Me: So Hey Everyone! This is Chapter 16!

Brooke: What? Already?

Solace: Im glad. I'm tired of putting up with you guys.

Dean: Hey! That's not get nice.

Kalyn: Thanks again to DerpyJam (will you get an account?), Denow and Firefrostflare for being the bestest supporters ever!

D'Anna: Um, bestest isn't a w-

Solace: NOPE! We don't wanna hear it!

D'Anna: Well, SORRY! I'm not the one with bad grammar.

Me: Guys cut it out! There's only a few chapters left! Can you not be nice in any of them?

Solace: Um, NO...?

Me: Solace?

Solace: Oh, yes, we'd LOVE to be nice to each other. *shoots dirty look*

Me: Was that sarcasm Miss Printz?

Solace: NO, not at all...

Me: -_-

Solace: ;)

D'Anna, Brooke, Kalyn: *facepalms*

Dean: *turns head back and forth* Wait, what are we talking about again?

D'Anna, Brooke, Kalyn: *deadpans*

Me: *sighs* Enjoy!

Chapter 16: The War Council

My eyes darted back and forth as I walked stiffly to my seat. I sat down lightly, and gave a meek smile to the man who offered me a seat. I scanned the people in the room. They were all different ages, some looked like late teens, some looked in their eighties. But I already could tell I was the youngest in the vicinity.

"Brooke Katelyn Matthews," An older man spoke across the semicircle I was sitting at.

"Yes?" I asked, but it probably turned out as a squeak.

I was nervous. I had no idea who any of these people were and I didn't know what they were going to do with me. I wanted more than anything just to go home and hide under the safety of my covers. But I knew that even my home would not be safe from anyone who wanted me.

"Tell us your story, Brooke."

I bit my lip. "My name is Brooke Katelyn Matthews, and I am fourteen years old. I live in Havenfield with my brother and my mom and dad. I am a certified Telepath, but I have also discovered many other talents in the past few weeks that I cannot explain."

I rattled off my story about how I heard Kalyn's voice in my head, and how I followed the clues to find him. I told them about my mom and dad being part of the Black Swan, and how I got kidnapped by the Mesmer. I was surprised to see that everyone was a pretty good listener. No one interrupted or called me crazy.

When I was done, they took a few moments to let this sink in.

A woman at the far end of the room rose. "Brooklyn Matthews, are you aware of who we are?"

"No, ma'am." I said as politely as I could "That was actually going to be one of my next questions."

She nodded "This mansion, is the headquarters of the Black Swan. We have many elves who are part of our organization. There are many different jobs and aspects of this company, but we are one of the most important."

"Which one are you?" I asked.

"We," The woman responded "are the War Council of the Black Swan."

I nodded, not a bit surprised that this is what these people were "So like the Ancients Council. You're the battle strategists."

A series of heads nodded. "And right now we are at war."

"What war?"

"The conflict between us, and the group that we rescued you from."

"And you need my help."

"Actually, quite the contrary, Brooke." Another man stood "The council has decided that you and your brother are the main priority of the enemy. Instead of letting you fight against the enemy as the face of our organization, we think that it would be a better alternative if you and your brother be protected against all costs."

"So I can't fight?"

Several faces blinked at me as if this was an obvious answer, but one man stood and simple replied "No."

My face drooped. As much as I wanted to get away from all of the things that had happened the past few weeks, I wanted to stand and fight. For some reason I felt like I was a part of this now. A part of the mission. To think that after everything, my job was to sit in a room again, and wait. I wouldn't be able to.

So I stood up from my chair as tall as I could and spoke. "I want to fight."

The man beside me scowled. "We cannot allow it."

"I know that it is your best interest to protect me." I said "But I want to fight. The last thing I want to do is wait. I've done too much waiting lately. I need a sense of reality. My parents are still out there. And so are my friends. If something happens to them, I am going to hold myself accountable. I would feel safer knowing that Im doing something rather than letting you do the work for me."

A young woman stood now, a blonde maybe in her late teens "Your request is rather strange, my lady. You do know all that you are risking?"

