The Council (Darkness #5) (5 page)

“Pale orange?” Charles snickered. “He’s nearly a red himself.”

“Can’t work his magic, neither,” Jonas muttered, losing his patience. “How long does it take to work at that spell?”

“Oh, like you could do it, bro?” Charles shot back. “You know which spell that is? It’s that floating death one that Toa loves. I can’t make one of those… Well, I can’t make one and have it work properly.”

“That’s because you have your head up your ass most of the time.”

“Shut up you guys, here we go,” I chastised softly.

The pale orange started to sizzle, an interesting approach to unweaving a spell. His version of magic hit my opposite version of magic. Like a detonator, the orb exploded.

A blast of magical fire flayed my shield. I stepped back, pumping more energy into the shield so it held. The guys at the other end of the hall hadn’t made the same preparations. And even if they did, it wouldn’t have helped. The magic scoured the three, blistering their skin. Gashes tore their flesh, an assault of razor blades all over their bodies. Girlish shrieks drowned the hallway as the men staggered backward. One fell, screaming. The others tripped over him, stumbling backward, scrubbing at their faces.

“Fucking bitch!” the leader shouted, smashing into a wall with a thud.

The wave of magic rolled over them and disintegrated, leaving three bloody, whimpering men in its wake. As one they got up and staggered back the way they’d come, gingerly touching their skin and moaning.

“This one’s over, right?” I clarified. “This challenge is done?”

“The Boss would be proud.” Jonas lifted his chin and puffed out his chest. He gave me a solid pat on the back that had me staggering forward.

“He might be proud, but I’m a little terrified. That was way worse than what she did to Toa.” Charles stared at the backs of the three guys.

“I added a little twist of awful. Toa got blasted with paper cuts. These guys got a razor blast.” I let my shield fall away.

Charles shivered.

“How many more tricks like that you got up your sleeve, human?” Jonas asked, his own shield winking out. Apparently he hadn’t trusted mine.

“Ones that only hurt? Probably not enough.” I sighed and continued up the hall. “Probably not nearly enough. Toa got creative and nasty with what he taught me. I think he’s trying to make a statement through me. I don’t know what I find worse—Toa needing to make a statement, or the fact that I am his vehicle. I can’t imagine the heat it’ll bring on us.”

“Whatever it is, we’ll handle it.” Jonas rolled his shoulders as his muscles flexed.

I really hoped he was right.

After a quiet walk through busy halls in which absolutely everyone stared at me, I finally arrived at Tim’s door. I nearly cried as I knocked, so thankful there was a crowd of shifters who would fight right beside us. My crew was grossly outnumbered in this place, and worse, they hated me because I was human. I was the gross insect they weren’t allowed to step on. I could see it in their sneers.

“You’re probably good for tonight,” Jonas reflected. “You got the first challenge, you answered, and now they’re going to take a lesson and find someone to come at you harder. You tore those guys up. I bet you just stepped up the competition.”

“Good and bad though, right?” I leaned against the doorjamb. “It’s going to get harder that much quicker. I should’ve hit that guy with something lighter. Like a shock or something.”

“No. You gotta play this hard and fast, human. You gotta match the Boss, because that male is going to take this place down. You have to show you deserve him.”

“Not much of a pep talk, Jonas,” I muttered.

“It’d be way more fun if we could join in.” Charles picked at the doorjamb in irritation. “Knock harder, Sasha. What are they, running around with four legs in there? They don’t have hands to open the door? What’s taking so long?”

I knocked harder.

“It’s a sad day when we have to turn to the mongrels for aid,” Jonas grumbled.

“You protect a
human,
Jonas. One you tried to off once. Isn’t every day a sad day in your book?” I asked in a dry voice.

He stared down the hall and ignored me, his way of saying, “Touché.”

The door opened slowly, the space filled with the stocky and robust body of John, a shifter I had met at their forest compound. He beckoned me in immediately as his gaze scanned who I was with. “This it?”

