35
As I exited the room, Mother was at the end of the hall waiting for me. As I reached her she stood before me for a moment, serious and hard.
"You are the matriarch of the entire siren race. Word has already spread. Before you go out there, know that your family comes first before the elves." she said. I was holding my breath for a minute before nodding some and she turned and let me pass, following behind me as I moved. Once we were outside, I could see the commotion at the gates. They were closed and Kandomere's blue hair was all I could see between these gates that had his parents on the outside, and my father and Marco and twenty of our guards. I could hear them arguing. Kandomere's hands were up before my father and then his parents.
As I neared the back of the guards, and they saw me, they began to part and immediately bow their heads to me. I was not used to that at all. But I had to keep a straight face and remember four elves have come onto our land without permission. Their reason had better be good.
"How can you stand here and defend these creatures!" Priscilla spat with hatred in her tone. Marco and my father saw me and parted, bowing their heads as well. My father had only bowed to me when I was a little girl and it was out of humor and love that I was his little princess.
"If I have these gates open, I will do more than just insult you." I stated with authority. Kandomere moved over to me.
"Odette-" I raised my hand and stared at him with a firm glare. He knew the offense of his family and I would hear no more excuses on their behalf. He sighed and just looked away crossing his arms and I looked at the four elves. "You have crossed onto siren land without permission by invitation. You are judges, you know the laws of the sirens and given our violent and unforgivable past, you know better than to come here unannounced."
Priscilla snorted some.
"Look little girl-"
"You are speaking to Lady Odette, the siren matriarch of the entire siren race. You either show her respect or you will have me to deal with." Mother stated viciously. Priscilla's eyes flexed as if she could not believe what she had just heard. She began to hit Carmine in the chest who stood before her.
"You elves have no authority on this land. You will never have authority on MY land. You being Kandomere's blood relatives are the only reason I am allowing you remain standing here. You had better have a good reason for being here." I demanded.
"We are state judges and you cannot speak to us like that!" Carmine stated.
"Father." Kandomere said through clenched teeth. Marco withdrew his sword from his sheet on the back spinning it in his hand.
"Choose your next words wisely, elf." he threatened through his mask.
"Is that a threat?" Ares asked.
"Yes." Marco responded in a low tone, his grip on his sword tightening. I tilted my head upward, feeling the authority grow inside me. It wasn't every day that a siren could speak down to an elf. And I needed- no wanted to show my family that I would never choose an entire elf race over them.
"Your status on our lands means nothing, I thought I had made that clear. You ARE nothing. Now you have one more chance to answer… why are you all here?" I asked carefully. Carmine and Priscilla looked at Kandomere with blunt eyes, clearing wanting him to defend them. I looked up at him wondering what it was he was planning to do. He didn't look afraid or nervous like I thought. He was calm and collective, eyes showing strength like I had never seen before.
"As an agent of the law, I agree with Lady Odette." he said and my eyes softened on his form. He kept his hard eyes on his family. "You are government officials who are fully aware of the laws between all species. Your status of being elves does not make you higher than the law or exempt from following them. Coming onto any of the siren lands without permission via invitation is equivalent as breaking into someone's home with intent to harm. This gives them a right to do whatever they want with you. Lady Odette asked you a question, I suggest you answer it." he demanded. His tone had the same harshness as if it was directed at an orc. God he was so hot right now. My eyes showed gratitude and I could see the anger in his parents' eyes as I looked at them. I could see Carmine's eyes challenging me as if he was sure he could win this.
"Father just tell them why we are here!" Tatianna snapped hitting the back of the older elf's suit. Carmine cleared his throat and straightened up.
"Apologies, Lady Odette. We came for Kandomere. We needed to inform him that an elf museum was vandalized. Many innocent elves have been killed and he is needed in his district to handle the situation. His partner Montehugh could not reach him, so we came to find him." he replied. My entire face softened as I looked at Kandomere with concern.
He was stunned and I could see the mild panic overcoming him. He looked at me now and took my shoulders in his hands. I knew he had to leave.
