The Awakening (35 page)

“I-I uh... I’m glad too,” I stammered.
Great, I can talk to any girl now, except the one who matters!
I moaned internally.

“You know I think you really are the kindest, sweetest person I’ve ever met,” she whispered, letting her gaze lock with mine. Her pupils seemed to expand. She slid closer to me on the couch.

My heart stalled as she closed the already tiny gap between us. A cage of butterflies opened in my stomach. Is this actually going to happen?
Oh my god.

“I do too. Uh - I mean I think you are,” I replied awkwardly.
Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god.

She giggled, her face lighting up. We were so close; I could see the reflection of the fire flickering in her eyes.

Then it felt like there was the smallest amount of pressure on the back of my neck from her hand - a tiny nudge forward. I was a mess inside.
KISS HER!!
one part of my mind screamed, but the other part yelled right back.
No, she doesn’t want you. You’re going to make an idiot of yourself!

For once, I ignored my degrading internal voice and decided to go for it. I inched my head towards hers, which she raised a little, so they were level. My lips moved closer to hers - those luscious red lips that I’d spent nights thinking about. We were so close I could smell her sweet breath on my skin. She parted her mouth slightly. My heart was thumping so loud I was sure everyone in the Warren could hear it. Our lips were millimetres apart.

The doorbell rang.

Gabriella span away from me. Her raven hair swished over my face. “One second,” she called and stood up.

No!
I screamed in my head.
No, no no!

But the moment was gone.

I snatched the glass from the table, draining it in one gulp. The rest of Orion poured into the lounge. They were all wearing uniforms like mine. Delagio was minus his hat - his thick black hair had been neatly combed. A few stands dangled over his eyes in that way only cool people can manage.

Instantly I felt a little better. I couldn’t help but smile. “I’m looking forward to it too.” She unravelled herself and sat cross-legged on the carpet.

Rachel settled herself onto the edge of the couch. She gave a little nod towards the champagne bottle. “Only two glasses? Looks like we weren’t on the guest list.”

Gabriella cleared her throat. “Rachel.”

“Sorry. Anyway listen, I thought I’d wait until we were all together to tell you what I found out.”

Gabriella plucked her glass from the table. “So what
did
you find out?” she said, taking a sip.

Midnight slapped the wall, which made the whole apartment shudder. “I don’t like being kept in the dark!” he growled. “I say we go to Faru and demand to know what the hell is going on.”

“Calm down Midnight. No one is doing anything of the sort,” berated Gabriella. “You know that everything Faru does is for the good of the Alliance. If he doesn’t want us to know yet, then there’s a very good reason for it. If he wants to tell us - and I mean
if
- he’ll do it when he’s ready, with no pressure from us. Have I made myself clear?”

Everyone mumbled an agreement like scolded children - which technically one of them was.

“Glad you agree. Right, well tonight is supposed to be a celebration so...” she disappeared into the kitchen and re-appeared armed with the second bottle of Heidsieck and four more glasses, “...let’s celebrate.”

*

I followed the team downstairs carrying a warm, light-headed feeling courtesy of two and a half glasses of champagne.

The change was immediately noticeable. Whereas earlier, the base had been swarming with people, now it was pretty much deserted. Only Agent Green and another female agent I’d never seen before stood either side of the Feasting Hall doors. They nodded at us and swung them open.

I drew in a sharp breath. It was worthy of a King’s Court. Walls decorated with numerous elegant shields and swords arched up into a domed ceiling, where dozens of crystal chandeliers dangled. On a raised stage at the far end, a group of musicians played a soft piece of classical music. Running almost the full length of the hall was the largest table I’d ever seen. There were easily over a hundred places. All of them - save the six closest to the entrance - were occupied. Some of the guests looked human, others far from it. Using the tell-tale signs from the guide, I identified Vampires, Succubi, Incubi, Skinshifters, Oni and all manner of Fae. Many wore uniforms just like mine. Others were dressed in ceremonial armour and capes. I spied Tyler and Dakin seated halfway down the table, but couldn’t see Scarlett anywhere. Even more people stood around the edges of the room, including agents in their pressed black suits and doctors in their crinkled white coats. I even saw Iralia in the mix.

As we entered, everyone stood up and began to clap. I could feel my face glowing with embarrassment. I stood on the spot, not knowing what to do - no doubt sporting the mortified expression of an emo at a surprise birthday party.

“Stay here,” whispered Gabriella, giving my side a reassuring squeeze as she and the rest of Orion took their positions at the table, clapping as did.

The applause ebbed away, but everyone remained standing. I watched Faru dodder his way over to me, using his cane to prod his way forward. When he reached me, he settled his cane against the table and crossed his arms over his chest and extended his arms towards me. I copied the salute.

“Alexander Eden, you have more than proven your worthiness to become a Guardian of the HASEA. You have behaved with courage, bravery and selflessness, even though what you have already faced would be too much for many. I can only ask now that you take your final step and pledge allegiance to the HASEA. Will you do so?”

I looked around at the sea of faces watching me. At Gabriella.

“I will.”

Faru nodded and gestured behind him. Two agents hurried over to where we stood. One carried a silver dish full of what could only be blood. The other balanced an emblem and dagger on top of a plush cushion.

“Please kneel,” commanded Faru.

Once again his voice took on the acoustics it had in the Temple. It boomed around the room, coming from everywhere and nowhere all at once. I lowered myself onto one knee.

“Extend your left arm.”

