Trixle awoke to the sight of Mara thrashing on her bed, and she could see Sasha trying to wake her up to no avail.

"What's going on?" Trixle asked crossing the room.

"I'm not sure, something has been wrong all night, but it just started getting worse." Sasha said, staring intensely at Mara's flailing body.

Trixle tried shaking Mara by her shoulders but it had no impact. It appeared that her breaths were struggling and coming out short, almost as if she were having a hard time breathing. 

"Come on Mara, wake up. You're here with me at school." 

"Can you hold her down so I can get to her?" Sasha asked 

Trixle nodded and took a firm hold of both of Mara's arms, making her relatively still. Sasha went up to Mara's ear and leaned in whispering something. 

Suddenly Mara's eyes snapped open and she was gasping for air. Trixle immediately released her arms but Mara stayed where she was.

"What did you do?" Trixle asked Sasha.

"I have my secrets." Sasha replied flatly. Under other circumstances, Trixle may have pursued her question further.

Mara's hands flew to her throat where moments ago she had felt Zander's hands pressed tightly. Her mind was swirling, it was the first night she hadn't had the same nightmare, but now she missed it. Anything would be better than the thought of Zander coming back. 

"What happened?" 

Trixle's words snapped Mara out of her trance and she looked up at her friend. 

"Just a nightmare. A really bad nightmare." 

Trixle looked at her knowing there was more to the story.

"That was more than just a nightmare Mara."

Mara sighed and closed her eyes. 

"It was about Zander. He was in my room and then we were in this field." She paused as the sight of the entire High Council torn to pieces invaded her mind.

"Everyone was dead." She whispered.

"What do you mean?" Trixle asked, confused.

"I mean everyone was dead, Trix. The entire High Council, and he was trying to kill me too! Again." She shouted.

"Hey, it was just a dream okay? The Council is fine, and Zander is dead, remember?" Trixle tried to reassure Mara, but the fear was evident in her own voice. 

Mara nodded and started to get up, but she couldn't shake the feeling that things weren't quite right. 

Both girls got ready for school silently. From the corner of her eye, Mara could see Trixle throwing glances her way, but she never said anything. What is there to say to a person who just had a nightmare about their ex boyfriend killing everyone and trying to strangle them as well?

They went up the stairs towards their classrooms silently. When they reached the floor, Trixle turned to Mara. 

"I'll see you at lunch okay? We can talk more then if you want."

Mara just nodded and the two girls parted ways. 

When Mara reached the room for her first class she groaned as she saw Avaline already sitting at a chair waiting for her. 

She sat next to the girl and stared straight ahead trying to ignore her presence. The last thing she wanted to deal with today was the Ladies.

"So," Avaline started, turning towards Mara and looking at her expectantly.

"What?" Mara snapped. She immediately bit her tongue and focused on reeling in her anger. 

"What?" She asked again, calmer this time.

If Avaline had noticed her snap, she hadn't let on, she continued on her path unfazed.

"You never told me what it was like being on the High Council." She said wiggling her eyebrows. 

Mara sighed just then and their teacher entered, walking directly towards her. He handed her a slip of paper before making his way up towards the front.

Mara unfolded the paper to find a note from the High Council. They were calling an emergency meeting and requested she attend immediately. As if she really had a choice but go. Something stirred in the pit of her stomach. 

Perfect start to the school year. Dreams about my ex killing me, and now there's an emergency meeting. Fantastic.

She looked at Avaline as she gathered her things and stood up.

"It's sort of demanding." She said before leaving without another word. 

Mara made her way down the twists and turns as she tried to find the room for the meeting. I need to come down this hall under normal circumstances and see if it really is this crazy. She thought to herself.

After a couple wrong turns, she finally found herself in front of the door. She carefully turned the knob and entered finding the rest of the Council was already gathered. 

Torlak made his way over to Mara and ushered her into the room. He gave her the general idea of what was going on, the same information the rest of the Council had already been told. 

There were signs that Nightshade attack was going to happen against the rest of the Realm and they needed to be prepared. 

Mara felt the stirring sensation in her stomach grow as she heard the severity of the issue. She didn't think she was ready to be handling something like this. She had no experience in battle, and she had no knowledge of strategically planning for such things as Nightshade attacks. Nonetheless she stepped up and completed the circle. 

Her eyes met with Makortax's and there was nothing friendly there, he didn't even try to conceal his dislike of Mara. She swallowed and listened to what Lillian had to say.

"We have heard from sources that there has been a gathering of Nightshades, they have been meeting once a week in the same location."

"What is unusual is that these Nightshades come from the different sects. They have a mix of fae, vampires, werewolves as well as some goblins and dwarves." Makortax cut in.

Lillian nodded and looked around the table as she forged on. 

"There has been talk of rising up and taking over the Magical Realm, and we believe a young male witch is leading the group..."

Whatever else the vampire queen had said was lost on Mara's ears. Her blood ran cold and panic seized her. 

Is it possible last night just wasn't a dream? Could Zander actually be alive? Could he have been invading my head again?

"Zander." She whispered.

Only Makortax and Lillian's advanced hearing could pick up her quiet words, and they both looked at Mara with slight sympathy.

"Yes, it appears the boy who followed you out there, Mr. Delcole, survived and is heading this group." Makortax said.

"He wants to make a new High Council. One made of Nightshades." Mara braced her hands on the table in front of her as the room started to spin. What she had thought was a dream was actually Zander telling her what he was planning.

Torlak placed his hand on her back. "What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said. He wants to start a new High Council made of Nightshades."

"How do you know this?" Makortax asked skeptically.

"He told me." She murmured.

