Magestorm: The Awakening (16 page)

36

The council meeting was fairly typical, although it was much smaller these days.  Three witches dead, Elisabeth still in the hospital, Isabelle and Steph
anie recovering at home
, Rachel a traitor and
Dhane
suspended.  Two others were on guard duty so their facility would be safe.  No magic took place anywhere in the building, no
longer
just blocked in the meeting room.  The spell of disenchanting was cov
ering everything now
.

Only
ten witches met with Cassandra now, and they were all wary of each other.  She could see the suspicious looks that went around the room.  Somehow, they had to unite again.  This separation would lead them further down the road to splitting the council up.

“October is coming and I think we should bring back an old tradition.  We will celebrate with a grand gala here, everyone in costumes,
with
plenty to eat and drink.”

Lila raised her hand and waited to be recognized before voicing her concern.

“The last time there was one of those kinds of celebrations was when, well, you know.”

“Yes, just one more thing Algernon took from us.  His mutated idea of a gathering was grotesque and horrible, but I think it’s time we took that back.  How long can we live in fear of the monster who was killed so long ago?
  It’s time we started to live again, thrive again.”

There were whispers and
Dhane’s
name popped up more than once.  Lila shrugged at Cassandra and quietly waited for the whispers to stop.  Cassandra decided she couldn’t wait.

“Enough!  I know many of you disagree with my allowing
Dhane
to be part of this council.  Apparently to you, he should be punished for another man’s crimes.  I feel you pay for your own crimes only, and that’s exactly what he’s doing.  I am sick and tired of having to defend him, a man who has saved the lives of numerous council members.  Does that sound like something Algernon would do?”

The room was silent, though Lila had to fight off a smile at Cassandra’s outburst.  Being one of those saved by
Dhane
, she was tired of seeing him treated poorly by the others as well.  Now was the time to speak up for him.

“I have spent time with
Dhane
, personally, and he does not possess the evil that Algernon did.  He is nothing like his father, and I think he should be treated as any other member of the council, with respect.”

“You know nothing of Algernon,” a voice rang out.

Alexis
stood and paced around the room, hatred pouring out of her.  She continued angrily.

“Algernon was a horrible bastard of a man.  He raped me more times than I can count.  There were seven of us, bound and gagged, kept barely alive.  He was determined to impregnate each of us, always raving about a son.  By the end, he seemed to be doing it more from habit than anything else.  Every day, for three months, he entered me.  I stopped begging for it to stop after a week or so.  After a month, I couldn’t even feel him anymore. 

And to think, we were the lucky ones, the ones he didn’t torture in other ways.  I may be the only one left from those days, but I have enough pain and anger left over for them all.  Some nights I still feel his breath on me when he was touching me.”

The room was silent as she stopped and stared at the wall.  Everyone waited for someone else to break the silence.  Cassandra got up and walked over to
Alexis
and tried to put an arm around her. 
Alexis
shrugged it off and turned back to everyone.  She had gathered her rage and she returned to her seat.

“I don’t think anyone here will fully understand the horrors of Algernon the way you do.  But I ask you, does that mean
Dhane
should suffer for what Algernon did?”

“
Dhane
should be killed.”

Shock ran through the witches at the words of
Alexis
.  Cassandra couldn’t keep her own jaw from dropping.  She sat silently while
Alexis
continued.

“Algernon was looking to bear
a son with a witch.  Th
ere was a prophecy or something, which is why he raped us.  Who eventually had the child, I do not know.  It was a witch, to be certain, which means Algernon got what he wanted.  In my book, that can’t be a good thing.”

She spoke so calmly and deliberately, rage couldn’t be blamed for her words.  Revenge, maybe.
  More likely, a gnawing from deep within that finally worked its way to the surface.  She rose from her seat again and turned towards Cassandra.

“After so many years of service, I feel I’ve done my duty and wish to retire.  I am leaving the council and moving somewhere quiet.  Regardless of the decision you make about
Dhane
, I can’t remain any further, though I hope your decision works out for everyone here.”

She bowed and departed, leaving them all to pick up the pieces.  Down another person, Cassandra’s heart sank.  Could anything save their council?

37

Dhane
walked into his room after avoiding vomit and blood in the hallway.  Someone was having a good time tonight, it seemed.
  He turned on the lights and looked around, almost surprised nobody was here waiting for him.  The phone started ringing as he dropped his coat on a chair.  The number was blocked.

“Hello?”

“
Greetings,
sire.”

Amelia.

“Hi, hello, I mean how
are you
?”

“I do well, sire. 
I wonder, may I visit you?”

He struggled to find the words as he glanced around his shithole apartment.  Desperately he tried to think of an excuse for her not to come.  Nothing came.

“You do not wish to see me, sire.”

