Chapter 15

I stood in the room, breathing. Just breathing. I needed a few moments to settle inside myself. I’d told Daxx I needed to use the bathroom, then had run up to my room and now I just stood here. Pulling the hand guard out of my pocket, I put it on without looking at it. My gaze was stuck on the robe and sash laid out neatly on my bed. Had Rafael done that, or had he given it to Mitz? I didn’t know why I needed to know a small detail like that.

Shaking my head, I went and sat on the end of the bed. Small details seemed to be tying in together and turning out to be huge things the past few days. I had so many questions right now. It would be selfish to blurt out ‘excuse me, what about this?’ when there were so many serious revelations to be dealt with. I was being petty sitting here thinking only of myself.

Standing up, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to assess how I felt. My FOS was still low. Opening my eyes, I looked around the room. How was that possible with everything I’d found out in the last twenty-four hours? Any sane person would be running and screaming ‘get me out of here’. I smiled, then chuckled to my own thought. Since when did sane describe anything to do with my life.

Nodding, I walked to the door. Time to find out what all of this meant. People as old as the kings and Victor looking panicked about this Arwan guy didn’t bode well for some twenty-five-year-old completely human girl with a sketchy past.

I opened the door and then froze. Across the large hallway Rafael was coming out of a room. Closing the door he stood there. He was dressed in his battle gear again. I’d never really thought leather was sexy, not that I’d ever owned any, but the black hide looked good on him. I tried not to ogle him in an obvious way but found it hard not to. The black vest he wore was form fitting and depicted quite clearly how much muscle was under it. Snapping out of it, I stood there like a startled animal, hoping he wouldn’t notice. So, of course he did and stood there doing much the same thing I was. I looked at the door.

He pointed to it. “It’s my room.”

Mitz had placed me across the hall from the man I’d shot? I nodded, not knowing what to say.

He stepped into the middle of the hall. “I’m guessing you found out something from Eunice? We were just heading out when Quint got a call to get here now.”

Feeling awkward after appraising his body, I turned and started walking toward the stairs. “I don’t understand all of it.”

Rafael walked beside me. “Eunice isn’t faking?”

I shook my head. “She has no memory of the last hundred and ten years.”

He stopped and looked down at me. “Seriously?”

I stood there, hands clasped together. “I heard her thoughts clearly.”

He ran his hand over his short hair. “That’s crazy. I’m only eight decades older than that.”

Starting at his black leather boots, I looked up his form until I reached his eyes again. He did not look a hundred and ninety years old. “And you’re the baby brother?”

He snorted. “Unfortunately.” He motioned to keep walking, a look of urgency on his face now. “How is that possible? For her to lose that much time?”

“I don’t know. It has something to do with her tattoo and someone called Arwan.” I looked up to see him frowning at the floor as we walked. When his eyes went wide, I knew he understood.

“Arwan is a myth. Some wizard guy stories were written about.”

We started down the stairs. “Apparently he was and is very much real. Victor looked concerned.”

Rafael paused and looked down at me. “Victor?”

I nodded, but kept going.

“Shit, that’s not good.” He said under his breath.

At the bottom of the stairs I stopped and looked up at him. “Why are you being so nice to me?” It was a legitimate question. “I shot you.”

His look darkened for a moment. “Yeah, you did. And I will hold it against you for the rest of my life because my brothers will never forget or stop harassing me about it. And when you live as long as we do, that could be a hella long time” He took a deep breath, then huffed it out all at once. “I can’t—I don’t know how to explain it.” Rafael’s blue eyes searched my face. “I don’t want to freak you out.” He shook his head. “My heart got stuck in my throat the two times I saw you lose it,” the hazy confused look in his eyes cleared, turning them a lighter shade of blue, “I don’t know what to do about it and you need time to digest all of this,” he smirked, “I don’t think there’s a name to describe it from your perspective.” He motioned to keep walking. “Later on, I’ll try to explain it to you.”

I didn’t know if what he said was supposed to make me feel better or more confused, he really hadn’t explained anything.

“Just-just let me know if you need anything, okay?” He placed his hand on my back as we walked, not rushing me, just keeping it there.

I nodded. “Okay.” I wasn’t going to ask, then my mouth had other ideas. “Can you at least tell me why I keep getting called Princess?”

He inhaled a sharp breath, dropping his hand away from me. “Just go with it for now.” He gave me a smile that could have charmed the feathers off a bird, then walked ahead of me into the solarium.

Most in the room watched me when I walked down the steps, a few glances to Rafael followed. I stopped at the table and looked at the food sitting on it, trying to assess if I wanted to eat, and also keeping my back to everyone meant not seeing people stare at me. My stomach was tense, but walking away from free, non-spoiled food seemed like a dumb thing to do, so I picked up a sandwich and turned around. No one was looking at me now.

