Shadow Born: Book 1 of the Shadow-Borne Chronicles (39 page)

Once they were alone, all eyes fell on VonBell.
 
He looked miserable.

“Vincent, can you shed any light on this?” Silas asked, glaring at the man.

VonBell wouldn’t meet his eyes and only shook his head no.

“You know something don’t you?” Silas asked with narrowed eyes.

VonBell sat there uncomfortably, but didn’t say a word or raise his eyes to look at anyone in the room.

“I see,” Silas said slowly.

“Can you compel him?
 
Can you make him tell you what he knows?” Alec asked Silas quietly.

Silas just shook his head.
 
“No.
 
Vampires really can’t be compelled…under normal circumstances.”

“What does that mean?” Alec asked confused.

“We will talk about it another time.”
 
Silas meet Alec’s gaze to let him know not to ask further questions on the matter.
 
Alec shrugged but dropped it.

“Vincent, we need to know what’s going on.
 
I’d rather do this the easy way,” Silas said, letting the implication sink in.

Marcus had his head turned towards VonBell, searching the other man’s face.
 
VonBell looked uncomfortable under all the scrutiny.

“There’s nothing I can tell you,” VonBell said quietly.

“Can’t, or won’t,” Marcus asked.

“Can’t.”
 
That’s all VonBell said.

“Take him to a cell,” Silas said wearily and fell back in his chair.
 
The guards came forward and picked up VonBell and led him out of the room.

When the door closed Alec, Steven, Marcus and Silas sat quietly each lost in their own thoughts.

“He’s been compelled hasn’t he?” Alec asked quietly.

Silas looked worried at the implication but only shrugged.

“Who could do something like this?” Alec asked and sat down heavily in the chair beside Marcus.

“I don’t know, and that’s part of the problem.
 
Only an ancient vampire could even possibly compel another vampire.”
 
Silas sighed.
   

Alec shook his head.
 
“Let me guess, they are elusive?”

Silas sighed.
 
“There are only three.”
 
He didn’t say anything more and Alec knew that all he was going to get from him.

Silas sat a moment behind VonBell’s desk, his hands clasped in front of him as he thought.
 

“Where is Anna?” Silas asked, looking at Marcus.

“I believe Vincent sent her off on an errand earlier this evening.”

Silas merely sighed.

“Are you thinking of letting her take over in Vincent’s absence?” Marcus asked frowning.

“I’m not sure yet,” Silas said thinking.
 
“She is his second after all, but considering the circumstances…” he let the sentence trail off.

“Marcus, why don’t you show Alec and Steven around?
 
I have some phone calls and decisions to make.”

Marcus nodded his assent and all three men stood up.

“And Steven,” Silas said looking up at him, “don’t do anything stupid.
 
Stay with Alec and Marcus.”

Steven laughed nervously.
 
“Are you kidding me?
 
I’m not going anywhere where there are a lot of vampires without Alec around.
 
I may be many things, but stupid is not one of them.”

Silas nodded and pulled his cell phone out.
 
Marcus led the way through the door and down the stairs to the ground level.
 
If it had just been him and Alec he might have led him to the gym to practice or talk but with Steven there he didn’t feel comfortable doing that.
 
He wasn’t really sure what they were going to do. He toyed with the idea of the media room but considering Alec’s recent attack he thought better of it.

Eventually, he led them to a small private meeting room that was sound proof.
 
He called to the staff to bring them something to drink and the three men sat on the long burgundy couch that occupied the middle of the room.
 
Alec looked and saw that Marcus had taken the end of the couch to his left and Steven to his right, putting him in the middle.
 
He wondered if Steven had done that on purpose to stay as far away from Marcus as possible.
 
Marcus was the least of his problems.

“So now what?” Steven asked breaking Alec’s train of thought.
 
Both men looked at Marcus who shrugged.

“We wait,” Marcus said sighing.

“What exactly are we waiting on?” Steven asked with some apprehension in his voice, his brow wrinkled.

Marcus chuckled quietly.
 

“There is a lot to sift through.
 
Basically, the council will be called and consulted and more than likely there will be a hearing.
 
Actually, it will more than likely all be done at the same time.
 
Alec’s case, VonBell, the Taylor’s, Steven, and the vampires that attacked Alec and Jake in the restaurant.
 
And of course Nancy Farris.
 
Well, nothing really needs to be decided about her really, but the council needs to know what happened.
 
They’ll have questions and want to see the video.”

Alec had forgotten about the vampires that had attacked him and Jake.
 
That seemed like a long time ago.
 
Steven looked confused when Nancy Farris was brought up so Alec explained exactly who she was.
 
He’d told Steven the story but couldn’t remember if he’d told him the maid’s name.
 
He tried not to think too much about the poor woman.

“I do not envy the council their decisions,” Marcus said shaking his head slowly.

Alec didn’t either but he was afraid they would just get fed up with all of it and order them all killed on the spot.
 
He really didn’t feel like trying to fight his way out of a room of council members and their hangers-on.

They all sat quietly lost in their own thoughts until the door opened to admit a serving lady who brought them scotch and poured them each a glass.
 
Marcus just held out his hand and she handed over the decanter and left the room as quietly as she had entered.
 

“Vampires have the best scotch,” Steven said savoring the amber liquid in his glass.
 

The three men talked quietly for a few hours, Alec and Steven trying not to think about what hung in the balance for each of them.
 
Marcus asked them more questions about what had happened with the five vampires, while they waited.
 
Alec heard a buzz and watched Marcus pull out his phone and read the screen.

“Well, looks like our presence has been requested by Silas back in VonBell’s office.
 
Shall we?” Marcus asked standing.

