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

by V L Peters

  Then there was Reid who was the Elder of Gargoyles and was also their Headman and sat to Lucien’s right. If you thought they were made of stone, you thought wrong. They were huge in stature, and once seeing them you would just have to take a second look. I had seen a few of the other females take second and third glances their way. They looked human but looks were deceiving. The Angels, a mixture of males and females had been the last to arrive. They didn’t have any wings on show so I’m guessing that they had some sort of concealment spell in place or they could call them forth when necessary. They were very much like the Fae, arrogant. The males were striking. The women beautiful. There were various leaders that ruled over smaller Regions who were a mixture of Humans and Naturals. Who from what we had gathered, answer to Lucien, Gil-Galad the King of the Fae, Jacob who is the Sovereign to all shifters, King of the Vampires Nathan, Reid the Headman of the Gargoyles. The ones who seemed not to own any sort of territory were the Angels. The one who answering on their behalf was Archer.

  I watched as Lucien’s eyes flicker around the room, until his gaze finally settles on Jax. ‘’Jax, where’s Nathan?’’ he pauses, his gaze solely focused on Jax ‘’and don’t give me any bullshit. He’s never missed one of these bloody meetings,’’ he yells banging his fist onto the table, ‘’I know that the so-called message I received wasn’t from him!! So Jax,’’ Lucien says, his eyes flashing red and continuing with his questioning, ‘‘tell me what the hell are you hiding?’’

  I could hear the muttering drifting around the room at Lucien’s outburst. Jaden tensing beside him. I watched as Jax looked around the table, before turning to his own men. They seemed to make a decision, clearing his throat Jax turned his attention to Lucien.

  ‘’Nathan’s missing,’’ he announced. Finally admitting what everybody had feared.

  As if everyone had gone into shock the whole room went quiet. The two speaking on behalf of the council seemed to wake up from a long slumber and started throwing questions left, right and centre, not giving Jax a chance to reply. Demanding to know why they hadn’t been the first to be informed. Lucien nor the others seemed shocked at the news. They held their emotions close to their chest. I noticed the look between Lucien, Damien and Jaden. A silent message went between the three of them.

  I could see the rage building within Jaden.

  ‘’How long?’’ Jacob snarled, baring his teeth.

  ‘’A month. We been looking for him every single night and there’s been no trace. It’s like he’s …… vanished,’’ Jax replied not quite meeting Jaden’s eyes. You could have heard a pin drop.

  ◆◆◆

  A growl of displeasure fell from Jaden’s lips, eyes flashing yellow,

  ‘’why has this been kept from me?’’ I demand.

  ‘’No offence Jaden, but you are not part of our Coven anymore,’’ Jax told me with a smirk. Bloody fool he was pushing my boundaries and he knew it. If he wasn’t careful, he’d be sitting there minus his head.

  A growl launched from my throat, my breast raising within me, causing lights to flicker around us, and as I stood trembling with rage. ‘’whether I am with the Coven or not I should have been informed. After all Nathan is my blood and pray tell why isn’t one of Nathans blood sitting in that chair instead of you?’’ I challenged.

  I sensed the shock ripple through the room at the news that I was related to the King of all Vampires. I heard the muttering going around the table. The men standing around Jax shifted uneasily. Not liking were this line of questioning was taking them, they all knew Jaden and knew the laws of their Coven. Laws that had been broken. Jax had no lawful right to oversee the Coven, but he had gotten the winning vote and there hadn’t been anything anyone could have done.

  ‘’We voted. I was elected to be in charge while Nathan wasn’t …… available,’’

  ‘’There is no way in hell that someone who isn’t our blood would be elected to be in charge while Nathans out of commission!’’

  ‘’Things have changed while you’ve been away Jaden,’’ Jax reported back, his dislike towards me in plain sight, ‘’Many things,’’

  I snarl, my beast raises causing my eyes to flash yellow, I felt my top lip curl, and making sure my rancour for the man is there for all to see.

