The Templar's Legacy (Ancient Enemy) Read online

  I told Colette, Something’s wrong! I can’t!

  Take it! It is the last service I may give to God! Take it, young man, and please do not judge me too harshly.

  Mémèr? I was talking to Mémèr! Hers was the power I’d been using. Hers was the soul shoring up my will.

  Now! Before it is too late!

  I did what I had to. I used the last of Mémèr’s power to complete the cage and then I used the ragged remains of her soul to bind it to the Caduceus.

  Then, there was nothing but silence. No, there was silence but it was embedded in ubiquitous pain, emptiness, and the distant hatred of Wendigota within its cage echoed through me. I don’t ever remember being so tired.

  It’s good work Finn. It will hold.

  Thank you Spring. Thank you Jen... Thank you Mémèr.

  Jen’s presence dropped away as I looked at what I’d wrought. I double-checked that Spring was right, and then I turned outward to find my friends.

  Mark was standing over me, his sword once again in his hand. He was shaking. With exhaustion or rage, I couldn’t tell. I didn’t care. The blackness of oblivion imploded around me.

  Denouement

  When I woke up again, I was cocooned in warm blankets and a wall of sound. My mind felt hollow and sore and my body empty. I couldn’t seem to bring any thoughts to bear. I just felt a vague sense of loss and regret. I knew what had happened to me, but it seemed very far away.

  When I looked around, I seemed to be in a darkened cabin of what had to be a private jet. I was on some sort of bed that occupied one side of the cabin. I managed to turn my head and saw Jen, peacefully sleeping on a fully reclined chair. Across from me, in another stretcher, Dave lay prone with thick bandages across his chest and a neck support to keep him from turning his head. A quick check, and I found the shadow’s cage still within me, pulsing with the song of the Caduceus and Wendigota’s hatred. I reached up my hand to touch the source of that song, but it wasn’t in its accustomed place. I knew it wasn’t lost because I could still feel it. I patted around till I found it tucked under my armpit close to the wall.

  Spring?

  It’s about time you woke up. I’m getting tired of being the sole occupant of this shell.

  Sorry.

  I’m used to you and your slacker ways by now.

  I saw something within her. You knew. I felt betrayed.

  ...Yes, I knew she wasn’t Colette, but you wouldn’t have trusted Mémèr, and we would have died.

  I didn’t have the energy to pursue it. I returned my attention to Jen and tried to call her. I failed. I could only make a whispered croaking sound, not enough to be heard over the noise of the jet’s passage through the air. But, Jen woke up.

  “Finn!” She scrambled out of the blanket she been wrapped in, jumped up to my bed, and put her warm hand on my face. There were gray circles under her eyes, her hair had frizzed out and she had a bruise on one cheek, but she was alive. I thanked God for that.

  “Finn, how are you feeling?”

  I worked my lips around to making words. “M’hungry.”

  She smiled gently and said, “I’m so glad.” She pointed to a bag labeled “sucrose” that was hanging by my bed with a tube that ran down to my arm. “I guess an all-sugar diet wasn’t enough to hold you over.”

  “Are you...? Is she...?” Everything faded out.

  The next thing I knew, I’d been raised to a semi-upright position and Jen was encouraging me to eat some sort of pudding. It was awesome.

  Another transition and it was day outside the cabin and Jen was there to feed me something that tasted like a warm milkshake. It was heavenly.

  “What happened?”

  “You did it.”

  “Colette?”

  Jen’s face grew a little guarded. “I’m pretty sure she’s alive.” That was a weight off my chest.

  “Are you okay?”

  She smiled, “I didn’t have it near as bad as you or Dave. After helping you, I kept my protection up too long, passed out on the parapet, and whacked my head, but nothing serious.”

  “I’m so glad. I couldn’t take it if you were hurt again.”

  Her shining eyes returned my sentiment.

  I struggled to think. “Where are we?”

