The Veil: Corruption (HASEA CHRONICLES BOOK 2)

by Stuart Meczes

  I can’t wait to see you again.

  All my love always, Sophia xx

  The paper dropped from my fingers. I felt sick. The Mortomis was a series of books of Necromancy. The darkest of all forms of magic and punishable by instant death. I now knew what Sophia was planning to do. Why she had been searching all this time.

  She’s going to try and raise Midnight from the dead.

  Trembling with anger and fear, I threw the tin down and stood up. Without quite being aware of what I was doing I sprinted from the graveyard and back through the grounds. I was vaguely aware of Sage Etorre shouting my name, but I ignored him. Bursting into the Warren I ran straight into a Nexus elevator that was still closing, barging past a group of Guardians heading out.

  “Hey watch it!”

  I repeatedly thumbed the button for Moon’s Edge. As the elevator sped through the passages I could barely contain my fury. How could she do this to us...to him? The reanimated dead were shadows of their former selves, tortured souls, who couldn’t understand why they were alive. Their memories were unnatural echoes, and all they wanted was to return to their graves and be at peace. But they would be a slave to whoever raised them. I was so angry I was physically shaking.

  The doors opened, and I charged through the caverns, startling a familiar, who hissed in surprise. When I entered the main chamber, Claudine was reading to a group of Witches, who sat on the wooden benches, watching her in raptured silence.

  “Gabriella?” she said, lowering the book. “What’s the matter?”

  “Where is Sophia?” I bit back.

  “She is in her room as usua—”

  I left the room before she could finish her sentence. There were loud murmurings as everyone stirred in confusion. Reaching Sophia’s room, I cast the doors open and they slammed into the walls. Tommy and Sophia were sitting in the middle of the room, surrounded by a sea of jars and pots. They tried to hide them, but it was too late. I pointed behind me.

  “Tommy, out now!” I shouted.

  His eyes went wide. Vincent was in the form of a snake. It wrapped protectively around his body, hissing at me and staring with threatening eyes.

  “NOW!” I screamed.

  He scrambled to his feet and scuttled out of the room. I slammed the doors shut and glared at Sophia. She was regarding me with an expression of fear and confusion. I paced over to her and yanked her to her feet, grabbing both of her arms.

  “How dare you!” I hissed. “How could you do this?”

  She looked utterly confused.

  “I found your pile of letters to Midnight. What were you thinking?” I shook her in fury. Her hair escaped its pins and tumbled down the sides of her face. Tears had formed in her eyes. I was crying openly, the damp trails running down both cheeks. Her familiar was in his dog form. He coiled back on his haunches, growling at me.

  “Necromancy,” I groaned. “Why would you do that to Midnight?” My voice cracked. “Hasn’t he suffered enough?”

  Sophia’s eyes were wide saucers. She shook her head and tried to free herself, but I held tight.

  “I know you’re sad, but so are we. This…what you were planning, it’s disgusting. Necromancy is a capital crime. You could be killed for it!”

  Sophia kept trying to remove herself, pointing underneath the bed.

  “Right, so that’s where they are then.” I pushed her away from me and ducked under the bed. She tried to tug at my shoulders, but I fought her off, biting back the tears that kept coming. At the back near the curved wall was a small stack of books partially hidden by a few boxes. I dragged them out and my fears were confirmed. Among the cluster of books on Demonic magic was Mortimus IV.

  I picked it up and shook it in her face. A scrap of paper fell out from it and floated behind me to the floor. “This is what you were going to use to force our friend to come back as a husk!” I opened it and tore at the pages, ripping them to shreds. “I won’t let you do it! I won’t let you bring him back and get yourself killed for treason.” I dropped the destroyed book to the floor.

  Sophia was weeping now, desperately trying to get past me. She beat her fists against my arms as I grabbed her waist and hugged her to me. My tears splashed onto the floor. “Why Sophia?”

  Midnight pounced for me and I had to move out of the way as he went for my legs. At that moment the doors swung open, and Claudine stood on the threshold with an aghast expression on her face.

  “Gabriella, what on earth are you doing to that poor child?”

