Chapter 148 Private conference Room (2)
Alessia's POV
Will she play ball or be difficult?
Lucy folds her hands leaning back “And you will definitely loose some of your power and influence when people find out.”
Lucy! The witch of the moment, I really wish I could give her a hug right now but I settle for a small of victory instead.
That seems to affect her as her gaze sharpens on Lucy “Are you threatening me?”
“No it's just the reality of things” Lucy answers
Enya turns to me warily “So if I refuse you will challenge my leadership?”
“With all due respect Enya yes, I will” I say calmly
No use beating around the bush anymore
It's better she knows what is at stake
“What if you do that and the coven scatters?”she presses on
“The coven won't” Angelica says quietly “As long as they have a Natiras descendant :powerful and truthful leader they will follow her to the ends of the earth.”
She knows it's the truth the coven will always be loyal to their maker- Natura .
She gasp in shock “ Angelica, you were also
born here how could you talk about change of leadership like its nothing?”
“Yes I was, but I will always stand for the truth, of you supply it I will walk out of here side by side with her.” Angelica replies softly “You either work with us or against us.”
Enya faces Alex “Do you think this journey is worth her death?”
Alex does not pause “ Not happening, I will lay down my life to protect hers.”
A surge of emotion fills me as Alex words feel like an oath. I reach under the table for his hands squeezing it once.
Enyas eyes finally return to me “When will you be back?” she asks slowly
Aha finally she is getting with the program
She knows I will be back
“I dont know when yet” I answer vaguely because I don’t. I want to fulfill my promise to Angelica after all of this.
“Are you coming back to claim authority?” she presses her voice cracking on the last word but I don't even falter or feel a thing
“It depends if I come back and find that you are not handling things properly” I lean back taking a deep breath “I will challenge you for what is mine.”
I have laid it all on the table
I didn't shout
There was no drama
Just the truth delivered as a matter of fact
Enya watches me for a few moments “Princess you have grown up…”
I nod “I have indeed”
She lets out a long defeated breath, As if all her fight is gone “You will have all the records you need.”
We all let of breaths of relief “Thank you Enya I add gently”
Asking was just a formality I knew I wasn't leaving this coven without it but I wanted her to give us willingly in the end I had to twist her hands for it but a Win is a Win.
We get up to leave as if on cue and she says
“Do not think because I am recognising your authority that I am surrendering.”
I pause not turning to look at her “I dont” I know it will take a lot more than that. This time when I walk out of the coven I won't be walking out as a student but as her equal.
As soon as we step out of Enyas private conference room I let out a deep sigh of relief finally allowing my shoulders to relax. A servant is standing on attention by the archway. Dressed in the usual grey frock they don head bowed and hands behind her back.
“The high pristess Has asked me to take you to her private library” she says quietly
Wow well that was quick
How did she communicate with them or had she told them ahead of time to stand in wait.
We follow the servant without saying a word. This time around I dont hold on to the ladies, I proceed on my own my steps measured, confident and brisk. Lucy and Angelica are behind me while Alex and Luca being up th rear. The private library is within her quarters but we took a few twisted turns, we end up in a close in front of a sealed oak door carved with protective aigils. She withdraws a key from her pocket and unlocks the door. It creaked slowly as she pushed it open. The lanters immediately lit up as if by magic it is lined with bookshelves from floor to ceiling that are filled to the brim with:
Old books
Old parchment
Bound leather books
And a few locked safes
She leads us to the back a place separated with a thin black curtain. As we step inside she gestures with her hand “All the hidden records of La Rosa are here”
She steps back as if it's sacrilegious for her to even be in the same room with all this history.
Lucy and Angelica step forward their fingers reverently pulling out a few volumes, Luca looks round the room and fold his hands into his jacket as Alex moves towards me to stand guard. I reach for one of the oldest leather bound books I can see, it seems to warm up to the touch once my fingers touch it as if it recognised me, my blood, my power.
Well at least Enya didn't deny it, the facts are here for anyone to find she just wants to hold on to control. That's all she cares about
Wielding power
Shielding the truth
Manipulating others
“Let's make copies of what we need” Alex says his voice low “We can't take the originals they are too sensitive.”
I nod “Sure ,some books look like if a gust of wind touches them they will tear into pieces.”
We all work together, quickly gathering the information we need. We focus at the task at hand for some minutes, once we are done Lucy gathers all the copies we made into her leather satchel and hold on to it as If it's gold
“Are you done?” Luca asks
I take one last look around the room. My gaze lingering on the leather bound books made by my ancestors.One day I will be back to have another perusal of them but for now we have what we need.
I didn't grow up in this coven but my Ancestors did
And that makes the history worth preserving no matter what
I turn to them “Yes let's get out of here.”