The Lost Templar Chronicles (Teaser) 18+

Dedication

This series is dedicated to every woman that has suffered inexcusable abuse. May your strength shine to the world, you never give up and your resolve stay true.

You are loved.

The Lost Templar Chronicles

Book 1: The Scarlet Child

Teaser

She spat out a mouthful of blood onto the cobblestone walkway, cursed under her breath and pushed herself off the ground. “Get slagged Morrigan!” she said with bitter reproach, as the overwhelmingly large man cackled in amusement at the teenage girl. She licked her thin lips, and set her jaw in anticipation of another blow. Kira was a cute, mousy, teenage girl, with a narrow jawline, and pleasant cheekbones. Her auburn hair cascaded down half her gaunt face as blood dripped from her chin, drawing away from her pale freckled skin.

“Now, now, Kira!” Morrigan spat with condescending contempt, “had you just dropped your leggings when I told you, this could have been avoided.” She smirked, this had not been that uncommon of an occurrence, with her ear length pixie-like hair, lithe, fit physique, and startling teal eyes, many times had Morrigan tried to bed her, by flattery or force.

Morrigan was tall and broad, attractive qualities in most men, unfortunately his face was squat, round, shaped like an acorn squash and too small for his muscle bound torso. His nose was squashed wide, his eyes were slightly too small and his dirty black hair barely covered his overgrown forehead.

The hulking brute stepped forward to grab Kira by the hair; as he stretched out his hand she leaped towards him, planting her left hand on his right bicep and drawing a small dagger with her right. If the on-lookers blinked, they would have missed it: The blade pierced the trunk-like neck of the brigand; Kira used the blade as anchor to continue her forward momentum, in an acrobatic flip. She kicked off his abdomen to force herself into a somersault, the blade cutting a swath of the man's neck open, akin to a butcher's cleaver hacking a thick haunch of meat.

The onlookers murmured quietly, most were hardened criminals, but a few of the younger generation present began to silently wretch. Life at Scarletta's, she thought to herself, never a dull moment. With a heavy sigh she turned around, I’d better get my ass to her office, before one of the Indoc's rat me out. She wiped her blade clean on the back of Morrigan's tunic as she passed, stepping over his lifeless body, and calmly walking away from the courtyard entrance. Those in her path quickly moved from her way. A man shouted in the background, for the Indoc's to get rid of the body, after he took Morrigan's personal effects to deliver to the quartermaster.

At the courtyard entrance stood a large wooden sign: Scarletta's home for the unfortunate youth. A loving home for children, to laugh, learn and live with love. The only problem with this sign was it blatantly lied. The children were taught to lie, cheat, steal and kill. Men like Morrigan were her 'support staff', murderous monsters at heart, but saints according to local authorities. The mistress Scarletta was even worse than her henchmen, she sold boys into slavery, the ones too inept to steal and fight; the girls too kind hearted to kill or steal were forced into brothels. Every person at Scarletta's orphanage had to contribute and pay their dues. The Mistress orchestrated assassinations, ran a ‘by-the-order’ brothel, gamblers den and smuggling operation; all under the guise of helping children.

To her and her underlings it was perfect, if any of the children were caught; they were caned and sent back, for the same offenses that would see an adult sent to the gallows. Kira was raised here, apparently her parents had been mortally wounded, both passing while Kira was in her mother’s womb. The rumor was, mages delivered Kira to the nearest orphanage, being Scarletta’s in Vateth City, oddly enough no one was sure why it was the mages brought the blue-eyed baby.

Kira shoved through the heavy oak door, and into the main house’s lobby. Torches in sconces lined the walls, beset in a pair of crescent staircases arced up the far walls one reaching to the east, the other westward. A large, ornate wooden desk stood between the entrance and staircases. Behind the desk sat a lovely woman, elegantly dressed, with crimson hair, and emerald green eyes.

