Gods From the Machine (8 page)

“
However, this presents an issue because my granddaughter can no longer reside here under my protection,” Peter said.

“
Why?”

“
Agrian was meant to fall in love with Quinn. Alyssa, my granddaughter, carries the same blood as Quinn which means you both are bonded by the same sacrifice she made those many years ago. If the Crowned Princes were to discover the connection, both your lives would be in jeopardy. Only by separating you two can I ensure that our ultimate goal can be reached and that you both remain safe.”

“
I understand completely.”

“
Well, I’m guessing that means the feast has to be cancelled as well,” Lucius said.

“
No, we’ll carry on as if everything is normal. We promised a feast and they will receive one. I trust everyone here can be discreet about this meeting? Good. Meeting adjourned, except for you, boy.” Peter pointed at Nick.

As everyone else
trickled out of the room, their faces expressed a combination of both pity and sorrow as they passed him. Alone, except for Peter and Gabriel, he sank in his chair, still dazed as Peter hobbled toward him on his cane.

“
I know this is much for you to take in boy, but be certain it was all for the best. We had to protect you from your true identity so that no wind of your existence could reach outside the Garrison.”

Nick shook his head.
“But it doesn’t matter now, does it? In order to destroy them, I have to reveal myself. The rest of the Crowned Princes will find out I came from Glenhaven and that will put everyone in danger.”

Pet
er put his hand on his shoulder. “You need not worry about that quite yet. The last place they’d look for you is behind our walls. When the time comes I promise you’ll be prepared. Just remember, you are now one of the most important assets to our organization. Now go rest. Tomorrow will be a big day for you.”

“
What’s happening tomorrow?” Nick asked.

“
The trials, my boy. You’re becoming a full-fledged knight,” Peter said. “Don’t tell me you didn’t see this coming? It was only a matter of time.”

“
According to your skillset, we’re placing you on course for the Brave Unit,” Gabriel said.

Nick couldn
’t believe it. He never dreamed this day would come. Every year when a soldier came of age they were allowed the test for knighthood. However, since most of those soldiers already had vast combat experience as well as weapon proficiency tests, he thought he would be ruled out. This was more than he could take.

“
A-a knight?” Nick stood from his chair and bowed. “Supreme Commander, you have no idea how much this means to me!”

“
But I do. Just because demon blood courses through your veins doesn’t mean I see you as anything less than the fine soldier you’ve become. Of course, even though you haven’t killed before…that doesn’t mean we’ll take it lightly on you.”

“
Thank you Supreme Commander.”

“
Good. Now go. I’m sure Cunningham would be glad to hear the news you have,” Peter said.

Nic
k bowed once more, feeling elated as he went looking for Matt.

He
searched the halls and the several facilities before finding him in the training room working up a sweat with a wooden practice sword as he delivered what would have be the killing blow on one of the other soldiers.

“
Nice try, but you left yourself open for that one.” Matt helped the poor kid up before sending him away, humbled. He flashed a grin at Nick. “Looking to spar? I’m in the zone right now and I want to get a quick one in before our feast.”

“
You know you can’t beat me when it comes to a fist fight. I have some good news though,” Nick said.

“
What is it?” Matt took off his training gear, and tossed it into a nearby laundry bin. “You’re only getting punished for a month instead of two?”

“
I’m getting a chance at the trials.”

Matt
’s eyes bulged; he wrapped Nick a giant bear hug. “I can’t believe it! That is great news! Is that what they wanted to talk to you about earlier?”

Nick was about the mention Agrian and the Crowned Princes, he bit
down on his lip before the words could escape. Matt was his best friend and they never kept any secrets from each other. It was against Peter’s wishes to tell anyone outside the meeting. It would be hard, but he had to respect it.

“
Yeah, that’s it,” Nick said. As they walked to the feast, new thoughts flooded his mind. What was going to happen next?

“
Please tell me Peter’s giving you a chance at the Justice Unit?” Matt said, hopefully. “We could finally do all the traveling we’ve been waiting for! We could take a jet and visit Coros!”

“
I wouldn’t want to risk losing my knighthood by suddenly taking a vacation, Matt. Besides, they’re putting me in the Brave Unit.”

Matt frowned.
“The physical requirements are a lot more demanding than any other unit. Not to mention, you’ll have to work along with Paul and all his cronies.”

That didn
’t sound appealing, but the more obvious strain on him was being a demon and keeping his cover in an academy where there were eyes in every corner. Not only that, but he had to be careful with the changes occurring in his body. What being a demon actually meant, and how it would affect him and others around him was another concern. How could someone cope with knowledge such as this? How did someone cope with realizing they had become a monster?

5
. A Knight’s Trial

Nick splashed cool
water on his face, letting it trickle down his chin and into the sink like a broken faucet. He had another terrible dream the night before. He thought that he could alleviate some tension through his usual morning routine. Today he paid particular attention to some of the new changes that occurred to him physically. Color returned to his complexion, and he had regained lost weight, a fact he realized was due to Agrian. He also felt different inside and the way he carried himself around others had changed as well.  Assertive was the only way to describe it. Where he used to have self-doubt and shyness before, he now bore a sense of reassurance and pride. They were subtle changes, but he actually felt like he was becoming a different person.

The attention he commanded from his peers had also changed. Whereas they still hate
d him, his physical prowess garnered the envy of the other knights. Weight lifting, pushups, pull ups—he could do it all, and more of them than anyone else. Even as he was taking his daily run with Matt around the track, the gazes of the others burned into him from the sidelines, watching and wondering how Nick Emberson, Peter’s skinny errand boy could have changed so drastically.