  Midnight went for me again, this time clamping his jaws around my ankle. I screamed in pain. “Claudine, stop him!”

  The Witch raised her hand towards the familiar. “Siste!” she yelled, her voice deep and echoing. Instantly the dog released my ankle and stalked to the edge of the room, still releasing its guttural growl.

  Ignoring the pain in my leg, I pulled Claudine into the room and pointed a finger at the ingredients on the floor. “You are supposed to look after her! How did she get ahold of all these?”

  Claudine’s face went slack. “I-I don’t know. These are kept under lock and key. She must have stolen them somehow.”

  “If you only knew what she was going to try and do.” I raised a silencing hand before she could speak. “You know I care about you, Claudine, but you could get in serious trouble for this too. So we are going to keep this quiet, okay?”

  Claudine nodded.

  “You’re Schoolmaster,” I said in an exasperated tone. “It’s your responsibility to make sure things like this don’t happen.”

  Claudine’s face flushed. “I’m so sorry, Gabriella. It’s just hard to keep an eye on them all at every moment, with all the other Witches resting so much. Plus she is always in here. I honestly thought she was just reading. If I had known she was planning something I would have never…”

  “I know, I know,” I sighed. “It’s not your fault. I’m sorry, I’m just upset.”

  I turned to Sophia, who had fallen still in my arms. She was staring at the floor, her catatonic expression returned. My stomach tightened when I saw how much I’d affected her. I crouched down and stroked a hand across her face. “I’m so sorry, mia bambina, I know that you were trying to do the right thing. But this is wrong. I’m sorry. I can’t let you do it.”

  I stood back up. “We need to clear all of this away. I don’t want Selene to find out. Where is she now?”

  “She’s still resting. Most of her premonitions come at night now, so she rests in the day. Most of the older witches do now.”

  I nodded. “Good. I’m going to take care of these books and you put these ingredients away. You keep that key safe. Sophia and Tommy can’t be allowed to go near them again. We’ll try and talk things through with her when she’s better.” I stared down at her blank face. “I don’t think we’ll get much through to her now. Can you get me a bag, please?”

  Claudine disappeared from the room and returned a minute later with a hemp sack. In the meantime, Sophia had moved away from me, crawling into bed and curling up into a foetal position.

  Still feeling sick and shaky, I walked around, picking up the scraps of paper from the ruined Mortomis book, and then I gathered it up with the others. Claudine’s eyes went wide when she saw it, but she didn’t say anything. I stuffed the most incriminating books into the bag and moved towards the door. The scrap of paper that had fallen from the book was by the door. I scooped it up and stuffed it inside.

  “Are you taking them back to the library?” Claudine asked as I opened the door.

  I shook my head. “No. I’m going to burn the evidence.”

  23

  Alex

  An army of Guardians stood in solemn silence outside the gates of the Memorial Graveyard. It was the final minutes of the hour-long vigil that we had all undertaken to honour those who had fallen in the previous day’s attack. The service had already taken place and now the graves were being filled by workmen in overalls, who paused occasionally to wipe the sweat from their e
yes. Gabriella stood next to me, hands clasped behind her back and her expression tight with stress.

  It had been an awful afternoon. Gabriella had returned to my apartment in hysterics. After calming her down, I’d managed to get her to tell me what was wrong. Sophia had been planning to bring Midnight back from the dead. In keeping it a secret, Gabriella had betrayed her vow not just as a Huntmaster, but as a Guardian as well. But I knew that I would have made the exact same decision, and I’d told her that fact quite simply. Sophia was one of us. To betray her was not even an option.

  I took a deep breath and tried to still my racing mind. Everything felt like it was turning to dust in our hands. Every direction my thoughts turned was one of absolute bleakness. My brother was a vampire. I was becoming the new Sorrow, and I didn’t know how long I could keep the darkness from consuming me. The SOS were prepared to go to any lengths to claim me – yesterday’s events had proven that. Then there was Sophia, the sweetest girl I had ever met, who was so broken-hearted she had attempted to raise her surrogate father from the grave.

