AN-Okay, I know I'm a bad person. I've neglected this fic for far toooooo long, and I'm sorry. I'm not sure if anyone is still reading it, but oh well. The bunny just won't stop bugging me.
Chapter 8-Tangled Webs
Darius managed to get everyone to stay away from the lower levels of the mansion, where there were secret rooms and hallways that extended far from the mansion. Finally at fifteen to six, he saw Thierry come down the stairs. He didn't detect anyone behind him.
Thierry slowed to a stop by his friend. With a gesture, Darius moved to a room on their right. It looked like any other storage area, but they proceeded to the back where there stood a cupboard. Thierry opened the heavy wooden door, and punched in a code in the keypad in the upper left corner. Immediately, the back of the cupboard swung aside revealing a long hallway. The back of the door was steel, and the walls and ceiling were made of concrete backed by steel.
With quick strides they traveled down the length of the maze. They passed few of Thierry's guards. Most of them were to meet with Keller's team at the underground complex's back exit. After ten minutes they came to a wider chamber that held multiple rooms. Each room had trick mirror windows.
At the far end of the hallway, they noticed several people in front of one of the rooms. Keller, saw them and broke away from her team, Kierlan, Galen and Dominic trailed behind her.
"Milord, may I present Kierlan Harman, the fourth Wild Power." Kierlan stepped forward. He didn't like the way the other boy, he only looked nineteen or so, stared at him so intensely. He felt like a little boy being observed by the school principal. The boy, no man, before him may look young, but his eyes told a different story. In rebellion, Kierlan glared at Thierry, his stance signaled his defiance.
Thierry's eyebrow rose at the young man's show of bravado. He could almost be amused, but there was the fact that he'd lost many men to the witch's actions. If the small, filthy congregation was all that was left of the team Keller had, then they'd lost more life than he thought. A Pyrrhic victory indeed, and all because of this young, defiant boy.
He tried to give the young man a reassuring grin, without letting any of his displeasure show. "I'm pleased to finally meet you, Kierlan. I'm Thierry Descoudres, welcome to my home."
Kierlan didn't know what to make of this man in front of him. He could detect that he was sincerely relieved that he was finally here, but other than that it was hard to read the vampire. Descoudres?! Oh Goddess, I'm in for it now! He'd never thought he'd ever meet one of the oldest (well I guess he is the oldest since Maya is dead) vampires. Kierlan was sure he must be furious at all the trouble he caused, but again he couldn't read the elder at all. Well, of course he'd be good at hiding his emotions, idiot, you don't survive several millennia without learning a few tricks. However, he was more cautious than before. He knew instinctively that this wasn't a man to cross.
Thinking that the respectful approach was probably best, he replied, "I'm honored, milord. I'm sorry for all the problems I caused."
Thierry didn't let his surprise show. "Yes, well let's not talk about that now. I'm sure you're tired. Winnie, Nissa." At the sound of their names, both girls came at attention. "Please take Kierlan to one the rooms on the West wing, and have someone bring food for him." They nodded to him, but before they left, Winnie shot a glance toward Keller. "Go ahead, Winnie, I just need to talk to Keller and the others." Quietly, so only she and Nissa could hear, he said, "Use the back hallways. I don't want anyone to see him. If anyone does, just say that he is another Daybreaker, and your guest. Also, don't let him leave without your knowing." They nodded again, and led Kierlan away, who wondered what they were discussing about him.
Once they were out of sight, Thierry turned his attention to Keller and the rest of her posse. "Keller, Dominic, good job on finding and bringing Kierlan here." In a more grim tone, he continued, "How many were lost?"
Keller couldn't help if a few signs of her weariness slipped through her stiff demeanor. "We lost ten out of the nineteen agents we had, sir. There are graver matters still." At this, Thierry's eyebrows rose. "We were attacked by another dragon."
Thierry's eyes widened in shock, but then he really shouldn't have been surprised. If someone had managed to wake up two dragons already, why not more? Then an even more terrible thought made his shock turn to fear. Who knows how many dragons could have been awaken already!
"This is very grave news. Do you have any idea where they might be, or who might be the one who woke them?"
"Kierlan got him with his blue flame when the dragon attacked us, but I didn't see what became of him. I'm sorry, milord."
"Don't be sorry, Keller, you got Kierlan here safely, and that's what's important. We'll figure out what to do with this new development later. I thought that you had some better news. Where is your prisoner?"
