Redeeming the Broken Dragon

Chapter 3. The Vote

King Vlad looked at Gabriel, then Markus. Then, his gaze stopped on Amara. “I’ve been hiding her, trying to keep her out of harm’s way,” he said, pausing momentarily. “Her abilities suggest that she is more than a vampire. Therefore, I couldn’t risk it, not with what she’s capable of.”

King Vlad heaved, his breath sounding like a whisper of regret in the tense air. He shook his head slowly, each movement laden with a heartache that seemed to echo in the silent room. Turning to Lila, his eyes softened, a stark contrast to the usual sternness they held.

“If only I could have kept you safe, my sweet daughter,” he murmured, the words trembling with a father’s sorrow and the weight of unfulfilled promises. In his gaze, there was a blend of tenderness and pain, a silent apology for the dangers she survived.

As King Vlad’s words hung in the air, the room fell into a brief hush, each member processing the implications of Crimson’s unique abilities.

Amara felt her heart thudding, a wild dance of hope and fear inside her chest. Despite her age and experience, Amara never encountered anyone with Crimson’s abilities. Her abilities are indeed peculiar. Could Crimson be another hybrid? she wondered.

Amara observed King Vlad. His shoulders, broad and stooped, seemed to sag under an invisible burden. His silver hair framed his face, each line on his skin telling a story of centuries passed.

King Vlad’s eyes, clear and ice blue, held a quiet intensity. A softness, a hint of worry, and warmth contrasted with his usual reserve. Each look he gave, gentle yet profound, subtly revealed the depth of his concern.

“Maybe your coven could help?” King Vlad finally spoke.

Amara nodded, urging him to continue. She admired his courage in seeking their help. While witches and vampires didn’t have the same animosity as werewolves and witches, it was uncommon for supernaturals to request help from another species. As the prophesied hybrid, Lila had brought out the best in everybody around her. She was the catalyst for these unusual collaborations.

“We struggle to explain or understand some of her powers,” King Vlad continued, his voice trailing off momentarily, his eyes searching hers, seeking answers in the depths of her gaze. The furrow in his brow and the slight tilt of his head conveyed more than words could – a profound intrigue and an unmistakable concern.

“Unique abilities?” Thomas leaned forward, his hazel eyes alight with curiosity. A hint of stubble softened his rugged features and his strong jawline bespoke determination.

“Much like you, Gamma Thomas,” King Vlad answered with a small smile, “Crimson is a human lie detector. Nothing gets past her.” The words hung in the air, causing surprise to wash over the gathered allies.

Lila arched an eyebrow in astonishment. “A lie detector? That’s... interesting.”

Thomas scoffed. “That’s not so special.”

So, Mr. Gamma is jealous? Night egged Thomas.

I’m not jealous. I’m saying Crimson’s abilities aren’t unique. It’s nothing I can’t do. Thomas replied.

Exactly, you’re admitting that you’re not special! At this point, Night couldn’t contain his laughter. Thomas pushed him to the back of his mind.

Eliza couldn’t help but chuckle at Thomas and Night’s banter. She leaned into Thomas’ shoulder, her touch gentle and reassuring. Her white hair cascaded down her back, and her eyes twinkled affectionately. She whispered in his ear, “Now look who’s being a child.”

Matthew shifted in his seat, his eyes never leaving King Vlad. “While that ability sounds promising, we know little about her. And why not just send Thomas if we need a human lie detector? We know him. We can trust him. Well, most of the time.” He winked at Thomas.

Thomas rolled his eyes, dramatically holding the back of his hand to his forehead. Their camaraderie was evident as they shared a collective laugh.

King Vlad cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention and move past the Gamma and Beta’s childish behavior.

“But she is more than a human lie detector. She has stealth-like movements, being able to get in and out of any situation. When you see her move, it’s almost like she glides on air.” Kind Vlad’s words painted a vivid image of the mysterious woman, a figure shrouded in power and grace.

The council of allies absorbed this newfound information.

Amara’s fingers drummed on the table. Why does this seem familiar? Yet I cannot put my finger on what this woman reminds me of. Amara thought to herself.

Solstace slammed his hand on the table, causing a few papers to flutter and startling everyone lost in their thoughts.

“Matthew has a point. We’re not talking about some minor mission here. And it’s not a ballet recital. This is Zoltan. He’s cunning and dangerous.” Solstace’s stormy green eyes bore into King Vlad with an intensity that could scorch stone.

“You couldn’t control Zoltan,” his words were laced with anger. “And now you expect that we unquestioningly trust this baby spy of yours.” Solstace spat out the words, a throbbing vein in his forehead betraying his fury.

“Am I the only one who finds this a crazy idea?” Solstace looked around the room to find allies, others that would back him against the idea of including Crimson in this quest.

King Vlad’s gaze was icy as he addressed Solstace. “Crimson has been loyal to me for years. I suspected Zoltan for many years, but we couldn’t find the evidence to accuse him of anything. I said it before: I keep my enemies closer than my friends.”

King Vlad looked at Gabriel. “She has risked her life for my kingdom, and I trust her implicitly.”

Solstace met his gaze without flinching. “No offense, but trust isn’t something you just hand out. You’ve got to earn it, especially when there’s a lot on the line.