  ‘’I think the matter of Nathan going missing is more important at this time than you two having a pissing contest,’’ Pamela interpreted, looking at both of the men, with a roll of her eyes, ‘’people are missing. Naturals like yourselves and Humans. Our sister has been taken and now we find out one of the most powerful Vampires who walk this earth has vanished. I think gentleman we need to concentrate on that issue. Whatever disagreements you have can be discussed at a later date.’’

  ‘’The woman’s right. This isn’t the time or place. Take your disagreement elsewhere,’’ came from the deep gravelly voice of Reid the Leader of the Gargoyles.

  Lucien mutters something to Jaden, who is showing nothing, but disdain towards the other vampire, and reluctantly sits, ‘’this is not over Jax!’’

  ‘’I look forward to it Jaden,’’ Jax reports back, leaning back in his chair.

  ‘’The woman’s right. Somethings going on and we need to find out what,’’ comes from Gil-Galad.

  ◆◆◆

  ‘’The woman has a name, it is Pamela. Please use it from now on,’’ calls out Mia turning her gaze on the Fae King.

  Gaze’s clash, hackles raise. Who does this whip of a girl thinks she is, she needs to be put in her place and taught some manners and I’m the Fae to do so. I am known for my cruelty and hardness and I won’t tremor in teaching the cunt some lessons. Now isn’t the time for games, they will come later.

  I have felt the Fae kings’ eyes on me since the minute he walked into this room and sat down with his army of women surrounding him. Did he have a problem with me? I was behaving myself as requested by my family. So, what was drawing his attention towards me? Was it true? Are the woman who guard him also his lovers? I narrow my eyes, and boldly stare back at the striking male Fae King. I see the blond eyebrow raise as if batting me to say something, a look of superiority passes across his face. I’m sure if we both were standing; he be looking down his nose at me. I open my mouth to ask him what the fuck is his problem. I hear Pamela and then Abigail on our link, telling me to behave. That we can’t afford to have any more attention thrown towards us than what we already have. I drag my gaze away, from the male Fae, trying to shut him out. It was the hardest thing to do so. He had some kind of pull; one I was finding it hard to ignore. Fuck, I was in trouble.

  ◆◆◆

  If this meeting didn’t work we were fucked, I knew as I sat next to Damien and Jaden, we had to work together and not telling each other that some of their own people were missing was fucking me off. I could feel the internal rage radiating off of Jaden.

  Jaden had had dealings with Jax in the pass, and that the hatred they had for each other was still there. How Jax had gotten the vote to be in charge of Nathans Coven was something even I could but conjecture over. I didn’t trust the fucker. He was up to no good. Whatever was up that little shits sleeve, I had every intention to find out. Then there was Scarlett. I knew I had hurt her by cutting off our link. I had felt the hurt as I had shut her out. I knew that Aria would be at the meeting and she had always sat at my side and hadn’t given Scarlett any warning. I could not take the chance that Aria would pick up on the fact that we were now together. I had to keep Scarlett and her family safe and if that meant letting Aria touch me and take part in something that now had begun to repulse me and to act like I gave a shit about her, then so be it.

  I hear the clearing of a throat and know it’s from Austin. He is one of the Leaders who runs one of the smaller Regions which is under my territory.

  ‘’Austin,’’ I acknowledge him, I know he’s got something to say. He has been nervous since he’s arrived.

  ‘’Some of the people in my region have gone missing,’’ Austi
n tells us, nervously wiggling in his seat, for a leader he wasn’t a good one, not taking a breath and trying to get the words out he carries on, ‘’At first I didn’t think much of it as the people who reported them told me they had gone missing before and had turned up a few days or weeks later.’’

  ‘’So, what is different?’’ asks Damien, starring at him before glancing at me with what the fuck.

  ‘’Since that first report of the girl. Twenty-five others have been reported missing. Different ages, sexes, some Human, some Naturals’’ he tells the room nervously, never quite meeting my or Damien’s eyes.

