Just as I said, an update. How is everyone by the way? I've been crazy happy because I keep playing Vic's new song Gold over and over on loop. I love that song so much! I can't wait for more from her. Now Liz just needs to put something out and I'll be such a happy camper, lol. So, enough of that, let's get back to the story. Enjoy!
~Tori~
We stayed crouched behind the wide tree for a few minutes more, making sure everything was settled and quiet before we moved forward. I took the lead and Jade fell into step behind me. We didn't speak a word as we moved quickly and efficiently over to the high wall. I glanced up, gauging the distance, before glancing back at Jade. Her icy blue eyes seemed to cut through the dark and glow, gaze intense and body rigid. She followed my calculating gaze up to the wall and then met my eyes to nod her understanding. I sprang up as high as I could and dug my claws into the wall, the short sound of my nails shrieking sharply against the stone and rock before catching. I hauled myself up until I was sitting at the top. Jade backed up for a silent running start before launching up, her hands easily catching the edge and then pulling up to perch next to me. She shot me a smug smirk and I rolled my eyes. Figures she would show off even now. I stood and leaped to a nearby tree branch hanging close to the wall. I climbed up and followed it to hide among the leaves close to the trunk. I sat down and waited for Jade who hunkered down next to me a second later.
"You see that cellar door on the side?" I whispered, pointing it out through the leaves.
"Yeah, you mean the one surrounded by guards? I'm pretty sure they aren't the Council's guards," she responded sarcastically.
"No, they aren't, but yes, that one. We need to get in there. The rest of the manor is just a set-up. I mean, it's in use for any members who want to live close by but the actual building is deep underground," I explained.
"I thought so. That's the entrance then?" she replied.
"More or less a back door," I replied with a nod. She cracked her knuckles before standing.
"Let's get going," she stated stoically. I stood up and searched for another branch to jump to. In this way we relocated quietly to a tree that stood right next to our destination. A long wide branch practically welcomed us forward to drop directly onto the guards below. It would have to be done as fast as possible because there was no cover that far out. I glanced at Jade to make sure she was ready before I began moving forward. She stuck close to me, her feet replacing mine at each step. We nimbly traversed the branch and then leaped from the end. I heard Jade jump right after me, and together, we landed directly on the unsuspecting guards below.
I made sure my feet came down on the guard's head, flooring him easily, before going for the neck. Jade's steely grip already broke her target's neck with a quick twist. She held the body by the front of the jacket and looked over at me for further instruction. I responded by simply doing what was needed to put a vampire out of commission for good. I severed the head with my bare hands and tossed it over the wall. Jade effortlessly followed my lead. We dropped the bodies and moved on to the cellar door. I carefully reached out and tapped the metal lock holding it shut. Smoke plumed and I flinched slightly.
"Dang it, silver," I whispered to myself. Jade glanced around before backtracking to the bodies. She crouched down and dug through all the pockets, pulling out a ring of keys a moment later.
"Looks like they're stupider than I thought," she said with a smile, twirling the ring around her finger once before catching it. I moved aside so she could unlock the padlock. It clicked open and Jade used her foot to ease it off the steel handle of the equally thick steel doors. Once she kicked it aside, I pulled on the left door. I grunted, the weight slowing my progress only slightly before I finally got it open. Jade walked up to stand at the edge and looked down. I stood next to her and looked in too, seeing a well-lit hall below with no stairs.
"Are you ready?" she asked me, jaw set and eyes still a sharp blue. I nodded firmly, wondering if my own eyes held the gold gleam of the wolf I felt pacing within. She jumped in and I followed, hanging off the door before dropping so that it slammed shut behind us. Jade flinched at the loud sound and I gave her an apologetic smile. She held a finger to her lips in a silent reprimand before setting off down the one way hall. It curved subtly a few times before splitting. A quick look at the small placard on the wall told us going right led into the manor and left lead down to the Council chambers. We took left without a second thought. A little more walking later and we came to an elevator, waiting with open doors as if our presence was expected. I felt my body tense further at the thought. That's exactly what he would want. Jade stopped in front of the elevator and leaned in only enough to see inside. It was spacious but nothing looked out of the ordinary.