"Prisoners, sir, and you'll be very surprised. They're in the last two holding cells. It's good that you and Lord Darius came without the other alliance members. I don't think our captives would last a second if they knew."
"Well, let's see them then."
She led them to the second to the last room. Inside, Thierry saw a beautiful woman with dark chocolate locks. Red highlights shimmered in the bright fluorescent lighting. He felt a second shock in less than five minutes. He'd thought her dead for so long, and here she was. The last time he'd seen her, she was still very much a child. He'd always wondered what had happened to her after Hawthorne Redfern's murder. Everyone else was more concerned with the mysterious death of the patriarch of the Redfern clan, and the head of the Council. With his father's murder, Hunter became the leader of his clan. Branna had seemed to drop off the face of the earth. There were suspicions, but Hunter dismissed them, which Thierry thought was suspicious in of itself. He blamed vampire hunters for the death of his father, for slayers were more common then. Thus, whatever rumors existed were left unheeded in the heightened furor against humans. They really did make wonderful scapegoats.
Now Branna was here, in his home, alive and reasonably well. Keira had bandaged what wounds she had, which didn't seem to be very serious. It was then that he realized that Keller was talking to him.
"I'm sorry, Keller, please say that again."
She looked at him curiously, "I said that she's one of the secret order's soldiers. She said that she had extensive information about their activities, which she'll tell us if we spare her."
She's very lovely. Thierry ignored Darius, who continued his appraisal of the figure in the room.
Before Thierry could say anything, they heard Branna's voice through the window, "Hey, how long are you going to keep me here?! Come on, I know somebody's out there!" Her hands were bound together behind her with wooden handcuffs, which she could have easily gotten out of, but she let them think that they had control. She was worried about Hunter. For an instant a sudden fear bloomed within her. Despite the information that he said he had, they might still kill him on sight. For now, however, she comforted herself with the thought that she could sense him close by.
"She's quite a spitfire." Darius smirked at the ire that rolled off the woman in the cell. He didn't know why, but she intrigued him.
"You have no idea." Darius looked at him in surprise.
You know her!
Yes, but that was centuries ago.
Do you have any idea what she was doing with this new organization you mentioned?
No, I haven't seen her since she was a child.
What's her name?
Branna. Branna AsheAt the surprise on Darius's face, he sighed, she's the only surviving member of her family. Hawthorne took her under his wing when her clan was destroyed by humans, because they were his closest allies. She disappeared at the time of his death.
Do you think the rumors are true? That she might be the one that killed him?
I don't know, maybe. We'll discuss that later. Let's see the other prisoner.
Alright. Thierry could sense his friend's reluctance. He prayed to the Goddess that Darius's apparent interest would fade. He really didn't need his friend to become infatuated with the enemy, even though it was hard for him to call her that. Once he cared for her like she was his daughter. The same paternal feelings he'd once felt for Hunter, before he'd lost him to the intrigue of the Council. Hell, he really didn't need this.
The thought stuck in his mind when he saw who was in the other cell. Beside him Darius hissed in surprise and anger. Things just keep on getting better and better. Now Thierry was certain that he'd made the right decision in coming here with only Darius. However, by his friend's enraged expression, he reconsidered his coming with him at all.
How the…
I have no idea. But I'm going to find out. Would you please stay out here?
You're kidding, right. I'm not letting you go in there alone!
Then control your anger, my friend. Thierry's calm but severe tone helped Darius to put a leash his raging emotions. His fangs slowly returned to normal. However, he couldn't quite banish all the feelings of outrage and disgust. Are you in control now?
Yes. Darius was tight-lipped, but other than that he had his mask in place. Thierry was still unconvinced that he should take him in there with him. Well are we going in, or not?
Thierry sighed. To Keller, he said, "Just we three, the others can watch from out here." Then, in her mind, she heard him say. Keep an eye on Darius. If things start to get out of control, don't let him get near Hunter. She nodded in understanding.
Hunter looked up when three people came into the cell. He gave off an air of nonchalance, even though he was currently handcuffed and about to be interrogated. He gave Thierry a smirk. So Descoudres is a Daybreaker, not surprising at all. I wouldn't even be surprised if he's their leader.
So, it's true then. You've sided with the Alliance. I wonder if the other rumors are true then, if you really did find your human. I can't wait to meet her.
Don't count on that, Hunter.
