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Muyiwa looked at his sister with wonder. "Councilor Kike?" The bang on the door was getting louder and the door started to crack.

"How do we get out of here?" Ore asked. "We need to get to mother and warn her."

"You go." Muyiwa decided. "I will wait here and face her." I am getting mad! How do I face her?"/i]

"Alone?" Ore was certainly not sure. "You can't face here, Muyiwa. Two of us can't. The best chance we have is with mother."

Oscar moved forward. "We can hold her here, sir. We can do it. You need to get help from a stronger person, either the Empress or the Emperor."

"No, Ore. I will stand up to her. I will not abandon the humans to be eaten by werewolves. It's my duty and responsibility to them. Now, go!"

She shook her head. "Come with me, brother. You can't....."

"I can!" The door cracked open and a werewolf eye poked out. A silver arrow took it out, causing the beast to scream. "Go, Ore, Go!"

Ore shook her head again and moved away. Muyiwa then faced Oscar.

"How prepared are you?"

"We have two quiver full of arrows. That can take care of the werewolves. Councilor Kike though will need something more powerful. We have UV bullets but there are a limited amount and it will only slow her."

"Focus on the werewolves. I will stop her." Muyiwa said as the door broke open with a huge werewolf screaming at them. He charged at Muyiwa, taking three arrow shots. Behind him were two werewolves and behind them was Kike."

"Muyiwa, why didn't you run to mother? It would have been easier for you."

"I would abandon them. They are my responsibility!" [i]I am certainly mad!

Kike shook her head, unimpressed. "Well then." She looked at the werewolves. "Kill him!"

The giant raced towards him, screaming at him as arrows flew towards him. Muyiwa flexed his hands and slowly used his magic to feel the pulse of the werewolf, feeling his rage, his anger, his weight. Then he flung the beast, sending him out through the door he came. The other werewolves were already dead but they were replaced with ever increasing number of werewolves.

Then Kike descended on him, thrusting her fingers and whip at him. Muyiwa dodged her attacks and mind probed her, distracting her for a minute as he went behind her. Then he used his finger to send magic shot into her, causing her to stumble. Kike stumbled and fell. He saw his chance to kill her, but a werewolf jumped at him, forcing him to fling the beast away. Then he felt a force hit him and pin him to the wall. Muyiwa had hardly recovered from that when he was thrown to another part of the room.

The humans retreated as the werewolves attacking with overwhelming ferocity. Muyiwa saw the giant werewolf bit off the heads of two humans. He stood up and flew on the top of the beast. Then concentrating his magic, he sent a huge magic ball down the beast, bringing him down finally.

I did it! He felt relief and joy, only for an arrow to hit him from behind. Kike was on him, a broken arrow behind her.

"How dare you kill him! He was supposed to be my husband! How dare you!" She screamed. She held sent a fire ball at him. Muyiwa was helpless as the fire descended on him, only for him to be dragged away. Motionless, he watched as humans barred Kike from reaching him. She killed about eight of him, Oscar been the last one to die. She looked at him and gave a wicked smile.

"Despite it all, this is where you die!" She smiled as she created another fireball....

Only for it to be extinguished and his father to lean towards him. Muyiwa barely heard and saw anything but he soon became stronger, taking in blood.

When his sight returned, he found Jake and his father looking at him.

drewsman:
I swear I'm stopping following this story. You take so long to update, and when you do it will just be a few lines that isn't worthy of my time.


Thanks for the wonderful story by the way.

Please are you paying for the service?


To all those following this story:

I know the pace of update is frustrating but that is my situation at the moment. When I started this story, I had my Android phone and I could do much work within a few days. I rarely failed to update, even though each update was not as lengthy as some other writers; apologies for that because I don't know how to write lengthy updates on phones. Now my Android phone has spoiled beyond repair and I don't have any money for a new one. I have to borrow other people's phone to update this story, so please try and understand if this story is moving slowly. I am continuing with it because I don't want to leave the story abandoned.

Thanks for your understanding.

P. S. This is the last time I will address this.

He didn't believe that his father would listen to any request concerning Jake at the moment, especially from him. His father's love for his half-brother was a bit over the top, but Muyiwa had no qualms with that. With the coven in so much danger, however, he wanted to make sure that his father was in the right place.

He was at the entrance of the blood farm when Ore caught up with him.

"Brother,guess you heard about grandma." Her eyes searched around for any expression.

"I heard she is dead. If you have come to bother me about Jake....."

"Yes. Lord Glabach has imprisoned him in the blood room."

"Blood room?" That was very strange and wrong. The Blood room was a place where the vilest and most powerful vampires were imprisoned so as to harvest their blood until they die. For Jake to be imprisoned there when judgement has not been made was very bad.


"Yes, he is finally going to die...."

"Who gave the judgement?" He held her tightly. "Who? Where is Father?"

"I don't know...... I don't know! Stop squeezing me that hard, Muyiwa!" She struggled to get free of him.

"Mother did this, didn't she? How can she be so hateful and careless?"

"Let me go!" She pushed him and almost fell down. "She is your grandmother, you know and Jake...."

"May not be the killer." Muyiwa looked at her.

"And so what? What if he does?"

"What if he dies?" Muyiwa fumed. "Are you thinking at all? His blood is been harvested and you are asking such a question! What if the blood is used to unlock a dangerous weapon against ....."

A horn blew from the deep. Suddenly Muyiwa found himself and his sister wringing on the floor, holding their ears.

"What is happening, brother? What is this pain?"

The pain! Muyiwa felt his blood boil and his body burn. His joints spasmed recklessly and he couldn't move. His eyes were blood shot and they hurt so bad that he could rip them off.....

...then he found himself and his sister in the blood farm, sitting down and taking in nectar served by the humans in the farm.

"Oscar, what happened?"

Oscar, a human bowed low in front of him. "We saw both of you on the floor, rolling. We had to drag both of you into the blood farm but some of us were attacked by werewolves."

"Werewolves?" Both Muyiwa and Ore were surprised.

"Yes, Werewolves. We barred the door and activated your barrier spells but I don't think it will last long. Councilor Kike is fighting on their side."

Wow! Watching your blue film on a news channel can be traumatizing! Feel a bit for Athena.

Twenty-nine

"He was with me all through that time!" Muyiwa thundered to Celeste and Shade. "How could he be killing my grandmother and be with me at the same time?"

"That is not for us to judge, my prince." Celeste said with a matter of fact approach. "What we do know is that he killed her."

"Maybe he did so before he came to you."

"You seem ready to prove him guilty, Shade!" Muyiwa looked fiercely at her. "Where were her guards when this happened?"

"They went for a drink."

"Both of them?"

"Yes, my prince."

Muyiwa frowned. "And mother asked you to inform me about this?"

"Yes, my prince."

She will want him dead! Muyiwa was in no illusions about his mother's feelings about Jake. From the very first minute he stepped into the coven, she had wanted him dead. Ore also wanted the same thing, because they thought him a threat. Muyiwa was indifferent about him initially, partly because he saw that Jake hated the fact he was a vampire and that he didn't even know it meant to be a vampire.

That was before he was summoned by the Oracle.

The Oracle summoning spooked him. Usually the Oracle summoned the Emperor or the Empress when she has a prophecy or something of that nature. If she called someone else then it meant that something was up.

