The Beast Within (16 page)

“Thank you, Morrigan. Thank you for everything. Not just for teaching me and representing me to the Council. For watching over me all these years.”

She looked at him much like his own mother did when he told her that he loved her and smiled. “Well, someone had to.”

Chapter 14

C
onnor and Morrigan made their
way though the castle halls toward the Council Chamber. Unlike yesterday, Connor now walked side-by-side with Morrigan, confident in where he was going, rather than following behind her like a lost puppy.

“You grasp your bearings quickly. Especially since you’ve been confined to your room for so much of your stay.”

Connor looked at her to see if this was a simple comment or if she knew of his escapades the day before.

Diverting her gaze forward, she refused to give him the chance to read her face. She preferred to leave him guessing.

The looks and gestures Connor received on his way to the Council room today were nothing like the day before. Yesterday, people were content to just stare at him, keeping their thoughts to themselves. Now it seemed as though everyone was picking a side on whether or not he was a Judge.

More than one disgusted look or mutter of “imposter,” was directed his way. Likewise, there were those who embraced him as their savior and knelt as he passed or lowered their heads out of respect.

Connor felt like a celebrity and a convicted murderer at the same time. He didn’t have to worry about this dilemma long, because soon they stood in front of the large wooden doors to the Council Chamber.

The guard on the left side of the door was the same guard who’d been stationed outside of Katie’s room. A look of recollection and then surprise crossed his dark face as Morrigan and Connor passed into the Council Chamber.

Without slowing his pace, Connor gave the guard a shrug of his shoulder and opened his hands in a sign of surrender and continued into the room. The wooden room was again full of Elites. If it was possible, it seemed as though there were more people present today than the day before. Word must have spread that the Catskill incident revealed a new Judge, an event that hadn’t taken place in decades.

Benches were so full they were practically bending under the weight of so many eager attendees. There were even those willing to stand during the entire Council session. Elites lined the walls, excited to catch a glimpse of this so-called Judge for themselves.

Everyone dressed in his or her best; dark suits, blue dresses, white blouses, there wasn’t a pair of jeans in the entire room. Every head turned when Connor and Morrigan entered and every eye studied and measured Connor. Whispers and glances were shared amongst the audience. Connor heard a few comments as he walked down the aisle to their table.

“
He’s
supposed to be the Judge?”

“How old is he?”

“I thought he would be taller.”

“He can be my Judge any day.”

The last comment made Connor turn and look. There was a plump, flirtatious looking woman with short black hair and a dress two sizes too small for her looking back at him. Noticing his attention, she winked an amber eye.

Connor immediately averted his eyes and turned his head forward. Connor took a seat next to Laren and Lu, who were already waiting at the table.

“Hmm. Blue is very becoming on you, Mr. Moore,” Laren said with a smile.

She wore a charcoal gray suit with a light pink dress shirt. She had applied the slightest touch of makeup to accentuate her features. Connor didn’t know why she even bothered to wear makeup. Her natural beauty was already more than enough to turn any head.

“Thank you, Miss Abelardus. You look breathtaking.”

She smiled and rolled her eyes.

“She already likes you. You can lay off with the schmoozing,” Lu, who was sitting to Laren’s right, leaned over to say.

Without missing a beat, Connor responded in a whisper, “Do I need to start schmoozing you, Lu? Or do you already like me?”

“The jury’s still out on that one.”

“Boys,” Laren warned as a hush came over the room. Everyone kneeled.

So far Connor had managed to push the Council’s decision from his mind. Now, kneeling in his dark blue suit, his tie spilling out of his coat, nearly touching the floor, there was no choice. He was faced with his reality. It was going to be a rough path, whatever their decision was. On one hand he would be announced as a Judge, a savior. The weight and hope and trust of an entire race would be on his shoulders. He would be sent forth to conquer an evil he hadn’t the slightest clue existed.