  And if all that weren’t enough, I still didn’t know if my father was alive or dead. He could still be out there fighting for his life whilst I floundered around, trying to collect enough people willing to join me on a suicide mission. Gabriella’s drawn expression told me everything I needed to know about where we were. The weight she’s been forced to bear is too much, even for her. The cracks are spreading, and it won’t be long before everything comes falls apart.

  I glanced down the row to where a distraught Ivy was being consoled by one of her former teammates. It all reminded me too much of the day we’d buried Midnight, and I felt an ache in my chest. Only this time Sage Faru wasn’t here, nor was Sophia or Scarlett. Del and Grey stood together several rows ahead. The old Orion I knew had fallen apart. The group who had bought me in and nurtured me was gone, and only fragments remained.

  Sage Etorre was standing in front of the gates. The Huntmasters who led the international fallen stood on either side of him. The remains of the dead Guardians and recruits had already been flown home, but the Huntmasters were staying until after the service out of respect before returning to bury their own. Sage Etorre lifted his head, signalling the end of the vigil. He cleared his throat and spoke against the heavy silence of the ranks.

  “What happened yesterday was a heinous and despicable act that was designed to attack us whilst our backs were turned. But although we have lost many compagni – old and new – we must not blame ourselves.” He looked to Ivy as he spoke those words, but she wasn’t listening. Her head was turned away, resting on the shoulder of her friend as she cried.

  “Every one of you united together and acted with absolute bravery and determination. As soon as we knew of their presence, the Soldiers of Sorrow didn’t stand a chance. Those who didn’t turn tail and run like the vigliacchi they are were either killed or captured. The apprehended are being interrogated as we speak, and I promise that we will find and punish whoever organised this attack.”

  “Where is Sage Faru?” An angry shout rang out from behind.

  The interruption ignited murmurs from the Guardians. Sage Etorre ignored the comment. “It is small consolation, but we must also take comfort in the fact that things could have been far worse had it not been for the quick thinking of one of our Guardians. That bomb was intended for everyone.”

  I felt guilty at his praise. He and I both know that if it wasn’t for me they never would have come here in the first place.

  “Sage Faru should be here. He’s our leader!” Someone shouted a few rows ahead.

  “He should have been here yesterday!” yelled a voice to my left.

  Sage Etorre tried to continue, but the crowd was now impossible to ignore. There was an undercurrent of frustrated anger, and it was building momentum.

  “Who turned off the perimeter sensors?” demanded Marcus, a Chosen from Odin.

  “How did they know the Trials were yesterday, at that exact time?” piped up another Chosen.

  “Do we have another traitor?” asked someone else.

  People were angry, and in all fairness they had every right to be. If most of this hadn’t been indirectly my fault, I might have joined them.

  The Sage raised his hands. “Guardians, please, I know you are all frustrated, and I can understand that. But please remember where we are.” He drew a breath and attempted to compose himself. “Regarding Sage Faru’s location, all I can tell you is that he has crossed the Veil.”

  The crowd exploded into a flurry of confused chatter. Gabriella’s head whirled around, and we stared at each other in shock. Neither of us needed to say a word. I knew we were both thinking the same thing. He vowed never to go back.

  “I am sure you have questions as to why he has done this, but I do not have those answers. All I can say is that he assured me that his doing so was for the safety of this base and its Guardians.”

  There were scoffing sounds and arguments. A recruit in my row with gelled up blonde hair shouted, “Well, that worked brilliantly, didn’t it?”

  The crowd started to shout words of agreement. Danny was standing with Hollie nearby the outspoken new guy. They both cut him looks of disgust, but he ignored them. He was wearing a smirk of triumph. The ranks became a mob as hundreds of angry Guardians verbally hurled their rage at Sage Etorre. He drew in a deep breath.

  “ENOUGH!”

  His shout thundered over the others, and silence fell in an instant. Sage Etorre’s eyes were blazing with restrained anger, and I could see in that moment why he was the man in charge.

