Miakoda

Witchy Council

With time running out. The group of now four waisted no time and set out to request a meeting with the high council of witches.

The council being intruiged by both the request which included the company of the Lycan King and a vampire as well as the return of one of their own, accepted to meet with them all.

The discussions at the meeting surfaced the council's visceral fear of war. However, their fear would need to be buried for the sake of their survival as well as the rest of the supernaturals. The council were well aware of the Forged and the witches they had on their side. This war would not only mean a united peace for all but a deep seated revenge on the witches siding with the enemy.

The council informed Ryder that they would send a small group of teleporters to pack territory in order to keep communication channels open between Ryder and the council and that their legions would be ready and waiting for word from him as to where and when he would need them.

"Thank you, Abanon." Ryder said, nodding his head in respect for the coven head councilor.

"Would it be possible," Ryder began to request, looking at Phoenix, who's eyes were glued to Cassandra. "If Phoenix accompanied us on our quest into Vampire territory?" He finished.

At the mention of his name, Phoenix tore his eyes from Cassandra and looked at Ryder and then at Abanon. A slight pleading in his eyes.

Abanon looked confused at Ryder and then at Phoenix. His burly features searching for some clarity. Searching deep into Phoenix's pleading expression.

"And the reason for that would be what, exactly?" Abanon's firm tone echoed in the council hall.

Ryder stepped forward before Phoenix could.

"It seems Phoenix has found his mate within our little group." Ryder states matter of factly.

Abanons' thick eyebrows raise, his eyes widen and then looks at Agatha. Who chuckles, shaking her head.

"No, brother. It is not me." Agatha informs the council head, still chuckling at the humor of the unlikely mated pair.

At the mention of the word brother, Cassandra and Ryder snap their gaze directly at her. She smiles at them and winks while slightly raising her hand towards them requesting their temporary silence.

Abanon looks quizzically at the group, looking at each individual in turn. "If not you, then who?" He voices.

Cassandra then steps cautiously forward and stands next to Ryder.

Ryder then wraps an arm around her shoulders. "My sister. Cassandra." He says.

"I'm lost." Says Abanon, raising his hands into the air, making the rest of the councilors all shift uncomfortably in their chairs, behind the huge wooden table.

"You are the Lycan King. Essentially a wolf. This lady is a vampire..." He trails off, now pinching his nose trying to digest and make sense of what he's hearing.

"Family is not just a blood tie, Abanon. Cassandra has proven to me and everyone around her that she is worthy of being called my sister."

As soon as Ryder had finished his words, Agatha then stepped forward. "That is fact." She too wraps an arm around the back of Cassandra's waist. "She is my sister, too. Just as both you and Ryder are my brothers."

Abanon's hand drops from pinching his nose and looks at the three people before him. Three very different supernaturals, all tied together by something he doesn't quite understand. "As hard as it is to believe such, I will however give you the benefit of the doubt, for now." His eyes then travel to Phoenix who had moved forward and had wrapped his arms around his mate. "Phoenix. What have you to say?"

Phoenix fixes his gaze on Abanon and unblinkingly states. "She is not my sister, but my soul."

Cassandra's face brightens a few shades of red as the remaining blood she had left in her body, drained from her extremities and pooled in her cheeks.

An unexpected smile found its way onto Abanon's face. "Well then... Let me not be the one to keep you from your soul my friend." He lifted himself from the chair he was seated in and slowly rounded the huge, heavy table and walked himself before the clutching four. Bringing his focus onto Ryder.

"As a sceptic of this sudden and unlikely union. I cannot help but ask you, what has brought about such changes?" He asks Ryder motioning towards the group. "Only the Moon Goddess is able to bring about such a union."

"It was the Goddess that brought us together, all of us." States Ryder, stead fast in his beliefs in the Goddess.

Abanon, still focused on him waves a finger at him. "Indeed." He says slightly chuckling, " But... What was the trigger?"

At that, the hall immediately fell dark. The blackness was thick but not heavy. The air became electrified as a single light began to glow on the opposite side of the hall where the large entrance doors were. The light became larger and brighter making everyone squint in the darkness.

The most beautiful woman stepped out of the glowing ball of light as if it were a mear portal.

The sight of the woman made all of them fall to their knees in knowing.

"Now, now. Please, there is no need for that here. After all, as Ryder has stated, we are all family here." The smooth voice of the woman sounded out.

"Selene." Ryder greeted with familiarity.

Selene stretched out an arm and gently placed her hand on his shoulder and smiled warmly.

Abanon pulled himself to his feet and saw how easily Ryder and the Moon Goddess interacted with each other. In his heart he wanted to be bale to do the same, but not knowing how. His eyes fell to the ground in his raising jealousy.

His mind was trying to chace the jealousy out when he felt two hands embrace his shoulders. Embarrassed he raised his head and eyes to come face to face with his deity.

Selene smiled at him with glistening eyes. "Abanon. My friend. Our meeting has been long over due." She says sweetly as she pulls him in for a mothering hug, dispursing all the negative thoughts he had just had.

Selene joined the remainder of the meeting. Enlightening the council of what is happening around them and telling them all about her daughter who was walking amongst them. Leaving the council in awe and enthusiastic for the hope she gave them.

Before departing, she left another of her amulets, similar to the one she had given to Tom in the hands of Abanon to protect. "Your work is not yet done, my friend. You are important, even if you do not see that as yet. Let my amulet be a reminder for you of that and may you draw the strength you need from it and remember, you are not alone."  She told Abanon as she retreated back into her light and vanished the same way she had appeared.

The light in the room returning, this time with a sense of closeness and a clear sense of what needed to be done.

Abanon, cleared his throat and turned to both the council and Ryder's little group.

"We have little time to spare." He said as he walked passed the four. "Tell us what you need for your journey then we can open the gate to the vampires for you. Harriet, you will have the teleporters dispatched within an hour to Hunter's pack." He ordered out and finished with a determined haste.

Once the group had restocked a few supplies and re-entered the council hall, they saw that Abanon had opened the gate as he had said he would.

" May the Goddess be with you on your journey. " He said extending a hand out for Ryder to shake. Which he did.

He then faced his sister. "See you soon." He ended off with a kiss to her forehead which made her smile widely.

"I missed you brother." She said, pulling away from him and headed towards the open gate. She stopped just before crossing over and turned to look at her brother. "See you soon." Was all she said before disappearing through the open gate.

And so was the end of their meeting with the witches and  their beginning journey into the vampire territory.