Knowing we are unsafe at the estate has caused uneasiness for all of us, but for me it's more than just difficult. It's a definite death sentence if I get caught with this vampire. It's too dangerous to have him as my servant, and though I feel bad for him, he needs to be freed as soon as possible.
After locking up the home, we all end up in the basement family room to discuss our plans. We know the werewolf pack won't be back, but we don't expect the Hunters to not show up. With everyone on guard, Abe and Leddy have agreed to stay and guard us before we travel back to Elyria in the morning. It's too dangerous to travel at night, considering how many of us there are. We could get caught by the Hunters immedietly.
Coming down here to have a group meeting was something I tried to avoid, not because of my injury but because I dislike group setting. I made the excuse that my leg wouldn't allow me to come down but the servant carried me. I was told everyone needed to be included. So now, uncomfortable and shy, I sit alone in an armchair with my leg elevated. Perry stands off to the side of my chair, although I offered him a seat.
We just arrived but the chaos of everyone's voices has my mind spinning. I feel like a schizophrenic patient, so many voices at once I can't focus on my own thoughts. I keep my head low; I already want to leave.
Instead of conversing in conversation my mind is elsewhere, trying to find a solution for my dilemma with Perry. If he is who the Hunters say he is, then I have to follow my gut and split us up; especially before anything romantic happens between us. We have to stay safe, our lives depend on it.
My smartest option is to send the vampire somewhere far away. Earth would be safe and from any Elyrian creatures that could come through the portal. Maybe send him to another country? I assume flying on a plane to kidnap a man would be very difficult to do on Earth.
Leddy announces snapping me out of my daze, "Our investigation on the wolf pack has ended, but now it's turned into a whole new challenge. Abe and I will have to report back to the Royal Guard."
Luke scoffs, "You said you were sent by the Councils to investigate the pack."
The Councils. Leddy spoke about them before, when she discovered we'd been imprisoned.
"We were." Abe answers.
Marek preaches, "You can't just get ahold of the Councils on your own. Abe and Leddy have to go through the Royal Guard to speak to a Council member or an Elder. They have more pressing matters than to meet with bounty hunters in person."
Abe and Leddy are bounty hunters?
I recall a discussion about the Guard from before, some work to protect the royals and their families, while others work for the kingdoms and do smaller jobs. My aunt works with some of the lower ranked Guard in Province.
Leddy sighs, "Luke, your stupid to think I met a Council member in person..."
My cousin's expression changes from a smirk to furrowed brows. His tense body language shows he's angry, "I didn't even say that!"
"We all know you thought it..." Leddy laughs.
Luke huffs, "Do you think they will take it to the Councils? I mean this is some sort of foul play on Earth..."
"Which is illegal." Jane states.
"Of course they'll take the information back to them!" Leddy sounds pissed.
I stay quiet, overwhelmed by everyone.
My aunt adds in, "Correct."
Koda stands and starts pacing, "And if Elyrian creatures have brought danger to Earth, the Councils would want to protect our planet from being discovered by humans." He gestures towards Luke, "They will definitely get involved."
"Can someone please tell us what's going on?" Lynn sputters gesturing towards herself and Estelle. I'm in the same boat, and so I nod my head in agreement.
Leddy growls like she's the leader of the pack, "Those human girls don't need to know."
"Or you can shut your trap or leave the room," Marek comes to the rescue.
For once the young woman doesn't have a come back, she shut right up. She doesn't pout or give a nasty expression. In shock I blink over at my uncle who sits so casually, not even looking at her.
"The Councils are the leaders of our planet, higher ranked than any of the royals. The people of Elyria talk about them like they are gods and goddesses. They are known to be divine beings, but they are very mysterious." Marek sounds like an old man telling children magical stories, raising his voice to sound a certain way. "This is only know to be an an anchient rumor, nobody can prove the Councils exist because they have never been seen in public."
If my uncle is telling us some bogus folklore, then why were we just talking about these beings as if we've contacted them? I know we are from a magical planet but how are we supposed to buy this story?
Koda instantly begins speaking, "If you ask anybody," He gestures towards the vampire standing beside me, "...they will tell you the same." My brother then eyes me, "It's not some bogus folklore."
My stomach drops and I look around the room, feeling as though I have been exposed. How does Koda keep doing this? I know everyone has warned me about how he's unfathomably intelligent and mysterious; but it is almost like he's reading my mind. It's not some obscure coincidence, this has happened more than once now.
"Where do these Councils live?" Lynn is interested.
"It's called the Land of Forbidden but the location is impenetrable." Koda informs, "Nobody knows where it is except them."
