In the past, her father had spurned such things, but after his son Jack's death, things had changed. He embraced her in a firm, albeit brief hug, and stepped back. "I'm proud of you, Elyssa."
"Thanks, Dad" she said, unable to repress a beautiful smile.
He checked the time. "Cadet, you should be joining the others for the march. I'm calling this to order."
She offered him a smart salute, kissed me on the cheek, and went inside the compound to join the procession.
"What's going on, Nightliss?" I asked.
She took my hands. "I've found a new calling, Justin. I hope you'll be pleased."
I looked to Thomas, but his stony expression gave nothing away. "Are you going to become a Templar, too?"
She smiled. "Not exactly."
I narrowed my eyes at her. "What's going on?"
Katie wandered up to our group, grinning brightly. "Did you tell him?" she said to Nightliss.
"Not yet."
Katie looped her arm through mine. "You're gonna be so surprised," she said, and led me to the front row where most of my friends sat.
I cast a glance back at Nightliss, confused and a little worried. She hadn't been at full strength since Ivy had healed her from Daelissa's curse. I hoped she wasn't about to do something she wasn't ready for.
We took our seats and waited for the procession. Katie released my arm. I couldn't help but notice her glancing down the row at Ash. He looked at her, and quickly turned away, his face red.
"Are you two still seeing each other?" I asked.
She shook her head. "No. After they went vampire, I just couldn't look at him the same. I mean, I'm glad you took away the vampire part, but I guess we never reconnected, you know?"
I nodded. "Looks like he still has feelings for you."
A sad smile clouded her face. "Yeah. I just don't feel like I'm ready for another relationship. They all end badly."
I didn't even want to remind her of Brad Nichols. He'd been a recruit of Maximus's, but since Maximus hadn't been mature enough to properly turn a nom into a vampire, he'd infected Brad with the vampling curse, turning him into a member of the blood-sucking walking dead. He'd promptly massacred half a dozen corrupted high school officials who were trying to blackmail me. The incident remained a dark stain in my memories, but Katie had lost her virginity to the guy, so I couldn't imagine how brutal his death had been for her.
"Ash and Nyte have been training with Templar initiates," Katie said. "I think they're really serious about using the abilities you gave them. Maybe if Ash applies himself and proves himself to me, we can try again." She sighed, her hand brushing against mine. "Elyssa is so lucky to have you, Justin. We all are."
I tugged on my collar, feeling a bit embarrassed by the sudden praise. "You're all lucky to still be alive," I said. "I think I've nearly gotten you killed on two or three occasions."
Her laugh echoed across the crowd right when everyone stopped talking. She clamped a hand over her mouth, looking mortified.
A trumpet blared, and a drum punctuated the air with a precise military beat. A rank of Templars in shining armor, red crosses atop white shields emblazoned on their chest plates appeared from the direction of the old stone church to the side of the house. They wore no helmets, and I recognized one of the people in the line as Christian Salazar, the commander of Templars in Colombia. Templars bearing flags with the same symbols marched behind the commanders, followed by drummers and trumpeters.
The commanders stopped before Thomas Borathen. The drums and trumpets sounded a final cadence and stopped playing, leaving a sudden silence hanging in the air.
Christian saluted Thomas, and said in a loud clear voice, "My legion is at your command, sir knight." He gave a short bow and backed into line. Each commander followed suit. I counted thirteen in all, and wondered how many had gone over to the dark side of Bara Nagal and the Synod.
After Thomas accepted each of their offerings, he shouted a command. The drums rapped a complex series of beats, and the trumpets blared a somewhat familiar melody. I heard a gasp of awe and followed other's gazes to see an army of Templars marching from the church. Ranks upon ranks appeared, marching to the military cadence in perfect unison. I had never seen so many Templars in one place, and wondered if each commander had brought every unit under his command, or if this was just a sample of the entire army.
For nearly half an hour, the drums rat-a-tatted as the Templars filled the pasture where horses normally grazed. With a final beat, the drums ceased, their final strikes punctuating the air.
A sense of awe and anticipation hung heavy in the air as Thomas Borathen walked up the stairs of a tall gray podium. An Arcane Templar made a motion with his wand, probably casting a voice amplification spell, and stepped aside as the Templar leader stood atop the platform. It seemed this was something much larger than an initiation ceremony.
