Chapter 44 The War Council pt 3
Duncan
We all sat in shock as we absorbed her words. The sounds in the silent room after that were deafening—the creak of chairs as everyone adjusted, the air circulation system running, the fluorescent lighting flickering. After a few moments like this, King Cian finally spoke. "We sensed nothing in that hospital room with us eighteen years ago. Even our finest trackers couldn't pick up a trace."
"Yes, well, you wouldn't have. It's probably better that I demonstrate." Elaine stood and then vanished. We all looked around, trying to determine where she had gone. Then things started moving around the buffet table at the side. A coffee cup floated in the air as a carafe lifted to fill it. A spoonful of sugar was next, the spoon stirring the cup in midair. Even with my heightened senses, I couldn't pick up any trace of her—no smell, no heartbeat, no breathing. It was as if she weren't there at all. Suddently, Elaine flickered back into view, and I could hear her heartbeat and smell her lightly floral scent again.
"We have a high-level cloaking spell. It's specific to my coven, but something we all learn early on. Our elders created it after our war with the vampires four hundred years ago." She shrugged. "It's one of the spells that my sister mastered first, and one that she excels at. She likely loaded a beacon into the obsidian stone she gave the nurse and, as soon as the stone was activated, teleported in while under the cloaking spell."
"How do we counteract this enchantment?" Lucian asked.
"I can create talismans for you that will allow you to see through it, yes. We each carry such talismans so that we can find each other when utilizing the spell, as it fully cloaks us from other witches as well. If we enter an alliance, as I am hopeful that we will, I will ensure that your pack leadership teams and trackers, at a minimum, all have talismans. If we have enough time, I will do what I can for trusted warriors, too."
"An alliance. What exactly are you hoping for? And why would we enter an alliance with a group who was responsible for my sister's kidnapping?" Gideon asked.
"My sister was right about one thing. You and your sister are the twins spoken of in the prophecy, though you may not have manifested your gifts until recently. I can sense the power residing in both of you. You will have command of all the elements. That means that the great evil is rising and is probably already working in the background for its next step. We need to create an alliance to fight against it," Elaine said. She paused for a moment, spinning her mug in her hands, then looked Gideon directly in the eye. "I'm ashamed of what my sister has done, and I have been personally involved in trying to rectify each action since we were able to capture her and get information from her. She is a traitor to our people, to my coven, and I hope you won't hold a traitor's actions against an entire group. I am truly here in peace and to offer my assistance."
Seren shifted in her seat, hesitantly leaning forward. Her voice was soft, so quiet I almost had to strain to hear it. "Elaine, I don't hold you responsible for your sister's actions. It's admirable that you are doing what you can to help her victims. Thank you for the help you've already provided by healing me. Kara and I trust you."
Everyone looked to Seren, and then the chatter started. Kayla and Louise remained quiet, but everyone else bombarded her with statements or questions, all pointing to the same theme. How could she trust so easily? Gideon and I shared a look, knowing that this resulted from her meeting with the Goddess, and it was time to bring the rest of our group in on that secret.
I stood and, when everyone continued their barrage, stated firmly, "Enough." There were grumbles, but ultimately everyone calmed. "We have something we need to share with you all."