Chapter 6

Bryony followed Austin into the dining hall. She looked around after bowing as the three men did. Whatever this thing was that was going on, she was now part of it and she had to get used to the way they did things.

She looked at Paycen and Emery. As Austin had done, they had changed clothes and were sporting jeans and white t-shirts to go with their boots.

Her clothes were the same as theirs, but she felt under dressed in the opulence of her surroundings. How could they easily walk around with jeans and t-shirts so easily when they were in the presence of what could only be described as royalty?

With no other answers, she began to memorize their features in case she encountered them any time in the future or if she needed to describe the to someone.

Paycen was a bright redhead with really bright, deep green eyes. His face was angular and his frame very bulky but most of that was muscle. His shirt clung to him, especially when he crossed his arms, so much so she thought it would rip from the simple action. He was very perceptive even though he looked as if he were a dolt.

Emery was very intelligent and it showed in his eyes. He was the smallest out of the three of them, but there was no doubt in her mind she could fight with the same ferocity the others obviously did. His dark hair was trimmed short, giving his aquamarine eyes an eerie glow. It made sense that his power centered around water.

Austin was the puzzling one. He was their leader but he was also something else. He was a member of the Court obviously and took pride in it, but he was also very conservative. His attitude towards this was to make sure everyone was safe. It was in the way he walked and talked.

As she watched him lead the way to the table, she noticed he crackled with the electricity around them. He obviously couldn't help that he attracted the currents, but he was containing them around him.

The memory of that current coming off him was seared into her. It was the oddest feeling yet one she remembered having felt years ago while in high school. They hadn't had too many run ins with each other in their private school, but when they did, she could clearly remember the little trill that went through her blood at the touch of his fingers.

Austin felt Bryony's hand as if bunched in his shirt. She had taken a firm hold the instant they walked into the dining hall. Whether it was from all the new people in the room or just for reassurance he didn't know, but he knew that she wouldn't do it just to be doing it.

He could feel the heat from her smaller hand. It radiated through his entire being but he couldn't show any of that in front of the highly intelligent and sensitive Elves. Besides, he had to find out what their fascination with Bryony was first then deal with the sudden spring of feelings.

Leothain stood, causing everyone around him to follow his lead. Dex motioned for them to go to the right of the Elven King. Austin allowed Bryony to sit between him and the King because if anything were to happen he knew the King would protect her.

The Elven King sat and as everyone else did the same, he balanced his elbows on the table and steepled his fingers.

"I am sure you are all wondering why I had Dexlin come for you the moment Brad knocked on the woman's door," he said as the servants ventured off to gather their meal.

With a glance to his leader to make sure he wasn't about to say something snarky, Emery was the first to react. "Actually, we are more concerned with why you are coming out of hiding now of all times?"

Lacain laughed. "My dear boy, we have been integrated with the realm of Man since the 19th Century. We have just perfected our camouflage."

"Do not mock them, brother. They have fought valiantly," said the Elf seated to Lacain's right. "I am Laren, younger brother to Leothain and Lacain."

"Do all your names start with 'L'?" Austin asked suddenly. "If they do, I am going to have a hard time keeping all of you straight. Names are my brother's specialty. Not mine."

Leothain smiled knowingly. "It is just the three of us. It is tradition for siblings to have the same letter at the beginning of their names. My children's names begin with 'K'."

"Oh, goody."

"Austin," Emery warned casually. It was usually his job to make sure his boss didn't get too snarky. He was allowed one response when they knew their allies, but in this case, it wasn't a smart idea even if they did.

Bryony, noting how the men were deciding to act like children, leaned forward and took control. "Why is Brad after me?"

The Elven King looked to the Sector leader. "You did not tell her?"

Austin leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms defiantly. "Have you tried telling someone he or she's in danger because of someone stupid? It usually doesn't go very well."

Emery rubbed his face. "No, My Lord, we haven't told her. We were going to once we got her to safety but then you came to help as well. I know for a fact the Queen hasn't said anything of the Elves in her records so she must think you are off our grid."

Leothain reclined in his seat, his hands folded gently in his lap. "Then it makes sense. Your Queen is young, yes?"

"She is not yet twenty-two," Austin replied. "She took the throne nearly three years ago not even the of twenty. Ever since then she has been working day and night to make a better life for us. So far she has done a good job."

"That she has. We have followed her progress. Is it true she has children?" Lacain asked. The three men stiffened simultaneously. The Elf raised his hand. "I mean no harm. I was just asking a question."

"Asking those kinds of questions would get a normal person killed," Paycen stated calmly. He was leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed but it was obvious he could explode into action if needed.

Leothain studied the weapons specialist closely. "You are very powerful, Healer, in both the healing arts and weaponry. I can understand why Austin keeps you around."

"You still haven't answered my question," Bryony said. "Why is Brad after me?"

"Your brother owes the mob a handsome amount of money. If we didn't help you, you would be tortured until he came to help you then they'd kill you," Austin said. "But that's not the kicker."

She turned her head to look at him. His body was turned towards her but he wasn't looking at her. He was watching the three men in front of them. She hadn't figured out if it was a dominance thing or a respect thing. Whichever it was, it made the room very tense.

