When The Sun Sets, I Rise: Chapter 21

by Nikki, The Book Nerd in a book

Author's note: Yay!! Next chappie!!!!

Chapter 21:

I had the vague feeling of betrayl. Not that I was going to be betrayed, but that I was going to betray. The Council Seven looked upon me as if I were nothing more than a filthy lycan. I stood before them, wondering if I was going to die. Or worse, live. I wondered if I would ever be able to step back into the sunlight. The leader, Xavier, stepped forward.

"Is there something I have to do for you, my liege?" I asked, my hands trembling slightly with nervousness.

Xavier smiled, his perfect teeth showing, his heavy English accent said, "Now, correct me if I am wrong but, I distinctly remember about a hundred years ago telling you to stop calling me 'my liege'."

I nodded. "Y-Yes, sir. You did. Forgive me. My memory isn't what it used to be. Not since the war."

"The first World War, that is." He stated.

I nodded. "'Tis what you called me for? To remember things?" I questioned, truly curious.

"No. Margo," He gestured one long pale finger to a red-headed woman, she stared down at me, like I was merely an ant, and she an elephant. "had a peculiar vision."

"All her visions are peculiar, Xavier. This one was the most normal one." Hope said, her English accent was always the heaviest.

"Now, Hope. You musn't be so rude all the time. Anyway, Margo saw your friend Zandaries. You remember him don't you?"

I nodded vigorously. "'Tis he whom I fought next to in the war."

"But, you are close friends, correct?"

"Yes, sir. May I ask, where this is going?"

"I'm getting there, patience Armando." I saw a hint of annoyance in his electric blue eyes. I did not want to anger him. I looked to the ground.

"Y-Yes, sir. I apologize."

"You may pick your 'ead back up, soldier." Xavier nearly commanded. I did as he wished. "As I was saying, Margo saw Zandaries with a strange 'mate'--which was 'ow Margo put it. A human."

"A human? 'Tis very strange indeed for Z to fall in love with a meal." Strange ideed. I thought.

"Yes, 'tis." He ran a finger through his blonde hair and continued. "What I would like for you to do, Armando is to...how would you Americans say...'stalk' this girl. Kill her when necessary. But, I do say Armando, if you do not kill her, I will lose all trust in you and as the Americans would say, 'take you off the case'. And I shall be extremely disappointed in you, Armando. This is a very big responsibility, Zandaries has been pegged to break the laws."

"If allowed, sire, may I do this errand for you?" Luke asked, standing in the process.

Xavier turned to Luke, his calm nature turned to slight hostility. "No. Luke. The Council needs you to stay right where you are. Sit." He pointed one finger to his chair.

Luke sat with no hesitation. He bowed his head. "Yes, master." Laurie looked over to Luke. He was her brother. She worried about his attachment to Xavier. He was always trying to get back on his good side. But he has been unable to, he slipped up too many times in the past--

"What does thou say, Armando? Will you do me this favor, or shall I ask another? There's quite a large sum of money in it for you."

I thought of the ways I could use the money. I needed the money.

"I'll do it." I agreed. Margo handed me a hand-drawn picutre of the girl that she saw.

During the next year, I followed Kiera around and around and around. Like a circle. She always went to the same places all the time. At some instances, I got so close, that when she snapped a picture, I ended up being in them. By accident, of course. And when I hadn't destroyed her, the Council had already known, they didn't need Solairis to go to them and tell them for them to know. Right then I knew he had blown his chance of ever joining them. I had been taken off the case and I would never get the money I needed. That's when I started to resent Kiera. And when I had finally met her, I wanted to kill her--but I controled myself enough to the extent that no mind reader would know that. But, again, I was denied that. I couldn't kill her. Then after she had left, the next six years I thought about the awful deed I had almost done. I had decided her fate at one point. She was meant to live. 'Tis the only reason why she's the way she is now. I was assinged to kill an innocent mortal being. Someone who didn't desrve death. But, had I killed her, would I have spared Z the pain he is enduring now? Would I have spared the dog exposure to vampires like the Council, Z, and myself? After years of thinking, I had come the one conclusion: I had to tell Kiera the whole truth, and nothing but that.

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The three of them stared at me as I told them everything. When I stopped, there was nothing but silence. We had changed the setting from the dining room to the living room.

"So, you didn't kill me because you thought I didn't deserve it?" Kiera asked, astonishement in her voice. I couldn't tell if there was astonishment from my assumption or from my entire story.

"I had not thought. I knew. And I still know now that I had done the right thing. No matter what such consequences there were." I gestured to the werewolf and myself.

The lycan seemed suddenly interested in the true anecdote I had just told.

