Chapter 7

Once again, Alexandra was maltreated and shoved out of the van. Fortunately, she didn’t fall this time and ignored the disappointed looks on the guards’ faces. Much to her surprise, there wasn’t a single soul sitting outside the Astral Stone. The only people outside were the Celestial Council, their Celestial Guard, and two Hybrids.

“Don’t even think about it,” the guard huffed.

Even if Alexandra wanted to make a run for it, she couldn’t. She was pushing forty-eight hours of no sleep, her head still ached, and the wound on her shoulder had just finished healing. Whatever magic Alexandra had left would be wasted. She looked to her right and saw Shaun was more or less in one piece, but she looked exhausted, too.

Aiden looked between them, “Considering the circumstances, we’ll be handling things differently than we usually would. Ms. Wade, I’m sure you expected to face an immediate execution upon arrival, but we’ve decided to spare you for now. However, the Claret Codes clearly state how we should deal with you.”

“How considerate,” Shaun grumbled. “I’m sure that sentiment will change in a few days, though.”

Aiden didn’t disagree. He looked at Alexandra now, “They’ll stay in the lower levels for the next two days until it's time for the Grand Assembly. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes sir, Head Councilman Bliss,” the guards echoed.

“As for the council and its members, we’ll be convening for an emergency meeting later this evening to discuss what needs to be brought forth on the evening of the Grand Assembly,” he shared. “I expect all of you to be in attendance, and for those who feel it’s unnecessary, I advise that you deem it necessary and show up anyway. Any negligence to appear will have you barred from the Grand Assembly. Understood?”

“Understood,” the Celestial Council agreed.

Aiden regarded Alexandra and Shaun with an unclear expression, then his eyes settled on their clothes, “There’s a change of clothes for you in each of your holdings. You’ll be allowed to bathe and eat once you’re down there.”

Alexandra was relieved to receive that little kindness, but she was sure that’d be the extent. She and Shaun were ushered inside and guided deep into the temple. As they entered, the air inside felt different.

The interior was dark wood and stone, and the walls seemed to vibrate with the pressure they radiated. It was overwhelming, especially with each of the Eleven Deities the nations served lining the room's walls.

On the left and right side of the room, the eight Minor Clans’ deities stood beside one another, but at the head of the room at the archways were the main three: Aleister, Dawn, and Riher. Respectively, Aleister was worshipped by Vampires, Dawn by Mages, and Riher by Werewolves. Each seemed to loom more prominent than the rest, and the realism of the statues made it feel as though they’d lean down and meet you eye to eye at any moment.

At the feet of each of the statues were burning candles and incense left behind by the temple's caretakers, but there were also offerings left behind by the people. Right now, Aleister held the most offerings as the Sapphire Moon loomed near, and Vampires sought to pay their respects before their Celestial Celebration.

Past the archways lay a secondary antechamber that connected multiple hallways. At the head of the room lay a set of double doors being watched by two guards, and the two of them knew that that’s where they’d be in two days. They didn’t get a chance to dwell in that room long before being directed through a series of hallways and guided to a secluded area of the temple.

Alexandra and Shaun were crowded into a large freight elevator with an excessive amount of guards, and they held their breath as it creaked down to the temple's lower levels. Much like the upper level, there was more wood and stone, but it was colder and darker.

The halls were dimly lit by torchlight, and Alexandra was sure the levels below Astral Stone stretched further into the city than anyone could have imagined. Even the roots of Sciscark burrowed deep into the earth and snaked through the basement levels of Astral Stone. After walking for what felt like miles, they were brought to a room behind a thick steel door with two large display cases; each held a bed, an exposed toilet and shower, and a sink.

“Welcome to your temporary homes,” the Captain Commander declared. “Leave your clothes outside the room, and we’ll destroy them for you.”

“This seems like some sick peep show,” Shaun grumbled.

“Chop, chop,” the Captain Commander urged. “I don’t have all day to sit down here.”

They were forced forward and directed to each of their cases. The doors were opened once the Captain Commander came by and scanned the band on his watch, and he stood by impatiently waiting for them to strip.

Shaun and Alexandra both hesitated outside their cases. From what they could tell, there were very few women amongst the Celestial Guard, and the men who were there seemed keen on keeping very close eyes on the two of them.

Shaun sighed and looked over to Alexandra, “We can’t stand here forever.”

“Yeah… I know.” Alexandra looked over at Shaun and tried to put on a brave face, “Together?”

“Together,” Shaun agreed.

Reluctantly, the two of them began to strip. Alexandra was all too happy to be rid of her dress and even more so rid of the corset. As she stepped out of her dress, she did her best to ignore their stares, but it was difficult. It wasn’t like when she’d been dressed by a room full of her attendants. They hadn’t leered at her or made her buckle underneath their gazes.

Once she tore through the corset strings with her last bit of strength, she hurried into the display case and put on the oversized pants and shirt they’d left on the bed. The door shut behind her, and once the Captain Commander scanned the band on his wrist again, it sealed and locked shut. Shaun followed Alexandra’s example but not as hurried as she. The Captain Commander closed her door as well and glanced at his watch.

“You’ll be served dinner shortly,” the Captain Commander called as he began to head out of the room, the click of his boots echoing through the empty space.

