The Black Knights

by Matilda Reyes

  Jordan offered me a chair and leaned against the wall. Heather sat across from me and peeked out through a little gap at the near edge of the window curtain, allowing a thin sliver of crimson light to brighten the otherwise dim surroundings.

  “I’m shocked you recognized us.”

  “Your pictures were sent ahead of time. Anyone associated with the Order received an email early yesterday morning. Are you the most powerful woman in the Order?”

  “I think so,” I said. “We don’t rank like that.”

  “She is,” corrected Jordan, his voice full of pride that mine had lacked. “She’s one of the most powerful people in the world.”

  Heather’s eyes widened, looking me over as she gauged that information. She tucked a lock of honey-gold hair behind an ear. Although she was clad in the sheerest and tiniest lingerie I’d ever seen, Heather sat with an utter lack of self-consciousness that I could only hope to obtain. Jordan, to his credit, kept his gaze locked with hers as she leaned in to confide in earnest.

  “Wow,” she breathed in her adorable Dutch accent.

  “Why did you call us in here?” asked Jordan, trying to steer the conversation in a useful direction. “It wasn’t just because you recognized us.”

  “No, Roel is my friend. He is a good man. He used to visit me when he came to Rosseburt for entertainment. I do not believe that he fell into a bad crowd. He was too pure for that.” Heather took a deep breath. “He showed off his abilities to a group of friends in a nearby coffeehouse while inebriated. He said that he felt like someone was following him.”

  “Did he say anything else?”

  She lifted a hand to wipe away a stray tear. “He warned me to be careful and to not show my abilities to my clients. I never do, but I appreciated the advice. He said that he was going to Casa Rosso for a show and promised to stop by soon. I have not seen him since. I worry.”

  I reached out and patted Heather’s hand. She had shrunk into herself as she’d spoken of the missing Vesper. “Have you seen anything suspicious since then?”

  “I don’t think so. There are always men and women who lurk and stare at me, but that is part of the job. No one has threatened to harm me or has mentioned abilities of any kind. Do you think he’s still alive?”

  Jordan and I exchanged worried looks. The cult kept its prisoners alive for months while they collected the sacrifices and prepared their rituals. There was a good chance Roel was fine, relatively speaking, but there was no way for us to know.

  “Yes,” said Jordan. “We will find him. I give you my word.”

  Heather nodded. “It is time for you to go. The college boys will holler if I don’t adhere to my thirty-minute limits. Try to look as if you had a good time. Frowns are bad for business.”

  She stood and fussed with my clothing, loosening my scarf and opening my jacket. She rumpled my hair and pinched my cheeks to give me some color. Last, she smeared the corner of my mouth, making my lipstick look like something had happened.

  “Yes, better.”

  Heather turned to Jordan, but he’d already rumpled himself. His eyes widened as he took in my bedhead and sex-satisfied appearance, his cheeks turning red. Satisfied with both of us, she pulled me into a hug. “Thank you.”

  I patted her back. “We haven’t done anything yet.”

  “You will. I trust you will get our friends back. Now, go. I have to earn money tonight.”

  Heather shooed us out of the room. Her demeanor had shifted from the wide-eyed, scared young woman to that of a languid vixen who’d just had fun with us. My cheeks burned as Jordan took my hand in his and led me away.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Our meeting with Lucas, the frite vendor, wasn’t as productive. He saw threats in every unfamiliar face and was convinced that the cult was coming for him next. Lucas thought that the cult wanted to eliminate us all, that the stories of sacrifices and armies of people with powerful abilities were just bunk. As for Roel and the others, they were just the beginning.

  Jordan and I trudged back to the safe house in the wee hours of the morning. We’d stopped for coffee twice, grateful that the shops had still been open, but the caffeine had long since burned through our systems. The lamp posts provided precious little light on our walk home, most of them dimmed so as not to disturb the sleeping neighborhoods. I tripped over the cobblestones twice, saved from a faceplant only by Jordan’s quick hands.

  Our other teams had faired decently. All the kidnapped had either inadvertently or purposely revealed their abilities in public, making them targets.

