Chapter 21 #2
“I’m afraid we need a bit more information to go on,” Phillipe continues. He slides back in his seat, lacing his long fingers together. “Despite its reputation, the city of New Orleans is safe for both humans and paranormals.”
“I think I can speak for everyone when I say, changing that reputation is not our intention,” Gideon answers. He sighs. “We have reason to believe that Callum is in town.”
Erick matches Phillipe’s posture. “Callum O’Brien?”
“Yes.”
“Fuck me,” Erick answers. His words don’t match the prim and proper persona he displays.
“Who is Callum?” James asks.
“Callum is an ancient vampire with immeasurable strength,” Harrison answers. “He and I had an…arrangement at one time.”
“What did you do, Chamberlin?” Erick interrupts, making me smile.
“Nothing of concern,” he answers.
I laugh louder than intended. “Tell the truth.” I sit back, crossing my arms across my chest. My maker stares at me, warning me with his glare.
Instead of following his silent command, I stand.
“Harrison made a deal to give Callum any child he makes.” I use air quotes with the word child. “Yet, here I am.”
James stands, placing his hand on his son’s shoulder. “Excuse us. This sounds like a vampire matter that does not involve us.”
“It’s a lycan matter, too,” Gideon answers. “If Callum is here in New Orleans, he’s here for more than just Violet. He’s a threat to lycan as well.”
“Explain,” James demands.
“Callum is not just seeking Harrison’s child. If he’s in the city, he’s here for more.” Gideon looks down. “He’s here to take control of the city.”
“Fuck me,” Erick repeats.
“I have heard stories of Callum, stories of death and destruction throughout the centuries. I have no doubt he would love to take our city, but I simply do not believe that is true.” Phillipe crosses his arms over his chest as he speaks.
“The reason you have gathered us here today has nothing to do with Harrison’s child or Callum’s propensity to claim our city.
” He pauses, looking each man in the eye. “What is the real reason we’re here?”
The silence in the room becomes deafening.
I look at the people surrounding the table.
Each one sits stoically and silently, protecting the immortal child.
“Oh, for fucks sake.” I stand, slamming my chair to the ground in the process and redirecting them toward my reason for being here. “They have Cyrus.”
“Cyrus Knight?” Erick asks, wrinkling his forehead.
“Yes.”
“I apologize for my rudeness, my dear. How does that concern us?”
“Because he’s one of us,” I answer.
“He’s not one of us,” Remy speaks for the first time. “Vampire politics is none of our concern.”
“If you don’t help Cyrus, I will make sure the entire city of New Orleans knows vampire and lycan are living amongst them,” I announce.
The room collectively stares at me. “We would stop you before you could do so,” Phillipe answers for the group.
“Not if I protect her,” a voice answers from behind. Lucien enters the room.
“Hello,” Erick greets the warlock. “I don’t believe we’ve met.”
“Lucien Creed, at your service.” He bows grandly.
“You’re a warlock,” Phillipe announces.
“That I am. A very powerful one with the means of placing Miss Du Four far from your reach.”
James stands. “Allow me to put this all into perspective. You,” he points toward me, “want us all to help save a vampire. If we don’t, you will tell the humans of the city that we exist. If we try to stop you, this,” he looks at Lucien, “warlock will protect you. Does that sound accurate?”
“Yes,” I answer simply.
“Although I admire your tenacity, you’d be dismissed and institutionalized immediately,” Erick answers.
He stands. “You are lovely, my dear, and I wish you all the luck possible, but I am afraid this is not my battle to fight.” He turns toward Harrison.
“I imagine there’s more between Callum and Chamberlin than he’s sharing.
Harrison has always been quite…prolific when it comes to getting himself into situations.
I do apologize, but I must take my leave.
” He bows. “It was a pleasure to meet you all.” He’s gone a heartbeat later.
Phillipe stands. “I wish you luck, my dear. Adieu.”
James stands with Remy on his heels. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but for once, I agree with the vampires.
The pack will not get involved in these affairs.
However, we will not interfere. Do what you must. We will do our best to hide your activities.
” The two of them leave the room, taking their energy with them.
“We’re back where we started,” I announce, slamming my hands on the table in front of me.
“Not quite,” Lucien says with a wide grin. “We have help.”
Simon looks around the room dramatically. “Unless you’re talking about the dead plant in the corner, there’s no one else here.”
“You have me,” a soft voice says from the corner of the room. Standing where the room was empty moments ago is the immortal child vampire. The reason Cyrus is in the hands of Callum.
“No offense, Terrin. But, you’re a child,” I announce the obvious.
Terrin raises his hand, waving it from one side of the room to the other. A wave of tranquility hits me instantly. I feel completely at peace. Apparently, I’m not the only one. The people behind me take a collective sigh of relief.
“Am I imagining that it feels different in here?” Gideon asks.
The boy smiles. “I changed the energy.”
“How did you do that?” Harrison asks.
Terrin shrugs. “I don’t know. I think things, and they happen.”
“Does it work on ancient vampires?” Harrison asks.
“It worked on you,” Lucien answers. “He can also hide paranormal energy from other paranormals.”
“You mean other vampires and lycan won’t know we’re there?” Gideon asks.
“Yes,” the boy answers simply.
“Prove it,” Harrison demands.
Terrin sighs and waves his hand once more. Instantly, the room feels light, safe, and empty. “I can help save your friend.” His voice is so soft, it’s barely audible.
“We can’t allow a child to help us…can we?” Simon asks, looking around the room. My mind flashes back to the barely teen wolf hybrid that helped me escape from Aurora. I look at Simon knowingly.
“Is Callum aware of your powers?” Gideon asks the child.
His tiny head shakes back and forth. “He’s aware I have abilities but unaware of what they are.”
“Allowing him to help us would be signing the boy’s death sentence,” the Alpha announces. “There will be no place you’ll be able to hide him, warlock.”
“It’s not his choice,” Terrin answers for Lucien. “It’s mine, and I choose to help save your friend.”
I stare at the child in front of me. I’m not sure what to think of his words. Visually, he’s a young child, but his wisdom says otherwise. “What or who caused you to change your mind?” I ask Lucien, who earlier was willing to sacrifice Cyrus’s life to save the immortal child.
“I never said I was agreeing. However, I have made a promise to Terrin that I will not interfere. It was his decision.”
“It’s settled,” Harrison says, speaking for the entire group.
“Now, we just have to find Cyrus,” Simon announces.
Terrin smiles. “I can help there, too.” He closes his eyes, reaching his hands toward the sky.
The energy shifts, sending what feels like a shockwave through the space.
“I feel him,” he says, opening his eyes wide.
“He’s there.” He points toward the Vieux Carré, the same direction where this entire fiasco began.
“Of course, he is,” Harrison answers. “Shall we?” He motions toward the cathedral door, and the rest of us pile behind him, heading toward either impending doom or success. There is no middle ground.