Blood and Ice

Chapter Four

Arabella's POV

Draven rested against me for what felt like hours while I gently stroked his long strands of hair. It was peaceful, but guilt began to swallow my entire being. In the heat of the moment, nothing else mattered but us two. But now, I felt the ache in my chest of what had just happened. Reality had finally set in that I was digging myself deeper into my own grave.

Finally, he sat up and began dressing himself. "The meeting should be taking place any moment. We better get to the conference quarters." He urged, handing me my clothes. I raised an eyebrow.

"Meeting?" I asked.

He smirked and leaned down to give me a gentle kiss.

"If I knew, I'd tell you." He answered.

The two of us fixed ourselves up before exiting his room. Lila's door was wide open. She and Bram were sitting on the edge of her bed laughing and talking away. I noted her bed was still made precisely in tact.

"Meeting time?" Bram asked. Draven nodded his head, and Lila avoided eye contact with both of us. I knew she had to hear everything.

The four of us walked together down the long hallways until we reached another set of staircases. Bram was explaining the history between the witches, wolves, and vampires as we walked down the steps.

"As long as I've been turned, which is a long time, the witches have always hated our kind. They believe they are more superior, but fail to realize we are the apex predator." I looked at Bram confused.

"Have you ever seen a wolf in action?" I asked.

"Yes I have, sweet one. Wolves, you see, are strong and very fast, but they have to be in their wolf forms to even have a fighting chance against us. And that's still questionable."

I tensed at the idea of a wolf on vampire fight. They were strong in their wolf form, but I knew Bram had a point. There was no chance for them if it came down to it.

"Witches now, they do have the upper hand in certain scenarios. Some of them have magnificent powers, some terrifying, and some bland. The grandest problem with that is you have no knowledge of their power until they reveal it to you."

"So the tiniest little witch, can possibly rob you of sight or paralyze you with a snap of her fingers. Never get yourself into a position where they can hit you with their wand. As soon as you ever see a wand pulled, get out of there."

Lila, Bram, and I were silent as we listened to his ongoing charade. It was quite informative, but the purpose behind it made me weary. We made it to the conference room where our entire coven was waiting, along with an elder from each other coven and a few nomadic vampires who were close friends with our creator.

The room had burgundy walls, and a medieval looking stone table with an entire layout of Grimstone. Grimstone, along with a few islands, was the only living civilization after the sickness wiped out most of the humans. The remaining humans stayed off on the islands, hid as much as possible, or were servants to us.

"Everyone be seated," our Coven's founder, Gareth Copperton said with his stern voice.

Everyone took their seats, and watched as Gareth paced for a moment.

"We all know about the recent murders of our kind. The torture before they've been torn to shreds is too gruesome to even comprehend. All we know is the twelve victims only had one thing in common. They were vampires." His face was pained, and now I wondered what the hell have I missed these last few years.

"It appears the wolves and witches are aligning, and we must take a stand. Even though some of our families have never seen eye to eye, we must protect each other against the evils lurking around us."

The Men and women sitting around us stirred about. A war? Why had nobody told me about any of this? Why did CJ never mention anything? Was I a target for him or his pack? And clearly Draven and Lila knew more than what they put out. So many questions flooded my brain, and I felt as if my head was about to explode all over the stone table.

"So what do we do now?" a blond haired woman asked. Her name was Freya, and she had a thick accent which hinted towards a past from Old Russia. "Now we prepare, dear Freya. The meeting room is welcome to all of you to include your covens. Bram here is an expert at battles, since he's been through almost every war known to mankind. He'll begin training for those who desire to learn."

"So we're all expected to fight in this?" Asked a mocha skinned man, named Jakaar Davens of the Davensport Coven. "Expected? No. Hopeful that we can come together as one? Yes." Gareth said.

Jakaar sat forward leaning against the table. "Not all of us want a war. Davensport is peaceful. Murders have only happened here or close to here, and you expect me to put my family on the line? For what? I do not owe you anything, my dear friend Gareth. And I wouldn't ask this of your family." He slammed his fist on the table "So how dare you ask this of mine?!"

Gareth sat in his chair and pondered for a moment. He intwined his fingers and stared back at Jakaar. "Oh Jakaar, you would never have to ask me, because I would be there no matter what. I agree, I should not ask this from any of you. But I simply ask of you, to consider it. If they take us out one by one, Coven by Coven, there will be nobody to fight beside each other."

Bram now spoked up, "Strategically speaking, taking us out one by one is the only way they could compensate a win. We outnumber wolves, and we outnumber witches. But do we outnumber both? My dear friends, you know the answer to that." He stood up and rested a hand on Gareth's shoulder.

"War on one of us is war on all of us. And its only a matter of time before murders happen in your backyards as well." he added as he gave Gareth's shoulder a pat.

Gareth nodded, "I'd like to give everyone a few days before we have an official vote. In the meantime stay safe, and stay alert." He stood up and walked out of the room with Bram and his guard, Julian, by his side.

I was so mind-boggled I didn't even want to move. "Arabella, are you okay?" whispered Lila next to me. I glared over at her and she looked back at me puzzled.

Everyone exited the conference room talking amongst themselves. I, however, was silent as me and the twins walked towards the common area. "So neither of you were gonna tell me about this?" I asked sharply, making both of them stared blankly at me.

"Maybe if you would have showed up from time to time we could have. Who starts a reunion by saying 'Hey nice to see you! By the way we're probably going to war with your little pup boyfriend oh and twelve vampires have been ripped apart while you've been away!' Be realistic, Arabella." Lila snapped back.

I was fuming now. "The wolves I know mind their business. They had nothing to do with whatever murders happened." I said confidently.

"Oh so you go out with them all the time and know all of their business?" Draven now asked.

"I just know they wouldn't do that,"

"How Arabella? How do you know that?" Lila asked.

"You trust them more than us?" Draven asked.

"I don't know." I snapped.

Both of them were puzzled by that answer.

"How can you f*****g say that?" Draven asked.

"I know them. I told you they didn't do it and you question me. So who really doesn't trust who?"

Lila rolled her eyes, "I hope you're right. But you should go ask them yourself then, and why they never told you about Vienna and Everett's death. Considering they happened only a few miles away from your cabin."

I was shocked by the revelation, but I had already backed myself into a corner with the twins.

Draven shook his head, "Go ahead and ask him then. Just know, we're not lying to you. And this is your home no matter how much you want to run from it. The door will forever be open for you." he said, but I could tell this entire conversation had opened new wounds.

Lila shook her head and began walking towards the staircase. "You'll learn. Just make sure you return for the vote. Perhaps your little wolf can give us some real insight on the matter at hand." And with that she walked up the staircase without another look.

Draven exhaled loudly and turned to face me. He gently brushed some of my loose strands away from my face, and stared at me with a stern look. "She's right. As much as we both love you, Bella, you will have to figure this out on your own. I love you, but I will let you go this time without a fight because I know you will return." His words were like ice. He leaned down and kissed my forehead, before walking up the stairs as well. And there I was, alone again.