"So, I guess we're goin' down," she commented, carefully walking in. Her voice was strong, but the fact that she talked at all tipped me off that she didn't like the look of being in a confined place. She was talking aloud now as a reassurance to herself as well as me. I could feel her uncertainty waver through the Bond. I stepped in, turning to examine the control panel.
"Do you think he'll be in the main chamber where they hold meetings, trials, and stuff?" I wondered out loud, knowing Jade wouldn't know either but asking anyways.
"How should I know?" she scoffed predictably, her eyes still analyzing her surroundings. I sighed and hit the only button I knew from the past, my father's office on the bottom floor. The doors closed, making Jade step back and closer to me. Smoothly, we began to make our descent.
"Why all the way down there?" Jade inquired.
"It's the only floor I know. It holds my father's office. Think of it like a reverse skyscraper. The boss is usually at the top, right? Well, here he's at the bottom where it takes more to reach him. More defense in between that way," I explained.
"Smart, unless someone knows exactly where to go," she replied, crossing her arms and tilting her head just enough to look at me pointedly.
"I know where he is because he's my father. Why wouldn't I-" I began to reply but I stopped when a thought struck.
"St. Claire knows too," I stated, my stomach dropping unpleasantly. She nodded, confirming what she had suspected as well.
"I would think so. They were running for the same spot. Not to mention he's worked here before. The Council should really keep pissed off former workers in mind when they decide to exile someone," Jade remarked bitterly, crossing her arms. I sighed and leaned back against the cold metal elevator. Jade looked up from glaring a hole in the floor to set her gaze on me. Her hands dropped and her expression softened. I knew it was due to the tears blurring my vision. I wiped at them and sniffled. She walked over and leaned against the wall next to me, her hand finding mine between us. The metal seemed colder compared to her. I always thought she was cold, but as the Bond strengthened she seemed to gain some warmth, in more ways than one.
"Tori, hey, look at me," she coaxed gently, moving so that she stood in front of me. She still held my hand but her other hand reached up to take my chin in her fingers so that she could look into my eyes. Her eyes were a beautiful mix of blue-green again, aiding me in bringing back a small portion of my smile.
"There you go, Brightening already," she said with a quiet chuckle. I ran my hand over her cheek before letting it fall on her shoulder.
"You always make me happy," I responded.
"I know, which is why I want us all to get through this. Me, you, your family, everyone. I want to live my life with you forever, Trina whining on the sidelines, and your parents hovering over us with sickly sweet comments about how fuckin' great we are together. I want all that and more, but we'll never get that happy ending if we don't try now. You mean so much to me Tori, and I want you to know I love you with everything I have. We will get through this. I promise you," she told me certainly. Her eyes were focused and full of love directed right at me. I threw my arms around her and held her tight.
"We'll get all that, Jade. I know we will. Maker, I love you so much," I whispered, tucking my head against her neck. We stayed in the comforting embrace until the elevator let out a small ding that announced we had made it to our destination. I released Jade and exchanged a look of further reassurance with her before I stepped away. The doors slid open and we walked out onto plush red carpet. We walked down the short hall and came to an elaborately carved black door, the head of a howling wolf carved into it. I ran a finger over the grooves slowly before my hand landed on the gold handle. I took a deep breath and then turned it, the click signaling it was unlocked. I didn't like that at all. I pushed it open and stepped in, Jade directly on my heels. We both froze at the sight in front of us. The place was destroyed.
The long desk was knocked aside, claw markings left on the polished wood. The few chairs were totaled and in pieces while papers littered the spacious room. A fight had clearly broken out here. I took a few steps forward, feeling lost for some reason. A spot half hidden by a shattered chair caught my attention. I rushed over and hesitantly pushed aside the debris to see a spot of blood. I shuddered and closed my eyes, backing away. It was a pretty big spot that seemed to have spread a good distance outwards. I didn't dwell on whose blood it was because my senses already knew. A hand grabbed my shoulder and I spun around, suddenly panicky and scared. Jade held onto me, eyes willing me to calm down. I took a few deep breaths and nodded that I was better before she would let me go. Even then she still looked uncertain.
"You were shifting," she told me blankly. I looked down to see claws slowly return to human hands as they flexed. I felt sharp teeth in my mouth with my tongue and sighed.