He met her in her garden, planting some nectar plants, so named for their sweet and powerful juice called nectar. She then gave him a weird advice.

"Don't join the crowd."

He tried to get more from her but she was silent. The message troubled him. What did she mean? He was still wondering about it when the Emperor asked him to talk with Jake.

Now this has happened.

He met his mother at the Council chambers. She was fuming, as expected. When he greeted her, she turned accusingly at him.

"Your father will not kill him! Tell me, Muyiwa, did you have a hand in your father's decision?"

Really? He never believed that his mother's paranoia about Jake will reach new heights.

"When did I ever have a say in anything Father does?"

"I heard the bastard was with you when he was captured!"

"He was arrested, Mother and yes, he was with me! How was I to know that he was going to be arrested and accused of grandma's death?"

"You entertained your....."

"This isn't the time, Mother!" He hated this part of her. "Jake may be innocent for all we know. Afterall, he wasn't caught in the act!"

"He was! We have video evidences....."

"Yet Father isn't convinced. What do you want me to do if he isn't convinced?"

"He still sees Jake as his son, his seed. He won't kill him easily. I want you to convince him to do so."

"I?" Muyiwa gave a harsh laugh. Mother must be going nuts! "Do you think I can sway him?"

"In this, yes." She knelt before he could stop her. "Do this and I will be able to rest and sleep peacefully for the first time in a long time. Do this for me, even if it's the last thing you do."

She is damn serious! "Fine, if it gives you sleep, I will discuss this with Father." He noticed wrinkles on her forehead. She is so stressed about it that she is struggling to keep herself from collapsing! "Get some sleep, Mother." He took her to her room in the royal chambers. "You need to sleep."

He watched her lay down before he left. Muyiwa had to check how his humans were doing.

Then he will see Father.

They were all taller than both of them, but one towered over the rest, like a huge beast. How did they get here and how many are they? Gerald positioned himself between the werewolves and Uche and prepared for their attack.

Two of them moved sideways, obviously planning to attack from the side while the biggest werewolf faced him head on. Gerald knew that if he allowed them to synchronize their attack, he will not stand a chance.

Quickly, he threw Uche on his shoulders and sprinted towards the right, blitzed past the werewolf there and dropped him on a bench before turning to face his foe. The werewolf went straight for the kill, lashing his jaws at the Emperor, but Gerald jumped upwards and avoided the attack. Landing on the top of the werewolf, he quickly drove his hands finger first into the back of the beast, bringing it down. He had no respite as the second one knocked him off his companion's back with his right paw,pinning the Emperor to the wall. Gerald focused an energy beam on the paw, tearing it and forcing the werewolf to limp off in defeat.

It remained the biggest one. It stared at him with blue eyes, aiming to hypnotize him to submission. It may have worked for other vampires, but Gerald was the Emperor and it failed. The animal then rushed an attack on him but was shot by an energy beam, killing it. Gerald looked around and found Uche barely standing up.

"You are supposed to rest!" He held a stumbling Uche.

"I, I am already dead, my Emperor. These wounds are too much for me. Just promise me that you will save the coven. We have failed the coven and now have to rely on you again."

"I will save everything, I promise."

"You, you will always be my Emper..." He felt the life leave Uche. To where?

He heard the horn again. I have to stop that! The more times the horn was blown, the weaker the coven will be. He had to stop Glabach.

But first he had to kill Kike and save his son.

Twenty-eight

Gerald ran as he heard the first blast of the horn. They have gotten the horn! This will not end well. All around him, vampires fell down, wringing and struggling to stand up. Those what didn't were attacking him. It was well planned.

He snapped the neck of his latest assailant as he caught sight of Uche. The council member was bleeding from multiple cuts to his belly, his face was colorless and one of his legs looked broken.

"Uche, Uche, calm down, take it easy." The Emperor moved close to him and helped him to stand. Uche tried to speak but his words were blocked with blood spewing from his mouth.

"Easy, easy." Gerald breathed in deep as he transfered some energy into his hand and then placed it on Uche, healing some of the wounds. Color soon returned to his face and he was able to speak.

"Kike... Kike went after your son.. Muyiwa not Jake. She had sent some guards to kill Jake." He stopped and dragged himself up. "She and Glabach were the ones responsible for everything- Jake's entry here, his trials, the Empress mother's capture and all that followed. They are the leaders of the Deviants."

Gerald wasn't surprised of Glabach's involvement with the Deviants but Kike's role was a surprise. They sowed the seeds of discord between the Imperious and the rest of the coven and then watched as it blazed out of control. He wondered what Simi was doing.

"Where's the Empress?"

Uche shook his head and tried to stand up.

"Rest here. Don't move."

A second blast of the horn followed, forcing Uche to the ground. When he recovered from the blast, he tapped Gerald and pointed to his back.

Three werewolves stared at him, licking their lips.

Reagan? Why? Simi's mind was trying to process what she just saw. Why will Reagan betray her, betray Gerald? He was the one she trusted the most.

She walked and picked the horn of Pandora, rubbing it's surface. She then looked at Reagan.

"Why? Why! Reagan, why?" She grabbed his head with one hand while holding the horn with the other.

As she shook his head, a spear took her from the back, forcing her to fall to the ground. She lost control of the horn and watched it fall to the ground. Simi saw footsteps walk towards it.

"For the coven, for the Empire, My Empire!"

Pulling herself up, Simi removed the spear from her back and faced the traitor.

It was Lord Glabach in full battle armour.

"You! You are the cause of this!" Gerald saw you right! Simi walked towards him, her body attempting to heal from the spear wound.

"Yes, it's I. I am the brain behind this, Simi. I am the brain behind everything! The Deviants uprising, this, I did it!"

"The uprising? You? But you fought against...."

"Them? Yes, I fought against them when it was clear that they will not enough to overrun the coven. Gerald was far more capable than I anticipated and others were rising as well. I had to join or be exposed. But the uprising served its purpose and took care of many rivals. Now, it's my turn."

"So you were after Gerald's title? You wanted to be Emperor?"

"I supposed to be the Emperor! You know it, everyone knows it, yet you all chose Gerald because he was controllable, biddable. I could have shaped the world. We could have shaped the world, I as the Emperor and you as my Empress, but you chose him! Now you will watch everything that you have burn, even those so precious to you." He flexed his hands, choking her telekinetically.

Simi attempted to fight back but her wounds were refusing to heal. As she struggled to understand what was happening, she saw Ore fly towards Glabach's back with a knife, attempting to stab him. From his grin, she could tell that it was futile. Ore, run! She wanted to speak but her voice failed her as Lord Glabach caught Ore and disarmed her with one hand.

"You will lose everything..including those precious to you." He lifted Ore up and twisted her head before dropping her. He picked the horn of Pandora and walked away, smiling.

The last thing Simi heard before she died was the horn of Pandora.

Simi ran away in confusion, the fumes from the room almost choking her. What just happened? Did the Oracle just die? What did she mean about Jake's blood unlocking the Horn of Pandora?

She stumbled out and was relieved to find Sierra waiting for her. Simi comported herself.

"Sierra, let's go. We need to get to the treasure vault." That's all that matters. No matter what Jake's blood can do, she can forestall any destruction by having the horn protected.

If I can lay hold of ..... A sharp pain cut through her thoughts. Simi looked at her left hand and found blood on it.