  Mikael took furious notes. “Three adults and two teenagers revealed their abilities all around the same time. That cannot be coincidence.”

  “Is the cult monitoring everyone who associates with this house,” mused Esai, “or are they keeping track of strange occurrences using the same methods as Danny’s team?”

  “We know that two of Danny’s staff defected to the cult during the initial rebellion and attack. And we know that there’s a High Council member who’s either a leader of the remaining group or is a prisoner,” said Jordan. “Chances are that they are replicating our methods.”

  “Great,” I grumbled. “We’re still on the defensive. Unless they make a move, we can’t find them, track them, or kill anyone.”

  “So, let’s make them move,” said Hernandez. “Set a trap. Do something public, so they can’t ignore it and take them out from there.”

  “Smart. I’ll do it,” said Kosuke, holding a hand up to stave off any arguments. “I can use my ability to manipulate water to mess with the canals. It will be public enough to force their hand and make them act. We’ll allow me to be captured and the rest of you will follow, proceeding as normal. Surprise them, kick ass, and go home.”

  I nodded. It was a good plan in a short time frame. “Tomorrow night. We’ll choose a canal in the middle of the areas of the kidnappings because we know they’re familiar with those locations. Kosuke will do his thing, and we’ll follow from different angles. We’ll move in quickly.”

  With our plans set, we separated and went to our respective bedrooms. I threw on a pair of lounge pants and a t-shirt that I’d packed after tossing out the stuff I’d planned to borrow from Nicholas and stretched out on my bed. I had work to do, but if I didn’t get over this jetlag, I’d be useless. My eyes couldn’t stay open, my lids were heavy—my consciousness was fading rapidly. I drifted off into sleep almost immediately.

  CHAPTER NINE

  AKNOCK ON THE DOOR ripped me out of sleep. My heart pounded, and I flailed around for a weapon. I found nothing other than my cell phone and sat up, scowling.

  “What?” I growled.

  “We are cooking breakfast for everyone,” said Bastian from the other side of the door. “I want to make sure your food doesn’t go cold.”

  I climbed out of bed and rubbed my face. Walking over to the door, I smothered a yawn. Those who have never had long hair didn’t have a clue how it could end up looking after a night of tossing and turning. The guys didn’t need to see my version of a hot mess. I did the best I could with it as quickly as possible. My bare feet padded across the room and I fumbled with the doorknob to open it for him. He was looking sharp and dressed for the day, the late night not bothering him or anyone else. The guys sat around the coffee table playing a board game. Jones asked Hernandez about sightseeing before starting work this evening. And there I was in my pajamas, my hair a mess, half-asleep. One day… one day… I’d be the sharp and alert one while everyone else lazed about.

  Ha. Unlikely.

  “Thanks. Give me fifteen minutes.”

  Bastian nodded. “Your private washroom is right here,” he said, pointing to a door next to mine. “Take your time. I will keep your food warm.”

  It took all my willpower not to slam the door in his face. I wasn’t used to having to deal with people so soon after waking. Tolerating Jordan was tough on the best of days, and I was used to him. I was jetlagged and cranky as hell, which did
not bode well for anyone.

  “Cute pajamas, boss,” called Jones.

  I glanced down and realized that I’d brought my Hello Kitty flannels instead of the plain pants I’d intended. The embarrassment kept on coming. I grabbed my bag of toiletries, dashed into the washroom, and took a quick shower to wake up. The pressure was low, and the temperature was near freezing, so I made it out in record time. Back in my room, I put on another pair of comfortable jeans, walking boots, and a buttoned plaid shirt before brushing my hair out and leaving it down around my shoulders. I swept on a bare minimum coating of makeup, just enough to not look like death, and made my way toward the food.

  Jordan handed me a cup of coffee without saying a word. He and Mikael knew that I wouldn’t feel human without caffeine and a workout. Since exercise seemed unlikely, the java would have to do. I sat down next to him and closed my eyes, sipping the hot drink.

  “How’d you sleep?” asked Hernandez.

