Scion

by Kelly Oram

  “Well.” Councilor Mason sat back in his chair, sufficiently abashed. “Then on behalf of the entire supernatural community, let me thank you for your silence, despite the strain it has caused in your life. We owe much to you.”

  “Then will you let my friends come home?”

  “Yes, of course, Miss St. Claire. Though I still feel the need to ask them why they never came to the council for help. We might have been able to avert this tragedy in the first place.”

  I laughed a hard, bitter laugh that caught everyone’s attention. “Right. Like I was going to ask the consulate for help so that you could find Grace just to keep her yourself and torture her the way you did Dani?”

  “I beg your pardon?” Councilor Mason asked, stunned.

  “Oh, come on, old man. Don’t pretend you haven’t noticed the resemblance. Can you really blame me for being paranoid? Can any of you blame me for not trusting the council after what you did to Dani?” I swept the room, accusing every last one of them with my eyes. No one said a thing. “I didn’t think so.”

  “It is remarkable,” Councilor Mason said at last. “But the girl is merely human, Russ. She is of no consequence to us as long as she does not expose us, and I believe she’s already proven she’s willing to keep our secret. I understand how you feel, but this council does not just take people at will.”

  “Forgive my skepticism,” I said flatly.

  Councilor Mason surprised me then by apologizing. “Russell, we are truly sorry for the way things were handled with Danielle, and even with you. We’re aware of the hardships you have endured because of our actions, and we would like the chance to set things right with you. It is true that you are not your father, and we would like to help you. We can offer you a home here at the consulate and train you properly. I would be honored to mentor you in the ways of magic, and we would also like to do whatever we can to help you with your unique condition.”

  “Condition?” Dani asked. “I knew something was wrong with you. Tell me what’s going on.”

  I’m not surprised they didn’t tell her. Well, there was no need to explain it now. I was mad at her, but I didn’t really hate her. I didn’t want to make her worry for the rest of her life.

  “Forget it,” I said before Councilor Mason could answer Dani. “You know darn well you can’t help me, and I don’t want anything to do with you. I have a home already, and a family. I’ve moved on and built a new life for myself. You people need to do me a favor and stay out of it. You owe me that much since you destroyed my last one.”

  I had to look away from Dani. The pain in her expression was almost enough to make me stay. Councilor Mason looked disappointed, but not surprised. “Fair enough, Russ. Please accept our apologies and well wishes for your future.”

  “Whatever. Someone get those cuffs off Ethan so we can go home.”

  Duncan started toward Ethan with a pair of keys, but stopped when Gabe stood and held up a hand. “Just a moment, please. There is still one thing I need to ask before you go.”

  Rage boiled inside me. “You, of all people, don’t get to ask me questions.”

  The jerk smiled sympathetically. “My question is not for you, Russ. I am only curious as to the parentage of your friend.” His eyes slid to Ethan.

  Crap! “Q and A is over, dude.”

  “Forgive me, Russ,” Gabe said, “but I am afraid it would be irresponsible of me not to ask when I know that all of you are keeping something so important secret.”

  I spat the word fudge and was stupidly jealous when Ethan got to drop the f-bomb, but the look on Grace’s face told me that a lecture would be coming his way, too. Soon enough he’d sound as stupid as I did.

  “You do not have anything to fear from us, Ethan,” Gabe said. “I am only asking if you know who your parents are.”

  Ethan clenched his hands into fists and carefully said, “My mother was raised a member of the nephilim clan Virtus in Washington, D.C., but she was shunned when she got pregnant. She raised me herself, and I’ve never been inducted into any clan.”

  Councilor Torres gasped, as if this were the most horrible news he’d ever heard. “You have no clan? No family?”

  “I have my mother!” Ethan snapped. He glanced my way and added, “And now I have my brother.”

  We often joked about being brothers, but Ethan wasn’t playing now, and I hadn’t been earlier. He was my brother, and I was his. I’d give my life for his, and I trusted him with mine.

  “And what of your father?” Gabe asked. Which Ethan and I both knew was all he really cared about.

