Page 99 of The Vampire's Thirst
“How many are in favor of allowing Arisen Dawn to operate, to see where their actions take us?”
Eleven hands waved in the air amid a roar of victory from ministry directors and other audience members. Fera, Rike, and Dolph slapped the backs of neighbors to celebrate the outcome.
Aras banged his gavel until the noise faded. “High Commander, the Firebrands are hereby directed to keep peace on Scath but not to interfere with Arisen Dawn actions here or on Earth. No martial law. No severe measures.”
“I am opposed to that order, Chief Justice.” Cadmon’s jaw clamped tight, his muscles flinching.
Aras inclined his head. “Nevertheless, it stands. The lawgivers and the Temple of Justice have voted as our rules dictate. To not follow the directive is treason.”
Cadmon and the three commanders snapped their salutes, their boots a thunderous response to the order as they stormed from the meeting.
At the doors, Kole turned to face the congregation, his fire-gold eyes glowing with angry energy. As he prepared to tear the Scion Firebrand insignia from his sleeve, Nace stopped him, risking a severe burn. They spun, leaving the rotunda.
By the time he and the jaguar shifter bounded down the wide staircase to the lobby, Kole had to release the fire consuming his body. He created a hot ball of flame in his fist, rolled it around, and threw it onto a marble step, leaving behind a sooty stain.
Nace’s skin sprouted golden fur, his beast flickering. He fisted his hands at his side, claws tearing into his palms. Jarek swept the thin braids at his temples onto his back. He leaned his head against the cool granite wall of the Ministry of Well Being, his breathing jagged, eyes closed as he struggled to contain his djinn fury.
Alarik and Aras raced down the steps, catching up with the Firebrands at the entry.
“This way,” said Alarik, hustling them to an empty chamber. Gilda followed. In no time, Viktor, Daire, and Nerina slipped inside.
Aras locked the door. “Something is afoot. The vote should not have been so overwhelmingly in support of Arisen Dawn and its activities. Someone has laid the groundwork for a coup.”
Kole bounced a ball of fire from one hand to the other. “I will not sit on my ass while others kill humans for sport and food.”
“Allow me to finish, Commander.” Aras held tight to Kole’s shoulder. “I am suggesting as a first step we find out who is controlling so many votes. Let us investigate. See what we are up against. Change minds. Gather support. Seek a political solution.”
Daire slapped Jarek on the back. “Your fellow djinn, Bahar, voted to give Arisen Dawn its head. He is a male of peace. Someone got his vote. Who?”
Cadmon looked each of his Scion Firebrand commanders in the eye before giving Aras an answer. “I promise you I shall weigh your words. But if my conscience is tested by events I cannot condone, I shall act. Then you may arrest me for treason.”
Kole stepped in front of Cadmon, shielding him from Aras. “Anyone who comes for this male will come through me. You might kill me, but I’ll take a shitload of you bastards with me.”
Jarek and Nace stood shoulder-to-shoulder beside theirfreron.
The growling jaguar shifter, fighting to hold back his beast, leveled two golden eyes on Aras. “What he said.”
****
Rein clasped Darius’s forearm in the traditional Firebrand greeting outside Kole’s office. “Grim times,freron.”
“Yeah.” Jarek’s second inclined his head toward the conference room. “The big guys are gathered. We’re the last two.”
The three commanders sat near Cadmon, who elbowed the table, forehead in palms. The tension was sour enough to curdle Rein’s vampire blood.
Darius nodded at Nace and his second, Mix, who as his name implied was a halfling, part wolf, part mountain lion. A rare, deadly sonofabitch since he retained the powers of both breeds. Rein always wondered how Nace’s jaguar played nice with Mix. He’d love to watch the two spar.
Kole’s gaze sizzled with enough volts to barbecue a questing beast. Rein took the spot beside his fiery commander.
Cadmon lifted his head, scrubbing a palm across weary eyes. “We just returned from a joint meeting with the Temple of Justice and lawgivers, where we shared what we knew about Cerberus and Arisen Dawn. We put forth a martial law proposal to contain the threat. We also shared our desire to initiate peace talks. Some supported the measures. Others disapproved.”
The seconds around the table, not privy to the meeting results, eyed each other. “No one looks pleased with the outcome,” observed Rein.
Nace pushed his chair back, crossing an ankle over his knee. “They voted. Weaklings.”
Jarek pounded a fist on the table, his stoic demeanor slipping, his visible battle glyphs vibrating, smoke swirling around his head. “We didn’t get their support.”
“What do you mean?” asked Darius. The snake tat winding from his eye, across his cheek, and down his neck slithered when the muscles in his jaw twitched.