Alec and Steven followed Marcus as he navigated the large mansion back to the office where the revelations about the Taylor’s had been made.
 
Upon entering, Alec noticed that the blood and mess from Senator Taylor’s…episode had been cleaned up and Silas was turned with his profile to them, talking to someone on his cell phone.
 
As they approached he spoke a few more words and hit the button to end the call.

“Gentlemen, the council and I have come to some temporary agreements for the time being.
 
Anna will run things here until the council can convene and come up with a permanent solution.
 
She’s been notified and efforts are underway to give her access to everything she’ll need.”
 
Silas stopped and let out a heavy sigh.

“Marcus, you will take Steven and VonBell’s jet back to Jordan and oversee things until I return.
 
Dorn will see to the prisoner transfer so you won’t have to worry about that.”

“What about you and Alec?” Steven asked concerned.

“I am taking him to meet an old friend.
 
I promised him some answers and figured we might as well get to them as soon as possible.
 
If you’re still up for it, Alec?”

Alec nodded his head.
 
“Yeah.
 
The sooner the better.
 
I feel like I’m running out of time.
 
I feel like every time I turn around something bad is happening.
 
I…”
 
Alec stopped and looked like he was at a loss for words.
 
He really did feel like he was racing against a clock and he had no clue how much time he had left.

“There’s one more thing.” Silas looked hesitant to speak but finally drew in a deep breath.

“Due to the circumstances and all that’s happened the council has insisted that we convene as soon as possible and decide on a course of action regarding you,” Silas said, looking at Alec.
 

Alec’s mouth went dry but he managed to croak out, “When?”

“As soon as we return.
 
Marcus, the other council members will be showing up soon, so please see to their comfort until Alec and I return.”

Marcus nodded his head.
 
“Of course.”

“Good.
 
Now that that’s settled, Marcus prepare your things.
 
You leave tonight for Jordan.
 
Steven, do you have family you need to contact?”

Steven shook his head.
 
“They are…away right now.”
 

“Is there anything you need before you depart?”
 

Steven looked shocked, scared and at a loss for words.
 
He licked his dry lips nervously.

“Can… can I speak to Alec privately…please?” he finally choked out.

Silas’s face softened.
 
“Of course.
 
Marcus, come with me.
 
Let’s give them a moment alone to say their farewells.”

As soon as the door was closed Steven spun around with a wild look in his eyes.

“You can’t leave me alone with them.
 
I…I…you’re the only one I trust Alec.”
 
He sounded panicked.
 
“How do I know that they won’t make a decision about me before you and Silas return and kill me on the spot?”
 
He really sounded scared.

Alec took the few steps that separated him from Steven and placed his hand on the man’s shoulder.
 
When had he become the one that people turned to for comfort?

“It’s okay Steven.
 
You have nothing to worry about with Marcus or the council.
 
You can trust Marcus completely.
 
As for the council, we will both deal with that when I get back.”

“Are you sure?” Steven asked a look of pleading in his eyes.

Alec smiled reassuringly.
 
At least he hoped it was reassuring.

“I trust Marcus with my life.
 
He’s always been there for me and he’s helped me out more than once.
 
He’s the one that taught me to use my abilities and has kept many secrets for me.
 
I completely trust him.
 
And, he won’t let the council do anything without Silas present.”
 
Steven looked somewhat mollified but he was still nervous.

“Plus, there’s something I really need to do before… I go before the council,” Alec finished lamely.
 
“When you get back to Silas’s have Marcus snag you a cell phone.
 
He has my number and you can text me.
 
We can keep in touch.
 
I’ll also be texting Marcus and keeping up with things with him.”

Steven frowned at Alec.
 
“They’re just going to
give
me an phone?”

Alec shrugged.
 
“According to Marcus, they have several on hand just waiting to be activated.
 
I can ask him for you if you’d like?”
 
Steven nodded his head and Alec reached for his phone and then realized he hadn’t gotten that or his wallet back.
 
He needed to make sure he did that before everyone separated.
 

Alec walked over to the intercom system and pressed the Operator button.
 
A young woman’s voice came over the speaker and he requested someone to come to the office and lead Alec and Steven to Marcus.
 
After a few minutes there was a polite knock at the door and an older man stuck his head in and bid them follow him.
 

After several hallways, a staircase and much walking, they arrived at a plain wooden door where the older man knocked.
 
He opened to door and ushered Alec and Steven in.

Marcus sat on a burgundy couch with several sets of luggage divided up.
 
When he saw Alec and Steven he stood.

“Since I packed for both of us, I figured you might need some clothes,” he said looking at Alec.
 
He pointed at one of the sets of luggage and Alec saw that his wallet and phone were sitting on top of one of the pieces.

“That’s what I came here looking for,” Alec said brandishing his wallet in Marcus’s direction.

“Yeah, figured you might need that.”

Alec checked his phone but didn’t have any messages, not that he’d expected to.
 
The only other person that had his number that wasn’t here was Jake.

“Marcus, when you and Steven return to Jordan, could you please set Steven up with a phone?
 
Victor destroyed Steven’s phone when he took him hostage and I want to check in on him while I’m away.”

Marcus nodded his head.
 
“Yeah Silas and I have already discussed that.
 
I’ve called ahead and Xavier had it activated and gave me the number if you’d like to go ahead and put it in your phone.”
 
Alec added the number to his phone and put it under Steven’s name.
 
With that all set, they were about ready to go.
 
Alec pulled Marcus aside to speak with him privately.
 
He knew that Marcus would watch out for Steven but he still felt the need to tell him.
 
Once that was done, Marcus’s phone buzzed letting him know that Silas was ready for Alec.
 
They said their goodbyes, with Alec reassuring Steven that everything was okay and parted ways.