Three Queens of Cerberus

Chapter 6

Three Queens of Cerberus

Chapter 6

Baxter’s POV

I pull into the drive of Jensen-Klarevol, parking to block the van trying to leave.

“The Elders will be sleeping. Brinkley’s team, you’re outside. Don’t let them crowd in on top of us.”, I link as I exit the truck. Brinkley pulls around and blocks the van in from the other side, before ordering his team to exit.

“Demon of Cerberus… what… can we do for you?”, a very confused and concerned halfling asks from the driver’s side of the van.

“Wake the Elders.”, I order, having nothing more to discuss with their hoard. He nods, hopping out of the van and running back toward the coven. We follow, searching over the property, and all the eyes peaking out of out buildings. Others hurry into buildings, not wanting to be out in the open with us.

“Grand Elder Jensen will see you, Guardian…”, a young fae girl calls from the door. “He says you alone may enter.”, she adds nervously.

Jensen only has the control I allow him to. My team follows me as I enter the coven manor. The familiar does nothing to try and stop us. She hurries ahead, leading us through a large stone entryway, to a sitting room. The two Grand Elder Jensens, and Grand Elder Klarevol stand as we enter.

“I thought I said alone, Guardian.”, the eldest Jensen calls to me.

“I never asked your preference.”, two of my team enter with me, evening our numbers. The other four stand guard in the hall.

Klarevol raises a brow, taking another sip of his drink before asking. “Does this mean we have done something to upset Cerberus?”

“Tell me about your brother and his family.”, Klarevol’s eyes narrow as he searches over me; trying to decide what I’m after.

“Leslie left long ago. Has he offended Cerberus?”, he answers evasively.

“I’d be cautious with the games you choose to play, Klarevol. What part did you play in Louise-Borne's slaughter of your brother and his mate?”, I direct him to exactly what I want to know.

The Jensen pair glance over at Klarevol, waiting for him to choose their response. “We were aware Leslie had crossed them, and that they planned to retaliate. I assumed that had been done and over with, months ago. Though allied with Louise-Borne, we do not keep track of their movements.”, Klarevol answers truthfully.

“Are you aware of them keeping your brother’s children as familiars?”, I question, gauging his reaction. His brows furrow, his heartbeat rising slightly.

“The girl, she’s not of age. That’s why Cerberus is offended?”, he asks.

“The girl is Cain’s, Klarevol.”, I answer, not missing the panic cross both the Jensens’ faces. Klarevol hides his well, but his voice carries his fear when he speaks.

“We had no knowledge of my brother’s children being kept. I had assumed they’d die with their parents or be left alone. Their issue was with Leslie.”, he answers honestly.

“Cain wants blood, Elder. Your weak explanations won’t spare yours.”, I state plainly, enjoying the fear filling the sitting room.

Klarevol stands, pacing away from me. “We did not know, Guardian. We’ve not acted against Cain’s woman! Louise-Borne only advised of their issue with Leslie. I tried to speak with him about it, but he refused to heed my warning. I never saw his daughter, nor approved any action against her. Reynaldo was there, he can confirm what I’m telling you! Surely, if Cain has the girl, he has her brother.”

I hear no lies in what he is telling me. I pull my phone from my pocket, sending Tie a message. “We’ve done nothing wrong. Jensen-Klarevol follows the Code, and we had nothing to do with what happened to Leslie, nor his family. Cerberus cannot hold us accountable in this.”, Grand Elder Jensen speaks.

“We can and will, if Cain so chooses.”, I answer. I don’t really think they deserve death, but Cain’s order is final. I will do whatever he asks of me.

Ulysses’s POV

Luka joins us in Ray’s medical room. He paces by the window, an inaudible conversation transpiring between him and Tie.

Tie taps his phone against his thigh, before speaking. “Jensen-Klarevol claims to have not been involved. Your uncle says he tried to warn your father.”

Ray, now laying comfortably in his bed, sits up some. “Yes, father thought Louise-Borne would underestimate us. They came in full force, like a coven acquisition.” My mother’s scream as my father’s severed head hit the ground echoes in my mind. My mother's soon to follow. “Oh, don’t cry, kitten. I’m going to make you feel so good.”, Elder Louise whispers as they drag Ray from me.

“Do you wish for your father’s old coven to be spared?”, Tie’s voice breaks through the memory. I scrub my hands over my face, trying to calm myself while listening for Ray’s answer.

Silence… no one speaks. I drop my hands to find all three males, and Mel looking at me. I focus on Tie, wandering from his chiseled jaw to his bright eyes. “I’ll do as you ask, beauty; without question, or hesitation.”

