Protecting A Templar Legacy

Chapter Two: The Sign

The night had finally come to an end, much to the relief of Vanora, Lillis, and Hermoine, the other barmaid that had made herself scarce for most of the evening. The other girl obviously didn’t possess a good relationship with Vanora, for every once in a while each would exchange piercing glares and bitter scowls. She didn’t seem too fond of Lillis either.

“Good fer nothin’ whore,” Vanora muttered under her breath, her limbs moving stiffly as she attempted to clean and scrub viciously at the dirty tables around her.

There were very few occupants left, Dagonet, Vanora’s lover Bors, the three silent ones that were talking quietly amongst themselves, a mysterious dark-haired man peeling and chewing at an apple and another solitary man, sitting alone near the other three. He was different from the others, very dark and aristocratic. He possessed prominent features that could only be identified as ‘Roman’. He was very dark and angry looking also, like he was a complete outcast to the men at his side.

His gaze unnerved her for some strange reason. The coldness and the emotionless depths sent a distinct chill down the length of her spine. 'Odd...'

Suddenly, Lillis felt eyes on her and she turned toward the owner, only to catch the heated gaze of the girl, Hermoine. She seemed almost enraged by her presence.

To this Lillis merely raised a sardonic eyebrow, not caring in the least as the girl strolled determinedly toward her. “I am to take the tables with the Sarmatian knights,” she began to order snottily, “and you are to clean the kitchens!”

Lillis found herself consumed with the sudden the urge to throttle her. Women like her got their asses kicked every day for outright commentary like that. American women didn't stand for it. She felt like rolling her sleeves up and giving her a nice shiner with a reply to the equivalent of, “Bitch, WHAT!”

Unfortunately, much to her disappointment, Vanora stepped in. “Oh no you bloody don’t! This girl has been working far harder than you have tonight and you are not the one in charge here, little missy. You are to clean the kitchens yerself!”

The girl scowled sourly, her eyes seething, as she tried to stare down the older woman. Lillis felt like laughing at the picture they presented. “I shall tell my father about your treatment of me!” the girl threatened.

Vanora only smiled sweetly. “Aye? Well, go on ahead then. I only hired you as a favor to yer father and I can care less what you plan to tell the old man.”

Lillis watched as she stormed off, eyebrows raised. “Is she always so-“

“Childish and annoyin’?” Vanora finished, “Aye, she is. And a pain in the arse to boot! If ‘er father could walk and care for ‘imself, I’d have thrown her ‘high and mighty self’ out a long time ago!”

“I definitely don’t blame you.”

Vanora nodded and told her sternly, “Aye and don’t be taken’ any orders from the likes of ‘er. Come and see me if you think you should be doin’ somethin’.”

“That isn’t going to be a problem." Almost as an after thought, Lillis asked, “Can I kill her if she goes too far?”

Vanora laughed and winked at her playfully. Who knew she would get along with this new woman so well? "That, my dear, is something yer gonna 'ave to wait in line for."

Lillis merely smirked playfully, stealing the wet cloth from the distracted woman's hand.

At her startled expression, Lillis smiled and pointed in the direction of Bors and Dagonet. "Go and sit down, Big Momma, I'll clean."

Vanora planted her hands sternly on her hips, a frown on her face, while Lillis' smile broadened. "Didn't I just say what needed to be said or do I 'ave to be repeatin' myself!"

The other woman met her stare head-on, completely unfazed. "Vanora, you have an obsessive compulsive disorder," she stated bluntly. At the silly and confused expression on her face, she added, "If you don't sit down and rest once in awhile, you'll bring that baby of yours into early labor."

"Good," Vanora retorted, rather loudly. She was obviously the angry type during pregnancy… "I feel like yankin' the babe out of meself right now!"

Lillis visibly cringed at the mental picture. "Oh, that'll be pretty..."

"Are ya tryin' ta be funny!"

