Defiance: The Hybrid's Tale

Cassandra Pope.

The trees outside my bedroom window started shedding their crimson, leafy coats, announcing the start of autumn. Since my brief meeting with councilor Vance, I waited anxiously for any word from him. But to date, he has not replied or attempted to reach out to me. Who was I kidding? Why would he even entertain the idea of meeting with me? I was such a fool.

I lied on my bed working through stacks of paperwork my dimwitted brother threw on my lap. Goddess! Did he do anything except slither around after my father all day long? I guessed so with all the work I had to handle on his behalf. And no doubt, as the sun rose in the east, he would try to take credit for all of my arduous work. Not that I wanted my father’s praise, not at all! It had been a long time since I had cared anything for him, except to plunge a dagger in his throat and to see him slowly drown in his blood.

The subtle rustle of a page turning drew my attention to the beauty who sat on a chair reflected in the mirror. The real chair was vacant, but its reflection wasn’t. I had placed the mirror in the proper place so that I could see her from my bed. A book I bought for her levitated in front of the mirror. I also enchanted it, flipping automatically when she uttered a command to turn a page. She was currently reading one of her favorite books, a soppy love story. My heart tightened in my chest. She would never fall in love again. My brother never courted her. My father and Aveny’s family had arranged their marriage to strengthen alliances between her family, the Blackthorns, and mine. It was a common occurrence amongst high-ranking magical families and she did what any dutiful daughter would do, she went along with it.

From the get go, my brother was smitten with her, but she did not reciprocate his feelings. They never slept together other than to sire an heir, their one and only child, Alex. She told me once that she hated every single moment of her marriage to him and the times they appeared in public acting all lovey-dovey made her skin crawl. I asked her once why she stayed if she was unhappy. She then answered that she did it for her father. Her words made me mad. Not at her, but at her father.

Mr. Blackthorn wasn’t a cruel man. It was actually the opposite. But the Blackthorns, as well as I, knew that you didn’t act against my father’s wishes. I never found out what type of leverage my father held over the man who ended up offering his daughter as a sacrificial mouse to a venomous snake. Mr. Blackthorn was, after all, an Elder with enough political power to obliterate my father. So why would he have agreed to the union?

“So? Are you enjoying yourself?” I asked, coming up for air from my thoughts.

Her heavenly blue eyes softened when she looked at me. A small smile crept across her face when she pulled a few strands of hair out of her face. “I am. Thank you very much for getting the book for me.”

“No thanks needed.” I smiled as I hopped off the bed. “I was no big deal. If you need anything—”

A chime on my cellphone interrupted me. I picked up the damn thing and read the message that flashed across the screen.

“What’s the matter? Your scowl’s going to ruin that beautiful face of yours,” she said.

My mouth dried up immediately while my heart froze at her words. My eyes darted at her as she giggled. Goddess! She had an amazing laugh I wanted to record and play to my heart’s content.

I quickly calmed down and said, “I’ve been waiting for the councilor to take me up on my offer to meet me but that’s too much of a leap of faith. Now I’ll have to take the plunge and go meet him. One of my agents had just updated me on Vance’s location.” I walked over to my walk-in closet and retrieved a blood-red evening gown and matching high heels. “It seems I’ll be dining out tonight.”

Her eyes immediately paled at my words as she turned back to her book. Her peaceful demeanor changed on the spot. Did I just ruin our teeny-tiny moment of bliss?

“Now it’s my turn to ask what’s bothering you.” I removed my sweatpants and yoga top and slipped into the red, laced evening gown.

I wasn’t sure if it was my imagination or my secret desire, but I caught her glancing up from her book once or twice. Do not fool yourself, Cassandra. She’s not into you. It’s a dream that will never come to fruition.

“It’s nothing serious,” she glanced over at me as I stepped into my high-heels. “I don’t know how long it has been since I went out to a fancy restaurant or, for that matter, ate something,” she grumbled out her disappointment.

I turned around and walked over to my vanity.” Don’t worry. Hopefully, if my plan works, I’ll take you out one day and we’ll paint the town red.”

Her eyes shot up at me and she smiled. “That’s a date.”

A pleasant shiver trickled down my back, as if her hand gently caressed my skin. I watched her as she returned to her reading. It’s just your imagination. Don’t get your hopes up. I quickly styled my hair into a tight, high bun and applied my ruby-red lipstick to my lips before clipping on my diamond earrings. I got up and walked over to the table where my cellphone and black clutch bag lay. I collected my nerves before I headed for my bedchamber’s door. Tonight was the night I placed all of my hopes onto the only person who had the power to assist me.

Let’s hope my last card draws the House.

“Good luck,” said Aveny before I closed the door.

I made my way out of the gargantuan manor and out to the black Mercedes Benz that awaited me out front. One of the servants opened the back passenger door for me and I slipped into the car.

“Where to, Mistress?” asked the chauffeur as the car door slammed shut.

“Take me to the Black Orchid Lounge.”

“Very well, Mistress.”

And off we went.

***

I watched as the world passed me by as we made our way through the streets. I once saw the world through a rosy-colored lens, ignoring the darkness in the world. But that changed the day my sister and her child had to run for their lives. All because my father couldn’t accept that my sister had a werewolf for a son. My sister was the golden child, the apple of my father’s eye. I never hated my sister for it though. The pressure she was under was immense. My father drilled all of his hopes and dreams into her, never allowing her the freedoms and vices my brother and I had. That changed, however.

