Page 26 of Of Fate & Forbidden Desire

“What do you have to report?” Elder Constance sneered, her high-pitched voice echoing her condescension around the room. For as long as I’d been a vampire there was something about that woman I despised. I couldn’t tell if it was the way she looked down her nose at everyone, or her snotty tone, but something about her grated on me the wrong way.

Raising to my feet, I looked up at the Elders and I recounted everything that had happened in York. When I mentioned Charleene, her powers and the interest the rogue seemed to have in her, there were a couple of mumbled grumbles, but nobody interrupted my account.

“So it is as we feared, the rogue is not working alone,” Elder Micheal stated after I finished. “This is troubling news.”

“It is Elder,” I responded, keeping my tone respectful and low.

“Not as troubling as an untrained Witch being left to wander around, unchecked and unknown.” Elder Constance chimed in, making me want to growl at her condescending tone.

“I have brought Charleene here to Hampstead,” I informed them, against my better judgement, I could not hide her from them.

“She must be brought before us.” Constance declared, to grumbles from the other Elders.

“She is the Witch's problem, not ours.” Elder Reginia spoke, in a voice devoid of emotion. I’d always liked Reginia, she was the wisest woman I’d met in both my lifetimes. She was more prone to reading books than wanting to deal with the Coven’s incessant need for gossip and thought through everything before making a decision.

“She is a threat to us all and must be dealt with.” Constance argued, raising my hackles. I reminded myself to remain calm; I could not allow the Council to believe I felt anything for a witch, it was forbidden.

“It is troubling how she has managed to grow without the witch’s knowledge,” Elder Cain pondered aloud. Cain kept himself to himself around the Coven, hewas one of the eldest of our kind and as such preferred his own company over anyone else's.

“Yes, very,” Bertrand interjected, “you have given us much to consider Huntress Adrina. Please let Antonious know which rooms you are staying in at Hotel Vitae Aeterna.” He dismissed me as the Council grumbled amongst themselves.

Scowling deeper than I had on entering I bowed deeply, before turning on my heel and striding towards the door.

“And Adrina,” Constance’s voice made my feet pause, two steps from the door, “Make sure the Witch is versed in our rules and that she knows no magic is to be used within our borders.” Her sneering voice made my anger boil, however turning I allowed none of my emotions to show as I bowed and answered.

“Of course Elder Constance,” I replied politely and continued to leave.

Antonious was waiting for me on the other side, and with the kindest smile he could muster, he gestured for me to return the way we’d come. Neither of us spoke as we returned to the dim entrance way, or as he went to retrieve my jacket from where it had been stored during my interview with the Council. “We’re staying in suite seventy-two,” I informed him as requested before starting out into the weak sunshine and breathing a sigh of relief that my time in the Coven had been brief.

“Very well, Huntress Adrina,” Antonious’ voice followed me as he shut the door behind me.

Chapter Eleven

How can life feel so perfect and strange at the same time? -Charleene.

Three days had gone by seamlessly while I’d eaten the best food I’d ever tasted and Dina had explained more about how the supernatural world worked. From the laws which governed her kind, to how a Witch’s coven worked and had even included a brief summary of how the Vampire’s believed each creature had been created. It was all quite fascinating, and the more I found out, the more excitement replaced my anger. I softened towards Dina a little more, understanding how in the little time we’d actually known each other she hadn’t been able to tell me anything about this unbelievable world. I was starting to return to my more usual sunshiny self. That was, until a stooped man with greying hair tied at the base of his skull with a black ribbon and wrinkles arrived at the door to our suite this morning.

He hadn’t stayed long, just long enough to hand Dina a letter and utter a single sentence, “They’re ready for her now.” I didn’t know if I’d been supposed to hear them, with how quiet his voice was, but they sounded ominous enough and when Dina turned back to face the room after he left, she was frowning.

“What did he mean?” I asked her.

“The Council wants to see you,” she answered distractedly, looking down at the cream coloured letter in her hand.

“And the Council are who exactly?” I probed not liking the sound of their title.

“It’s made up of five of our Coven’s eldest vampires: Bertrand, Micheal, Cain, Constance and Reginia. They govern all of the United Kingdom’s Vampires.” Shefinished, meeting my gaze and crossing to the table where I’d been eating some amazing American style pancakes with Maple Syrup and bacon.

“Well they sound like a hoot to have at a party, but why do they wish to see me? I’m not a vampire.” I joked, trying to raise her spirits a little. I’d been enjoying the more fun loving than scowly Dina, and didn’t want her to leave just yet.

“They wish to see you because somehow you’ve grown up not knowing you were a witch.” Dina explained, slipping back into her seat and ripping open the letter she still held.

“Oh and will they help me?” I asked, not liking the seriousness of her tone, as she unfolded the letter and began reading it.

“It looks that way,” Dina said after reading the letter carefully and laying it down before me.

Charleene Murry,

You are hereby summoned to appear before the Council of Five. You shall be escorted by Adrina McDougal, Huntress of the London Coven, and shall be assessed by; The Maiden, Mother and Crone of England’s most prestigious and oldest Witch Coven. Please be present at the Council Chambers before noon on the sixth of November.

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