  “We’re almost home. This was one of Matt Smith’s jets. Mark’s up front playing pilot. After you fixed him, he managed to call off his men and get us all out of there. The police did show up, but hit with a few strong suggestions, they went home to bed.”

  “How many people died?”

  “I think that the Delacroix lost several people, and Mark lost a bunch of Smith’s goons, but I’m not sure of the numbers. Mark told me that he hadn’t used a fatal gas. He’d wanted to take as many of the Delacroix alive as possible—future food for the shadow.”

  I didn’t have the energy to react to that. I supposed I should have been happy that it hadn’t been a complete slaughter. Still, I wonder which of my...Colette’s aunts, uncles, and cousins were dead. I knew Mémèr was one of them. I’d killed her after all. It hurt to remember Colette’s love for grandmother and it hurt worse to know how much pain I’d caused Colette. Reflexively, I looked for Spring.

  Welcome back, my sun.

  Thanks. Are you okay?

  I think so. I think Granny did us some permanent damage, but I’m not certain.

  That was seriously disconcerting. Well, at least we’re alive.

  And baby-sitting Satan’s spawn again.

  Yippee skippee.

  “Dave?” I asked looking over at his bandaged form.

  “He’s going to live,” said Jen. “He injured his neck and Mark’s sword did a lot of damage. The docs said his neck should be fine, and we hope he can heal the damage from his sword wound. He knocked himself out cold, so we had to drag him out of there as well. He’s woken since and been pretty lucid, so it looks like his brain is no more damaged than it was to begin with.”

  I had to smile at that.

  “Can I have some more of that shake? Maybe a fried bologna sandwich?”

  That got the smile I was hoping for and got me the drink as well. Alas, they had no bologna.

  When I couldn’t stuff in any more food or drink, Jen rummaged around and then handed me my phone. Her face was guarded and her movements stiff.

  I took the phone and turned it on. There were several voice mails and some text messages waiting. One was from Colette.

  Colette> Couldn’t you have spared her?

  I looked at that message and tried to process it. My emotions were far too tangled up for me to unknot them right then. I texted her back, sharing the screen with Jen.

  Finn> It wasn’t me. In the end, she gave her life to help me recapture Wendigota.

  Finn> She told me to tell you something.

  The words were somehow burned within my mind.

  Finn> Never forget that God’s purpose must always be served, whether we recognize or not. We cannot always know, we can but pray to be the instruments of His will.

  I dropped my hand with the phone in my lap, and turned my eyes to Jen.

  She asked, “Is that true?”

  I nodded. “But, not everything. Mémèr attacked me, and I used Wendigota to defend myself. It took her down, and when I ripped it off her, I ripped her soul out with it. She still helped me defeat it, and the last bit of her binds it in place.”

  Jen stroked her fingers lightly across my forehead. I found myself wishing she would stroke my eyebrows. I barely managed not to ask her to do it. I don’t know why, but somehow, that wasn’t mine.

  Jen asked, “I know you didn’t want to kill her. Are you going to be okay?”

  I gave it some thought before I nodded slowly. “Yes, I think so. She died in grace.” I was still pretty wrung out, so I knew this wouldn’t be the last visit my conscience made to Mémèr’s death. When my brain had a chance to process all this, I knew it could get ugly. I suddenly felt very alone.

  I met Jen’s eyes. “A
re you going to leave me?”

  “Just try and get rid of me, monkey boy.”

  I relaxed and pulled her words over me like a security blanket. “Never.”

  My phone buzzed with news of a reply.

  Colette> Thank you.

  I thought of one more thing.

  Finn> Colette, you need to seal off the door to the nest. Fill the stairway with concrete. Don’t go in, don’t let anyone else go in. Please trust me on this. If you have to go in, do it alone.

  “You think it would hit her hard?” asked Jen.

  “I think it might shatter her. Her faith is the rock which anchors her world.”

  “Yikes.”

  I thought a little more. “Maybe I’m not giving her enough credit. Maybe she already knows. Granny knew and it hadn’t shaken her faith... I guess have a lot to learn about faith.”