"There's no way someone hasn't found it."
"Sometimes creatures go looking for the Land of Forbidden but they never find it or if they do they never come back."
Uncle Marek declares, "The only people that can travel back and fourth between the Land of Forbidden and society are the Elders..."
"They're ranked under the Councils," Adds Jane.
"The Councils use the Elders to communicate between them and the royals. If something needs to be achieved in a kingdom the Councils send the Elders to fix it."
Estelle wonders, "What do the Councils really do? It sounds to me as though they sit and boss everyone around, right?"
My aunt chimes in, "They take care of all of the dangerous magic on Elyria. It's said that they used magic to kill off the Dark Witches."
I feel a pit in my stomach, a very deep and churning one. I've been punched in the gut with the thought that my world is way more dangerous than I could ever imagine. The humans would crumble if they knew what secrets a portal to another dimension holds.
Marek clears his throat, "Each kingdom has five Elders who traditionally are men. So the Elyrians have five Elders, the vampire's have five, and so on. And below the Elders are the royals. Our government system has been the same way for thousands of years."
"Province City is different though..." Koda adds, "We have mixes of different creatures so we aren't our own kingdom. Some small villages may have mixes of creatures as well, but Province is the safest. Those places are where you can find the half breeds and hybrids."
My uneasiness doesn't fade away; but I stay to listen even though I'd rather be alone. Estelle and Lynn begin asking about the creatures of the world, making my fear arise. I don't know if I'm better off not knowing or if it's best to prepare myself for anything I run into.
Asking about the most dangerous creatures of the world, Lynn seems the most interested while her companion Estelle holds her hands together tight.
"They're the most dangerous creatures because..." Koda talks about fairies, "...they can manipulate your mind so it's almost impossible to escape on your own free will. They are too complex for anyone to try to change their mind."
"Have you met one?" Lynn's yellow and green eyes stare at Koda.
"Luke has. He used to sneak into the woods."
I glance at Luke who rolls his blue eyes, "I did not sneak out!"
"You did too," My uncle chuckles.
Luke crosses his arms, "Koda met a banchee and cried like a baby."
Koda's face stiffens and his smirk is wiped off his face, "It could have killed me."
"No, you weren't that close. You would have only been petrified."
Koda shudders. Lynn, Estelle and I exchange looks. We have no idea what the boys are talking about. I would have if all of my memories weren't wiped.
"How dangerous are they?"
"There are two kinds of faries. The small ones are like the size of a twig, just as you would imagine one would look like. If you agree to be their slave then they turn you into one of them. You'd be the same size and wouldn't be able to change back." Luke says.
Koda continues on what Luke was saying, "The other kind are our size, they're more dangerous and it's easier for them to manipulate our minds."
Suddenly Perry gets my attention from beside me. He asks to speak with me but he's afraid the others will hear. I agree, hoping he wants to leave the conversation and retreat to bed just like I do. I suggest finding a quiet place in the back sitting area and tell him not to worry about my leg. The vampire servant helps me up and together we go into the back room.
"I'm allergic to the star..." He states with a shaky voice. "...on this planet..."
Well, there's goes my plan of keeping him on Earth.
Isn't he already not supposed to be exposed to sunlight? His skin will sizzle.
I'm suddenly baffled, "You can't be in the sun, but your allergic to the sun here? What is the difference?"
The man now looks at me confused. I don't think he realizes that I don't have any memory of my life on Elyria.
"Being on Earth for a period of time will make me sick, along with every vampire from Elyria. I was given a potion to prevent the illness from coming onto my body as fast. But, it has worn off now."
My stomach is queasy once again, and I feel as though I am responsible for him. I want to make sure he is taken care of, like he did to me previously in the day. This is the most Perry has ever spoken to me with such urgency, so I know he doesn't mean any ill-will.
I take a long glance at his face, discovering that his paled skin already looks more white than it has in the past hour or so. I start to sympathize with him, understanding he is being brave coming to me with his concern.
There must be something I can find to make him feel better; after all, we live in a home with strange books and healing potions that humans do not posess.
"Is there anything I can do for you?"
He shakes his head no.
"Will you be alright tonight?"
He nods, "As long as nothing interrupts our venture back tomorrow."
I look into his green eyes, hoping he will trust me. I don't want him to be ill, "I'll make sure we can leave extra early in the morning tomorrow. Nothing bad is going to happen," I assure. "I will make sure you get back to Elyria."
The vampire gives me a soft smile, and a slight bow, "Thank you, miss Elenor."