Space War: Blood of Sanguinius

ter

onsonance, Arx

re one of the oldest parts of the Librarium and they were a good match for his saturnine character – dark, labyrinthine and unwelcoming. It was also here that the Blood Angels kept their most dangerous

ished officers of the Chapter. These luminaries were seated around Mephiston on a circle of stone chairs in the central chamber of the

ing the scene a subaqueous quality. Mephiston was staring into this emerald tower of light, studying dust motes as they flashed and danced. He seemed

bove. At present however, she was oblivious to the tumbledown beauty of the ruined cellars; she was thinking instead of the elevated company s

k of greaves and pauldrons did not make him look any more human. He was as perfectly made as all Blood Angels. Beneath his simple red surplice, the iron hard architecture of his massive, superhuman physique was visible. But like all of his kind, he displayed a perfection that was almost disturbing when seen close up. He had the exaggerated, imperious features of a classical statue, Rhacelus was ancient, even by Blood Angels standards, and not above reminding his subordinates of the fact. Mariah had heard him describe his role in conflicts that were footnotes in some of th

Mark VII plate, but it was his face that showed the real impact of the fight. His jaw was jutting out and his deep-set eyes were simmering beneath his heavy brow. The idea that the Arx Angelicum could be attacked in such a way had left him wide-eyed with indignation. For the moment, Captain Vatrenus held his ire in check, so Mariah turned from th

. The top of the palanquin was a seething nest of serpentine limbs. Clad in ribbed steel and ending in a mixture of styluses, claws and lenses that cradled the little chest. The centre

to the simple privations of the flesh. A mixture of passion and devotion radiated from their bleached faces, as vivid as the light shining from Rhacelus' eyes. Two of them were present and the third appeared in the form of a flickering hololith. The projected priest was the same senior prelate

of the psychic wards he has employed to seal the breach in real space and I have detailed work of my squads." His tone was bullish. "Chief Librarian, will you explain what you were attempting? I do not understand much of what o

"Nothing more. The Arx Angelicum was never in danger." His words flowed into each

jowly features trembling. "Perhaps I could help illumina

mere existence of the priest, bu

Mephiston alone, calling me hither. Lords and Lady of the Librarius, you should know that it has been prophesied that Lord Mephiston is the Astra Angelus." Zin's hand trembled as he snatched a medallion hung around his neck and held it up as though it explained his words. The design was impossible to make out through the interference of the transmission, but he waved it at them as proof. "Ten long years ago, the jewel of t

n across his face. His eyes widened in shock as Rhacelus looked calmly ba

roven to be true. The ritual in the Ostensorio achieved something incredible and divine. Your lord travelled safely through the war

his chair, exhausted by his own fervour, looki

s all what you saw? I have travelled across half the galaxy to see you. I have faced…" His words faltered. "I have faced things that I will not easily forget and lost many friends, but I will reach B

ak in such away to the Chief Librarian of the Blood Angels was incredible. Mariah saw that she was not the only one to note the break w

tion to the priest and continued watching the s

onfessor Zin, attempting to snap Mephiston out of

choed the words "Divinus

lucked a leather bound book from his robes and began quoting from it, his voice shaking with

hispered the

th," continued Zin. "Five times five were the walls that to

hen Mephiston seemed to notice something odd about his hand. It was clenched into a fist but Mephiston stared at it as though he had not willed hi

deman

Vicissitudes in its entirety." There was no anger in his voice, just quietly stated a face "I have read all five translations." He

o frustration. "What did you see, Chief Librarian?" he snapped. "What did y

ng forwards in his chair and glancing at Zin. "You

s. We are what our scars made us. We are born in blood. The words were accompanied by a familiar vision: the same lidless, flayed, veiled face Mariah had seen on Thermia. The words and the face

s so that the light spilled across his face. Mephiston's features must once have matched the beauty of the other Blood Angels, but his

y, visibly shaken by Mephiston's gaze.

