Chapter Ten #2
“Good.” She seemed satisfied with her cursory glance at me. Her eyes lingered on the golden sigil on my left arm; her brow narrowed in thought. “How long have you had that?”
I glanced down at my arm, the glow of the sigil seeming dulled in the darkness of the chamber.
“A few days,” I replied, the events of the past few days flooding back to me, making me feel dizzy.
“Interesting,” she murmured to herself. “I wonder why Alaric didn’t mention this.”
“What does it mean?” I asked, moving to stand but finding my balance was off.
The woman caught me before I fell and helped steady me. “Slow down. You’ve been through a lot.”
“Who are you?” I changed subjects, the feeling of terror starting to take root in the pit of my stomach as I looked around the unfamiliar chamber. “Where’s Alaric? Where am I?”
“Mari!” Alaric’s familiar voice echoed from outside the hall. Footsteps pounded against the stone floor, and soon Alaric was in the room, promptly shoving the woman out of the way as he took my face in his hands, looking me over for any indication that I was still injured.
“She’s okay,” the woman murmured, moving back towards the exit. “The Council is going to want a word with you both.”
“I know, Nico.” Alaric spared her a cursory glance before turning his attention back to me. “Thank you.”
She nodded, giving me an encouraging smile before leaving the room, the click of her heels echoing against the stone floor.
Alaric led me to a table where a pitcher of water sat.
He poured me a glass, and I chugged the entire thing all at once, his hand at my waist, seeming to refuse to let me out of arm’s reach.
When I finished chugging the second glass, I slammed it on the old wooden desk, looking into Alaric’s tense expression.
“Where are we? What happened?”
He sighed, tucking a stray hair behind my ear. “We are in the New York Bloodwright Council Chambers. I had to take you here to escape that Stonebound and to slow the effects of this.” He pulled my left arm, the one with the golden sigil, up to the light.
“I thought you said I’d be okay.” I pulled my arm back, taking a step back. “And why the hell didn’t you tell me about this place? I thought there weren’t any other Bloodwrights in existence.”
Hurt flashed across Alaric’s face at my rejection.
“This place is meant to be secret until a Bloodwright has fully awakened and been initiated. You’re only just emerging.
The goal was for me to train you enough on our own and then finish your full training and acceptance as a full Bloodwright.
Then you’d be initiated into the society. ”
I took his words slowly, nodding. So there were other Bloodwrights beyond just me, Alaric, his dad, and my uncle in New York. Did Uncle Dan know? Why didn’t he tell me?
“And right now,” Alaric interrupted my thoughts. “We need to answer to the Council. I broke a lot of rules these past few days.”
“What rules?”
“For one, bringing you here without you being fully awakened,” he sighed, running his fingers through his messy black hair. “And two, for not telling them about your death mark.”
I glanced at my golden tattoo, rubbing my arm absentmindedly. “Am I going to die?”
My voice felt small and hollow. After everything I had come to know and been through these last few days, the thought of it all ending here seemed cruel.
Alaric’s body tensed, his hands turning into tight fists at his sides. “No. I won’t let that happen.”
“Do you even have a choice?” I shivered as a chill raced down my spine. Instead of responding, Alaric took off his jacket and wrapped it around me.
“Come on,” he finally said, his hand at the small of my back as he led me out of the infirmary and down the stone hall, sconces of candlelight lining the walls and lighting our way.
The underground safehouse smelled of dust and smoke; the cracked walls seemed to pulse and hum with energy, not unlike the ring on my finger.
It felt as if these secret chambers were alive.
Alaric led me into a large, vaulted room carved into the bedrock; the walls were lined with black stone and etched with glowing red veins that pulsed faintly.
Surrounding us were various portraits of much older people, some looking vaguely familiar.
The few bookshelves within the room were stuffed with archaic-looking books and pieces of aged parchment.
A circular table sat at the center, with five people seated like judges.
I stopped in my tracks when I noticed Uncle Dan on the far-left side, sitting next to the woman, Nico, I had met earlier.
