Broken Beginnings

Chapter 11

Chapter 11- The undead and The Royals

Once more, Ashered and I found ourselves sitting before the three leaders. If you could even call them that...

"Child, please wipe that look from your face. It makes you look wretched." I swiveled in my seat to face Violets condescending remark. "You let our worst enemy inside our home. Do you not remember what happened the last time he was here." I snapped. 

Violets eyes simmered, her hands digging into the wooden table so roughly that it moaned in response.  "Do not tempt me to throw you in the dungeons." Her warned crawled up my spine and I could hear the truth ringing through. I clamped down impossibly hard on my lips. 

Ashered side eyed me, his face shining with an unknown emotion. I tried to read his expression and failed. 

A throat cleared from across the table. Melvin. "Its rude to gossip in front of others." He said picking nonchalantly at his nails. I wanted to sharpen my own nails on his flesh. 

"You look ready to kill." Melvin smirked. 

"What is the point of him being here." Opal asked from where she guarded the door.  She had mercifully attended to my wrists, the claw marks now bandaged.  

Sena who sat at the head of the table, with Maeve sitting to her right and Violet standing to her left finally spoke. Violet set her hand on the hilt of her sword in warning, looking at me. 

"If you have failed to notice the hundreds of newborns surrounding the castle; that would be why Melvin is sitting here. He is trying to be peaceful."  Sena smirked darkly. "He could very well be unpeaceful and get what he wants."

I looked at Melvin who watched me with dark eyes. His lips twitched into a wicked smile. He had no plan for peace, I could see it bleeding out of him--pure rage. 

Sena was right. There were newborns surrounding the table, hungrily waiting for their  young master. I wondered what made them follow him. Sure, control over them helped but why not rebel. I chewed my lips. Soon enough I would find out. 

More of the bloodsuckers laid in wait throughout the castle. "Now, listen to the boy and his wants." Sena said, neglecting to say demands, which was exactly what he was doing. Demanding. 

"I want a place among your court. You have neglected to hold a meeting of magical folk, I can be the first."

I glared at Melvin. Ashered beat me to a response. "I have a court, Xavier is the representative fot the vampires, not you, Melvin." Ashered said his name with disgust. 

Melvin flared at this. "Who do you see here? I can destroy you." He growled, suddenly a swarm of the bloodsuckers inching forward. Ashered didn't lift a finger as a wall of fire kept them at bay. He was losing his patience. "I will not tolerate games."  He snapped. 

Sena and violet watched with grins, enjoying the show. They picked no side, only their own. "Proceed without violence from either side." Maeve spoke. Her words were smooth, face void of any hint of emotion. 

The boy and man obeyed. 

"As I was saying, I want a place in your court and if you failed to notice, I have Xavier's mate. Proof that I am able to ask for what I wish." Ashered looked over to where Claire stood. My sister. Cold. Dead. Lifeless but alive. 

She didn't smile, only skimmed her eyes over us, landing on me, studying. 

I couldn't understand why she would allow this but her eyes seemed to say, "I'll tell you more later."

"I also want to be the man who marries your daughter."

A spew of curse words left my lips but Ashered raised his hands to silence me. 

Melvin held a triumphant look on his face, as if he had already won. 

I could feel myself tremble with fury. My power licked at the edges of my skin, waiting, wanting.

"Not until she is eighteen. And if she chooses you." Melvin grinned with pointed teeth. "Agreed. I like a challenge." 

I could not stop as I erupted. "You. Miserable. foul-." I didn't finish my words before my magic crashed out of me. It threw back the newborns, latched onto the three women's, making them statues. It finally reached out, swimming deeper inside for more power to Melvin. An invisible tendril wrapped around his throat. He choked but smiled. 

The force wrapped tighter, I vibrated with anger. I flashed a furious look at Ashered. He now stood as I did. Opal stood at the door, conflict holding her in place. Claire only watched with morbid curiosity. Ashered slowly raised his hands at me. "Hope." He said calmly. To calm. It angered me. 

Like a spider weaving its web, my magic gently wound itself around his throat. "Have you no respect for your child?" I snapped. "Hope you need to trust me." He didn't fight as my grip tightened on both him and Melvin. My hands were curled into fists. 

My body shook more, my jaw tightening as I fought the weakness building inside me. 

"You need to let go, you're going to drain yourself." Claire said from behind Melvin. Her blue eyes blinked in concern, at my hands. I didn't look down, knowing my hand was dripping blood. I had become so enraged, I had dug my nails into my palms, drawing blood. 

"Trust me." Ashered said again, this time in-between breaths. I looked into his eyes, they begged, pleaded with me. Shame filled me. I had harmed my special. The magic flooded back into me, snapping back inside. 

Ashered steadied me with an arm as I swayed. The women gaped at me, as if they never knew how much magic lived in me. Melvin's chaotic laughter drew me back to reality. I leaned against Ashered, still shaking. I was cold, so cold. 

"She's mine." He grinned. A tendril of magic tried to escape me but it was yanked back by pain. I hissed, my body was to tired for this. "Take her to her rooms." Ashered said to Opal. 
Sena waved a hand halting her. 

"Take her to the west winged dungeons."

Ashered and I looked at Sena with the same horrified expression. "Fight me and I will kill your friend and then your sister." 

"Its okay." I muttered. There was no way to win this, not without lives being lost. I gave his arm a reassuring squeeze before Opal slung my arm over her neck, dragging me to my doom. 

Melvin's laughter began again, squashing any hope I had for change.