"Sorry," I apologized, feeling a lot more calm now that Jade had a hold of me.
"No problem, but you need to stay focused. Where do you think he went?" she asked me. I searched my thoughts and came back to the chamber I had mentioned before. It just had to be. It was open and grand. The same place Tanner St. Claire was dropped from his position and exiled as well as losing the chance at leader to my father.
"The main chamber for sure," I replied with a nod. She released me and moved to leave but I grabbed her arm.
"Jade, St. Claire is strong. In the past he was a match for my father. It was a close call. If he managed to hurt him now, who knows if he somehow got stronger?" I concluded cautiously. It didn't surprise me when a smirk curled her lips.
"Then we'll just have to be even stronger," she replied confidently. I couldn't stop the half smile that pulled at my lips. Jade was one incredible force of nature. I nodded in agreement and she took my hand before setting out for the elevator again.
"You know which floor that's on?" she asked when we walked in. I answered by pressing the other button I was sort of familiar with but never used until now. I had heard my father say the main chamber sat in the very center. We both stood stiffly, staring straight ahead at the doors while we waited. It dinged again and the doors slid open to reveal a long wide walkway with a scatter of small trees. It was odd to see them in such an enclosed place but they gave off the illusion of the woods, our true home. We walked out, slowly making our way past them to stop in front of a grand set of stairs. We looked up at the sound of footsteps echoing through the empty room.
"Welcome back, Victoria Vega. I'm sure you're here for a reason. Do you have an appointment or are you just passing through?" Tanner St. Claire questioned candidly. I snarled and took a step forward but Jade held me back. St. Claire laughed and held out his arms in a sweeping gesture.
"Come get me young one. I've been waiting for you and your mate to arrive," he further taunted. I let out a rolling growl, seeing red. Jade gripped my arm tighter in her suddenly cold grip. I glanced over at her to see her face looked like it was carved from hard emotionless marble.
"Why, St. Claire? What could possibly be the reason for this?" she questioned, her words even but acidic. I could feel her anger mesh with mine through the Bond. Vampires were known for a more clearheaded rationale in critical situations. I was glad I had her keeping us in line for the time being. I could see Jade's reasoning through the haze of anger. We had to get him talking, maybe even distracted, so that we could come up with a plan and hopefully strike unexpectedly. His eyes narrowed dangerously as he began stalking back and forth like a caged animal. He gave me the strangest vibes, almost like I could feel how much of a threat he was.
"Of course you ask that. Typical hero questioning the villain, yes? I would love to answer that but I want your beloved family to hear too. Come, step up here," he beckoned, walking away and disappearing from view. Jade and I wasted no time running up the stairs after him. When we got to the top I fell to my knees in shock. My family was chained in heavy silver that dug into their wrists with spikes, the other end embedded in the floor. Collars that bore additional spikes cut into their skin. They were in their wolf forms huddled together. My father was lying down, bleeding from multiple wounds. My mother crouched over him, silent whines escaping her. Trina sat with her head bowed, occasional whines slipping from her muzzle too. They all had some form of minor injury which suggested they tried to fight but lost.
"Silver is so handy, don't you think?" St. Claire questioned casually, walking over to idly tug on the chains holding my father. He tried to pull away defiantly but he flinched in pain. I held my own neck, feeling most of the pain radiate from there. St. Claire's skin burned upon contact but only slight acknowledgment in his gray eyes was the only sign he felt anything. Jade growled in frustration next to me, her hands clenched and her fangs on display. St. Claire walked back over to stand in front of us, hands clasped and smile triumphant.
"I'm merely getting back at those who took my only family away from me, stripped me of my dreams, and tossed me out in the middle of nowhere when I didn't do what was asked of me," he stated with an indifferent shrug.
"What did we ever do to you?" I whimpered, my body tense with pain and fear, mostly mine but some an after effect of the connection I had with my family. Jade gripped my shoulder in an attempt to console me.
"There was a reason I chose to target your mate, Victoria. It would start a chain of unrest, yes, but it would bring about the revolution I sought for so long," he replied.
"What the fuck does your dreams have to do with anything?" Jade spat.
