Page 91 of Pride: Kneel Before None

I stiffened when the familiarity of his hindered gait, the crimson cord tied around his waist, and the superiority in his amber eyes came together in realization.

“Crestpin.”

There was no doubt about it. The braided cord around his midsection was only worn by Knights when they entered their period of reflection. He was the only one of our kind I had known to ever be able to manipulate and pull on the minds of others.

“Always were sharp as a tack, Barnabel. Sometimes too sharp.” He offered up a wry smile.

Crestpin tucked his hands inside opposite sleeves like some sort of monk prepared to chant a few prayers. “Glamor is a wonderful ability. I had considered making use of your esteemed glamorist here, but his loyalty has no bounds. However, that trait is notably absent in his sister. Made her much more amenable to perform a few parlor tricks for adequate payment.”

He sighed wistfully as he looked at Ignatius. “You could have made a fine ally. Such a shame that loyalty was your downfall.”

“You’ve gone to great lengths, Crestpin. It’s flattering to know you’ve come out of your period of reflection to pay me a visit.”

My tone suggested polite respect, when my body language told a different story. I tilted my head with piqued curiosity. “Tell me, how long have you been playing pretend with Rip’s appearance?”

Looking pleased with himself, he answered with delight. “Long enough to come here, see for myself how well you’ve been upholding your oath. Wanted to know if you still felt so strongly about your… peculiar and more modern take on our ideology.”

Mirra shifted uncomfortably off to the side, taking several steps as if she could shrink away. Too bad there weren’t many shadows to hide in within Sevenfold.

“You see, during my period of reflection, I had a bit of an epiphany, if you will. Knowing that you see our role as Knights of Hell here in Superbia to be contrary to foundational teachings, I realized something. I realized that I had failed you as an elder, in showing and guiding you towards the truth.”

I arched a brow in question. “And what truth is that?”

“You see these people?” He jutted his chin at the crowd that surrounded us. His particular brand of strength came from influencing the masses as he did now. “They are not weak-minded fools. Yet they recognize the strength and power of a Knight. If I wish them to kneel, they will kneel. That is the unshakeable core of what makes our kind revered and respected.”

He stepped forward, closing the gap between us until there were only a couple of feet between us. “But you, Barnabel, you feel differently. You always have.”

“If you wanted to engage in a philosophical debate, you should have requested to get on my calendar,” I responded dryly.

“Ah, I did take that into consideration. However, I felt a practical demonstration was more worthy and effective. If one applies pressure to a faulty joint, does it not buckle?”

The cryptic question hung between us.

Eve stepped up next to me, though my body shifted to make sure she didn’t pass the invisible line that had been drawn between the elder Knight and me. Despite only standing as tall as my chest, she held herself as though she were twice that.

“Why don’t you take your worm-eaten brain and crawl back to whatever hole spat you out?”

I released a controlled exhale. I loved this woman’s mouth, but this was not how I wanted her to use it.

Crestpin barked out a laugh, an unnerving sound that I’d never heard from him before.

“She really does complement you, doesn’t she? Such bite.” The condescension rolled off him in waves.

Growing tired of his bullshit, I cut through his rambling. “Why are you really here, Crestpin?”

He responded casually, speaking as though the answer was obvious. “I told you, to demonstrate the most important lesson of all. To do my duty in seeing to it that you understand the authority your title demands.”

The man who stood there, an image of everything Knights of Hell were supposed to be, snapped his fingers. A gust of air swept through the room, carrying his power with it.

Then, like an army of drones, the mind-controlled crowd crept forward. An overwhelming number of them packed onto the casino floor.

Half stepped towards us with menacing violence in their movements, while the others branched off to inflict destruction on the property itself. Tables flipped, sending cards and chips scattering. Machines toppled over with ground-shaking thuds. Glass cases shattered underneath heavy blows. Fire alarms ripped from the walls, triggering a downpour from the sprinkler systems ahead.

All of the damage came from my people. These were my employees and Sevenfold’s patrons who chose my establishment and my pocket to fill. Now, Crestpin had turned them against me.

A huge mistake.

Hellfire ignited through my body. Steam rose from my skin as water rained from the ceilings. Adrenaline surged through my veins as I turned to face the impossible odds encroaching on our space. I was prepared to take every one of these people out if it meant keeping Eve protected.