“This is it.” I walked into the spacious room. Ann and four other shifters were spread around the room. Hard gazes in wary expressions surveyed me. No one gave a sign of greeting.

“Hey, guys, you okay?” I edged toward the couch in the center of the greeting area where Ann rested, her hair a vibrant blue. “Kind of keyed up, huh?”

Ann grimaced at me as I sat, but didn’t say anything, which wasn’t like her.

“Got your hair done, huh?” I asked, uncomfortable with the vibe in the room.

“Everyone’s nervous about where we stand in this place,” Ann said quietly. “We didn’t exactly get a warm welcome when we were being escorted to our rooms. I think Tim thought it’d be different. It’s put everyone on edge.”

Before I could say anything, I heard “Sasha.”

Tim emerged from a bedroom in the back, a six-foot block of solid and steadfast muscle. Angry red gashes marred his neck and upper arms where the demon gouged and scored him from the last battle. He’d nearly died, but being as stubborn as they came, he was in the process of making a full recovery. “
In the process” being the operative phrase
.

“How’d it go?” he asked, his smooth and sure step crossing the room and taking a seat on the coffee table in front of me. His soft brown eyes delved into mine. “Are you still mage?”

Suddenly I just felt tired. “Yeah. I have black, I have talent, and I am incredibly naïve and untaught. Oh, and apparently my form of magic tends to kill most wielders like me, so I’m all set.”

“Pity party, huh?” Ann asked, flicking me in the head. “What’s up with your hunk of man? How is he fairing?”

“I don’t know.” I rubbed my eyes, remembered I’d put makeup on, and then froze. “Did I just smear my makeup all over my face?”

Ann stopped in the middle of making fun of me and leaned forward to look. She shook her head and continued, “He hasn’t had to save you yet, huh?”

“They won’t let him save her. Not here,” Tim said softly, gaze still on my face. “As a leader, he has to stand on his own. As a mage, she does as well. They have to each earn their respective positions.”

“What do you know about it, mongrel?” Jonas growled.

Tim spared him a glance. Then looked back at me. He didn’t plan to comment.

I helped him out. “Obviously what he just said, Jonas. He just told you what he knows about it. Comments like that make you sound dumb.”

“Look who’s talking.” Jonas wandered away toward the window.

A smile curved Ann’s lips as she watched him. “Since when does Jonas use a Charles-ism…?”

Jonas stiffened as an indignant expression crossed Charles’ face.

“Focus.” Tim’s firm voice, even though still soft, had every shifter shutting their mouths in a click. To me, he said “They’re going to call me in. We don’t know when yet, though. They wouldn’t say more than ‘follow me’. From what I understand from Dominicous, however, is that the Council wants to welcome me and mine into the fold. Make a pact with me. I want you to come, as a friend of the pack. I want us shown as one entity. I think that will look better for you now; and down the road, better for us.”

“You’re a marketing ploy,” Jonas said as he glanced out at the starless night. “You don’t matter any more than humans do. You’re animals in this place. That’s it.”

Tim’s body stiffened. Heat crept into his gaze. He turned toward Jonas.

I leaned forward and put a restraining hand on his leg. “He’s not being a dick this time. Well, I mean, not on purpose. He knows what he’s talking about with this stuff.”

Jonas half-turned. To the wall he said, “You are numbers for their army, that’s all. You can help them go against the European Council who’s talking about asserting themselves back into human society. Who are also just waiting for an
in
to extend their reach back into this council. They used to control this place, and if they try to retake it with force, the Council needs someone for the front line.

“And we have Andris now. With torture, Andris will give up secrets—he’s worked with the European Council, this Council—he’s well connected in the underbelly. Trek, too. That guy’s an idiot, but he’ll know a bunch. You are soldiers. You think you got a partnership, and that you’re dying for a cause… but it won’t be your cause. And probably not an important cause. You’re expendable, and with the façade of unity, you’re easy to control.”