"What's the meaning of this? Sie....." Another slash was attempted. Simi quickly moved back and caught the knife with her bloody hand. Sierra's eyes went blood hot, her hands fuming with smoke.

"For the council! For the coven! For the Empire!"

Simi kicked her and twisted her hands, snapping her grip. Whoever force that took control of Sierra then left her as she staggered back, looking at her with disbelief.

"I am... I am sorry..... They have...." Sierra spurted as she suddenly found her mouth overwhelmed with blood. Simi looked in horror as Sierra choked on the blood and then stumble to the ground.

"Sierra!" She held her body as the young girl crumbled, her head falling off her body.

Why? What's happening? She remembered the Oracle's last words. Has the destruction started? If she doesn't get to the horn...... It may be all over.

Determined, Simi ran towards the treasure vault.

The fastest way to the vault was through the royal quarters. The royal quarters was protected day and night by guards, all of which were loyal to her and Gerald. The other route to the vault was filled with traps and snares with other guards on duty. Anyone attempting to get to the vault won't find easy entrance.

Simi suddenly stopped at the entrance of the quarters. A guard looked up in the ceiling, his eyes looking stunned. She could see a huge bite on his neck. Werewolves? Simi moved passed the guard and entered.

The quarters were filled with corpses of guards like a great slaughter had happened. Simi gained pace, her eyes flying between dead carcasses.Who could have done this? The guards stationed here were some of the best the coven has, yet they seemed to have fallen quite easily. Who will have such power?

At the end of the quarters, she found two men fighting hard. One of them was Reese, with two hunting knives. His hands were bloody and he seemed to run out of stamina.

"You can't have the horn of Pandora! I can't allow it!"

His assailant growled. "It's not for you to allow me or not. We shall have the horn, even if I have to cut through your corpse!"

Simi shot a mystic ball, which went through both of them. As they fell to the ground, Simi walked towards them, lifting the other man's head. It was Reagan!

As she walked down the steps, apprehension crept back to her. Sierra followed her like a shadow, her head bowed. What is going on in that mind of hers? Simi's mind kept going back to the dream. Was the dream becoming a reality?

She was at the door. Fear was crawling all over her. Why am I afraid? I am the Empress! She strolled in.

The greenery that was her garden had faded into an earth brown. The leaves were dead, well dead. They could have rotted for all she knew. The stain of death even affected the white walls of her office, as they seem to soak up the earth brown of her office.

Sitting in the middle of the theatre of death was the Oracle. Her hair was completely white, disheveled and tangled. Her eyes seemed distant and away, yet they returned once the Empress made her appearance.


"You have come." She said, sounding like someone who was a thousand years old. What's happening to her?

"Why are you like this, Oracle? Since you have become the Oracle, your quarters and office have never been like this. What's happening?"

She smiled in a sad way, as if Simi couldn't understand. "The end is here. My end and maybe yours. Can't you see it?" She stood up. "Where's the boy?"

She is asking for Muyiwa. "Muyiwa is in ....."

"I am asking for Jake, not his half brother."

Jake! Always Jake! "Jake is gone. He is dead and his blood is been...."

"Fool!" The Oracle's eyes sparked. "Fool, the whole bunch of you! Do you realize what you have done? Your reign is over. The coven is been destroyed as we speak. Betrayal has been born and death is our portion. It's over!"

Betrayal? Who would betray her? Simi shook the Oracle. "Speak clearly, old woman! Who is betraying the coven? Who is betraying me?"

The Oracle shot an angry, defiant look. "You. You betray the coven and yourself. Your anger and hate for the boy has destroyed you! Go protect the Horn of Pandora, for his blood is the key to unlock it!" Her eyes were pure fire. "Go! Go now, for the path to salvation is very thin now. Betrayal is at your very door step!" She dissolved to ashes as the room caught fire.

Twenty-seven
The blood on her hand was fresh, the pain biting. The phantom in front of her wielded a knife with her blood in it.

"Why?"

"For the council. For the coven. For the Empire!"

Her phantom assailant attacked her again, but Simi stretched her hands and snapped the phantom. It disappeared, leaving no trace. Simi raced to the treasure vault. If Jake was innocent, then whoever did this would use his blood. His blood contained power! She had to get there on time.

Fortunately,the treasure vault was guarded by men loyal to her and the Emperor. At least that is what she hoped. As she got to the royal chambers, she was greeted by a sea of dead guards. Impossible! She ran straight on, disregarding what she saw there. Her mind was in the treasure vault and the horn of Pandora. It must not be blown!

The treasure vault was broken through, but there were two men fighting in it. Simi prepared a fiery ball of mystic energy ready to strike whoever she needed to. As she got closer, the face of Reese appeared, looking quite injured but still fighting on.

"You can't get the horn of Pandora! I can't allow you!"

His assailant was also tired, so Simi fired her mystic ball. The attack took two of them, tearing through their bodies and ending on the other side before dissipating.

She moved to the horn and realized it was safe. She then looked at Reese's body. "I am sorry Reese." She turned the other body to see who was attacking him.

It was Reagan!

Simi was besides herself with shock. Reagan, how? Why? She dragged the body up and screamed at him.

"Reagan! Why? Why??"

"For the Empire!" A spear right through her, forcing her to the ground. Simi turned to see who was that.....


And woke up, sweat all over her body. What type of dream was that? Simi looked at her disheveled hair and clothes. It was a nightmare, the worst she had in years.

The worst since she became the Empress.

A knock ripped through the door. Simi got herself together and put a robe on her body. "Come in."

It was Sierra, her maid. "The Oracle requests your presence."

The Oracle. About time! She looked at her maid. Sierra was shaking.

"What's it? Why are you shaking?"

"Nothing ma. I just have a chill."

Simi didn't have the time for the frailties of a teenage maid. "Prepare a hot bath for me and get my attire ready. The ocean blue gown with sharks on it for today."

The maid bowed and walked out.

The bath did wonders to her state of mind and when she wore her gown, Simi was Empress once again, confident and defiant. Whatever happens, she was ready to face it.

Whatever it was.

He had read of a certain spell that could be used to break through chains of enormous sizes. It was first used by a werewolf but the vampires had copied the spell and now they were comfortable using it. If he could use the spell, he could break free.

It had risks though. The spell used copious amounts of blood and he had lost enough blood as it is. Most of his blood was been harvested by those who want him dead and they did so meticulously, using several tubes directly connected to his veins to bleed him. The method was efficient, losing as little blood as possible. My enemies want to make sure they get the best from me. He still had some blood left, after all he hadn't passed out but he wondered how long it will take for the blood deficit to tell on him and if he could bear losing more blood to break free of the chains.

Jake was about to start when he heard some noises and people shouting. Something is happening outside! He didn't expect a rescue but he could surely do with one. The voices became louder.

".... This is treason and the Emperor will take your heads for this!" The voice would have said more but Jake heard a crunch sound and the drop of a human body.

The door opened and two vampires moved straight for him.

"We must kill him before they know what's happening!" One of them with silver hair spoke. He brought out a long, sharp sword. Jake judged that he was one of the Empress men or one of those who captured him. His face was familiar.

The second man, a short, bald man with a big protruding stomach, looked at him, not quite as convinced as his fellow. "He will soon be dead anyway. Why do we kill him now?"

