Chapter 63: Time Ended

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Dakota felt a soft, strong hand on his chin. When Xander shoved him into the cell he took so much of his power that Dakota passed out.

Now, he opened his eyes and stared into the porcelain face of an angel, an angel from hell.

Skin as white as chalk and hair almost the same color. The eyes that stared into his reminded him of Xander's; green, cold, and cruel. He knew her, he saw her the first time he came to the island. All the counsel meetings took place on an island no one knew about. If anyone did find it, the Counsel could zap their memories instantaneously, but normally no one found it.


Dakota tried to speak but his voice cracked. He licked his lips. "Ariel."


She smiled, a cruel smile, chilling. "Dakota, nice to see you're awake. Now we can...talk." Ariel said.

She leaned back, the wooden chair grumbling, folded her arms, and crossed her legs. Dakota waited for her to begin, but she continued to stared at him. Her eyes went from his head to feet, then to his eyes. She tried to decide whether or not he posed as a real threat to her.


"Should I start or are you going to?" Dakota asked. He tried to prop himself up but then he changed his mind.


"You really don't know how much danger you are in do you?" She stated.


"How do you mean?" Dakota asked.


Ariel smiled, her white teeth shone. "Most prisoners who come in here are crying and begging to be released." She stood and put her hands on her hips. "The way you are acting I'd say you're either braver than most, or just plain ignorant."


"Most people would vote ignorant in my case," he laughed.


Her face remained stone.


"Well tell me the possibilities." Dakota said. "What danger am I in?"


"You're chances of escape are zero to none, all of the counsel members who really count, Paul, Karma, and me, hate you and want you dead, and..."


"You're forgetting one thing Ariel."


She turned. A small girl stood in the doorway. She smiled as though she knew something.

"And what is that Candice?" Ariel glared at her.


"It's time." She leaned her head forward causing her short red hair to fall over one green eye.


"Candice, who's going to challenge me, you?" She laughed. "Sweet heart, you've lived long, but not long enough, I'm stronger than you'll ever be."


Candice smiled again. "Are you stronger than David?"


For a moment, Ariel's smile melted, then, it froze into a smile again. "David does not want to be a counsel member. He never has."


"We shall see, won't we Ariel?" Candice said, her face did not change.


"Run along Candice, don't get your hopes up," she flipped her hand.


"Don't be so confident Ariel," Candice said quietly to herself as she turned and walked away. "Your time has ended."