  I held up a hand and took a longer draught of the nectar of the gods. “I’ll be fine once this kicks in. What are you all doing today?”

  “Sightseeing,” responded Jones. “You’re welcome to join us if you like, although we’re starting in De Wallen and making our way outward.”

  Esai studied them for a long moment. “I think I’ll join you guys. It’s been a long time since I’ve visited the country and didn’t have time to play tourist the last time I was here.”

  His statement decided matters for me. “I have to go over the work Mikael left out for me. Once I’m done, I might go out on my own.”

  “Shame, it will be fun,” said Kosuke as he stood and gathered his belongings. “We’re heading out now and will be back with plenty of time to rest up before nightfall.”

  I nodded and watched Jones, Hernandez, and Esai follow him through the door. They clomped down the stairs and were laughing by the time they hit the street. I glanced at Jordan and Mikael. “You don’t have to stay behind because of me.”

  “We’re with you,” said Mikael. “If the cult is watching and has sufficient information on the Order, they will recognize you. None of us should go out alone.”

  “I’m more dangerous than all of you combined. Don’t hover.”

  “Serve at your side and protect you,” said Jordan. “I can’t do that from a distance.”

  “Yeah,” piped up Mikael. “I am your right hand and your brother. We are inseparable on most days, Milaya.”

  I smiled. He was right. I spent most of my days, whether I was working, with Mikael. My mornings were spent sweating with Jordan in the gym, and now we worked together. Why wouldn’t I want to spend time with them in this marvelous city? “Bastian is cooking for me, but afterward, let’s go out.”

  Mikael grinned and pumped a fist. “First, you must read over these reports from the scouting teams. Jordan has already scanned them. Also, you have messages to return. Nicholas called three times already. I told him that you would call when you woke, but he insisted that I wake you instead. He was furious when I refused, so I hung up on him. Please call to ensure that it wasn’t an emergency.”

  I prayed that there was an emergency. Otherwise, Nick’s behavior was bizarre at best or controlling and unreasonable at worst.

  Stop making excuses, She murmured in the back of my mind. The nosy one is too much trouble when you need to focus.

  I swatted a hand in front of my face to shush her. I knew he was a problem. Sighing, I closed my eyes. “I’ll handle him. Anyone else?”

  I shouldn’t have asked. Mikael handed me five other message sheets from members of the Circle and Voss. Resigned, I gathered the intelligence reports on my lap and glanced at them as I made the first calls. Both Dakarai and Danny were unavailable, and Cecilia didn’t pick up her phone.

  “Voss,” I as my next call connected. “What’s up?”

  “We were too late in Vancouver. It looks like the cult suspected we’d show up. They picked up and moved their operations. They even left a note mocking us.”

  “Shit.” I glanced at Jordan. He wasn’t trying very hard to not listen in on my conversation, and I knew he’d heard the bad news. I also knew that he’d be on the phone with his contacts there momentarily and would shred anyone who might have tipped off the cult to our presence. “I want a detailed report of everyone who knew about this mission and what they were doing right until the moment we found the note. Something doesn’t sit right with me.”

  “Got it. I’m having our scouts try to figure out where they went by tracing vehicle descriptions and such. I’m not hopeful. They were too good, too careful.”

  “No one was kidnapped from the area, right?”

  “Just menaced,” he affirmed. “Maybe we’ve driven them out of the area and solved that problem, but I doubt we’re that lucky. I’ll keep you updated.”

  Ending the call, I returned my attention to reports in front of me. Bastian and the other two men who lived here put together profiles on each Vesper they knew of in the region, both there and in London. More detailed ones were made for those who took part in activities and rituals. Roel, the two other adults, and the two teenagers all had thick files. They were well-liked and enthusiastically involved with the Order. The two adults were a couple, both with burgeoning abilities. One woman had advanced hearing, while the man could read almost any language, whether he’d studied it. He’d been helping catalog their small library. Yuri, a fifteen-year-old soccer player, had come to realize that he could predict small actions a few seconds into the future. He’d been using it to preserve his team’s winning streak. Saskia was seventeen, and she had some enhanced athletic ability. She was a gymnast and had been accused of using illicit substances to boost her performance. The Vespers knew the truth, but she had gone through embarrassing rounds of drug testing and interrogations. Besides Roel, they’d all accidentally come out within the last two months.

