Here's the latest! I'll be premiering new pic teases in the FB group this week, so come join us if you want a hint of what's to come.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 11
We arrived at the capitol building and walked in as a unit. I was surprised that Alice hadn't showed up yet and with Jasper off to find her and bring her along we were all feeling our own level of anxiety.
Bella, my father, and I entered the rotunda and something felt off. James was missing and for the first time since the Choosing began Alec and Felix looked pleased.
My father sat on the lower throne and I sat on the king's throne, Bella perched on my lap. "The platform will raise like in your own entrances. A human will be on it. You must drink them on your own."
"How do I do it?" Bella asked.
"You can simply drink while their alive, use their own body to pump the blood to you. Or you can kill them first, snap their neck, but then you will need to actively drink them down," I told her.
Bella nodded just before the mechanism that raised the platform began to move. The Wanderer came into view, chained by his wrists, and when he stopped in front of us, Bella gasped.
"Bella, run!" he shouted.
"Jacob," she said in a pained whisper.
I looked to Felix and Alec and saw the self-satisfied looks on their faces. They'd done this on purpose, sent Demetri to get someone who would mean something to Bella.
"Bella, I'm sorry, but you must do this. Put him out of his misery, it will be easier for you both," I whispered.
Bella approached Jacob slowly and the moment he realized the change in her was obvious. She was on him in an instant, reaching for his neck, breaking it and then sinking her teeth into him. His body slumped as the last of his blood left him, Bella staggering from the platform.
I caught her and the floor lowered, removing the evidence of her first kill. I was about to announce the recess of the council when Jasper entered in a full rage. I had no idea what could have pushed him this far until I saw the head he held by its scraggly ponytail.
Before anyone could make a move towards him, my father pulled him so that we blocked anyone from touching him. Bella scrambled out of my arms and flanked me, offering further cover.
"He killed a prince, he has to die," Felix hollered.
"We will hear the circumstances-" Benjamin responded.
"There is no act that makes it forgivable," Alec countered.
"Let me hear why my nephew killed my son," Laurent demanded.
"He attacked my mate," Jasper testified.
My father and I stiffened, looking for Alice. Just then she entered surrounded by Tanya, Kate, Rosalie, and Emmett. She looked tiny and broken. The silence the sight of her caused gave Laurent the freedom to speak.
"I will not seek vengeance, he defended his mate."
"There has been no ceremony," Caius called from his son's side.
"They've known their pairing for decades and were made to wait, I will not cause my family more pain." Laurent declared.
"Will you hold his position until your family has an heir of age or the throne is relinquished?" I asked.
"I will," Laurent answered.
"The council is in recess until there is an issue in need of us or an heir is born," I called.
James' head was taken from Jasper, offered to Laurent so he could burn his remains. Bella ran for Alice, pulling my sister against her chest.
Alice gasped, her tiny whisper of 'how' not lost on us, but this wasn't the place for whatever questions came next.