FOREVER KNIGHTS: #4 Battling Black Roses

Meadowbrook, Grier Country

DERAGAN

Tucking his head around the corner, Deragan straightened into human form. Limbs twisting and elongating. Bones crunched violently, and pain exploding as his insides expanded to meet the needs of man over beast.

At both ends of the hall bell-ringers announced it was break time. Jingling their instruments furiously.

Once done shifting, Deragan fit in with the students. Tossing his neck, he popped it loudly. Calmly straightening the cuffs of his shirt, he adjusted the flap of his black overcoat. He rounded to head downstairs but a vehement female voice in the corridor drew him back. A girl coming from a Study Room.

“Let me use small words for you.” She enunciated each syllable viciously. “Leave my friend alone.”

“What are you going to do Miss Carter...Thrash me?” The gentleman snickered.

Deragan grimaced. If that was Nora’s friend, Lady Meralee Carter, perhaps Worthington shouldn’t be laughing.

“I’ve two brothers, Worthington. I’d bet you that pretty white carriage of yours, I could whip you before enough of your friends showed up to save your pretty face.”

“You don’t scare me.” He grated out.

Before Deragan could blink her finger was in Worthington’s face. Her expression twisted darkly. “You want to test me, Worthington?” She demanded.

Doing so would be unwise. She’s positively savage.

“How about I put you in your place, as you’ve badly needed for years.” Worthington challenged.

Leaning in she said. “Even if you did manage, you’d still only be insulting a lady. Whereas if you lose, you’re the fine Grier Lord injured by one.” Her eyes narrowed on him. “A risk you’re willing to take?”

Deragan’s smile pulled at his lips. Vicious thing. Her brash was commendable.

Apparently, Worthington agreed. He visibly paled.

“That’s what I thought.” She spun on the heel of her black riding boot, long brown hair whipping Worthington as she strode away. Heels clicking decisively down the corridor. Deragan spared her a glance as she passed him and took the stairs.

She’s a force to reckon with. He immediately thought of Sabias. She’s just his sort.

“What’d you do to her?” A new male. Short and as redheaded as Mardichi, he emerged from the tutoring room to the right.

“I swear Ron. I’m going to make that little-” he struggled for a word. “She’s no idea who she toys with.”

Ronald Turner laughed as he bit into a hunk of bread. “She knows Worthington. She just doesn’t care. Meralee Carter hates everyone.”

“Except Nora and Anna.” Worthington corrected. Voice growing vicious again as he added. “She shouldn’t have threatened me Ron. I’ll make damn sure she never does again.” His face hardened and Deragan saw the telltale red rim forming at the edge of his irises.

Cimmerii. A snarl emitting from his throat, Deragan lurched back from the corner.

If Worthington is backed by Radix, Nora’s friend is in danger. Groaning he took the stairs two at a time. Tugging the gold pendant free from under his shirt, to grip it.

It took only a few silent minutes of meditation to summon Bast.

He heard Bast’s groaning response in his mind. “I’m getting on my boots.”

“Bast. I need you. I’ve a plan for Lucien.” Deragan directed. “We must speak without other ears.”

Deragan felt Bast’s eyes roving his dark chamber as he pinpointed the direction from which the summons originated.

The others may hear him. Lucien may hear him. Forever Knights usually had to meet to talk. But Sebastian could reach them all if close enough.

Forcing a hand through his dark hair, Deragan pushed through heavy oak doors and stepped out into the bright morning sunshine.

Searching for some peace, Nora headed to the carving studio. Where students cut lumber or to carve lovely works of art sold at the Grier markets. Perfect slabs of pale wood seeped fresh-cut aroma. The room was dark. But she found a spot behind the stacked lumber where light poured in a low window. Perching atop the pile, she opened the weighty volume. Before she knew it, the jingle of bells tolled the end of the tutelage day.

She reached the tenderage and found her young brother and sister on their usual bench. Little feet swinging as they talked about their day. Spotting her they hopped up to meet her.

They headed home but her mind was on the book.

Deragan tuned into her thoughts. Happy to hear them consumed by thoughts of knights. Men born to Paladine Country and Italy in the 1500s and those that joined them. She considered what the ‘Bringers of Dawn’, ‘Watchers’, and ‘Cimmerii’ were. The first Chapter was the most riveting to her. Templar Knights fled into Billar Canyon in the 1400s. Fleeing European persecution. But when they climbed out of that canyon on the other side. They’d emerged as something else.

Deeply loyal, they evolved into a secret brotherhood.

But afterward, the knights lived for three purposes. Protect their powerful artifacts, keep the plague of Cimmerii from spreading and above all, protect the Fallen.

Though she’s no idea yet who that is.

She had read the definition of what Cimmerii were: Beings residing in eternal darkness. Equally as immortal as Forever Knights but serving a more sinister purpose.

But she doesn’t understand.

She walked the children home and retreated to her room.

He sat in the park across the road and felt her mind. Saw her replaying the vivid reoccurring nightmare, she’d had for several years about knights in a canyon. And a painful death. Once the dreams ended, faces became impossible to recall.

Deragan felt her unease. Heard her thoughts raging.

“I need one of the dream interpreters Anna is always talking about.” She murmured to herself.

“Think it’ll help?”

Her head spun at the sound of his voice. “You! I need to talk to you!”

“I don’t have any answers I can give.”

“Yes, you can.” She accused. “Why did you take me to the book?”

“You don’t like it?” He countered.

“I love it.”

“Then why so many questions?”

“I-I-”

He was quiet. Hearing her fears.

I can’t tell you yet. His throat went tight.