That's unfortunate, I'm sure she's a rather delicious piece of work. Does she warm your blood at night with her…
THAT'S ENOUGH. Pain bloomed under the onslaught of Thierry's anger. Hunter clenched his teeth; his eyes squeezed shut. Be wary, Hunter, you've caused enough trouble for my people…
I thought I was one of your people, but then again that was before you turned traitor.
Silence! Now as I was saying, as of now I'm the only person here who says whether your life is spared or not. I don't think anyone else really cares what happens to you except that it be as painful as possible. So, it'd be wise that you not try my patience. What do you say?
Hunter smirked. "As you say, my life is in your hands." What choice do I have?
"Now that we understand each other, let's begin." Thierry sat across from Hunter. His eyes alert to every movement the vampire lord made.
"Please do."
"You'll speak when you're spoken to!" Thierry warned Darius with a glance. The interrogation hasn't even begun and the man could barely hold his temper.
Hunter gave Darius an amused glance, while mentally planning numerous ways the Frenchman could die.
Thierry was nearing the end of his patience. Features stony, he fixed Hunter with a stern glance before continuing. "First off, tell us where you have been for the past several months?"
"Getting in touch with nature. A journey for enlightenment if you will."
"What kind of answer is that?! Tell us where you've been hiding all this time! How'd you survive the blue flames?" Darius leaned across the table, eyes boring into Hunter's dancing yellow orbs.
"Remember, Hunter, your keeping your life depends on your answers here." The head of the Redfern family growled low in his throat at the threat.
"I was speaking the truth, partly. I've spent most of the last seven months recuperating. It's very jarring to suddenly find yourself in a place different from where you were."
"Where were you?"
"Not sure." Thierry could tell that Hunter wasn't telling the truth when he spoke this. Hunter's expression seemed to have clouded slightly, but unperceivable to anyone who didn't know him well. Maybe he'll be more open to talk if the others weren't here.
"You must have found out where you were some time during this period."
"I wasn't really in condition to explore, so no."
"And when you finally joined civilization?"
"Can't really tell you."
"Well what can you tell us? You said you had information, well so far you've told us nothing at all!" Darius ran his fingers through his hair in frustration, anything to keep him from throttling the man in the chair.
"I do have information; you just haven't asked the right questions." Hunter said comely, as if talking to a child.
"Fine, well return to your questionable miraculous return later, but answer this then: what is your association to this organization, the Black Sun?"
"There's no association."
"Bullshit! What were you doing at the Dark Menagerie then?!"
Hunter rolled his eyes as the Darius' ire managed once again to escape him. "I said there is no association between myself and that group."
"But there was?" Thierry asked.
Hunter nodded, "there was."
"And what was that?"
"Why do you…"
"I want you to tell me plainly."
With a sigh, Hunter looked at the former Night Lord. "You could say I was born into it." Thierry ignored the gasps and mutterings from beside him. Hunter's look was telling enough. It was what he expected and also feared. As a child, Hunter always hated being at home, which is how Thierry always found the young vampire somehow at his doorstep, whenever he happened to be at his homestead in the English countryside, which was frequent during those hectic years. He'd suspected abuse, which was common among most households. But maybe Hunter's home life was a great deal more dangerous.
"You were the head of the organization?"
Hunter let out a humorless laugh. "In appearances only, really. I was the public figure."
"You were the voice of the Black Sun?"
Father would have been proud, or rather jealous. I was a much better politician than he was. Hunter's voice in Thierry's head dripped with distain.
Hawthorne was a member as well?!
Who do you think I inherited the position from?
Did the Black Sun have a hand in Hawthorne's murder?
I wouldn't be surprised. Good ol' dad probably outlived his usefulness. That answer also had a ring of untruth to it, but Thierry let it slide.
"If you're just the figurehead, then who's the real voice behind the Black Sun?"
"I never met most of the members, but it was Cale who made sure I followed the Black Sun's decrees." If Hunter's voice was disdainful before, it was no where near to the utter contempt that he showed now.
If you hate them so much, why didn't you do something?
What could I do?
You could have told me!
"What could you have done, Thierry, the web had been made long before you even deigned to join the Night World Council." Both Keller and Darius were confused at this point, having been left out of the mental dialogue. Darius vowed to get answers from Thierry later.
"Fine, but this doesn't tell us why you were at that club!" Thierry was finally showing his frustration. How could he not have noticed? There must have been signs that something this big and influential existed. How many of the Council's decisions of the last several centuries been guided by this organization? The mandates, the laws concerning humans, how deep had the Black Sun sunk its claws into the Council? What is its purpose besides manipulating the whole of Night World society?
