Chapter 6

Standing outside the room, I looked around. I wasn’t sure if I should try to find my way back downstairs or wait to be retrieved. I walked out of the small hallway and looked at the stairs. What was the protocol be for this? I snorted out loud. I was in a palace in a realm few knew of. Being here was something I never thought I’d be doing. Heading toward the stairs, I noticed a huge room through the windows that lined the hall. I looked through the glass. It was empty aside from some crates. The other side was lined windows as well. The door was open, so I didn’t think it would be off limits. I went in and walked slowly to large doors on the far side.

It opened to a huge balcony. Glancing over my shoulder, I opened the door and went out. Leaving it open, I stepped to the railing. I know my jaw dropped open as I looked over the vast countryside. The palace was really on top of a mountain. I could see for miles and miles. Small villages, open fields. A lump formed in my throat as I thought of my mother. She’d talked about the palace, always wanted to see the views from the palace.

“I found her.”

I startled and turned to see Autumn standing there in the door.

She smiled and motioned to the view. “It’s crazy isn’t it?” She came out. “I stand outside our room all the time and think there had to be some kind of mistake for me to be here.”

“Nonsense.” Michael came out onto the balcony.

“I had to take a look.” I said quietly and looked back over the country. “My mother talked of the palace on the mountain often. It’s a bit—astonishing for me to be here.”

Michael came over and stood looking out. “I missed living here.” He turned and smiled at Autumn, “I’d still be in the underground chambers if it hadn’t been for Autumn.”

She snorted. “I wasn’t living underground.”

I had nothing I could say to that. I’d had my times of living in tunnels and odd places.

Michael held out a phone. “This is yours. All of our numbers are programmed into it.”

I looked at the phone. I’d never had one. I’d looked at them in stores, but who was I going to call?

“This is an earbud. It makes things easier if we’re not all together but need to communicate.”

I looked at it, then tucked it in my pocket. “I’m sure there won’t be any need for me to be…”

“I thought that too. Trust me if we’re deep in a fight, then it makes things easier.” Autumn nodded and crossed her arms over her chest. She shrugged, “and hearing the guys razz each other is fun.”

I opened my mouth, then cleared my throat and nodded instead.

Michael held out a watch-like device. “This is your porter. Should anything undesirable happen, it’s chipped for easy location.”

I took it, turning it over to look.

Autumn waved her hand around oddly. “Never leave home without it. Trust me on that.”

I gave them an awkward smile. I was given my own porter. I put it on my wrist, then stood there dumbfounded.

Michael reached over and popped it open. “Top button will bring you here to the courtyard.” He pointed down to the ground. “Bottom one will take you to the girls’ office.” He dropped his hand away. “We’re just on our way to…”

I couldn’t not do this. I pushed the second button. Just like that I was standing in a room with desks and other furniture. I laughed out loud.

Michael appeared beside me. His expression didn’t give anything away.

“Sorry. I had to.” I closed the porter and clasped my gloved hands in front of me.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket. “She’s at the cave.” He shook his head. “You will wait for me. I’ll be right there.” He put the phone in his pocket. “We need to go. Autumn and Paisley are being allowed to see their—Nathas.”

I nodded. “Oh, I’m to go?”

He huffed out a breath. “You may as well, or you’ll be wandering the halls for hours down here.” He motioned to the door.

“We’re in the underground chambers now?” I started walking.

“Yes. I believe the girls made the map on your phone, to help you find your way around.”

I had to walk fast to keep up with him. Even with my height of five foot seven, there was no keeping up with his long strides. “So are all men in this realm so tall?”

He didn’t even glance at me. “Mostly.” His blue eyes connected with me for a second. “We were created to keep the balance between our realm and—the side you were on.” He shrugged, “I suppose they thought being a bit larger would better enable us.”

I could only nod to that. Mother had talked about the purpose, but until now, with this war, I hadn’t realized it was a serious thing. We went past more doors, then he turned, I followed, not even trying to remember the way.

When he finally stopped, we were in front of two large metal doors. He motioned for me to go through. I did and then followed him into a room right inside. It looked like a large control room of sorts.

Many of the others were here. All were looking at a row of monitors.

Autumn turned and looked at Michael. “Arius won’t let us go until after he deals with some issues.”

“Issues with?” Michael went over and looked at the monitors, then stepped over and did something on the board below them. “Nelson.” He said quietly. “Stay here.” He turned and went back out the door.

I moved over and looked at the monitor he’d adjusted. Arius and Quinton were in a clear cell with another man. The other man was waving his hands around. Arius stood there, his hands on his hips watching him. Quinton leaned against the wall; his arms crossed over his chest.

Bethany turned and looked at me. “Nelson is one of Willis’ Generals.” She looked back at the monitor. “He also wanted to kill Crissy, but Autumn took the blade for her.”

Shocked I looked from her to Autumn.

Autumn shrugged and crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the monitor.

Arius jerked his head and looked right at the camera.

“Sending your beast a message?” Daxx asked with a smirk.

“Mhmm, my feelings of irritation and anger.” Paisley said looking unhappy.

Arius motioned to Quinton, then they turned and walked out of the cell that held Nelson.

“Guess it worked.” Bethany said then looked at the door at the moment Arius came in.

“What does Nelson have to say?” Daxx inquired.

Quinton heaved a big sigh. “Says he’ll give us information if we let him see Leila.”

