Secret Bloodline

A New Rising

Back in Manhattan, the Council, or what's left of it, has convened.

Claire, Paul, and El Patron stand impatiently and uneasily in the ruined temple.

"I don't like this. I don't like any part of it. I'm not interested in another Clan War," Paul says.

"I couldn't give two tugs of a dead rat's tail what you're interested in. We do what we have to do. If Lauren's gone rogue and teamed up with Zayn's clan... We have no choice," Claire says.

"'If'? 'If'? Lauren bashed my head in and left me para morir. In a burning building no less. That's a declaration of war if I've ever heard one," Sebastian says. (To die)

"Aren't we all forgetting something? Where the hell is Beckham?" Paul asks.

"Dead."

All of the Council members' heads turn to Camila, Zayn, Lauren, and Dinah at the top of the stairs.

The three of them panic immediately as they scramble back and draw their weapons.

"It's a trap! An ambush!" Sebastian says.

"You try anything and I'll rip the skin off your pretty little friend, one strip at a time," Claire says.

"You don't want to do this," Paul says.

Camila steps forward and speaks, "Relax. You're outgunned."

"Like hell we are," Sebastian says.

"Oh, please. I'm one thousand nine hundred years older than you. If I'd wanted to I could have slit your throat before you even knew I was here," Lauren speaks.

"And I've gone through some changes lately. There's... Power in me. One I don't think you want to awaken," Zayn says.

"Plus, I've gotten pretty damn good with a crossbow," Dinah speaks.

"And there's a whole army of allies outside armed to the teeth just waiting for our signal," Camila finishes.

The Council members look at each other uneasily.

"My point is, if we'd wanted you dead, you'd be dead. But you're alive, aren't you?" Camila says.

"That's because we want to talk," Lauren says.

They all walk to the center of the room as Camila and Dinah step off to the side while Lauren and Zayn enter the main circle.

"Now then. Let's begin. As I said before, David Beckham is no longer with us," Zayn speaks.

"You killed him. Poor David. You killed him in cold blood," Claire says.

"No. I killed him in self-defense after he unleashed a truck full of ferals on me and my friends," Zayn corrects.

An uneasy murmur runs through the Council members.

"Hang on. Now you're saying he was behind it all? That he's the one who's been making ferals?" Paul asks.

"Maybe not the first waves but he saw the feral crisis as an opportunity for a power play. He kidnapped my employees, turned them feral, and unleashed them at Marcel's gala. He then did the same thing at my country's estate. I've obtained a satellite video of our fight against them if you have any doubts," Zayn stuffs his hands in his pockets.

"And why the hell would Beckham do that?" Paul asks.

"Because he wanted more power. With Zayn off the Council, there would be an open seat. Beckham would've taken advantage of the imbalance to shape the direction of the Council and push it further towards his vision of open rule," Camila explains.