“Uncle Dan?” I murmured, trying to make sense of the scene before me. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m sorry, Mari.” He stood, as if to explain himself, and maybe walk over and comfort me. “You weren’t supposed to know, at least not yet.”
“Daniel.” The man at the center of the table spoke, his deep voice in clear demand. “Sit.”
Alaric tensed beside me, continuing to keep his hand on my back as he led me to stand before these five Bloodwrights who must have made up this New York Council.
Besides Uncle Dan and the woman named Nico, there were three others.
The man on the far right of the table was an older, tired-looking man, his gray hair disheveled and his glasses smudged.
He was wearing a business suit with the jacket hung over the back of his chair, his sleeves pushed up to his elbows, where ink splotches were stained into his fingers.
He fidgeted nervously, shuffling papers and books in front of him as he grabbed a pen, most likely to take notes.
Beside him was the tall, fierce woman I instantly recognized as Dr. Duvall, the headmistress of Windsor Academy.
She was dressed in her usual all-black, her dark red hair pulled back into a tight bun, stretching her skin back in a way that made it look painful.
Her eyes were narrow and bright blue, fixed on me in an assessing sort of way. What was she doing here?
In the middle sat the man who had chastised Uncle Dan.
He looked to be about Dan’s age; also in a sharp suit with his black hair slicked back.
His dark green eyes were a mirror image of Alaric’s.
If I didn’t know any better, it looked like I was looking at Alaric twenty years from now.
His gaze flickered between Alaric and me, gaze sharp and already unimpressed by what he saw.
There was something about him that seemed familiar to me, and not just because he was clearly Alaric’s dad.
There was something in his very presence that sent chills down my spine, making my stomach clench uncomfortably.
I felt myself shrink deeper into Alaric’s jacket, shoving my hands deeper into his pockets. Nico was the only one to smile encouragingly at me, while Uncle Dan looked like he was about to throw up. This wasn’t good.
“Alaric Michael Gaines,” Alaric’s father’s voice boomed across the chamber.
“You have broken several vital codes of the Bloodwright codex. You have bonded with an emerging Bloodwright, thereby taking on her training as your responsibility. Not only have you been reckless, but you have failed to alert the Council to your apprentice’s death mark.
We don’t gamble with half-formed Bloodwrights who are marked for death.
The Stonebound won’t stop hunting her. You’ve endangered us all. ”
The air suddenly felt colder, goosebumps rising on my skin.
“It’s not her fault, Richard.” Dan interrupted, his sallow face turning from me to Alaric’s father.
“If anyone is to blame, it’s me. I saw the signs, but ignored them.
I had hoped she wouldn’t be doomed to this fate, and if I had just paid closer attention and acted sooner, she would have been my apprentice and none of this would have happened. ”
“Doomed to this fate, Daniel?” Dr. Duvall, sharp and intense, barked, clearly offended. “It is an honor to emerge as a Bloodwright.”
“You know what I mean, Seraphine.” Dan rolled his eyes.
“I think what Daniel is trying to say is, should we really punish Mari for the negligence of her uncle?” Nico spoke up.
“This is no one’s fault but my own,” Alaric interrupted. “If you want someone to blame, Father, you can aim it right here.” He pointed at his chest as he pushed me further behind him, shielding me from his father’s eyes.
Richard’s cold stare turned to his son, the simmering rage and disappointment shimmering just beneath the surface. This man was so different from the one Alaric had described at dinner only hours earlier.
“Mari is Alaric’s responsibility, seeing as he did give her his Bloodroot ring marking them as bonded Twinflames.” The old man at the end finally spoke up, his voice crackling like paper, worn and tired.
“And why isn’t the ring doing its job?” Seraphine turned to the older man in accusation.
“If they are truly Twinflames, Elias, the ring and their bond should have increased her resistance to the Stonebound and her ability to refrain from falling victim to death echoes. But here she sits, marked for death and bringing a Stonebound right to our doorstep.”
My mind was spinning as I tried to keep up with their conversation, feeling totally lost and annoyed as they continued to speak about me as if I wasn’t even in the room.
Alaric tensed next to me, his arm snaking around my waist, bringing me closer as soon as Elias and Dr. Duvall mentioned the words “Twinflames.” Whatever that meant.