“Is he lying?” Bethany asked.

Arius waved his phone, “just messaged Raf to bring Kara, so she can find out.”

“What if Leila doesn’t want to see him?” Crissy asked.

I turned; I hadn’t even seen her sitting in the corner beside a cabinet. She had the ability to not be seen. I envied her that, I knew how hard it really was.

“I guess we’ll deal with that after we find out if he’s actually has real information.” Arius said while looking at his phone. With a hesitant look, he turned to Paisley. “Troy wants us to wait for him before you go in to see Nathas.”

Paisley sighed. “I figured he would want to see what he could find in his head while we visited.”

Autumn crossed her arms over her chest and then shrugged. “They’re not going to let us in the cell with him.”

“You are correct.” Victor came into the room. His eyes immediately connected with Crissy, before he looked to the rest of us. “Troy and Chase are currently dealing with Elder Roan. He’s not being allowed into the cells until after Troy and Kara see, or hear, the truth.”

“See or hear the truth?” I looked from Victor to Arius. I couldn’t comprehend how they did that.

Bethany nodded. “Yes. Troy can see in a person’s mind and Kara hears their thoughts.”

I opened my mouth, then closed it. “Oh.” I glanced at my hands. “I’m feeling normal for the first time in — ever.” I said softly.

Autumn grinned.

“We have quite the eclectic mix here.” Victor said while watching the monitors.

Quinton came in. “Raf and Kara can’t get here for a few minutes, they’re in the medical ward checking on those we recovered from the asylum.”

“She’s listening in?” Daxx asked.

“That was my take on it,” Quinton watched me as he spoke, “while Raf talks to them.”

Chase navigated past Quinton blocking the door, giving him a curious look. With a grin he glanced at Michael, then Arius. “Ready to meet your father-in-law?”

Michael cringed and looked at Autumn. “Yes and no.”

She crossed her arms over her chest.

Michael cleared his throat and turned to Arius. “Can we get him moved to the observation cell?”

Arius nodded while studying Paisley. With a more abrupt nod, he turned on his heel and walked out of the room.

With a quick glance at me, Quinton followed him.

Autumn crossed her arms over her chest and looked at the floor. “I’ve waited my whole life for answers.”

“And you shall have them, Princess Autumn.”

Everyone turned.

An older man stood in the door. He wore a black robe and somber expression.

“Elder Roan.” Michael went over to him.

“I won’t interfere, but I wish to be present.” He looked to Paisley, then Autumn. “My granddaughters’ answers take priority of course.”

Michael inclined his head and motioned to the door. “Shall we.”

“Oh boy.” Daxx said as we filed out the door.

Leone stood in the hallway beside Quinton. They watched Autumn walk by.

“I wouldn’t want to be Autumn’s sparring partner after this.”

Quinton gave Leone a quick glance. “You never do anyway.”

Leone grinned. “Because I’m a smart man.”

Bethany chuckled as she moved by them.

I stood there off to the side, not sure if I was supposed to be following. I knew nothing about any of this.

Quinton just stood there, looking at me. I didn’t know what the expression on his face meant. It looked like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t.

Leone cleared his throat and gave his brother a strange look. Quinton scowled at him, then walked down the hallway. Watching him for a few seconds, he glanced at me. “You coming?”

“I wasn’t sure I was supposed to.”

Leone shrugged. “I don’t do all the meant-to-be and fate signals thing, but the girls say you are part of this,” he shrugged, “so your part of it.” He motioned for me to go down the hall. “This might get messy.” He said as he walked beside me, “the guys say Autumn and Paisley aren’t going in the cell with Nathas,” he smirked, “but they’re going to lose that battle.”

“I don’t know how I’d feel if I were to meet my father.” I frowned, wondering if that may still happen someday. “But my circumstances are quite different.”

He nodded. “Yeah.” He made a strangled sound in the back of his throat. “if you’re able to project calm or anything, now would be the time to do it.”

We turned a corner and walked into a larger space between the clear walls. I stopped just outside it, still unsure if I should be here. The area was filled with the royal family. Even Rafael and Kara were there now.

Michael and Arius were having a very face-to-face, up close and personal discussions with Paisley and Autumn. I glanced to see Leone look at me and smirk.

Emil came up beside me. “This is going to be interesting.”

With long strides, Troy came down the hallway, his expression said he was in charge and no one had better doubt it. He gave Emil a quick nod. “You, Raf and Leone can keep things under control out here.”

Emil straightened and stepped further into the room of people.

Troy went over to Victor and said something. Victor nodded and walked out the other side of the space.

I noted Arius’s and Michael’s expressions were hard. I had to wonder if the women had won the argument to be in the cell with their father. Alona stood toward the far side, by herself. She spotted me and gave me a small smile. Moving around the tall bodies, I went over to her.

She gave me a soft look. “This may be the safest place to stand.”

I watched as Arius and Michael left the room with Troy and Chase. Leone and Quinton moved over and stood in front of the exit they’d used. Autumn and Paisley stood there with them. I didn’t know the details of what was going to happen next, but the tension in the room was so thick even I was having to work harder to draw breath.

“You ready, honey?” Rafael turned to look at Kara.

Moving to stand right beside the wall she nodded.

“If you can’t keep your thoughts under control, step out of this area so Kara can focus.” Rafael looked around the room at the rest of us.

No one moved.

“Here we go.” Leone did something on a small pad beside the door.