Rebellion (Risen Series Bk1)

Chapter 12: Inner Circle

~

The black Porsche looked more like it had been abandoned in the drive rather than parked, it's front wheels resting in Padraig's neatly mown grass. I had the feeling he wouldn't be too happy when he found out.

Following Atanas into the house, I couldn't see who it was in the living room due to being stuck behind him.

"Atanas!" A woman cried happily and I stepped back as she embraced him.

I had to swallow back a possessive growl that would have surprised me just as much as it would have everyone else. Atanas was free to hug whatever women he wanted.

"It's good to see you again, Zena." Atanas greeted, slipping from her arms.

"I knew you'd find a way to come back to us." The woman said, a flash of hair all I could see of her.

"I couldn't leave you all without me for too much longer." Atanas teased.

Now that I seemed to have been forgotten about, I slunk into the corner of the room, resting against the wall. Folding my arms over my chest, I took my time to study the two new arrivals. The woman, Zena, was truly beautiful. Her skin was the colour of melted chocolate and her hair was a glossy midnight black. She seemed completely focussed on Atanas, her hand on his cheek.

"You smell different." She suddenly announced, her eyes narrowing as she inhaled deeply.

He chuckled, taking another careful step away from her, "Astute as always."

She hummed and suddenly her brown eyes were on me and widened before darting back to Atanas.

"You've taken a mate? I never thought I'd see the day! Why have you not introduced us?" She asked, seemingly aghast.

I stayed glued to the wall, watching her warily. The man who had stayed far too quiet took Zena into his arms.

"You haven't given him the chance to say much, my love." He stated in amusement.

Atanas moved towards me, taking my hand and pulling me a little too firmly into his side. So much for sticking to the shadows. Perhaps he trusted these two.

"This is Shylah." Atanas introduced me, "Shylah, this is Zena and Lachlan, very old friends and part of my inner circle."

I did my best to give them a confident smile, even as my every instinct told me to have something behind me to keep my back safe. Atanas shifted me so I was in front of him and I wondered if he'd somehow read my mind. His hand was strong on my shoulder, keeping me in place.

Zena's eyes were suddenly narrowed on me and my body tensed.

"Una mentioned that you'd taken a pet of the council...I didn't realise she meant you'd taken her as your mate."

The disgust in her tone shook me and I was glad I had the trust of Padraig who was suddenly on his feet and moving to stand close. There was now a wall of muscle surrounding me.

"She's Atanas' mate, Zena. She's proven herself, we trust her, and I happen to find her quite amusing. No harm is to come to her."

The warning was clear, if she wanted to hurt me, she'd have to get through him. She clucked her tongue, seemingly mulling something over before she sighed, "Forgive me. You can't blame me for being a little mistrustful."

Lachlan was studying me carefully and there was a coldness to his gaze. I had the feeling it would take some time before either of them would trust me. I inhaled, trying to get a sense of them both. Zena had a strong heartbeat and her body gave of warmth, she was no vampire. Lachlan on the other hand had that eerie stillness that gave away his species without me having to search for the slow thump of his heart.

Atanas' grip tightened on my shoulder and Padraig moved again so his body was slightly in front of mine as Zena stepped towards me. Her gaze was glassy and I flinched as her hand cupped my cheek. I tried to move back but Atanas' body was in the way.

"Silver eyes," She murmured, "Who were your people, Shylah?"

Words escaped me. I had no idea what she meant, my family were nothing but poor humans. There was nothing special about us. My body thrummed with nervous energy and I wished I was anywhere but here, yet I couldn't seem to tear my eyes from hers. Magic wound around me, electrifying my skin and I sucked in a sharp breath. Images of my human life flashed past my eyes; the men who had stolen my innocence, the resounding echo of my screams as they forced themselves on me, sitting having dinner with my family, whispered conversations between my parents. Panting hard, unable to focus on any one memory before another one flickered past.

"That's enough, Zena." Atanas growled, but she didn't seem to hear him.

A whimper from me as my energy seemed to drain, my eyes rolling back. She was searching for something, invading my senses even as I fought against it. These weren't things I wanted to remember.

"Zena, come back to me now." Lachlan ordered gently.

Still she never released me. Atanas growled again, grabbing Zena's arm and yanking her from me before all but tossing her towards Lachlan. My legs shook beneath me, threatening to give way but Padraig made sure he was there to catch me when I finally collapsed. Anger boiled up, my fangs descending as I propelled forward only to be yanked back.

"What was that? What did she do to me?" I hissed, struggling against Padraig's hold.

"She can't always help it." Lachlan said, holding Zena protectively, "Sometimes when she sees something, it takes over."

I settled a little and Padraig slowly released me. I wondered what she'd seen, but at the same time I didn't want to know. Atanas was staring at me and I ducked my head.