  “You are Guardians!” he continued, pointing an accusing finger. “And Guardians do not behave like a mob of schoolchildren!” His words seemed to shrink everyone to half their size. “This is not the first time the Soldiers of Sorrow have attacked us, and I doubt it will be the last, but if we let them drive a wedge between us, then the Alliance is already finished.”

  He folded his arms behind his back, regaining his composure. “Do not forget that it is they who are down to their last numbers. We are the stronger force, and we grow stronger every day. These mindless terrorist attacks are the only way they can make themselves heard. They are scrambling about in the dark. If we stand united, we will defeat them once and for all.” His eyes flashed in the sunlight. “And then we can turn our attention to Hades.”

  The last sentence had the desired effect. In a moment, he had shifted the tide back in the other direction, aiming our anger where it should be directed. A respectful silence had overtaken the chaos.

  “Tonight is for the celebration of new recruits joining the fight against our nemici, who seek to do this world harm.” He gestured a hand towards the graveyard. “Never forget those who fell here yesterday, but never forget who we are either. A united army who keep the horror of Hades at bay. We will find out what happened yesterday and make sure it never happens again. And if there is a traitor, they will be found. This I promise you.

  “But I implore you, Sage Faru will return soon, and he must return to the same united force we have always been. So please, do not dwell on the past, but look to the future. This evening is for welcoming our new brothers and sisters into the fold, not for continued anger and sadness. We are the HASEA, and we never stop fighting.”

  He saluted. “Dilectii surgemus, socii pollemus!”

  A thousand Guardians returned the salute.

  *

  Orion arranged to meet before the ceremony that evening at Gabriella’s apartment. In a valiant attempt to keep up the appearance of normality, she’d attempted to create a good atmosphere by dimming the lights and putting on some chill-out music. Then she’d gone to raid the Warren wine cellar for a couple of good bottles of champagne, whilst I searched about the kitchen for glasses.

  While she was still out, Eldore had delivered the box for Daniel’s bo staff. Gabriella had collected the weapon itself from Danny earlier so that we could present it to him properly at the ceremony. The box was car
ved from dark mahogany, with a purple cushioned interior.

  “Thanks, Eldore, it looks incredible,” I’d said.

  He’d nodded. “Welcome, my boy.” Then he’d patted the side of my arm. “Cheer up; the sun always rises even after the darkest night.”

  Scarlett arrived soon after Gabriella returned. Her hair was tied back into a French plait, and like Gabriella, she had a ceremonial uniform on. As second in command, it was less elaborate, but it still had fine gold stitching along the seams. I stood up when she entered the lounge, setting down the beer that I’d been drinking. Before I could ask, her face broke into a smile.

  “He’s much better.”

  A weight the size of a boulder lifted from my chest. I let out a laugh of relief and pulled her into a hug. I sat back down whilst she and Gabriella hugged. They joined me on the sofa.

  “Doctor Hudson says he’s making a great recovery,” she continued. “When I saw him, he understood who I was and where he was. He’s had no rage, and he’s taking less blood now. Doc thinks if we keep visiting him he’ll be back to normal in the next few days.” Her smile faltered. “Well as normal as he can be now anyway.”

  I sank back into the cushion and closed my eyes. “Thank god.”

  “So we can go and see him soon then?” asked Gabriella.

  “Yeah. Probably tomorrow if everything keeps going well.”

  It was the first bit of good news I’d had for days, and it was enough to actually bring a smile to my lips. Even though he would never be a normal kid again, at least he was becoming Mikey again.

  The doorbell rang. Gabriella got up and went to open it, leaving Scarlett and me chatting about Mikey’s improved recovery. When I saw who walked into the lounge, I frowned.

  “I don’t think you were ever formally introduced,” said Gabriella, leading the newcomer towards me. “This is Aranvai Valdenia. But we just call her Aran.”

  The tall, blue woman gave a slight bow. “It is a pleasure to meet Alexander Eden and Scarlett Reid.” She sloped down the stairs and stood by the fireplace, her hands at her sides. I’d read about her species in my handbook. She was an Urisk; their kind was normally very reluctant to interact with those beyond their own species. But then things weren’t exactly normal these days.