Beth followed Rowan, dressed like the grim reaper, into the candlelit council room. Her heart sank into her stomach as goosebumps rose on her skin. The room was cold and silent and she could feel all eyes upon her. Beth shivered. Candles burned on tables providing just enough light so she could see the outline of each member present. She was seated in the center of the room.
A tall hooded figure stood. The image of Darth Vader popped in her head. "I am Jacob Marcineaux elected leader of the Joint Council. Are you Sarah Quinn, also called Elizabeth Quinland?" He towered over her, so close that his robes brushed her skin making her tremble even harder. If help were actually coming she wished it would hurry.
Deliberately taking her time in answering him, she stood, squaring her shoulders, determined that he was not going to intimidate her. "I am." She looked up at him, defiance blazing in her eyes. "Why do you care?"
"I care because rumor says you have knowledge of my world?" His grave voice reminded her of the deep and somber judges she had seen on television.
Beth cocked her head to the side, "What world might that be? Are you from Mars or something?"
Snickers came from the group.
"Don't be a smartass, " Jacob growled, his fangs glinting in the candlelight, "or I will forego the trial and have you for a little appetizer. Do I make myself clear?" When Beth didn't respond, he repeated his question slowly as though her were speaking to a stubborn two year old. "Who told you about the NightWorld? Tell me and I might let you live."
Beth snorted and rolled her eyes, "I don't believe you're going to let me live, but to answer your question, your flea bitten puppies leapt through my bedroom window. If that isn't a clue that there really are werewolves I wouldn't know what is."
Whispers of disapproval flew through the room. Jacob held his hand up and the room silenced instantly.
"You are correct, I sent them to retrieve a human with dangerous information because we have heard from a reliable source that you are an old soul, a reincarnation if you will, with knowledge of my world." Jacob moved closer to her, "How do you know about my world?"
Strange tickly sensations crept over her scalp. She felt someone trying to probe into her thoughts. Beth struggled to maintain control of her mind. The probe withdrew slightly. Suddenly a powerful force slammed down over her thoughts capping them, neatly deflecting the probes. Beth was relieved, someone was helping her shield her thoughts. Who, she wondered, squinting to try and make out faces. All she found was hooded figures except for one whose face she couldn't see.
"I....I dream about it."
"I see. What do you dream?" Jacob continued slightly more forceful this time, almost agitated as if he knew he was being prevented from probing her mind. His finger slipped under her chin, raising her face to his.
"That really isn't any of your business."
"If the girl dreams of the Night World then she must be psychic, possibly a forgotten witch." Thierry interjected, hoping to sway the council into believing she could actually be a night person or delay them long enough for his people to get into position outside the council room.
Beth recognized that voice and a little hope crept into her heart. If Thierry was here, was Hunter nearby?
"She is a danger to us if she can identify a night person to a human." Someone from the corner of the room said.
"I am no danger to anyone. People would think I'm a lunatic if I accused someone of being a vampire or werewolf. How am I a danger?" She shoved his hand away and pushed him. She wasn't going to be killed without giving them a real reason to kill her.
"How do you know Hunter Redfern?" Jacob demanded, shaking Beth. She tried to pull free stumbling over the chair when he suddenly released her.
Beth rolled over and kicked the chair at Jacob. "He lived in my colony in the sixteen hundreds. My husband killed his daughter. He made my son a vampire. His wife was a witch. That was when witches were burned at the stake, funny how the tables have turned."
Thierry, the only Night person not wearing a cloak, ran his hands through his hair. Beth was not helping herself by being beligerent. Not that being passive would help either. But deliberately provoking the council would bring the trial to a quick end.
"Did Hunter tell you of the Night World?" Jacob loomed over her like the grim reaper.
"No, my son came to the cabin after being missing for about a week with big fangs hanging out of his mouth. If you were a Puritan in the sixteen hundreds what would you think?" Beth gestured wildly, "I'll tell you what we thought, he was demon possessed. Orthodontists were unheard of back then."
Now. Thierry called to Hunter .