Charles sat in silence, his knuckles white from the vice-like grip on the armrest of his chair. As the discussion swirled around him, he stared at the table. His ordinarily steady breaths came in irregular, shallow gasps, betraying the storm brewing within him. His inner turmoil raged like a storm. His dark coat didn’t hide his tensed and well-sculpted muscles.

Charles’s voice cracked as he finally found the courage to speak, each word seething with barely restrained fury. “Yet, here we are,” he began, his gaze fixed on the faces before him, “asked to trust the dragon that coveted my half-sister... for his breeding purposes.” The pain of the past, raw and unhealed, shimmered in his eyes as he struggled with the betrayal. His jaw clenched, a visible struggle against the anger and hurt that threatened to overflow. ‘Shall I go on?’ he asked, his voice a low growl.

Across the table, Solstace seemed to

shrink under the weight of Charles’s words. His shoulders sagged as if the air

had been knocked out of him. There was no mistaking the guilt that clouded his

face, the way his eyes darted away, unable to meet the piercing accusation in Charles’s

stare

Amara interjected, hoping to stop the exchange from escalating. “If King Vlad vouches for her, shouldn’t that be enough? After all, isn’t he the one who has lost the most and who has the most to lose?”

Solstace scoffed. “He’s the one who has most to lose? How many years have I lost because of Zoltan and that witch?” he looked around the table

“More importantly, why would an alliance by blood with King Vlad automatically mean we should trust in every member of his court? Lives are at stack here.”

Gabriel let out a soft sigh, so faint it barely stirred the air, yet it echoed the heaviness in his heart. His fingers drifted up, pressing on the bridge of his nose as if trying to ease the invisible weight pressing on his mind. The subtle furrow of his brow and the momentary closing of his eyes spoke volumes of the silent burden he bore.

They are testing my patience, he complained to Zeus.

They are a bunch of idiots. Want me to shut them up? Zeus would have been all too happy to surface with a big roar.

Let’s give them a chance to hear reason. Gabriel sighed. He thanked the Moon Goddess for Zeus almost daily; it allowed him to complain to a trusted companion and share his frustrations.

Standing up, Gabriel cleared his throat to ensure he had everyone’s attention. “We’re going in circles here,” he looked at Lila to anchor himself. He needed to take charge of this meeting for them.

“I agree with Solstace. We won’t decide to include Crimson -or not- lightly.”

“Here, here!” Solstace let out a loud exclamation.

“But, we cannot dismiss her abilities and added value to this mission because Zoltan pulled the veil on so many of us. Her abilities, combined with our intel, might be the edge we need to finally bring Zoltan down.”

Solstace pushed himself away from the table.

“This is a mistake,” he said, crossing his arms.

Gabriel’s desire for a resolution burned within him. He understood the stakes, the looming threat of Zoltan, and the importance of unity within the pack. We need to find common ground, he said to Zeus.

Lila cleared her throat. “Is there a way to trust her loyalty? Can we get to know quickly and asses her loyalty and her skills?”

“I know how she can prove herself,” King Vlad said. “She’ll show you what you ask her as long as it is a memory accessible to her.”

Gabriel’s eyebrow furrowed. “She’ll what?”

Eliza gasped. “What do you mean by that?” Her mind raced as she considered the implications of Crimson’s abilities.

King Vlad’s voice wavered slightly, a note of awe mingling with hesitation as he revealed, “She can share her thoughts and memories.” As he spoke, his betrayed a cascade of emotions – wonder, fear, and a hint of something more profound, unspoken.

Members of the council seemed to consider the suggestion.

This ability is interesting, Gabriel shared with Zeus a human lie detector and an open book.

“Why is sharing her memories with us a testament to her loyalty?” Matthew, the ever-pragmatic member of the council, nodded thoughtfully.

King Vlad sighed. “Ask her why you can trust her, and she will show you.”

Matthew mind-linked Gabriel. What do you make of this, boss?

It’s worth a try. Gabriel replied.

Gabriel’s eyes locked onto King Vlad. “How can I know she’s sharing true memories.”

“You’ll feel her emotions,” Eliza answered before King Vlad could.

Gabriel looked around the room. His eyes held a sense of unity as he spoke. “All in favor?”

The room’s echo of ‘ayes’ wove together threads of hope and caution. Solstace stood apart, his silence a vote against the tide. “I’ll go along with the allies’ decision, but don’t think for a second I’m playing babysitter,” he said, his voice carrying a hard edge as he exited the room.

Gabriel gave a sober nod. “It’s decided, then. I’ll meet with Crimson, and she will share her memories to convince me she is friend, not foe.” The tension in the conference room lifted, giving way to a cautious whisper of optimism, a delicate shift from the heavy shroud of indecision that had lingered before.

As the last murmurs of consent faded, a shadow flickered across King Vlad’s stern features. Trusting the council with Crimson’s abilities was a gamble, and the stakes had never been higher. An unsettling thought twisted inside him, a nagging whisper that perhaps he had unveiled her to a den of wolves.

Amidst the silent echoes of the chamber and the gravity of their choice, a resolve hardened within Vlad. No matter the perils lurking in their paths, he made a silent oath to shield Crimson. The thought of anyone or anything harming her tightened his chest with an unexpected fear. In the quiet aftermath, a promise hung unspoken; the king would defend her with every fiber of his being, for she had become his to protect.