Page 1 of Frederick
Chapter 1
Frederick
Ihadn’t been with the council long. Less than a year, actually. Why I was what some would consider the “lead” for my team, I didn’t exactly know. There were more senior enforcers than I was; ones who had been with the council from the beginning. Then again, I was certain my family had everything to do with that. Did I let that bother me? Not much. I couldn’t change who my family was, so I dealt with it. But like anywhere else, looks were sometimes thrown my way. I’d talked to Sebastian, and Benjamin about it several times when I first decided to stay on. They said it just how it was at times, but to not let it bother me too much. I tried, but then we were given assignments like this and I had to question things again.
But I knew that Master Arthur and Patrick wouldn’t have any issues with me running my team. Master Arthur, like his father Master Edison was amazing. He was down to earth and very even tempered. Even in the most stressful times, he remained calm. And in the current situation, it was understandable that he was upset. There was a pair of possible questionable visitors at his coven, which was why we were now standing just outside the gates at Amherst coven.
I pressed the button and waited. I understood the need for security. The town of Amherst was only a fifteen-minute drive away, and humans tended to be curious about a large estate on the outskirts of their town. I glanced at the metal plaque on the brick pillar beside the gate.
Whitmore Private School for the Arts
I smiled. For the magical arts, for certain.
“Yes?” A voice said through the intercom.
“I’m Frederick Ashburn. Master Arthur is expecting me.” Seconds later, a tall, dark-haired man appeared on the other side of the gate. Immediately I recognized him and smiled. “Balthazar, it’s good to see you again.”
He grinned back. “The same, Frederick.” The gates started to open, and after I walked through the rest of my team joined me on the other side. “I do not know your team though.”
“No, I don’t suppose you do.” I turned and pointed to each as I said their names. The gate closed behind us as Balthazar greeted the team.
“How is Master Arthur holding up?” I asked.
Balthazar’s face changed. “Let’s just say that it has been a very long time since I heard such colorful words from him. All directed as his father at that.”
I bit my lower lip. I imagined there were very few people in this world that would ever contemplate telling off the created warlock. His firstborn was likely one of them. It was with good reason too. Master Arthur had agreed to house a few of the warlocks from the coven in Venice, and now it was possible that two of them were actually part of the issue and could be a threat toward the rest of the coven. That was what we were here for. It was to determine if they truly were going to be a danger to the rest of the coven.
“Shall we head up to the manor?” Balthazar asked.
“That’s what we’re here for. The quicker we can deal with this, the better as far as I’m concerned.”
Since none of my team knew where the manor was, I glanced at them before smirking and giving them a lift. We were standing just inside the gate one moment and outside the coven house the next. Brooks made a comment about how massive the place was, and I chuckled quietly. I followed Balthazar up the steps, still smiling at Evan’s comment about the place. It was all new for him. He’d been with the council for only a few weeks, and everything in this realm was completely new to him.
“Have they been questioned?” I asked Balthazar as we entered the manor.
“No. Dante has been sticking closer to the manor rather than patrolling the perimeter. Personally, I do not feel they are a threat. None of them have shown any sort of actions as if they were involved with their coven master. They do not act as if they are concerned. No sneaky phone calls, no unusual activity on the internet. Nothing. In fact, they have been great additions to the coven. They are helpful, and polite. I don’t believe they are responsible for that they’re being accused of.”
That was my feeling as well. The council had done extensive background searches on each of them before they were placed here. There shouldn’t be even a question.
“Salvatore and his team are digging deeper as we speak, but I’m not sure they will find anything different than what they have already found. There shouldn’t be even a question about their intentions. I truly believe they are simply looking for a secure place to relocate to.”
Balthazar nodded. We left the main foyer and entered the hallway on the left, behind the stairway. Balthazar turned into the first doorway on the right, and immediately, I saw a stressed-looking Master Arthur sitting behind his desk. Dante was sitting in the chair in front of him, his long legs stretched out andcrossed at the ankles. If you took in Dante’s demeanor compared to Master Arthur’s, they were complete opposites.
“Master Arthur,” I said as I approached.
His eyes moved from Dante’s to mine, and after a moment, he seemed to relax a bit. I raised an eyebrow at that, wondering what that was about. Master Arthur was an incredibly powerful warlock. He was the firstborn son of the created warlock. I would bet my life that the only person who was more powerful than he was was his carrier.
“I’m glad to see you again Frederick. I only wish it was under better circumstances.”
“It happens. I know you won’t believe me completely, but I do not feel you have to worry. I truly think those names were planted for a purpose. Salvatore is looking into the why, but their background checks were quite extensive.”
“He’s just worried about me because I won’t leave.”
I turned as the sound of the other voice and smiled. Patrick. I honestly could understand Master Arthur’s reasons for worrying. If I had a One, I would be just as concerned. Especially since it was obvious that Patrick was with child.
“Patrick, it is nice to see you again,” I said. “Where is it that you are supposed to have gone though?” I glanced back at Master Arthur.
“Seattle. He could very easily go visit our son and be completely safe. He would be away from the council and everything involving it out at Vincent’s pride.” Master Arthur looked at Patrick. “But he’s stubborn and won’t leave.”
