The Beast Within (12 page)

“Morrigan is one of the few Elites who has been granted the power over magic and foresight. Every prophecy she has foretold has come to pass. Hundreds of years ago, she had a vision that told her of a coming darkness, of a time when the Five Families would once again be at open war with one another. While they were so consumed with destroying each other, a greater evil would rise up and end them all.”

She paused, and as if she had reached an epiphany, she grabbed his shoulders with a firm grip and looked him full in the face. “Connor, you have to believe the prophecy that Morrigan foretold years ago is you. If you don’t, the Council will condemn you to death. All of this couldn’t have been a coincidence, our meeting, the way I had no choice except to try and turn you to save you, and the prophecy. This all happened for a reason and you have to see that.”

“I’m trying, Laren,” Connor said softly. “A week ago I was just a normal kid, now I’m supposed to believe I’m responsible for the fate of the world?”

Before they could continue the conversation, Morrigan knocked on the door and instead of waiting to be invited in, she entered the room with her arms full of clothes. “Well, this is all happening rather quickly, the Council is aware Connor is coherent and has decided to start the trial today.”

Laren’s eyes widened. “He hasn’t had enough time to prepare. He doesn’t know the correct way to address the Council or even what’s expected of him. He’s only been awake for an hour, if that.”

“Well, then it’s up to you and me to make all of that happen while he gets dressed, isn’t it, Larentia? Now,” she said, lifting up a grey dress shirt in her left hand and a plain white dress shirt in her right. “What color says ‘savior’?”

The remaining time was spent with Connor showering and changing in a small bathroom off in a corner of the room he hadn’t noticed. The whole time both Laren and Morrigan offered him facts about the Council, appropriate ways to behave, and what he should or should not say.

“The Council Chamber is going to be set up much like a court room, with the Five Family heads that make up the Council in front of you. We’ll be on the right, the other party will be on the left.”

Laren chimed in, “There’s also a seating area for others to watch the proceedings. With a matter as big as this at hand, expect the room to be packed.”

“Yes, the prosecuting party will more than likely be made up of Faust and his family, maybe even Randolph, so be ready for that,” Morrigan added.

“When you enter the room, make sure you kneel before the Council and avoid eye contact until they tell you to rise.”

He opened the bathroom door, his mind reeling with all the facts and new knowledge. He opened his arms in an awkward gesture. “How do I look?”

The ladies decided on a solid black, fitted suit with a white dress shirt and a red and black tie. However, the tie was crooked despite his best attempts and his hair looked like he had been through a wind tunnel. A few days of stubble had given him a nice five o’clock shadow and the women decided to leave that, hoping it gave him a more mature look. The preparation continued as Morrigan redid his tie and Laren wrestled his short black hair into a style more befitting a warrior.

“My brother is the member of the Council that represents our bloodline,” Morrigan told him. “Don’t expect any favors from him. Be as honest as possible; he has a special knack for sniffing out the truth.”

“What about your father?” Connor asked Laren as she put the final touches on his hair.

“He’s the head of the Council and a fair man. He also holds to the Law like no one I’ve ever met. Don’t try and impress him, he’ll be able to see right through that.”

Noticing his wide eyes, Morrigan reassured him, “I’ll also be representing you, Laren, and Lu, so don’t worry. You won’t be alone.”

The two ladies took a step back and examined their work. Connor was every bit the well-dressed respectable young man. The suit fit him neatly, showing off his broad shoulders and muscular physique, while the slight facial growth and hairstyle added to the warrior persona.

“You look great,” Laren winked. She gave him a huge hug and kissed him on the cheek. “I believe in you, Connor, and soon you will, too.” With that, she said a quick good-bye to Morrigan and left to take a seat in the Council Chambers.

“Yes, that will do well. Are you ready, Mr. Moore?” Morrigan asked.

Connor felt as though he was going to see the principal, except this was a hundred times worse. Usually a confident person, Connor’s hands were sweaty and his mouth was dry, “As ready as I’m ever going to be.”

Morrigan shook her head, “Not good enough.”

Connor cleared his throat. “Let’s do this.”

“Better. Follow me.”

Chapter 11

M
orrigan and Connor left the
room and found themselves weaving their way down winding staircases, deserted halls, and lavishly furnished rooms. A few times they ran across people Connor guessed to be workers or servants, they all stopped whatever they were doing to look at him. They were more curious than anything. No doubt they’d heard the news that the Law had been broken as well as a half-blood being turned.

After what seemed like walking through an entire stadium, Morrigan led Connor into a room with shiny marble floors and deep red carpets. Looking at the size of the room, Connor assumed this was the main hall. People hurried about, busy on errands. Vaulted ceilings and chandeliers the size of small cars made the room seem even bigger. Morrigan nodded polite hellos as various people greeted her as they stole inquisitive glances at Connor. Soon she stopped in front of two huge wooden doors.

The doors were made out of dark oak that were decorated with intricate carvings of animals and men. The doors told a story, however, Connor had no time to examine them further. On either side of the massive doors stood two tall guards. They rivaled even Lu for size, wearing matching black suits, ties, and ear pieces. They looked more like FBI agents out of an action movie than household guards. Without hesitation, the men greeted Morrigan with civil hellos and they each grabbed a handle to open the doors to the Council room.

