Finally, free from her agony, Arel remained quiet as she let her words absorb into the spectators standing around. She knew Aeron believed her there was no question of it. Sebastian's arm rested near her, as Arel reached her hand over to hold his. Afraid to look at the suffering she might have caused him, Arel was grateful she could not read him like the others.
"You are mad," screeched Isis, turning to see herself surrounded. Baring her fangs, she prepared for a fight turning away from the other Vampires she fully faced her accuser. Anger resonating from her being, her thin arms ready to snatch Arel. Looking around, Isis saw herself outnumbered; she quickly found composure.
"You will take the word of this Darken, over one of your own," Isis questioned.
"She is a Cadell, my wife, whom I will always believe her words," Sebastian replied.
"Aeron, you know this DEMON, can't be trusted!"
Sebastian grabbed Isis, lifting her off the ground by her throat. Effortlessly, she hung, gasping for air as his grip tightened. Arel stood near him, watching as the helpless Vampire scratched and clawed unsuccessfully trying to free herself from his clutches.
"Her name is Arel, wife of Sebastian, the son of Aeron of the line Cadfael, daughter of Manea of the line of Zorin. You will show her the respect of the blood," demanded Sebastian.
"Sebastian, she will face judgment if the crime is true," said Marcus.
Slowly Sebastian lowered Isis to the place she had stood a few moments ago. The outline of his hand-formed red marks across Isis' pale skin. Her hands wrapped around the bruising flesh of her neck, cuddling it. She remained silent as she continued to rub her throat, watching Aeron who had entered the room with a few of the elders.
Aeron towered behind Arel, staring across from her at Isis. His thick brown curls cut short, the tips frosted and faded to blonde and light brown, hints of gray mixed in. A deep scar above his right eye made him seem all the more intimidating with the short thick beard covering his face. Two inches taller than Sebastian, the eldest Cadell's stature lived up to his reputation.
It was apparent why Sebastian didn't seem concerned when she told him of Dmitri's plans to challenge his father's place as the head of the clans. His custom suit did little to hide the warrior physique under his clothes. Battle earned scars deep ingrained in his aging skin worn as symbols of accomplishment. There had been other challenges to his power, and they had all ended the same way, the way Sebastian believed it would ultimately end for Dmitri.
The younger Vampires of the family silently crowded into the room, unafraid of the scene unfolding. Arel could sense them all, but her strength waning she focused on Isis' thoughts. Quiet thoughts and memories of the older Vampires slipped into her mind. Harder, she fought to push out their fears of the darken stories of terror. She needed her strength to ensure the path she had seen for Isis would stay the same. There was no question Sebastian and his father believed her. Even Marcus knew her words to be correct, but she couldn't chance the betrayer an opportunity to escape.
The crowd shifted, letting Catrin enter the room, stopping in front of Isis. Long slender fingers searching her upper body, deliberately feeling down the left side of her chest working her way over to the right. Suddenly stopping just to the left of her right breast. The small indent unnoticeable to the eye where the ancient small gold locket lay hidden. Opening Isis sea green blouse, she removed the beloved object once belonging to her mother.
"We thought it was lost in the fire," Catrin said. Holding the locket to her heart, she turned, showing it to Sebastian, a slight smile on her face.
"She wore this everywhere; father gave it to her on the day they first met." Catrin's voice broke off. Sebastian watched the delicate object in his sister's hand as she moved it between her fingers.
"I'm sorry," said Arel. "I didn't remember until now." Speaking solely to Sebastian, she studied his face. Unable to read his thoughts, she wished she was able to communicate with him. He remained motionless as his eyes watched his father.
"There is no reason for you to apologize," replied Sebastian.
The vision triggered a memory in Arel long forgotten.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It was her aunt that had brought her the long journey to the strange house. She remembered they had left early in the morning; the sun had not yet broken the horizon of the sky. It was well past the afternoon, the strong rays of the midday sun beating down on the car when they pulled up the old driveway entering through the gates leading up to the house.
