Chapter 126: Chapter 126
“Well, there’s still hope. Don’t give up yet, okay?” Elena reminded him—she desperately tried to stay positive, no matter how bad the situation was. “Do you want to tell us your name?”
“Oh… right, sorry. I forgot about that. My name is Charles. What you told me is a lot to process, and… I honestly can’t fathom it. So they’re trying to gather all elements to obtain the Philosopher’s Stone? And I… will die in the end?”
“None of us will die,” Elena interrupted him and leaned forward in her chair. “My clan is searching for us, and I trust them. They will find us.”
“You know, the more often you repeat it, the more I believe it,” Alex chuckled. “You’re tenacious, Elena.”
“There’s just one problem.” Wendy’s tone was ominous, and she knew the others wouldn’t like what she had to say. “Only one more element is missing. Their plan is almost finished, and the ritual will begin soon. Our time is running out. If they find a dark witch or wizard, we’re done for.”
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Ryder’s patience was running thin. Too much time had passed since he had last been with his soulmate. He and the clan had desperately combed the area for a trace of Elena but found nothing. Many vampires had joined the search effort, even Ryder’s parents and James’s clan. Not only that, but Ryder had also contacted Elena’s werewolf friends, who had been devastated to hear of her disappearance. They, too, had done all in their power to help, but it had led nowhere.
It was like searching for a needle in a haystack—the vampire could have taken Elena anywhere. She probably wasn’t in New York anymore, and without at least a hint, Ryder would not find her in time. Edgar had contacted the council early on, and search efforts in and around New York had been intensified, but this had not been enough either. The only clue they had so far was Jacob’s name, and unfortunately, this was not sufficient.
Ryder was losing his mind—he didn’t know what to do. And just when he thought that all hope was lost, something unexpected happened. It was Elena herself who provided the most important clues to him. Ryder didn’t quite understand how she managed to contact him, but the short message she conveyed to him included several hints that could potentially be useful in the future. This was the first time he heard about the Philosopher’s Stone, and he had a feeling that this piece of information could be the key to finding Elena’s location.
If anyone could help Ryder make sense of it, it was the leader of the council. Thus, Ryder requested a meeting with the most influential vampire in America. Every century, a council member was selected for this position by a majority vote. Ryder had met the current leader before, but he didn’t know much about her.
Violet was a private person who didn’t mingle much with others. She had a small circle of close friends whom she trusted, most of them being other council members. It was difficult to meet her since she was busy with her duties, but Ryder’s connection to Declan, Harry, and Colin turned out to be an advantage. Thanks to them, he was invited to the council’s headquarters within a single day.
The building wasn’t far from New York, standing alone amid a forest, tall and imposing. Ivy grew up its walls, nearly covering every piece of its façade except for the large windows and dramatic double doors. Ryder parked his car in front of it and was promptly greeted by Violet’s secretary, an older vampire wearing a suit and a dark red bow.
“Please follow me,” he uttered in his raspy, barely audible voice. “Ms. Violet is awaiting you.”
“Thank you,” Ryder answered. His patience was running thin since he had to get this over with as fast as possible. Elena needed help; she may be injured right at this moment, or worse… Ever since they had been separated from each other, he had been in a constant state of agitation and alarm. His eyes kept their bloodred shade and never returned to their natural blue. Ryder’s poorly concealed rage and frustration were noticed by the secretary, who frowned at his attitude but didn’t comment on it. He eyed Ryder’s choice of clothing—ripped jeans and a casual leather jacket—with displeasure.
The thick carpet in the hallway beneath their shoes swallowed the sounds of their footsteps. Many paintings hung on the walls, depicting council members of the distant past, and heavy, dark red curtains blocked the windows. They reached Violet’s office, and after informing her of Ryder’s arrival, the secretary allowed him to enter. The council’s leader sat behind a wooden desk adorned with hand-carved vines. Although Violet was significantly older than Ryder, she looked as young as thirty and bore no wrinkles on her face. She observed him with a neutral, albeit curious expression, her green eyes assessing him in silence.
“Good evening, Ms. Violet,” he said, reminding himself to be polite. After all, he was here to ask for a favor. “Thank you for making time, although it’s on short notice.”
A hint of a smile appeared when she answered, “I believe it’s in our best interest to work together to regain control over the situation. Declan told me what happened to your soulmate, and I’d like to offer my sympathies. It must be difficult for you to endure.”
She paused and took a moment to study him, his scarlet eyes and tense posture. There was no doubt in her mind that he would do anything to get his soulmate back. “Please take a seat and tell me what you found out about the vampire we are looking for.”
Ryder nodded and sat opposite her, gripping the armrest of the antique wooden chair. “I need you to answer a question first. Have you heard of the Philosopher’s Stone?”
Violet’s calm and composed façade melted away. Her eyes shimmered red like the sunset. “Who told you about it?” her sharp voice asked.
Her reaction was both satisfying and concerning to Ryder since it proved she knew something, but it couldn’t be anything good. “It’s linked to my soulmate’s disappearance. I believe it’s the reason why she was kidnapped, and it seems like you know more about it,” Ryder elaborated, arching his eyebrow in a challenging manner.