Page 33 of Resurrection
Tall candelabras line the walls, black candles dripping on the marble. The light from their flames casts a soft orangey glow over everything. It makes me feel like I’m walking in a dream, maybe a fairy tale, only the prince charming in this one is a monster, and the princess is a woman scared out of her mind with a crazy mutt next to her. Sentinels are positioned on both sides, one to each candelabra. I wonder idly if they stand there in case a candle goes off or burns down so they can replace it. Why else will there be so many of them here? The Council has proven that they are untouchable many times. We are here to witness the celebration of their sacrosanct position at the moment.
Marcus takes my elbow, leading me towards another arched entrance inside the Towers. Whispers drift from there, all the voices creating a constant hum in the air. Mutt occasionally bumps into my leg, telling me that he is still at my side. No one bats an eye at the dog, and I refuse to look a gift horse in the mouth. Steeling my spine, pushing down the panic that is doing its best to overwhelm me, I let the two vampires lead me to the throne room.
I have no idea what I was expecting. Crowns and the Council holding court, maybe? Whatever it was, it goes down the drain as soon as one foot of mine steps inside the room. Eight thrones made out of crystal are here. At least that is not a make-believe story. On each of them sits a member of the Council. I recognize Khan straight away. His Asian features are hard to miss when he has his chest puffed up, the sword at his side looking down his nose at everyone. The other seven look like they’ve been picked, one from each continent, and brought here. The United Nations of monsters at your service. A snort is ready to pass my lips, but it gets stuck in my throat when I sweep my gaze around. All the vampires—and there are a lot of them in this place—are standing around the middle of the room. On the outskirts, humans are displayed like modern art, varying degrees of life left in their bodies.
Marcus grips my elbow tighter, his fingers digging into my skin. It snaps me out of the rage, and I swallow the rising bile down. In my anger, I must’ve moved towards the humans, making him apply pressure on my arm to stop me. Good thing, too, because my heart skips a beat when I see one of the Council members squinting our way. Her platinum blonde hair is tied in a high ponytail; a thick braid also looped around her head like a crown. Focused intently on the blonde, I jump back a step when another woman steps in front of me.
“Eshe.” Andrei and Marcus both bend at the waist. I only stare at her like an idiot.
Thousands of thin braids fall around her face, the jewels at their ends blinking in the candlelight. Her skin is as dark as ebony, and she is not wearing a shirt. Her breasts displayed proudly, only a skirt covers her midsection to the tops of her muscular thighs. This woman looks like a warrior, and the only thing missing is a long spear in her hand to complete the look. Judging by the look in her black eyes, she would use it to skewer all of us.
“Get her out of here.” She hisses at the two vampires with me. “You have all lost your minds.”
Taken aback, all three of us slink away from her. Andrei and Marcus look stunned, and their mouths open and close but no words come out. The woman, Eshe, takes a breath to say something, but a voice stops anything that she is about to say.
“Eshe, I see you found our naughty little Italians.” It’s the blonde that was watching us from her throne.
“Yes, they obviously don’t understand English very well since they were told to stay away.” A muscle jumps on Eshe’s face. “Or they are stupid.”
“Oh, don’t be such a spoilsport.” Her thick accent makes her playful words sound harsh to my ears. “Maybe they want to play. Where else would they be able to find as good of a time as they could here with us?”
“Irina.” Marcus is the only one acknowledging the blonde.
Neither one of them bends at the waist. Interesting. This whole thing is like watching a catastrophe happen but I’m unable to do anything about it. Her eyes turn to slits, but whatever was going to come out of her is cut off when the ground under my feet starts vibrating. A cruel smile twists her red, painted lips, while Eshe presses hers in a thin line with displeasure. I don’t have long to wonder what is going on. Irinamoves away from me, and my hand goes up automatically, covering my mouth. The two women glide back to their seats.
