KING OF THE UNDERWORLD: Lucien and Scarlett (Earthbound Series Book 1)

by V L Peters

  ◆◆◆

  I reached out to Lucien touching his mind with my own, as the memory of the fair-haired woman that appeared in our front room came to my mind, along with her warning. We still had no idea who she was.

  'Lucien, we have to get this under control. All we wanted was your help in finding Megan and now anyone else that's been taken, if that means working together, that's what we need to do.' I tell him though our personal link.

  "Damien. Step. Down," I hear Lucien demands of his second. "We didn't have time for this shit. There were more important matters at hand going on."

  "Fuck," Damien swore, tearing his eyes away from Abigail's blue ones, pointing over towards Mia, "just keep that bitch, the fuck away from me," he warns Lucien before turning around and walking away, till hes standing behind Lucien again. A look of thunder was written across his face. He stood there never taking his eyes off of Abagail.

  "Now we got that out of the way, maybe we can get back on track?" Lucien asks, looking at every one of us, daring us to protest. None as yet was forthcoming. "We'll make some sort of arrangement between us. At this point in time, we need each other. Humans and Naturals alike are being taken. By whom we haven't a fucking clue."

  "What kind of arrangement?" questions Pamela with curiosity and suspicion?

  CHAPTER TWENTYONE

  ‘’We’ll share Intel, help each other wherever possible,’’ I reply to Pamela’s question while looking at every single person in the room, as if daring them to protest any further ‘’we will put everyone in groups. So each patrol has a mixture of our own people,’’ There was muttering all around us. It was obvious that some of my men weren’t happy with the decision. The look of distrust on their faces said it all. Did I give a fuck? No. My word was gold.

  I hold up my hand, causing the muttering to stop. ‘’If any of you have any objections you know where the fucking door is,’’ no one says a word. ‘’we will met tomorrow and decide between us who’s going with whom. In the meantime. There’s another issue that needs to be discussed,’’

  ‘’What matter?’’ they all ask at once.

  ‘’There’s a meeting taking place this evening,’’ I tell them clearing my throat, watching as they turn their heads in my direction, waiting for their reaction as they hear the other part, ‘’Here in this room. Lucien wants us all to attend,’’

  ‘’What kind of meeting and why do we have to be there?’’ Emma demands, staring at me, puzzlement on her face, ‘’and why are we just hearing about it now?’’.

  Lucien replies to Emma’s question, ‘’because I had been waiting for the other Leaders to agree. To answer your question. I, Damien, a handful of my other men will be attending. Also, members of the Council, twelve in total. The leaders of the Fae, Vampires, Shifter’s ….’’ The names of the ones who agreed to attend goes on, ‘’and if you agree. The eight of you and in the way that we have become a …. shall we say a Unit. We, as a whole will have to do the same with the leaders of the other territories and need to find out if anyone else has gone missing,’’ Lucien tells them. Lucien doesn’t mention that he had already informed me and had left for me to notify them.

  ‘’I don’t like to say it, but he’s right,’’ Melissa tells us, without an apology in her voice, ‘’all of us have to work together!’’

  ‘’I don’t like it. It puts us in an unbelievably bad and vulnerable position,’’ Pamela advised, looking at us all. Making sure we understood. Her eyes narrow as if she was overthinking something, ‘if, and it’s a big if, we do agree. Then if we are threatened in anyway, we will have no choice, but to protect ourselves,’’ she warns Lucien.

  ‘’Do they know that we are witches? Because if we agree. I don’t like the idea of walking in blind,’’ I tell Lucien as I push my red hair behind my ear, starring over at him.

  If Lucien could get us all agreeing and working together it would be easier finding out who or what had taken Megan and the others that are going missing. I knew that whatever was coming our way, everyone would all have to agree to what Lucien was going to propose to the other Leaders and the Council. Everyone had to be on board, no matter our differences.

