Marked: Black Water Academy: Book One
Page 15
“And this is your birth name?” he questions further.
“Yes.”
“You were born to Dannika DeMontford, father unknown, on September Eighteenth. You are an only child.” The short, bald man next to him asks as he peers over his glasses at me.
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Your mother died of a poisoning, nearly three years ago, when you were moved into a group home?”
“Yes,” I choke.
“And why did she not seek a healer?” he probes.
“She did. She was told that the problem was too far along to do anything about it.” I tell him and he grunts.
“I find it highly unlikely that that is the truth of it. There is very little our healers cannot fix other than death.”
“I can only tell you what I know. She was in a supe hospital, that is where she passed, and that is where one of your representatives found me and took me to the group home.” I tell them. I hate that they’re trying to make Dannika out to be a liar. She couldn’t help what happened to her. “She was bitten by a turned Shifter. She wasn’t aware of the changes until close to the next lunar cycle, and by that time the pathogens had taken hold. As we had no original family blood to heal her, there was nothing more we could do.”
“Hmmm.” He says but sits backwards.
“Tell us about the events surrounding the death of Peter Schmitt, and the injury to Aurora Creed-Lang.” The man with long white hair on the far right asks.
“I’m not sure where to start. I was working on controlling my newly found powers and instincts, when I discovered Aurora’s distress. I asked Kane to raise the alarm, while I went to Aurora. Upon entering the room, I found her cut, bruised, broken, and bleeding on the floor with two boys stood over her. One of them rushed me, and my instincts took over and extinguished the immediate threat to me. I then managed to disarm the second boy as Ms. Cross, Kane, and Augustine arrived.” The worlds feel like tar on my tongue. Just wrong, but the truth of them is real.
“And that is all there is to it?” he asks, and I can hear how much he doesn’t believe my words.
“That is the start, middle, and end; yes, sir.”
“And how is it that you managed to not only disarm one third year but kill a second?”
“I can only assume it is because of my birthday being early in the year and the extensive extra training I’ve had from two top third years, sir.” I try to keep my sarcasm in check, but this is ridiculous.
“You have heard the rumors regarding original families infiltrating the school?” The red-haired woman to his left asks.
“I have.”
“And what are your thoughts?”
“My thoughts are that if they survived, that they’re only children trying to get by in a world that wants them dead. I think they’re children who have done nothing to deserve extermination.” I bite back.
“Miss DeMontford, I think you should watch your words and remember who you are speaking to,” Mr. Creed says, staring at me over his steepled hands.
“I think, that The Council should remember that I saved a girl’s life from two people who were likely going to kill her. I acted in her defense, and yet I’m being put on trial as if I initiated all of this. I have been locked in a dungeon, missed class, missed my training, all because The Council wanted to persecute yet another Vampire.” The words tumble from my mouth and there’s nothing I can do to stop them. “My kind have been persecuted more than I care to think about since the start of the Uprising. Hundreds murdered, and for what? So that you could have a slice of the power? How is it that I am enough of a threat to that, that the entire council needs to convene for what would typically be a defense case?”
The Minister purses his lips while the dark-haired woman to his left snarls at me.
“I think you need to mind your language, girl.” She hisses.
“And I think you need to think about the image you’re projecting to the rest of our world. All of this for one girl. What on earth could be so important that such a fuss is made?” I snap, shaking.
The door behind me crashes open, and in walks Creed, Kane, and another man who looks like he could be Kane’s father.
“What is the meaning of this, Lucius?!” The Minister shouts, slamming his hand down on the table in front of him.
“I am here on behalf of the girl, and to remind you that it was your daughter whose life she saved, Drake. My son thought it would be best to inform me of the witch hunt that has been happening in my district without my knowledge.”
“This is above your paygrade, Lucius.” The dark-haired woman objects.
“Quite the contrary. Typically, this would be exactly my pay grade, so I question why something of such little consequence would capture the interest of The Council?”
“You should remember your place.” The Minister warns him.
“No, Father, you should remember yours.” Creed steps forward. “I’ve had enough of all of this. Aurora is awake. She told you what happened, and yet, we’re still here.”
“Augustine, this is not something you want to interfere in.”