Exiting the car, the pair walked up to the massive stone steps, the length of the front of the house. They stood in front of the glass and iron door, beautifully decorated with a family crest surrounded by a wreath of flowers. Arel stood still memorizing the detail of the door while her aunt rang the doorbell. The door opened, and they were led to a glass room where a boy with thick curly brown hair and eyes, too familiar, played. His mother sat next to him on the floor. Her long blond curls tied neatly behind her back.
Without acknowledge them entering the room, the boy stopped playing staring straight into her eyes. He smiled, familiar. Somehow, they connected, and she knew him. Smiling back, she took her seat next to the boy as he took her hand. The two of them sat like that for a few moments before his mother broke the silence.
"I'm not sure you can help him...they say you can fix anything. I just need him to be. . ."
Not allowing the woman to finish her statement, Arel interrupted her train of thought. "There's nothing wrong with Beli. He's perfect."
"How did you know his name," asked the woman.
Questions flooded into her mind, Arel ignored them.
"He told me. He says a lot, you just have to listen," she replied. The words hurt the woman; she felt the hope flutter. Fear, thick and heavy began to rise up from the woman.
"He's never spoken to me," the woman looked on at her son as he stared at Arel. Taking the mother's hand into her own, now holding both she smiled. "Listen, you'll hear him."
The woman gasped and closed her eyes. A smile crept onto her face. Eyes still closed she began humming the same tune Beli sang. A few minutes later smiling, she released both of their hands, standing, her eyes bright as she walked towards the door. It was at that moment that his father came into the room. Beli sat still and quiet. The smile no longer on his face, he waited.
"Who are they," he demanded. His voice powerful bellowed through the room. Turning Arel saw Sebastian standing behind her a few feet off watching. She turned her focus onto the man entering the room.
"No more," he continued.
"He can't be changed. He's perfect," Arel spoke up as she stood a foot away from the towering man. Her fists clenched at her sides; she stood in front of the pair. The woman stood by his side, pleading "she can fix him."
"It's you who has to change. Beli is who he was meant to be. Different but perfect. He just needs his parents to love him. Accept him."
"Please, I know you can. She promised you would, money is no object. Please, we’ll give you anything," the woman now holding her hands stood in front of her. The pain hurt her, and she wanted to give them peace.
"Get out," the father yelled.
Looking into her future, she saw the woman's death. The moment the vision passed, her aunt had dragged Arel from the room, through the house towards the waiting car. Tossing her into the front seat, she climbed in after her.
"It was simple, all you had to do was make him normal," her aunt yelled as they speed off. She remained silent.
"You've done it before, fixing the unfixable. Dam it Arel! This would have been it, the last one. We won't get another chance like this again. You've done this a dozen times."
"Yell at me again, and I'll tell," she responded. The pair sat quietly for the rest of the car ride.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
That had been their last trip together after the fight they had not spoken about it again. The pair had journeyed numerous trips together to one person or an
other that sought help; an answer to an unsolvable problem. Her Aunt had routinely made her promise to keep their trips a secret. Able to whisk her away for days at a time because they believed her sister was the one, they sought, she was an unwelcomed addition.
The trips always ended the same, her aunt would receive a gift after she had fixed whatever problem they faced. Although a child she understood what was going on, it was payment they were making for her services, fixing the broken, the unfixable.
Catrin continued holding the beloved heirloom in her hands. Isis, Arel, and Sebastian stood in the center of the room. Aeron walked in front of Arel, turning to face Isis. Fear filled the room erupting off Isis permeating the air.
"Aeron, she is the enemy! You know this," said Isis. Her voice a high-pitched plea.
"We welcomed you into our home, our family, we treated you like a daughter," he replied.
"I am one of you," yelled Isis.
"You have broken the sacred law. Do you have nothing to say," questioned Marcus from behind.
"I…" Isis' words broke off as Aeron held her high over the ground, his hand overlapping the marks left by Sebastian. Desperately fighting to release herself from his grasp, her nails dug deep into the flesh of his fingers. Tighter and tighter his hands squeezed, cutting off the circulation of blood flowing through her body. Isis instinctively gasped for air.