"Everything! My own son was put to death for loving a filthy mongrel like you!" he raged, answering Jade but turning to point an accusing finger at me. Jade stepped forward to place herself in front of me, her stance defensive.
"I don't understand," I responded, the confusion winning over the odd feeling of familiarity passing through my thoughts. Did he mean what I thought he meant?
"Stupid mutt, can't you see? That couple who bore a child, the vampire and wolf. The vampire was my son, turned by me after I myself was bitten. Then he had met his love, the wolf, and had a child. Their Bond was the strongest I had ever seen. They loved each other indefinitely, yet they were murdered all because some pompous leader thought he would be overruled. Utter nonsense! I vowed to make vampire and werewolf unions a reality, even if I had to become the next leader to make it so," he began to explain. I gasped and jumped to my feet.
"That's why you ran against my father, and now, you're doing it by force," I stated, finally understanding.
"Yes, but even before that, the distraction plan that resulted in a group of rebels dying while trying to overthrow the leader; that was also me. I rallied them but remained hidden so as to escape should the plan fail. It did, but I got away and finally realized I must work my way up patiently. But even then I did not win. I tried to create a hybrid on my own as a last resort, but again, I was thwarted. I lost my position and was exiled," he went on, covering all that we had known so far in his file. I stared, waiting for the ball to drop, the real reason that brought him to his most recent scheme. An ominous silence fell before he began again. He glared at me and then Jade, his expression turning to one of curious interest before he turned away to pace and continue on with his story.
"Long years in isolation have given me time to contemplate, and I realized, that I have the upper hand this time. The new leader, David Vega, is a compassionate wolf. Many adore him for this and had chosen him leader over me for the very same trait. He loves his family dearly, especially his baby pup born not too long after he obtained his new position," he said, voice steady as his hawk like gaze shot over to pin me down. He sneered, baring his fangs.
"I still had my connections in the Council so I used them to gather information. I would come out of hiding and put all my ideas I had failed at in the past into one, starting with crippling what Vega holds most dear to weaken him. The very moment I heard you had connected with your Bond mate I sent out some loyal followers to attack when the time was right. I have to say, Beckett being so head over heels was just an added bonus. He was close and familiar with my target and would do nicely to get me what I wanted. Once your Bond mate was turned I gave it time to sink in, spread, alert the authority, and gain attention," he shared, his eyes brightening insanely.
"A distraction from the main event," Jade growled.
"Yes, a distraction. You see, when David Vega fought to keep negative views off his precious baby girl I was putting my next step into action. You would obviously become Bonded with far more Magic than any other Bond mates because of the different species joined through the Bond. I've witnessed this first hand with my son. Your father would feel this and refuse to part you, a natural instinct even I shared. While he was occupied I gathered more followers with the temptation of overthrowing the wolves from their seat of high power," he revealed, stopping to stand straight and tall.
"We have equal power," I snarled angrily at him.
"Oh, I know that, but the oppressed will believe anything to gain their independence. They of course rioted and tried to rebel. Further anarchy to fuel the flames and emotions of both vampire and werewolf. The high level of violence could even correlate with the recently joined vampire and wolf," he stated slyly.
"You bastard! You set us up from the very beginning! You wanted people to have a reaction so that when you took over they would be lost and scared, easily controlled in your hands!" Jade yelled, stepping forward.
"But of course. The last step was easy enough, threaten Vega into stepping down or his beloved little girl would die at my hands," he said, his voice dangerous and sure. He meant it. I whined and moved forward slightly but Jade pushed me back.
"All of my hard work has given me this moment in time where confusion, uncertainty, and rebellion will grow prosperously. Maybe I would even get a few hybrids out of those who share my views? All thanks to you two and your undying love," he taunted with a laugh. I launched at him with a snarl but Jade grabbed me before I could go anywhere and slammed me back into the ground. She stood over me, her posture reminding me of my father. I instinctively submitted, feeling the need to listen. When did she learn our ways so fast? I looked up into my Bond mate's face and felt utter turmoil and chaos, her own determined features revealing the same in her eyes. It was too much. I was afraid the situation lied well out of our hands. Without my father or any other patrol group we were on our own.
By the way: Over 200 Reviews! Holy hell you guys! Thanks so much! I love every review submitted and appreciate them all. You guys are great!