Another woman stood beside her and spoke: "And I believe according to the rules, you must be an allegedly certified member in order to participate on a mission of any sort."

Her voice overwhelmed me. I had to become a member? Of the Black Swan? I wasn't sure I was ready for that yet. Besides, I had just got here, and I knew nothin of the company and their intentions. I looked up to see Marta stand at the end of the back table. Fear flashed momentarily in her eyes, like she had never spoken out against the Council before, but she lifted her chin.

"I believe if Brooklyn would prefer," she said "she can accept a temporary membership, to complete one mission. And that mission would be to save we family and friends."

I smiled gratefully at her, and took her lead. "My family and friends are my life. I am thankful to every person in this room that wants to protect me, but I would like to fight along side you when you rescue my parents. I will accept this temporary membership as long as I can use it to save the people I love."

The tables burst into fierce whispering. Some glared at Marta accusingly and I watched we sink back in her chair in the corner. I would have to find time to thank her later.

Several people stood at once.

"The elders of the War Council have consulted all options." The first lady said.

"And we had a vote." The man beside her added.

"The vote was unanimous." The last woman said "We have decided to accept. Your temporary membership is in order."

Relief spread through my body. I cracked a smile, gave my thanks, and sat back down.

"The War Council is dismissed," One of the elders announced "The elders are closing in private."

All the tables except for one stood up and made for the exit. They gathered in a big open room. The area was live with conversation. Several people came to meet me, and congratulate me on my membership. One in particular stood out. It was a tall woman, slender and beautiful. Long brown hair with bronze streaks was tied in a tight bun on her head. Her face was half covered by a hat.

"Brooke Matthews?" She asked in a slick voice "Nice to meet you."

She gave me a smile, which I could already tell was fake, and held out her hand. I shook it awkwardly and smiled.

"You have nerve young lady," she nodded "I see no one has taught you to keep that in."

"It's not nerve," I said, but bit my tongue to prevent the phrase on the tip of my tongue "I just want to help."

"You would have been more helpful in a room in our facility." She sighed "But no matter, the elders have spoken."

I tried to smile kindly, but it wasn't easy. Suddenly he fanned her face, and took off her hat.

"Where are my manners?" She laughed and gave me a stare with her dark teal eyes. "My name is Helen, CEO of Black Swan."

I looked into her blackened teal eyes and my heart sank. This woman was Helen, from the Mesmer's vision. Thats what she had meant about her authority. I was about to ask where her daughter was when Marta came by. She was quiet but she nodded at me.

"Oh!" Helen's eyes lit up and she grabbed Marta by the shoulder. "I suppose you two have already met."

Marta nodded faintly "Brooke, this is my mother."

I felt like a ton of bricks was dropped in my hands. Marta was Helen and the Mesmer's daughter?

"Thanks for, you know, standing up for me."

"Your welcome." Was her reply, but her voice was distant.

I nodded at the pair politely as then slipped into the crowd. I retreated from the room and backed into a hallway. I needed to get out of there. As I back stepped and stared at the people, I felt a force collide with me. Whatever I had ran into knocked the wid out of me and I fell forward. I spun around and stared at the figure apologetically.

"Sorry, I-" The words died in my mouth.

A very surprised Uncle Castor stared down at me.

"How coincidental." He mused "Just the person I was looking for."

He pulled me up and gestured to the way he'd came.

"How about we have a little talk, shall we?"

"My office." Uncle Castor announced.

The normal hysterical ring to his voice was replaced with a deep throaty sound. I wondered if he was really my uncle and if his hysterical character was just a play. He spread his hands out in pride. I followed his gaze. His office was wonderful.

It was a big room, with high ceilings. Instead of the walls being lined with books, they were lined with tapestries. The weavings were beautiful, running down the walls in sparkling thread. At the end of the long room was a intricate desk, made of dark cherry wood. Papers were neatly stacked, unlike my father's desk, where the papers were everywhere. I figured it was a genetic thing, if I ever owned a desk, it would never look as clean as that. Shelves were filled with binders and baskets.

"Impressive?" Uncle Castor asked

"Yes..." I breathed.

