The Rise of the Fallen Queen

Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11 (Warning for the second part: Thoughts of Self harm/suicide)

The Cradle of Life...

An already broken chair was thrown against the beige wall denting the dry wall and shattering the picture frame as it fell to the floor. A glass and pitcher added to the dents in the wall and to the pile of glass on the floor.

"HOW DARE THEY FAIL ME AND THINK TO COME BACK EMPTY HANDED?!" he yelled.

The men in the room shifted uncomfortably. No one had answers and they didn't want to join the other more moral formal council members who now resided in undeserved graves. Unlike the other in the room, Alec Somers sat in his seat undisturbed by the tantum being thrown by his boss and head of the Hunters' Council.

"GET OUT ALL OF YOU!" he roared. The boardroom quickly cleared.

Matthew Brush sat back on his chair at the head of the table rubbing his eyes. "They're all incompetent idiots, Alec!"

Alec stood and laid a piece of paper on the table in front of Matthew. Picking up the sheet and scanning the contents, he looked up in surprise. "How did you get this?"

"I wasn't aware that the men would be so unsuccessful or I would have put more of an effort in helping them instead of searching the pack house." Alec replied.

"No, no this is perfect!" Matthew Brush exclaimed excitedly. "You found her! You found our queen."

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Location Unknown...

Tu laid on the couch staring at the blank white swirls on the hotel ceiling. Time had little meaning except to act as a cruel path to reminisce upon. He was beyond caring about comfort or even basic hygiene. If not for the queen's enchanted command to eat and drink, he would have long starved himself to death. The door opened and Skylar pranced in. She ignored the catatonic form and sat on the bed with a small brown book in hand.

^Tu^

"Why am I here?" Tu finally asked after two hours of silence.

Skylar continued reading and turned the page before answering. "Your curiosity is keeping you alive so why should I tell you?"

The Sprite didn't know how to reply to that question so he remained silent. Another hour passed.

"We'll be leaving soon." Skylar said closing the book she was reading. "Get up, shower, shave, and meet us in the lobby."

The air settled and the silence of the room haunted Tu. His mind drifted back to the Site of the Sacred Lands that had been his home for centuries. The once peaceful garden was suddenly completely silent as the sprites that had been his friends lay in a bloody lifeless heap. He was supposed to lie among them instead he was alive and alone. He fell off the couch and didn't bother to stand as he crawled to the bathroom. He wanted desperately to end it all.

Pulling himself up weakly as his lack of movement and exercise had almost handicapped him. He looked on the counter and saw a razor. Turning it over he saw that the blades had been removed. His anger pulled him back to a sense of reality. A piece of white paper, sitting on top of the faux marble cream colored counter, caught his attention. Picking it up he read:

"There's someone you need to meet."

Tu hated admit that the baby vampire was right. He was curious. There was another disposable razor and toothbrush on the other side of the sink. Staring at the blade, he decided to play the game. Looking into the mirror he was shocked to see himself. It's was like looking at a complete stranger. He quickly shaved and showered. He had nothing to lose and when he had his answers then he would be free to do as he wished.

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Cub Creek Territory...

Salim and Dayton leaned against their desks watching their mate squirm on the couch under their scrutiny.

"You've been a very bad girl." Salim tutted.

"You could've been hurt or killed." Dayton growled.

"Next time I'll tie you up." Salim growled

Carrie was trying hard to bring her wolf under control. The scent of her mates and the dominance the exuded by the Alpha males was so bad for the sexually driven wolf. Carrie however warred between desire and terror. Her painful past made her fearful of bondage.

No matter how much lust her wolf projected, Carrie was not ready to take that step and the memory of being held down or restrained triggered a panic attack. Her hands trembled as her uncle and abusers' faces popped up before she could pull away from the memories. Sucked into a helpless stream where she remembered the taste of her tears and bile, the smell of their repugnant excitement making stomach turn, the feel of their touch dirtying her skin.

She jerked away when she felt a brush on her cheek. Arms wrapped around her; Carrie began to struggle before her mind registered Dayton's soothing voice. Salim's warm hands cupped her cheeks as she struggled to catch her breath. The sparks from their touch and their familiar scents calmed her racing heart and pulled her from her panic.

"It's okay baby." Dayton said gently rocking her against his chest. "Just breath. We've got you."

"I'm tired." Carrie said. Her mates understood the double meaning. Salim took her in his arms and carried her upstairs to their room. They had redesigned the suite for their mate. It was spacious without a lot of empty space. The ceiling looked deceptively high but Dayton hated vaulted ceilings because of the wasted space that couldn't be utilized yet still had to be heated and cooled which drove up the electric bill. So only a small portion was higher than the rest so that they could hang some lovely chandeliers that Salim insisted upon.

When Dayton asked why, Salim's cheeks turned a bit red when he pulled out a small box that contained his most "prized" possessions from childhood. He handed a piece of notebook paper to Dayton. It was a picture that a ten-year-old Carrie had drawn of her "dream room." Dayton chuckled at the fact that his brother had kept this but he used the sheet to add in all of Carrie's wishes.

Laying his precious burden on the plush bed, after Dayton had pulled back the covers, Salim stared at their mate as his brother went to grab a cool damp washcloth from the bathroom. She looked perfect on their bed. This was where she belonged. But he understood it might take a long while before she was ready for them.

Salim was prepared to wait. His wolf, Blake, whined, wanting to join their mate on the big cozy bed. Salim hushed him as Dayton walked back into the room. He wiped the tears and sweat from her brow from her panic attack. Afterwards he stood up, kicked off his shoes, and pulled off his shirt.

"What are you doing?" Salim asked.

"Shifting." Dayton replied laying his clothes on the foot of the bed. "She needs comfort but may not feel comfortable with me laying next to her in human form."

Salim nodded and began stripping as well. Their wolves leaped on the bed and snuggled against their mate. They could hear Carrie's wolf, Faye, purring contently like a cat. It made them smile.