  “I never knew my father,” Ethan said slowly. “He left my mother before I was born.”

  Technically, it wasn’t a lie, but Gabe could tell it wasn’t exactly the truth, either. He knew we were hiding something. “As a Seer, I can read auras, Ethan,” he said gently. “I know you are not nephilim.”

  Questions immediately rose from the other council members.

  “Way to seal his doom, Gabe,” I muttered. “Thanks a lot, jerk.”

  Gabe pretended not to hear me. “The difference is subtle, but I can see your angelic side.”

  This caused an even bigger ruckus among the council members, but Gabe’s attention stayed glued to Ethan. “I have only ever heard stories of your kind. I would love to talk to you about it, if you feel comfortable.”

  “I don’t,” Ethan hissed.

  Gabe sighed, disappointed. “I can respect that. But I am afraid I cannot let you leave without answering one last question. Have you been bonded to Miss St. Claire? I only ask because it would be very helpful for the council to know if she is so important to the Creator that she should be blessed with a warrior.”

  Understanding finally reached the council, and they started flipping out. Everyone except Dani. Dani knows next to diddly about the supernatural world, and I guess she hadn’t heard those stories yet. It took forever for the council to settle down, and when they did, they all waited for Ethan or Grace to say something. Neither of them spoke, but the truth was written on their faces.

  Gabe smiled. “It is an honor to meet you both. Please be assured you will always be friends of this council. We will assist you in any way we can with whatever you need.”

  “A warrior!” the councilors all continued to cry. “Bonded to a human! And the resemblance to the Chosen One! What could it mean?”

  Among all the shouts, there was one very startled gasp. “Michael!”

  Councilor Mason looked down at the medallion he still held in his hand and then back at Ethan with impossibly wide eyes. “This is the crest of Michael. Your family crest. You’re the son of Michael.”

  “Yes,” Ethan said through gritted teeth. He forced his hand to unclench. “I am. May I have my crest back now, please?”

  Mason looked as if he was about to faint. “Of course.” He walked slowly around the table and placed the medallion in Ethan’s open palm. I wanted to punch him for the way he was staring at Ethan. His eyes flicked to Grace and then back to Ethan. “Do either of you know anything about why you have been sent to protect her?”

  Grace and Ethan exchanged long looks. My guess was another internal argument. They continued to fight inside each other’s heads until Councilor Mason said, “Miss St. Claire, you said you would be honest with us.”

  Apparently Duncan knows me better than I realized, because he grabbed me before I took a single step. Good thing, I suppose, because I was planning to knock Councilor Mason’s lights out.

  “I was honest with you.” Grace couldn’t hide the anger in her voice. Though, whether she was mad at Councilor Mason or Ethan, I couldn’t tell. “I came here to discuss what happened with the De La Cote coven, and I told you everything there was to tell.”

  “Yet you failed to mention some of the most important details.”

  I smirked at the look on Grace’s face. Now she was definitely mad at Councilor Mason. “The details I failed to mention weren’t relevant to the situation. Who I am is my business, a
nd as for Ethan’s parentage, that was not my secret to tell. I promised him I would never reveal his identity to anyone, and I mean to keep that promise. This bond is very personal. You won’t get any details of our connection from me. Ever. So please don’t ask.”

  “But if you know who you are… If you know your purpose…”

  “Then that, also, is my business. I would happily tell you if I felt sharing it were safe for me to do so, but I’m sorry to say that I don’t. Knowing the details of Dani’s—I mean, the Chosen One’s—experience doesn’t exactly inspire a lot of confidence in your organization. Nor does the fact that supernaturals generally hate humans.”

  I laughed out loud then. I couldn’t help myself. I’d never been prouder of Grace. I don’t know that I’d ever been prouder of anyone. “Attagirl, Gracie,” I teased. “See, Ethan? She’s getting there.”

  Grace glared at me before turning back to Councilor Mason. “I’m sorry if that’s not good enough, but it’s the best I can give you. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to go home, and I’d like to take Ethan and Russ with me.”