Hunter appeared in the entrance wearing his family's cloak and coat of arms. Whispers flew as he strode to the center of the floor, taking his place beside Beth. The bloodred cloak swung around his ankles. Candlelight bounced off the gold trimmings. The images of fern leaves could be seen when the light struck the fabric at just the right angle. A lion shimmered nestled amongst the leaves of a giant redfern on the coat of arms. The constellation of Orion sparkled in the lion's eyes. While many of the others wore simple cloaks, there were a few wearing their family's colors and Hunter's colors belonged to the oldest family known to the Night World. Redferns. Maya's descendants. Only Thierry could match the family's age. He was also technically a Redfern because Maya, the first vampire, made him a vampire in the stone ages.
Beth stared up at him thinking how demanding and regal he looked. A hard set to his jaw, flashing gold eyes, and grim pursed lips. He looked every bit the Lord he was. In that instant she knew he was accustomed to being obeyed immediately and his word was law.
"Why are you trying this girl?" Hunter demanded, helping Beth to her feet. He examined Beth's black eye, "Why torture her?" He asked trying desperately to not lose his temper.
A tiny twinkle in his eye told her she didn't need to be afraid. Beth trembled nearly sinking to the floor in relief. He was here, once again, to rescue her.
"Your own law strictly forbids humans who have the knowledge of our world to live." Jacob reminded Hunter.
"Am I on trial as well?" Hunter's voice was deep with barely repressed anger.
"No, we are merely trying to establish how much knowledge she has." Jacob's voice faltered, no one had ever dared question Hunter's authority no matter what position they held in the Night World. Hunter looked like a deadly angel in his cloak and coat of arms, The wrath of god someone had once called him.
"If she had little knowledge before, how much do you think she has now?" Hunter asked, speaking to Jacob with ridicule dripping off his voice. "This trial was unwarranted. There should have been an investigation first."
"It's obvious she has more than a little knowledge."
"Well, " Hunter snorted, "she has even more after this fiasco. I agree with Lord DesCoudres, she could be a forgotten witch." Hunter said with absolute conviction.
"Witches are our enemies now!" Someone from the shadows said, "Even if she is a forgotten witch, traitors must die as well."
"You will not kill her." Hunter said quietly. "The dark witches can give her a potion to make her forget everything." He pointed to Roseclear. "Is that not true daughter?"
Roseclear bowed her head, "Aye Father, 'tis true." Her mind raced for a new plan.
Thierry shifted uncomfortably. This was not going the way he had planned. If Hunter could just delay the council just a few more seconds.
Jacob's eyes narrowed on Hunter, "Why do you care what happens to the girl?"
Hunter was quiet. "Because she could be Quinn's mother and I do not think it fair to judge her by some law that did not exist in her time."
"So you do not deny she has knowledge."
"She says she has knowledge because she dreams. There has never been a denial of knowledge from her or myself." He turned toward Thierry who kept his emotions carefully guarded.
"You've gone soft on us, Redfern. " Jacob hissed. "You have no say in this proceeding. Step aside, I have heard enough of this nonsense. She is no witch. She is a human, vermin, food."
Hunter's heart plummeted. Had he enforced the nightworld law so often that there was no pardon, no other options? Not even the Cup of Lethe? Had he actually created this monsterous web of prejudice in the name of self preservation? Looking back, it was rather short-sighted of him. Now Beth was going to pay for his short sightedness once again with her life.
Jacob's voice boomed , "By nightworld law, Elizabeth Quinland is sentenced to be pressed until her life is gone."
"No!" Hunter shoved Beth behind him, "You'll have to kill me first."
Jacob dropped his hood and turned his head slightly, "Do you dare obstruct justice prescribed by your own laws?"
"You won't kill her." Hunter said, preparing to defend Beth with his life.
"I should have killed her." Roseclear muttered.
Four guards were moving toward Hunter and Beth. Their eyes glazed over with the need to carry out their orders, hoping to get to feast on the remains once she was dead.
"Very well, Hunter Redfern you are exiled from the Night World to the Dark Kingdom for obstruction of justice. If you do not step aside and allow the vermin to be executed you will join her in death." Jacob said, unwilling to sentence a powerful leader to death for fear of civil war among the night world houses. The murmuring in the room carried to a crescendo when Hunter didn't budge.
"I suppose you'll have to kill me too." The guards hesitated, not sure what to do. Jacob had given the order to execute the human but Hunter was a Lord. Thierry was transfixed by the scene in front of him. He knew all to well how Hunter felt. If Maya had succeded in killing Hannah, he would have made her kill him as well.