Lillis chuckled, their exchange suddenly gaining attention as Vanora's voice got louder. "No. I am merely stating that your feet and ankles are probably hurting like a bitch right now and your back is probably killing you. So, let me worry about this place being clean for the night and have yourself a break. Your loud and obnoxious man, whose loudness is equal to yours, is sitting over there. So, enjoy yourself. It’s this word called 'fun' Vanora. Say it with me-"

"Oaf! I know what it means!" She interrupted, slapping her playfully on the shoulder. She winked at her. "I've only known ya fer one night. And I don't know whether to hug ya or shove ya!"

"I seemed to have that effect on people," Lillis replied offhandedly, a smile forming that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Now, scoot!"

Vanora complied with a nod of thanks and walked over to Bors. While the two were conversing, Dagonet raised his head to her in a silent 'thank you'. He had been telling Vanora not to be walking about, hustling and bustling, constantly for too long. The woman was stubborn as a mule and obsessive with work.

Lillis responded in kind and sighed inwardly, her thoughts sobering once again. Now that she was here, what was she suppose to do…?

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She picked up the rest of the discarded pitchers and cups, not caring in the least that she was giving Hermoine more work and dishes to do. The girl needed to grow up! Lillis herself had come from a rich background, more because of her wealthy mother. But even as a rich heiress, she had been self-efficient, having lived on her own for awhile. Living on her own had been necessary, especially with how dangerous her life had become… because of that aspect, Lillis had lost a lot of people along the road. Too many people…

In a peculiar twist, this little adventure had been a way out for her.

It had been a way out of a life that Lillis had become fairly bitter toward. Everyone was dead and the spark she once possessed for living had long since began to dull itself out. Her family paid in blood to protect what was theirs and now here she was. Alone with a purpose she knew not entirely of.

She was here on a mission, that much she knew, to make certain people live, rather than died, and to make certain that her line was not in any danger towards the Illuminati.

She knew that they had to be here. The secret Roman society had been in existence for thousands of years, spread out both in the territory of their own homeland as well as the ones apart of its vast, but failing empire. It was probable that they were just as, if not even more, scandalous than they were in the 21st century. The empire was still standing, but on the verge of collapse. The kingdom would crumble to its people, as the history textbooks revealed and the Illuminati would be scattered. Scattered, but not destroyed. Some would be here, in Britain, plotting and scheming. It was just their way.

Sighing heavily, as she knew not what to do or who she was suppose to be connected to, Lillis continued absently with her work. She couldn't complain too much. Whether it was cleaning, scrubbing, fighting, or hunting, her mind could always become clear of problems and confusion easily. She had learned over the years to let some things go, the things she knew she couldn't fix with a mere swipe of the hand. Living here in Britain had liberated her far more than any vacation in the 21st century ever could. She had only been here for less than two years and the strange thing is, it felt almost like home to her.

Lillis smiled suddenly, trying to imagine the reaction that her mother would have had, if she were alive, about her going to live in Britain during the Dark ages. She would have either been shocked or envious. Her mother had always been the adventurous type. A free, fighting spirit.

As she finished cleaning and wiping down the last table, a shadow suddenly loomed near her, followed by the sound of light fluttering. 'What in the hell...?'

She looked over curiously, her eyes landing on a familiar form. "Oh, it’s you again," Lillis addressed, smirking to herself. She seemed to have an admirer. "Well, what business do you have today?" She asked, approaching the table that her newfound friend was perched upon. "I don't suppose you came here for a drink?"

The hawk eyed her up silently, cocking its head to the side as she gave out a loud squawk. Lillis noticed its talons immediately.

"What do ya got there?"

The hawk ruffled her golden brown feathers in invitation, shifting its beady eyes to its feet. She arched her neck downward, tugging and grasping a fine black cloth within its beak.

Approaching vigilantly, Lillis held out her hand.

The cloth fluttered into her palm in a slow, graceful arc. And as quickly as it was dropped, the hawk flapped away, soaring off heavily with a loud, piercing screech.

'Interesting...' If she didn't know better, Lillis thought, that hawk was serving as a guardian to her. It seemed to enjoy crossing paths with her.

After the disappearance of her "new friend", Lillis' attention fell on the cube of fabric within her hands. Carefully, she moved through the multiple layers of folds, leaving it exposed and bare. There was a signature embroidered onto its middle. A very familiar symbol.

"Illuminati," Lillis confirmed silently. It was a sign for her.

They were already here.


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