Claws of Eternity ✔️

Chapter 28: It's falling

JACK

"What exactly are you trying to find?" Liz, the librarian, flipped through the pages of a centuries old book kept in the archives of the Windsor Castle. Jack and Liz sat at the large oak table, dozens of books spread around them. Archives were dark, almost eerie, as nobody seemed to enjoy reading in Bryce's court.

"Anything about Lerra De Noves before she took over Cardona." Jack said to the young woman. Bryce had finally allowed him to roam through the castle freely. Of course, he wasn't allowed to leave, or even step outside.

"Wasn't she human before she took over Cardona? I thought her family died during the plague so she decided it's best if she's made?" Liz was a clever young woman, a vampire. Few people knew she was actually Bryce's daughter whom he kept under his watchful eye. Most certainly, in case someone murdered all of his sons.

"Every source I found said so. But, so many vampire records burnt down during your father's rebellion, it's almost impossible to know who was made when." Jack grabbed the leather book that covered all of 11th century made vampires.

"Don't you think my father would know if there were evidence here that Lerra isn't who she says she is?" Liz wasn't an ugly woman, Jack thought as he stared at her, but she had her father's eyes and that made her revolting.

"Elizabeth, you and I both know your father isn't as smart as he thinks he is. He could've missed something." Jack said and Liz smiled. She wasn't like her father when it comes to attitude, she was impossibly kind and also, a librarian. Those had a tendency towards timidity, in Jack's experience.

"You're underestimating him, O'Neal, that might not be the best idea. You had to be allowed to come here, after all." She emphasized the word 'allowed' and Jack frowned. She was right, he had gotten himself in an impossible situation.

"Just keep looking." Jack said and Liz sighed.

"What about others around her?" She asked.

"There's the wolf, Roua, but I checked everything that I could about him. First time Lerra met him was when I was already in Cardona. There's the witch, though, Luciana Flour." Jack remembered.

"I could try and dig out something about her." Liz nodded.

"Yes, you do that. I know Lerra freed her from slavery and now the witch is indebted to her. While you're at it, check Antonio Faliero. Lerra trades with him all the time. I must leave, Bryce wants to see me for some reason." Jack got up.

"My father has spies on Faliero all the time, I can ask around." Liz waved Jack goodbye without lifting her glance off the book.

Jack had a strange feeling building up in the pits of his stomach for the last couple of days. He told Bryce everything, how Lerra had planned the werewolf rebellion in order to gain the trust of the wolves. How she was trying to manipulate Tamara Egorova to vote against her sister. He thought he would feel better once he betrayed Lerra, but he felt worse than ever. It wasn't just the guilt that worried him, it was the wrongness of the act. Almost like his sixth sense told him he had made a mistake.

He had gotten used to the long, eternally empty halls of Windsor Castle and for a moment, Jack let himself imagine the future of this place. He hoped the time would come when this monstrous, but beautiful castle wouldn't be under the rule of the House Bryce.

Jack approached the meeting chambers as Bryce instructed him earlier. It was the room where all the lords of House Bryce measured their cocks when it came to deciding what's the best thing for the Monarchy. Usually, they concluded the murder of all werewolves should be their aim. Jack agreed.