The Council, A Witch's Memory

by J. C. Isabella

  I smiled, setting him on his feet, and stepped back. “Yes, you’re right, no physical evidence.”

  My father’s anger reverberated in the room, eyes flashing vivid green. “Henry, I am most concerned with this accusation. Fulk has been a dedicated man in my service for two hundred years.”

  “You’re right, I’m terribly sorry father.” Removing the handcuffs from my pocket, tossed them onto the floor between Fulk and I. He eyed them hungrily. I smiled. “Tempting, aren’t they?”

  “No.” Fulk adjusted his coat and bristled, “I take my leave, Sire.”

  “Hang on, just one second.” I stuck my hands in my pockets and rocked back on my heels. Relaxed. Not a care in the world. “This could be a coincidence, but how, exactly, did Cal escape your men? With such severe injuries, it would be impossible for him to overcome our best guards. Getting a little lazy, Fulk? Slipping up?”

  “No, I have preformed my duties flawlessly.” He eyed the handcuffs again. In order for the silver to harm me, he’d have to draw blood. But I would kill him before he found a way to attack.

  I sighed, feigning boredom. “Right, of course. Nothing gets past you, Fulk. You see and hear everything. I have to tell you it baffled me that Cal actually found Venna. Especially when the only people who know of her location are Council members.”

  Fulk shifted closer to the handcuffs. “I was just as shocked.”

  I smiled. “Not many witches have blue eyes and red hair. Very unique.”

  “I’ve only met one other.”

  “So I guess it wasn’t all that hard to figure out Venna’s identity. Someone must have stumbled across her. Hell, it could have happened at the grocery store.”

  “Precisely, Sire.” He murmured, now glancing at a gold pocket watch. I knew he was still thinking of a way out. “As much as I would love to continue our conversation, I must return to my post.”

  I crossed my arms, blocking him. “Harold Fulk I strip you of all responsibilities regarding my family. You are relieved of your duties to the Council under suspicion of treason, and I hereby place you under arrest.”

  Fulk’s face went white. “What, how?”

  My father stood beside me. “You’ve confessed to your crime, insolent snake.”

  “You said you’ve only met one person who held any resemblance to Venna.” Davy added, slipping behind Fulk. “Charlotte, her mother.”

  “But there is more than that. Venna told me her mother died just before she was able to expose you as a traitor.” I felt my eyes blaze with the glow of energy. “You deceived my family and the Council. For that your punishment will be severe.”

  “The Resistance will rise! When Craven assumes his place as the sole ruler and opens the demon portal, I will take pleasure in watching every one of you perish!” Face red, vein throbbing in his temple, Fulk finally cracked. “Especially that spoiled little bitch, Venna. Charlotte was just as haughty, and she deserved what she got.”

  Davy grabbed Fulk by the scruff of his neck. “Shut up.”

  Fulk jerked forward, trying to find enough space to phase. I dove, knocking him to the ground. His fist met my face, snapping my head back. I rolled, leapt to my feet, and sent him flying into the eager hands of Davy and Quinn. They restrained him. My father took the liberty to cuff him personally.

  Vladislav folded his hands, a hissing sound escaping from between his fangs. “Harold Fulk, your trial for treason to the Council will be immediate. May God show you mercy, for we will not.”

  Davy dragged Fulk from the room, aided by two guards stationed outside the door. I sat in a chair, clenching my fists to keep them from shaking. “We’ve been compromised.”

  “This is a grave situation.” Vladislav said, taking the chair next to me. “To have a traitor in the heart of the Council…I am forced to consider who else is working with him.”

  “We will not be defeated from the inside.” My father headed for the door, his black robes billowing behind him. He disappeared in a flash of green light after he said, “I think it is time I gave Samuel an ultimatum.”

  Vladislav smiled, Quinn nodded.

  I followed my father, phasing into the Council prison. We walked down a darkened stone corridor. We were a good forty feet below ground. In Aveyron, France. It wasn’t a well-known place in the magical community. We kept the most dangerous of criminals in a prison, built into a mountain.

  At the end of the corridor, we phased through a steel door.