“Actually, Father, yes it is.” He steps forward and places a hand on my shoulder.
“This is ridiculous, Drake. Discipline your son.” The white-haired man shouts.
“This hearing is over. Miss DeMontford, thank you for saving my daughter,” he sighs, resigned. “You may leave now.”
I look around in disbelief. What on earth is going on? Why is it over, just like that? Who is Lucius? Creed takes my hand and pulls me to my feet and pulls me close.
“Go with Kane, please. He’ll keep you safe.” He kisses my forehead and hands me over to Kane and Lucius who usher me out of the room, leaving Creed with his father and the rest of The Council.
Creed
“You had no business barging in here like this, Augustine.” My father chides. “What is the meaning of all of this?”
“Father, can we speak about this alone?” I ask, while The Council might know all of our dirty little secrets, they don’t need to know hers.
“No, I’m afraid not. Speak up now.”
“You don’t want me to do that, Father. Believe me.” I tell him and turn as Lucius reappears behind me.
“Maybe you should listen to your son, Drake.” Lucius confirms and the frustration of The Council is real.
“Lucius, I thought we had an agreement? I am the face of this council. You and your Fae brothers are the silent power, but you are not to undermine us in public.”
“Yes, well, if you had come to me before this whole charade, Drake, our sons would not have had to intervene, and I wouldn’t be here now, would I?” The power in his voice almost stings. “Now, the rest of you, you’re dismissed. I want no further interference at my son’s Academy. Are we clear? I will handle anything that arises here.”
The disgruntled murmurs of the council members ring out across the hall as they take their leave. Once we’re alone, my father turns to me, the fight in him almost gone.
“Do you mind explaining now, what exactly this was all about?” he sighs, scrubbing his hand down his face.
“I wasn’t sure at first, so I didn’t know what to think. But then, everything was super-complicated, and Ethan was in the way. Then, everything happened with Aurora, and I knew I was right. I felt it the first time I ever saw her. She’s mine.”
“That is impossible, Augustine. You know our history; you know what you are.”
“I know, and I’m still telling you. She. Is. Mine.”
“But that means…”
“Yes, Drake.” Lucius interrupts. “She is one of you. An original. And with everything that Kane has told me, she is the one.”
“Does she know?” my father asks.
“I’m pretty sure she knows who she is, but not what she is. I don’t even know what line she’s from. She said her mother’s name was Dannika, but I know that can’t be true.” I explain to him.
“This means that she’ll
be hunted. Does she bear the mark of the chosen?” they both look to me, and I shake my head.
“I don’t know, and I’m not sure I agree with Kane and Lucius. All indications pointed to Aurora as the chosen one. I think Eden is just one of us, lost in the tide of the Uprising, struggling to stay afloat in a world that rejects her.”
“You know what this means?” Lucius looks to us both and I hang my head, not wanting it to be true.
“It means one of them must die.”
To be continued…
Authors Note
I always have so many people to thank when I finish a book that it’s so hard to know where to start. I have a dozen thank you’s so here goes;
To Anna Bloom for giving me my new sprinting method. Without that, I doubt I would’ve made the deadline for this book!
To Diz Norman & Danni Swainston for knowing what a nightmare I am; for sticking with me from the beginning and for your priceless feedback!
To Vicki Fryer, my PA superstar for making sure my ducks don’t become squirrels.
To my beta team for their amazing feedback.
To Andie Long, for listening to me whine, helping me pick my character stock, and for stopping me spinning into doors.
To Abigail Davies for bringing my visions to life. I am aware I’m a picky nightmare, and I’m sorry, so doubly thank you.
To the ladies over at Bare Naked Words & Give Me Books for all that you do!
Finally, to you, my readers, for not leaving me when I took a year out; for your patience and for your love of all of the characters.
Also by Sloane Murphy
The Immortal Chronicles
Descent
Crash
Soar
Rapture
Black Water Academy
Marked
About the Author
Thank you so much for reading Marked, the first book in my new series: Black Water Academy.
If you’d like to leave a review on Amazon, please do! Reviews make this indie super happy!
Join my newsletter for exclusive content!
www.authorsloanemurphy.com/newsletter