Chapter 15 Sacrifice
AN: Thanks to those who read and to those who have reviewed. I apologize for any errors.
To clear up the confusion of myself and other people this is what the scene looks like in my mind when everyone is in place. Setting in half of the Ball room closest to the hall door. Chris has his back to the door as a sign of trust that his council will take out any threat; he is in the middle of Tara's 'sisters.' About four feet away is Fear with Tara on her left and L on her right. The elders are sitting two on each side of this scene (4 in total). The rest of the council are several feet behind Fear in two rows, left to right: row 1 Bash, Mark, Liz, Nancy, Nathan, and two male unknowns, row 2 two male unknowns, Karl, Robert, one female unknown, and one male unknown.
"I don't see the problem then," I said. I got up and walked toward the hall where my fate rested in the hands of complete strangers.
I walked slowly down the hall listening to everything in the ballroom. Chris was behind me and pulled me to a stop before I reached for the handle of the door.
I turned and faced him, "Make this easier," I whispered.
"How?" he whispered back. "Whatever is decided will be hell for both of us."
I closed my eyes and leaned against the door. When I opened them he was still standing only inches from me.
"Let me go," was all I said. When he stepped back, I knew I had hurt him. "Tell me you never loved me," tears started falling down my cheeks. "If you don't say it, I will."
"I can't," he said.
Before I could crush us both the door opened to reveal Tara who said, "Due to the changes of events, the trial is going to start soon. You need to take your places." The clock in that fated room chimed the hour which was already eight. Had time really went by that fast?
The room was quiet as we entered. I saw several people I had never met. I sat in the middle of the section of room we were using. I turned so I could see Chris sitting in the middle of Tara's eight sisters. L was appeared to my right where Bree would have stood.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," L began, "due to unexpected circumstances the council has been summoned and must commence the trial for the fate of the girl sitting before you immediately."
Tara whispered in my ear, "Stand, say your full name, your parents names, and your date of birth." She helped me off the floor.
"I am Fear Cherry Rèwolf. My mother's name was Sherri Hill, and my father's name is Andy Rèwolf. I was born October 31, 1988," I said immediately. At my mother's name most of the crowd reacted.
L raised her hand for silence before saying, "As you all know the prophesied name of the carrier of the Halfling, you know now why you have been called here. Your secret plans to kill her have failed and will continue to do so."
"We can still kill her," shouted one of the elder men to my right.
"No!," yelled Chris, "No one is to harm her." he growled.
"If you would have done as the late alpha ordered, we would not be having this meeting!" said a man sitting behind Liz.
L turned on him, "Brian Freeman, you never did several things your former leader ordered." His face turned sheet white. L grinned before saying, "You remember. Any one else want to pick out what should have been done?" When no one spoke she smiled again, "Now, on to our options, Christian."
He spoke calmly, "The Legion has Bree," several people quickly denied this. He continued, "They want an exchange at midnight, or they will kill her."
Autumn sitting on Chris's right stood up, "They plan to make good on their promise."
"However," said another of Tara's sisters (AN: this is Winter) wearing a storm cloud colored wrap stood and said, "if you give them the girl, your fate is decided, but I can't sense whether it is good or bad. It could be a combination, which is very possible."
"The chose is between tradeing the girl for Bree, or keeping her and condemning Bree," said L. She is so impatient. "Only the council and elders can vote. They have one hour to decide," L turned to face me. "I advise you pack for which ever they decide. Sisters, Alpha, lets go elsewhere."
Those who were told to leave left quickly, I was pulled by elbow out the door by Tara. She whispered, "L has told you what they will choose. We can't over turn the choice."
"What point was it to be there then?" asked Chris.
L turned to him, "You may think you are not your father's son, but those were his words that escaped your mouth. Your father was the victim of your mother's trickery."
He shook his head, "Mom was beaten by him."
"Only because she made him look like a fool," said L who was looking up in his face. "She cuckolded him. He punished her for it, and, though it still is not right in any day and time, beat you and your siblings because he thought you were not his. He never once thought to seek my advise on the matter."
Tara took my arm and dragged me toward the hidden set of stair, her sisters close behind us.
"Let Christian figure out his own problem," advised one of them.
They packed everything I would need in the coming decision. I sat quietly on Christian's bed holding his pillow and my stupid bull. Tara had wrapped her arms around me while I thought about what was going to happen. Chris made the vampires seem so evil. Would I be mistreated? Have they hurt Bree?
They eventually finished packing two suitcases for me and started trying to make me forget temporarily about everything.
The nine of them reminded me of the muses from Greek mythology.
Holly was the comedian. She told several inappropriate jokes and tried to do some impressions of celebrities.
Autumn was the historical one. She was attending Yale to become a world known historian.
Diana was very religious, but belonged to no domination. She was raised as a Catholic and believed in a higher power, but was still unsure which one, so she worshiped all equally just to be safe.
Rain was always singing. She and Jade were cousins.
Jade tapped her feet in time with the song Rain was singing or was dancing.
Laura talked about her boyfriends back in Sacramento.
Winter was sad, but told me it could be worst. Bonnie interrupted her every time she tried to tell me anything.
Bonnie loved epics. She talked about the Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, the many versions of The Odyssey.
Finally the time came when we had to go back down and face the firing squad, I mean the council. Chris did not look at me when we entered.
When we were in the center of the room, Karl stood and said, "We have decided to trade this child for our sister."
Tara started crying before I did. I looked over to Chris as he stood and left the room.
Karl continued, "In one hour, at ten, the alpha, Christian Nicholi Mêlée, and Tara Sybil will escort her from the meeting place and bring back Bree."
I looked in the council till I saw Nancy. I knew she was suffering much worse than I was. One of her children was in danger. She looked at me, begging me to understand. I nodded to her before going to find Chris. I knew what had to be done.
I fount him in his room.
"Chris?" I said quietly.
He turned around and said, "I was just thinking about you."
"I need to talk to you," I said lowly walking to the bed. He motioned for me to talk and I did. "I never loved you in the way you did me."
He looked like he was just hit. "Don't do this," he begged.
"When I leave here tonight, your life will go on. You will find someone else to love," I said slowly, each syllable killing me on the inside. I stayed strong on the outside.
"No one will be like you," he said.
"You're making this harder," I said before taking a moment to compose myself. "You will find another who will love you more than you will think possible."
"And you will never know another like me," he spat in anger.
I turned to leave, but he was there in front of me. "You are truly the Halfling. I bet you lied about your first kiss."
"No, I didn't," I said shaking my head. I refused to let him see me cry.
"You said you'd never hurt me, but you are," he said to me standing back where he was earlier.
"I'm sorry," I said as I walked out the door.
When I was to Tara's door, he yelled at my back, "So you would rather go to the leeches than stay with me?"
I looked into his room where it was much darker than when I was in it, "Yes. I go for your sister and mother."
I opened the door and entered Tara's room where the Muses were picking out which clothes for me to change into.
I looked at them with my tear filled eyes. Tara caught me before I sank to the floor. I had an half an hour till I had to put on an indifferent attitude and Be exchanged for the greater good of the pack.
AN: Is Chris really giving Fear up that easy? Is L right about his mother and father? How did Bree get taken? What are Tara and her sisters? Tell me what you think is going to happen.
I must do my homework now.
Thanks again to those who read and those who took the time to review last time. Every opinion counts. I'm so touched that several people like the story. You guys are what keep me writing, even when I have writer's block. I apologize again for any errors.
Lots of love,
-Jordan F.