“Within reason!”, Ray hurriedly tacks on, drawing Luka’s attention, his pacing slows as he looks back. “You cannot order him to slaughter our uncle, Sissy. They wouldn’t have known what was going to happen, past what father and I knew. We thought we could handle it.”

“They didn’t help.”, I argue, feeling somewhat petty about the entire situation. Why is he barking at me? I can’t order Tie to do anything. He’s just trying to make me feel better.

“It wasn’t Jensen-Klarevol, Sissy. Don’t do this. You’ll feel guilty later.”, Reynaldo takes on our father’s tone.

“Don’t speak to me like you’re superior, Ray. You want them dead too.”, I growl back, the rage growing. My head hurts, and I feel my heart rate racing out of control. I don’t know them, but they turned their backs on my father long ago. They left our lives in the hands of their allies. Why should I raise my hand to spare theirs now?

“Be that as it may, I understand it to be anger and hurt. We don’t end lives over it. You don’t know what you want right now.”

“I want Louise-Borne!”, I shout, losing my temper with his correction. New to shifting, the heat rising under my skin startles me, and makes me realize I’m losing control of myself.

“Sissy… take a deep breath.”, Ray coaches softly, only increasing the rage.

“STOP TELLING ME WHAT TO DO!”, I order sternly through our link.

Tie grips the back of my neck; a combination of the coolness of his skin, and the power he projects into me erases the rage. A peace envelopes me, so intense and immediate it makes me lightheaded. In an instant, he has me wrapped in his arms, blocking out everything else. I grip his shirt at his waist, leaning into his shoulder and neck. His soft scent fills my breath, and I hold tighter.

“I will give you Louise-Borne, Ulysses. Tell me whether you want Jensen-Klarevol as well.”, he promises; no longer forcing his power into me, but keeping me in his arms.

I reach for Ray again through the link, to apologize. Tie has blocked that, I hit a solid wall. He silenced everything. I look up at him, then to Luka, who has stopped pacing. He bows his head slightly to me. I could force my way through, as could Ray with father’s gifts. He had warned each of us not to, unless absolutely necessary. It would draw scrutiny, as many believe only dragonian and reptilian have the power. Instead, I press again, and Tie lifts the block, letting me reach Ray.

“I’m sorry.”, I don’t know what caused me to lash out at him. I feel guilty about it.

“You’re newly shifted, Sissy. You have to relearn keeping your emotions in check. I forgive you. Do not order Cain to kill Jensen-Klarevol.”, he warns.

“I can’t order him, stop saying that.”, I take calm in Tie, his grip loosened enough for me to pull free. It’s more me keeping him here now.

“Your words are much more powerful than you realize, Sissy. A newly shifted hybrid controlling the actions of Cerberus could be catastrophic. Make sure you’ve thought it out, and mean what you’re saying.”, he again warns.

I loosen my hold on Tie, looking up at him. Searching him, he’s open to me. No hard shell, no cold walls. I can feel him and see into him with ease. He’s waiting for an order, Ray is right. Tie will do what I ask of him, whether he agrees or not. I don’t know if I want Jensen-Klarevol though. “I want Louise-Borne.”, I state all I’m certain of.

“Very well.”, Tie accepts, releasing me. Luka’s eyes move from me to Tie, before he falls in step with him.

Luka’s POV

Tie holds her, waiting for her answer. “Here’s your chance, Goddess. Make this easier for me.”, I pray silently.

Then she refuses to answer for Jensen-Klarevol, and asks him what I’d hoped she wouldn’t realize she could just yet. “I want Louise-Borne.”, with such hurt and conviction.

“Dammit, woman! You sentenced your innocents; I place the blame firmly on your shoulders.”, I scold the Goddess, accepting my role in this.

Tie releases his mate and begins to go for Louise-Borne. I follow, a man of my word. “I need you to help me take out those hoards after this.”, I link Tie. I hate having to do it this way, but it must be done. We can’t have the hoards loose, waiting for her to decide on Jensen-Klarevol.

“You have my word.”, Tie answers as I fall in step behind him.

“Sissy, Tie was already getting them. He said he’d wait a week. That would be enough time for me to be able to go. I want to be there.”, Ray rushes out, trying to stop what’s been set in motion.

Tie and I are halfway out the door, when she calls to him. “You were taking Ray?”

He pauses, turning back to her. I sidestep out of his way. “I had given my word. He is not well enough to go now though, beauty.” I stifle a smile, realizing this may still go the way I’d like.

She studies me for a moment, before looking back at Ray. We can feel their link, though not hear it. Frozen in this limbo, waiting for her to give a command. Melody’s eyes dart between the pair.

Ulysses finally turns back to Tie, “I want to go too.”

Tie will do whatever she asks of him, but she’s not being clear. He searches her eyes as he tries to confirm an order. “Then we wait until Ray is able?”