On her eighteenth birthday, she and I slipped off to Cabo San Lucas for a few weeks. It had to happen sooner rather than later, I guess. My father’s iron grip on her life had finally inflamed her rebellious side. There, we met two hot young men that joined us on our wild excursion. Let’s just say that after our alcohol and party-induced trip, my sister found out that she was pregnant. My father was furious, to say the least: he wanted her to have an abortion but my sister refused. After a while, my father slowly warmed up and was actually excited about being a grandfather. My father soon forgave my sister after young Nathan began showing signs that he was a powerful warlock. He learned faster than my brother’s child did and eventually outclassed all of his peers. Soon, my father’s gaze turned away from my sister and onto her son. He would have been a better heir to his legacy than my sister. My father once said to me.

On Nathan’s ninth birthday, my father announced that Nathan would take on the mantle of Grand Warlock of our coven when he reached eighteen. Much to the dismay of my brother, who thought that Alex would take the throne. Let’s be real here. Just from a glance, I knew Alex had no interest in being a leader. He was his mother’s child, a free spirit. When Alex heard of the announcement, he was the first one to congratulate his cousin.

The car pulling over in front of the restaurant interrupted my thoughts. It was a high-classed eatery reserved only for the supernatural of Salem. Getting in was nearly impossible without a reservation but my family were VIPs. We were never denied entry.

A gloved hand poked into the car as soon as the door swung open. I took the hand offered to me and I climbed out of the car. I nodded and gave the young doorman a warm smile. I quickly made my way into the building.

A warm blanket of air enveloped my naked skin as I walked over to the front desk. The mouth-watering fragrance of food awakened my stomach, but I had to ignore my hunger. I didn’t come here for dinner. My mission involved the two councilors who ate at a table situated at the corner of the restaurant at the back. Ignoring the elegantly designed décor of the establishment, I made my way toward them. I waved off the steward before he could stop me.

As I approached the councilors, Vance and Amrose glanced up at me. Councilor Nicole Amrose was the youngest out of all the councilors on the Elder Council. She took over when her mother died five years ago. She was one of the few who didn’t fall for my father’s lies and she was the one who had been constantly causing my father problems on the Council. She had backbone where no others had but I feared that my father would soon turn his rage upon her and her family.

Before I could address them, Amrose spoke. “Well, I bid you fair well, Councilor Vance. But it seems that I’ve lost my appetite.” She glared at me as she placed her eating utensils down on her half-eaten portion of grilled pork stuffed with mushrooms. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the meeting.” She shoved her chair back and walked away in a huff. Her flaming red hair disappeared into the night as she left the restaurant.

Well, that was rude.

Councilor Vance took up the glass of red wine next to him and took a swig. “What is the meaning of this interruption? Haven’t I made it clear that I will have no further dealings with you or your family?” The look he gave me could easily slice the skin off my body; he didn’t even have to use his knife. He returned to his meal.

“I wouldn’t be here if I had the option, believe me, councilor. But I have no other places to turn to and you are my only hope.”

The councilor threw his head back and laughed, catching the attention of the other diners. “That was amusing. You really think that I would stoop so low as to assist you at all? I’m not as stupid as you think I am. Be off and leave me to my meal before you ruin my appetite as well.”

This was going to be harder than I thought. For a few seconds I hesitated. I could turn around and crawl out of the restaurant with my dignity intact but I couldn’t. It was my last chance. I grabbed the empty seat next to the councilor and sat down in it while he glared at me.

“You’re testing my patients,” Vance said in a harsh tone.

I swallowed hard. “I can’t...” It was the only words that escaped my mouth before I lunged at the glass the councilor drank from and swallowed down the wine without savoring the taste. I needed the courage. He stared at my blazonated action with shock in his eyes. He probably waited for me to explain myself. “Councilor... I know you hate me and I get where you’re coming from.” The truth pinched down on my tongue, making me stutter. “M-My f-father has made me do things in the name of family that have tarnished my soul beyond repair. But what I have done to earn your scorn I have done for the people I care for.” I ended my little speech, hoping that he’d listen to me.

He hesitated and then said the word I hoped to hear. “Continue.”

“The lies my father had made me spread was a ploy for him to continue on his quest to destroy all those who oppose him—”

“Tell me something I don’t know. Just get to the point.”

I grabbed his hand, squeezing it. “Not here, Councilor. It’s too dangerous.” I glanced around the room to see if anyone was staring at us.

I then opened my purse and removed two small glass balls with runes etched into their surfaces. One of the balls was filled with my blood. The other one was empty. I stared at them for a moment contemplating the fact that these were blood orbs used by witches who dabble in blood magic. I knew I shouldn’t have these but they were a necessary commodity in desperate times.

I leaned over and placed one of the empty orbs in front of the councilor. His gray eyes immediately tensed up. “What is wrong with you!” he hissed, covering up the orb with his hand. He glanced around to see if anyone saw them. “These are illegal! I could have you arrested for the practice of blood magic.”

He picked up the orb and shoved it back into my hand. “Out of all the arrogance—you stupid girl! Begone!” He bolted up from his seat. “If I come back I want you gone. Don’t ever approach me again or there will be hell to pay.” He strutted off toward the men’s bathroom glaring over at me.

Great job, Cassandra! You just blew your only chance. I begrudgingly got up to my feet and walked toward the entrance, ready to walk out with my dignity barely hanging on by a thread. But then I stopped. No, I couldn’t end like this.