The Aegis Wreath: Custodes Alterius Mundi, #1

By Ros Fishman

When Jake Bennett witnesses the abduction of his grandfather, he and his friends are pushed into a secret society that has kept the human realm safe from the spirit realm for more than 2,000 years.  Book length - 155 pages.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ros Fishman
• Release date: Mar 10, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224930142

Book preview

Unus

(One)

Jacob Bennett stood in the brightly lit corridor of the hospital, his heart pounding in a rhythm of fear. His breath came in short, gasping pants, and his fists were clenched stiffly by his side. A whirlwind of medical jargon buzzed around him, incomprehensible to his young ears. All he knew was his mother, Emily, had been rushed into the ER of the Massachusetts General Hospital.

He stood with their neighbor, Alicia. who had raced them to the Fruit Street hospital. He had come home from school to find his mother, doubled over and covered in blood, on the kitchen floor. His scream had attracted Alicia, an emergency nurse at the hospital. She had assessed the situation and decided there wasn't time to wait for an ambulance, so together they loaded his mother into the car, and Alicia peeled out of the parking lot. Her hand on the horn and her foot flat to the floor, Alicia sped through the streets of Boston while talking to the hospital clerk on speaker. When they arrived, the emergency team was waiting for them at the door. They quickly removed Emily from the back seat of the car, placed her gently on a gurney and rushed her inside.

Stunned, confused, and scared, Jake climbed out of the passenger side of the vehicle, and stood staring after his disappearing mother. He looked at the blood on his hands; her blood. His hands were covered in his mother’s blood!

Alicia had grabbed Jake's hand and pulled him after the disappearing medical staff. Now, the harsh fluorescent lights overhead cast eerie shadows on his face, highlighting the unmistakable worry etched in his features. He watched as his mother was pushed away, her face as pale as the sterile hospital walls, and his fear was overwhelming.

Jake, Alicia said. Sit. It's going to be a while. She led him to a seat and handed him a couple of packets of wet wipes.

Jake sat wordlessly wiping the blood from his hands with the towelettes, his thoughts a whirlwind of dread. This was the second time in a month he had seen one of his parents, bloody and unconscious, wheeled away by frantic medical staff. The last time it was his father who had been brought in by an ambulance, a gunshot wound to the chest. He had stopped at the local convenience store, and had walked in on an armed robbery. The shooter had fled empty-handed, but had been caught by officers who were responding to the tripped silent alarm.

Shot in the line of duty, the doctors had said. They would do all they could for him. But Jake knew he wasn't shot in the line of duty. He knew his father was shot because he had stopped to get some ice-cream; a token gift as part of an apology. Jake had wanted to scream at the doctors who buzzed around promising to do all they could to save his father.

But, despite all their efforts, he had not survived. What would happen if his mother didn't make it? What would happen to him? Where would he live? Jake's hand went unconsciously to the leather band around his wrist. It had been a birthday gift from his father, made from the cover of his Detective’s shield.

Thoughts raced frantically through Jake's head, and his eyes blurred with unshed tears.

He wouldn't cry!

He had cried when his father had been brought in, shot, and fighting for life, and his father had died. Maybe if he didn't cry for his mother, she would be okay.

It wasn't a rational thought, but at twelve years old, it was the best Jake could do.

Alicia occasionally left him to get an update or bring him something to eat, which sat untouched on the seat beside him. How could she think he could eat? She knew what had happened a month ago and how much worse that made tonight.

It all seemed so scarily familiar. He thought he might even be sitting in the same seat he had sat in when his father had been brought in; his mother crying beside him, squeezing his hand so tight his skin turned white. The only difference was last time, his father's partner had been standing in the middle of the corridor, and police officers in their blue uniforms swarmed around the cramped area. Now, Jake sat alone with an unopened plastic triangle-wrapped sandwich next to him.

Time seemed to stretch endlessly as he sat unmoving on the seat, exhausted and emotionally drained. Finally, a nurse appeared and led Jake to his mother's room. The room was eerily quiet as he walked in, and the lighting was subdued. She lay in the sterile white hospital bed, her eyes closed as he approached. Wires and tubes were attached to her, tethering her to the bed. He reached out a hand to touch her.

Mom? he croaked, his quiet voice sounding loud in the silence of her room. She opened tired eyes and managed a weak smile.