“So you’re saying we shouldn’t waste our time?” Tim shot back, his hand braced on his knee.

“I’m saying you should go in with your eyes open. They don’t care about your best interests. You’d be even stupider than you look if you trusted what they told you.”

“But yet, you’re asking me to trust you. What makes you different?”

Jonas turned back to the window. “I’d just as soon have you fuck off. I don’t need you trusting me. But you have a good plan as it concerns Sasha. She needs some power in her corner. You can provide it. I don’t want you screwing it up with your head in your ass.”

I raised my eyebrows. It was a fair point.

Tim must’ve thought so too, because his gaze traveled to the floor in contemplation.

“So, I got challenged,” I announced. I figured I might as well get it out there. As expected, all shifter eyes found me immediately. I started the story without delay. If they were in my boat, they had to be warned.

“I’m sorry, but I just can’t take the chance so early in the game,” said Kallias, Dominicous’ backer and the fourth-most influential Council member. He spread his hands in front of him apologetically. “You are not mated, and even if you were, what does that mean? The connection with you can be easily broken.”

Kallias, Dominicous, and Stefan all sat at the end of an absurdly large conference room table in an even bigger room. Apparently this was Kallias’ personal meeting room where he held important tête-à-têtes. Today, though, Stefan had every belief the aging Council member was trying to make a statement of his rank and importance. A statement that he probably hoped would gall when he withheld his help for Stefan and Sasha.

Dominicous leaned forward. He insisted on this meeting in the hope that Kallias would see reason. While that would certainly be great, Stefan had never been, nor was he now, under any false pretenses. Power players wanted to know their assets before they put their neck out. Stefan was an unknown and Sasha was a human. Dominicous was just being hopeful. “She is my daughter. She has chosen Stefan as her mate. She is his mage. She is marked by him, has marked him, and has a blood link with him. How much more connected can two people be? That kind of connection will not be broken. They are a power team, and the best move would be to snatch them up now before someone else does.”

“Those connections will be cut loose with my death,” Stefan stated. He leaned back in his chair and crossed an ankle over his knee. “I’m a liability.”

Kallias’ eyes sparkled. “You’re smart. And correct. Take it as a compliment. Were you a weak male, easily ruled and manipulated, this wouldn’t be an issue. Anyone would love to tether you up and reel her in through you. But, alas, you must enter the ring like everyone else. True strength will shine. Faults and weaknesses will be preyed upon. This is how it has always been done.”

“Except, in this situation, his disappearing would free up a sought-after mage,” Dominicous said with an edge to his voice.

Kallias rumpled his eyebrows, not denying it. “And you, Dominicous, of all males would know what that is like. I recall having this very conversation with you all those years ago. And look where we are today.” His steel-blue eyes hit Stefan. “The best bet for you? Sever ties with the human. Fight your own battles, win, and claim a title better than the one you possess. We have many mages here. The human is the reason you will find your time here hard going. And, to speak frankly, she is the reason you may not… make it back to your leadership role. It is her they want, and they will go through you to get her.”

Stefan let the pause linger while he continued his flat stare at this conniving Council member. He could walk away, sure. And if it would help Sasha even a little bit, he would. He would walk away and never look back, even though to lose her would be to lose everything. But if he did that, he’d leave her completely vulnerable. She’d be wide open to this arena of festering, cruel power games. In the best case, she’d blow this whole place up to defend herself and die in the process. In the worst case, she’d become a slave through more than one blood link in an oppressive culture.

His leaving would be the worst thing for her. He’d sacrifice his life if need be, but he’d see her safe one way or the other.

“She cannot link unless she has Stefan,” Dominicous said in a contemplative voice. He leaned back to match Stefan’s relaxed pose. His eyes were no less flat. “Her power fries anyone but Stefan who tries. This knowledge came from Toa, so you are assured it is accurate. She is not a pack follower, she’s willful, and she will run head-first into battle to protect those she cares about. Plus, she is human, through and through. She hasn’t rolled over and accepted our… morality differences. She fights it. She would be a hard addition to an already-established hierarchy. Her love for Stefan, and her absolute trust in him, skirts all of those issues. With him, she is a valuable addition to any team. Without him; constant problems.”

