Divine Destiny: Serendipity Saga Book Two

Chapter Twenty-Two

"What?!" Anton roared, pulling away from Kellic's embrace. He stared pointedly at my father, still refusing to meet my eyes. "She's the youngest Magick in existence! Why would they possibly appoint her to lead the entire clan?"

I hadn't really seen Anton truly angry. I had heard him pretty miffed when I had first awoken from my coma, but I had never seen anything like this. Kellic yanked on his arm, forcing him not to advance across the room, though by the looks of it, he was trying pretty hard.

My father didn't flinch and just kept his eyes lowered on my mother who still hunched over her own knees, breathing deeply. "I tried to sway them otherwise," he replied, his voice soft.

"Evidently not hard enough!" Anton shrieked. "Send me. I'm the village pariah anyway."

Damien's head shot up, glaring at Anton. "Anton, I have never once declared you a pariah. I charged your father with his own crimes and left you absent of their blame. You came in here and prodded Kyra until she cried blood," he hissed, "What more can I do for you, boy?"

Anton looked like he had been slapped. He cringed away from my father's furious glare, drawing back with Kellic still wrapped around his arm. His eyes darted to me, for but a millisecond, before he glared at the carpet once more, his expression full of shame.

My father advanced on him anyway, snatching the front of his shirt in a fist. For a moment, I thought maybe the man really was going to slap him. "I'm not sure what it is that you're going through right now," he growled, low in his chest, his face so close to Anton's that the wind of his words stirred Anton's hair. "But get it the hell together." He thrust forward, knocking slightly into Anton's chest and sending him stumbling back a step.

Damien stepped back, commanding attention at the center of the room. "I tried to give them myself," he said, solemnly but with a power that I wished I could have possessed. "They didn't want me. They wanted Kyra. They wouldn't take no for an answer. The position is an honor, a position of power. They will not send you, Anton. Kyra is representative of growth and authority and influence. She is who they want to lead them. She is who they have chosen." He glanced at me, his gaze a little sad. "It is not something you can turn down."

The room went still, all of us considering what he had said. I didn't have a militaristic bone in my body. I could fight, and fight well, I might add, but a general? Even if I did beat the other vampire Champions, could I lead an army? I was doubtful. I couldn't even control my own emotions.

"Kyra, I've seen you fight," my father said, carefully. "You can do this. Especially, with that." He gazed toward my pocket, gesturing to the necklace's hiding spot. "Your mother and I will research the amulet. Until then, I don't recommend it's use, though that is your choice to make. It is said to have been cursed."

"Cursed?" said Kellic, speaking up for the first time since entering.

My father glanced at her, then back to me, hesitating for a moment, as if finally feeling the tension that filled the room. He nodded. "There are legends of such an amulet, though it is hard to identify the real from the fake, and keep track of which ones reference this amulet specifically. But it was said to have been cursed. A gift to the god-queen, Harmonia, intended to dismantle her, and everything she stood for."

"What about Carson?" I asked, sheepishly, fingering the silver chain in my pocket. I wanted to see him so badly, I was nearly ready to throw the thing on and let the chips fall where they may. I needed him, more now than I probably ever had. So much was happening. He would know what to do. He was my confidant and advisor. I wasn't sure what to do without him.

Damien squared his gaze on me, taking a deep breath. "I will send every force I can to locate him. Lucas should be back at the estate soon. He had to make a quick trip back home. I'll have him, Will, and Lucas' people be on the lookout." He took my free hand in his, staring down at me with green eyes that were so near in shade to Carson's. "We will find him," he assured me before stepping away and lifting the phone's receiver to dial a number.