Her features were attractive, less her nose, which had been broken and improperly set. She was neither fit, nor overweight, of medium height and build. She was lavishly adorned in gold jewelry beset with crimson gemstones, and ostrich white pearls. Her thick makeup made her skin flawless, her eyes sparkled, and her lips were thick and luscious. Kira approached the desk; without more than a quick glance, Scarletta continued to pour over her heavy leather tome.

“Now what Kira? I'm auditing my ledger!” She snapped with sharp impatience. “My dear regal Mistress”, Kira began with a low bow, customary when delivering bad news. ”I have had to defend myself against Morrigan. Again.” she added, “only this time it has proven to be fatal” Kira's final remark being barely above a whisper. The girl flinched as the Madame slammed her large book closed in fury.

“You know better than to turn on one of my support staff!” she was screaming by the end of her sentence, “What was it this time you insolent little shit?!” Scarletta glared at her, awaiting a response.

“The same as last time!” the teen replied defiantly, to which the gaudy woman shook her head and opened a smaller black notebook, flipped through a few pages and quickly skimmed over one before clearing her throat. “Ahem, Morrigan Aktarus; yielded the House ten thousand silver a month.”

Kira, being rather swift with converting numbers, knew Scarletta was making it sound worse than it actually was. A hundred gold wasn't too difficult to obtain for the youth, but her mistress must not know that.

“You know the rules, you have until the end of the month to pay what he was due, or else you'll be turned loose, to suffer in the world.” Kira began to protest, but was quickly silenced by a glare.

“Yes your benevolence.” the teenager said, again with a bow before leaving.

Kira walked out the door, thankful that the Mistress didn't know Morrigan had been lying to her, about his commissions, and he had a neat pile sitting in his room of three hundred gold. Kira needed to take it down to the money changer and convert it to silver; ten thousand for the House and twenty-thousand for her. This was what led to the original conflict with Morrigan, this was not the first time he had threatened to disrobe her by force.

Scarletta's rules over the invasion of privacy of her trusted henchmen carried severe consequences: Be it torture or worse, the “victim” of the invasion would decide the fate, and the support staff would see it carried out. There were many rules at the Scarletta House, most of which prevented the children from having any form of freedom.

Unless on a task, the children were confined to the grounds, they were not permitted to leave without chaperone, except on special circumstances, but that was when the individual was poisoned by Scarletta's own hand. Without the specific antidote, the poisoned agents’ heart would simply stop beating after 24 hours. The children called it the Last Day Elixir, however: Once indoctrinated, the children were free to roam the city, so long as the elixir was administered.

In the courtyard, Kira walked past the fountain and dark stained cobbles where Morrigan had been slain, towards the Seniors Dormitory. Children under thirteen years of age stayed in the main building, under lock and key on the second floor. Watchful eyes were everywhere monitoring the children, while other 'support staff' twisted their minds. It started gradually at first, manipulating them to believe Scarletta and her staff were their angels; their Queen and her knights. Once their initiation was complete, and the children had proven their fealty; they were given the title of Indoctrinated, or Indoc for short. Children who arrived knowing their given name, kept it, those without, were given one. Only once a Scarlet Child turned of legal age, they chose their surname.

Kira was one of the longest living members of Scarletta's house, at fifteen years’ service, it border-lined a record. Quick witted, intelligent and beautiful, Kira was given the Four Trials at the age of twelve, tests rarely issued and strictly reserved for those over sixteen. The trials measured feats of strength, stamina, agility, and intellect. Each of the children was given a rudimentary education: reading, writing and basic arithmetic on top of their insidious programming.

Those that excelled in scholarly arts were taught potion brewing, medicine, first aid and some devious other skills for the black market. Kira had excelled scholastically, however with her acrobatic aptitude, unnatural strength, dexterity and fiery temper: Scarletta wanted her to follow a similar path as her own childhood had yielded, like a surrogate daughter or heir.

She watched the younger children playing around the yard during the walk back to her room; she was reminded of her trials, her hardships, and how she had such a short childhood.