"What is it?" she asked. He finally turned those blue eyes her way but there was a question in them. "Tell me. I can handle it."

Austin ran a hand through his short hair. "The club your brother frequents is owned by the mob. The mob in turn is funded by another group that we haven't seen in a century."

She frowned. "What group is it?"

He sighed and looked at Leothain. The Elven King was contemplating what he was talking about as if he didn't know. Austin highly doubted the Elf didn't know what was going on but he was going to allow him to continue feigning ignorance.

"We call them Atlanteans but you call them vampires."

Bryony stared at him before she started to laugh, a tired and crazed sound. She looked around the table and when she noticed nobody's face changed, her laughter started to die. She looked at them then turned her shocked gaze back on Austin.

"You can't be serious. Vampires are myths conjured up by people to scare their children. Now you're telling me they're real? What else is real? Werewolves?"

"Actually the Manchestor brothers don't like to be called werewolves. They call themselves the Moon Chosen," Paycen pitched in.

Emery nudged him rather hard. "Not helping, Payce."

Bryony shook her head. "It's not possible. Vampires are myths."

"Have you heard of the lost city of Atlantis?" Leothain asked.

She nodded. "Everyone has. Something catastrophic happened and the greatest ancient technology was lost under the sea. No one knows where it is or if it even exists. If they did, I'm certain people would be scavenging the wreckage."

The Elven Lord looked impressed. "The legend of the lost city of Atlantis is true. People have just forgotten the minor details."

"What are the minor details?" The archivist in her was hooked.

Smiling at her eagerness, the King turned to his brother. Laren took up the story. "Ten thousand years ago, even before Greece became the one of the greatest empires in history, there was an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It was located between present day Greece, Turkey, and Asia. It was a popular place considering its location and it was very wealthy. One day a powerful witch foretold of an oncoming disaster that would annihilate the island's people. Naturally the King of Atlantis thought his land was indestructible and refused to listen to the woman. So she cast a curse on them for when the disaster befell them there was no way they could run."

Bryony blinked twice then turned to Austin. "There's magic as well?"

Austin merely glanced down at her before finishing the short tale. "The day came when the disaster struck. It wasn't by land or air, but by water. A great storm arose on the normally calm Mediterranean and with that storm came great waves. The city was decimated, its people killed. The King looked out over his empire as the water swallowed it and called out to his gods, but they did not answer for it had been by their will that the curse was bestowed.

"As the city sank into the depths of the sea, the curse was triggered. What was once of light became of night. All of the people somehow came back to life but there was one hitch. They were never able to go out in direct sunlight again. From dusk until dawn is the time when they rule. The night is their ally."

"So it was because they didn't listen to a witch that they became creatures of the night?" Austin nodded. Her attention went to the Elves. "Why did the witch curse them? It couldn't have just been because the gods told her to do so."

Lacain smiled widely, a laugh escaping him. He looked to Austin. "Keep this girl, Thunder Bearer, and she will be a great asset to you." The man shifted unhappily in his seat. The Elf barely noticed as his attention went back to the woman. "Witches and wizards do their gods bidding but sometimes they do things without their deities' consent. This witch did as she was bid but because the King refused to listen, she placed the curse on his people."

"Don't curses usually wear off after the witch has passed?"

"Not this one. It was a case of permanent magic that stayed in effect even after her death."

Bryony was mentally filing all of this away so she could write it down later. It would make more sense if she put it down on paper. Her fingers itched but there was no paper anywhere near her.

A thought hit her. "What happened to the people? The way you speak makes it sound like they have just resurfaced."

Leothain nodded. "Very intelligent young woman. You are correct. It has been just recently that the Atlanteans have resurfaced. They mainly live in populated areas like New York and San Francisco."

Austin stood and began to pace. "I remember Keldin telling me something about his efforts to pull a faction of vampires into an alliance. He says he's still working on it."

"Your brother is much more suited as an ambassador than you are." The King watched the Sector leader as he didn't stop even at the insult. "What would your Queen have you do? I know she is your friend and you respect her wishes."

"If the Atlanteans are behind this, she would have us keep the woman safe. Is there any way I can persuade you to allow her to remain here while I discuss this with Jacq?"

The Elf shook his head sadly. "I am afraid I cannot help you after this. If the Atlanteans find out we're hiding so close to them, they may come after us. I cannot risk my people until they are reined in. I am sorry."

"Do you have an alliance with the Moon Chosen?" Lacain asked.

Emery nodded. "Yes. We forged the bond last year when Paycen saved Berlin's pup from certain death. Unfortunately Kodaka, his mate, could not be saved. Our reward was an alliance with them but they will not help us unless the ones we fight are the ones who wish to exterminate them."

Austin snorted. "It's all the better. I don't like killing people unless it's necessary." He bit his lip, rolling it between his teeth as he thought. "I appreciate your hospitality but after the evening meal we must be going."

This time it was the Elven King who snorted. His was more elegant than Austin's. "Nonsense. You will dine with us and then spend the night. I will not have you running around all hours of the night then going to work in the morning. No, you will remain here. I will make sure you are taken well care of then send you on your way to work tomorrow. Tomorrow evening you can take up your quest."

Unable to argue with logic, Austin sank back into his seat and enjoyed the meal that was placed before him.