"Because we need no challenge to our ascension, idiot! He could do that!"

"I am not convinced about this, Gilmir. This looks like a way to just pin his death on us. What if he is proved innocent or we are caught?"

Jake's mind was already drifting but he wondered why they were debating killing him. Do it already! He couldn't stay much longer, his eyes drifting towards sleep......

....... only for him to find Cleopatra holding him and feeding him her blood. Zachris and Austin looked at him with worry.

"What happened?" Jake turned around and found the debaters dead. "How, what happened?"

"Later, Jake." Zachris answered. "The coven needs you now. We need you Jake!"

A horn sounded from the deep.

Twenty-six

He looked down from his elevated position and sighed. He remembered the Count's words and the latest prophecy from the Oracle. Somebody has probably used that to their advantage and I am imprisoned because of it. He knew why he was here,chained and bled dry. The guards who arrested him made sure he knew.

He wondered what Muyiwa was doing. Probably telling his father what happened. They were together and Jake had just experienced the best moment of his life since he entered the coven when he was arrested. Could he have been part of the plan all along? Muyiwa had no bias against him but had none for him either. It will take a simple bait for him to turn against him.

He had no help here, no support. His father may or may not try and get him free and the Empress will certainly want him dead.Even if I am innocent, she will still want me dead. His team mates won't care to save him, apart from Cleopatra. He was alone.

He remembered the last prophecy. I can't allow myself to be bled dry. Those who devised this method must surely want his blood. He can't allow that to happen. He thought of his conversation with Muyiwa about Lord Glabach[i] He was supposed to be the Emperor, but my father became one instead![/i] Jake felt that he was the brain behind this. No better way to become Emperor by seizing the throne. That is if there was any throne. He can't allow that to happen.

An idea came to him.

Kike flew back in with a vengence, her claws aiming to tear Gerald. The Emperor froze her in mid air.

"You forget yourself if you think you can kill me. I fought against vampires more powerful than you."

She smirked, her eyes shining with red malice. "They didn't have Jake's blood to supplement their abilities." She broke free of his spell and made another attack at him. Gerald moved back and swerved to his left. An arrow pierced his leg.

"Good." Kike smiled. One of the guards took another arrow and fired it at Gerald. It broke into pieces before it got to him.

"I burned you into bits." Gerald said, breaking the arrow lodged in his leg. The guard was about to reply when he found himself choking.

"You should have stayed dead." Gerald weaved his hands and cut the guard's head off. Kike watched with amusement.

"You can defeat him, but not me." She curled her whip and sent another attack at him. Gerald held it and dragged it, forcing her to come towards him. He caught her on her throat.

"What did you do to Jake? What did the council do to him?" Gerald suddenly slumped, letting her go.

"What have you done to me?" His hands suddenly erupted with wrinkles.

"The poison I started is working." She smiled. "We bled Jake. I, Glabach and Reagan. He was the key to our ascension." She snapped her fingers and a glass prism appeared, trapping Gerald. "Now you will watch your world burn while you do nothing. But first you will watch your family die, starting with that weakling of your son called Muyiwa." She walked away, heading to the blood farms.

Gerald felt the power of his prison.A Madorian prism. He felt the poison get a grip of him, forcing him to sink to the floor. His eyes began to waver. Is this where I end? It will be a colossal failure if he died here, trapped as the coven he swore to protect is destroyed. I can't allow that to happen. I am the Emperor and it's my duty to protect the coven. He can't allow Glabach to win.

He closed his eyes and focused his energy inwards, burning the poison. It is a lengthy and draining process, but one he had to be quick about.I underestimated Kike and her guards. The fire that seeped through his body forced him to groan. I have to destroy as much of the poison as I can. He knew that time was short and he needed to be out of the prism.

In a few minutes, he had done enough to stand up and activate some of his magic back. He spread his arms, using his hands to feel the prism. Then he focused all his strength on the prism.

The prism shattered to pieces.

Gerald's eyes burned as he watched Lord Glabach change into Jake and enter the ward.

"My Emperor, tell me what I am seeing isn't true." Lord Uche said, eyes in disbelief.

Suddenly an arrow flew, residing on Josef's throat.

That's your answer. Gerald turned and found Kike with two guards.

"What's the meaning of this?" Uche's eyes shone, displaying it's red color. Gerald tapped him. "Don't bother about her, go and back up Reese!" Uche's eyes lingered at her for a bit longer then he left.

"When did you decide to join Glabach, Kike?"
She smirked as she uncoiled the whip by her side. "I joined this rebellion from the moment you became Emperor." She sneered. "Glabach should have been Emperor instead of you! Take him!"

One of the guards fired another arrow but Gerald moved sideways, dodging the arrow. As the guard loaded another arrow, the second guard charged at him with a silver chain. Gerald caught the chain and sent a huge amount of electricity into the chain. The electricity went to the other end, burning the hand of the second guard. Another arrow was fired but he burned it before there could be impact.

"Stand down, both of you!"

Instead they attacked him, this time together. Gerald eyes glowed red.

The two assailants fell to the ground, burning.

"Kike, I will give you one last chance. Stop this madness!"

She smiled and rushed towards him, unleashing the whip towards him. Gerald simply deflected the attack, then tossed her out.

Gerald stormed out of the council room. Uche and Reese followed him. When he was out of earshot, Gerald faced them.

"Something is very wrong with that video evidence. I don't trust the video."

Uche looked at him as if he was accusing him of changing the details. "Are you trying to say that it was tampered?"

"Perhaps. Or someone masked himself as Jake and killed Simi's mother."

"Or both." Reese added. "Someone has wanted him dead for a long time. This is the best chance of that."

"You certainly not referring to Lord Glabach, are you?"

"I don't trust Lord Glabach." Gerald said. "I trust Kike less. Reagan is not averse to Jake but he doesn't favor him and Simi is not in the frame of mind to find out what's happening. It's only two of you I can trust. Will you help me?"

"Yes." Reese answered immediately. Uche paused. "I will only help if it's to establish the truth of what happened."

"Obviously. If he is guilty, I won't stand in the way. Take my word for it."

"Then I will help you. What do you want from us?"

Gerald faced Reese first. "The Oracle told me that the event that will change this coven is near. I believe that the Horn of Pandora is involved in this. Reese I want it guarded day and night."

"Yes, My Radiance. I will post guards there."

"I want you there yourself. If someone comes for the horn, he would likely be a powerful enemy. I need someone at your level to be there."

"I will do it." Reese left immediately. Uche quavered. "You don't mean that the coven is in serious danger again."

"I do believe that it's at the most dangerous point right now. I have someone checking the security footage that was shown to us. If there is something fishy, he will reveal it. Follow me."

He walked to the security room.

"Josef, anything?"

Josef, who was the lead security agent in the coven before he was moved to another department looked at him.

"Yes, My Emperor. The video was tampered with. I have retrieved the original copy. I was about playing it now."

Gerald watched as the video started. It was in the morning as reported, yet who he saw walk into the Empress Mother's ward gave him a shock. It was Lord Glabach!

TWENTY FIVE

"The evidence is clear, he must die!" SIMI thundered in the council. "He killed my mother!"

Gerald looked at his Empress with cold anger. You are so blind to the truth! He knew that Jake was innocent, he was with Muyiwa for most of the day. The excuse that the murder happened in the morning was a farce.

