Page 240 of Heartless Legacy

He nods at the recorder and says, “Therefore, I would like to hear Malcolm’s response.”

Chapter 128

Holden

My father is a hero. He’smyhero. I’m proud that I can still say that at my age. There are a lot of people standing among us that can not. The guy at the front of the room, battered, broken and used by his parents, is proof of that.

Malcolm gives an indignant sniff, as he says, “How dare you? I’ve given my life to The League. Everything I’ve done has been in service to it and to protect it. Who are you to question me about anything?”

He shakes his head, a judgmental look on his face, as he addresses the high council directly. “A prospect. Afirst yearat that, spins this fanciful tale and you, the high council, refuse to oust her from the proceedings as if any of this is believable.”

My derisive snort blasts through the too quiet room when he says, “For years, I have heard whispers of someone attempting to infiltrate us and cause dissent. I’ve heard rumors of these unaligned members trying to take over. Some amongst us have suggested that the council was aware of these threats and chose to ignore them. I am loyal to my oath, and to The League, and have shut down those accusations at every turn. But, perhaps I was wrong.”

Is he really going to do this? Now? He can’t be that crazy. Can he?

“Perhaps I was naïve. Too loyal to an ideology without considering the human element. There have been calls to have the current members of the high council step aside, because they are unfit to continue leading our brotherhood.” He sighs. “It appears… and please know, it pains me greatly to say this, but after what has occurred here in these last few minutes. From the false announcement of Prospect LaReaux’s demise, as well as the council’s other failures over the last year, I feel I have no choice but to call for a vote of no confidence, and the immediate election of new high council members.”

Grant and Burke immediately join the call for a vote of no confidence, followed by more and more members. My heart sinks along with my head, as everything we’ve been doing these last few weeks turns out to be a wasted effort. If everyone sides with Malcolm, there’s no way they’ll believe the family lines were tampered with.

The ranks behind me talk amongst themselves. The members on the platform bicker back and forth. The room is brought back to order, and the recorder asks, “Most Esteemed Councilman Cox, do you deny the allegations First Year Prospect LaReaux has brought before the council?”

Malcom stammers, “Wh-What? What kind of questions is that? I just said this was a story spun by a troubled young woman, probably designed to get back at my son for deciding to choose someone else as his wife.” Dismissively, he turns back to the platform. “Will any others join me for this vote?”

More and more people agree.

“Most Esteemed Councilman Cox, the question on the floor is, do you deny the allegations First Year Prospect LaReaux has brought before the council?”

My head snaps up, looking for the person who repeated the question. It’s an unassuming man I’ve seen at a few events. He’s friendly enough from what I can remember, but bland, and easily overlooked. Never bold, or in the middle of the deal making. He’s quintessentially the last person I’d ever expect to speak up in chambers or to ask Malcolm a question. From the way Malcolm’s scowling at him, it’s obvious he thinks the same.

“So it appears you do have a voice, Giles, and use it poorly. I will not dignify this very obvious attempt at distracting from the issue with an answer.”

The rally call for a vote continues. How many more people does he need for it to happen tonight? The numbers on the leader board tick over as more people show their support for Malcolm’s vote. He stands there looking smug. We didn’t have a plan for this. We didn’t expect a vote to happen tonight. To have to walk out of here being part of an organization lead by Malcolm Cox, Jr. and his cohorts. We’ll have to run as soon as this is over. There’s no way we can live here. The first thing he’ll do is go after Pax and Thea, again.

I glance over at her. Her eyes and the right side of her face are swollen. There’s dried blood all over her clothes, one of her wounds is still bleeding, and it’s obvious it hurts for her to be standing. I move to offer her support, but one of the prospects standing at the front shifts closer, propping her up against him.

From somewhere on my right, someone says, “The question on the floor is do you deny the allegations First Year Prospect Thea LaReaux has brought before the council?”

Malcolm scoffs, “Who are you to ask a question of me? Third Year Prospect, Montrose?”

Thea’s cousin steps towards the front of the room. “I speak on behalf of the Montrose family line, as the proxy head of the family in attendance for tonight’s council meeting.”

“The question on the floor is, do you deny the allegations?” Someone else asks from this side of the room. He follows up with, “I speak on behalf of the Norwood family line, as the proxy head of the family in attendance for tonight’s council meeting.”

Third, fourth and fifth year prospects all speak out. Identifying their family line and their designations as the proxy head of their family line. I don’t know what’s happening, but I can sense it’s important. I search out my grandfather, meeting his gaze. He dips his head slightly, and I push to the front of the crowd, as I say, “The question on the floor is do you deny the allegations First Year Prospect LaReaux has brought before the council?”

Malcolm whirls around. Eyes narrowed at me, as I say, “I am Holden Sullivan, the proxy head of the Sullivan family line in attendance for tonight’s council meeting.”

Finn steps up beside me, repeating the same thing. Then Pax is on my other side. Malcolm stiffens as he says, “I am Paxton Nicolas Cox. I stand with my Trium, as the proxy head of the Cox family line in attendance for tonight’s meeting. The question on the floor is, do you deny the allegations First Year Prospect LaReaux, and I have brought before the council?”

The recorder’s head whips back and forth, while the ceremony master looks at the council as if he’s not sure what to do. He approaches the dais, entering into a heated whisper with one of the archivists. When he comes back to the front of the room, he says, “Mid-level Councilman Cox, the question on the floor must be answered before you can call for a vote.”

Malcolm’s face reddens as he declares, “The vote has already been called.”

“Yes, but there’s a challenge on the floor from the head of the family lines for nine out of twelve members of the descendants of the circle.”

Malcolm insists, “That’s impossible.”

Pax’s grandfather says, “Please call out the names of the descendants to be presented before the dais.”

---