CHAPTER 22

ALEKS

While we worked on my transformation, we'd talked. Kym had asked me some acceptable questions about myself, my kids, London, and some other random things. Then she'd gone on to tell me about her studies. In typical Hyades fashion, she had started an MBA at Harvard Online School when she was fifteen and was almost done with it. She was also interested in Computer Science and was learning it in one of the local schools. Her real passion, however, was singing and dancing, and she happily told me that her father was finally going to let her go and live with Luk when she turned nineteen and was done with the business degree, and finally pursue her Hollywood fantasy. Lanthe had a proud look on her face as her daughter spoke and they teased each other, and I hoped that Elena and I would have that kind of relationship someday. The dress that Lanthe ended picked for me was surprising. It was stunning, classy but very sexy and it hugged all my curves in a beautiful way. It struck me as I stared at my made-over reflection on the full-length mirror, that it had been quite a while since I looked like I did. I had before, it had basically been my job to look good on the outside since I was twelve, but ever since I escaped from Alexei, my expensive clothes closet had been replaced by sweaters, worn jeans and ratty t-shirts. My job at the bakery hadn't been that demanding so I just wore any old dress I could find. I couldn't deny that it was nice looking so good again. Because I felt strong again. I felt in control.

My hair had been beautiful and well-cared for even before they got her hands on it, but after Kym's spraying, brushing and curling treatment, it fell past my shoulders in long, curly, shiny waves, with a single strand at the very front that was dyed to match the blood-red dress I wore, standing out against the rest of the white. The dress itself was a short, wrap one that went just above my knees and tied around my waist with black sashes which had an unrecognizable label on it. The top part was thick enough not to need any undergarments underneath, but it also opened into a sexy but subtle V-neck. The shoes were my favorite thought. They were red with a silver bottom, high-heeled stilettos which were comfortable beyond belief and they went along with the gold pendant Kym placed around my neck. I weirdly like I was finally ready for war.

Lanthe wasn't going to be joining the meeting till later on because of something that suddenly came up but she handed me into the hands of a now sharply dressed and dashing, Atlas. He wore a black, two-piece suit that fitted him like a glove and transformed him from the handsome and charming guy that I had met the day before, into an edgier and stunning man who looked so like Leukas he stole my breath away for a while. Despite my previously grumpy attitude, Atlas greeted me with a smile and a thorough appraisal when we met outside the house, before interlocking our arms and leading me towards a fleet of cars that now occupied the front of the mansion. The sight of them and the absence of the warmth that Lanthe positively radiated reminded me of what was at stake and just how powerless I was in the current territory, but I distracted myself by addressing Atlas.

"So you're also part of the uhmm…"

"Council." He assisted.

"Council." I repeated.

"Yes," he's silent for a while as we slowly walk towards the cars and I think he's finished but after a while he continues. "The moment anyone born into royalty is eighteen, they get the chance to choose whether or not to join the council." He finished. So he had chosen to be in the council. I filled in the gaps, it probably meant he was interested in taking over from his father. I had a feeling about his answer but I asked him anyway, "And Leukas? Is he on the council?" I trailed off in the end, realizing how tense he had become as soon as I asked. His jaw was tense and he looked more serious than I'd yet seen him when he answered tersely.

"No." he snapped.

I was little perplexed by his reaction, though I made sure I did not sure it as he helped me into a black, big car which had a red exterior and the most gorgeous leather seats with the big 'H' in the middle. The seats were made of leather and comfortable as hell but I barely noticed them as I mulled over Atlas' reaction to me asking about Leukas and the council. I guessed his reaction was either because he didn't get along with Leukas as much as he first had me believe, or because of the reason Leukas wasn't in the council. I had never been a very curious person, my own life had always been too complicated for me to worry about someone else's business, but for the first time ever, I was curious. Why did my question put that frown on Atlas' face? Was it my mentioning Leukas in general or was it something more, something deeper? How exactly was the brothers' relationship?

I sighed exasperatedly at myself. Clearly I was getting too comfortable here if I was busy worrying about things that did not concern my kids or myself. What I really should be doing was thinking about the meeting and the impact all its outcomes would have on my life. Could I even escape from this place that did not even exist in maps? And the bigger question, would I ever bring myself to tear my kids away from their father yet again, despite the outcome? It was a good thing that Atlas had basically insinuated that the Hyades had a choice in whether or not they assumed royal duties, whatever those were. Leukas was living proof that my children could have a life beyond Abattohn; that they didn't have to stay here forever. It also struck me that I was in a closed vehicle with a couple of strangers, going somewhere I didn't know of and I hadn't even assessed the situation like I always did. I was seriously losing my mind in this place.