"Maybe there was more to Airell wanting to keep you to himself than I originally thought." He mused, tipping his head.

I didn't like where this conversation was going.

"Airell likes to keep what he feels belongs to him, that's all. I'm nothing. I was his play thing..." I argued, shaking my head vehemently, "I'm nothing."

"You're hardly nothing." Padraig interrupted, patting my head and leaning down to whisper teasingly by my ear, "You're Atanas' mate, remember?"

Rolling my eyes, it was impossible not to smile. Padraig winked and I realised he'd been meaning to cheer me up. Perhaps staying by Padraig would be better than staying near my supposed mate.

"You shouldn't have taken her, Atanas. If Airell has an interest in her as Una said, it'll bring nothing but more trouble." Lachlan warned, glaring at me.

Zena placed a calming hand on his chest, her unnerving eyes on me, "No. It's good that she's here. She's meant to be here, and she obviously means a lot to your King, love. We'll help keep her safe, Atanas, you have my word."

Atanas nodded gratefully, "Thank you."

King. I'd almost forgotten. Was he my King, I wondered, staring at him? It didn't sit well with me, I didn't want to bow down to anyone.

"I guess that makes you our Queen..." Lachlan mumbled, his eyes looking a little less angry as he looked at me.

The odd choking noise that left me had Padraig chuckling and patting my back, "I'll go get you a glass of water. Why don't we all have a seat?"

If I'd been watching from the outside, I might have laughed at the way we all sat down, watching each other as if one of us would attack. Every muscle in my body was tense and when Atanas sat down next to me, I tensed further.

Nobody spoke, only the muttering of Padraig and Anna in the kitchen kept the room from being deathly silent.

Zena was still staring at me with those unnerving eyes, making me shift uncomfortably. When Atanas' arm brushed against mine, I jumped. The spot where he'd bitten me burned and I rubbed it without thinking which only drew his hungry gaze. This was all too much, too overwhelming. Everything in me was telling me to run and hide, to get away while I still could.

My chest constricted, my vision blurred and fingers turned to claws that dug into my jeans. I sucked in a breath but it did little to help.

I'd overestimated myself in thinking I could handle this.

A drink was thrust into my hand, the strong scent of whisky hitting my nose. Looking up, Anna gave me a wink before taking her seat on Padraig's lap. I gave her what I hoped was a grateful smile, taking a sip of the liquid that burnt my throat. Almost immediately, I relaxed, sinking back into the couch.

"Are we going to discuss what's going on? Not that we're not ecstatic to see you back, though I am wondering how you pulled off escaping the tombs, but you can't possibly be thinking of attempting another take over? The Vampire Council have a strong grip on their world, it's going to be even harder to attempt now than it was before." Lachlan said, throwing his arm around Zena's shoulder.

"I'm aware that it's not going to be easy, but they've gone too far. They're sitting in my stead, breaking rules that I laid down, risking our entire existence out of greed. I won't have what I built destroyed by the likes of Airell. I'm taking back my throne, with or without your help." Atanas stated confidently.

His voice rang strong and I could see the King he had been. Atanas was a force to be reckoned with, and Airell should have been worried.

Zena placed a hand on Lachlan's arm, stopping him from arguing, her face was stern as she spoke, her gaze determined, "You know we are with you, Atanas. However we can help, whatever your plan is, you are still our King."

Anna and I shared a look. We were both new to this and perhaps she shared my feeling of being an intruder.

Atanas smiled, inclining his head, his eyes meeting mine briefly. I looked away, feeling oddly shy.

"Thank you, Zena. When the rest arrive, we can discuss our plans. We can't make the same mistakes we did last time."

Lachlan snorted, "The mistake we made last time was trusting that rat, Mirdull. He was in the council's pocket the whole time. You're already making the same mistake again, Atanas, you've brought her into your inner circle."

The hatred in his eyes scared me. Nobody had ever looked at me with so much disgust before, not even Una. Atanas let out a warning growl, his pose going from relaxed to threatening in the blink of an eye, "Be careful with your words. I won't take kindly to any threats against Shylah."

"I wasn't threatening her, but not only has she lived with the council, her creator is Airell. You of all people should know how strong the bond between them could be. Who's to say that if he calls, she won't go running?" He argued, ignoring the pleading look Zena was giving him.

Flinching, something between anger and shame washed over me. I had barely resisted Airell when he had tried to get me away from Atanas, but I had resisted. Anger took over and I all but slammed my glass on the table, glaring at the vampire that questioned me.

"And who is to say you are still trustworthy? Atanas has been gone for over a hundred years, that's more than enough time for a shift in loyalties." I spat, surprising even myself.

Lachlan's face was one of shock before he chuckled, "She's got some spirit, I'll give her that."

