Chapter 17 Council’s Shadows
As Sienna proceeded near the high table where the Elders were sitting, her footsteps resonated in the big room. She couldn't stop thinking. She had been fighting the mounting anxiety and tension that came with every breath she took for days. The curse on Ryder was no longer just a nuisance that wouldn't go away; it was a warning. Something black was circling her and pulling at her very essence. Ryder's presence was like a storm in her chest, with gusts that were wild and out of control. With every second she spent near him, it seemed like the storm was tearing her apart from the inside. But now that she was in the middle of the Council's territory, the weight of their watchful eyes felt heavier than it ever had before.
She knew they were waiting for her to slip up and say something she didn't comprehend yet. The Elders sat quietly, as they always did, and watched her go toward them. Elder Kane sat at the head of the table. His thin lips were curved in a way that could have been a smile, but there was a cold calculation behind it. As she got closer, his piercing eyes turned toward her and narrowed a little. He was a man who seemed to know everything, including every shadow, And just now, he was looking at her like she was a piece in a bigger game that she didn't fully comprehend yet. Sienna slowed down because she could feel his eyes on her like a heavy hand on her shoulder.
She felt like every action was planned and measured, but she couldn't shake the feeling of dread that came over her. She couldn't shake the impression that the Elders weren't simply watching her; they were also waiting. And they had always known what she was hiding. "Ah, Sienna," Elder Kane whispered in a low, smooth voice that sounded like velvet stroking against flesh.
"You're late." The words were like an order, a reminder that she was now in his territory and had to follow his rules. Sienna lowered her head, which was a reflex, and looked at the faces of the other Elders. She could feel their eyes on her, but no one spoke or moved, like if the Council was holding its breath. "I'm sorry, Elder Kane," she said, her voice firm but not too loud. "I had things to take care of." The Elders' eyes moved toward each other, and in the flash of an eye, they had an unsaid discussion.
The quiet was so thick that Sienna felt a droplet of sweat run down her back. She wouldn't let it show, and she wouldn't let the moment's weakness break her calm exterior. "Matters," Elder Kane said again, this time with a very small smile on his lips. "Be careful about the things you choose to pay attention to, Sienna." There are some things that are best not said. Sienna stiffened, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Elder Kane knew exactly what he was getting at; she wasn't stupid. He could feel the change in her energies and the dark force that hung around her like a shadow. She had felt more than just the curse on Ryder.
Elder Kane had seen that something was shifting in her. She wanted to push back and say that what he said wasn't true, but she stopped herself. She had learned a long time ago that words could be weapons when the Elders were around, and silence might be just as keen. That's why she didn't say anything. "Oh, but you already know this, don't you?" Elder Kane kept talking, as his voice got darker and more evil. "It's dangerous, Sienna, the curse you hold and the power you think you can control."
And if you don't watch your step, it will eat you alive. She swallowed hard to attempt to calm the fear that was growing in her chest. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't avoid Ryder's curse. Their relationship was getting stronger, and every time they were together, it was difficult to hide the fact. She had already gone too far to turn back, and now she was stuck in the Council's web, with each thread getting tighter around her. "I understand," she finally answered, her voice firm and cool. She couldn't show weakness here, not with the Elders looking on.
Not with the shadows in the room getting closer to her. Elder Kane looked at her for a while longer, his gaze steady, before leaning back in his chair. The glossy wood of the table made a subtle drumming sound with his fingertips, which filled the otherwise quiet room. "Yes," he responded slowly. "You get it, but you don't yet appreciate how big of a problem you're facing." Sienna's stomach turned. The words hit her like a punch, and the heaviness of them settled on her chest like a rock. "And what exactly am I dealing with?" she questioned in a voice that was just above a whisper. She was very close to losing her cool, but she had to know what the Council was hidden from her. Elder Kane grinned, but it wasn't a real smile.
"That is the question we are all asking, my dear." The huge doors at the end of the hall burst open before she could say anything. A tall, black figure with a cloak moved quickly across the stone floor. The figure stopped for a moment at the door. In the low light, their shape was barely visible. As the figure walked closer, the room went quiet. They crossed the room with an eerie grace, and their footsteps sounded like the beat of a drum. Sienna's heart raced.
She could feel the presence before she ever saw the face. She had felt it, like a cold breath on the back of her neck or a shadow that stayed too long in the corners of her consciousness. The figure's cowl stayed low, hiding their face, but Sienna could feel the intensity of their gaze and the unmistakable pull of energy that vibrated through the air. Elder Kane didn't say anything to the new person, but his eyes quickly moved to them before going back to Sienna.
"This is the person who will be helping us with your... problem." Sienna frowned, and her brow furrowed in perplexity. "Who, Before she could complete her question, the hood of the figure was thrown aside, revealing a set of piercing green eyes that stared straight at her. Sienna couldn't help but gasp.
"Ryder?" she said in a low voice. The figure's lips turned up in a little smile. "Did you really think you could get away from me that easily?" Sienna felt like she was going to pass out from the shock. Her heart was pounding in her ears. Ryder, in the Council's hall? She thought he was far away, getting well from the curse that had taken over his life. But there he was, standing in front of her, a shadow of the man he used to be, with eyes that were darker than she had ever seen.
A thousand things raced through her mind at once. How did he get here? What did this signify for her and for them? And most importantly, what game was Elder Kane playing right now? Elder Kane leaned closer, and his eyes sparkled with an almost predatory interest. He murmured softly, as if he were enjoying the situation, "You see, Sienna."
"You're not the only one who cares about this. Ryder also has a part to play. And you will find the answers you need together. Sienna felt a chill run down her spine as she kept her eyes on Ryder. The curse and the power were all starting to feel like a twisted web, and the more she fought, the tighter it got. Ryder strode forward, his voice low and threatening, just as the silence grew too much to take. "You have no clue what you've gotten yourself into, Sienna," he said softly, sending a chill down her spine. "And I will make sure you realize before it's too late."