Page 84 of The Hidden Falling
“Rhea, they could do anything to you.” I nod, knowing I will probably be trapped in here for however long they want. Edward never came back, so he hasn’t found a way to get them out. If I take the full blame. They have a chance.
The door at the back opens and Taylor, Sebastian, Hudson, Colten and Anna are brought in again and put in front of us. Then Josie and Danny are dragged into the room. Attachments appear on the floor beneath them, and the hooded figures behind them attach the chains around their wrists to them, bringing them to their knees so they can’t stand. Their mouths are still covered in cloth, not able to speak, but their eyes say it all. Taylor looks at Kade, disappointment in his eyes as he shakes his head at him. Hudson keeps looking toward Colten whose head is bowed, fiddling with the cuffs on his wrists like he could get out of them. My eyes come to Sebastian’s sad eyes, and I already miss the lightness they had from him being his flirty self. Josie and Danny are put in front of them, Josie’s eyes rimmed red while Danny tries to get as close to her as possible. They’re chained to the floor like the others, all looking tired, shoulders slumping with exhaustion.I dread to think what they have been through with the bruises and blood covering them.
How did we even get here? Everything happened so fast. How did this Higher Aldus get a memory crystal, and how does it show me performing some sort of ritual? Nothing makes sense. But whether it makes sense or not, my pack is in danger. Sarah is on her way to my old home and my closest friends are with me for punishment. Kade hates me and his memories are all wrong. I don’t know where my other pack members are either. Are the pups safe and with their moms again or are they still separated? And Eridian… Gods know what our home is like now.
It’s not our home anymore though, is it? With Solvier gone, Eridian is probably overrun, and we are no longer a secret.
I look down at the tattoo on my forearm and then to my wrist through my own blood, silently asking for strength at what I may have to do. What I hope I don’t have to do. I made a promise, but what choice do I have?. Will I be strong enough to get everyone out of here? I have to try, but I’m scared, and I don’t know how to make it happen. Is it even possible?
I’ve only done it once in my life, and Mom told me never to do it again. She made me promise. She told me under no circumstances am I to show anyone, and I haven’t. My closest, apart from Kade, know what I am, but they have never seen it. Can I really do this? Show myself and him? He deserves nothing from me, not a single kindness, but he’s hiding himself for a reason just like I am. I’m not sure if he knows or not, but I’ve seen his markings. He tried to hide them within his tattoos, but I recognize them. I knew as soon as I saw them that they looked familiar, but that day in the forest with the wisps confirmed it. There is no more denying it after what I felt.
I look over at Darius talking with Leo, his stare going to someone standing around the side before moving his hands rapidly while he talks. I follow his line of sight as he looks over Leo’s shoulder again, and I see my family. My uncle stands imposing, his blond hair styled to sweep back off his face. My aunt stands next to him, her dark brown hair tied up in an intricate style. Patrick looks smug as he folds his arms across his chest, his blue eyes roaming over us below. My other cousins Alister, Richard and Sophia are standing next to him, looking bored as we all wait for the verdict.
These people were meant to protect me, protect our family. Instead, they helped destroy it. And for what? To be in the good graces of the Lord Higher. For power and titles. They just didn’t expect me to escape before my eighteenth birthday, or to take Kade with me. What have they been doing all this time? Have they been helping Charles?
I didn’t expect the Lord Higher to have gone on to take other children to see if they were like me. To train them like me. Charles rules over Vrohkaira a king would his kingdom with the exception of a few lands that have refused to pledge their loyalty. So why does he want more so badly that after I escaped? He needs to be stopped. He needs to be taken down with the other Highers and my family for what they have done, what they are still doing. They all have to die for the blood they have spilled, or more will continue to soak the lands and taint it.
It was one thing doing it with me. I thought they had stopped. I understand that it is different now. They will never stop until they get what they want.
I’m not strong enough to do it on my own. The Lord Highers’ power is strong, a force that is unmatched, especially aided by the other Highers and their witches. Over the years, I tried to find a way to get my revenge on him, tried to figure out a plan with Edward. Nothing came of it, nothing that would make us successful, and I had to learn to accept it. Accept what they all did to me and my mom and dad, knowing they were all still living and breathing, I had to let it go.
But I can’t let go of them bringing innocent children into their power play for years. If I had known, I would have revealed myself. I would have gone to him, done what he wanted and accepted it. I would never have put myself before children, and I unknowingly had by staying hidden in Eridian. Living my life, being safe, while others have been suffering.
This is another failure.
Another sin.
Another stain against my soul because of everything I am.
Forty Five
Rhea
Thedoorsopenandthe Highers enter the hall, walking up the dais and taking their seats. Once again, two chairs are still left empty and there is no sign of Edward. They all remove their hooded cloaks as the murmurs around the room go silent in their presence.
“It is time to sentence the traitor of Vrohkaria and her followers.” Charles speaks clear and commanding, his voice filling the great hall easily. “We have spoken throughout the night on the best outcome of this rare situation. “The crimes against Joshua Satori are helping a traitor leave her pack and aiding in the kidnapping of a child, kidnapping others to be taken to Eridian to be kept there, failing to inform the Highers of a pack being established, and not handing over the traitor of the lands.”
I turn my head to the side, begging Josh to do what I asked of him. “She made me do it,” he blurts out, and I lose some tension in my body. He can’t be sentenced like this, he just can’t. “She threatened my life and others, therefore I couldn’t leave or tell anyone as I would have been killing those that she said she would.”
“Do you say this in truth, Joshua?” Lord Higher Charles demands, looking between us curiously.
“It is, but I worry she will kill those I care about. I’m trying to protect them, the kids especially.” My spine is straight as I look directly into their eyes as he speaks. No fear. No tremble. “They are all scared she will kill those they love. That’s why they haven’t spoken, all except Kade.” I glance at him, but again, he’s not looking at either of us.
Darius scoffs, and the Highers murmur amongst themselves. “Why would we believe you in what you say? You are basically telling me that you had no choice but to aid her. Yet reports say you are her closest, like a brother to her.”
“I had to be close to her to make sure we all stayed in line so she wouldn’t hurt anyone. Or if someone did something wrong, I could let them know and they could pacify her.” Josh swallows roughly, hating the words that are coming out of his own mouth. Damning me. “I thought we were in love, I was wrong, she just used me.”
Charles hums and leans on his hand, elbow to the chair’s armrest. “What was in it for you, taking people and keeping them in Eridian,” Charles asks me.
I shrug. “I wanted a pack, so I created one and kept them in line. Isn’t that how we do things?”
“Her pack was scared,” Darius adds, green eyes looking directly at me. “She wouldn’t tell me why, but they always cowered in fear from us. Probably in fear of consequences if they spoke something that could kill their loved ones.” The Elites growl around him, eyes locked on me with looks that could have me dead in an instant if it were possible.
“Hmmm.” Charles taps his chin, dark eyes looking between the three of us as I briefly look at my pack members.
Their eyes are hard on Josh’s, but when they come to mine, I hope they see in my own eyes that this is what I want, what has to happen. Josie shakes her head, eyes still red, and I blink slowly at her as Danny’s knee presses against hers.
“Joshua, speak clearly. Did Rhea make threats in any way, to keep you and others in line?” Higher Frederick asks.
