Cross of Faith: Tales of Terrara Vikos #1 Read online

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  It hadn’t even occurred to me that it was a school for Ascentials.

  Bloody part-demon magicians, them.

  For someone like my father, walking into a large building filled with untrained, magic-flying-everywhere Ascential kids would be no trouble at all.

  Me, on the other hand… Well, let’s just say I was in trouble.

  The second I walked into the door, my daemon senses were overwhelmed by all the kids filled with Ascential magic. After a few seconds, it took all I had to keep walking and not draw attention to myself. Lucian was still holding my hand and squeezed it, trying to comfort me. I moved my gaze from the floor to him and gave him a nervous smile.

  I struggled to stay calm. The daemon in me wanted out so bad, but I couldn’t risk it. If I let it out, it could put Lucian’s life in jeopardy. As much as I disliked the kid, I had my pride as a daemon that would not allow me to risk someone’s life I’d been sworn to protect.

  Eventually, we turned into an empty classroom. When Lucian let go of my hand, I staggered over to a nearby chair and collapsed into it. I heard the door lock click into place and lifted my shaky head to see Lord Morgan locking the door. The warning alarm in my head jolted awake.

  “What’s the matter, Halden?” Lord Morgan asked kindly, “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  I tumbled out of the seat and started scrambling backwards. “I don’t care if my father trusts you, but I refuse to be taken advantage of!”

  The Realm Leader raised an eyebrow. “Lucian, calm him down for me please, will you?”

  Lucian ran toward me. I was so frightened that I started hurrying farther away. Unfortunately, my hand pushed down on a chair, and the chair flipped, sending me sprawling to the tile floor. Instantly, Lucian was kneeling by my side, and he slipped something over my head. A stiffening chill shot down my side, and within seconds, I couldn’t move.

  Gradually, my senses dulled, and the pain and confusion from all that Ascential power in the school blunted as well. Soon after, Lucian’s cold, small finger poked my forehead. My body relaxed on the tile floor, no longer paralyzed.

  I couldn’t believe I’d forgotten that the members of Realm leader’s family were all Ascentials as well.

  “I knew that it would be too much to handle, Halden, and I’m sorry I didn’t warn you,” Lord Morgan said, “I wanted to see how well you could handle pressure, because my son’s bodyguard has to be able to handle a lot of it.”

  Stretching out the aches from everything that had happened, I groaned, “And why would that be?”

  He smiled and replied, “You’ll see. You actually did very well on your own. However, because of what my son gave you, you will only sense power of those who you’re familiar with, but will feel pain only if someone has intense hatred for him. As long as you are around him, that is.”

  Sitting up, I placed my hand on my neck and stretched it out as well. Feeling something cool under my hand, I looked down to find a cross pendant hanging on a chain around my neck. This wasn’t much of a shocker. Crosses tended to hold spells better than most other objects. “… Good to know.”