  ‘’I can’t promise that they don’t know. Though all my people were instructed not to talk about Scarlett, sadly even I, can’t trust everyone,’’ Lucien replies with a shrug looking over at me, ‘’and it would be best you if you try not to attract anyone while the meeting is taking place,’’

  ‘’All weapons are to be handed over on arrival,’’ Damien informs us, standing beside Lucien, ‘’and they have agreed to go through the imaging scan to prove that they aren’t hiding any other weapons upon their bodies.’’

  I look at my family. I can see the worry on Pamela’s face, Abigail and Mia are as normal standing next to each other, and Melissa is standing next to Emma and Ava while Evelyn is standing off to one side, a frown on her face deep in thought. We all look at each other, each of us joining our mental link.

  `Guys, I know we all have our own fears, and I can understand every single one of them, but Melissa was right we have no choice. We need to find out were Megan is and how many humans and supernatural have gone missing. It’s a chance we are going to have to take, no matter what the outcome will be. ` I tell them, as we join our link.

  `Is it possible that a concealment spell could be put in place to hide our Witches and Omega’s? ` Ava asks.

  `The only problem is, would it even work? ` Evelyn question, `there is going to be various powerful Supernatural’s in this meeting and we wouldn’t know if it was working until the meeting had begun. `

  I could sense that they weren’t sure on Lucien’s request, but we didn’t have a choice.

  I feel a sense of relief when I hear Pamela say.

  ‘Melissa is right. We all know we need to work together. We need to find Megan and to do that we are going to have to work together and to deal with the threat that is coming our way we need Lucien’s and the other Leaders of the other Territory’s and Regions.. If we don’t. The outcome will be worse than we think it’s going to be. `

  I see the acceptance in their eyes. Realising there wasn’t another choice.

  ‘’We’ve agreed to be at this meeting,’’ Mia and Abigail announce in sink. Standing side by side, linking hands, turning their attention to all the men in the room, ‘’but make no mistake. If we are attacked in any shape or form, we will retaliate!’’

  ◆◆◆

  THE MEETING

  Scarlett

  I could feel the nervousness radiating off my sisters and cousins. I couldn’t say I blame them seeing I felt the same. What had we stupidly agreed to? We would soon find out. A concealment spell had been placed around every single one of us. I just hoped it worked. If not, we would be fucked!

  I had been sensing that something was upsetting Melissa. I couldn’t put my finger on what was wrong, but she wasn’t herself. I walked over to her and sat on the chair beside hers. I joined our mental link, not wanting anyone else to hear out conversation.

  My mind travelled down our link, until I found and touch hers. I felt her acknowledgement and recognition, letting our minds link together.

  `Are you going to tell me what’s wrong? ` I ask Melissa though the link, `I can tell you’re nervous as we all are about this meeting, but I sense there’s something else that’s got you rattled, `

  I sensed the trepidation she was feeling. Whatever was wrong, she was fighting against it. We sat there for a good five minutes before she replied.

  `It is just …. My past could be walking through that door and I don’t know if I’m strong enough to face it, ` she confessed. I knew, she would tell me, all I had to do was just sit quietly beside her. Until she was ready to tell me what was worrying her.

  It shocked me, to hear her admit something like that. She was one of the strongest people I knew. I didn’t know much about what had happened all those years ago, but it had affected her to the point that it had changed her. She
had arrived home broken and hadn’t spoken to anyone for weeks. Until she had realised what was happening with her body. That had changed her once again. Pulling her out of the dark hole she had been in. Finding the cubs had been another turning point. Whatever had happened had made her into the strong woman she was today. Now I did not see that woman. I saw the one who had arrived home, broken. Whatever was going around inside her head, she needed to snap out of it. We needed her in the game. The only thing I thought could be causing her to be in this state, were the Shifters that were coming to the meeting. She had lived with a group when she had been younger.

  `Your past? … As in…` I asked her down our link.

  `Yes, `

  `You are one of the strongest women I know. If your past is going to walk through that door, I’ve no doubt in my mind that you can and will handle it, ` I reassure her.