The Council Chamber wasn’t as big as the hall. Whatever it lacked in size, it more than made up for in grandeur. The same dark wood used for the doors seemed to make up the entire room, as though the Council Chamber had been carved out of one gigantic piece of ancient wood. The wood floor was bare of any sign of cracks or lines where pieces had come together. The rows of benches to the right and left sprung up from the floor like branches. To the left, light streamed in through gigantic windows that reached from the floor to the arched ceiling.

The ceiling itself was covered in paintings of battles, gatherings, and portraits. It was obvious that rich vibrant colors were used to first create the painting, but over time, the colors had faded.

As they made their way down the long walkway to their seats, Connor knew every eye was on him. Everyone was judging, making their own conclusions about him. Connor had never liked being the center of attention, and instead of meeting their gaze, he looked straight ahead, following Morrigan’s lead.

After ten yards they reached the front of the room and stood before the high, oval-shaped table where the Council sat. The table was carved out of the same wood as the rest of the room, rising from the floor like a strangely shaped tree. Five empty chairs stood around the crescent table.

Morrigan directed him to their own table to the right. Paralleling them to the left was a well-dressed man with blue eyes Connor had never seen before. Faust sat next to him.

Elegant as ever, Faust was wearing a dark blue suit with a yellow and blue striped tie, the pattern wove its way around the soft fabric in a candy cane pattern. His demeanor was sullen as he sat in the chair, a large pair of black sunglasses covering his eyes.

Connor sat in his seat and couldn’t help but notice Faust’s nose scrunch and his head turn in his direction.

The room was a hubbub of conversation and Connor had trouble concentrating.

Leaning close to Morrigan, he raised his voice in her ear to be heard above the racket. “Who’s that sitting next to Faust?”

“His name is Christof Ulfric. As you probably already guessed, he’s a family member of Faust’s, a distant cousin, if I’m not mistaken. Remember, Connor, they can hear everything we’re saying, and likewise, you can hear them. I know we haven’t had time to train you in your new abilities, but we will.”

Connor nodded and mused over the idea that he now possessed heightened senses, a body that could heal itself, and an aging rate that would allow him to live for centuries. As he wondered whether he would be considered a superhero by a normal person’s standards, the Chamber became dead silent.

Everyone, including Morrigan, kneeled reverently, eyes directed to the floor. Connor caught a glimpse of five figures entering the room before he assumed the required position and pointed his eyes downward.

No one made a noise. The sound of the Council’s footsteps approached, then passed them. After a moment, a strong male voice announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, Elites of the Five Families, you may rise.”

Connor took his seat. Looking up, Connor was drawn to the five pairs of different colored eyes peering back at him. Four men and one woman made up the Council, all of whom looked nobly born and were stylishly dressed. Their eyes were unreasonably bright shades of green, blue, brown, amber and violet.

The man in the center of the curved table, Laren’s father, was the head of the Council. He had been the one who had bidden the rest of the room to rise. He reminded Connor of a king sitting on his throne, comfortable yet poised, and ready to make serious decisions. Gray and white blended in his short groomed beard, and his piercing green eyes looked as though they could penetrate solid objects if he so chose.

“This Council has been convened because not one, not two, not even three, but all four Laws have been broken.”

A controlled gasp erupted from the room and whispers amongst the crowd soon ensued. Laren’s father waited for a lull in the noisy room. “Since this is such a large case and there have been so many Laws broken, we have to examine each portion of the trial separately. As a Council, we have chosen to first listen and assess the events that led to the breaking of the Second and Fourth rules: no Elite killing another, and not mating with or turning humans.”

His right hand motioned to the woman who sat beside him and he politely gave her the floor. “ Thema, if you would.”

“Thank you, Adolpho.” Thema was a tall, strong-looking woman with long braided hair pulled back behind her head. She looked like she was in her early fifties, but Connor knew better than to guess her age based on appearances. Her ebony skin accentuated her striking violet eyes. “Connor Moore, son of the notorious Caderyn Moore, was one of two half-bloods turned two nights ago in the American state of New York. The same night, three Elites from the Ulfric Family were killed, along with a handful of humans. Faust Ulfric has come forward, naming the guilty parties as Larentia and Lupus Abelardus.”

Whispers and astonished gasps ran rampant through the crowd. Connor looked questioningly at Morrigan. His father was notorious? Morrigan returned a look of her own that said, “I’ll explain later.”

Thema ignored the clamor. “Will the accused please come forward?”

Laren and Lu enter the room, side-by-side. Everyone turned to watch as they made the long walk to the Council’s table. Laren was dressed in a gray suit with a white top. She looked determined, her smile and carefree attitude gone, she was all business.

Lu, on the other hand, held the same expression Connor had grown accustomed to seeing. He walked confidently with his head held high, oblivious to the crowd around him.

They reached the Council table and knelt obediently, eyes directed to the floor.

“You may stand,” Thema directed after a few moments. “How do you plea?”