  “How about you, Finn? How’s your faith in God?”

  “I don’t really know. It would be nice to absolutely know that everything happened for a reason, that we aren’t just out here dangling in the wind. Colette’s faith got her through some tough spots in her life… But, I suppose it doesn’t matter in the end. Even Colette and Granny couldn’t understand God’s will. Maybe we just need to do the best we can, be the best we can, and let God sort us out in the end.”

  “Wow, Finn. That’s deep. What book did you read that in?” Jen’s eyes crinkled in the corners.

  “What? You don’t think I can think deep thoughts?”

  “Finn, the deepest you think is about six inches.”

  “Ouch! If I weren’t tied down, I’d spank you! You should respect your elders!”

  She rolled her eyes. “Finn, I hate to break this to you, but I’ve always been older than you!”

  She’s right, you know.

  “Hey no fair ganging up on me!”

  “Ha! Spring agrees with me, doesn’t she?”

  “Yeah, well she’s just a tree. What do trees know?”

  Dave finally woke up again and was given the pudding treatment as well. Despite my entreaties, the medic on the plane kept both of us strapped down the entire flight. Happily, they’d elected to use diapers on us rather than catheters, but it still sucked.

  Mark came back and checked on us. Our greetings were superficial, guarded, and generic. To my surprise, he gave me back the fake Caduceus.

  “Here, Finn, you need this more than I do.”

  Don’t even think about telling him it’s a fake. Jen’s been doing back-flips to keep that secret, and old Uncle Mark has some ‘splainin to do.

  “Thanks, Uncle Mark.”

  “It didn’t do nearly as much for me as it does for you. We’re all pretty fortunate in that regard.”

  “I’m glad we got you back.” I said, though I wasn’t sure just how glad I really was. I needed to discover just what part he’d played in our kidnapping and the death of so many in my, I mean Colette’s, family.

  “Me too, kiddo, me too.” He tousled my hair, and I couldn’t duck it. I hate that.

  “For your information, I left eight of the pendants behind for the Delacroix and I’ve sent assurances to them that they won’t be hunted any more. I also told them that, as soon as we can catch Smith’s people who still have pendants, we will send those back to them as well.” He searched my face for something. I have no idea if he found it, but he finally said, “Well, I’ve got a plane to fly, but we have a lot to talk about.”

  I agreed wholeheartedly.

  “And, we need to step up your training. That was a pathetic show you put on back there. I took you down in less than three seconds.”

  I nodded ruefully, still feeling the residual ache in my shattered but healing leg. I’d been barely able to follow his moves, let alone anticipate them or block them.

  He turned to go, then added over his shoulder, “Oh, and bring Dave and Jen along. Turns out being around you is hazardous to one’s health.” He smirked and left.

  Holy shit, was it ever.

  I was allowed to walk on my own when we disembarked, but Dave was kept strapped down—against his vociferous objection.

  It felt incredible to be back. My heart surged when we got through security and my family was waiting for me. Dave was met enthusiastically by his tribe. His sisters were all crying.

  Jen’s parents were there as well, but thankfully, she pulled them off, and I didn’t have to face them.

  All semblance of regret or disappointment vanished as I was surrounded by my family. Everyone but Uncle Mark was crying by the time we’d finished. There was a lot of explaining and apologizing to be done, but I really couldn’t worry about it. We were all alive. The shadow was back where it belonged, and no one was trying to kill me or my friends.

  I hoped.

  It was all over. Now I just had to figure out how to keep Detective Hunter from throwing me in jail, keep Dr. Washington from breaking me like a dry twig, and keep the Delacroix, the Portatori, and the McCormicks from hunting me down like a rabid dog. Thanks to Colette, I knew just who they’d send if it came down to it.

  Then there was the second caduceus. We had to go back for it. I couldn't turn my back on that much power.

  Oh, and let’s not forget the parents, pixies, poison ivy, sleeping monsters, and whatever else was lurking in wait for me.

