I could feel tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. I waited for a moment, before speaking again. “Mikey, I got to go. But listen, I know we’ve had our differences in the past, but I think you and I have really grown closer over the last few weeks and well… I love you. I just wanted to let you know.” The tone of his voice changed. “Alex, is everything okay? What’s happening there?” “I’m fine” I croaked, my throat tightening. “I’ve got to go.” “Okay,” he said in a way that meant he wasn’t at all convinced. “I love you too bro.” “Bye Mikey.”
I ended the call and wiped the tears which had formed in my eyes away. I accessed my contacts list and dialled Mum’s mobile. I held my breath as I waited for it to connect. It cut straight to answer phone. I listened to Mum’s chirpy voice asking me to leave a message. I held my breath as I waited for the tone, not quite sure what I wanted to say.
Beep.
“Hi Mum, hi John, it’s Alex. Just wanted to say I hope you are both okay. John I hope you got over…well whatever it was you had. Anyway…I–I’ve missed you. Mikey and I both have. We can’t wait to see you both again…” My voice cracked and I had to swallow a few times before I could continue. “So anyway give my love to Edgar and Connie and have a safe trip home. See you when you get back.”
“I hope,” I added under my breath as I hung up.
Lastly, I felt around inside my jacket pocket for the guide. I took out the picture. My father looked back at me, the subtle smile eternally present. I placed it against my forehead and closed my eyes. Wherever you are Dad, please watch over us. Help us get through tonight. I kissed the picture and placing it back in the guide, returned both to my jacket pocket. I ran my hands over my face and took a few deep breathes to calm myself.
Then sucked it up and headed into the fray.
The Warren was buzzing with life. There were Guardians everywhere I looked. Vampires stood in groups, draining blood from thick bags. Their eyes flashed and turned bright silver. Skinshifters had reverted back to their hound forms. They padded about on their thick paws as agents ran around after them, stuffing their shed skin into sacks. One used its muzzle to nudge past me and I couldn’t help but shudder, reminded of Bargheist.
As I excused my way through the entrance hall, I bumped into Rachel coming from the other direction. Like me — and everyone else around — she was dressed in the full Alliance uniform. A staggering array of guns and knives hung from her Kapre belt. An odd looking metallic bow was attached to her back. “Morning Alex.” She nodded her head towards the main door. “Have you looked outside yet?” “I did earlier.” She shuddered. “I can’t even force myself to look at it.” I know. It looks so creepy. On the bright side, it’ll give the local weathermen something to talk about.” She smiled. “Was that a joke Mr Eden?” “I think it might have been.”
A hulking Oni carrying a twin bladed axe clomped past us. His towering frame blocked out the light from the chandelier for a few seconds. He gave us a large needle pointed grin and passed through the open doors of the Feasting Hall.
The siren blared above our heads for the second time. Slowly, the area started to clear of people, as they filtered into the adjoining room.
“We better head in,” Rachel said.
“What about Gabriella and everyone else?”
“They’re already in there. Except for Sophia. Midnight made Faru agree to remove her from duty until this is all over. She’s locked in her room, sulking.”
The news came as a small relief. If it had been my decision, she would have been right next to Mikey and Scarlett wherever they were. But out of the direct firing line was the next best thing.
Together, Rachel and I joined the back of the crowd.
The Feasting Hall had been emptied of the table and chairs. Every inch of space was now taken up by Alliance members, of all race and creed. The windows to the courtyard were open, so that the Bloodseekers could listen whilst standing outside with their feral brethren, who sat like tame dogs. Their scaled skin had been marked with white paint, to show their allegiance.
