Fear and Loving

Chapter 8: Summoned

The next day, I didn't talk to Argos at all. Anything that needed to be said was said thru text or email. I even got someone else to bring him his coffee.
When noon came I had decided to get a sushi burrito and I was almost excited about it. I had just placed the online order when my door burst open. I looked at the shallow hole left in the wall by the doorknob. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and scheduled a repair. When I was finished I looked up at him. His hair was a mess and his eyes were wildly flashing from their usual hazel to yellow and back again. He was breathing heavily. I just waited for him to say whatever he needed to say.
When he finally spoke his eyes had stopped on yellow and his voice was unfamiliar.

"The council has summoned us."
Um what? What council? Summoned us for what? I didn't say it out loud but he answered anyway.

"The council of supernatural beings. They've summoned us to asses our relationship." I simply raised my eyebrow.

"They have a way of knowing when high ranking beings have found their mates. Usually if they're the same species they don't need to call the couple in. In our case we're of different species and there was an attempted rejection..."
I kept my face blank but I so badly wanted to roll my eyes and tell him to fuck off. I said nothing, just waited for him to give me the details of this meeting with the "council".
He stared at me for a while longer before cracking.
"We leave in an hour." He left angrily slamming the door behind him.
Fine. I'll play along. Maybe this council will punish him for his crimes against me. I almost smiled. Retribution was a possibility.

In the car I said nothing but I was in a content mood. I was full and the possibility of Argos being punished tickled me in a wicked way.

The drive was long, and terribly boring. We had long since left town and were currently in the middle of nowhere. I used to like road trips; my parents and I would just pack up and go periodically for seemingly no reason. It was a strange childhood I had, but it was always fun. An "adventure" they used to call it. I've been to every state and a few foreign countries. I wish I could travel again. I miss it, and my parents. Revisiting some of the places I went with them would be nice. My mind swirled with the sweet memories of my childhood, my parents, our adventures. All the different foods I'd tried and the languages that tickled my ears over the years.

"What are you thinking about?" Just like that the protective glass of reminiscence shattered around me and I was flung violently back into reality. A soft, nearly imperceptible smile curved my lips and a single tear trailed my cheek. I wiped it away and returned to the stone cold mask I lived in now. There was a roaring in my ears, like that of an angry beast. How dare he interrupt me. How dare he intrude on the only good thing I had. I said nothing of course, but my blood boiled so violently I rolled down the window in hopes the wind would clear my head and take away the scorching heat and anger. I wasn't usually like this. I tried to call back the numbness, numb was safe, numb was comfortable. I took a deep breathe and held it until I felt myself calming down. I opened my eyes exhaling. I saw Argos fighting the urge to reach out & touch me. The thought of his touch ignited the embers of my anger and I had to calm myself all over again. I needed help to keep myself under control. I grabbed my purse and rummaged around for my phone and head phones. Once I retrieved them I put on a playlist of relaxation and zen binaural beats. I made sure the volume was low enough that I could hear him if he spoke. I closed my eyes and focused on the soothing tones.

I don't know how long I was zoned out but I wasn't really asleep. I felt Argos touch my hand lightly and then retract it immediately and hiss in pain. Whatever was making me feel this incredible heat was also physically burning him and for that I was greatful. As long as I could keep the anger under control and not have an aneurism I'd be fine. I looked up to see, an enormous and extravagant building. Like a mansion but also kind of like a compound? It was large enough to house a large community... There was no one around though.
Argos got out of the car and moved toward my side of the car. I rolled my eyes and got out on my own. I feared his wrath, or the wrath of the vampire at least but that was irrelevant until he figured out a way to touch me.

He lead me through the massive building down many empty identical hallways. I had no idea how he knew where he was going, but I didn't question it. When we finally came to a stop it was in front of two massive intricately carved wooden doors.
He waited briefly and then the doors were pulled open from the inside. He stepped into the room and I followed at a safe distance.

Inside was a room dimly lit by fire only.  But once my eyes adjusted I saw how extravagant and lavish it was. It looked like a court room but everything was ornately carved from stone and adorned with gold.
Sitting behind the gilded bench were varying supernatural creatures. Mostly humanoid in appearance. I counted 16.
I stepped further into the room & bowed slightly when I was in front of them. I didn't know the rules but it seemed like the proper thing to do, after all they must be ancient and powerful beings to have the title of supernatural council. Argos walked up next to me a second later. When I raised my head I made eye contact with  the most beautiful ethereal being I could imagine. They smiled at me & I couldn't help but return it. Their dark brown skin seemed to be infused with gold and shone brilliantly in the light of the fire. Every inky black hair was perfectly placed and every curl was a beautiful springy coil that bounced when they moved. Their ears were tapered to a point. Their nose round & perfectly proportioned. Their lips plump & defined as if lovingly carved by the gods. And their eyes, took my breath away.

The others had started speaking while I was staring like an idiot. The one next to the beautiful golden being addressed me directly.

"Ever Denise, your 25th birthday was last week correct?"

"Yes." Is all I said as I didn't know how to address any of them. Your highness? Your grace? My lord, lady, leige?

"And on that day you discovered that prince Argos, Alpha of the eastern lands heir to the Vampire throne, was your mate. And you attempted to reject him."

I stared blankly as he was obviously making a statement and not asking a question. But I decided to answer for politeness sake.

"Yes, I did." I felt Argos shaking slightly next to me and I stepped away a bit to get more space between us. It did not go unnoticed by the council members.

"Why?" He ask brow raised and eyes on me but I could tell he was watching Argos in his periphery.

"He's physically and mentally abused me for a year, unprovoked. I work for him, he won't let me quit and no authorities would lift a finger against him. I would rather die than be tied to him anymore than I already am." There was no beating around the bush I had to tell them the truth because they were the only ones who may be able to help me. A few of the council gasped at my statement. Argos was silent but I could feel him shaking still even though I was a few feet away now.

"Nonsense. The prince would never do such things. And that is a serious accusation. What is the real reason?" He asked pointedly as if giving me a chance to retract my "lie". I just stared at him. That was the truth & I had nothing else to say. If they didn't believe me I was right back where I started. Might as well start thinking about what kind of urn I wanted.

"You expect this council to believe that a sovereign prince of two kingdoms, one of the most powerful & influential beings in the world, beats women? Human women at that?"

"Not women, just me. I'll admit I don't know how any of this works. Up until my birthday I thought he was just an alpha. I had no knowledge of him being any kind of royalty. But I see now that there's no point in telling you either. I'm sorry to have wasted your time. If you'll excuse me." I bowed in their direction again and started for the door. But when I looked up the beautiful being from before stood before me. I froze. I didn't know what to do. I opened my mouth to say something, anything but before I could my head was between their beautiful hands and everything went black.