Never in my life would I had assumed there was so much to this 'Order of Vigilance'. After many locks and scanners, opening countless iron security doors, finally we got to a huge open space. It was like a bullpen at the precinct, but a thousand times bigger.

  Hundreds of people were running around with tablets, sitting over state-of-the-art computers and tactical maps that would put even the best damn police forces to shame. Possibly even intelligence agencies. It was beyond military grade, and from a cursory glance, running smoothly.

  "Wow." I gasped, following behind Kas as she led me into the big room.

  "Impressive, right? The Citadel is probably the most secure and best supplied base of operations the Order has to offer. It also benefits from having a Progenitor on site, managing everything. And of course, a great team of Guardians to work along side them." She boasted.

  "What's a Guardian? Is that like a Chosen?" I asked. I could see uncomfortable emotions play across her face, until she was able to resume her smile.

  "Not really. Kind of though." She said vaguely.

  Kas continued to lead me down a wide hallway, all the walls blinding white, with flourescent lights. It reminded me of a hospital. People came and went, hardly giving me even a second glance. To my surprise, some of the people working here weren't even human. Much the the train stations used by the Old World, there were monsters walking about, but much, much fewer. It was the odd one here or there.

  "How do you tell which monsters are good and which ones are evil?" I asked again. Kas turned, realizing she'd walked too fast ahead of me, and moved back to my side as I hobbled along.

  "That's still tricky question, I know. See, when the Order was first formed, they were originally a group of Demi-Gods and powerful humans who hunted monsters. It wasn't until much later that they realized not all of them were inheritantly evil. It really depended on the creature, much like humans, as I told you. It wasn't until the Progenitors welcomed in non-human Immortals to their circle that they even really considered it." She told me.

  "Some races, like vampires for example, have learned to blend in with humanity even to the point of not drinking human blood anymore. Some of them even assist the Order. But there are still lots of blood suckers out there that kill humans and drain them empty. We still hunt those." She continued. I nodded thoughtfully, taking in all the new information.

  Had I suggested vampires back in 2000, when we found all those kids drained of blood in that nightclub in downtown Toronto, they would have taken my badge. It was a damn good feeling to know I was not crazy. So many things, especially cases that had unexplainable circumstances, were making sense now. And they had pulled me off those cases and left the cold, because they knew I would keep hunting, which would have exposed the Order. I wondered just how much influence they had. And why the organization didn't just work with local enforcement.

  Kas brought me out onto a glass balcony overlooking a gigantic gymnasium. Down below, at least a dozen squads of ten to fifteen people were being trained, in almost perfect unison. All of them were wearing black tactical clothes, with kevlar armor, just like a SWAT team, but in their hands were archaic weapons, which I'd heard, were far more effective against monsters.

  "This is where we train the new guys," Kas chuckled, a deep husky noise from the back of her throat. "A lot of them don't pass the training and even fewer become Chosen. I've seen prodigy kids, generations of their bloodline in the Order, get deligated to desk jobs despite their ancestor's great martial prowess. Sad, really." She said, staring out at the multitudes.

  "Ah, Detective Callum." A voice said from behind me.

  Kas jumped and bowed reverantly, taking a knee, which looked painful in her long leather boots. I turned to face a well built man in a three piece black suit. His jet black hair was tied back in a neat, low ponytail, and their wasn't a trace of hair on his chin. Piercing eyes, the color of emeralds, peered into my soul, unblinking. The guy gave me the damn creeps.

  "I'm afraid I can't really kneel, but I'm sure you're probably really important if she fell over that fast." I chuckled and offered my hand to shake.

  The man gave me a thin, lipless smile and shook my hand. His grip was brutally strong, but he made a visible effort not to crush my fingers.

  "I am Lancelot, Knight of the Round, and a Progenitor of the Order. And you, Detective John Callum, are far too curious for your own good. You gave poor Anders over in Ontario quite the run for his money." He chuckled, but it was a mirthless, sarcastic sound.

  "Yea, my commanding officers thought the same thing. But I was right. I knew you guys were here. Just didn't know the extent of it." I wriggled my hand free of his. My detective eyes caught him casually wiping his hand on his pant leg, before returning it to his pocket.

  "These are our elites, usually trained from a young age, knowing nothing but the ways of the Order. They know what we teach. They see the world as we see it. They serve as they must." Lancelot said, moving to the railing of the balcony, looking out at the groups of trainees.

  "Much like the ancient Spartans or Knights of the Round, Order members are expected to uphold a certain standard of both combat skill and knowledge. Some of them become great warriors, legends of their time. Others, skilled mages trained in arts all but forgotten. Most of them aren't cut out for much more than desk work. But I suppose someone needs to sweep the floors." He waved his hand dismissively, as he spoke.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  "Now, my question for you, Detective. Where will you fall into line? Guardian Kassius has selected you for a good reason, I presume, but whether or not you will be a legend or a caretaker is yet to be seen. At least your detective work is par." He looked over me, like I was a displeasing art display.

  "Well, back in my day, I was quite the skilled field cop. Hell, I was a damn good detective up until some psychopath blew out my knee." I told him. He seemed unimpressed, looking at his fingernails.

  "Mhm. I read the report about your encounter with Mr. Morgan. I do believe that had Anders not been present, you and I would not be having this conversation." He told me, still looking down.

  "Some kind of renegade dropout?" I scoffed.

  Lancelot's eyes darted over my shoulder to Kas and then once again, back to me, ripping into my damn soul. His glare was telling.