  `I hope you’re right. I really do, ` Melissa replies down the same link.

  I feel her hand take mine. Giving it a Squeeze. As our skin contacts. A scene appears and unfolds in my mind. Melissa. Danger, tears, fighting, arguments. An unknown man and woman their faces in shadow. The scene goes on and on. Then the scene changes to another. It’s further in the future. I see Melissa, and the same unknown Man, they are laughing, kissing. I hear children giggling and a faint voice calling out, the scene fades away. Breaking our mental link, I turn my head towards hers and whisper aloud into her ear

  ‘’I promise you, I am’’

  She turns her head around to face me, questions in her eyes. I give her hand a squeeze. With a smile I tell her, ‘’I promise you. Eventually everything will be alright,’’

  She just sits there staring at me, until ‘’did you just have a vision?’’ she whispers knowingly. Eyes narrowed, watching my face for my reaction. I just smile, kiss her cheek, stand and walk over to the rest of our family. I can fill her penetrating stare in my back. I can’t tell her what I’ve seen. I don’t want anything that could influence her future.

  I walk over to the others. Melissa close behind. We are waiting for Lucien, Damien and Lucien’s other men to arrive. Lucien had told us that the meeting would be starting at eight, it was now seven thirty. The other leaders would be arriving soon. We had left all our weapons before entering and had gone through the scanner. Showing that we weren’t hiding anything.

  ◆◆◆

  The double wooden doors swing open. Lucien and Damien entered first, followed by Jaden and a handful of Lucien’s other men entered close behind. These were different than the ones Lucien had with him from earlier. I recognised them from the attack. They all acknowledged me. I could feel the shocked surprise in written in my family’s eyes. I didn’t have time to explain. It would take forever.

  The minute he entered the room I could feel the anticipation radiating from Lucien. I reached out, linking our minds. I saw the flicker of reaction in his eyes. I also felt the wall go up, cutting off our link. It felt like a slap across my face. I wouldn’t show any sort of reaction. I wouldn’t show that he had hurt me. In fact, he could just piss off. Two could play at that game.

  ‘’Ladies please sit, there’s enough room for everybody,’’ Damien invited us, ‘’the others will be arriving shortly,’’

  We all looked at each other, in puzzlement. There wasn’t any table in the room, only a few chairs. Suddenly we felt the air in the room shift and change. It felt as if someone had placed their hands around the walls on the outside of the room and started to shake it, violently. As soon as it started, it was over. The room had expanded, tripling in size. The chairs had vanished. A table and chairs shimmered, in front of our very eyes, before turning solid and appearing in the middle of the large room. The table was huge, wooden and it looked old. It could easily fit at least forty to fifty people around it. The chairs were large and matched the wood of the table. A huge brick fireplace had appeared on the other side of the room. On another wooden table a varied platter of foods appeared with plates and utensils, along with various drinks. It looked like a feast for a banquet not a bloody meeting. We stood there looking at each other. Trying to keep the shock from appearing on our faces. We knew what this meant. The only way that this was possible, magic. Lucien knew someone who was so powerful that they had this sort of power. Changing a room, expanding it. Took a lot of capability and strength. I didn’t know if to be excited or scared. It also lends to a lot of unanswered questions. Questions that I want answered.

  Lucien, Damien and Jaden Sat at the top of the table, the rest of Lucien’s men stood behind them. We made our way over. I could see from the corner of my eye, Abigail was staring bluntly at Damien. Earlier I had tried to talk to her about him, but she had just shaken her head and walked away. Obviously, something was going on with her, but what I had not a clue. What had taken place between them had shown a sexual tension. I hope I have read it wrong. Damien had taken an evident dislike to Mia and that wouldn’t help. It would cause so many problems. Lucien met my gaze and indicated to me to sit on the chair beside him. I took the chair furthest away. Petty, maybe. But he’s the one who cut our link. His eyes catch mine, my breath seems to stop, as his black eyes met mine. He is pissed off. He hasn’t the right. I raise my chin in defence. I see the familiar change of colour in his eyes. He accepts the challenge. He’s not the kind of man who asks, he commands. He so striking, I wonder how one can be so beautiful, but so deadly at the same time.

