TWISTED

Part 3

Everyone took their respective seats at the round table, me following closely behind. I stood behind the seat Kane occupied, my coat drenched on the backrest of his chair. Allen was still yet to be present at this gathering.

They talked about minor problems that had risen around; they discussed war strategy and alliances alike, Kane mostly keeping quiet throughout although it was clear that everyone was dancing around a particular topic. The atmosphere in the air was precarious; the tension so thick it could be sliced easily like butter, the lack of comfort and clear distress was readable in their body posture, the way they shifted in their seats occasionally, or glanced around the room with a question in their eyes. It was almost like someone was waiting for another to bring up a question or a topic, just something, almost like they were waiting for a sign or a signal before heading into dangerous territory.

I felt a slight breeze hit my right shoulder so I turned to the direction of the breeze just in time to see the doors swinging open and who I was presuming was Allen, walk through. He gave a hard nod to the room and took a seat at the further end away from father and I. He kept his head down slightly and not once glanced in our direction upon his arrival. Allen was not exactly what I'd expected but he fit the description anyways. Tall, slightly buff, handsome although he looked a bit on the older side which made her wonder just how old he is.

I turned my attention back to father to see a small smile playing at his lips. As small as it was, the smile looked wrong, almost cringe worthy. That smile looked like it didn't belong on such a face; it seemed uncomfortable sitting on such a gruff and intense mans face, no matter how beautiful he appears. The smile looked very wrong yet felt right sitting there on his face, something about father just does that to people.

All the men in the room suddenly turned their attention to one person, so I followed suit too; Amaury. He began talking, the atmosphere in the room dipping further, "Nekane, once again, we thank you for accepting out invitation as we know it is rare for you to openly show when summoned. We would not have requested for your presence if the situation was not dire. We are gathering all potential allies and- "

"Then why have you brought me here, to eat and dine with you as though I am one? You have only succeeded in wasting my time." Kane spoke for the first time since they were sat in the room. Amaury chose to overlook the insult and clear disregard and continued as though he had never been interrupted, "we ask for your alliance in a war that is lurking close behind. As those words left Amaury's lips, Kane felt heavily satisfied, she could feel it at the back of her mind, his satisfaction slowly spread through her and she could almost hear the nagging words at the back of her mind. Kane was heavily satisfied that the sovereigns needed his help although he was also curious as to why it was him of all people that they had decided to turn to in this their lost state.

"And why, if I may ask, do you need me?" Kane emphasized on the word. He turned to his right to Amaury, "Is your legion not strong enough to face whatever problems you all share?" he turned to Arsenio, "nor yours not large and fierce enough?" this time he faced Oceanus, "are all the waters on the earths' body not enough to stop whatsoever it is you all fear?" he glanced around the room, and stopped at Jabari, "And you, fearless Jabari, now has fears?" Can your empire not handle a light blow to its side? he turned to Theodore, "or do you lack your crafting and magic? That thousands of crafters cannot take on whatever danger you all face?" finally, he focused his attention on Allen, "Or are the elements too feign to stop this war, old friend?" Allen was an elemental user and he wields three of the four elements. Nobody knows how he does it, or how its even possible for one person to wield almost all elements, but everyone knows the reason behind this had something to do with Kane; its not a secret that they once were together. He now controls a very large group of elemental users. Little did they know that her father leads a much larger group of elemental users. They are stronger, more powerful and most especially, excellently skilled.