She nods, her cheeks staining from embarrassment by her flippant requests. First go, then stop, now wait. As inconvenient as it may be, I find it cute. This sweet woman has no idea what to do with the power she holds.

“Very well. As for Jensen-Klarevol?”, Tie asks, stepping back into the room and closing the door. I move around him, giving him a clear path to his mate.

“She doesn’t know what to do, she’s overwhelmed, brother. Let me help her.”, I link Tie.

“The entire truth, Luka. Do not manipulate her.”, Tie warns. It’s not a stretch, I’m unoffended.

“Might I offer a suggestion, Ulysses?”, I ask her. She nods, meeting my gaze.

Tie allows me to pass him and stand before her. I lay it all out, so she can make the choice. “Currently, we have a large hoard issue; hybrid created. Now, it is not fair to simply kill them. They did not choose their fate. We pay other covens to corral them. It takes a great deal of their time, power, and resources to track and contain them, then find placement and care for them. Louise-Borne will die, there is no question about that. What to do with the hoards they are currently collecting though? Perhaps, to atone for their inaction, we order Jensen-Klarevol to take on the hoards, without compensation. It will not kill them but strain them a bit. Would that be a satisfactory punishment?” She is looking through me. She’s heard my suggestion, but she remains completely silent. She battles with her own system.

“We can and will handle the hoards without the coven. Right now, Bax is standing in Jensen-Klarevol Manor, awaiting instruction.”, I gently prompt her to speak, as I would Melody, or my own mate.

She closes her eyes, taking a deep breath. She nods her head gently, not really giving an answer. Yes, spare them? Yes, kill them all? “Which is it, love?”, I ask.

She fixes those emerald eyes on me; the clarity is stunning. “Let them take the hoards.”, she answers, drawing an approving smile from her brother.

“Very well. Decision-making done for today. Rest, regain your strength. In five days time, we will go after Louise-Borne.”, I assure.

Baxter’s POV

We stand waiting, the anxiety in this room is becoming uncomfortable for even me. Jensen-Klarevol knows I’m holding for an order. They just don’t know where the order is coming from. My phone pings, their fate lies in a single message.

Tie- Assign the hoards.

“You’ve been spared, Jensen-Klarevol.”, I speak aloud, slipping my phone back into my pocket. The room immediately calms, relieving the tense atmosphere.

“You chose to look the other way, allowing an underage woman to be taken and abused. You had an obligation here, that was to your brother and his family. Those were your allies; you are not guiltless in this. Cain’s fated was taken and abused due to your inaction.”, I speak sternly, making it clear that there will be repercussions.

“She’s my niece, I would not have allowed that to be done to her, had I known.”, Klarevol acts as though he would’ve protected her.

“She’s your niece now that you’re aware she belongs to Cerberus.”, I sneer, angered by his claim. I grip his jaw, forcing him back against the mantle of the stone fireplace. My men step in behind me, not allowing the Jensen Elders to step in. “Hold your tongue, or I’ll rip it from you!”, I hiss, baring my fangs.

He meets my gaze; his fear isn’t enough to have him stumble. Klarevol is headstrong and powerful. He’ll face his death without cowardice, speaking disinterestedly, “Acknowledging our blood relation is not a claim, Guardian. I’ve never laid eyes on her; I don’t even know her name. She belongs to Cerberus, there’s no debate here.”

I release him, letting him fall back to his feet. He catches himself with ease, straightening his collar. “You’ll pick up the contracts Louise-Borne had regarding the hoards. Payment was already made, it will not be made again.”, I conjure copies of the contracts signed, passing them to Klarevol.

“We may collect our portion from Louise-Borne then?”, he asks, flipping through the pages.

“They won’t be here much longer. Speak of this to no one. If Louise-Borne becomes aware that Cerberus is coming for them, our pardon to your coven will be withdrawn. Cerberus will hunt both your covens until there’s not a trace of their existence. Do you accept the terms?”, I ask, he knows denying is choosing death here and now.

“We fulfill these contracts, and we’re done?”, he confirms there won’t be another obligation later.

“Fulfill the contracts and hold your tongue. Cerberus will accept that as payment in full. We will not be so lenient if you’re found in a similar predicament in the future. I’d advise you to be more cautious with your alignments.”, I reply dismissively.

“Very well.”, he passes the contracts back to the Jensens. “We will fulfill the open contracts, without any mention to Louise-Borne. Your claim to the girl has been acknowledged. Anything else, Guardian?”

I link my men, bowing my head slightly before turning and leaving the sitting room. It takes very little time for both teams to load back into the trucks, returning to Vandergrift Manor. I send a message to Luka and Tie.

Bax- It is done.