  Except for that, it was all over.

  <<<>>>

  A Note from the Author

  Thank-you for reading The Templar's Legacy. I hope you enjoyed it. But, whether you liked it or hated it, please help me improve my writing and take the time to review this book on http://www.Amazon.com, or http://www.Goodreads.com.

  If you did like it and would like to read about the further adventures of Finn and his friends, the only way I can continue writing is if people like you spread the word, so please go and tell everyone you know about this book.

  Excerpt – Power Games

  Ancient Enemy #4

  A Troublesome Request

  “What?” I exclaimed. Adrenaline pumped through my system.

  “We need to bring Il Saia back,” repeated Uncle Mark.

  “But..but she wouldn't help me when she was inhabiting Jen.”

  “Finn, no offense, but you really didn't try very hard, and I have some training in encouraging people to talk.”

  “And, you still won't tell me what that was,” I protested.

  “Of course not, if I told you...”

  He grinned.

  “Then you'd have to kill me.” I finished with him and returned his grin as a scowl.

  “It's just not fair. You know everything about me, and even though I've known you all my life, I don't know anything about you.”

  “It's unfair, but it is what it is. You know far more about me than anyone else in the world except for a very select few. Be content with that.”

  I thought knowing a spy would be much more exciting than this, said Spring with a wistfulness born of her new, growing desire for excitement.

  I suspect it's more exciting for the spy than their clueless friends and family. Now let me talk.

  “Uncle Mark, how are you going to even bring her back? If you do, you're going to have to erase someone else. You might find a shortage of volunteers.”

  “Who said anything about volunteers?” He replied with a disconcerting smirk.

  “What? You can't do that to somebody, it would be like murdering them!”

  Of course, if you believe crazy doctor Smith, ol' Unca Mark used to do that for a living.

  Not helpful Spring, shush.

  “Unless there's no-one using that particular body,” he said.

  I stopped and tried to think through what he had just said. He gave me the few seconds I needed.

  “So, you're looking for someone who's brain dead?”

  “Got it in one, kiddo.”

  “Wouldn't you just get a brain damaged Il Saia?”

  “We won't know until we try. Remember, Il Saia told us... you... she had effectively overwritten J
en's mind with the pattern of her own—”

  “So you think it might fix whatever is wrong with our brain-dead person?”

  He shrugged. “It might.”

  “I doubt it, our brains create our minds. If it didn't, damage to the brain wouldn't cause so many problems with people's minds.” I said.

  “I know you can't completely believe that. The evidence to the contrary is too compelling. Spring somehow seems to share your mind without a brain of her own. Do you think Il Saia's magic rewrote every neuron in Jen's head?”

  I frowned. I'd thought about this at length and didn't have any good explanations as to just what had happened to Jen. Could hoodoo really rewrite every neuron? What about structural difference between brains? How would it account for that? Even given unimaginable processing power, I couldn't conceive of creating a program sophisticated enough to do that mapping. It couldn't be NP-Complete. How could you effectively solve an unsolvable problem with a crystal?

  It's called magic for a reason Finn.

  Spring, I can't accept that the universe runs that way!

  Sounds like denial to me, and I'm not talking about the river. Anyway, it happened, and given that, what Mark is suggesting sounds plausible.

  I tried to think through the ramifications of doing this.

  “So, what if she won't cooperate?” I asked. “What are you going to do then?” Visions of water-boards and bamboo slivers under the fingernails danced in my head.

  “Finn, there are a lot of better ways to get information out of someone other than torture.”

  “Like a truth serum or something?”

  “Or something.”

  His words chilled me. This whole idea approached perilously close to mad scientist territory,

  Or mad wizard territory as the case may be, added Spring.

  “I don't know, it seems shaky to me. She thought that our knowing more would expose us to danger. What if it's like a purple elephant?”

  “As in, once you're told not to think of a purple elephant, that is all you can think about?” he guessed. There were some advantages to people knowing you really well.