“
You have to tell me how you did it.” Matt huffed and puffed to catch his breath. They were sitting on the grassy part beside open track field after a five mile run. “In all the years I’ve known you, you’ve never beaten me in a race. How do you still have energy to go on?”

Nick g
ot to his feet and hopped around in a boxer’s stance, throwing a flurry of combination punches in the air. “I don’t know why, but lately I feel like I can take on the world!”

Matt chuckled.
“I take it you’ve spoken to the lovely lady? How you can focus on training is beyond me. I don’t know about you, but girls rule my world. Put demons and damsels together and I’d always go for the latter. That’s the only way Matthew Cunningham operates!”

“
I spoke to her, but I haven’t exactly set up a real date yet,” Nick admitted. It was frustrating since he wanted to see her so badly, but at the same time he couldn’t afford any distractions that could ruin his chances at knighthood. He had to keep his eyes on the prize.

“
Smart thinking. Wait until after it’s all said and done and you get knighted,” Matt said.

“
Don’t jinx it,” Nick said, “I don’t need any bad omens going my way. The pressure is running high and I can’t fail in front of the others, even if they expect me to.”

“
You won’t. But since when did you ever care what the other knights thought? Last time I checked Nick Emberson was fine being a loner. In fact, he seemed to prefer it,” Matt said.

“
I don’t and I do, but I can’t look like a loser in front of Paul. The guy has been pushing my buttons my entire life, and the sooner I prove that I’m not such a screw up the sooner I get a chance to personally slap that arrogant look off his face,” Nick said.

“
Wouldn’t we all love to see that? But let’s be honest, you’re a long way from being on his level. Even I won’t get to his level the way things have been going,” Matt said. “Thanks to Gabriel’s wise decision, that sociopathic brat is going to be the next archangel in a couple more years and we’ll have to start taking orders from him. Just thinking about it is enough to make someone want to transfer to a different Garrison.”

Nick dropped his hands to his sides, letting his shoulders sl
ump. The realization that he would never be an archangel was a great disappointment. He had the qualifications to become a knight, but that was the extent of his growth. He could never be an archangel like Lucius or Bartholomew because no sane knight would follow a demon’s orders. It went against all their rules and teachings. What bothered him most was the idea that Peter was the only reason he wasn’t immediately expelled. The others only tolerated him now because of the Supreme Commander’s wishes. How would they react if they knew about his demon heritage? Would they still see him the same way after Peter was gone? The thought of his mentor one day dying made Nick’s disappointment topple into sadness.

After the light we
ight training with Matt, Nick took a quick shower and returned back to the dormitory to study for his exam. He knew everything by heart, all the codes, history, techniques—he had them down pat. The only thing left was to regurgitate it onto paper and hope for the best. As he read over various texts, he was startled by a knock on his door. Who could be visiting? He opened it to find Gabriel, dressed in full armor, like he was about to be deployed into battle.

“
How are you holding up, kiddo? Nervous?” Gabriel said.

“
I really don’t know what to expect. Being a knight has always been my dream, but being considered for the Brave Unit was an even bigger surprise.”

“
Why do you say that? Don’t tell me you forgot how the units function?” Gabriel said.

“
Of course not, every knight-to-be knows about the units.”

“
Then what seems to be the problem?” Gabriel said.

“
I’ve only ever gotten training in hand-to-hand combat,” Nick said. “No other weapons.”

“
As Agrian, your fists
are
your primary weapons.”

Nick ran his fingers through his hair.
“I guess I feel unprepared you know? I mean one minute I was picking up packages and now I’m going to be a knight! Everything is happening so fast.”

“
After sparring with Lucius earlier I remembered something Peter told me when I was your age before I took the test. Maybe I could give you some last minute coaching before the big show. You interested?” Gabriel said.

Nick nodded
; any information from an archangel would be beneficial, especially if it came from the Supreme Commander’s right hand man and the general of the Brave Unit. Gabriel took a seat on the single chair in his room, while Nick sat on the corner of his bed. With all the scratches and markings on his armor, one had to wonder how many intense fights he had been through in his life.

“
You’re a smart guy so the written test will be a breeze for you, but what I want to talk to you about is the fight itself,” Gabriel said. “Everyone going into the trials thinks it’s going to be exactly what they expect, but it’s not. It will surprise you and it will make you question yourself and your abilities, but don’t let it. The only thing you can do is carry on and fight smart. If you stick to this, you’ll pass with success.”

“
Will I know who my opponent will be?” Nick asked.

“
No, it’s all selected randomly right at the beginning of the match. They don’t want anyone to have an unfair advantage. I can tell you that all fighting will be hand-to-hand, which will work to your advantage,” Gabriel said.

“
So what do I do?” Nick asked.

“
Like I said, use your head to your advantage and not just your body. Forget the fact that you have more experience in this particular set of skills than the others and instead humble yourself. Overconfidence is the most common pitfall for first timers attempting the trials. Don’t let it work against you,” Gabriel said.

Gabriel
’s advice was comforting, but it still remained that his repertoire of fighting abilities were vastly limited to most others. Nick had only mastered hand-to-hand techniques, but in only staged scenarios. In this instance, he had to envision the trials to be a fight for survival. The losers of the trials were forced to embarrassingly spend another two years retaking courses before they were given another shot. Nick did not want to be twenty and still competing for this this rite of passage. Losing was not an option.