Life - Life & Death Book 1

Chapter 29 - Part 1 - Zivena

I lean back on the couch as the weak morning light filters through the windows. My joints pop and my muscles ache as I stretch my body out. It was well after two in the morning by the time we got home, and Mictain had fallen onto his bed, asleep in an instant. I was too wired by the night's events to sleep. Instead, I stayed up watching crappy morning TV.
My sketchbook and pencils sit on the coffee table, begging me to draw. It feels like months since I worked on any of my art and my fingers itch for the freedom of a pencil scratching against paper. I can't help but smile as I page through some of my older drawings of Imogen, Jared and Owen; of my family; of Isis and of nature. As I come to a fresh page, I try to think of something to draw and my mind snags on the Vampire Queen.
Aerona takes shape on the page. Her hair out, her skin intact and wearing a summer dress. She almost looks normal. Why did she put on that act? Everyone thinks she's insane. They hesitate when talking about her. It's not fear that stops them but something else. Like they don't know how to treat her. Maybe that's what she wants.
"Morning," Mictain croaks as he walks out. His hair is a mess, his eyes barely open as he shuffles to the kitchen.
"There's fresh coffee," I say over my shoulder. I continue to draw, adding more detail and bringing out a sense of peace on Aerona's face.
"How long have you been up?"
"Couldn't sleep."
"Oh, sorry."
I shrug, "Not your fault."
Mictain shuffles over to the couch and sits next to me, a coffee mug in his hand. He glances over to have a look at my sketchbook.
"Is that Aerona?" His breath tickles my cheek and heat fills my body.
I cough, "Yeah. Yeah it's her."
"She actually looks like a person."
I nod. "I don't think she's crazy like everyone says she is."
Mictain leans back and sips his coffee. "I've been thinking the same thing. She's petrified of being alone."
"You sensed that?"
"Yeah. I know most people are scared of being alone but Aerona is terrified."
I don't say anything.
"What time is the Council meeting again?" Mictain asks.
"Nine."
"I'm going to have a shower then." I find myself watching him as he stands up and walks into his room, closing the door behind him.

✲✲✲✲✲

We walk into the meeting room. Artemis and Zedek are already seated, talking quietly. We take our seats. Hod and Kali walk in with Flora and Vulcan close behind them and once everyone takes their seats, Zedek calls the meeting to attention.
"Artemis just heard from Taregan that a vampire and werewolf were kidnapped earlier this morning."
"What?" I exclaim. "When?"
"It happened just after your meeting with Aerona," Artemis replies. "Aksel and Aerona are understandably angry. Taregan is currently leading a team to investigate what happened."
"This is insane," I mutter. "When will they trip up? They can't get away with this."
Annoyance flares in Artemis. "Everyone is just as frustrated as you are, Zivena. Everyone is working just as hard as you. We have Guardians searching everywhere. There isn't much more we can do."
I flush, my head hanging in shame.
"Zivena didn't mean it like that, Artemis," Mictain speaks up.
"Yes, I know. But our resources are stretched thin. We can't do more than what we're already going."
"But how many more people, Artemis?" I say.
"We hope for the best," Artemis snarls. "It's all we can do."
I'm about to open my mouth when Hod cuts it, "This conversation is going nowhere," his voice cold and uninviting. "How did your meeting go?"
Aerona pulling off her skin flashes in my mind and I push it away.
"It was interesting," Mictain replies. "She didn't have any information about the massacres, however she did know something about the murders and kidnappings in Central Park."
Anticipation fills the room like thick syrup.
"Do share," Kali purrs, her black eyes sliding over Mictain.
Mictain gives her a dead stare back and Kali glances away, scowling.
"She was unwilling to share the information at first so we struck a deal with her. She inform—"
"What sort of deal?" Zedek interrupts, urgency in his eyes.
Mictain glances at me, worried. "An alliance. But that's all we're sharing."
"You can't trust her," Kali says.
"We don't," I say. "She's useful though, for information."
"What'd she say?" Artemis asks, frowning at us.
"She said that one of her spies had witnessed Sinopa being kidnapped. Apparently two men subdued her, not one."
Artemis nods slowly, "That matches up with one of the running theories. It doesn't help us though. We need more."