  The creaking of the large wooden doors grabs our attention.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  You could cut the tension with a knife. There was something building in the air. Like the sense you get before a storm arrives. That is what the atmosphere in this room is like. The meeting wasn’t going well. No one could agree to what should be done and didn’t want to admit that any of their own people had gone missing. It was just bloody ridicules and each thought that the other was going to do the dirty on them. We needed to work together otherwise we were in trouble.

  The council sat across from us, droning on and on. I’m sure they all liked the sound of their own voices. They were all dressed in flamboyant ostentatious gowns. A group of ten men and women stood behind the two sitting, their gowns were jet black with thin strips of jade or red running through. The other two sat at the huge wooden table. One wore a red and silver gown, the other yellow and white. Both had a confidence as if they had every right to be there. They had caused trouble the minute they had walked through the door.

  Then that bitch Aria had arrived and sat herself next to Lucien. As if she was his fucking Queen. Aria sat there, sending daggers our way. At least she was keeping her mouth shut. If she put her hand on his arm one more time, I was going to break every single bone in her fucking sticky fingers and Lucien the bastard just sat there letting her touch him. If he hadn’t put a barrier on our link, I would be telling him what I thought of him. Did he think I was going to let him put even one finger on me after this? He thought wrong.

  As well as the council members, a total of forty-five Naturals and Humans sat either around the table or stood behind their leaders. I had no doubt to watch their backs. Though we had been getting some suspicious looks, so far, the concealment spell seemed to be working. There had been questions fired at Lucien, demanding to know who the hell we were. Lucien had told them half-truths. That Megan was our sister and we had turned to him for help and that his Intel had found out that a Soul Keeper and Eater were involved. They could accuse him of lying, but I didn’t see many of them doing so. On hearing about the Soul Keeper and Soul Eater all hell had broken lose. It had taken a good half hour for everybody to calm down.

  When the Sovereign of the Shifters had entered the room, we had felt the change in Melissa. The sadness, anxiety and nervousness were radiating off of her. I wanted to put my arms around her, but that wasn’t something she wouldn’t be happy with, not in public. She sat there with her face void of any emotion. The Sovereign of the Shifters sat with an irate look on his face, never taking his jade eyes off of Melissa
. It was obvious that they knew each other. The dark-haired woman who sat beside him, had been announced as his mate. She was constantly giving the evil eye to Mellissa.

  I sat there watching as Abigail and Damien eye fucked each other. It was obvious to all in the room that they did not know if to kill each other or fuck. That’s all we needed. They were acting like two angry but horny teenagers.

  The Fae had arrived in all their fanfare. Shockingly the Fae King’s Guards turned out to be women, and they were all stunningly beautiful. I’d heard the whispering from the others when they had entered. It was rumoured that they were not only his guards, but his lovers as well. He came across as arrogant, and I hadn’t missed the looks he been throwing towards Mia. I did not like the way he was eyeing her, as if she was his next tasty meal. Thank heavens she hadn’t seemed to notice. I didn’t like to think what her reaction would be. It would not be anything good.

  The members of the council had arrived first. Two, one Human the other a Natural were speaking for their separate Councils and both had demanded that they should be in charge and control the meeting. They hadn’t been happy when Lucien cut them dead. They now sat there like stone, their faces like thunder. The vampires sat at the other end of the table. Keeping as far away from everyone else as possible. The Head of their Coven wasn’t attending. Instead his second in command Jax was taking his place. We had yet to find out why Nathan had sent someone else in his place. I had sensed the dislike radiating from Jaden and the looks the other Vampire Jax was throwing his way, daring him to do something so he’d have a reason to retaliate. Jaden sat there not backing down with suspicion in his eyes.