Kallias smiled condescendingly. “This coming from her surrogate father who wants to protect her. Forgive me, Dominicous, but you forget that those of us who have been around for hundreds of years know something of underlings falling in line.”

“I have not forgotten, Kallias. And yes, her welfare is my concern now.” Dominicous minutely shook his head. “Well, we are at an impasse, then. That’s a shame—I had wanted to give you first pick.”

“Ah,” Kallias jabbed the air with his pointer finger. “But you are giving me first pick with the leader. I wish first pick with the mage. It is her you have not offered up.”

A grin spread across Dominicous’ face. “Still trying to replace Mage Phillip, hmm? First Toa turned you down, and now you are after Sasha? I can’t imagine Mage Phillip has much love for you.”

“Bah.” Kallias waved his hand through the air. “He should work harder to be better rather than spend his time plotting.”

Kallias rubbed his thumb across his chin in contemplation. “The human element is a decided drawback, yes, as is her inexperience, but the Clutch is intensely interested. She has something. I want it.” His eyes hit Stefan’s, the shining light of a cunning plan burning within them. “You will forgive me, but this is a game of cutthroats. Her uniqueness has drawn my eye.”

Stefan kept his face impassive, but his heart sank. If she drew Kallias’ eye, she would draw a great many others. He knew they’d be a sure target, but hearing that spoken aloud made it real.

He got up before he knew what he was doing. Dominicous stood a second later.

“I apologize.” Stefan offered Kallias a half-bow. “But I think we are done here.”

Kallias rose. “Of course. I really do apologize. And who knows, maybe we can pair up after all.”

Stefan gave him a brief nod as Dominicous placed his hand on Stefan’s shoulder. Feeling the slight pressure, he allowed Dominicous to turn him toward the door and walk him out into the hall. Once there, they stood for a silent beat as the door gently swung shut.

“That went as I expected,” Dominicous said into the silence. “Unfortunately.”

He took his hand away from Stefan’s shoulder. “I have much work to do. I—” He cut off as his gaze lingered on something down the hall. His lips spread into a smile.

Stefan turned to follow his gaze. Three men stumbled through the corridor looking like they’d gotten sand-blasted with razors. Eyes half-closed, not able to walk in a straight line, they winced with every step.

That’s my girl.

“Toa looked like that once,” Dominicous grinned. “It made him slightly more… careful.”

His eyes regained their edge. “As I was saying. There is an undercurrent to Kallias’ words that strike me as… desperate. Something is seething within the power plays in this Council. He’ll speak to me more openly without you present. Plus…” Dominicous shrugged. “You might as well get to those challenges. I was in your position—nearly exactly your position—at one time. Brutality is the fastest way to end the advances. Hard, fast brutality.”

Stefan took a step away, a shot of adrenaline pulsing through his body. “Agreed.”

“Oh, and… Toa thought I should say this to you.”

Stefan listened quietly as Dominicous explained about covering the blood link, giving himself privacy. He had to do everything in his power not to dig his hands in his pockets like a sullen child. Dominicous saw it and smiled.

“I wouldn’t worry about her figuring it out before you did.” Dominicous stepped toward the door. “Toa says she pulls a great many things out of her ass in dire circumstances. You may have lost your family young, but you had some loyal friends helping you succeed, not to mention other members of the clan. She only had a houseful of disinterested guardians, merely doing their part to keep her off the streets. She feels that is a blessing, and it is I suppose, but it creates a certain person. Pressure and time can create something beautiful, or it can create something cruel. We are lucky she turned into the former.”

Stefan snorted, turning toward the hall. “Dominicous the poet.”

“I have many facets. And Stefan…”

Stefan paused.