Faru took the dagger, which had a hilt resembling a Dragon’s mouth swallowing the blade. He dipped the tip into the liquid.

“I mark you now with the fortified blood of Leviathan, the last Dragon to walk the Earth and slain by Saint George. Whilst you wear this, no matter where you are in the world, you will always walk with the full support of the HASEA.”

He brought the blade down on my wrist and I had to bite my tongue as the coated steel seared my skin. Black steam curled up from the wound as he drew a cross on my wrist, followed by two semi circles either side. As soon as he had finished, the wound flashed red and then disappeared completely.

“It shall only appear when you need it,” he answered before I could ask. He placed the dagger back on the pillow and picked up the emblem. It reminded me of a police badge. Just like with the blade, he dipped the back part into the dragon’s blood. He grabbed his cane and used it to stable himself as he stooped down to my level.

“Whilst today you gain a new family, any that you have will be looked after as though they were one of us. You will never want for anything again, but in return, whenever you are needed you will stand and fight with your brothers and sisters to your final breath. Do you agree?”

I had to swallow before I could answer. “I do.”

Faru pressed the emblem into the space on my uniform. It sizzled and more black steam curled around the edges as it sealed itself into place.

PART III

EYE OF THE

ABYSS

21

E
very single person in the room saluted me. I returned the gesture, widening my arms at the end to incorporate the entire room. I caught Gabriella’s eye and she gave a quick smile.

The two agents returned to the side of the room. Faru gave a nod and then another agent disappeared through a door in the middle of the room. He returned a few seconds later, carrying a long, blood red box with a silver trim. There were low murmurs as people noticed what was in his arms. Gabriella’s expression became one of shocked confusion. Dakin had a scowl so deep etched on his face that it looked like a permanent carving.

Faru raised his hands and the voices fell into a charged silence. The Sage took the box from the agent, who then slipped quietly back to his original position.

What on Earth is inside that can have this much effect on so many people?
I wondered as Faru turned to face me.

“It is customary,” Faru began, “for the Sage of any base to offer a new Guardian a customary gift at this point.” The murmurs began again, like a rising wave.

He flipped open the lid at the same time that the room erupted into a storm of noise. Some Guardians gasped, shouted and even cheered. Others stood up to try and get a better look at the contents of the box. The whole of Orion had a universal expression of utter shock on their faces. Faru turned a head towards the room and everyone fell silent once more.

I drew in a sharp breath as I stared at the savage beauty contained within the box.

The Crimson Twins were a pair of identical samurai swords. A meticulously carved black dragon crouched on the base of each one. Both dragons had two tails - made from a rich material - which snaked their way around the entire length of the hilt. Each guard was a circular wall of black flame that seemed to shimmer in the dim light. The blades themselves were the colour of fresh blood. A complicated pattern of etchings had been made along the length of each one. They were utterly stunning.

Faru seemed to know what I wanted to do. He gave a single nod of his head.

I realised my palms were soaking with sweat. I had wipe them dry on my trouser legs before I stepped forward and gingerly picked one of the swords out of the box. It felt perfect. Not too light that it felt flimsy and not too heavy that I would struggle to wield it properly. The material of the hilt felt smooth against my palms, but simultaneously had enough grip so that I felt confident it wouldn’t fall out of my hands. The blade edge looked capable of cutting you in two if you stared for too long.

“The Crimson Twins were forged from the fangs of Ryujin, the long dead Dragon God of Pandemonia. It is believed that they alone have the power to destroy any living creature on both sides of the Veil. Trust them with your life, for one day they may save it.”

He gestured the box towards me. I lay the sword gently back in the box. Faru flipped the lid closed and the agent ran forward to collect it.

“I shall have them delivered to your quarters immediately.”

“I-I don’t know what to say,” I stammered.

Faru gave a warm smile. “I believe the normal reply is thank you.” The weak joke had the effect of dissolving the tense atmosphere in the room. Several Guardians laughed and I could feel myself starting to relax again.

“Thank you Faru.”

The Seelian nodded and gestured a frail hand towards the seat. I stood behind the chair, now looking just like everyone else, except for the fact that I was at the head of the table. Faru made his way back over to the other end of the Hall. At the same time, the people who had been stood at the sides started to file out of the doors behind me. Iralia caught my eye and gave me a subtle wink as she passed.

When they had all gone Faru took his place at the opposite head of the table and raised his arms.

“Now that business has concluded, I believe that it is time we began the feast. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I am famished!”

*

I devoured the last mouthful of my main course - a slice of succulent meat from an animal called a Jackalope. It had a peppery taste that left a tingling sensation on the tongue. I washed it down with a sparkling glass of blue liquid that tasted even better than the Quinberry juice had. Wiping my mouth, I settled back into my chair and sighed.

“I think I might actually burst if I eat anything else.”

Faru hadn’t been lying when he had said it would be a feast. Every time I finished one of the flamboyant meals in front of me, the plate was whisked away and something else set down in its place. Everyone got food which appeared to have been specifically created for their particular species. Vampires received some kind of circular reddish meat which looked like black pudding, and a regular supply of blood in crystal glasses. Luminar had bizarre looking dishes, including what I guessed was a mixed salad consisting of pink leaves that moved and numerous bright vegetables, including little orange orbs with knobbles. Skinshifters and Oni received hulking slabs of raw meat, which they tore into using their bare hands and teeth. Shortly after the first courses had been served, the chandeliers had been dimmed and the band had started playing again. The whole table had descended into a comfortable buzz of conversation.