  “Your Majesties!” The warlock standing guard bowed.

  I nodded. “Hello Mr. Jacobs.”

  “We are here to see Samuel.” My father motioned for him to leave.

  Jacobs nodded, phasing out in a red light. We crossed the small room to a silver plated cell. It was impossible for Samuel to phase out of it. The silver kept him contained, as did the chains keeping his arms and legs anchored to the wall.

  “Good evening, Samuel.” My father did not open the door, and instead spoke through a small barred window.

  “Ha, come to mock me again?” lethargy filled his every word. The silver drained his energy from such prolonged exposure. If left too long in such conditions, he would die.

  And that was his punishment.

  “This mockery you speak of has never existed. What I come to you for is help,” my father said.

  “The greatest warlock to have ever live asks for my assistance?” Samuel laughed, rasping for air before continuing, “I am flattered or dreaming.”

  “This is not a dream. I have come to ask you, who else has betrayed the Council?”

  The rattling of his chains echoed in the cell as he shifted his position. “I take it you’ve found out Fulk, eh?”

  I grasped the bars and peered into the cell. “Yes, and he will be joining you soon.”

  “When darkness falls and stillness reins, three great men find only pain. Loss of life, it shall be great. Faith and love bow down to hate.” Samuel lifted his head, eyes hollow and black. “The Council will fall and Craven…Craven will see to it that you and those you love are slaughtered before your eyes.” He looked at my father, smiling. “And you shall be the last to die.”

  This was the ranting of a man riddled with insanity and decay. But the words haunted me. They hit home. Before we were reasonably safe. Venna was a target outside the walls of the compound, though as long as she stayed with me she was safe.

  But now my mother, sister, and father…

  The Council…

  The threat come from inside.

  I looked up at my father. “No one is safe.”

  Chapter 24

  Venna

  I went back to my room, headed for bathroom, and set the water in the shower to warm and peeled off my clothes. Now that I was alone numbness began to sink in.

  Cal was out there somewhere.

  Fulk had been in Henry’s house, and knowing that someone so evil had access to us scared me.

  Who else couldn’t be trusted?

  I stood under the water until the stream ran cold, wanting Henry to come back. I had no clue where he was, only that he felt betrayed. A current of fury had rushed through him at first. It was very sudden. I could feel how he coiled up inside, ready to spring and attack.

  As the minutes passed I’d felt his anger ease up, his temper rein in. Now a deep current of concern ran through him, but he worked at concealing it.

  Feeling what someone else felt had to be one of the most amazing things I’d ever experienced. It gave me peace of mind; I knew he was all right without having to see him.

  Another detail came to me, the way Captain Fulk addressed me was the same way he addressed Henry.

  I’m bound to Henry. So that must mean…I’m a princess.

  I put that from my mind for now. It was too much to deal with. I’d think on it later when I had time. All I wanted was for us to be safe, and for the evil to be defeated.

  I focused on the soapsuds circling the drain, and the pinkish red coming from the cuts on my feet.

>   I was thinking about getting out of the shower when I heard the bedroom door open and close.

  I froze.

  What if Captain Fulk came back?

  What if Henry wasn’t able to catch him?

  Standing in the shower holding my breath, I was afraid to move. I didn’t know how to fight a warlock without backup.

  “Venna?” Henry’s voice floated through the closed door.

  I shook my head, embarrassed at my overactive imagination and shut the water off, wrapping up in a towel and poked my head out the bathroom door.

  Henry was sitting on the bed. He glanced at his watch and back up at me. “Hey.”

  I was too concerned to care that I was in just a towel and went toward him, taking in his rumpled appearance. His shirtsleeve was torn, and his bottom lip was purple, swelled slightly. But a triumphant gleam flickered in his eyes. “Captain Fulk’s trial is in thirty minutes. We need to be leaving.”

  “Okay, just let me get dressed.”

  His eyes zeroed in on my feet as he stood. “Ugh, not again.”

  “They don’t hurt.”

  “Really?” he didn’t believe me.