“No, that’s not it.  I just, well, my place
isn’t
very nice.  Maybe I should come visit you.”

“I wish to see your abode, no matter the décor.  May I come?”

“Well, I guess so.”

“Thank you, sire.”

She hung up abruptly and he dropped the phone on the counter.
  A Pepsi from the fridge and he plopped down on the bed.

Wait, how does she know where to go?  Is she coming now? 
NOW?

Dhane
jumped up and began throwing dirty clothes into the closet and dirty dishes into the cabinet under the sink.  A sponge across the counter,
then
he could…

Knock
knock
.

Now
what,
or who?

On the other side of the door stood Amelia, dressed to perfection, her hair up in a bun, a hint of make-up, and a dress that revealed her legs beautifully.  He invited her in and began to think even a palace would’ve been too dirty for her to enter.

She
entered
the room
gracefully
and walked
around, looking
at this and that.  After watching her for several minutes, he figured it would be fine to close the door and try to be a good host instead of just ogling her.

“May I get you something to drink?”

“As you are the greeter, sire, it is customary to offer me your essence to drink.”

“Uh, yeah, I don’t think I know how to do that.”

“Let me help you.”

The seductive look in her eye made his heart jump.  What was she going to do to him?  Did he really care?
 
At this point, no.

She stepped up to him and they kissed passionately.  He wasn’t even aware that
s
he
had
unbuckled his belt and unbuttoned his pants.  The zipper slid down and his breath caught.  She smiled.

“I will be gentle, sire.”

He closed his eyes as she lowered from sight. 
As he clutched
the counter for all it was worth, she took him inside her and
eventually drank of his essence, so to speak.  She finished and rose back to her feet, taking his hand and leading him to the bed.

“Now sire, you will fulfill me.”

He gulped, but was ready to do his best.  He carefully pulled her dress up around her waist.  She wasn’t wearing underwear.

“I lost that somewhere on my trip here.  I carried my clothes and ran in wolf form.  I am very fast that way.”

That explained the short time from hanging up and arriving here.  Once again he became aware that she could probably tear him limb from limb. 
If she was going to, she would’ve already.
  He looked into her eyes as he kissed her quickly,
then
grinned.

“That just saves time.”

He laid her back onto the bed and parted her legs.  Kissing up her
inner
thighs, he worked himself
to the to
p of them and began to taste
her.  Moans filled the room as she writhed in pleasure.
  His hair was clutched in her hands, wrapped around her fingers as she held him close.

He teased and touched and penetrated her until she called for him to take her.  Refusing, defiant, he kept at it until she cried out and
spasmed
violently.  He smiled.

Standing over her while she panted, he waited until she just started
to
settled down, then he pounced.  Almost immediately she cried out as he filled her fully. 
With her l
egs wrapped around him, he drove into her with steady strokes while she tried to contain herself.  She couldn’t.

After she clearly had been satisfied a second time, he figured once more couldn’t hurt. 
Picking her up, he carried her to a table and set her rear end down as he kissed her again, this time roughly.  He started working his hips again and she leaned back, putting her elbows on the table as her head dropped back and eyes closed.

With one hand he yanked open the top of her dress to reveal her sweating, heaving breasts.  He tasted them and teased them with his tongue, pinching, biting,
all
the while driving into her
with full force until they finished together with a violent thrust.

He picked her up again and carried her over to the bed.  Together they lay down and slept together through the night, with a couple occasions of waking up and romping again.  By morning, they were fully refreshed in more ways than one.

“What are we?” Amelia asked.

“What do you mean?”

“This is different than what I have always done, more than a typical greeter.”

“Yeah, I suppose this is different.  I’m not sure what we are.”

“Are we friends?”

He pulled in close to her and kissed her gently.  She smiled.

“I would say we’re more than friends.”

“That is good.
  I like being friends.
”

38

“Cassandra, can we talk?”

Lila approached the council head while the others filed out.  An agreement had been made and the party would be held.  Hopefully it would be the beginning
of
getting things back to normal, but Cassandra wasn’t sure that would ever happen.

“Cassandra?”

“Sorry, I guess I’m distracted.  Not the perfect
meeting,
and we’re down another member
.  I’m starting to feel like a failure.”

“Don’t say that, it’s not you.  All great leaders have moments that test them.  How they handle those tests is what makes them great leaders.”

Cassandra smiled.  Leave it to Lila to pour on the optimistic view.  It helped though, whether she believed it or not.

“Thank you, Lila.  What can I do for you?”

She hesitated and Cassandra led the way to her private quarters.
  They sat down on the couch and Lila sighed.

“I’m worried about
Dhane
.”

“He’s only suspended for two weeks.  I’m sure he’ll be fine.  I’m not so sure he’s sick, though.”

