him.”

  “Grey, we’re not on a mission now. You can call me Gabriella,” I smiled, patting him on the arm. “And of course you can trust him. It’s Alex.”

  We stepped out into the Warren grounds, and I was hit with the sweet scent of mown grass. The sun was high and had burned away all the clouds. Above was nothing but a blue vista. Around us, swarms of Guardians were making their way through the gardens, chatting animatedly. Some were carrying iced drinks and food, and almost none were wearing uniforms. The Trial of the Chosen was seen as a day off for those already in the inner circle, a moment’s respite from it all. Within the crowd were hundreds of international Guardians, who had come to support their recruits in the following day’s trials. Some of them I recognised; most I didn’t.

  As we walked, Danny wiped a layer of sweat from his forehead. I felt sorry for him being trussed up like a turkey in his uniform when it was so hot, but it was tradition for recruits to wear them during the trials as a symbol of their dedication to joining the Alliance.

  The crowd swept past the training areas. All of them were empty. The battering rams in the strength arena were wound tightly in their winches, poised for deployment. The pyromancy area was silent, the scorched dolls placed in a large pile, ready to be collected and replaced. The glass dome of the levitation area stood high but empty, like a forgotten marker.

  “Good luck, Danny, I’ll be rooting for you,” smiled Yildis, an Ifrit whose red hair flickered like real fire. Her words were chorused by the rest of the female Guardians she walked with.

  “Err, thanks,” said Danny, giving an awkward grin in return.

  The Umbra blew him a kiss, and a swarm of embers sparked into the air before disappearing.

  “See, I told you you’d already made a name for yourself around here,” I teased, nudging him in the stomach.

  ‘Just don’t ruin it by cocking up out there,” teased Grey.

  “Grey!”

  “Just kidding!” he said, slapping Danny on the shoulder. “You’re gonna do great, pal.”

  We kept walking towards what looked like a small summerhouse right at the end of the grounds. As we neared, we passed through the magic barrier used to disguise it, and like a Tardis, the small building morphed into the colossal-sized structure that was the Prolesium. It was a vast, black dome with retractable glass at the apex. It somehow seemed to gather in the sunlight from above and project it out of the porthole windows that lined the sides, making it look like a divine monument. The droves of Guardians filtered through an archway entrance, where half a dozen agents were navigating them towards their seats.

  “Names, please,” said Agent Noble, ticking boxes on a tablet computer with a stylus.

  “Gabriella DeLuca,” I said.

  He looked up. “Oh hi, Miss DeLuca, didn’t see you there.”

  “Hi, Simon, how are you?”

  “Overworked. But hey, comes with the job description, right? Okay let’s see. So we have you, Miss DeLuca,” he said, ticking off my name. “We also have Delagio…you know, one day I’m going to find out whether it’s your first or last name that’s missing.”

  “You’ll work out the meanin’ of life first, buddy,” grinned Delagio.

  “Well, if I don’t have a break soon, my life will cease to have meaning. Right, so that’s Miss DeLuca, Delagio…” He flicked the stylus at Grey. “Mister Paul Garrison right?”

  “Good memory,” said Grey.

  “That’s what they pay me for. I think. And…right, this is the new recruit isn’t it?” He waved the stylus in the air as he remembered. “Mister Daniel…Jackson. Yeah, that’s it. Right Daniel, you need to…oh wait a second, a note has been added by your name. Hold on.” He t
apped the screen with the stylus. “Oh right…it seems Daniel has been given an optional pardon from taking part in the trials.”

  We all exchanged confused glances.

  “Why?” Danny said.

  “It says here ‘for showing selfless bravery in order to provide aid to another Guardian.’ This apparently came down from Sage Faru, so it’s legitimate.”

  “If he’s talking about that thing with Alex on the bridge,” said Danny, “I wasn’t being brave…I was terrified. I just did what I had to do to save him.”

  “That’s what bravery is, buddy,” smiled Del.

  “Still, I shouldn’t get a free pass. It wouldn’t be fair on the others.”

  “It says optional doesn’t it?” I said pointing to the tablet. Agent Noble nodded. “So it’s up to you.”

  Danny shook his hands out as if mentally preparing himself. “I’ll do it. I’m pretty psyched up, if I’m honest. It would be a bit of a let down to miss out on it all now.”

  “I’m impressed, Danny,” I said.

  “Yeah, respect, mate,” added Grey.

  Del gave a quick thumbs up.

  “Right, I’ll tick you as participating,” said Simon. “Okay, so you need to go to my right and join the other recruits. Ivy Affron is there going through last-minute details. Good luck.”

  “Good luck,” we all chorused.

  “Thanks guys, see you on the other side,” he said and jogged off down a roped-off side area towards where the other recruits were grouped about looking, nervous.

  He is exactly the sort of person I would want watching Alex’s and my back in Pandemonia.

  “I’ve put you guys into row F, seats sixty-four and five, next to your friends,” said Simon.

  I was going to ask who he was referring to, but we were ushered on by the eager people behind us. I heard Agent Noble asking for their names amongst a stifled yawn.