  He went into the bathroom, digging around in a drawer, while I went to the closet and pulled on jeans and a shirt. Once changed I sat on the bed. My feet dangled over the side and Henry was kind enough to bandage them up.

  “What am I going to do with you?”

  “Your guess is as good as mine.” I shrugged, leaning back on my elbows. “I need to say something to you.”

  “Shoot.” He stepped back, admiring his handiwork.

  “I don’t like how you left this morning.”

  “I’m sorry.” He bent over me, sifting his fingers through my damp curls. “Once you’re stronger and Craven is gone, I’ll take you with me every time.”

  “Fulk, he’s…he really is connected to Craven?” I watched the pulse throb in his neck. He was vibrating with anger above me.

  “Yes.” He ground out, hands fisting in the covers on either side of me. “It didn’t take long for me to get the truth out of him.”

  “H-how?”

  “I tricked him. He slipped up, and was arrested. That is, after I took a few swings.”

  “You fought him?”

  “He lied to me, to my parents. It is unforgivable. Knowing that someone so dangerous was near you, near our family—he’s lucky I didn’t do more.”

  I shuddered at the menace in his voice. “Could there be anyone else like Fulk? Someone that we don’t know about working for Craven?”

  “I certainly hope not. I do know who we can trust without fear of betrayal, and they will be here soon.”

  I lifted my head and pressed my lips to his gently. When I pulled back his bottom lip was healed and his mouth formed a smile. “I need a shower. Can you be ready to leave in thirty minutes?”

  “Yes, where are we going?”

  “Trinity Hall, for the trial. In the closet you’ll find a few dresses Flora ordered for you. Pick one you like and I’ll meet you downstairs.” He headed for the door, but he paused and looked back at me.

  “What?” I asked, puzzled by his expression.

  “You’re just…it’s hard to explain how it feels to know what you feel.” He crossed back to me and kissed me. “It’s making me crazy.”

  “I’m okay,” I laughed. “I promise.”

  “That’s not what I’m talking about.” He shook his head and slanted his mouth over mine again. “When this is over, I’m phasing us to the most remote spot on the planet for a week.”

  “I can’t wait.” He felt that? He felt me wanting to kiss him? “I mean, as long as it has running water and air conditioning.”

  With a chuckle, Henry tore himself from me, disappearing into the hallway.

  I went to the closet and picked out one of the dresses Flora had gotten me. I was admiring the silky fabric and made my way back into the bedroom.

  When I looked up a devastatingly haunting man blocked my way. He had dark brown hair and midnight blue eyes. His skin was the color of alabaster.

  “Hi,” He looked just as surprised.

  “Uh, hey.”

  “Who are you?” he asked, amusement lacing his velvety voice. He had an accent. It was very light, almost sounded Russian.

  “I’m Venna.” Why wasn’t I screaming my head off? He had strange taste in clothing too. He wore very expensive looking black pants and a red silk shirt. It was a little much for morning. Oddly enough, I didn’t feel frightened. No prickly neck.

  His eyebrows pinched together and his gaze swept the room. “Why are you in here…”

  He stepped toward me and I no longer felt brave. I took a deep breath, about to shout for Henry. There wasn’t any need. A flash of green light filled the room.

  “Dmitri what are you doing?” Henry barked, and stood in front of me.

  “Flora said you’d be in here.” His eyes went wide, “I hear only one heart.”

  “What?” I asked.

  “How long?” Dmitri crossed his arms. “No one ever tells me anything.”

  Henry snorted. “Relax, it’s only been since yesterday.”

  As unexpected as it was sudden, Dmitri flashed me a brilliant smile. “Welcome to the family.”

  “Uh, thanks.” I managed to smile back, and that’s when I noticed Dmitri had fangs. Real ones. Pointy ones. Nothing like the plastic things the kids wore on Halloween.

  “I’m here to deliver news.” His voice hardened and his eyes glowed midnight blue. “The trial is canceled in favor of an emergency meeting.”

  Henry cursed. “Why?”