Once he’d gone, Alexandra sat on the edge of her nearly paper-thin mattress – if you could call it that – and looked at each of the guards standing around the room. There were almost fifty of them, which only solidified how the Celestial Council felt about the two of them: they were worried.

Having thought about it, a Cenntinneal Celestial Celebration was nearing with the Sapphire Moon just weeks away. It explained the unease the Celestial Council felt towards the two of them, and it explained the franticness of her parents the morning before. Time was running out, and if they didn’t want to risk the lives of thousands of people, the only option was either to reverse the spell – if it could be reversed – or be killed.

Between the two options, execution seemed easier, especially after hearing that James had tried to seek an answer to cure her for the last twelve years and discovered nothing. She assumed Sol had to have made several attempts to undo what’d been done, but if she hadn’t been able to do anything, then the chance of fixing this was abysmal.

And even if that was an option, she was sure the Celestial Council wouldn’t be so easily convinced. Osiris would undoubtedly be the most prominent advocate for immediate execution simply because he was a traditionalist. He’d been more appreciative of the earlier days of the Celestial Realm than now, where things were constantly changing and developing.

Outside of Osiris, their only real supporter was Adrian, and even that was iffy. Alexandra hoped her interactions with the others members of the Celestial Council from the previous night might’ve left some semblance of an impression, but she wouldn’t hold her breath about it.

She was sure Osiris would do anything he could to block Alicia was expressing an opinion on the matter because it involved her immediate family. However, Aiden would still be free to speak. But, even then, Aiden’s duty was the serve the Celestial Realm above all else, and she was sure he’d carry out the execution himself if it meant protecting the Celestial Realm.

“I’m sorry.”

Alexandra’s bullet train of thoughts halted when she heard Shaun. She looked over to Shaun’s case and saw her sitting on the floor with her back against the wall. She was a shell of her former self.

“I wanted to tell you ages ago who – no, what – I am, but they swore they’d kill me if I did,” Shaun explained. “For the last twelve years, they’ve been… using me to try and find a cure for you. They figured if they could use Hybrid Blood against your blood, they’d be able to identify something and undo the spell.”

Alexandra wasn’t sure what to say. She’d always felt that Shaun’s appearance in their lives was abrupt, but it was refreshing, to say the least. She’d been enrolled at their academy and ended up in Erik’s class, and on the first day, she punched him in the nose for calling her a gutter leech. He was quickly humbled after that, and whenever anyone called her anything other than her name, he’d throw the first punch, and Shaun would throw the second one.

“I’ll do everything I can to ensure they don’t touch you,” Alexandra promised. “I swear.”

Shaun let out a half-hearted chuckle and wiped away her stray tears, “I doubt you’ll be able to say anything to convince the Celestial Council to spare me. We’re coming up on a Centennial Celestial Celebration, after all. To be honest, it’s a miracle they haven’t killed me yet.”

“It wouldn’t be the first one this year,” Alexandra noted.

Shaun shook her head, “No. It wouldn’t be. Lady Sol had placed enchantments on us to keep us in a hibernation state during the previous celebrations earlier this year, but it was draining. From what I've been told, we barely got through the last one.

“Lady Sol already told me that she’d probably be unable to keep us under this time,” Shaun breathed. “And though you may not be affected like I am, there’s no guarantee you’re safe. Your mother and father have been too scared to test that theory, but they won’t have a choice this go around.”

Alexandra tucked her knees to her chest this time, “I see.”

“I appreciate your willingness to try and save me, but I grew up knowing I’d eventually be caught and executed,” Shaun admitted as she looked over at Alexandra. “I accepted Death years ago. Let’s just focus on trying to save you, okay?”

Alexandra knew she wouldn’t have much of a voice against the Celestial Council, but she couldn’t let Shaun face Death. She’d grown up alongside Shaun and considered her a friend, and hearing she was a Hybrid didn’t change the fact that Shaun was Shaun.

Alexandra had a million questions she wanted to ask Shaun, but Shaun didn’t seem to want to talk much after that. While Shaun made herself comfortable and fell asleep, Alexandra sat there in silence.

She tried to consider her options as she processed all the information brought to her attention. It was too much, though, and her head still hurt. But she thought of Drake and Erik. She knew any chances of her assuming her father’s throne were nonexistent, so James – under the pressure of the High Council – would be naming Erik his successor right now. However, Alexandra knew that it wasn’t what Erik wanted. If anything, he wanted to serve on the Celestial Council like their aunt and uncle.

Drake's position on the King’s Guard was possibly in jeopardy because he’d been associating with Hybrids. Shaun had joined their circle by unofficially being adopted by the Raman Family, and Drake considered Shaun more or less to be his sister. And for Alexandra, that was his fiance.

Drake had been on the fast track to succeed Sander as the Captain Commander of the King’s Guard, and the last thing Alexandra wanted was for Drake to jeopardize his future for her. She knew how hard he worked to get where he was, and for it to be flushed down the toilet because of her, she wouldn’t ever be able to forgive herself.

There were too many things crumbling around her. She’d always been in control of the things happening around her, and whatever she couldn’t control, she knew it wouldn’t be detrimental. This, however, was detrimental.