"It has been a trying last several months for the order of the Knights Templar," Thomas said, his voice sounding almost as if he were right beside me. "The revelation of the Divinity's origin fractured our order. Former brothers in arms are now enemies."
"And sisters in arms," Katie whispered, obviously trying to keep things equal opportunity.
"Because of this rift, we have lost the ability to protect our initiates against certain curses, and to grant them enhancements they need in the war against chaos. We have lost the solidarity that makes Templars a barrier against evil. This threatens law and order."
Murmurs of agreement sounded in the crowd.
"The Synod, for all practical purposes, has fallen into chaos and ruin." He paused, looking around as if to emphasize the point. "Those of us who have remained united for the cause say, no more!" Thomas pounded a fist into his palm.
At this, a great cheer went up from the assembly, and the ranks of Templars sounded a single solid roar echoing in the chill air.
After the noise faded, Thomas continued. "Today we bring not only new initiates into the fold, but we also gain a new weapon in the battle against chaos."
The air became absolutely still as everyone waited with bated breath to hear the next words.
"I give you Nightliss, Seraphim, and the Clarion of the Knights Templar!" he shouted.
The crowd roared as Nightliss ascended the podium, looking fragile, petite, and cute—certainly not what one would expect of the new Divinity, although they'd obviously opted for a new, less pretentious title.
I sat open-mouthed as Katie beamed at me, gripping my arm and cheering.
The angel moved to the podium while Thomas stepped back. "I am honored to accept the responsibilities granted me by the Templar order," she said in her peculiar accent. She smiled, looking toward me for a moment. She seemed to steel herself, fists clenched, eyes closed. Ethereal ultraviolet wings fanned from her back, bathing her body in a halo of dark light. She opened her eyes to reveal glowing orbs, opened her hands and held them high. "The Templars will be a mighty force," she cried out in a voice that sounded like several voices speaking at once. "Order will be restored!"
Everyone leapt to their feet, cheering and roaring while the Templar army raised silver swords high in the air. As one, they swept the swords, point-down to the earth, and knelt, foreheads resting on the hilts.
I had to admit, I was pretty awed by the spectacle, and found myself kneeling with the others in the crowd.
"You!" Nightliss called out.
I looked up and saw her pointing toward me. I pointed uncertainly at my chest. "Me?" I said in a small voice.
"Justin Slade, please rise."
I did, feeling my face grow warm as all eyes settled on me.
"Without you, none of this would be possible. Without you, I would have died." She floated down from the podium, ultraviolet wings stretched wide, shimmering like black smoke, and landed in front of it. "Please come forward."
Glad we were near the front, I stepped toward her, legs feeling like jelly as everyone watched me. I'd never much liked the attention of the crowd. In high school it generally meant people were making fun of me. But this was different—so much different.
Nightliss smiled, looking cute and scary as hell at the same time as she took my hand. Despite the glow, her hand felt no warmer than usual. She stepped to my side and raised our hands high as cheers erupted.
"Slade! Slade! Slade!" the crowd chanted.
I managed an uneasy grin, but couldn't move my mouth to speak.
"Today, a new alliance is forged, and we go forth to victory!" Nightliss cried.
The cheers nearly overwhelmed my supernatural hearing.
Nightliss led me up the podium stairs where Thomas joined us. He gave me an almost smug look, as if happy to see me suffering stage fright.
"Today," he said, "marks a new chapter in the Templar order. No longer will the Blessings be given in secret. Let us begin the ceremony."
I wasn't sure what to do, so I stood with Nightliss and Thomas as initiates came up to the podium and were introduced. Nightliss pressed her hand to the chest of each one, speaking a few words of encouragement, and apparently imbuing them with supernatural gifts. I shook hands with each person as they passed by. Some regarded me with awe. Or maybe my deodorant had failed thanks to the cold sweat of stage fright.
It made me wonder what in the world these people knew about me, or if my sudden fame was because I got to hang with Nightliss.
Elyssa's beaming face appeared at the top. She already had a blessing from Daelissa which protected her from vampling curses and a host of other things, so I didn't know if Nightliss gave her a gift or not, though she pressed a hand to my girlfriend the same as she had the others. Thomas shook her hand, and pinned a Templar cross to her outfit. I could tell he was fighting to maintain a stern look while pride threatened to burst from his chest.
Elyssa reached me, and held out her hand. Since I wasn't exactly a Templar and didn't feel bound to be all strict and stuff, I pulled her to me and planted a big kiss on her right in front of everyone.