  “My parents wouldn’t say, and neither would yours. Fulk was executed five minutes ago.” Dmitri strode for the bedroom door, pausing on his way out. “It’s bloody insane. The compound is in an uproar and the guards are tripled in number. I can feel something coming.”

  “So can I,” Henry said.

  “I’ll see that Zane and Flora are ready to go.” Dmitri let himself out. “Oh, and you might want to turn on the news.”

  Henry waited until we were alone again before speaking, “Sorry, Dmitri is oblivious sometimes. He won’t come in your room again.”

  “Is he a v-vampire?” I choked out.

  “Yes, he is part of the Council. A prince, actually.”

  “We can trust him?” and could I trust my eyes not to stray downward because Henry was currently wearing a towel…nope.

  “Without a doubt,” He bent to press a kiss to my lips. “I’ll be right back.”

  “Hey, I’m coming with you.” I said, thinking that I’d rather not be alone with a vampire in the house. I latched onto Henry’s arm and he laughed. The green light flashed around us, and we appeared in his bedroom. He went to the bathroom to finish his shower, and I went over to the armoire, opening the doors wide to reveal a TV. I flipped through the news channels, local and not, searching for anything that Dmitri might find interesting. There wasn’t much, weather reports, car accidents, and none of it was in Capeside. On the off chance I missed something I flipped back, and landed on one of the more popular stations.

  Apparently there was a gang fight in Chicago.

  “Ah,” I heard Henry come back out of the bathroom.

  “What?” I glanced up at him, wondering about the concern on his face. And then my gaze trailed downward, unable to ignore the fact he was still in his towel.

  “The humans blame it on what they know.” He said. “It is beneficial to us. They see only the obvious, a group of young people out to upset the balance.”

  I looked back at the TV. “What is it?”

  “Craven’s men,” he frowned. “Or it could be our people fighting with those they suspect are members of the Resistance. At this point, all I really know is that it’s bad.”

  “What if humans find out?”

  He left me to watch the news and went into his closet. It was one of those massive walk-in ones that might as well double as another room. “They won’t. We ha
ve our people working beside humans to make sure of that. In fact, one of the top newscasters is a werewolf.”

  “That’s handy.”

  Once he was dressed we headed down to breakfast. It was safe to say the house was turning into a zoo—two warlocks, two witches, a vampire, a Saint Bernard, and the promise that a pair of werewolves would be joining our group before the day ended.

  The freak show at the circus had nothing on us.

  The gown I ended up wearing was a deep purple, shimmery fabric, with cap sleeves. Henry come up behind me with a wide piece of black ribbon and tied it around my waist. At first I didn’t think anything of it. But embroidered on the front of the ribbon was a black half moon and three stars.

  The sash, Henry called it, looked so official.

  So…now I was part of the Council too, and nervous as hell.

  Henry looked absolutely amazing. He wore black pants tucked into shiny black boots, and a tunic-style coat with large gold buttons. On the right side of his coat the same moon and stars adorned the fabric. Attached to a black belt around his waist was a gleaming sword.

  If I thought he was even the slightest bit intimidating before, it didn’t touch how dramatic and imposing he appeared now.

  “Everyone ready?” Dmitri asked. He’d changed too, into an outfit exactly like Henry’s, complete with sword.

  “Yes.” Flora was in a pink gown this time, with ruffled sleeves, and a black sash adorned her waist with the emblem on it as well. She looked pretty, and my brother couldn’t stop staring.

  Zane’s was the biggest transformation. He wore an outfit similar to Henry’s, but the color was a deep, royal blue. And he looked so handsome, not like a little boy anymore.

  Thankfully, he didn’t have a weapon strapped to his side.

  “Okay, you two come with me.” Dmitri held out his hands and formed a circle with Zane and Flora. “Hold on.”

  There was a cool breeze, and they disappeared.

  I gazed up at Henry and he took my hands. “Don’t let go.”

  I held him tight and felt weightless. The cool air and green light whipping around me. We materialized in a long hallway. The springy carpeting was a deep burgundy, contrasting the creamy eggshell walls. Dmitri, Zane, and Flora were ahead of us, entering a door on the left. I glanced behind me and found another door.