"Aeron...please...plll..." Isis wheezed.
"There is more," Arel interrupted. Walking next to Aeron, she inhaled deeply.
"What more do you have to say," asked Marcus. No longer standing behind Aeron, he looked over at the dangling Isis, smirking.
"There is something...where is the one called Podi? He must be found; he has something that doesn't belong to him."
Aeron released his grip on Isis' neck, continuing to struggle she gasped for unneeded air.
"There is no Podi," interrupted Marcus.
Turning sharply in frustration towards Marcus, she glared.
"Podi is a lover. After she took him as a lover, she gave him a locket of blood. He thinks it is the blood of Isis, but it is not. It does not belong to him. If you want to see if I am telling the truth, find the one she calls Podi with the bright green eyes and curly silver hair. You can even ask her," Arel replied.
Pointing towards the still silent companion of Isis in the black tapered pants and pale green shirt. She had stood unmoving as Isis struggled for life. Arel had not read her thoughts, but she had seen the vision from Isis, knowing the young woman knew.
"Lili, is what she says true," asked Marcus.
"I swear, I did not know she killed them," replied Lili.
"There you have it," said Marcus as he turned to face the elders.
A few of the elders shook their heads in agreement to Marcus' unmentioned point. Although the evidence presented was here in front of them, the fact that it was Arel that brought it to light made them question its validity.
"Lili, is there a Podi," asked Sebastian.
"Yes," she replied.
"Lili, is Podi the lover of Isis," asked Sebastian.
"Yes."
"Lili, do you know where Podi is," asked Sebastian.
"I swear, I do not know where Podi is! I didn't know Isis had killed them; I swear."
Walking towards the young Vampire, Arel looked her over. With her eyes focused she peered into her mind, her body reacting, her breath heaved in as the bottom of her lip quivered. It was the first time she had a reaction as such, but her body ached, nearing exhaustion.
"You fear her, I could understand that she is ruthless. If she thought you were ever untrustworthy, she would have killed you," said Arel.
Lili shook her head as her heartbeat quickened slightly.
"Fear is an important thing; it helps you protect yourself. Isis has protected you and kept you safe, safe from your beginnings. You have protected Isis' secrets from the others. Who will protect you now that she will die," questioned Arel.
Lili looked over towards Isis, fear in her eyes. Shaking her head, she turned to look at Arel, who stood a few inches from her.
"Tell them the truth, Lili. Remember I know you better than you know yourself," spoke Arel smiling at the quiet Vampire. The rest of the room grew silent, watching as they had never seen this side of Arel. Although she had used her gifts in front of them, she had been able to do so without reacting.
"I believed she had something to do with their deaths. I never asked her, I couldn't know. But what she said is true, Podi is her lover. Isis has also broken the law, making six others. We were a family," said Lili.
"Traitor, I will see you die for your crimes," cried Isis.
"Who are the six," questioned Marcus.
"Hannah, Terri, Vicki, Sara, Dominique, and Lili," replied Arel.
Lili shook her head. "I do not know who made Podi, but I know it wasn't Isis, she only gives the gift to women. We are a family of women only."
"You are an abomination, your punishment is death," replied Marcus.
Lili's lifeless body fell to the floor under Isis' dangling feet. The floorboards splintered and broke as Isis landed hard on the wood ground from Aeron's throw. She grabbed her arm, looking around, a pained groin escaping. Slowly she lifted herself from the spot she had landed against the wall, pain in each movement. A few young men standing in the hall, outside of the room walked over to Isis, lifting her up off the ground. She resisted little as they carried her back into the room. Again in front of Aeron, she braced herself for a blow, her fangs exposing themselves as she anticipated his next move.
Outside the room, noises rose from the crowd as the anticipation grew. A low rumble gradually increased from the younger Vampires. Elders of the families watching on quietly. The strong stench of fear poured off of the bruised Isis. The crowd parted, allowing the young Vampire with the brown hair from the tribunal to enter the room. The tunic removed he wore simple black slacks and a silver button down long sleeve shirt.
