Mistaken Consequences

Chapter 13: Thirty-two weeks

Vera lingered in the empty Temple. Nobody had been there all morning and she didn't expect anyone would show up. It was finals week on campus and Vera did not accept failure amongst her disciples. Magic was not a crutch to cover up poor performance or laziness.

Vera appreciated the time alone, however. It gave her a chance to say goodbye to this place that had been like a second home to her all these years. She'd never expected that she would leave it, but she'd made her decision. She would step down as Temple Magus.

She had started her goodbyes in the reliquary, running her fingers along the shelves that she had memorized years earlier, and then she just sat in her chair and took in the room. It would look different once somebody else took it over. It wouldn't be hers anymore. When she felt herself start to tear up at the thought, she forced herself back up and out of the room. She didn't want to be caught crying if anyone did show up.

Vera moved on to the altar room next, allowing herself to lean against the carved block to take some of the weight off of her feet. It was something she normally wouldn't dare to be caught doing, not after snapping at disciples over the years for doing that very thing, but her normal rules no longer seemed to matter. Even her shoes had been kicked off and were lying somewhere behind her.

The altar room was probably her second-favorite chamber in the Temple. It was the place where magic came together to create something spectacular. It was the place where she felt the most connected, the least alone. She would miss the feeling of family. Her role as Grand Magus didn't call for her to lead rituals, or even participate. Those were the duties of a Temple Magus and hers was simply to lead the Order as a whole. She would miss all of this.

She turned to look over her shoulder as someone rapped against the open door. Hamish stood in the doorway. She couldn't even be surprised. He was here more than she was most weeks.

"Are you busy?" he asked, lingering in the doorway until she granted permission to approach.

She nodded for him to join her by the altar. "I needed to talk to you anyways," she said once he was standing beside her.

"Magus?" he questioned.

"I am stepping down as Temple Magus."

For the first time in ages, she saw that sick look cross his face again. "Because of-" he started to say, guilt filling his voice.

"Don't," she said firmly. "I made this decision, and I've always known I would have to eventually. I've decided to focus solely on my role as Grand Magus, so that the Temple Magus position can be given the attention it deserves." She pursed her lips as she turned and looked up at him. "You and your pack were the only reason this was a difficult decision for me. While I may have a vested interest in seeing this work, you will not be under my direct control any longer. I can not protect you. Do you understand?"

Hamish nodded. "I'll make sure we don't cause trouble for the new Magus. How much longer will you-"

"I'm not rushing the selection of a new Temple Magus, but I've already called in a favor from the Temple Magus I studied under. He's retired now, but he's agreed to come and take over my Temple duties until I find someone suitable to replace me. He'll be arriving later this month. I would suggest using the opportunity to teach Mr Carpio how to be respectful to those who outrank him, and I suspect Mr Morton will need a refresher course as well."

Hamish gave a low, uncomfortable chuckle. "About that..." he hedged.

Vera rolled her eyes. She'd be delusional to think he could actually teach Randall Carpio manners. She shifted her weight, resisting the urge to press her hand against the small of her back in front of him. She felt so heavy these days.

"Why don't we go back to my office? I can fill you in on what your new interim Temple Magus looks for in his students." It wasn't something she would bother with for the rest of the chapter, them she could trust to behave themselves or take their reprimands with dignity. The Knights on the other hand...

Vera had already started to turn when Hamish's hand shot out and grabbed her wrist.

"What are you doing?" she snapped, pulling her arm free before looking up at him with an accusing glare.

His face was solemn. Not regretful, but a clear sign that he'd done something she wasn't going to appreciate. Again. She looked back towards the cracked double doors where she'd been heading.

"What did you do?" she growled.

"Vera, wait," Hamish requested. Once again, there wasn't a trace of regret in his voice but there was a pleading tone to it.

She ignored his pleas and strode over to the door, her hand going to her belly protectively. She opened the doors with a flick of her wrist and then froze.

Lilith Bathory, arguably the most aggressive and bloodthirsty of the Knights of St. Christopher, was sitting on one of the couches in the antechamber, looking a little worse for wear but otherwise very much alive.

Shit...