"That she does. Sometimes I think too much." Atanas agreed.

I gave him a look, remembering when he told me that one day my mouth would get me into trouble. He smirked, which only disgruntled me more.

"But she's my mate, Lachlan. If I feel that she's unsafe, I will take out the threat." Atanas finished, a rumble of threat in his voice.

"She faces no danger from me and you know, as Zena said, our loyalties will always lie with you."

I felt a little bad for questioning him when I wasn't even sure where my own loyalties lay. I'd never go back to the council, and I had the feeling they wouldn't let me live the life I had if I returned, but I was questioning whether I was meant for this. Though neither of us acknowledged it, whatever was going on between Atanas and I terrified me. Having to keep my panic at bay when dealing with strangers like Zena and Lachlan was hard to bear. And pledging my loyalties to a King was something I didn't think I could do.

"What is your last name, Shylah?" Zena asked out of the blue.

I blinked at the odd question and then stuttered at the realisation that it wasn't something I'd thought about since before I was even turned. My face scrunched as I tried to rake through blurry human memories and came up blank. It was just another piece of myself that I'd lost.

"I don't remember." I murmured.

"What about where you were born, the year, do you remember that? Or your parent's name, with a name as unique as yours they must have had names to remember too?" She rambled, continuing her tirade of questions.

"Enough, Zena. Leave the poor girl alone." Padraig scolded, shaking his head.

"I'm just curious!" She cried out defensively.

Lachlan hummed, giving her a disbelieving look, "You're fishing for information. Did you not find enough when you about fried her brain?"

The conversation was making me increasingly uncomfortable. My past was mine and mine alone, I didn't want anyone digging through it. I picked up my whisky, quickly drinking the rest of it. Before I could even ask the question, Anna was on her feet, her hand out to take mine.

"There's more in the cellar, you can take your pick, I'll show you."

I took her hand, which was maybe the first time I had accepted physical contact with someone in an age. She tugged me towards an oak door and I could feel eyes on my back. Chancing a look behind me, my eyes locked with Atanas'. Blue eyes flicked to my neck and I swear it made the mark there burn. As if he knew exactly the reaction it caused he smirked before licking his lips. A tingling feeling filled my belly before turning to that heat I didn't understand between my legs.

The loud creak of Anna pulling the door open broke through the haze and my cheeks heated in embarrassment at having been caught staring. Ducking my head, I followed Anna through the door.

The click of her heels on the stone steps echoed loudly as we descended and the buzz of the lights gave it an even more eerie feeling. The walls were red brick, only wide enough to fit one person at a time. I didn't want to think about what the dark stains splashed over the last step were.

Anna turned, squeezing my hand and I gave her a grateful look, "Thank you for getting me out of there."

"I see what you mean now about things being intense. That Zena is an odd one to be sure. Her magic can be felt even when she's not using it, it feels like ants crawling over my skin." She said, shuddering.

I laughed but it was lacking any real amusement. Anna fumbled by the wall before finding what she was looking for. The click of the light switch was followed by flickering lights that buzzed to life. My jaw fell open as I took in the room, making Anna chuckle.

Every wall had various bottles shelved all the way to the roof. There seemed to be every kind of alcohol invented, but only the most rarest and expensive. One bottle of vodka proclaimed it had real flakes of gold in it, while a bottle of whisky was dated from 1820. I quirked an eyebrow at the small fridge of cheap alcopops in one corner and looked at Anna who shrugged.

"I have less exspensive taste and I'm not a fan of strong tastes." She sniffed, looking around, "I like my drinks fizzy and sweet."

Nodding, I walked over to the bourbon, eyeing each bottle, "I've no idea what to have, I didn't expect such an amount of drinks to choose from."

"Padraig did tell you he liked to collect things, alcohol being one of those things. You're welcome to try anything that catches your fancy. There's drinks in here that are probably older than you are." She joked, motioning to a shelf that was covered in ancient looking bottles that lacked any labels, "unfortunately I'm no expert, so I can't really offer any suggestions. If you don't want to be knocked of your feet, I'd stay away from the shelves in the corner. Even vampires can't hold the alcohol levels in those."

I chuckled, remembering that for future reference, in case I ever wanted to get lost in the waves of a drunken stupour.

My foot kicked something that rattled and I frowned, looking down. The bottle in my hand almost slipped from my grasp at the sight of the rusty chain and cuff that was still attached to the wall. My breathing quickened, the room changing to a vision of the dungeon I'd been kept at while with the council. Suddenly the dark stains that covered the floor made sense and I realised the musty scent I'd been smelling was age old blood.

As if my nightmares were becoming reality, loud banging boomed through the house, followed by an unmistakable voice, Mirdull.

The council had found us.