Welcome to Almusilaa

Chapter Eleven

We woke up the next morning to a knock on the outer door. Everyone got up went to see who it was. We were surprised to see Victor at the door when Lauren opened it, still in her pajamas.

"Is this about the council?" Lauren asked. Victor nodded.

"Do you mind if I come inside?" He asked. Lauren stood back to let him in. He got right to the point, as usual.

"The council wishes to see you immediately. They have come to a decision in regards to your case." Victor said. His face was smooth and unreadable. It had me worried.

We hurried to get ready. The tension in the air was palatable. We grabbed breakfast before jumping in the van.

We arrived at the council building in minutes. Tom greeted us as usual. Lauren had come with us this time as well. She gave Tom a smile and chatted for a bit with him, though it was strained. Tom looked worried, which didn't help my fears.

We walked into the council chamber and I immediately felt a wave of dread wash over me. All of the council members had stern faces. Half of them couldn't even look at us. For once Eleanor wasn't sitting in the chair beside us.

The woman who I had unofficially dubbed the leader spoke up once we were all comfortable.

"We have discussed over the past couple of days and we simply cannot hand over the child. We do not negotiate with criminals." She said. Her sharp eyes watched us carefully as we erupted into protest.

"You can't do this, you're sentencing us to a lifetime for a crime we didn't commit!" Nicole yelled out.

Phoenix's words rang in my head. Could this really be happening?

Lauren's face was stormy. She stared at the council members.

"You feel that the well being of a single magical child is above the very lives of several humans and their families." Lauren said. It wasn't a question.

"Don't do this." Charlie whispered.

The half of the council members couldn't hold Lauren's stare, choosing instead to focus on various points in the room with the intensity of someone who can't face their decisions. Others met her stare, sometimes with their own stares, sometimes with smirks of contempt.

"It's true though. Look around you Charlie. Look at Ash and tell her that this boy is more important than her." Lauren said.

Charlie looked down at me. She opened her mouth but couldn't say it. She closed it. In that second I saw her face change. She clenched her jaw and pursed her lips.

"Enough!" The council woman yelled. "That is our decision and it is final, Tom, escort them out." The woman sat back with finality.

I couldn't believe this. It was real. It was happening. I was going to be stuck in this body. I was going to die in this body. And I was never going to see my family again. Anger and desperation swelled in my chest. I had to do something. If I didn't I would regret it for the rest of my life.

"Let me talk to her. One on one." I yelled. I didn't know what to say but I had to try.

The council went silent before turning to each other. They whispered to each other. The room was silent beside's their whispering so we were able to hear everything they said.

"Should we? She's bound to fail." Colin whispered. The council member with antlers shook his head.

"If we can get her to undo the curse without handing over the child it's worth a try."