  Everyone was quiet for a moment, and then Dani spoke up. “I’d like the chance to speak with you,” she said to Grace. “If you guys would like to relax and have some dinner before you go home, you are more than welcome to come upstairs to my apartment. Gabriel and I would be happy to order in and get to know you under less formal circumstances. Perhaps without the entire council present, you and I could answer each other’s questions. I’m sure you have as many for me as I do for you.”

  “Perhaps?” I snorted. “Geez, Dani, you’re even starting to sound like him now.”

  “It’s called growing up, Russ. You should try it some time.”

  “Sounds boring.” With a pointed glance at Gabe, I smirked. “But I guess you’re sort of into boring, aren’t you?”

  Dani was totally annoyed with me, but her lips still quirked into a grudging smile, and darn it all if I didn’t grin back.

  “Thank you for the invitation, but I really need to get home,” Grace interrupted, frowning at our banter in a way that made Dani’s eyes narrow with suspicion.

  “Are you sure you can’t stay?” Dani asked, her voice just a hint less friendly. The change was so subtle that I was probably the only one to notice it, and it had me beyond curious. Why the sudden change? What was her problem with Grace?

  “I’m sure,” Grace said. “I’d love to stay, but it’s a school night. And not only that, I didn’t exactly get permission to come to New York. Clara’s spell on my bodyguard is only good for today. If my dad realizes I ditched my secret service detail, it’ll be World War Three in the St. Claire house. Another time, though. I’d like to talk to you, too.”

  Dani smiled again, and this time it was sincere. “Just let me know when, and I’ll clear my schedule. I could even make the trip to Washington, if it’s easier for you. I’ve never been there, and I could use the vacation.”

  Grace grinned. “That would be very helpful, thank you.”

  “Okay,” I grumbled. “Cuffs now, please? Some of us didn’t sleep last night, and I’d like to go home this century.”

  “All right, Russ, geez. You big baby.” Dani rolled her eyes and gestured for Duncan to uncuff Ethan.

  Duncan reached for his keys again, and again he was stopped. “Well, now hold on just a minute,” Councilor Mason said.

  “Crap!” I could tell from the tone in his voice that we were screwed. “I knew it! I so knew it! ”

  “Shut up, Russ!” Dani barked. “Councilor? What’s wrong now?”

  “Well, I’m not sure we can let them go just yet.”

  “I so called it!” I yelled. “Did I not call it? How many times did I tell you this would happen, Grace?”

  “Shut up, Russ!”

  Clara snorted, and I shot her a dirty look before frowning at Grace and Dani. “What are you, the Doublemint Twins? Now I have to deal with both of you ordering me around?”

  “Russ!” they both squawked. Grace gulped and looked at Councilor Mason. “What’s the problem, sir?”

  “I understand you want to get home to your father, but the fact is, human or not, you are a part of this world now, which requires you to abide by council law.”

  Oh. I was so going to kill the jerk.

  “Okay,” Grace said slowly. “What law would going home break?”

  “None,” I said. “But the council likes to make them up on the spot when it’s convenient.”

  “We have no choice,” Councilor Mason argued.

  “Bologna!”

  “We can’t just let someone as important as Miss St. Claire walk away until we have more information.”

  “But I don’t know a whole lot more than you do,” Grace said.

  “Be that as it may, we need answers. You are important. There must be a connection between you and the Chosen One.”

  “And if I told you everything I know?” Grace asked. “Would you let me go then?”

  Mason hesitated long enough that Grace had her answer—a big, fat no.

  “Why?” Grace sounded scared for the first time since she got here.

  “We mean you no harm,” Mason promised.

  A harsh laugh burst out of me. “HA! I’ve heard that one before, you jerkwad! Right before you tortured Dani.”

  Grace gave me a worried glance before meeting Councilor Mason’s gaze again. “Then why?”

  “We need to keep you safe,” Mason said.

  Grace’s eyes darted to her warrior, and she frowned. “But I have Ethan.”