Tears steamed down Beth's face, She tugged at Hunter trying to make him move. "No, oh God Hunter don't do this. I'll come back. Remember the spell?"
"Hush, Beth I can't be alone again."
"You don't understand." Beth said, desperate to make him listen.
"We'll die together."
The first guard wrenched Beth from Hunter. Pandamonium tore lose. Hunter ripped into the poor man who never stood a chance. Hunter stood motionless facing Jacob holding the guard's head in his hand. The sound of blood dripping filled the suddenly soundless room. Beth reeled in horror at the man's body still writhing on the floor.
"Who's next?" Hunter asked, his body seemed to be melting and expanding at the same time, growing taller and filling with rippling muscles. His cloaks ripped into shreds as his massive body tore through the delicate fabric. Beth recognized the shape from her dreams. He was shifting. Instead of the demon bird she thought he was in the dream, she realized he was a gargoyle. The guardian, of course, her guardian. It made sense now. He couldn't let her die this time when he'd sworn to protect her forever.
The other three guards paused. Thierry was on his feet now realizing there would be no peaceful resolution to this trial. Fifteen of the deadliest members of Circle DayBreak were just outside. A light breeze filled the room and an almost inaudible whisper drifted on it.
"You are sentenced to die as well!" Jacob shouted at Hunter, apparently unphased by his new form.
Beth drew her makeshift stake and swung it at the one guard who tried to grab her from behind. He drew back clutching his arm blood spurting between his fingers.
The breeze turned into a violent gust of wind whipping through the room extinguishing all the candles. The whispering voice changed volume shouting over the violent wind still blowing over the room.
"I am the fifth; blue fire in my blood, hidden from the world long ago . Unto my chosen soldiers I give my strength, use it well my friends" Blue Lightening flashed outside the windows for emphasis, unnatural thunder, sounding more like a heartbeat rolled on the hot evening air. A rolling rushing sound roared gaining clarity and intensity as it approached shaking the room violently..
Windows and doors exploded inward as the fighting arm of Circle DayBreak rushed the room behind the wind led by two golden leopards and a gray werewolf. Many startled council members fearing the rumored power of the blue fire fled not caring to see who was attacking.
Hunter led Beth out of the fray. "Straight down the hall, Mary Lynette and Thea are waiting for you." He said returning to the fight. She watched him leave. She didn't fear him. For once in her many lifetimes, she didn't fear his shapeshifter form.
Beth glanced at the exit weighing her options. She couldn't just leave Hunter here, but she wasn't exactly in a position to help him either. She hugged her makeshift stake to her chest. Cold fingers clamped over her arm.
"Looks like I'll have to carry out the execution." Roseclear hissed.
Beth stabbed at her, the stake slashing across Roseclear's eyes and cheek making a deep red wound. The vampire howled in pain and let go of Beth who fled back into the council room.
Hunter was rolling across the floor tangled with Jacob in a snarling mass of flashing teeth and ripping flesh. Ash grabbed Beth. Mary Lynnette would never forgive him if he let something happen to Beth. He looked for the easiest safest route to send her. He saw Roseclear standing in the entrance to the council room.
"Get out of here!" He shoved her back toward the door where Roseclear stood, blood running down her face.
"Rose, get her out of here!"
Roseclear smiled a triumphant demonic smile. "Of course." Her golden eyes settled on Beth's throat thinking what a tasty treat she was going to enjoy.
"No, she'll kill me!" Beth struggled to free herself from Roseclear's grasp She kicked Roseclear in the shin and retreated a few steps. She fumbled for her stake. It fell from her hand and rolled to Roseclear's feet. Beth cast a desperate glance back at Hunter just as he drove a wooden knife, Rashel had tossed to him, into Jacob's chest. She knew he'd never reach her in time. She concentrated all the strength she had in screaming for help mentally to anyone who could hear her, if anyone other than Hunter could hear her.
Roseclear raised the stake that Beth had dropped. Ash's blonde head jerked around at the scream he barely picked up, understanding suddenly what Beth had tried to tell him. Beth was backing away from Roseclear who was preparing to throw the stake as though it were a javelin. Beth stood frozen in place. There was nowhere to go as the stake flew through the air.