Viktor and another young man grabbed Isis as she struggled, pushing her down to kneel onto the ground before Aeron. Marcus looked towards the young Vampire, nodding, he knelt before Aeron behind Isis, his eyes focused on Arel. His mouth parted; his long canines exposed as the gape opened wide. The light flickered off his fangs as his hand came up from behind Isis, stretching her neck to the side. Smiling, he bit down hard, the sound of her flesh tearing and the blood pouring to the surface hit Arel's ears.
Unfaltering she continued to watch, their eyes locked together, neither breaking the stalemate. Isis released a painful moan. The young curly brown hair Vampire's eyes flickered, he gripped her tighter, wrapping his other arm around her chest, drawing her in closer to him. His embrace stiffened as he continued to drink.
"Enough, William," cried Marcus.
Immediately the young man released her, swiftly rising to his feet. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth; his fangs tinged red from Isis’s blood. His tongue caressed his lips as the last drops of blood disappeared. Bow his head towards Aeron, he glanced at Marcus before his eyes fixed back on Arel.
"Arel speaks the truth, Isis has broken our law. Isis killed Beli Cadell. She drained Amata Cadell, consuming her strength and knowledge. Isis gave Podi a locket filled with the blood of Amata Cadell. Isis has made six female Vampires. She has shown them how to make other Vampires and instructed them to create an army," said William.
Viktor and the young man continued to hold her down in front of Aeron. She remained silent, her head looking down as one young man pushed down on her neck. Sebastian flicked his hand, and the men pulled her to her feet.
A few feet from the wall where the elders stood, Isis landed with a loud thump. The younger Vampires swarmed in, snarling and yelling. Animalistic noises filled the space; grunts, and moans and yelling built up to a frenzied roar.
Frantically she struggled to free herself from the grasp of the crowd. Her red hair flung about as she wiggled and tossed violently. Kicking her legs wildly about she hoped to knock herself
free from their hold. Weakened from the blood loss, she struggled in vain.
Unable to land a kick or aid in her release, she sunk her heels into the wood floor. Biting and clawing, she vainly tried to loosen their hands from around her arms and wrists. Another young man grabbed one leg and then the other helping to carry her towards her fate. Arel knew what was coming, it would be her death without question, and it would be painful.
The house filled with anticipation as the growls and snarls increased. Whoops, and hollers randomly broke the night air as the young ones followed the doomed Isis outside. The air thick with the scent of her fear and blood continued to arouse them. Dragging her from the house, they passed the orchard into a clearing about fifty feet. Her please drowned out, her protests of innocence lost in the uproar of the crowd.
Out of the house towards the orchard, they carried her. Heavily laden branches hung low full of ripened fruit. The sweet smell of nectar in the cold night air danced along with the hot smell of blood. A warm aroma of burning wood rose up from the clearing to where they marched.
Sebastian stood with her in the parlor now emptied of the group. Holding his hand, she allowed him to lead her out of the house, through the blooming orchard trees and into the clearing. There the massive fire roared in its center surrounded by the vast members of the family. The elders stood behind Aeron and Catrin, a few feet away from the secured Isis. Parting, the crowd allowed Sebastian and Arel to enter the circle, taking their place between Aeron and Catrin. William stood near the elders, the one who had witnessed her crimes.
Marcus, the head of the Marc family, second in the line of succession, stepped apart from the rest of the nine family heads. A full head of hair topped his aging head, his face was almost cherub-like. His hefty belly too big to be hidden in the long cloak he wore that matched the others. He turned to address the younger members of the family.
"We have laws and rules that govern our lives. They have been passed down from the beginning, from the time of Emi and Iona. These laws have governed us, and we have lived in peace amongst ourselves with their guidance. Amata last of the line of Essylit beloved of Aeron of the line of Cadfael and their son Beli were taken in their own home, murdered, bled."
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