"We must be careful in making conclusions, My Empress." Uche softly chided. "Let's not forget that he was the reason that she was here in the first place. If he didn't save her and his team, we won't be talking of this."

"So you are insisting that we let him go, Lord Uche?" Kike asked.

"No, I only want a fair judgement in this case. Jake has been with us for a long time....."

"The Imperious were with us for a long time before they decided to revolt!" Reagan clapped back. "This Imperious boy has done the same. Do you realize what he has done?"

Gerald heard enough. "You all are terrible counsellors and worse lords! Should I remind you that he has been on judgement from the very minute he arrived in this coven."

"For justifiable reasons!"

"What reasons? The prophecy? His abilities? The Deviants? Are we forgetting who we are?"

"Are you forgetting who you are, Emperor?" Glabach asked in a cold manner. "Your duty is to the coven and all it's associates, which includes her mother...."

"And Jake!" Gerald halted him there. "Have you forgotten that we have accepted him in our coven, that he is one of us? Where is the love, the affection we show to our own? Why are we so glad to judge him guilty? Answer me, COUNSELLORS!"

"It's councilors, my emperor." Lord Glabach smiled. " I understand that you must protect your son, but the evidence is on the screen. We all watched it here. Why delay?"

"Why?" Reese spoke forth. "Why we are delaying is because there is a system in place to judge such issues. Moreover, we have judged him falsely due to his abilities and heritage. Reagan spoke of the Deviants. We shouldn't forget that the reason why we stand here is because many vampires, including Imperious vampires rejected the Deviants and fought to preserve the sanctity of the coven. Should I also remind us that the reason why we made those laws against the Imperious is to make sure that they prove worthy of becoming one of us and that once they do we treat them as such." He paused. "He has done that again and again. If he actually killed the Empress Mother, there we have to find now why and how. We must judge him fairly and justly."

The hall was quiet for a long time. Gerald looked at them all. Glabach is looking for Jake's death but he won't find it easy! He could see that he and Kike were not happy about the way Reese had cooled the tempers down. I have to thank him.


"Let's recovene tomorrow." Gerald stood up. "Reese, Uche, come with me."

Jake walked into the garden like a child in wonder. The sun was mild, like it was handling a child. He lay down on the grass.

Muyiwa couldn't see his face but he knew what he felt.Bliss. Pure Bliss. It was known that Imperious who started their lives in the human world often miss the sun and feel trapped underneath the massive layers of dirt, stone and concrete that protected vampires from the sun. Some vampires still walk in the sun but they do so with charmed rings or necklaces that mitigate the effect of the sun.

"Where is this place?" He asked, his voice profused with joy.

"The garden of Ivy. She was an Empress, mother to Herrick."

Jake stood up and went on a trot about the garden. Like a child. Muyiwa couldn't help but be amused. If anyone saw him now, he will just look like a child, not the man that has been mistrusted and has mistrusted others in turn. For all the noise about the prophecy, he is just a child. Even in the human world, he was a child. I wonder if anyone in the council or even in the coven thought about that. How growth spurt here has been massive and it had to be so, if not he would be dead.

The sun suddenly retreated and left the garden cool. Jake stayed for a while and then walked back to the cave.

The descent was made in silence. Jake's mind was thinking of a lot of things and Muyiwa was eager to know what ran through his mind. At the end of the stairs, Jake turned to him.

"Who uses the garden?"

"The humans here. Vampires are not immune to the sun, except for Imperious." Many of them used here to relax, they laughed and played until some of them decided to start a rebellion.

"It's a wonderful place. Thank you for bringing me here." He sounded humble

Muyiwa smiled. "It's my pleasure." And a good start I hope. "If you need to....."

The doors burst open, two guards with manacles coming in. Before a word could be uttered, the silver manacles flew and trapped Jake. One of them moved and injected him with some drug.

"What's the meaning of this?" Muyiwa asked.

"Step aside, he is charged with murdering the Empress Mother."

Muyiwa paused on the way. "Lord Glabach is a member of the council." The oldest member of the council, actually. He wondered what Jake had heard about him from Father. "Why ask about him?"

"I heard some vamps speak of him like he is a god or something. That he is the most powerful vampire in this coven and he should have been the Emperor."

They resumed their walk upwards. " Lord Glabach is one of the most powerful vampires here, that I can say at least. He is also the oldest vampire here, supposedly here since it's founding by Herrick."

"Really? He had lived that long?"

Muyiwa viewed him like he was talking to a nitwit. "Yes. That's eternal for you. He hasn't been killed in battle and he never died of diseases."

"You guys get sick?" Jake was incredulous. "Like the way humans do?"

"We are not humans nor are we cursed with their frail nature. We don't have diseases like them. But since we feed on food and drink, we have some diseases we can fall prey to."

"I see." Jake fell into silence.

They got to the end of the stairway. Muyiwa pushed the door open, revealing a cave-like entrance.

"This is the getaway I promised." He looked at Jake in expectation. "What do you think about it?" It was a silly question though. He knew the answer from his face.

The coven was a myriad of rooms, domes and everything else to hide the sunlight. There were no fields or flowers here, their presence will require sunlight and that's something most vampires can't tolerate. Here was different. Outside the cave was a field, green as ever. Flowers adorned the field: sunflowers, hibiscus, the Lily of the valley and so on. There were even a few birds here: some doves and pigeons.

Mostly important of them was the sun. The sun shone here like it was meant to be: unhindered and unbroken. Rain fell here as well. It was the most human part of the coven.

It was the garden of Ivy.

"You harvest humans for blood?"
No, we just feed on cow's milk "Of course we feed on human blood, we are vampires, not humans. We need blood to survive."

"It's not necessary that the blood must be human. Cow's, goats, animals all have blood. Why humans?"

"You should know why, Jake. You must have been taught about that in our school."

Jake's hands were made into fists, his mouth clenched in anger. I hope it's not a mistake bringing him here. Muyiwa didn't want a fight, especially here of all places. The humans are fragile, he didn't want to risk them dying.

"You make the process painless, I guess?" Jake asked.

"As painless as possible, we are not barbarians who rip the lives off them. We use different methods to collect the blood and none of those methods involves them dying or going through much pain."

"They don't die? I am used to seeing vampires suck the lives out of humans."

"In movies I guess. The type of movies who set us up as the spawn of the devil." Muyiwa snorted. "We need human blood, but there is no need to kill them. Why kill them when we can keep them to produce more blood."

"So you keep them as pets?" Jake was relaxed. "You do realize that they are humans, just a step below....."

"....us on the food chain? Or evolution? Yes, we do. I do, at least. Don't give me those accusing eyes, humans keep other animals for pets as well. Goats, cattle, sheep, pigs and so on. Humans keep them for their milk and meat. Same here. I dare say we are better than humans in this."

"How?"

"First of all, the humans we keep don't die. They are taken care of, given the best of food and healthcare, get the best of refreshments and entertainment. They live the life their fellow humans want to have outside here."

"I guess that's a mercy." Jake looked calm, even a bit ashamed. Quite contrite.

They got to a spiral staircase. Muyiwa led the way, with Jake following quietly.

"Who is Lord Glabach?"

His father seemed relieved to see him. "Muyiwa, there you are." He gave a huge grin. "I am going to leave Jake in your hands." He winked and left.

