Middle Ground

Book One of the Crusades Series

Prologue

St. Adrian's Academy is a private co-ed institution for secondary education located in Kingswich, a small county roughly 35 miles east of London. Situated on Foxwood Point, the school was originally a small courtyard castle from the 15th century, and at present is considered a highlight of Kingswich tourism. The school has an average of 1,200 students per year, mostly from the upper class, but scholarships and grants are also offered.

St. Adrian's currently ranks as one of the top five institutions for higher education in the country, top twenty in all of Europe, both in the public and private sector. It boasts an academic program of college entry-level competence, being a feeder school to many high-ranking universities in the United Kingdom. The school is also a steady forerunner in the art, music, and recreation field, particularly in polo and archery, where it has been champion for the last five years.

At least, that was the most Alexa Young gathered from the pamphlet before promptly tossing it back to the table in front of her. She crossed her legs and indolently stared back at the nun seated behind the big, oak desk before her.

Sister Eleanor Bennett watched the girl before her in barely concealed disdain and exasperation. In her grimy Doc Martens and ridiculously short, pleated blue uniform skirt, 16-year old Alexandra Young would have left nothing to the imagination if not for the striped black tights that clung to her legs like a second skin.

Alexandra Young was what you would call a special child. She was gifted with a very keen extrasensory perception, meaning she could sense things that most other people couldn't. In truth, Alexandra could communicate with anything paranormal, whether they were ghosts, spirits, or even malevolent beings.

Sister Bennett first met the girl while traversing through the town of Old Moordam, a small city about 70 miles north of London. She had stopped by the local parish where Pastor Henry Young lived, where she saw Alexandra out on the field, in rapt communication with herself. Over the years, Sister Bennett had come across numerous schizophrenics and impostors, but she immediately spotted Alexandra's genuine potential like a sore thumb. She suggested Pastor Young to enroll her at Dovecross Preparatory School for Girls where she was headmistress, and told Alexandra of her abilities and the things she could do with them.

Ministers like Sister Bennett belonged to an organization called the Crusades. Descending from the historic, religious army, the Crusades were founded several centuries ago after a powerful sorcerer named Lazarus formed an underground cult called the Renati. The cult comprised of sorcerers tasked to reanimate the dead back to life. These newly risen were called the Mortoviv.

With the sponsorship of the Vatican, the Roman Catholic Church has made numerous extensive efforts to conceal the existence of the Renati from the public for ages. For instance, the cult's undead creations have been referred to as vampires and zombies, while its summoners have been synonymous with wizards or witches. Alexandra's gift basically allowed her to sense and identify Renati, distinguishing the undead from the living.

Alexa crossed her legs and began tapping her boot on one of the table's legs. She stared at the nun in idle defiance, her patience thinning with each second.

"You must be wondering why you're here," Sister Bennett finally began, and already knew she was off to a bad start when the girl raised her eyebrows in a statement that would have said, "Duh?"

"You've heard about St. Adrian's, of course," The woman cleared her throat, motioning to the pamphlet on the table with her gaze.

"I'm not qualified," Alexa finally spoke in a flat voice. "And I don't want to qualify."

"Yes, but St. Adrian's has a special program—"

"I don't give a fuck about programs."

"Watch your mouth, Miss Young," The nun's eyes icily narrowed in warning. She slowly leaned back to her chair with a collected sigh and folded her hands on her lap.

"Now as I was saying, St. Adrian's has a remarkable program for special kids like you."

"That's what you told my father when you dumped me here," Alexa crossed her arms with a petulant frown. "I'm the only medium in this entire school, and all I have is the attic and your dusty old library to work on."

"Crusaders don't receive formal training until they are sixteen," The nun calmly replied. "You've just turned of age."

"And this St. Adrian's place," Alexa disinterestedly stared down at the pamphlet before her. "Is it where all the other freaks gather?"

Sister Bennett's lips thinned in growing displeasure. "For the most part St. Adrian's is a regular high school, but it is also one of the biggest underground headquarters for Crusades in the country."

"I don't have the money to go to such a fancy place."

"If you pass the initiations, you'll be accepted under Crusade scholarship," The woman answered. "You won't have to pay a single penny. In fact, you'll find that the order is quite generous for services rendered."

"And what will I get from going to this school?" She raised her eyebrows.

"You will have real books, real teachers," The nun replied. "You will meet people who share the same ability as you do, people who use it for a living."

Alexa warily narrowed her eyes. "I can get better?"

"You can be stronger," Sister Bennett firmly said.

"So what," The girl shrugged and glanced at the pamphlet once more. "I just pass the test and I get in?"

"Oh, not quite as simple," The nun softly laughed. "This is a secret organization founded by the Church we're talking about."

"Fine, whatever," Alexa uncrossed her legs and rose from her seat. "Anything else?"

Sister Bennett stared at her long and hard before closing her eyes with a sigh. "Nothing more, Miss Young. I'll let you know when I've made the arrangements for your application."

Alexa left the room without another word as the woman wearily stared at the door. God knows there was more darkness than light in joining an organization like the Crusades, but there was a bright and terrifying potential in the girl that could no longer be contained. It was time for Alexandra to face the real world.

It was time for some much-needed change.

to be continued