  Mason nodded. “That’s another problem. You can’t expect us to just say good-bye to the first warrior this world has seen in hundreds of years. He is every bit as important as you are. We have so many questions. There is so much we can learn from the two of you. Do you know your purpose, young lady?” His eyes turned to Ethan. “Do you know why you were sent to protect her?”

  Grace went to stand close to Ethan. When she slipped her arm around his waist and held on tight, I realized she was a lot more scared than she let on. Ethan tried to wrap his arm around her, then realized he was cuffed. Pissed off, he dropped another f-bomb and said, “My father and Grace are my business.”

  “And you are council business, son,” Mason countered. “You must tell us what you know.”

  Ethan’s eyes narrowed, and his voice turned to steel. “I’d like to see you try and pry it out of me.”

  When he gets all defensive like that, his glory starts to shine through and he gets this scary glow. It’s something he gets from his father. Regular nephilim can’t do it. It’s so hard core. I totally wish I could do it.

  Councilor Mason rubbed his head as if it were pounding. “All right. We’ll figure this out in private council. Take them to the white room for now. Russ, too, since we can’t trust him not to try something stupid. The others are free to go.”

  Caleb and Clara glanced at one another uncertainly, but Cynthia planted her feet and crossed her arms, glaring at anyone who looked her way. When a couple of the guardians moved to escort her out, I stepped in front of her and raised my hands, ready to fight anyone who touched her. Ethan moved Grace closer to us so that the six of us were huddled together with Grace tucked safely in the middle. I glared at Mason for all I was worth. “You don’t just take people, huh? Yeah, I was way off base not coming to you guys sooner.”

  Everyone on the council glared at me, except Dani. At least she looked mildly concerned as she rose to her feet. “Russ, wait; relax. No one is going to keep your friends here.” She frowned at Councilor Mason. “Councilor, that’s too rash. Grace has already agreed to speak with me. She’s not going to ignore the council or leave us in the dark. I know she won’t. I’ve seen it.”

  All heads in the room whipped to Dani. Gabe’s eyes were the widest. She smiled at him. “I saw her in a glimpse of your future once. She was working with us, as our friend. We called her the Ungifted One.”

  I snickered when the majority of the council re
peated the ridiculous name, and Grace sighed.

  “She was on the council with us,” Dani told Councilor Mason. “She will not desert us. There is no need to disrupt her life.”

  When Councilor Mason frowned at Ethan and opened his mouth to argue, Dani beat him to the punch. “Her warrior must be a wonderful person if Russ thinks so highly of him. I’m sure he’d be willing to answer our questions if we show him our respect…right?”

  She looked to Ethan for confirmation of this, but he stayed tight-lipped and tense. He didn’t trust the council. Because he’s not an idiot. Good man.

  Councilor Mason rubbed his head and sighed, as if Dani gave him headaches often. That’s my girl. I hoped she gave them all migraines on a regular basis. “Danielle,” he said tiredly, “you don’t understand the significance of these two. The last person to be blessed with a warrior was the Oracle, back in the time of the Great War. It takes an enormous sacrifice to create one. They are the closest things to angels on this Earth, and they protect the divinely appointed. There have only been a handful of them in the history of our people since the fall of Beelzebub. Not even Gabriel has a warrior. Not even you.”

  Dani and I both rolled our eyes and she said, “Because I don’t need one” at the exact same time I said, “Because she doesn’t need one.”

  Dani met my eyes, and there was an awkward pause before she shot me a shy smile. I didn’t want to smile back. I didn’t want to soften toward her. I wanted to stay mad at her. But after a lifetime of loving her, I couldn’t do it. “Jinx,” I muttered. “You owe me a Coke.”

  Dani’s eyes brightened, and her smile grew. “We’ll subtract it from the five hundred and seventy-two you owe me.”

  Suddenly, I couldn’t speak. The old inside joke was the smallest reminder of home—of the life I used to have—and it made me long to have Dani back in my life. It made me remember all the reasons I loved her. It reminded me of everything I’d lost. I missed her so much. I jumped when a hand delicately gripped my elbow. “Russ,” Grace whispered softly, unable to pull her gaze from Dani. “We should go.”