"I had questions, and needed answers. The club had been a nice façade for the council for decades, but it's underground where the main organization exists."
"What did you expect to find in the archives? Could it be the same thing the dragon wanted?" Keller finally voiced what had been plaguing her the entire time.
"So you know about dragons, then?" It was Hunter's turn to be bemused. All he knew of the legendary dragons were from whatever scrolls were in the Archive, not that he could read most of these documents. He assumed that the shapeshifter knew her kind's own myths, but what about Thierry and Darius? What was he missing?
"Of course, we know; how could we not since your merry band of evil-doers already awoken one."
Cale had already awoken one? Okay, obviously I need to brush up on recent events.
"What do you know about the dragons?" Thierry asked.
"All I know of these dragons is from ancient scrolls, until recently I doubted they were anything other than myth. I don't know how the Black Sun managed it."
"It was a witch's spell that put the dragons to sleep; it had to have been a spell that awoke them. The Black Sun must have that spell."
"Whatever document or parchment it was on; it's probably ashes now along with all the other ancient texts! Bloody fire demon most likely burned it up like he did with the other precious records when he tried to kill us! So whatever it is that enabled Cale and the Black Sun to awaken the dragons is hopefully destroyed."
"Hopefully? You don't agree with what your group has done, the hell they unleashed?!" Darius found that very hard to believe.
"I told you, I'm not one of them. Nor, are they likely to accept me back even if I wanted to be. As for the dragons, I read the stories, and since the creatures exist it's not farfetched to believe what's been told about them is also true. Humans are bad enough, but they wouldn't cause the kind of devastation that dragons would bring." The Daybreakers were silent after this. Hunter glared at them all, as if offended that they would even assume such a thing. As much as he hated humans, and he had his reasons, dragons would be an even worse adversary. It'd be like instead of fighting ants, he'd have to deal with hornets. To wish for such is madness.
Thierry considered Hunter's form. He could see that there would be no more answers today. It seemed like he had more questions now than ever before. A knock at the door broke the tension in the room. Keller let the person in, who happened to be Dominic.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, milord, but word is that you're needed. The elders are getting mighty feisty. The banquet is about to start, and all the guests have arrived.
"It's no problem, Dominic, we were done anyway, please tell Marie to give my apologies to the others for keeping them waiting." Dom nodded and hurried out. Thierry signaled Darius to follow him, and he did reluctantly. To Keller, Thierry muttered, "Get two of the dorm rooms ready. I don't want anyone harassing them, but I want sentries posted outside of each."
"Yes, sir." After she left, Thierry turned back to the man in the chair.
"Where's Branna?"
"You're just now asking about her?"
"You must have already seen her, and recognized her, so there's no point in hiding my association to her from you, since you already know."
"She's unhappy, but unharmed." Unhappy was putting it lightly.
"I would like to see her." Eyes unwavering, Hunter stared at the other man.
"That's not possible at this time, but be assured; no harm will come to her until I hear her story."
"Until? And after?"
"You got to understand, Hunter, you two are in a tenuous position. You two will not be mistreated when you're under my care, but you have no friends here. The Alliance will decide your fate."
"I've known Cale all my life, which should be of some advantage to the Alliance."
"But you've mostly shown today how much you don't know."
"I still know how he thinks. He's somewhat predictable in his madness."
"You never expected dragons."
"I said somewhat predictable."
Pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers, Thierry considered Hunter's words. "I think about what you have told me, but the decision lies with the Alliance. Don't expect much, Hunter, you have no friends here. You've hurt and killed many people Hunter. Most of who are in this house have felt the effects of your actions and machinations."
"And what of you?"
"I'll tell the Alliance you story, and I still have a lot of questions, but I can only do so much here."
"Fine, I await their decision." With that, Hunter turned away from the man, who once long ago was closest he'd ever had to a father figure. He and Branna both. Hearing the door close, he shut his eyes. Things have changed so much since he was that boy. There can be no going back, he'll face his fate whatever it may be.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thierry was on his way to the banquet room when his cell phone went off. Placing it to his ear, he let out a tired greeting. "Descoudres, here."
"Thierry?" He'd almost dropped the phone in shock.
"Hannah?"
TBC….
AN 2-Okay, so how do you like? Yes, the mostly dialogue, but action is coming up.