Elias nodded knowingly. “It is quite rare; the Twinflame bond. But I must assume because she is a half-awakened Bloodwright and the two have not sealed the bond with the blood ritual, the ring can only do so much on its own. Especially if Mari is prone to taking the ring off.”
It was one time.
“Therefore, she is a liability,” Richard spat. “We don’t make exceptions for half-emerged Bloodwrights. They must prove themselves worthy of initiation or be left to face the Stonebound.”
I felt blood drain from my face at the thought of facing that same Stonebound, but alone.
“And essentially lead her to her own execution?” Dan paled, his fists slamming on the table.
“She has shown so much strength to have made it this far,” Nico interrupted. “She’s already proven resilience that most never show at this stage or survived this long with a death mark.”
“But perhaps the death mark is an omen of what is to come,” Dr. Duvall countered, her eyes looking right through me. My cheeks flushed under her intense scrutiny.
“Elias, you speak of the Twinflame Blood Ritual.” Dan turned his attention back to the old man. “What do you mean? If there is a way to protect Mari and continue her training, then it must be considered.”
Elias replied flatly, “Unless their bond is sealed with blood, the girl’s body may tear itself apart trying to carry the weight of the death mark and her newly emerging status. She is too weak on her own and therefore will need to lean on Alaric’s strength.”
Elias’ gaze turned to Alaric. “If she is to live, then the choice must be made soon: either she ascends fully into Bloodwrighthood and the two become bonded by blood for life—”
“You would bind my son to a half-blood child marked by death?” Richard’s eyes flare in anger.
“If this bond is the reason Mari is still breathing, then we have to see it not as a weakness, but perhaps destiny,” Dan replied, hope kindling in his eyes.
“How poetic. A doomed pair bound by blood or by death. How very . . . tragic,” Dr. Duvall’s smooth voice added, her eyebrows raising in intrigue.
“If Elias is correct, then the only way to save Mari is to conduct the blood ritual and commence her training,” Nico summarized.
“Do I get a say in any of this?” I finally spoke up, tired of being treated as if I wasn’t even in the room.
The room fell silent; Alaric’s grip on my waist tightened as each council member turned their focus on me.
“I don’t know much about this world,” I began, my words coming quickly.
“But I’m willing to do whatever it takes to live.
If I need to train longer and harder, then I will.
If I need to fulfill the Twinflame Blood Ritual.
” I glanced up at Alaric’s pale face, apprehension shining in his eyes.
“Whatever that is, then I’ll do it. I’m not trying to bring any trouble to you. I’m just trying to survive.”
“You don’t know what you’re agreeing to,” Alaric warned under his breath.
“Well, since no one has actually been forthcoming with information and it seems I’m running out of time, I don’t have much of a choice,” I snapped, my eyes glancing between him and Dan. If only those two idiots had been forthcoming to begin with, I probably wouldn’t be in this situation.
The Council sat in silence for a moment, taking in my speech.
“Then we vote,” Richard finally acquiesced. “I vote no. She’s a liability. If she is as strong as you say, Nico, then she will survive on her own. I’m not risking my son.”
“You don’t get to make that decision!” Alaric’s voice boomed, anger and rage making him shake.
The council ignored Alaric’s outburst as the vote continued.
“I vote yes,” Nico spoke gently. “She has potential. I can see it. She just needs support and nurturing.”
“I vote yes as well,” Uncle Dan added quickly.
“I vote no.” Dr. Duvall sat back, completely relaxed with essentially sentencing me to death. “Alaric is too bright and too powerful a Bloodwright to risk anchoring him to this girl.”
I gulped, my eyes falling to the old man, who looked torn. The silence in the room was deafening. With one word, I’d either live or die.
Elias finally spoke. “I vote yes. Either she and Alaric fulfill the Twinflame bond ritual, or she will not make it to Christmas.”
Relief flooded through me, and I staggered backward. Alaric held me up, his glare never leaving his father’s face as he led me out of the chamber. I still had my life, but I had the feeling that everything had changed irrevocably.