"Be safe." I replied and he leaned in and kissed me hard. I leaned into his embrace before pulling back and demanding the gates be opened. "Kandomere and his family are allowed to leave, but they are never to return or they will not be allowed to leave."
Kandomere looked down at me and gave a look of gratitude before moving through the gates and over to his car. I watched his family move to their own silver and expensive car before driving off quickly. I watched them speed away before closing my eyes and finally turning to my family. The guards and my parents and brother stared at me and in unison they bowed their heads all to the way to the ground. I was stunned to see them all moving in perfect unison as they bowed. As everyone dispersed, my parents moved up to me and I took their hands in mine.
"Spoke like a true matriarch." Father said and I smiled warmly at him, but this moment could not last. I realized, I couldn't just sit by while Kandomere was off doing his duties for the city and for me. Watching my people prepared to do what was necessary for me made me think of why has yet to announce the elves as the culprits. The people will tear down the defenses of elf town out of sheer anger and they would hurt innocent elves just like the innocent orcs were killed.
"I have to go." I said to them and they both looked at me with warm smiles.
"We know." Mother said. I smiled and hugged them both before leaning back.
"But this does not mean we are not going to have a coronation for you. When things die down or the entire matter is settled we will celebrate this occasion." Father told and I smiled at them before nodding. I called Nick to come and get me and while I waited I changed into some jeans and a blue soft tank top. As I stood around waiting, there was a gentle knock at the door and I looked to see father standing there in the doorway. He smiled and I gave a soft smile in return.
"I thought we could talk for a minute before your friend gets here." he said and I nodded and he entered the room and looked around at the deep blue walls and the paintings around it. He gave a small chuckle. "First the walls were pink and white and then red and black then grey and pink then blue and so on and so forth. I always changed the colors for you when you asked. Didn't even give it much thought. What you wanted I gave. I didn't do this for Marco or Paz or even Percival or Arliss. You were my first daughter meant to be live a lavished life with a wealthy siren, have children and continue the Odell name."
I listened some moving over to my bed which was now made up by the servants most likely.
"But now that has all changed." I said lightly sitting on the end of my bed. He nodded slowly and joined me.
"Yes. It has changed. Odette… I need you to know that this ability you possess, no one has possessed it for hundreds of years. I want you to understand that what you did at the hospital last night is a mere inkling of the power you possess. It is neither good magic or bad magic. It all depends on what's in here." he said placing his hand over his chest. I listened and thought about last night remembering how they all could have died. I shook my head and looked down at my knees.
"If having this power means I might potentially kill you then I don't want it." I said softly. "Take it from me... please." His eyes were soft and caring as he leaned me into him and moved into him willingly.
"Oh my child, you have a good heart. You will bend this power to your will and keep control. Your mate will not let you fade into darkness. He loves you too much to let that happen. He is the only elf in quite a long time to earn the respect of a siren clan." he said, and I sniffled some and looked up at him.
"Thank you." I replied and he just nodded.
"You just make sure he doesn't fuck up." he joked and we both shared a gentle laugh before one of the servants came to the door.
"Nick Jakoby is at the door." he said. I wiped my face.
"That's my ride." I said and Father nodded.
"If you ever need the help, ring for Marco and he will bring the dogs of hell down onto your enemies." he declared and I smiled at his words before hugging him once more.
"I'll see you soon, Da." I replied and got up and left my room. I met Nick at the door and he was in his uniform. He looked stunned.
"Hey roomie, you okay?" he asked. I shook my head smiling.
"We have some catching up to do." I replied closing the door behind me. "How are you?"
"I'm making it. Daryl and I are watching each other's backs. We were actually put on the case to help Homeland Security with catching the Inferni." he said. My eyes flexed as if impressed. I wonder who made that happen.
"Wow that's amazing. I'm sure that'll be good for you career." I said and he shook his head.
"I don't care about that. I'm concerned for your safety. Want to fill me in on what's going on?" he asked. I nodded as we made it over to his squad car.
"Sure, but we have to go back to the elf district to Homeland Security's base. There's someone I have to see who knows way more than I do and he is going to talk to me." I said. Nick tilted his head.
"Who?" he asked opening his door and I did the same.
"A certain Fogteeth gang leader." I said.