  Fucking idiot, I give him part of my territory and he doesn’t keep me, or Damien informed over something so important. Fucking bloody useless fool. I want to put my hands around his neck and squeeze until he chokes to death. I met Damien’s gaze. He looked as pissed off as I am.

  I turn to look at Austin ‘’I want a list of every single person who’s gone missing, by tonight,’’ I order him, watching as he nods his head anxiously, I turn my attention to the other Leaders, who run different Regions in my territory ‘’have anyone else had people, Humans or Naturals disappear in the last few weeks?’’

  I curse as half of the hands lift. A growl falls from my mouth as I slam my fist down on to the wooden table, causing the glasses to rattle as the sound of the wood cracking echoes around the room. ‘’Who fucking else hasn’t come forward and reported people missing,’’ I demand. Fuck me. I watch as every other single Leader who runs a Region in each of our different Territories slowly raises their hand. I watch as Jacob, Gil-Galad, Reid, Jax, Archer and Scarlett and her family stare at the men and woman who are meant to keep their own part of their Region safe and to report it to them or their next in command when necessary. It looks like none of us have them under our control. Do these people think that they are above us? We are the ones who rule over them, they have a fucking shock coming.

  ◆◆◆

  Jacob turns to the Leaders who run his Regions, ‘’Why the fuck haven’t I been notified? Why hasn’t any of us been told,’’ he demands as he runs his gaze over every single Leader in his regions, before turning his attention to the others, ‘’Do you think because we have allowed you to run a Region in our own territory’s you rule over us? You fucking don’t. You are bloody lucky to be allowed to even sit here in this meeting. As Lucien has just stated we expect a list of every single Natural or Human that has been reported missing by tonight. No fucking excuses,’’ I order, I can feel the anger ranting from my wolf. I let him come forth letting my heated gaze meeting the eyes of every Region Leader sitting around the table. Daring them to disobey a direct order. They squirmed under my stare. With orders still ringing in their ears they each grab a pen and paper and start to scribble on the paper. Which the names of each of the persons who have gone missing. While they work, I realise Jax is questioning Scarlett and her family about Megan.

  ◆◆◆

  ‘’When did the girl, Megan go missing?’’ Jax is asking, turning his attention to Scarlett and her family.

  ‘’About a week ago. She was out with a group of friends and seemed to just vanish,’’ Melissa replies, shifting in her sit to slightly turn towards him.

  ‘’And nobody has seen her since?’’ comes from one of the Council members. ‘’are you telling the truth? Are you sure none of you know where she is?’’ he demands with a scoff, looking at us with suspicion written in his green eyes.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Is he for real, I ask myself, pushing my long silver hair behind my ear while trying my hardest to ignore the stares I’ve been getting from Jacob and his mate since they walked through the doors. Just the sight of her sitting by his side continues to tear my heart apart. Thank fuck I had managed to get myself under control. Then there was the mark he had given to me all those years ago. It had flared up, the minute I had sensed him. A mark that I had managed to keep hidden even from my own siblings and the rest of my family. I was just thankful that the concealment spell was still in full force, otherwise it would be on show for everyone in this room to see and questions would have to be answered ones I had no intention of answering until I was good and ready.

  ‘’if she’d been seen or we knew where she was. Do you really think we would have come to ask for Lucien for his help?’’ I question the council member, with a roll of my eyes. What a complete twat. How do these people even manage to get on the council? ‘’Do you think we wouldn’t have gone to get her back?’’

  ‘It just seems strange that you would ask Lucien for help!’’ he looked around at the others sitting at the table, ‘’is it only me, who thinks there’s something here that saying this doesn’t ring true. That there’s something we not being told, and I demand to know what the hell it is you’re not telling us.’’ he demands bringing his hand down onto the table with a slap.

  ‘’She was last seen in my club,’’ I announce, turning my attention to the council member, ‘’that is why Scarlett came to me asking for my help in finding their sister. They are at this moment staying here and we have come to an agreement,’’

  The Leaders have finished their lists, in record time, their expressions are bordering on irritation. I don’t even glance at the one handed to me, instead I hand it to Jaden, who glances at it folds it up and slips it into his trouser pocket of his black jacket. I will look at the list later that evening.