"And, again, how long ago was this?" He questioned, his hazel eyes locked on mine. He truly wanted to know, didn't he?

Kiera nodded.

"About seven years ago, climbing its way to the present."

"And this--this Council, was in England?" He inquired.

I nodded.

"Then, why would they care about two people in another continent? It makes no sense."

"'Tis still their kingdom, the vampire world. One small dilema and the entire species could become exposed or endangered. 'Tis why they bother to do anything, really. Don't the lycans have anyone to lead them?" I questioned, confused. Don't the Americans have a leader? The pesident? The Council was like the president. Don't the wolves have the same?

"Not every werewolf is in a pack. I know a few people who are, but, I'm on my own." He answered, sitting back in his chair.

"But, Caleb, didn't you used to be in a pack?" Kiera asked. Z had remained quiet. He seemed deep in thought. I was glad I couldn't read them. Remorse was the first thing I felt for Kiera, she had to hear all thoughts, whether she wanted to or not.

Caleb nodded. "Yeah, then I found out what a jerk he was. So I left. After I left I found out that I was not the kind of person anyone could boss around--"

"Like anyone here besides Kiera and yourslef really care to hear your life story." Z snapped breaking his own reverie. This behavior surprised me so much that I gasped. He never struck me as a rude person, though I could understand why he was rude now, but still...

"Z!" Kiera hissed.

"No, I'm serious. The only interesting part of his life hasn't even happened yet."

"Ok, bloodrinker, what part would that be?" Caleb challenged.

"Your death."

"Like I didn't already know you were going to say that." Caleb smiled, flashing a few sharp teeth that had started to grow at a fast pace. I looked at Z.

Z didn't return the glance. He kept his eyes on Caleb, showing pure hatred and jealousy for him. I didn't need to get a look into his head to know that. I glanced between them as they shot back at each other:

"Like I care."

"Of which you do."

"You can shut your face now, dog."

"I don't have to do anything."

"Neither do I."

"I didn't say that you did."

"Just shut up already. Your loud voice rings in my ears, leaving nothing but pain."

"Well then, how's this for pain?" Caleb leaned in close to Z. They were sitting across from each other. I knew Caleb was going to shout something. "THIS LOUD ENOUGH FOR YOU?! HUH?! WHAT IF I GET LOUDER?!" His voice climbed an octave louder with every word. Z flinched at least three times.

"You have some serious issues, mutt." Z retorted.

"Says the desperate ex-boyfriend."

"Caleb!" Kiera hissed.

Caleb looked at Kiera and stopped suddenly.

Z smiled slyly. "Has Kiera taken you to obedience school? Is that why you follow her every command?"

This struck a nerve. Caleb's hands turned into claws, hair grew all over his arms.

"I follow no one's commands, leech." Caleb said through gritted teeth. His voice seemed darker and more of a growl than an actual voice. It seemed...almost evil. "Say that again and I swear, I will rip you apart, limb from limb, skin to muscle, muscle to bone, bone to dust." Kiera laid a hand on his shoulder and he reacted by shifting back into his seat and transformed back, one hand still a claw. He set the claw on his lap, visible for everyone to see. It seemed he was determine to keep his promised threat.

Z seemed a little unsettled by the claw, as he should feel. You don't just go digging around someone's personal life, find what makes them tick and use it against them.

"Armando?" Kiera called softly. I looked over to her. Her blonde hair had gotten darker from the last time I saw her. And her blue eyes had gone neon.

"Yes?"

"Do you know where 'Kina is?"

I shook my head.

"I haven't seen her for a while. But, my guess is that she's gone back to Japan. Or still staying in Ohio." I put both my hands out, palms facing the ceiling, weighing the options. I put my hands down after about five seconds.

Kiera sat down on the couch, next to Z. She hid her face in her hands. Z stared at her, almost obssesively. Caleb's claw clenched and unclenched at Z's stare that never lifted. When Kiera picked her head up, Z looked away and Caleb stopped his claw.

"What do we do? Go to England and reason with them or something?" Caleb asked.

"For your information, dog, the Council would think of you as a child if you went over there. Not only would they not speak to you because of that, they would also kill you because you're a lycan." Z said.

"I'm not a child. I'm twenty years old for Pete's sake!" He yelled.

Z's eyebrows shot up and he looked away. He ran his fingers through his brunette hair. "Twenty years old? What the heck is she..." He trailed off muttering to himself.

Kiera looked at Z, not believing that with what's going on, he was concerning himself with someone's age. She shook her head and looked at Caleb. "He's got a point. They wouldn't speak to you and they would kill you."

"Well, then, what do we do?"

Kiera sighed heavily. "I don't know Caleb. I just don't know."