I went over and sat in the same chair I had before, finding a small piece of comfort in repetition. If twice could be call that. I took a bite of the sandwich, pleasantly surprised it was egg salad. Foods with mayonnaise, not spoiled, was a rare taste for me.

Autumn came over and sat in the chair beside me, leaning on her knees and looking at the floor. “Thanks again for doing that.” She sat up and took a deep breath, then exhaled it slowly. “I wanted her to be faking it so bad,” she grinned, then shook her head, “now I can’t even muster up any anger for retribution.”

I chewed slowly thinking of what to say. Swallowing, I looked at her. “That’s good, right, not being burdened with those feelings?”

She nodded slowly, “Yeah, a clear mind is good, but I really did want to lay a beat down on her for what I went through.”

I recalled what she’d said. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

She studied me for a moment, then she jerked her chin toward Rafael. “Everything good there?”

I looked at Rafael as he spoke to Troy, a serious expression on his face. “I don’t know. He’s not mad at me, completely, but he’s very confusing.”

She chuckled, “yeah, that seems to run in the family.” She stood up and put her hand on my shoulder. “Track down one of us girls, if you want the answers to his confusing mumbo jumbo or the stupid things he does.”

I watched her walk over to Michael, she said something to him and he smiled. Both glanced to me, then gave each other a look I could only describe as lost in love.

Alona and Chase came down the steps. “Sorry for the hold up. We popped over to check on Rena and the security system.”

Emil stood up, a concerned look on his face.

“Everything is fine.” Alona gave him an understanding smile, “Chase just wanted to assuage my worries.”

Emil nodded. “Thank you for checking in on her.” He motioned around the room. “I was going to after someone explains what this new discovery means.”

“Explanations would be good.” Daxx sat down and looked around at the men.

Troy motioned around the room. “Everyone, take a seat. We have a short time before we have to be at the council chambers.”

“We’re going back to see the elders?” Rafael went over and stood by the glass wall, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Yes.” Chase placed a kiss on the top of Alona’s head when she sat down. He didn’t sit, just stood there with his hands on her shoulders. “Kara has found the answers to our questions.”

I gave him a startled look. I had?

“Which questions?” Quinton asked.

Troy rubbed his hand across his forehead. “The main one that’s been plaguing us,” He glanced around slowly, “how Willis is managing to do half the things he has.”

“And?” Leone put his arm around Bethany and pulled her closer to him.

“Eunice believes Nelson and Willis have found Arwan.” Troy said quietly, looking around weighing the reactions to what he said.

“She hasn’t been playacting about not knowing how she ended up in the cells.” Victor said glancing to Crissy briefly, “she’s lost over a hundred years, recalling nothing.”

“How is that possible? No magic works that long.” Quinton scowled and crossed his arms over his chest.

“That’s what we’re finding out.” Michael told him. “Kara heard her thoughts clearly. We think it may have something to do with the Hubert crest tattooed on her wrist.”

“So it’s some kind of magic through the tattoo?” Leone asked glanced down at Bethany for a moment, then back to Victor. “It would have to be some powerful spell.”

Troy sighed, “the kind of power Arwan has.”

“You really think he’s alive?” Quinton looked from Victor to Michael, “after this long?”

“I always thought the stories were just myths.” Rafael stated.

“Myths derive from the truth.” Victor told him. “I remember the elders and our grandfather searching for him. He’d just vanished without a trace.”

“So how do we find him and stop him?” Daxx asked.

“That’s why we’re meeting with the elders and several of the leaders and heads of departments at the chambers.” Troy told her, his eyes lingering on her for a few moments.

“They’ll know?” Paisley got up from the chair and went over and wrapped her arms around Arius’ waist.

“If they don’t, then we are all in dire trouble.” Troy said quietly.

“We need to check everyone brought in since this started and see if they have the tattoo.” Rafael straightened away from the wall and went to the table of food.

“Are tattoos recorded on the intake file?” Quinton looked to Arius.

Arius shook his head, “no. Only the mates mark is.” He pulled his phone out, “I’ll get them started on it.” He lifted his gaze from the phone and looked to Troy, “it’s going to take some time to check them all.”

Troy nodded, “have them flag any whose behavior has changed drastically as well.”

Arius nodded and kept typing on his phone.

“Maybe this tattoo could help us find the traitors I couldn’t see.” Crissy gave Victor a hopeful look.

Victor’s look was affectionate as he nodded to her. Then he turned and looked at Michael, “I don’t know if they’d be so callus to send someone in with the Hubert crest in their skin, but we can look into that.”

“Maybe Kara can help.”

I looked at Bethany.

She was looking at Victor, “if they’ve somehow managed to hide their intentions from Crissy seeing, maybe their thoughts will give them away.”

“I don’t understand.” I said, not even pausing to wonder if I should say anything. “I mean I get me listening to their thoughts, but I thought Crissy’s visions were premonition like.”

Crissy nodded. “Oh, they are.” She looked over my head, “but I can see if people are bad too.”

