Mortality: The Story of Mortanius

Chapter Seven

He was roused from sleep before the sun rose, and groggily climbed out of the cot and got dressed. The vampires laid out some new clothing for him, a black pair of silk pants and comfortable black shoes, and a flowing black robe to replace his sleeveless shirt. He breakfasted on eggs, buttered bread, and oat porridge.

Although he had only come there to ease the boy’s fears, he felt a strange sort of pride as he walked through the corridors to join the vampires already assembled in the inner courtyard for the ceremony. He was no longer the youngest Guardian, no longer the newest member. By attending Rat’s initiation to the Pillars, Mortanius felt that he was truly the vampires’ equal now. He would stand with them when young Rat became attuned to his Pillar, watching the ceremony from the outside for the first time. He could not help but feel a sense of pride and honor, even though he would never admit it out loud.

He entered the courtyard and saw with some embarrassment that he was one of the last to arrive. A dozen vampires, some of them guards, stood around the marble base in the center of the yard. Mortanius recognized Aleph standing in the same place he stood when Mortanius went through this part of the ceremony. Lora stood in the corner, away from the others, looking at him from under the large hood concealing her face. When Mortanius looked back, Lora averted her gaze. Romanen stood by the opposite entrance, arms folded across his chest, the ever-present weapons hanging from his belt. Mortanius ignored him and stood by the wall, folding his hands in front of him.

It was still dark outside, but the courtyard was illuminated by torches along the walls. No one spoke. Some time later, probably only a few minutes although it felt like an hour to Mortanius, Janos entered, followed by two other vampire guards and the new Guardian of Time, young Rat.

Thankfully, the vampires took the time to clean the boy up. His face was clean and his hair was at least combed a little. He still wore the filthy rags they found him in, but they had given him a pair of soft leather shoes. He looked tired and confused, but he didn’t seem scared, at least he didn’t act that way. As soon as he saw Mortanius, however, he smiled brightly and waved.

Mortanius smiled and waved back, but quickly put a finger to his lips and pointed at Aleph, hoping Rat would get the hint. The boy was ushered forward by the two guards and stood uncomfortably on the marble pedestal, fidgeting with his hands, looking nervously back at Mortanius, who nodded encouragingly.

Aleph, looking disagreeable as ever, looked down at Rat, his golden eyes twinkling in the light of the torches. “What is your name?” he asked gruffly.

Rat swallowed and looked up at Aleph. “My ... my name is Rat,” he squeaked.

Aleph pursed his lips and shook his head slightly. “That is no name for a Guardian of the Pillars. You do not remember the name you were born with?” he asked, his voice somewhat softer.

Rat shook his head, trying to keep still. “No, I don’t. I’m sorry.”

“We shall give you a new name then.”

Rat shrugged and glanced back at Mortanius. “Okay, if you want.”

Mortanius could not help but smile at Rat’s childish indifference to the whole situation. Aleph was clearly irritated at having to change the course of the ceremony, but Mortanius understood his unwillingness to call one of his fellow Guardians by such an insulting name.

“Your name shall be Moebius,” Aleph announced, as if making the name up on the spot. He paused, and then said again, “Now, what is your name?”

Rat licked his lips and tried out his new name. “My name is ... Moebius.”

“And what Pillar do you serve?”

At this, the boy stiffened. “I don’t serve anyone,” he said defiantly. “And I’m not going to serve any stupid vampires.”

Aleph took a deep breath and let it out slowly through clenched teeth. “You are a Guardian of the Pillars of Nosgoth. You are a servant of the Pillars. Now say what Pillar you serve,” he growled.

“I said I don’t serve anyone!” the newly-named Moebius shouted. “You can’t make me be a part of your stupid religion!”

Mortanius knew that Aleph was not the most patient of vampires. He guessed only a supreme act of willpower on Aleph’s part was keeping him from just lifting Moebius by the collar and shaking him until he said the words. Moebius was pushing his luck almost as soon as he had received it. Even the rest of the vampires became unsettled by the situation.

“You don’t serve the vampires,” Mortanius interrupted. Aleph cast him a furious glance but held his tongue. Moebius turned around quickly, glad to face someone other than a vampire. “The Pillars are a symbol of your role as a Guardian. You serve the Pillar, and only the Pillar, because you should uphold what the Pillar represents.”

Moebius’s confused look showed that he didn’t understand, but he had heard the part about not serving the vampires clearly. “I thought the vampires controlled the Pillars,” he said.

“We serve the Pillars,” Aleph said loudly, taking control of the ceremony once more. Moebius turned back to face him. “No one is master over the Guardians. You serve the Pillar by serving an ideal. Now what Pillar do you serve?” he demanded.

“I don’t really remember what one they made me touch,” Moebius said.

“The Pillar of Time,” Aleph said.

“Okay.”

Aleph waited a moment and then sighed heavily. Mortanius had to resist the urge to laugh out loud. He looked at some of the other vampires and saw that even they found humor in the situation. Moebius’s defiant outburst just a few minutes ago was already in the past. He was just a child, they knew, and they forgave him for that.

“What Pillar do you serve?” Aleph asked again.

“Um ... the Pillar of Time.”

Aleph nodded and breathed a sigh of relief. One of the vampires handed him an orange shirt with a rune on the front. They put it on Moebius even though it was much too large for him. He would grow into it, as Mortanius had.

“This is your symbol,” Aleph said, reciting the same words he had said to Mortanius years ago. “You are one with the Pillar now. You are the physical embodiment of its power and its strength, and as such, your health runs parallel to the health of the Pillar. When one is strong, both are strong. When one is weak, both are weak. And the health of the Pillars is reflected in the health of the land itself. Bear this in mind.”

“I don’t even know what that means,” Moebius said, feeling the soft fabric of his new shirt. Mortanius had to stifle a laugh; he had said almost the exact same thing when they did the ceremony with him three years before.

“You will know in time,” Aleph said.

And then suddenly, everyone headed out of the courtyard and through the twisting hallways to the rear entrance of the building. Moebius looked around and found Mortanius walking a little ways behind him. Mortanius smiled encouragingly and Moebius smiled back. Mortanius was very glad he had agreed to come. The vampires would have had a difficult job taming the young boy without his help.

Dawn was just beginning to rise as they reached the Pillars, the sky changing from pure black to a deep blue. Aleph led Moebius to the Pillar of Time and stood him in front of it. “Put your hands on the Pillar,” he instructed.

Moebius hesitated and then did so. He stood there for a moment and then looked up at the Guardian of Balance. “Can I take my hands off yet?” he asked innocently.

“You will know when,” Aleph said.

Mortanius closed his eyes, unable to keep himself from remembering what he had felt that day. The sensation of seeing things through new eyes, the horror at seeing death and decay surround him. Mortanius had wept that day, terrified at the nightmares his new powers had granted him. It was one of the most horrible experiences of his life.

He opened his eyes again, wondering what Moebius was seeing or feeling at that moment. The child was kneeling on the ground beside the Pillar, having taken his hands off. He stared at his small hands and then looked up at nothing in particular. His eyes seemed to shine with energy, the magical surge of power granted by the Pillar. And the look on Moebius’s young face was glowing with amazement, and maybe a trace of fear.

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