Father! Ugh! His attempt to try and be tactful left a lot to be desired.

They stared at themselves for a long time, not knowing where to start.Am I suppose to say something?

"Sit." Muyiwa broke the silence. Jake lingered at his face a little longer before sitting down. Muyiwa ordered a servant to bring refreshments.

"So what can I do for you?"

Jake scratched his head. " I really don't know. I am just recovering from my last mission and so I can't do anything for some weeks. I don't want to be left bored, father seems to be too busy and everyone else seems close to worshipping me. I need a getaway."

A getaway Muyiwa looked at his half brother with some form of resentment. He had spent years in the coven, making sure that the blood farms work well and produce enough blood feed for the coven and no one had even thanked him for a job well done, well apart from the occasional pat on the back from his father. Then someone who just arrived is getting all the praise and adulation from the whole coven, even from his mother who wanted him dead and he wants a 'getaway'. How very much annoying.

That said, he understood Jake. All that attention was suffocating, especially as it wasn't long ago that the same people wanted him dead.

The refreshments arrived, blood ham and two glasses of milk. Muyiwa ordered the servant to cover them.

"If you really want a getaway, then follow me."

Without watching if Jake followed him, Muyiwa walked out into the blood farm.

The humans were busy with their activities, ignoring the guest in their midst. It didn't take long for Jake to realize that they were not vampires.

"They are humans?" He asked Muyiwa in surprise. "There are so many of them, like a colony."

A colony. My colony. "Yes, they are humans. This is where they stay. This is the blood farm."

Jake screwed his head. "A blood farm?"

"Yes, a blood farm. This is where we harvest blood for all the dishes we make for the coven."

It was his father's idea. "Both of you are my sons. If you two are friends, it will make my heart glad. Moreover, Jake's influence may be useful when it's time for you to become the Emperor." Muyiwa had protested that Jake had no influence and can't have any because he is a new vampire. "Influence grows with time. I will be around for many years still." That was his father's reply. When he asked why it was him, not Ore or his mother that the emperor asked for this favor, his father frowned. "You know the history between them. Jake will never be close to any of them.

But I have no history with him, so it's easy for me to be a pawn. Muyiwa wasn't sure of the influence part of his argument or any friendship budding between them, but he couldn't refuse his father. It was the older man who shielded him from his mother's paranoia and his sister's spite when they were all younger. He also made sure Muyiwa was placed in the blood farms, a measure which kept him away from unfriendly questions about his martial prowess yet kept him close enough to know about the adminstration of the coven. An emperor should know more than battles, he claimed. Several vampires could be warriors but only a few can organize a coven, bring vampires together and a fewer still can lead.

His father can't make him bring Jake here though, so Muyiwa was not bothered about the awkwardness of 'summoning' Jake to the blood farms, nor the embarrassment of meeting him to come here. Muyiwa had some pride as the Emperor's son and he didn't want to bow and scrape to the 'savior' of his grandmother, especially with the way the coven were celebrating him.

Muyiwa could understand the buzz, although the why of it eluded him. It wasn't an easy mission, he understood: many teams had gone then and failed. His grandmother was a powerful vampire and a more powerful diplomat, as she was a leading council member of the Terigulus coven, another powerful coven. Rescuing her was imperative. Jake did most of the rescuing himself, with Cleopatra and Zachris doing the much they could. However, the revelation that the mission was compromised and worse still that the rescue of his grandmother was going to accelerate the destruction of the coven worried him. He had learned the latter information from Ore, who had heard their parents argue about it. His father was for sending her back to her coven but his mom wanted her here, where she could take care of her. At the end, his mother won, even though he couldn't say anyone was particularly happy.

He was still mulling about that when his father came with Jake.

Twenty Four

He walked along the aisle, watching his humans plant flowers, harvest fruits and veggies, take care of the sick among them and then take the healthy, ripe ones for harvesting.My Farm. My paradise. The blood farms were the exclusive rights and responsibility of Muyiwa. It was where he had utmost control, a place where even his unreasonable mother and bullish sister had no control. Initially, when he was given governance of this area rather than 'more important' tasks, he felt it was a lack of faith from his father in his capabilities. He despised the vampires that were here and felt worse about the humans; after all, this is a vampire coven, humans have no business here.They are only food. They have no right to fellowship.

He was wrong about that. The humans were food, that was right but they were more. Their scientists were as brilliant if not more brilliant than those that were vampires: been immortal doesn't make you more intelligent. They were great test subjects for spells and medicines, they kept most of the plants in the coven alive and provided a great source of oxygen. Most of all, they revered him and his kind. Most of them though. A few still see them as an abomination. He has grown to love them and treat then well and they have responded in kind.

Now he is to share this world with Jake.

Indeed! Jake looked at his father and hissed. What sort of lies does he think that he can tell me? That he, as the leader of the coven, can't help his own son? He watched as his father left and turned his back.

Jake received no visitors after his father came. Doctor Marcus soon released him, asking him to come back in two days time.


Once he got out of the hospital wing, he went to the Oracle.

He met her watering her garden. This time she was with a green gown, the gown gracing the ground. She turned towards him.

"Jake." She smiled. "How are you feeling today?"

Nervous. "I am quite fine, just a bit tired. The Empress claimed that you wanted to see me."

"Yes." Her eyes looked sad. "I can't speak about what I want to tell you, because it's terrible. A vision that foretells the doom and rebirth of our coven." Her eyes met his. "Bring your hands."

Jake walked towards her and stretched his hands. She hummed in a similar fashion to Cleopatra back at the mountain.

Suddenly the room became dark, lit only by raging fire. Jake saw many vampires dead, their bodies been consumed by the fire or by werewolves. He could recognize some of the faces there: Zachris, Austin, Frank who was his first sparring partner, Thomrod. Others were unfamiliar faces, yet he could tell that they were from the coven.

Then he saw himself wearing a crown with long spikes. The crown is on fire! Besides him was Count Olorundayo and someone who was masked. The mask broke off and he could swear that it was a member of council. He tried to peep closer to see who it was.

Then he was returned to the room with the Oracle, her hands trembling.

"What's that I saw?"I am trembling. I saw destruction.

Her eyes were black and deep with suspence. "Doom. Doom of our coven."

"Why does this concern me?"

"You saw it. Your crown. You felt it. The rage in your heart. The anger that Sparks the destruction. The time is near."

She released his hands. "I hope that this vision will be forestalled. Most visions can be, however a few of them happen like it is seen in the dream."

She moved towards her plants and picked a yellow vase with yellow flowers.

"Take this. The juice in the flowers can heal most ailments and afflictions."

"How do I.... How do I keep this?"

She smiled, then she pointed to his hands. "Point to any spot and make a circle around it. Make your magic flow through your fingers."

Jake did as he was instructed, swirling his fingers. Nothing happened at first, then a golden swirl of current came forth. Then a portal opened.

"Keep it there. When you need it, remember this."

Jake kept it. Once he was done, he stopped the current.

"It's done." The Oracle became fifty years older all of a sudden. "I have left everything to you, Jake."

When Jake woke up, he met his father looking at him with worried eyes.

"What, what happened?"

"You almost attacked me, I believe." The emperor answered. "The doctors put you to sleep."

