Shade Academy

Chapter 20

After the party was over I pulled Samuel, Alex and Axel straight up to my room and slammed the door. The uneasy feeling I was getting at the party only grew throughout the night. I scanned my surroundings several times, never finding anyone that was giving me or my mates any hard glares, looks of malice or anything. But it had to have been someone at the party and I knew in the house anyone who means any ill intent could not enter, in here we all would be safe. 

I closed my eyes and leaned against the door, taking deep breaths to calm myself. "Anna? What is it?" Samuel asked as he rubbed up and down my arm. His presence alone helped soothe me. Something about this man drew me in so completely that I didn't know how to react sometimes. "I don't know."I told them honestly. "But there was someone, or something at that party that was not there to welcome me back into their fold." Samuel's body stiffened at my words as he turned to look at the two other men in the room. 

I couldn't help but sigh heavily. "I swear if you three don't stop looking at each other like that and not tell me what the hell is going on I am going to explode, and I promise you will not like it." I fumed. Alex walked up to me, grabbed my hand and led me to the couch. "Anna, some of the witches and warlocks there were not invited, but in an attempt to be kind and respectful, we allowed them to be there. With us watching over them of course." He assured me. When he turned to look at the other two, they both lifted their hands in front of them in a sign of surrender as they hastily stepped back several feet. What the hell was going on? Whatever it was it couldn't be good. Alex ran a hand down his face, his eyes glistened with hesitation, and was that fear? "Anna, some of them were part of the rouge group that killed your family." 

I was stunned, shocked into silence as their words sank in. And they sure as hell sank in, deep and hard. In front of me Alex's frame was blurred with a red haze before it shifted to a haze of black. I felt power course through me. I felt as my body shot up from the position I was in and shot out the door like a bat out of hell. Knowing I would never catch all the guests in time I portaled to the front gate just as guests were making their leave. "Shut the gates. No one leaves." I roared. 

My golden hair whipped around me as the guests cowered at my power. Dark ominous clouds gathered in the sky above us sending bolts of lightning to the ground as thunder so powerful it shook the earth rumbled. "Anna, what is the meaning of this" A woman asked, her voice shaky. "Silence." I demanded. She shrank back into whom I could only assume was her husband who glowered at me. "New information had come to my attention and I expect only the truth." I bellowed. "Some here had a direct hand in the demise of my family and I intend to find out who." 

I watched carefully as gasps were let out among the crowd, and as some attempted to portal away. That wouldn't help, I already locked the entire estate down from any magic besides my own working. But all those who did attempt to use magic to escape caught my full attention. Using power I never knew I had, I lifted all five of them into the air, binding their arms to their sides. "You know, trying to escape after hearing such news could be described as suspicious." I informed them eerily calm. 

Their eyes widened as my power drug them towards me thrashing at their invisible binds. "Don't waste your energy struggling, you'll never get free." I chuckled. To be honest, their attempts amused me. Watching them thrash and writhe in my grasp sent a shiver of pure pleasure through me. "Anna. stop." Samuel screamed. "NO!" I yelled, throwing my arm out towards them and freezing them mid step. "You will not interfere." I told them darkly. 

As I turned back to the group of people before me I smiled darkly. "Now. Who here wants to tell me who it is I seek? Anybody?" I waited as eyes darted around the group, but no one spoke up. "I really wish you hadn't forced me into this." I sighed shaking my head. "I really hate making enemies." Closing my fists I tightened the binds on the five I held suspended mid-air. They gasped and groaned as the pressure increased. "If I tighten the binds much further they will implode." I warned them. All of them took hasty steps back, none wanting to get blood or guts on them. 

"Madam Olivia." I said calmly. The middle aged woman's head snapped up to me, her body trembling. "Y..yes?" The stuttered. "Do not fear me Olivia, I mean you and your family no harm. I've seen you all in many photo's I've found of my parents. But I must ask. Do you know who here helped in the m******e of my family?" Relief washed through Olivia as I watched her posture relax. "Anna." Max, Olivia's husband said stepping forward. "Your family was massacred by a plethora of people. The group that people thought was so small, goes so much deeper than anyone ever knew. Dark witches and Warlocks from across the world came together to wipe out the founding families. And that doesn't even count the people who turned their back on the Tribunal. 

I furrowed my brows. "What is the Tribunal?" I questioned. "The council is made up of witches and warlocks, but the Tribunal is made up of Elders from every supernatural race. Vampires, shifters, fae. More than just our people had a hand in their deaths." His explanation did not quench my anger, if anything it made it worse. 

So my parents were not just betrayed by her own people, but by all supernaturals in general. I roared my anger into the air, the sky meeting me with clashes of thunder and lightning. "Alex, Samuel, Axel. What do you know of this?" I demanded. "I swear to you Anna, I knew nothing of the shifters having any hand in their deaths." Axel pleaded with me. "Nor I with the vampires." Alex said. I turned to Samuel who had stayed quiet. "And you Samuel." I questioned with a raised brow. Samuel let out a ragged breath. "I knew." He confessed. "But I never knew how deep it ran or which shifters were involved. There are countless shifters Anna. Werewolves, bears, leopards, lions, eagles, cheetahs, the list goes on. There is no way for one to know who all was involved without being a part of the group themselves." He tried pleading.

In my mind I knew he was right, but I was not thinking rationally, my fury did not allow me to. I did however release Axel and Alex, both of them telling me their truths. But Samuel stayed securely confined. The boys wasted no time in running to me and planting themselves by my side. "Anna, please. Let's talk about this. You can't just go around killing people." Alex all but begged as his hand reached for mine. He interlocked his fingers through mine and squeezed. As I looked into the depths of his blue pleading eyes I cracked. My vision returned to normal as tears made their way down my cheeks. 

"I'm sorry." I whispered, releasing the five people whom I had restrained. Despite my display of power, I was soon surrounded by the people who I just recently threatened. People around me sobbed and cried with me as they relived the death of my family. Each of them offering soothing words and compassionate hugs. 

Samuel reached me and caressed my face between his hands. "My love I am truly sorry for not telling you." He whispered softly as he placed his forehead against mine. I closed my eyes as I reveled in the presence of my three mates, my three loves, three pieces of my soul. I could never in a million years hope to replace these three, but no matter how much comfort they bring me, how complete they all made me feel; there was something inside me that was empty, a space withing my heart and soul that has yet to be filled.