On the other hand, he would be denied the title of Judge, discrediting Morrigan and making him out to be an imposter. The trial, in that case, would continue with his, Laren’s, Lu’s, and even Katie’s fate hanging in the balance.

It was a bleak picture as Adolpho Abelardus’ voice broke the silence, “Thank you. You may be seated.”

There was a loud shuffling noise as everyone turned to sit.

“As you know we are gathered here to determine the fate of the individuals involved in the Catskill Forest incident. Yesterday, the Council was presented with both cases, as well as information regarding the identity of a half-blood that was turned. Connor Moore, son of Caderyn Moore, was presented to this Council as not only a Judge, but the savior foretold in prophecy who will deliver our kind from its darkest hour.”

The room was dead silent. The slightest sound could be heard as everyone held their breaths, waiting for the Head of the Council to continue. Connor sat, heart racing, beads of sweat forming on his brow. Breathing was starting to become a chore. He’d never experienced a panic attack before, however, he imagined he may be experiencing the beginnings of one.

Then he felt a cool hand on his own. Laren intertwined her slender fingers between his and gave him a gentle squeeze. His heart began to slow down and breathing came easier. He looked at her. She returned his stare, mouthing the words, “It’s okay.”

“After examining the evidence, taking into account Morrigan’s reliable history as a prophetess, and speaking with Connor Moore, the Council has decided that he is the Judge foretold of in history.”

The room erupted. For every shout of affirmation there were two shouts of doubt. Leading the crowd in shouts of dispute was the table parallel to theirs. Randolph, Christof and Faust were on their feet, yelling objections. The fancy suits they all wore contrasted with their less than honorable composures.

Adolpho was content to let the crowd have their turn voicing opinions. He was Head of the Council for a reason. Years of experience with unruly crowds taught him it was better to let them tire themselves out instead of breaking his own stoic composure.

Connor felt sick. Somewhere deep down, he thought they would see he was just an eighteen-year-old kid. He couldn’t understand how people who hardly knew him could have so much faith in his ability. What were they seeing? There was no sense of relief, no smile, not even for a second.

Instead of quieting, the room grew louder.

“He can’t be the savior. He’s too young.”

“He’s a half-blood. He’s beneath us.”

“Liars—their all liars! They killed the Ulfric family in the forest.”

While Adolpho stood patiently, willing to weather the storm, Ardan Hayes felt his elected Council leader was being disrespected. A sense of loyalty soon turned into the need to take action. Rising from his seat, he yelled for silence. It was useless, he just added another voice to the near hundred already in the air.

“Quiet! Silence!” he screamed. His black hair trembled with his anger. Ardan’s brown eyes had turned blood red—not just the pupils—his entire eyes. Connor had witnessed Faust and his family’s eyes turn black, Laren and Lu’s from green to yellow, but this was something different. Red eyes, fangs bared, he roared now rather than yelled.

“Silence!” His chest heaved with the exertion of keeping himself under control. He stared into the crowd, daring anyone to challenge him.

The room was immediately quiet. Ardan searched the room, looking for a target for his anger. Tian, who sat on his left, placed a reassuring hand on his friend’s shoulder.

Ardan looked at him, chest still heaving. His eyes turned from red back to brown and pearl white teeth took the place of fangs.

With one final deep breath, Ardan was back and the spirit of anger that possessed him was gone. He turned to address the crowd. “I don’t think our esteemed Council Leader was done talking. Thank you for your respect and civility until he is finished.” Arden sat down and looked to Adolpho.

His green eyes twinkled at the much younger Council member. Adolpho opened his mouth to speak. “Thank you, Mr. Hayes. As I was saying, with the Council’s decision, I would like to open the floor to the other party involved in this trial if there are any questions they wish to ask or explanations they require.”

Christof was on his feet in the blink of an eye. He knew the entire case rode on the question of whether Connor was a Judge. If he was confirmed as the savior, Faust and Randolph were doomed.

Christof strode to the Council table, his pale skin and blue eyes shimmering in the light.

