Page 36 of Created in Chaos

When we finally reach the bottom of the winding staircase, Lucian leads us to a completely different table than the last time we were here. It’s much farther back from the dais and conveniently closer to the elevator for a speedy escape.

The feeling in the room is more alive and electric, if that makes sense. There’s a hum of sound accompanying the excitement filling the tomb-like space. It makes me wonder if everyone was so somber last time because they didn’t know the reason behind the meeting, or if they are so eager this time because they are enthusiastic about the prospect of someone getting punished.

Nox pulls out the high-back chair for me, urging me to sit between him and Lucian. I’m grateful for the extra space he allows, giving me a little more breathing room. As the moments tick by, our table fills with others, who all remain silent through the low din. I wonder if they have a reason for a quick escape as well, or if they just don’t want to be close to the promised action.

I jolt when I feel Nox’s palm on my thigh under the table but try to cover the movement by adjusting in my seat. His fingers tighten reassuringly over my thigh. I concentrate on not drawing attention to myself, so I can blend in like everyone else, but everyone else doesn’t have a big, warm hand inching slowly up their leg and driving them to distraction.

The loud sound of a door bouncing off a wall draws nearly everyone’s attention to the front of the room. Rory, still the only uncovered face, also looks to where the sound originated from. A robed figure is rushing toward the dais so quickly, it’s easy to see it’s a woman because the thin cloak is plastered to her front. She bends at the waist, getting close to my grandfather’s ear. His eyes widen right before his lips thin and he shoots to his feet.

“Lock the chambers,” he bellows, causing figures near the stairs and elevators to shift into protective positions. Nox’s hand remains firmly on my leg, while Lucian sits completely still. My breath is sawing in and out of me as a spike of adrenaline turns my heartbeat into a frantic tempo.

“I’ve just been informed Alden has escaped.” Rory scans the crowd as whispers erupt in the expanse. I have the urge to look over my shoulder to see if the big man is behind me, but I manage to sit still.

Lucian shoves his chair back, toppling it as he comes to his feet. “How convenient.” He pushes the hood back, revealing his beautifully cruel face.

Rory’s eyes snap to Lucian, and I don’t think the fury in his gaze is for show when he grates out, “I promise there is nothing convenient about this, Morningstar.”

“Really? Seems strange to me that your man—”

“He’s not my man,” Rory interrupts.

“The man who worked for you and did your bidding has gone missing before he could meet his punishment. Correct me if I’m wrong, but we’ve never had an issue keeping a detainee held before, so it seems convenient to me,” Lucian finishes, undaunted.

“He is from your family, Morningstar. It wouldn’t surprise me if you didn’t orchestrate this entire occasion.”

“Let me make sure I have your accusation correct, because it sure as shit seems like an accusation. You think I somehow convinced my uncle to betray his wife and family name, disgracing him and his kid, so that ten years later, I could somehow coax you into hiring his son, then years after that, I could use him in a plot that would get him killed, all so I could embarrass you. Did I get all that correct?”

Rory’s face turns red with restrained rage. “You probably helped him escape,” the older man seethes.

“Why don’t you pull up the camera feeds so we can all see what really happened?” Lucian challenges calmly.

The person who ran into the room to speak with Rory leans toward him again to talk. Whatever news she’s delivering doesn’t seem to make my grandfather any happier. “It would seem the entire security system has been hacked. My people are working on restoring the feed to the dungeons now.”

Dungeons? Why is that surprising? I should have known they would have something of the like.

“Your people,” Lucian scoffs. “I know you enjoy making me your scapegoat for every single fucking thing that happens, but isn’t it more likely it was one of your people who really aided in his escape? The only founding family with access to the school’s security is the seated president.”

“The security must have been breached.”

“Just like my boundaries were, by your man.”

I finally hear a little anger seep into Lucian’s calm tone.

“If I was involved, why would I lock the place down and make every effort to find him?”

“Because you know he’s not here, and you know no one will find him,” Lucian retorts.

“He will be found,” Rory insists.

Lucian lowers himself slowly into his righted seat without even glancing back, trusting that the guards behind him fixed it. “Doubtful, but that shouldn’t stop us from moving forward with our other business.”

I swear if my grandfather’s eyes could pop out of his head, they would. There’s a thick, purple vein at the side of his temple that looks like it might explode too. He takes a moment before speaking, but his gaze never wavers from our table. “It would seem we do have further business to discuss. As stated, Morningstar contends that Alden, previously of the same name, now known as Black, breached a founder’s boundaries. The complainant must produce evidence of this duplicity if he wishes to proceed with additional accusations and punishments. However, since the accused cannot stand in his own defense, I propose we hold off on any evidentiary findings until the matter of finding Alden Black can be resolved.”

“Bullshit!” Lucian stands again, but the calm façade is gone. His fists are balled on the table, and he looks like he’s about to leap over it to get to Rory.

“Those in favor of halting the proceedings, stand to be counted,” Rory sneers over Lucian’s outburst.

Several hooded heads turn to assess the room, and a few even stand, albeit slowly, but it’s clear the majority remains seated.

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