  ‘’That’s not the only reason, my love,’’ I hear from beside me as I feel Aria place her hand upon my forearm and running her fingertips up and down my arm while leaning into me, the feel of her breath lingers on my skin, ‘’after all I think it’s only prudent that they know who and what these ……. Ladies really are,’’

  The fucking bitch!!!

  ◆◆◆

  Aria.

  I am fuelled by hate and vengeance. A will to kill, to slaughter every living Soul in this room, the need raising up deep within me. I want to take them down, I watched in delight as every single one of them is trying to gage Lucien’s reaction to my outburst.

  ‘’Are you flirting with death, Aria?’’ Lucien asks me in a whisper, his eyebrow aching, black eyes flashing red. I could tell from his demeanour that he’s seething with anger. That I have spoken out of turn and I would be pushed for it later. I whimper bowing my head in surrender as I felt the vibration deep within him. He’s Demon had begun to rise to the surface. I didn’t care that he would punish me, if fact I waited in delight for it to take place. He needed to get rid of that whore and the rest of the cunts sitting with her. I’m sure I recognise the bitch that’s covered in the tattoos. My precious spy had given me some new and useful information, Lucien’s little plaything had taken a liking to one of Lucien’s men. He basically never left her side, but I had already set the wheels in motion to make sure Alex wasn’t going to able to be by her side for much longer. The next time he was on patrol well let’s say he won’t be back in one peace and the whore; I’d teach her to touch what’s mine!

  ‘’I’m sorry my love,’’ I whisper in his ear with a soothing voice, breathing in his scent, meeting Scarlett’s heated gaze as I run my fingers down Lucien’s hard chest, then kissing his rough cheek, ‘’I just can’t bear the thought that they are making you look like a fool and I’m not letting this charade to carry on anymore’’

  ◆◆◆

  She knew she had overstepped her boundaries. I heard the whimper beside me bowing her head in surrender as she felt my demon rise within me. She was fucking lucky she was here in this room otherwise I would have struck her down as part of her punishment. My Demon wanted to strangle her, destroy her, fucking rip her head from her shoulders. I felt Damien and Jaden tense, trying to get their anger under control.

  I had given her strict instruction’s not to utter a word about Scarlett and her family. In fact, I had ordered her not to even look in their fucking general direction. I should have followed my gut. I knew she wouldn’t be able to keep her trap shut. I still didn’t
trust her; she never did something without a reason and now she’s put every single person in this room in danger.

  Everyone stills. Trying to figure what the hell she was talking about.

  ‘’Lucien?’’ comes from the other Councillor who’s looking nervously between Scarlett, her family and Lucien, ‘’what is she talking about?’’

  ◆◆◆

  ‘’You fool’s’’ I screech as I stand, raising my arm and I point my finger towards the dirty witches sitting at the table. They haven’t any right and I will show Lucien how wrong he is to help them, they needed to be put down, ‘Surly those who aren’t human can sense the abomination that sits at this table. That there is something that’s not right with them.’’

  ‘’What the fuck is she talking about Lucien?’’ demands Reign, standing up along with the two men sitting either side of him.

  ‘’You fool’s. They are witches.’’ I spit out, my whole body shakes in anticipation, ‘’cannot you fools feel it can none of you sense the witch inside them!!’’

  ‘’Sit the fuck down Aria and shut your fucking mouth,’’ I snarl. Ignoring Reigns demand. Fucking stupid cunt, I needed to get thing under control before all hell breaks loose.

  ‘’No Lucien, its time you opened your eyes. Its time these witches revealed themselves for all to see. They have been making a fool of you. Living here right under your very nose. How many others are there? They are telling you nothing but lies, they haven’t a sister that’s gone missing. They are the ones who are taking the other Naturals and Humans,’’

  ‘’Do you have proof of this Aria?’’ Demands one of the councillors, ‘’you say their witches and liars. Until you can prove these allegations it’s just hearsay,’’