Jake couldn't understand. "I didn't want... I don't understand. I never wanted to attack you. I..."

"Was magicked to attacking me. It seems like whatever fed you those lies also put a spell on you so that when you see me, you will attack me. Fortunately, you seem to restrain yourself long enough for the doctors to arrive."

I knew that I couldn't trust the Count! "The Count, he told me......."

"A lot of lies, I trust." He cracked his fingers in anger. "If you had succeeded, it was sure that you will die. The coven would have turned on you." He looked at him with sad eyes, like he was sorry for something. "I knew that the mission was dangerous. I knew, but it happened that your team was the only team I could send. It was a risk, it's true but I had to take it."

He paused. "However, I didn't know that it was compromised. I asked Zachris and Cleopatra to make the best of plans and I trusted them. If I knew that someone was leaking any information, I would have stopped you from going."

Will you? Jake snorted in his mind. He didn't believe him one bit. Since he had come to the coven, he had been treated like he was very expendable. Jake never deluded himself on that. You will say what you are saying now and then send me to the nearest hell you can find.

His disbelief must have been clear on his face, for Gerald looked at him with a sad smile. "You don't believe me. I don't blame you. I know that you have gone through unbelievable hell since the moment you were dragged here. Your life has been on the line more than once and I, your father, have treated you worse than a leper. It's my fault and my shame, but be sure of this: I will always fight for you. Always."

I see. " what prophecy?"

Her eyes flickered. "It's nothing that should concern you now. I don't want to talk about things that may not happen. I just wanted to thank you for your service before the swarm of well wishers come to greet you."

She stood up and walked towards the door.

"The Oracle wants to see you when you recover, Jake."

Jake couldn't sleep long after she left. He hated to think what the Oracle had for him. Since the last time he visited the Oracle, his life had been a blitz. Now another prophecy waits for me.

The next few days was a buzz of activities for Jake. His team members visited him at least twice, with Zachris and Cleopatra visiting almost every day. Calypso came visiting a couple of times, Celeste came once( she smiled when he told her that he used the spell she taught him), Muyiwa and his sister came visiting one Sunday afternoon while many other random vamps came.

He was almost ready to leave the hospital ward when his father visited.

Gerald wore a white shirt with a red doublet and a red trouser. He had a badge which signified that he was the Emperor. His eyes gave nothing away.

"Good day, My Emperor." Jake felt he will never warm up to this man.

"How about 'Good day, father?', Jake?" He sat down on the visitor's chair. He observed the flowers and other gifts that were dropped by well wishers. "You seem to be the celebrity right now."

Jake gave a weary smile. He wasn't entirely comfortable with the whole fuzz but he had to admit, he did enjoy it.

"I wonder how long it will last." He expected something bad to happen. It always does

" You have to be more positive, you know that." He faced him. " You did very well in a difficult mission."

"Difficult or compromised?" Jake didn't forget what the Count had said.

"I heard it was compromised. Zachris reported that and believe me that we are working on finding out who compromised the mission."

Jake's smile became sarcastic. "Really? You sent me on a mission where I could have died there or here. You knew fully well that it was compromised and you still sent me there. You sent me there to die!" Jake was shaking with fury.

"Calm down, Jake." Gerald moved backwards. "Doctors! Doctors!!"

Suddenly doctors appeared from nowhere and injected a dose of revein then doused him to sleep.

Not her again! Jake didn't forget how much she wants him dead. She had insisted on aidokai and even flung his mother as collateral. Jake could faintly remember his mother but that memory was fading away.

She is the Empress. I have to remember that and accord her the respect her office deserves. He didn't want her here, but there was not anyway he could chase her out.

Jake adjusted himself and braced for whatever she wanted to throw at him. "Your Grace...."

"Sit, don't stress yourself." She took a seat. "I asked the nurse to inform me immediately you wake up."

So the stupid nurse couldn't wait for me to fully recover before inflicting you on me.

"You must be wondering why I am here." She paused and took a deep breath. "I want to thank you for saving my mother."

"Okay,ma." Jake wanted to know where this was going.

She saw the caution. "I am not playing a trick on you. I know it's difficult for you to believe me, but right now I wish you no evil."

"Okay ma."

"My mother is very important to me, just as your mother was before you came here. I was skeptical when your team was given the mission to rescue her, but your team did it and I heard it was largely due to you."

"My teammates dir their parts as well, Empress."

"They did." She agreed. "Yet you did a lot. I know that you rescued your teammates more than once and you even used your power to bring everyone back to the coven."

She watched him with her golden eyes. "You must wonder why I wanted you dead all this while."

Jake felt his heart tighten. Why bring this now?

"You must think I am very jealous of your relationship with your father or that I am very protective of my children."

Was that a question? "No."

"Then what do you think?"

"I don't know...maybe pure hate."

She smiled. "Maybe so. But I am not hating you because of that. My hate of you is self preservative. It was because of a prophecy."

Twenty Three

Is he now? Or is he just with you because it's convenient for you? Tell me Jake, if this mission fails, will you be given a pat in the back or will you be blamed?

Jake stirred up from sleep, his eyes still feeling a bit weak. As he adjusted to the white colors of the hospital wing, he remembered those words.Weird that it's the last thing I hear before I wake up. The Imperious, Count Olorundayo or so asked Austin and him that question.

Is he alive because it's convenient for the coven to keep him alive? It was a troubling question.

Jake had never been secure about his place in the coven. Despite being the son of the most powerful vampire in the coven, he always felt that his life was in danger. True, things had calmed down since aidokai, yet it was never out of his mind that danger lurks.

It doesn't help that the said father never has time for me! Since the day he got the shock revelation that the emperor was his father, Jake has never seen the older vampire again. Instead, his day has been shared with Cleopatra, Thomrod, Calypso, Celeste and his team. He wondered if what Justin said about him being injured was true. If you were in his shoes, he will abandon you. We all will. He didn't abandon Austin though. He is my teammate. We fight for each other! So why did he think himself foolish?

He faintly remembered Cleopatra's eyes turning golden. She has golden eyes, yet she hid it from everyone! He wondered if he should have done the same. No one told me what to do! He thought that Cleopatra was his friend and someone he could trust. If she could hide such, he wondered what the rest hid.

The door opened. Jake quickly adjusted himself, wondering who wanted to see him.

It was the Empress.

Gerald walked out of the council room, only to meet Zachris waiting for him outside.

"I am sorry, My Eminence. I was dragged to the council room once I arrived."

"There is no problem with that. You did your duty."

"Not to the best of my ability, sir. Forgive me sir, but I omitted some things when I was there."

Zachris was sweating blood and was fiddling with his fingers. Something was wrong.. "What is it that you omitted, Zachris?"

"Not here, My Emperor. I will prefer somewhere more private. Maybe the royal quarters."

Gerald looked at him in annoyance. "Say what you have to say here, Zachris. I don't think anything you will say is worse than what you already reported."

"It's worse sir. It's about the mission and Jake."

He took a deep breath." It's about Jake?"

"Yes. More accurately it's about what happened during the mission."

"I see." This may need a level of secrecy after all. "Follow me."

He didn't lead Zachris to the royal quarters. Instead he took him to the elevator that led out of the coven and pressed the button, taking them to the highest floor. They then climbed a ladder to the very top of the building.

"So what's so secret that you have to tell me?"

