Of Dragons & Vampires

Chapter Fifteen

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Evander couldn't believe how many had come, the townhall had been transformed into something that Evander could only describe as something resembling the Arthurian round table. Each head of each supernatural and mortal party had gathered around the table, their faces sombre and ready. Colette sat at the head, Abel and Amber beside her. Abel had refused to let go of Evander's wrist, even when the other supernaturals had whispered in shock as he walked through the door so close to a vampire. Even now, some glared at him.

The leader of the Mers, Brooke, sat next to Amber, with Delta and another mer, Kai, flanking her. Next to them came the hunters, Reagan and her father, Reed, and the other leaders Tatiana Myer and Peter Cooke beside them. The Thunderbirds came next, all magnificent and regal: Castel grinned at him from his place amongst them, Alo Tuckwa representing the Canadian flock sat beside him, then Kaniya Nelowie from the Mexican Flock, and beside her Machk Wolf and Nina Yellowbird from North America.

The Faes came third and from the other end of the table: Phoenix and Elysande's mother representing the water Faes, Ailsa. Cyrena represented the earthly Faes, Giselle the fire Faes and then finally, Arion represented the Air Faes. On the other side, Jamie sat with his parents, the Alpha and Luna of the Sutcliffe back, Brendan and Genevieve. Next to them sat Heather Chester of the southern pack, Sage Wills of the Northern pack, and Heath Alder of the Eastern pack.

Finally, and much to Evander's shock, five dragons had come, and each glared at him as though they wanted to incinerate him on the spot. Kenzou of Japan hadn't stopped glowering, joined by the dragon Wilder from the Americas, Ebbe Viklund from Sweden, and two sister's Camille and Darcey Desmarais. Darcey had been the only dragon to look at Abel's protective grip on Evander's wrist, and smile.

"Friends, I'm glad you came." Colette began, her voice unusually soft. "The reason for your summoning here is clear: the time for Atlas Heridicles to die for his crimes against the supernatural world is nigh, and we need to join together to do this. We will take down any who oppose, vampire or not. Many will die, on both sides. However, we...have a little help to stifle that." She turned her gaze to Evander, who gulped as dozens of eyes turned on him.

"A vampire?" hissed Tatiana, the huntress. "An Aetos no less, I heard your brother, Pericles, slaughtered four humans just last week. He's a monster, the whole lot of you are. Filthy, blood sucking leeches. Why should we trust you?"

"Because he's the kindest boy you could meet," Amber snapped, glaring at the huntress. "We won't delve deeper into this but my brother," she looked to Abel, "was sent prophetic dreams of this boy. We don't know why or by whom, but we know that Evander is ready to help. He has as much of a reason to end the Vampire rule as any of us, and as leaders of the most powerful supernatural creatures on the globe, you should know not to question fate and the gifts they send us."

The table scoffed, making Evander's blood boil. They didn't know him, they didn't know anything! How could they sit there and judge him? He ground his teeth so hard his jaw ached, barely containing his anger.

"He's an Aetos, his father helped that bastard Lord kill Ejder, your own grandfather, how can we trust him?" Camille, the dragoness roared, pointing an accusing finger at the vampire as smoke curled from her nostrils.

"The last I heard you were engaged to Mordecai Heridicles," the Werewolf, Sage, leaned closer, his lips curled into a smirk as he glared at Evander with as much venom as he could muster. "For all we know your spying for him."