Hey, she said and took his hand in hers. Instantly, the warmth of her hand thawed his cold fingers. Her voice was weak and strained. I'll be okay. She squeezed his hand almost as hard as she had a month previously, and fear shot through him again.

Honey, she went on, and her voice filled with concern as she spoke. This isn't easy to say after everything we've been through.

Just say it, Mom, Jake said. His mouth was dry, and he licked his lips.

His mother took a breath. I have to stay in the hospital for the baby to survive.

Her words echoed around Jake's head, thunderingly loud. He felt them shoot straight through him, leaving an emptiness in their wake. He closed his eyes at the sight of his mother's pale face, breathing hard. He felt as if he'd just run a million miles, but when he opened his eyes again, he was still in the hospital room, the machines beeping and flashing around his mother's bed. Had he even heard her correctly? Maybe she was delirious, and didn't know what she was saying.

Baby? Jake heard himself say. What baby?

Your father and I found out the day he died, his mother explained. You're going to have a baby brother or sister. She smiled at him, and through his confusion, he saw the joy on his mother's face. Her smile faded as he stood there, silent and still.

It wasn't planned, honey, she said. But I need to do everything I can to protect it. It's all I have left of your father.

All? Jake asked. He pulled his hand away from her, stung by her choice of words. What about me? Aren't I something you have left of Dad?

Of course, honey, his mother assured him. You're my little man! But please try to understand. I can't lose this baby so soon after losing your father. I need to do everything I can to prevent that. And, at the moment, that means complete hospital rest.

What's going to happen to me? Jake asked. His mother looked past him. He turned to the door and saw Alicia standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame. His heart sank.

Alicia will look after you for a day or so until I can organise something more permanent, his mother said. I'll try to get Martin, your grandfather, to help.

Jake looked at her in surprise.

Martin Bennett. His father’s father.

Someone who Jake only ever saw at Christmas.

Jake nodded in silence, his mind racing with thoughts of an uncertain future. Their tiny apartment didn't afford the luxury of a spare room, and Jake wondered if his grandfather would sleep in his parents' room or if he would be forced to give up his room and sleep on the couch.

It's only until we know the baby's safe, his mother said, reaching for his hand again. A sudden flash of anger heated his body, and he pulled away from her. He had lost his father, his mother was being taken from him, and now he would have to give up his room as well! His room was his solace, the one place he could relax and be himself, play his video games, and read his books. To have that ripped away from him, as well, was too much to bear.

Stupid baby! he shouted. If it wasn't for that stupid baby, you'd be home right now!

Jacob! his mother admonished. She struggled into a sitting position, and Alicia hurried across the room to assist her. Jake watched his mother lean back against the pillows Alicia had positioned, her slight frame creasing the edges around her outline. It can't be helped. I have to do this.

Her words cut through him, slicing his whole body until there was nothing left of him. This baby hadn't even been born and already it was taking his mother away from him. Rage filled Jake, and he opened his mouth before he could stop himself.

Well, it's gonna have to learn to swim 'cause I'm gonna to throw it in the river! Jake screamed. I don't want a sister! Or a brother! What's wrong with it just being us?

Jacob! His mother's eyes widened in shock at his outburst.

We're fine, just the way we are! Just you and me!

That's enough! his mother snapped, and he saw that familiar hard glint in her eyes. Swallowing his hurt and anger, he hung his head. He felt his face grow hot as it always did when he was flustered, but it was too late. He had already gone too far, and his eyes blurred again. He moved his mouth to apologize but couldn't force himself to speak the words out loud.

He heard his mother take a breath. Jake, I know this is a lot. It's a lot for me, too. But, I need you to be strong. Her soft fingers firmly lifted his chin and she smiled. Can you do that? He nodded his head slightly. It wasn't anything more than a tiny head jiggle, but a smile lit his mother's face. And the shame at his outburst deepened.

I'm sorry, Mom, he mumbled.

She cupped his cheek and brushed the hair off his forehead, then curled her fingers around his once again.

It's okay, honey, she said gently. We've been through a lot.

Jake nodded, wordlessly. Just one month ago his life had been as close to perfect as it could be. Then his father had to go and break the promise that had cost him his life. And now he could lose his mother, and the sibling he didn't want. What a difference thirty days could make. Jake clenched his jaws on the tears that threatened to flood his eyes, and he smiled at his mother.

Your mom should get some rest, Jake, Alicia said. She stepped around the bed and stood beside him. "Why don't we go home? You can pick whatever