  My phone rang. It was Nicholas.

  “Are you okay?” he demanded as soon as I answered. “Why are you sleeping all day? What did you do last night?”

  “Hello to you, too,” I muttered. “Jet lag. Long night. My feet hurt from my boots. No big deal. Chill out.”

  “Have you even had coffee yet?”

  “Drinking now. Why?”

  He scoffed. “What were you doing in the middle of the night?”

  “Jordan and I went to the Red-Light District and spent time with a prostitute. She enjoyed it so much that she didn’t even charge us,” I snapped. “Cripes, Nick. I’m working here.”

  He must have lost it and tuned out after I said prostitute. He yelled for a long moment. I placed my phone face down next to me and signed off on a few reports before picking it back up. “Dude, relax. You have no right to interrogate me. And yes, I slept alone.”

  “Good,” he said, mollified. “I’m glad that worked. Bastian seems nice. I promised him half an hour of your time to pick your brain for keeping your accommodations to my standard.”

  “What?” I shrieked. “How dare you? You have no authority to make those kinds of promises. I’m not your gods damn subordinate, and I will decide who to mentor and when that happens, and only if I want. Do I make myself clear?”

  Nicholas continued as if I hadn’t just tried to verbally pierce his eardrum. “Your own people should handle these arrangements. It’s getting annoying.”

  “My people handled everything, and you have no right to interfere. Your only role in the mission was to ensure that we had all the documents we needed. That’s it.”

  “I went to your apartment and found my pajamas on your bed.”

  “Are we still having this conversation? I’m done talking to you about this. We’re all working here, and you need to respect that. Don’t waste my time and don’t call back.” I disconnected the call and closed my eyes, trying to take deep, cleansing breaths. Instead, a sob of pure chagrin and vexation welled up, and I hiccupped as tears ran down my face. I jumped up and ran into my room, slamming the door behind me. Anger and embarra
ssment coursed through me in equal measure, making me question myself and my behavior.

  My phone rang again. I ignored it, and someone silenced it for me. I let out a final shudder and wiped my face. Gradually, I remembered that I hadn’t been alone when I’d made that phone call. Jordan had seen me crying, and Mikael had silenced the call. I gave myself five minutes to let out the flood of emotions and blubbered into my pillow. Once I’d wrung myself dry, I dried my face. My makeup now decorated the pillow despite the claim of waterproof and long-lasting powers. I fixed the damage, straightened my clothes, and returned to the living room.

  “Sorry,” I croaked. “Pretend that never happened.”

  Jordan’s chest rumbled. “I disliked him before. Now, I loathe him.”

  “I overreacted. It’s stupid,” I said. Mikael handed me a tissue, and I wiped my nose. Exhaling, I sat up. “Crying happens.”

  “It’s more than just crying,” said Jordan gently. “You forget that I can feel you now. The hurt goes deep. I don’t understand it, and I don’t know what caused it, but I sense it as deeply as my own emotions.”

  “I will block his calls,” Mikael added. “He will have to go through me.”

  “And me.”

  “The last thing I need is the two of you involved in my relationship problems. It’s not that big of a deal. He…”

  “What? Wants to know what you’re sleeping in? Who you’re with? You don’t deserve this crap,” Jordan said, wiping away a stray tear on my cheek. His grasped tightened. “St. Nicholas. Everyone loves him because he’s so nice. Bullshit. Say the word, and I’ll end him.”

  “Empty threats again,” said Mikael.

  “Not this time.” He sighed. “Let’s check out a few museums while we have time. I also want to stop by Casa Rosso to question the staff. We’ll have fun. I promise.”

  Mikael’s head bobbed. “We have so little time to do anything fun. Please?”

  I gave them a watery smile. Jordan had a look of grim determination: We would have fun even if it killed him. Mikael was ready to burst with excitement. They wanted to see me happy. How could I resist?