Lu spoke for the pair. “We plead guilty to the charge of killing the Elites, and guilty to the turning of Connor Moore. As the Council will undoubtedly see in the course of this case, and through the actions of Faust Ulfric, we had no choice.”

Thema nodded and motioned the two to take a seat next to Connor and Morrigan.

Turning her violet gaze on the room, she addressed the crowd. “Of course the relationship between the accused and our esteemed Council leader cannot be disregarded. Adolpho Abelardus has been the head of this Council for fifty-seven years, and in this time has proven himself a man beyond reproach or question. He has never compromised his values, and as a Council, we have decided that to require him to step down from his position for this trial would not be necessary. However, he would like the opportunity to address the room.”

Adolpho rose to his feet as Thema took her seat. “There is no doubt that I love my children,” he said, his commanding voice filling the room. Looking at Laren and Lu, he half smiled, then nodded. “But I also have a love for my duty and the Law that has kept us from conflict for so many years. Most of you know me as fair and uncompromising. I promise you that throughout this trial, I will hold to these values despite the circumstances. If there are any here that feel I should not be allowed to preside over this case, please come forward and state your concern.”

There was deafening silence. The silence was so all-encompassing that the slightest sound would have caused an echo. Connor was stunned that these people had such a high regard for Adolpho that they would allow him to hold the fate of his children in his hands without any expectation of his being biased or partial. Connor had never seen such respect and he didn’t think he ever would again.

After a brief silence, Adolpho continued. His voice was strong and reverent. “Thank you for your trust and respect. I do not take it lightly.” Seating himself once again, the man to his left now stood up to speak.

He was the youngest Council member amongst the five and closely resembled his sister, Morrigan. Black hair fell halfway down his forehead and ferocious brown eyes deeply contrasted the rest of his appearance. He was clean-shaven with a politician’s smile. Connor imagined that within a brief conversation with this man, anyone would be won over.

“Representing Connor Moore, Larentia Abeldardus, and Lupus Abelardus will be Morrigan Hayes. Representing Faust Ulfric will be his cousin, Christof Ulfric. Christof, you may begin.”

Christof rose from his seat, his shiny black dress shoes reflecting the light. An expensive watch hung from his left wrist and an even more expensive suit was tailored to fit his body flawlessly.

As soon as he opened his mouth, Connor realized this was going to be a long trial. Christof spent the first fifteen minutes addressing the Council, brown-nosing their skills and quality. When he deemed them sufficiently warmed up, he turned to his client and invited Faust to stand as he paced back and forth between him and the Council.

“Mr. Ulfric, will you please explain to the Council and the room why you are wearing sunglasses inside?”

Faust responded in a melancholy tone, so different from the voice that preached wrath and war two nights before. “My eyes were taken from me.”

“Please be more specific. What do you mean by taken?”

“They—” he paused dramatically, “—they were ripped out of their sockets.”

A woman in the crowd gasped and more than one face held a look of disgust.

“I know this is hard,” Christof continued in his silky smooth manner. “but I need you to take off your glasses so the Council and the room can see the damage that was done.”

Faust complied, slowly removing the black sunglasses and turning in a full circle so everyone could see. Even Connor had to admit the sight was gruesome and he felt a slight twinge of guilt. The guilt was quickly banished from his thoughts, though, as he remembered what Faust had planned on doing to Laren and Lu.

The rest of the room, however, did not share his experience. Breaths were sucked in surprise, eyes were averted, and looks of disgust and disbelief were displayed freely.

Connor looked over to Laren, who sat beside him, and Lu, who was seated on the other side of her. Laren shook her head and rolled her eyes, Lu followed suit with a shrug of his own.

After Christof was satisfied the display had served its purpose, he said, “Thank you, Faust. You may replace your glasses. Will you please tell us who did this to you and describe the events of the night that led to this horrible action.”

“Connor Moore took my eyes. I, along with four members of my family, were supposed to meet Larentia and Lupus Abelardus in the Catskill Forest in upstate New York to discuss a land dispute. When we arrived, it was clear they did not come to talk. Within minutes they were aggressively shouting, and soon their harsh words turned into physical violence. Although we outnumbered them, we weren’t able to stop them, especially Lupus. He tore through us like a bulldozer. Before we had a chance to think twice or try to escape, Connor appeared. He killed one of our party and took my eyes. When it was all over, only Randolph and I were able to escape.”

There was a silence and Christof took the opportunity to ask what many in the room were already thinking. “Faust, how was it that Connor Moore, a half-blood, but nonetheless, still a human, was able to not only dispatch an Elite but also take your eyes?”

“I don’t know. He took us by surprise?”

“I would lay before the Council the idea that Larentia Abelardus turned Connor before the meeting in the woods, which I will soon support with evidence. Thank you, Faust.”

Faust took an awkward seat, overdramatically feeling for his chair.

“I would like to call before the Council Randolph Ulfric, who was also there that dreadful night, and who crossed paths with Larentia previous to the events that transpired in the Catskills.”

The Council gave an approving nod and Randolph appeared. Walking down the rows of onlookers, he knelt at the Council’s table. When he received their permission to rise, he stood next to Faust.