Shackled Serenity by Leon Logos

Author:Leon Logos [Logos, Leon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-05-26T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY- FOUR

She didn’t know what to expect as she tentatively made her way to the Council Hall with Lily. Two weeks living with the Aurelians, and she was already being summoned into the Council Hall, where the most distinguished and prominent figures in the Family convened. There was nothing she could remember that she did wrong.

“Don’t be nervous, they probably just want to say hi,” Lily said warmly, noticing her disconcertment.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought…”

“But you’re lucky! I’ve never been inside the Council Hall. Only the super important people are allowed in!”

“And I don’t think I belong in that category,” said Serenity.

The apposition of both a dog and a cat caught her attention as they strode past the courtyard, the southern entrance of the main house in view.

The Council Hall was beyond yet another set of grand double doors. Two heavily armed soldiers were guarding it, facing directly forward. Serenity waited for them to say anything. She quickly realized they wouldn’t speak first, after twenty seconds of awkward silence.

“Um—I was summoned here.”

“Name? Purpose?” one of the guards demanded.

“Serenity Car—Aurelian. And, well, I was summoned here.”

To her surprise, the two guards stepped out of the way and knocked three times on the door. She would’ve expected the guards to require more convincing to let her in, but they must’ve been informed. A few moments later, the double doors were opened. Dorian stood by the door, with his usual sophisticated port. He ushered her inside. Serenity stepped forward but halted momentarily; Lily was nudged away from the door by the guards.

“Sorry, Lily,” said Dorian sweetly. “You’re not allowed.”

Lily pouted, but she conceded immediately. Serenity smiled at Lily and turned around, stepping further into the Council Hall as the doors shut behind her.

She was underwhelmed; she had expected a room likewise in scale to the Dining Hall. Someplace long and high-ceilinged, not a room the size of a typical office conference room. The room was lavishly decorated, of course, but comprised primarily of a round table with thirteen people seated around it. The room had no windows, preventing anyone from spying. Dorian motioned for her to take his seat next to Alistair. Serenity ignored the many gazes burning into her eyes as she occupied Dorian’s seat. The walk there felt interminable. She couldn’t help but succumb to anxiety. The people in this room were at the top of the hierarchy—the leaders of the family. Their authority was impeccable, and they could have her executed, flogged, banished, or even imprisoned if they willed it. She felt like an ant at the mercy of a wicked child weaponizing the sun with a magnifying glass, her fate contingent on the vacillation of the child; would the child end her inconsequential life, or let her scurry free?

She twiddled her obscured fingers on her lap, confused on who to look at or address. Her eyes met Bastion, evoking a prickle of vexation and surprise. She had no idea that Bastion was a member of the Council. He was easily the youngest member.

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