Sentinels roll in a crystal casket to the center of the room, stopping it in front of the thrones. My arms are gripped tightly on both sides by Andrei and Marcus. I’m not sure they are trying to hold me back, but I have no intention of moving. It’s more like by touching me they are holding themselves back. Sebastian is inside the casket. They’ve dressed him in a white suit that matches the pale color of his skin. The color has been drained out of him, making him appear like a corpse. That’s if his eyes were closed. But they are open and very much aware. Silver chains as thick as my thighs are wrapped around him from shoulder to ankles. He glares at the Council members, promising murder.
“We have gathered tonight so we can send a message loud and clear to everyone. The Council is not weak and will not tolerate rebellion.” Khan is the one that speaks. I can’t look away from Sebastian. “You have all heard by now that Sebastian thought he was above our laws. Just because we humored him, letting his younger nature run its course, he thought it was wise to work behind our back. Hiding runners.” Gasps echo around the room, making my blood boil. “Attacking Council members.” Louder gasps follow those words. “And when he realized his shortcomings, he struck a deal.” Khan grins at Sebastian like a hyena. “Sometimes striking a deal comes a bit too late.”
Marcus and Andrei stiffen next to me. The warmth and the pull I felt from Sebastian as soon as we entered the Towers turns into a glacier inside my chest. Something is horribly wrong here; I just have no idea what yet. Andrei pulls out his phone, talking fast to someone on the other side in Italian. People I saw in the apartment last night start slowly inching around us, forming a protective circle. My heart is trying to beat its way out of my ribcage.
“There is no mercy for those standing against the Council, be it human or one of our own.” Khan’s words cut like a blade. “I guess your Sire’s blood was too thick in your veins. I had such high hopes for you, Sebastian.”
With a shake of his head, Khan looks from one Council member to the next. Each of them nods. Eshe is the only one who hesitates long enough to make him narrow his eyes at her. With pressed lips, she nods, finally making him smile.
“By the vote of the Council, Sebastian is sentenced to death.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Voices raise; words are spoken in so many different languages that my head starts hurting. Everyone moves, the sentinels around Sebastian already fighting off those that reach them first. The Guardians that are assembled in the lobby of the hotel pour inside the throne room like ants after someone stepped on the anthill. Heads and limbs start rolling, the blood coating the marble tiles like paint. Now I think I understand Andrei’s comment about the carpet being removed. Does this mean the Council knew about our plans? And if so, who told them?
Grabbing my hand, Marcus starts pulling me behind him towards Sebastian. Andrei is guarding my back, leaving the crunching of bones and the shrill screams in his wake. Through the throng of fighting people, their bodies twisting and turning, making them resemble acrobats, I spot Irina. She is fighting her way towards us, nails slashing throats and fangs ripping limbs. Blood covers her lower face and chest, blending in with her dress.
“Marcus!” Yanking on his hand that has a death grip on my fingers, I point at her. Stopping for a second, I pull the heelsoff my feet. Grabbing one in my free hand, I continue following Marcus. He redoubles his efforts to reach the crystal casket.
“Keep moving, April.” Andrei pants behind me.
“I’m trying.” Growling through clenched teeth, I jump and kick at the bodies at my feet.
“Almost there,” Marcus calls over his shoulder. How he manages to fight while never letting go of my hand, I will never know. His body moves like water, twisting and turning, evading kicks and punches but delivering his own with accuracy.
When a body barrels through from the side, I plant both feet firmly on the ground. Pulling my hand back, as soon as the snarling face is within reach, I plant the thin heel of my sandal in his forehead. “I don’t think so, asshole.” Jerking it back out, I watch him drop on the floor.
“Remind me not to piss you off.” Andrei chuckles, Marcus joining him right after.
They push me further inside the fray. So much for the plans we made for hours. Pulling on my hand, I try to free Marcus so he can fight better, but he refuses to release me.
“I’ll follow at your back; you’ll fight easier if you’re not holding my hand.” Obviously, I have to tell him since he ignores my efforts.