The atmosphere was tense and thick. Everyone was facing forwards, watching and waiting for someone to speak. Both Faru and Etorre were standing on the stage where the band had played a matter of days ago. In a long row behind them — as silent and lifeless as forgotten marionettes — were all thirteen Golems. There was a lectern in front of them. It had a microphone attached but I suspected its use was just as much to keep Faru on two feet as anything else. He looked so frail that he appeared in danger of collapsing at any moment. As I stared, something Gabriella had said about the Golems jogged loose in my mind. Each one contains some of his life-force. It dawned on me. Why he appeared so weak compared to the other Sages and why there were normally only a few Golems at one time.
The more there are, the weaker he gets. They must drain his soul.
Both Sages stood very still, staring into the mass of bodies. Rachel and I managed to squeeze our way towards the front, where we joined Midnight, Delagio, Tyler and Gabriella. I wrapped my hand around hers.
At last Faru spoke. His voice sounded cracked and frail. It fully required the microphone to allow it to reach the corners of the gigantic room.
“Guardians, we stand united today against our sworn enemies. Many of you already know this and why. However, for those who have joined us from Castello and other bases, please allow me to explain. It has come to my attention that the Soldiers of Sorrow are planning a full scale attack on the Warren this evening.”
A wave of whispers and murmurs swept around the room. Faru raised his hands and the room hushed.
“Their plan is to force myself to unseal the Veil.” He drew in a long breath, “which I did to prevent The Sorrow from entering Earth.”
There were cries of horror from around us. I tightened my grip on Gabriella’s hand as Faru continued. “Most of you will have either met, or no doubt heard of Alexander Eden. A new, unique Chosen, who we hope is the first of a new wave of Awakenings. It is Hades plan to have The Sorrow kill Alexander and anyone who stands in its way to set an example. We cannot and will not let that happen.”
In contrast to Sage Asmund’s speech, which had created hysteria amongst his crowd, Faru commanded a respectful silence. There were nods of fervent agreement. I felt a sense of overwhelming gratitude that these people, who barely knew me, were willing to put their lives on the line for my protection.
“You must place your upmost faith in those you fight alongside. Guardians I promise you, if we all work together, we will prevail.” Faru coughed loudly, spluttering into the microphone. Steadying himself, he resumed his speech.
“However, with that in mind, there is a matter which must be dealt with. Agent Noble, if you would.”
We all turned to see the agent near the back open the double doors. Waiting just outside were more agents, standing beside a wheeled cage. This one was far larger than the one that had held Bargheist. There was a murmur of confusion from the crowd. Faru turned to the Golems and nodded. In unison, they stamped their crosiers into life. One by one they descended the steps and marched into the crowd. There were cries of indignation as they barged past people. One moved roughly between me and Gabriella, forcing our hands apart. They found their intended targets and went to attack.
Chaos ensued.
One of the identified SOS — an incubus named Zasri — was quick on the uptake. He pivoted on the spot, cracking the face of XI with a vicious backhand. The golem reeled backwards, sending a number of people flying. The Rogue barged through the crowd and sprinted for the window. At the same time, VII launched itself through the air. It sailed over the heads of the crowd and came crashing down- knee first into the escapee’s back. The force drove Zasri’s head into the window ledge. Part of the stone crumbled as his jaw smashed against it. He sagged to the floor like a spilled sack of rice. The Golem placed the blazing end of the staff against the incubus’s neck, electrocuting him until his eyes rolled up into his head. From around the room came frenzy of confused yells. Yesenia, a skeletal Bloodseeker raised her bony hands in the air as the crosier was thrust into her neck. “LONG LIVE HADES!” she screeched before sinking to her knees. The third — a muscular pixie, named Sahel managed to get to a blade in time. He brought it down between the eyes of III. The golem collapsed into a pile of rubble. As the others closed in on him, a set of wings burst through the slits in his uniform. He vaulted into the air and tried to swoop over our heads and escape through the open doors.
I heard a whooshing sound and the pixie’s wings separated from his body. With a scream of agony, Sahel kamikazied out of the air and smashed into the front of the cage. I spun back to the stage, where Sage Etorre stood, one arm extended straight out in front of him. Inside his robe were a selection of curved blades. One was