“Yeah, well, he won’t even let me bring him soup.  I offered to help
him practice until he can officially return
to training
, but he declined.  He said he’s not sure he wants to do magic anymore.”

Cassandra’s smile faded.
  She never imagined he would ever quit magic.  Was this just because of the suspension?  Maybe he was afraid of the vampires.  That would only encourage him to learn more, though. 

“I think I will go see him tomorrow.  We can’t lose him.”

Lila nodded.

“Thank you, Cassandra.  If you need anything from me, please let me know.”

“
Thank you, Lila.”

Alone again, Cassandra realized how much time she usually spent with
Dhane
.  These past couple of days had been lonely.  She would visit him tomorrow, but was it really for him, or was it for herself?  Regardless the reason, she needed to keep him close.  If he left, well,
she was sure that would be the end of her as council leader as well.

She went to the kitchen and rummaged through the fridge for something to eat.  A couple of slices of ham would have to do.  The grocery store was calling her, because her fridge was starving.

A knock at the door made her freeze.  The way things were going, there was no way this could be good news.
  
The woman at the door was nearly six feet tall, with blue eyes and short
blond hair.  Dressed in jeans and a sweater, with heels an
d a heavy coat
, she looked like a model trying to dress like average people.

“Hello, my name is Samantha Parks.  I come from the western council of witches.”

“Welcome, please come in.”

“Thank you.”

She entered and sat on the couch while Cassandra retrieved drinks for them. 
She pulled off her coat and straightened her sweater, which was hiding her large breasts.  Now it was evident that she couldn’t be a model.  Her hips and thighs were a bit thicker than any typical model would have. 
When
Cassandra
returned,
she
graciously
accep
ted
her drink
.

“So, what news from the west?”

“Unfortunately, not good news.
  We shrank in numbers to the point that nobody would take lead of the council.  Finally, it was disbanded.  I’ve come here in hopes of joining yours.  Some have forgotten what having a council offers.  I have not.”

Cassandra hesitated.   All the things that had happened lately may scare this poor girl off.  Did she risk it?  She had to.  The truth would come out anyway, and it was only right to tell her what she was getting into.

“We’ve had our own share of difficulties lately.  We held the werewolves and vampires prisoner, but they managed to escape.  In doing so, they killed three of our members and injured three others.  We have an alliance with the remaining werewolves, who only want peace.  Beyond that, it’s not overly safe here.”

“I see.  Have you created a war party?”

“Uh, no.
  Right now we’re just trying to secure the council. 
There’s
only about a dozen people available.  A war party could severely limit our capabilities.”

Samantha took a long drink and sat the cup down.  She then turned in her seat to face Cassandra and put a hand on her knee.

“May I speak bluntly?  If the werewolves and vampires are allowed to roam free in this city, we’ve already lost it.  We must hunt
them,
make them afraid to even set foot here.
  Or, we move somewhere else.  I’m really fine either way, since I haven’t even unpacked yet.”

“You are probably right. 
As with everything, we’ll bring it before the council.  Also,
I’ve arranged a gala, to bring back some of the old traditions that were destroyed by Algernon’s reign.  That may be the next logical step, assuming I can find willing hunters.”

“I will gladly volunteer; I’ve done them in the past.  I’m at your disposal.  And I think it’s wonderful that you’re bringing back the old way.  It’s been lost for far too long.  Now, I have one other question.  Is the son of Algernon with this council?”

Shit.  Was that going to be a deal breaker in her joining them?
  Cassandra sat back in the chair and looked at her glass as she nodded.

“Wonderful!  I’ve always wanted to meet him.  I hope he’s not been treated poorly because of his father.”

“He doesn’t have many friends on the council, beyond
myself
and Lila.  I think they are starting to warm to him, if only a little though.”

“Well, he can count on one more
friend
in me.”

Cassandra couldn’t help but smile.  Maybe this would help with
Dhane
, ensure he stayed in the fold.  The thought of him leaving, of not seeing him every day was unbearable.

“Now, may I ask where the dormitory is?”

“Dormitory?”

“The witches stay in the same place, do they not?
”

“Uh, no, we all live independently.  It was something we voted on some time ago.”

Samantha was clearly shocked at this revelation.  She was accustomed to them all living together for added protection.

“Might I suggest a re
-
vote, considering all that’s happened?”

“Certainly.
  Make the nomination at the next meeting and we’ll consider it.  Now, I’ll help you
with arrangements for a place to stay
.”

“Actually, if you can just give me directions to Lila’s home, I’m sure I can stay there.  We are old friends.”

Cassandra proceeded with directions and then called Lila to confirm she knew Samantha.  Satisfied with Lila’s response, she lay down on her bed and cried.  Would things ever feel normal again?