The partition between our seats and the front seats where the driver sat was open so I could make out two burly men occupying the front seats, but the silence in the car was palpable. The car was pretty big so, there was some space between Atlas and me but I could still see him from the corner of my eye. The tension had mostly left his face and his body but he wasn't wearing his usual smile so I felt a bit uneasy. I had boxed him as the sweet and flighty one who was always smiling so the change in him was a bit unsettling. Sure boxing people into one-character box was very unreasonable, but I had always needed to. I needed to have at least a slight idea of who I was dealing with at all times. I could prepare myself that way. I forced myself to get over my names and looked outside the window as we passed by more strange trees, a few small houses which I guessed belonged to the people who worked directly around the island and then nothing but the beach water. The ground was surprisingly smooth and even considering the fact that we were driving on an island, but then again, I knew next to nothing about how island grounds are supposed to be.

The car slowed down a little when we suddenly came upon what looked to be a cave that was lit by shining, black crystals, some which protruded from the walls and others which hung from the cave ceiling like chandeliers. I might have made some sort of sound of wonder as the car began driving lower and lower until we were out of the cave and the car was driving right through a light transparent tunnel which was surrounded completely by water. I gasped when I realized what was happening. It hadn't really occurred to me that there was any other way to get off the island and into the main city except through the boats, which was how the kids had gone the day before, but of course they had an underwater tunnel. It was surreal watching the car simply glide through the channel while all around us, bubbles of water and the rippling waves went on as naturally. My shock must have shown because a now calm Atlas finally spoke.

"The Royal Court is only accessible through this route because we needed the location to be as private as could be since it's where the Supreme and every secret of the Land are found. Usually, only the Supreme and the Prima can go to the Court, but occasionally, members of the council are summoned for important matters that will affect every member of Azzuire, and well, your matter is kind of that. Only such matters, very sensitive ones, are taken up to the court. Usually when there is a problem, it is directed the Prima, to Lanthe." He explained, a little bit of his smile present, making me very relieved.

I processed the information for a while. "But where exactly does this tunnel go? To the main land?" I asked.

Atlas shook his head. "The court is in a smaller Island that is connected only to ours by this passage. For security reasons, there is one other passage which is closed most days and open only for the council members when there is Court." He finished even as the car started driving higher up the water and straight into a large garage. I had many more questions but I was suddenly feeling a little nauseous at the realization of what a big deal this meeting was. Atlas must have once again seen the worry on my face because he suddenly faced me, a serious expression on his face.

"Listen, I know that it may seem like you're walking into an unknown land with people trying to crucify you, all on your own. But that's not true. You are family, Aleks. You gave birth to royalty here, that makes you royal too because you have no idea how precious and how loved your kids already are here. You too are loved Aleks, and even though you have to convince a few other people that we trust you and that the secrets of this land and all of us, all our homes will be safe with you, and my family will be with you along the way. We support you, Aleks. And believe it or not, Leukas does too.

All but three seats were already occupied by the time we walked into the white, bright room that looked nothing like I had been imagining, considering the fact that the Royal Court turned out to be a huge, gorgeous, grey fortress. Where I had imagined an original court seating where the council would play jury, Jason would play judge and I would play the accused, the room looked more like a very big and fancy boardroom than anything else. The absence of the crawling security when we had made our way into the old fashioned fortress had been surprising until Atlas had explained that to minimize security risks they relied on cyber security, the best cyber security in the continent. After all the fingerprints scans and the recognition systems bots we had to get past, I believed him. We passed through a number of ordinary looking closed door until we came across one that stood out. A tall and majestic white wolf stature stood at the side of the last door on the corridor and I couldn't help but stare at it for some reason. It was a gorgeous wolf with depictions of thick fur, emerald eyes and sharp fangs. A golden label was attached to the stool of the statue. "FOR WHAT IS A WOLF, WITHOUT HIS PACK?" The statement resonated within me. The little I knew of wolves was limited to romance novels about men who transformed into wolves and made passionate love to women in the rain. I knew of little villages where everyone would be a family, all of them bound together by some moon goddess and secrets kept from human beings. What I loved the most about the cliché novels and their cringe-worthy troupes was the idea of such a big family. I'd always wanted one. Such a big network of unconditional love, of unconditional loyalty, and of shared joys and celebrations. I loved the idea of an eternal mate, bound by the gods to love and cherish and desire for all eternity. What I wouldn't do for such a love.

Atlas' hand on my shoulder had jolted me from my musing and his hand had led me towards the door and into the large room with a round table and at least thirty council members, including the Supreme himself, Jason. It soon became clear however as the meeting commenced that my kids were going to be staying with or without me.