One & Only: Divulge

CH1-VII

"And you are braver for it." Ladi said in my head and I pulled up my arm to see her eyes blink.

"What do you think of this?" I asked the council members showing them my tattoo and they all moved closer to see it.

"Wow cool life-scribe." They said in unison.

They knew about Ladila only by name but they had never seen her. They also knew that life-scribes are often for witches and probably thought that one of the witches in the reserve had given it to me. I didn't want to change that view as Ladila was my secret and confidant, her presence was a rarity that I didn't want to be widely known just yet. Dragons were long gone as they were one of the reasons why as a species, we found ourselves in the total human realm. They were fierce protectors that had made it possible for the Beloved whose whole existence had doomed our forefathers to a life from their true home.

"Yeah, I guess so. It would however not go well with the rest of the pack. What do you think Ladi?" I asked and they all jumped back when Ladila's eyes moved.

This was a move I was using to counter the potential rebellion among them that I was feeling. Someone among them was plotting after finding out my age, someone wasn't happy and this would tell them I knew what they were up to. Dragons were a threat that no one would want to fight with. Ladila knew what I was doing so she moved over from my arm to my back and coiled on my torso. I looked at the men and woman who were gawking.

"You've got a dragon guardian?" Andra was the one who seemed ecstatic about it. "I have only heard of them in legends. Even the previous rulers didn't have one. I think you have favor in most high places than we can imagine." He said in all seriousness and all of a sudden it was like something clicked in all of them and a flash of fear ran through them. Andra knew most of the history and what other rulers were like because, unlike others, he was groomed through his family who had always held a position in the inner circle. Yeah, I was back to being alone again.

They hurriedly had me wash up and dressed in official regalia before leaving me with the bodyguards as they went forward to prepare for my arrival. Half an hour later I was walking with two bodyguards in front of me and two at the back keeping pace yet giving me personal space. The hotel was a palace, a luxury different from the way the front was. This one had a mobility to it in the way the aspect Gold was shining everywhere, chandeliers with hanging diamonds and walk ways with well I was expecting red carpet but instead the welcoming was royalty at its best in tones of purple and white.

It looked so out of place with the velvet red tiled floor yet it fit perfectly with my picture of vampiric loyalty. I understood it was because I was from the were-community raised on the human community and in this, the respect was to my human and moon relations as the greatest honor. Red would have worked perfectly for a vampire like my predecessor and realizing this, I understood why Stren would eventually become one of my confidants. I appreciated the thoughtfulness and I made it known by releasing a little bit of my aura to each staff in appreciation. You could see their smiles and Stren was beaming for what had done. I guess he approved.

Even through doing all this, I was very much aware that I have never been able to figure out how my predecessor was my grandfather. I was led to a hall where almost a hundred people were already waiting as ambassadors offered from different clans to show acceptance of my leadership.

The clans had sent at least one person marked by the insignia of their people. The most shocking was the transitioning clans, the rouges who had sent some of their people to the surprise to the council and everybody in the room. I felt honored and overwhelmed with the support I was feeling. There was no malice in any of the people sent not even one, until the door opened.

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Thank you for reading my story. Have Fun!!