that. The wars of Sanctitude are no nearer completion than when we began prosecuting them, a century ago, but…" He paused and looked into th

d Confessor Zin stared across the galaxy, attempting to look Mephisto

motion. "It is forbidden to all… all but the most senior members of the Eccl

your world, Confessor Zin," he drawled, not deigning to look at the priest, "and he found it." His words washe

as hurling him towards Baal. He nodded and turned back to Mephiston. When he spoke again, it was with a more emollient

e remained on his face. "A luckless pawn, caught up in

assure you, Chief Librarian, there are no h

erwise." He shrugged. "But I did not say Prester Kohath was a heretic. The idea of heresy had barely taken shape

as reading her mind, checking to see if any one was after the Primarch's daught

celus and the other Librarians w

pe kindled in his red-rimmed eyes and he clutched his medallion, mouthing a prayer. "I would beg that you hand him to my brethren immediately," he said. "And then

and believed it to be dreadful, but truths are only dreadful when one is unable to und

isms, while refusing to give me a direct answer. Can you lead us to Divinus Prime. We cannot simply abandon

used all of his attention on the priest. Something flicker

ression. "Just like men those poor souls on D

rigid with concentration. He tilted his head back and a crimson sheen washed over his eyes. They became featureless red or

e chamber. His whole demeanour had changed. The full, unnerving force of his gaze was now l

e, Confessor Zin, and I have never seen the banks of Esomino, but your visions have not lead you astray.

being dismissed. "Chief Librarian! I hav

ctor and it died with a rattle of slowi

two hooded priests rose to their feet.

ance and the priest's wo

hought," said Mephiston. "Rhacelu

em. Zin's brethren muttered anxiously as they were led away from the undercroft, shepherded do

he ragged hole in the ceiling, studying the glittering dust motes again. He remain

ctitude have claimed dozens of worlds and we still have no idea who is behind all these absurd schisms

though noticing them for the first time. Then h

proached you about the des

elus, it has been stolen – plucked from the air like a conjurors pr

sions have brough

You mean this Astra

elt. I felt something long before Zin petitioned Commander Dante and asked to approach me. And I have seen th

hisper. "I'm surprised to see Confessor Zin make such a fool of himself. He was practically lecturing you. Whatever affection he holds for thi

or rank." He watched the receding figures of the priests, sneering as they slipped from vie

o oddly. He's only giving me half a story. Which is why I went to see the place for myself." He looked down at his hand, no

rio to continue the slow, careful work of reconsecrating the ruins, while most of the Librarians headed

Librarium, Lady Mariah held up a hand to Mephiston, signalling that she wished to speak with him alone. Mephiston wav

ys of the great crusade. Each chamber was lined with rows of marble plinths and on top of each plinth was a bust, carefully sculpted to resemble the head of a bested alien foe. The Blood Angels employed onl

ed. She clasped the shoulder pad of Mephiston's battleplate and leaned closer to him. "Tell me the Truth Ca

as ever, but he did not reprimand Mariah for usi

ed one of his gauntlet

k, brittle fames danced across his knuckles and sparked between his fingers. In places, th

this?" as

yes and the darkness faded. "I can barely control it any more. It grows more powerful by the day but the more I struggle with it, the more I …" He held up his hand, leaving wisps of shadow in the air

f Divinus Prime? Do you see hope there or not? Did all those vi

fter all these visions and messages. Divinus Prime was just another bloodbath – believers killing believers over some detail of religious doctrine, just as confusing as the Cronian Sector. I have to admit I returned here baffled, old friend. Neither of my hopes turned out to be true. I found no link between Divinu

d confused. "A way t

o be. A way to fulfil my destiny. To truly grasp what I have been given and finally name it friend or foe." Mephiston turned his

gh the halls. "I'm not likely to forget it. You didn't

s." He held out a hand and allowed the dark fire to envelop his gau

with you. You have seen when I thought everything was lost, on Thermia five, your saw into my soul. You even seen the skinless woman that has been calling to me. She is the key to all of this I know it. I think she may b

rius" sa

hat created a nexus between us, joining my thoughts to yours." Mephiston studied the black flames licking across his bat