"We were expected...."

"You had already implied that, Zachris. However, there is no concrete proof of this...."

"There was." Zachris paused for a minute. "When we rescued the Empress Mother and tried to escape, we were surrounded by werewolves. An Imperious stopped them from attacking us and addressed Jake. He confirmed that we were expected, confirmed that the mission was compromised and that you knew the dangers. He was trying to convince Jake to join them. He even offered to release us if Jake joined them."

"So how did you all escape?"

"It was Jake and Cleopatra, sir. Cleopatra used a strange spell, but she had to channel Jake's energy for her to do it."

"I see."

"My real fear is that the Empress Mother was a diversion. Jake was their real target and they wanted to make sure that he came."

Gerald rubbed his chin. "Why didn't you say this in the council room?"

"My Eminence, haven't you considered that it was the council that gave us this mission? If the target was Jake in the first place and the council sent us there and they were well prepared for us, it could mean that someone in the council is working for them?"

"That can't be true!" The thought hung in the air for a minute. If it's true, then the whole coven will be in danger! He could see why Zachris was fretful.

"You did well keeping this from the council." He patted him in the back. "Don't breath a word of what you said here to anyone else, including the Empress, do you understand?"

"Yes, My Emperor."

"Leave this to me. You can go."

As Zachris found his way back to the coven, Gerald looked at the full moon outside and thought about the treachery of men.

"Interesting." Kike gave that all knowing eye.

Gerald didn't like that at all. "What do you mean by that, Lady Kike?"

"Nothing, my Emperor. I just find it interesting that he fell out of the teleportation circle just before they landed. Maybe he knew something they didn't."

Before Gerald could frame a reply, Reese turned to Kike. "The teleportation circle isn't the most secure means of moving and you know that. After all, I do remember you falling off at times from such circles as a steward and even as a lady."

"But isn't it funny that......"

"I don't think Jake had any ulterior motive by falling off." Glabach spoke with authority. "He has been in the coven complex for most of his short life here and when he has been on missions, he has been closely watched."

"I agree with Lord Glabach. The question is why such a method was used." Uche asked. "We have various means to get to Oluwo Mountain."

"You are right, my Lord. But the urgency of the mission and the level of secrecy made it important that we used such a method. I and Cleopatra made sure that the position was far enough that our landing wouldn't raise suspicion."

"Yet an ambush was laid there." Uche looked worried. "I should assume that you were not released?"

"No sir. We were shackled and taken to a dungeon deep in the mountain. Then we were kept with the other warriors that had been sent."

"And you couldn't break free from that?"

"We were drugged with revein and shackled with silver manacles."

"Where was Jake during this period?"

"I don't know. I know that they had made search parties after him. They wanted him!"

"You can't be sure, Zachris. They may have just noticed that he was missing."

"The werewolf chief that captured us said so in the old language."

The council room became silent. Gerald could literally hear their hearts beating. Glabach was composed, as the eldest of all vampires here would be. Reagan and Reese were worried, Uche looked furious. Even Kike looked a bit rattled.

"You can go, Zachris." Gerald watched as the captain stood up and walked dignified out of the council room.

"You have heard him, my lords and lady. What is your opinion?"

Uche spoke first. "If the werewolves know about Jake's identity and ability, then they will try to get him again. We must muster all our warriors and end Oluwo Mountain for good!"

"That may be an overreaction, Lord Uche." Glabach replied. "Zachris only told us his opinion on what happened. The werewolves may not even know who he was, they may just want to be careful so as not to be outsmarted."

"Really? Really??" Uche fired back. " Zachris confirmed that the werewolf chief knew about Jake! If a chief could know about him, then imagine what his superiors know about Jake. They may know....."

"Nothing!" Glabach finished. "Maybe they expected something extra from us since we had sent previous teams to rescue their captive. Maybe the appearance of Zachris and the others made them very wary. Maybe the security at Oluwo Mountain is very tight. It could be any of these or nothing. If I were you, I won't work myself up about this."

"Lord Glabach is right." He heard Reagan speak. "We can't just assume that Jake was a target for the werewolves."

"Even if that's so, the way they were taken gives one pause. If Zachris is right, we may have a mole in this coven. Add the fact that we have reliable reports that some of the Deviants have joined these werewolves, then we could find ourselves in serious danger if we do nothing about information leaks."

"True. That's your province, Lord Uche." Lord Glabach replied. "Let us focus on how to find this mole and deal with him. Who disagrees with me?"

They all kept quiet. Gerald stood up.

"Thank you for your advice and deliberations. The coven appreciates your time."

They all rose up and left.

A steward met him.

"My Emperor, Zachris has returned."

"Where is he?" Gerald wanted to hear his report alone.

"He is in the Council room. Lord Glabach has summoned him there."

Gerald grinded his teeth. He didn't need the council! The council was supposed to be the wisest among them in the coven. Yet it was they who sent Jake's team and many other errors. They condemned him to death over and over again and they have influenced the coven negatively. The council can't be removed from power, they wield their power until death. He couldn't remove them.....but he didn't want them knowing every single information about Jake.

He walked to the council room, hoping to start before Glabach called the other council members, but he met all of them there, seated and waiting for him.

"My Emperor, I am sorry for intruding into your meeting with this young man, but considering the circumstances of the rescue of our Empress Mother, I took it upon myself to invite the council to listen to what he has to say." Glabach wore a red robe which covered the whole of his body, revealing nothing apart from the outline of his blue jean trousers and his blue shoes. Gerald met his golden eyes. There was a message there. He didn't find Simi with them.

"Isn't the Empress part of the council? Why isn't she here?"

Reagan took a swing from the chalice he had brought for refreshment. " She just recovered her mother. It won't be appropriate to drag her here because of something as trivial as a report."

The report is trivial but you all gathered here! Gerald walked to his seat, controlling his face as much as possible. He knew that there was a meaning behind this set up, but he couldn't just tell what it was.

As soon as he sat down, he waved Zachris to start.

Zachris rose and faced the council. "My Lords and Emperor. The mission of rescuing the Empress Mother was assigned to us by everyone here midnight two days ago. I made all the preparations and briefed my team on what we were to do. Our task was to sneak into Oluwo Mountain, slip past the guards and free our Target before slipping out." He paused, looking at them. Gerald couldn't tell if he was angry or cautious.

"We were expected. As soon as we landed, werewolves sprung from no where and attacked us. They were armed with revein, shots of UV and clout of sunlight in addition to silver manacles and dragon rings for Jake. We stood no chance."

Gerald looked at his council members. Glabach and Reagan were keeping their thoughts well, Reese was shocked, Uche unbothered and Kike had a wry smile, like she was expecting something like this. Look at my council! He could hear the unspoken accusation that Zachris had just made. Silver manacles and dragon rings were used to trap and capture Imperious vampires. They were well prepared for everyone, including Jake!

"Are you trying to say that it was an ambush?" It was Reagan that asked him.

"Yes, My Lord. It was a perfectly made ambush."

"And you were all captured?"

"Not all. Jake didn't land in the same spot as we did."

"How did that happen?" Kike asked, suddenly interested.

"We used a teleportation circle. I had made a spot far away from the mountain with Cleopatra. But apart from both of us, the rest of my team are new to the circle. Austin almost fell off and Jake fell out of the circle just before we landed."