A tall lanky body topped with white blonde hair flashed in front of Beth as Ash threw himself between Beth and the stake Roseclear. It sank deep into Ash's shoulder. He sank to the floor, stake protruding from his shoulder. Blood poured from Roseclear's mouth in a deep crimson stream. She slowly turned to face the person standing behind her.
Hunter watched the last of his children collapse in a heap of bones and dried leathery looking skin at Beth's feet. A large wooden knife stuck out of the corpse's remains. Beth fell into Hunter's arms, weeping.
"It's over now. We're going to be okay." Hunter whispered in her hair already shifting back to his human form. "Let me see your eye." He lifted her chin. "I never dreamed Rose would hurt you. I'm sorry."
"Hunter, I think I'm going to . . ."
He caught her as she fainted. The room was empty except for the bodies of the council members who had been brave enough to fight and a couple of DayBreakers who were ministering to injured members. Quinn looked up at Hunter with a ghost of a smile on his face as he and Rashel knelt by Ash.
"Thank you Ash." Hunter said, laying Beth on the floor to assist with Ash.
"This isn't good. " Quinn said studying Ash's wound. "It's got to come out now or you'll be dead before we get back to Thierry's."
Ash nodded to weak to talk and braced himself against the wall. Quinn wrapped his fingers around the stake careful not to move it any more than he needed to.
"On the count of three. One. . . two. . . three." Quinn yanked the stake out of his shoulder and fresh blood welled up out of the wound.
Ash groaned and slumped over on Rashel. "We need to get him to a healer quick."
***
Sun streamed through the window. Beth rolled over and stretched taking a deep breath of the fresh desert morning air flowing through the open window. She sat up. This wasn't her room. Then she remembered she was in Thierry's home. She sat back against the headboard and closed her eyes. Hunter stirred in the armchair.
"How do you feel?" He asked scrutinizing her every feature. Thea said she wasn't hurt all that much, except for the black eye which she had applied a salve to earlier in the morning. The puffy blackness was almost gone.
"Fine, a little tired. How long have I been asleep?"
"About sixteen hours."
"How's Ash?"
"He'll live unfortunately."
Beth bit back a smile, drifting back into sleep. She could understand that comment. She sensed Hunter's anxiety and opened her eyes.
"What are you thinking about?"
"What is it about shape shifting that bothers you so much?"
Beth fingered the coverlet trying to figure out how to word her answer. "I think it's the Puritan thing, demons, devils and the like. It is so much a part of our life from back then that it's spilling over into this life."
"I think I understand." He said moving to sit by her on the bed. "I would never hurt you on purpose." He took her hands in his. "I don't want you to fear me."
A feeling slowly unfolded like a flower inside her heart. It blossomed out into understanding. He had been protecting her then as he had just last night, the only way he knew how. He was keeping his promise. Her heart pounded as he massaged her hands. He leaned forward and kissed her injured eye, then her cheek, her mouth, slowly he moved to her neck, but he didn't bite. He nuzzled her neck dropping butterfly kisses along her shoulder.
Suddenly she knew what she wanted, beyond any doubt.
"Hunter?"
"Mmmm?"
"Am I too old this time?"
Hunter stopped mid kiss. He cupped her face in his hands, "Are you sure?" He asked, searching her eyes for any trace of uncertainty. He found none.
"Yes."
"What about your family?"
"Do they have to know?" Beth had to admit she hadn't given it much thought.
"No, it would jeopardize their lives as well."
"Is there any reason I couldn't continue with my life even if I'm a vampire if no one knows?"
Hunter thought for a moment. She had a point. There might be a coming fight at the turn of the millenium but there was no reason to not live life as if everything was still the same. She didn't have to give up her family or her life. He could stay with her and no one would ever know. No one would care. Except Quinn.
"How do you think Quinn will feel?"
"I think he'll be okay with it." A male voice said from the door. Quinn winked at the couple and walked away thinking how cool it would be to have his mother, so to speak, around forever. He couldn't help but wish Rashel would reconsider soon. That old feeling of helplessness crept over him again. It disappeared instantly when he saw the raven haired kitten curled up in a recliner eating an orange.
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