Amethyst

Chapter 17

Lea’s POV

We stayed in the van for several hours; twisting and turning down roads, bouncing across bumps.  We were blind folded the entire way so I didn’t exactly know where I was when we arrived; we were all dragged out of the van onto a gravel driveway which felt cold against my skin.  The blind folds were pulled off us and for the first time I could take in my surroundings. 

I was indeed lying on a gravel driveway which was now digging into my skin, each point piercing my flesh.  At the edge of it was carefully manicured hedges, no blade of grass was out of place on the lawns that followed the hedges and the whole scene went uninterrupted until it got to the large oak trees that formed the woods that surrounded the area. 

But in the middle of the land was a magnificent medieval castle which was unmistakable.  It had been home to the head of the council for seven centuries, the flags always flying at full mast to announce the arrival of its owner.  This castle was the biggest secret in the supernatural world; only the members of the council and other prestigious members of the supernatural community were allowed to know where this castle was hidden.

I was pulled up from the ground and pushed along the path by the same men that had carried me out of my home not a few hours ago.  I looked to see my brothers both being escorted by two men each as well but their guards looked more on edge than mine, as if they knew my brothers were more likely to make a brake for it. 

I knew that this was my fault; I had put them in this situation the second I decided to go home.  I should have realised that my mum and dad would have protected Zane but I’d let my emotions over run every bit of logic in me.  And they were going to pay the price for my mistake.

When we entered the large oak gates we walked straight into a huge courtyard; it wasn’t what I had expected from the stories I had been told as a child.  I had dreamt of a busy courtyard, filled with flowers that climbed the walls of the castle, of smiling faces as the sun’s warm rays filtered down onto their skin. 

None of that was there; the walls were dank and grey, there no flowers anywhere to be seen and the only people were formal soldiers spaced evenly around the edge.  Straight ahead there was a stone staircase which led up to a the main door of the castle, to my right was a platform stage where I assumed Maximus stood to address his followers and finally to my right was what looked like a large well, edged by stone. 

I had heard stories about that well; traitors to the council who were sentenced to execution were drowned in that well but it had been out of action for over a hundred years as it was no longer seen as humane.  That was at least until Maximus started his rein.

“Take my niece and nephews to their rooms please, let’s not have them stood out here on show.”  He said coldly as we entered the castle.

The two guards pushed me again, their hands holding so tight I thought my arm might snap off.  They took us up the stone steps and through the beautifully carved front door into a large hall; its walls were decorated in tapestries and paintings, the most noticeable of which was a large portrait of Maximus standing proud and noble. 

As I took in my surroundings, I was dragged down the left hand corridor while my brothers were taken down the right.  I turned around and tried to run back towards them, my brothers doing the same towards me; our guards soon followed after us and as I was about to reach them I was hurled backwards as one grabbed my leg.

“Lea!” I heard James scream.

“Let me stay with them!” I yelled back at my guards but they just laughed at my pain.

“We will find you!” Michael yelled to me as he was pulled further down his corridor. 

I carried on kicking and fighting all the way to my room.  I even got in a good punch or two before I was discarded into my room like a piece of rubbish.  As I picked myself up off the cold floor I took in my new surroundings; the floor was still stone but the majority of it was covered with a tremendous Persian rug.