Surrounded

Chapter Eight

"Therefore I Am" - Billie Eilish

Austin, TX

     In the dark of the hallway, the only audible sound was the repetitious clacking of expensive heels on marble. To any outsider, this place would probably be overwhelming in its size, maybe even sinister with the chosen black and white color scheme. To her though, this was home. The marble floor was a black and white checkered pattern, a plush black runner going down the length of it. The stark white walls could be considered sterile if not for the black velvet curtains hanging from the ceiling and pooling luxuriously on the floor. As her measured steps rang out around her, she considered that their home would probably look cheap if it weren't for all the small touches they added to it. The ceiling was the darkest matte black they could find, with glorious clear and black crystal chandeliers hanging from it. Every 20 feet or so stood a white pedestal with some priceless artifact they'd collected in their many years of traveling. They hadn't always had a home to settle down in.

She and her brother spent most of their formative years on the run after their parents had been killed. It was truly their fault though. What did they expect to try to overthrow the King of all supernaturals? So she gathered what little she could and went on the run with her baby brother, Moloch. It wasn't until year 138 when her brother made a friend with an Ice Warlock that they finally decided felt it was time to take what their parents couldn't. After a surprisingly short battle between her brother, the fire mage, and the old kind, a bear shifter, the kingdom was theirs, so to speak.

Though court being held in Canada was less than ideal; being magically aligned with fire, they couldn't stand the cold. It didn't take much effort to relocate everyone anyway when half the population was starting to suspect their true natures. And where better to settle than in Austin, Texas? It's always weird here, after all, and no one batted an eye at the two attractive seemingly young people with red eyes. In this college town, they were probably just going to or leaving the club, not that anyone who discovered their true motives would ever live to tell the tale anyway.

When she finally reached the doors at the end of the grandiose hall, the giant double ebony doors opened as if by their own accord. Standing near the platform that housed the ostentatious throne that her brother insisted on keeping around was the man himself, Moloch, speaking with his best friend and closest advisor, Jedidiah. She supposed Jed would be as attractive as any if she were into men. His dark skin and warm voice were enough to have most of the courtiers swooning at his feet, that is until my brother fixed his cold gaze upon them. Moloch claimed to have no feelings at all, not seeing the need in them, romantic or otherwise. She knew that to be false though because his greed knew no match in either this world or the one under it. Jed may have been his opposite in every way, but he seemed to share her brother's opinions on attachments and she'd never seen him with anyone that wasn't a political alliance or someone her brother wanted to think was in the inner sanctum.

She nodded at Jed as she approached the pair and he politely excused himself, busying himself elsewhere. It wasn't until then that her brother noticed my approach, he kept Jed by his side for a reason. Moloch silently grabbed her by the elbow and not so gently escorted her to a side room designed for private meetings. He stared at her expectantly, "Well, Bati?"

"Well, I'm not sure if she has fire magic or not."

"What do you mean you're not sure?!" His voice came out so loud that she flinched, not sure that the soundproofing could keep that volume concealed. He seemed to realize his mistake and visibly calmed himself, "We've been tracking her for seven months. I sent you there to verify that she is the one I need for the ritual. If we can't verify that she is the one with fire magic, then that pushes back the bonding ritual, and that means that my position as King is that. More. PRECARIOUS!"

She finally had enough and ripped her elbow from his grasp, advancing on him menacingly, "You don't think I understand that?! After all the blood and sweat I've lost to get you to this point?! I understand the gravity of this situation even more than you, dear little brother." She sneered at him, daring him to continue with his temper tantrum. They both knew who has the stronger tie with their magic, she only let him claim the throne because the supernatural world was infamously misogynistic. When he chose to remain silent, she took a centering breath and continued, "When she came across me on the side of the road, she was very cautious. She's no fragile flower, that one. If you want to get the upper hand on her, you'll either have to woo her yourself or send one of our best to surprise her. Even when one of her friends arrive, she almost drew a weapon on him."

Moloch finally seemed to relax as he lost himself in thought, "I see. I apologize for my outburst, we both have just as much to lose if this doesn't go to plan."

"I forgive you, brother. We can't waste any more time on this bickering between us, we need to finalize a plan and get her here as soon as possible."

Moloch took quick strides to the door and addressed the attendant on the other side, "Find me Jedidiah. Now."