“I would like to thank the Council for this opportunity to inquire into their decision. I know it is one of my qualities to embellish my vocabulary with unneeded words, so I will make this short.”

He paused, letting the anticipation build. Raising a blond eyebrow in an imposing fashion he continued, “If Connor Moore is the next Judge in history, as the Council states, let him prove it by passing the Tests.”

Connor was oblivious to what Christof meant by the Tests. Everyone else seemed to know. The room was too scared of Ardan to launch another yelling barrage, so they whispered and muttered to one another. Connor tried to gauge the level of importance Christof’s last statement carried by examining the faces of the Council and his friends.

The Council members tried to hide their surprise and confusion as they looked to one another for a consensus. Faust and Randolph sat next to each other, smiling and chuckling. Lu’s eyebrows reached his hairline, Laren was pale, and Morrigan, who never showed anything but perfect poise, tried to hide the fear in her eyes.

“This isn’t good, is it? This Test? It’s not like a math test, right? I’m horrible at math.”

Laren looked at him incredulously. She couldn’t help herself and burst into laughter. “No, Connor, the Tests were an ancient series of challenges that were presented to a Judge if there was any reason to believe he wasn’t what he said he was. They haven’t been used in centuries. I don’t even know if my father has seen one. They’re more myth and legend than history.”

“Oh—well, I probably wouldn’t have been joking about it if I had known that.” Connor slumped back into his chair, muttering to himself. “Great, just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse.”

Thema rose from her seat.Her voice was heard loud and strong above the din. “The Tests have not been performed for centuries, maybe even longer than that.”

“Why would it matter when the last Test was?” Christof retorted, looking not only at the Council, but at the entire room. “Our judicial system states that if an Elite is to rise from our ranks and declare himself a Judge, and if there is any reason to doubt his claim, the Tests are a legitimate way to verify his validity. If he is what he says he is, then he should have no problem accepting. And there is no shortage of reasons to doubt this claim.” Christof balled his right hand into a fist and raised a finger each time he listed a reason. “He’s a half-blood, he’s the son of a notorious Law breaker, he’s already admitted to killing an Elite and ripping the eyes from another. Need I say more?”

Mutters of agreement met his ears. Christof stood proud as his scheme began to work. He was playing to the crowd. If he had them on his side, it would make the Council more likely to see his point, or so he thought. Now he turned his haughty gaze on Morrigan. “Unless the almighty, all-knowing witch was wrong. Why should they be hesitant in accepting the challenge?”

Connor felt his anger rise. Seeing Morrigan speechless for the first time, being belittled and made a fool of in front of the entire Chamber was too much for him to bear. Christof could say whatever he wanted about him, but demeaning Morrigan like this was unnecessary. She had watched over him, protected him, and even now was by his side. It was his turn to be there for her.

Connor slowly rose to his feet. He could feel more eyes in the room directed at him every passing second. He stood as tall and confident as he could, looking first at Christof, then the Council, and finally turning to see the crowd. “It’s clear that there are a few skeptics in the room. There are those who think I’m a liar, a phony, or maybe you’re giving me the benefit of the doubt and just passing me off as confused. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m ignorant of your customs; I’m young, a half-blood, and recently turned, still learning about my new power. Let me put this all to rest here and now. I accept. I will take the Tests.” Connor looked directly into Christof’s eyes. “And she’s not a witch, she’s a sorceress.”

Taking a deep breath, Connor looked around the room. He didn’t know what he’d planned to say when he opened his mouth and he hadn’t planned on saying much. Once he started, he hadn’t been able to stop. The room was silent as people decided how to respond.

One person’s clapping broke the silence. Connor turned and was met with a lop-sided grin and a shake of his head from Lu. Lu was one of the last people Connor expected to have his back. There he was, massive suit and all, clapping away. A split second later, Laren rose from her seat and took up her brother’s call. Morrigan followed and the room erupted.