  "Quite the opposite. Chase Morgan was the best of his class. He excelled at everything and dedicated his life to the Order. Not only is he a trained assassin, he is also one of the strongest mages I've ever met. If I didn't know otherwise, I'd say he was a Demi-god." He said to me, with a look of disdain.

  There was an uneasiness when he spoke of this Chase guy. His thin lips quivered slightly. Couldn't tell if it was distain or fear.

  "Had he never gone to Canada, he would likely have become the Master of this branch." He said, his lipless smile growing thinner.

  "The guy blew out my knee and ruined my career. Forgive me if I have a hard time with him." I said, shrugging.

  Lancelot looked me up and down like he was inspecting a piece of meat and sighed.

  "Yes, how unfortunate for you. So tell me, John Callum, where do you see yourself in the Order? How much will you dedicate yourself to the cause?" He asked.

  "Kas said you guys can fix my leg. Do that, and I'll do whatever you ask." I said, eager to prove to this pompous jackass that I was still worth something.

  His eyes darted to Kas again, who lowered her head further. Lancelot rolled his eyes.

  "Very well. Guardian Kassius will take you to the infirmary where our healers will fix your leg. Then you will be shown to your quarters. Feel free to wander, as anywhere you are not supposed to be will be inaccessable. Your training starts in the morning." And with that, he walked away.

  I turned to face Kas, who remained kneeling until Lancelot was far from view. She stood, giving me a weak smile, almost apologetically. Before I could say anything she said, "Yea, he's an ass."

  "Understatement of the century." I grumbled.

  ~*~

  My room was just as bright and flourescent as the halls. But it came better equip then most hotels I've stayed in. I stretched out on the comfortable matress and massaged my knee. Soon, I hoped, the ache would be gone and I could walk without the cane.

  My suite had a full washroom that included a jacuzzi sized tub. The cabinets were stocked with every imaginable medical supply and toiletry I could think of. I decided to take a warm bath and contemplate my current situation.

  Guys my age didn't usually go back into training. I was an old police dog. I had my tricks. But there was a whole other world out there now. And I would be damned if I didn't have the equipment and skills to handle it.

  Most of all, I could use the Order's resources to find my daughter and confront The Guilt. Maybe even find a way to destroy it.

  I settled into the warm water and let it soothe my aching muscles. It was hard to let my guard down, but I assured myself I was safe here. Tomorrow would begin the first day of my new life, and I was looking forward to the change.

  I had told Kas that I wanted some time to get settled before we headed off to the Infirmary to have my leg fixed. As eager as I was, I wanted some time alone to go over everything that had happened to me recently. It seemed like since the day I met Pendragon in that alley, my whole life was rushing by. Even the trip from Canada to the UK had been too fast, thanks to goblin technology, apparently.

  The lights went out, and the jets in my jacuzzi bath stopped. I sat up from the warm water and looked around the dark bathroom. I waved my hands, hoping for sensor lights. To my surprise, and relief, they flicked back on. The jacuzzi jets, however, did not.

  I leaned over the side of the tub as the lights blinked back on and tried to figure out the buttons to get them going again. I fiddled, like an old man, and eventually the popped back on. I sighed in relief and dropped back into the warm bath.

  I couldn't shake the feeling that something else was up. I expected The Guilt to pop out of the mirror or something. I was on edge.

  A heavy knock at the door made me jump. I sighed heavily and pulled the plug on the drain. I grabbed one of the fresh towels from a rack beside the nig tub and dried off, carefully using the tub and the wall to balance myself until I could grab my cane. Another heavy knock came.

  "One second!" I shouted back.

  I looked to my duffel on the bed and dreaded getting dressed, with the insistant knocking continuing. To my delight, there was a large plush bath robe hanging on the door to the bathroom as I exited. I wrapped it around me and hobbled to the door.

  "What?" I said, looking up at the tall woman. Kas pushed passed me and sat down on my bed, which was in the middle of my living space.

  "Come on in." I said, rolling my eyes and closing the door.

  "You ready to go get your leg healed?" She asked. There was a nervous timbre to her voice. I noticed she was picking at the skin around her painted nails. I shuffled toward her and also sat on the bed.

  "When I said I wanted time to myself, I meant more than forty minutes." I told her. She snapped away from her fingers and looked up at me.

  "Oh. Sorry John." She said quietly, which was out of character from what I'd seen from her.

  "Something bothering you?" I asked, pulling on a pair of black crew socks from my duffel.

  "No, nothing." She said, going back to picking. I whacked her hand and she looked at me, moving from anger, to a more puzzled look.

  "Sorry, my wife, Diane..." I froze. Saying her name out loud was still rattling for me. "She used to pick and bite the skin around her fingers until she would bleed. Force of habit."

  Kas nodded slowly, looking at me like she was seeing me for the first time. I pulled a pair of boxers from my duffel and motioned for her to turn away, which she obliged. While she was turned away, I pulled on my track pants and slipped on an old training academy tee shirt, the logo long faded.

  "You gonna tell me what's wrong?" I pressed. Kas grunted as if I was annoying her.

  "Just Lancelot. He gets under my skin." She mumbled.

  "Yea he seems like a real asshat, as the kids say." I chuckled. She shook her head.

  "You have to be careful saying stuff like that. Especially around here. The walls have eyes and ears and you don't have any friends here yet." She warned.

  "Are you saying you're not my friend?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. Kas gave me a small smile, but it was genuine.

  "We'll see how bad you are at everything tomorrow before I make my decision." She joked. I rolled my eyes at her.

  There was an obvious question hanging in the air, but I didn't know how to bring up the subject. Kas didn't strike me as a 'Guardian Kassius'. But looking at the woman's sad, disheartened face, I couldn't bring myself to bother.