I looked up and spun around trying to take in ever inch of the room.

"I'm glad you like it." He beamed and sat down at his desk.

I sat on a stool in front of his desk.

"Uncle Castor...?" I asked "What is this place...?"

"My off- oh you mean this facility?"

"Yes."

"Well, first of all, my name is not Castor. And Im sorry, but I am not your uncle."

"I figured as much," I sighed.

"First and foremost, I have many many names. Eveyone calls me something different. So if you wish, you can still call me Castor. I am one of your father's close friends, not your uncle."

"What's your job here?"

"I am, well, sort of a seeker. I watch people. Keep an eye on them, become part of their life. No one important though. I'm not on the War Council or anything."

"Oh... So you were spying on me...?"

"Sort of." He chuckled and scratched the back of his head.

"So what is this place?" I repeated.

"This is the one and only Black Swan organization facility." He smiled "Where everything happens!"

"So where ARE we?"

"Oh, you mean like place? Oh we're not in Eternalia or anything. We're in a secret location, only certified members get permission to light leap to. No one has found us...not in a million years."

"Is there anyone like me?" I asked "Anyone special?"

Even though I never really told anybody, deep down, all I ever wanted to be was normal. I didn't want special treatment or anything, just a normal family and life. I though about telling Uncle Castor, but wait, he wasn't Castor, and he wasn't my uncle. Not anymore.

"No, Brooke." He replied "You and your brother are very special, one of a kind even. You are definitely not normal of any sorts, and in fact, some of the scientists here want to run tests on you. You could be a miracle breakthrough!"

"Great." I tried to hide the sarcasm in my voice.

"It's good, believe me. You'll love it. And when you become a full member, you can be anything you want. There's a job for pretty much everything."

"I don't want to join the Black Swan," I said "Not now anyways."

"That's ok, there's tons of time. Tons of time for everything!"

I stared into his office. I didn't want to say anything, but time was running out. I didn't have tons of anything, except for decisions. Just then, Marta walked in. She stumbled and smiled apologetically.

"Mr. Forkle, Miss Matthews." She nodded, then took out her clipboard. "May I have a word with Brooke?"

"Certainly."

I got out of my chair and walked over to Marta. She pulled me in a quiet corner, and looked me in the eye.

"There's a reason why I stood up for you." She whispered "My dad is at the camp, somewhere. I know he's there, and I know he's bad. But he's misunderstood. If I can save him, maybe he can change. I want you to be with me when I face him. It's easier to know I have someone my age with me. Im getting tired of being around old people."

I nodded and smiled. "I met him."

"You did?" She asked and her eyes lit up.

"Yeah, but he tortured me and my friend. He was a Mesmer."

Marta frowned "He was always an undiscovered."

"Guess he's not."

Marta thought on this.

"But listen Brooke," she bit her lip "The Council wouldn't tell you because they were afraid it might jeopardize the mission. But Kalyn's in trouble."

My heart stopped. "What?"

"He really did come to rescue you. Him and all your friends. But they were caught and locked up. My dad is taking him somewhere, just him. Your friends are at the camp. We were just going to save them and your parents, but I know what it's like to lose a family member. I want to help you save your brother too."

"Can we tackle both missions?"

Marta smiled "I think we can. Together."

I tried to smile, but it fell into a frown. "Where exactly are they taking him? Where are they taking my brother?"

Marta's smile dropped too. "We're going to have to light leap, somewhere far. To a place without elves."

"Without elves?"

"Yes. We're going to the Forbidden Cities."

Me: So once again, I hope you liked this chapter! Please take one moment to scroll down and review! I would really really appreciate it!

Brooke: Even if its just a :)

Solace: Im gonna spam your inbox with :)

Dean: Spam? I eat Spam.

D'Anna: No, you do not.

Dean: Oh. No I don't.

Me: *facepalms*

Kalyn: Are you guys normally like this?

Solace: Yeah...

Brooke: Mostly...

Dean: Yeah...

D'Anna: To some extent...

Me: Yeah...

Kalyn: -_-

Me: Yeah...