I waited for more explanation, then realized there wasn’t going to be any.

Bethany grinned, “Crissy can see the aura that surrounds people.”

I didn’t know what to say to that. I had no real clue what they were talking about, then I remembered Crissy looking over my head when I was in my personal cube. “You can see mine?”

She nodded. “Yes.” Crissy looked excited, “yours is filled with pure intentions, but,” she looked at Victor then to Quinton, “you have a bit of that don’t mess with me color like the men do.”

“There’s a color for that?” Autumn asked with a smirk on her face.

Nodding rapidly once more, Crissy turned and looked at her, “yes.” She frowned, “I don’t know if colors mean things or if it’s just the feeling I get that go with the color…”

Autumn held up her hand. “That’s okay, I will take your word for it.”

I realized then that one of the main things that got me out of that cube was how much these people believed in what Crissy saw. I gave her a friendly smile. “Well, I’m glad you can see mine.” I figured I needed to at least thank her. The way my mouth had been spitting out every thought in my head, I would have still been locked up if it hadn’t been for her.

Arius put his phone in his pocket. “The guards are on it now.” He shook his head, “never before have we had to keep going back over each person so much.”

“I’ve been thinking about that.” Troy crossed his arms over his chest and looked down at the floor for a second before continuing. “When we had the others come in and help dig through minds to track down those that hurt the women—” he paused to see if everyone was listening. “None of those that helped were vetted.”

“You think we may have let one of Hubert’s into the cells without knowing it?” Michael’s expression hardened.

“It is a possibility.” Troy said quietly.

“Should we check the guards that work the cells?” Paisley looked to Arius.

His jaw twitched for a moment. “Most have been with me down there since I took over,” he gave Troy a serious look, “but I suppose we should be diligent and make sure.”

Troy nodded. “After the meeting, we’ll start checking all who have access to any part of the chambers, and palace.”

“What about their families?” Bethany asked. “Could they be leaking information to a family member and not even know it?”

Rafael shook his head. “We can’t have Kara listen in on every resident in the realm.” He gave Troy a hard look. “We need to prioritize. Do those with access first.”

Troy nodded. “I agree.” He gave me an appraising look. “We’ll do whatever you’re comfortable with.”

“I,” I glanced to Rafael, a bit surprised he’d jumped to my defense so quickly. He didn’t make eye contact with me. I looked back to Troy, “I’ll do what I can.” And I meant that. I’d agreed to after the girls had told me about the women, but now there seemed to be so many other facets that meant many could be hurt or worse. I may wish for some humans to be gone from this earth, but that didn’t mean I was going to let it happen to innocent people too.

Troy turned to Michael. “Have them do their tests after the meeting so we can expedite Kara having her own personal inhibitor like Elder Udela.”

Michael nodded. “If we can check the teams, that would be a load off my mind before we go exploring that tunnel Kara saw them using.”

“Guards are first priority.” Troy nodded, “they’re closest to us then the others.”

Chase moved away from Alona. “Grab a snack, even if you’re not hungry, we have some long hours ahead of us and much to learn.”

With somber expressions several bodies moved toward the food.

“Before I forget,” Daxx stood in the middle of the room, then motioned to me when everyone looked to her, “Kara saw residents with glowing green eyes when she was in the psych hospital.”

Troy looked to me, then back to her. He closed his eyes for a moment, then looked at his twin. “We’re going to have to find that place.”

The expression on Chase’s face matched his brother. “Yes we do.” He gave me a quick compassionate look, “without risking Kara being locked up again.”

The bite I’d swallowed got stuck in my throat. I tried again and winced as it hurt.

“I’ll check with our people on that side, see if there’s a way we can get in without being committed to do it.” Victor informed then, then turned back to speak to Crissy.

I didn’t even know if I could find that place again. I hadn’t really cared to know where I was running from, only that I got away. Taking a deep breath, I looked down at the sandwich in my lap. Did I regret climbing that fire escape? Should I? I lifted it and took a small bite. As bizarre as all of this was, some pieces seemed to fit. Someone held a glass of chocolate milk at my eye level. I looked up to see it was Rafael. I took the glass. “Thank you.”

He nodded. “I know everyone wants to check on everyone, but I don’t want you doing something you don’t feel comfortable with,” his blue eyes were locked on mine, “speak up if it’s getting to you.” He nodded.

“I just want to help so I can go back to peace and quiet.” I gave him a hopeful look.

He grinned. “I think that train has left the station for good.” With a shrug, he turned and walked back over to the table of food.

I sipped the milk. Still wondering why he’d brought it to me. I looked at him walking away, or more specifically where I’d shot him. I was kind of glad I hadn’t done any permanent damage now. Looking away before anyone saw me, I took another bite of the sandwich. Maybe the elders would have all the answers and this could be over soon. I stared into the liquid in my glass, yeah because easy-peasy happened all the time in my world.