Fallen Stars

Chapter 15

The council had called us to report in at 5. That was two hours ago.

Ace, Asher and I sat on a row of chairs, the tension so high it could be scented by anyone with supernatural senses. None of us had moved since we arrived. An obvious power play. The council would tell us what to do and we would listen, no matter what.

The massive oak doors opened at 7:23. We were summoned into the council room, no apologies given for making us wait. They would do it for as long as they wanted and we were not to say anything about it.

We walked and stood in the center of the circular room, representatives surrounding us. They all nodded at once and Ace and I began our report.

I spoke in English while Ace spoke Iaigru. You could still her multiple various translators underneath my voice. We summarized the information we had learned about the vampire and werewolf clans. Nobody mentioned how we got it.

The Bloodnight clan had given us a copy of everything they knew about the Silversky pack before we left.

"A gift." The elders had said. "For everything that has happened here, for taking care of Asher Caduto." They bowed their heads. "Please continue to do so." I inclined my head in return.

We reported how both the pack and the clan were peaceful, did not intrude on other's territory, did not terrorize the humans. They had learned to live in peace.

We finished our report and stood there, silent. Even breath was too quiet to hear. After a minute of the silence, the council spoke in unison.

"We will add these to the record. They are to remain how they are. If they choose to take back their choices of peace we will take action but for now, we will leave them be." Relief flooded through me and I felt it mirrored in my companions. We nodded.

"And now for the matter of this creature." The council's eyes were pointed at Asher. Ace and I shared a look and began our report of him.

We explained his past, what the clan had told us, what we had learned in these past weeks living alongside him. When we mentioned the amnesia a murmur went through the council. We paused but then continued our report when instructed to.

After explaining all we knew about him the council made it's decision.

"We do not know enough about him to let him loose. We must gain more information before he is allowed to roam free." I opened my mouth to retort but was cut off by Ace.

"If I may, Alaani Etoile and I have been with this creature for many weeks and have not been harmed. We know the most about it and how to work with it. I ask that we be given custody of the creature." Another murmur went through the council at that. "In exchange for custody, we will spend all of our time gaining as much information as the council likes. We will learn what we can from our libraries and stocks of already discovered information and we will also conduct searches of our own about it."

I silently sent my thanks down that bond between us as the council considered his proposal. After several minutes of silence the council spoke once more.

"Ace Eytyn and Alaani Etoile. You are hereby given custody of this creature. In return you will get us the information we need. We also charge you with its health and well-being. Should we find you abusing your privileges in any way the council will come down on you with all manners of law."

We nodded, the bargain falling on us like a physical weight. Asher gasped in pain as tattoos carved themselves into our skin. The three of us bowed, now sporting matching tattoos down our left arms.

We were dismissed from the council and Ace mentioned dinner. I supposed we should eat. I hadn't spoken to either of them since before we left for the council.

Thank you Ace, for what you did in there. I appreciate it. He merely smiled at me and nodded.

So we're speaking in minds now? Why? Asher linked to us. I smirked and rolled my eyes, the tension broken.

Because even the walls here have ears dumbass. Ace sniggered and then we were all laughing as we walked, the banter a nice break from the iciness of the council.

I took them to my favorite ramen house, I had loved the stuff even before I had gone to Earth. We ate and laughed and lived. It was the most fun I had had in a while.

In that moment I felt something, a belonging, a sense of, right.