“She doesn’t need to feel your pain. Nor the depth of your viciousness. She’s still human, after all. She’s not as versed as she thinks in the savagery of our kind. Plus, if she feels your pain she’ll set the place on fire to save you. Best cover that link when you meet your challengers.”

“Didn’t need to be said.” Stefan started off down the hall.

The soft click of the door sounded unnaturally loud in the empty corridor. He set a course for his room, feeling his anticipation rise. Waiting for the challenge he knew would come. And as he walked, he felt something. Soft whispers of current barely moved the air around him. A heaviness pushed in from the sides, the temperature a fraction warmer in certain places than the chilled air circulating the rest of the enclosed space. Prickles tickled up his back and around his arms.

Something watched him.

His eyes flicked right and left. He glanced behind and peered into a doorway as he passed. It was empty, which was not usual for the middle of the night. Even in a human hotel, a species that kept the opposite schedule, there would be one or two souls moving around at this time.

He slowed down, covering that link as Dominicous had explained and honed in. He didn’t get where he was, as young as he was, without feeling danger pressing in on him. And reacting.

He struck out to his right, glancing off of a warm, solid form. Without wasting any time or even knowing how many were there, he grabbed hold of an arm, then a neck. With a roar of might, he picked up the large being and hurled it. The feeling of movement had him turning with liquid joints, striking out once again at a solid form invisible to his eyes. He rammed someone against the wall and pounded into a body. His hands felt upwards quickly, not wanting to lose the advantage. He found the head, and bashed it against the wall in two hard thrusts. The slide of a body said that the form was out of commission.

He turned back to the hall, his hands out, ready to grapple. If they had swords, he was screwed. But they wouldn’t kill him. They needed to see that beyond a shadow of a doubt, he couldn’t be attached to a leash and used to control Sasha.

Silky movements rustled the air. Nearly silent footsteps moved away in the opposite direction, leaving whoever was on the ground. Blood stained the carpet next to him, leaking out of thin air.

The corridor emptied out. He could feel it.

He needed the spell to undo whatever these people were using as disguise. He had to be able to
see
.

He pushed ahead. He needed to find Sasha first, to make sure she was okay, and then Toa.

Not five minutes later, as he turned toward the center of the building, it was as if a veil had been lifted, the first signs of life since he’d gone into that room with Kallias surging around him. Well-dressed males and females, reveling in their arrogance, traipsed through the halls and meeting rooms, going about whatever business or games they had on their agenda. Humans often followed behind or bustled through on their own, running errands and living subserviently.

Sasha would not like that one bit. She’d probably form some kind of taskforce, even though it was, undoubtedly, the humans’ choice.

He walked through at a measured pace, drawing eyes. Gazes dipped, finding the blood spatter on his ironed, collared shirt. Languid smiles curled the lips of a few women. One even reached out to trail a red, manicured finger along his chest.

Suddenly, he knew exactly how Sasha felt being called a plaything. He went from the King of the Mountain to the attractive jester in the space of a few hundred miles. No fuckin’ way.

Another jolt of adrenaline rocked his frame. He couldn’t help his body flexing, his anger seething out around him. As if a shockwave boomed out, a wide-eyed bubble of spectators opened up around him. Males and females alike glanced up, and then shuffled out of the way. He was ready for battle, no matter the venue—a male couldn’t just fight his way to the top, he had to
own
his status as he did so. Stefan was no stranger to playing his role of leader.

He kept his measured pace up a flight of stairs, attracting eyes, and down a different corridor, this building nothing if not never-ending tunnels on every floor but the first. A hundred yards from his room, two males stepped into the hallway and stopped, facing him, side by side.

He couldn’t help it but grin.

“Nothing but a backwoods nobody,” the male on the right sneered.

Standing four inches shorter than Stefan, with half the body mass, and the movements of a clumsy adolescent, this male was obviously only working with a half-deck in the intelligence department. That, or he was terrible at sizing up his competition. His friend, a smidge taller and more robust, had a gruesome scar on his face and a cruel smile.