She looked around the table at all the faces. 

"He invaded my head last night. I thought it was just a dream, but it must have really been him. He wants to kill us off and start a new High Council."

All eyes were on her, and she didn't blame them. She would probably look at someone the same way if they had just told her the enemy’s whole plan. Did she really expect them to just believe Zander had told her everything?

Torlak moved his hand firmly to Mara's shoulder. "Alright, we know their endgame. Now we jus-"

"We think we know their endgame. How do we know what Mara says is true?" Makortax jumped in.

"You don't." Mara said. "I have no proof, I just have what he told me in the dream. But for now, that is all we have."

Mara stood from her place. "Zander Delcole is talented, and he is a threat. If he is seeking to destroy the Council, I have no doubt he can come up with the means to do so. We just have to get to him first."

"And how do you propose we do that?" Franko, the goblin king, asked. 

"I-I don't know."

Makortax huffed as if saying he was right about something and Mara bit the inside of her cheek, trying to remain calm on the outside. 

Lillian walked around the table, carefully sorting through her thoughts until she was ready to speak.

"We all know this could very well be a trap laid out for us. This Nightshade witch has given Mara most of the information we need."

She paused looking at nothing in particular.

"It could, but I doubt it." Mara interjected before Lillian had a chance to speak again.

"And what makes you so sure?" Makortax asked, questioning her at every turn. 

Mara was growing frustrated with all of his prodding. She took a deep breath and turned back to everyone else.

"Zander likes a challenge. For us to know his plan, it gives us a chance to come up with our own. Taking us by surprise and winning wouldn't do anything for him. He wants the satisfaction of beating a well armed, well prepared enemy."

"How do we know he is not using you as a pawn in his game?" Makortax jumped in again. 

"I guess you don't know that. You will just have to have enough faith that I would know better than that." Mara snapped. This man was starting to push every wrong nerve, and the Council room was not the place for a confrontation. Mara took a deep breath, reeling herself back in. 

"Just like all of you in here I have sworn my allegiance to this Council and to this world. I am doing everything I can to help protect it, and telling you what I know so far is how I can do that. Now, I have no battle experience, no idea how to plan for such attacks, but I can try." Mara locked her eyes on Makortax, looking solely at him. 

Mara's voice got quieter as she continued on.

"I will do whatever I possibly can to help bring Zander down. It is because of me he turned into that... thing." 

"We are not doubting your loyalty or abilities Mara. Are we Makortax?" Lillian turned towards him, warning clear in her tone. 

"No we are not." He grumbled. 

"I believe we have come to an impasse for today Lillian. We should let Mara return for what remains of her classes and discuss further action at our usual meeting." Torlak stepped up, finally getting the majority of the attention away from Mara. 

"Yes. We now have an understanding of what this group's... goal is. That is more than we were expecting to accomplish in a day's time. In two days we have our Council meeting, be prepared to discuss further action we can pursue to stop this group from succeeding." Lillian stepped up.

One thing Mara had noticed in the Council gatherings is there appeared to be a power struggle. In a group full of royal supernatural creatures, Makortax and Lillian seemed to be battling for the head spot. 

It made sense for Lillian; she had apparently been on the Council with Mara's great, great grandmother Urissa. She was possibly the oldest of the group, though Mara was unsure how old some of the people were, these creatures didn't have normal human life spans. 

However, despite the lack of experience compared to Lillian, Makortax didn't want to give up control. Mara wondered if that was a side effect of sorts of being a werewolf. 

The general consensus was to break up the meeting and convene again in two day's time within their chambers. 

The council members were trickling out from the room and as Mara was about to leave, a hand on her should stopped her. 

"You did great today. Despite Makortax trying to make you slip up." Torlak said. 

Mara turned to face him glad to finally be done with the meeting and to be able to see a friendly face. 

"Yeah, he wasn't exactly trying to make it easy for me. I don't think he likes me all that much."

"I'm not sure why he would not. You are a strong young woman, taking on responsibilities people your age could barely even dream of. And you are handling this all extremely well."

"Yes, but I'm also the mate to his son." Mara spat out.

Torlak seemed taken aback. Mara couldn't imagine Torlak was clueless about Mara's connection to Marx; Trixle had been less than secretive about the whole thing over the summer.

"I see, well I suppose that could complicate things, and it does seem a bit odd considering you are a witch." Mara could tell that something was turning inside of Torlak's head with this new information he had received. 

"Regardless. I am happy for you, and proud of what you are doing. I just had one question." A wide smile spread across his face, one that was so contagious Mara couldn't help but smile herself. 

"And what would that be?"

"How would you like if I called you girls out this weekend? You can get away from school and the Council; go do a little shopping or something. The best part is, you won't get in trouble for it." He winked at her referring to the trip Trixle, Marx and herself had taken last year. One of the smaller incidents that had led to much stronger security around the school. 

"That would be awesome." Mara said hugging Torlak. Mara barely made it to the chest of the tall fae king. It almost made her feel like a small child again. 

They both left the room, going separate ways. As Mara walked down the hall, she felt as if something was watching her. 

She turned around, walking down the hall backwards when she bumped into something. Mara mentally cursed herself at how often she ran into things, and they usually ended up being people. 

Sure enough, when Mara turned around, she was face to face with Makortax. 

She sighed inwardly and bit her lip. 

"Sorry sir." 

"Hm. I'm sure you are." He grumbled as she tried to step around him. 

"Okay. I'm sorry, but what exactly is your problem?" Mara asked, snapping at the man. 

She started kicking herself as soon as the words came out. Snapping at the father to the person you were with was not a way to fall into good graces with the man.

"I'm not quite sure I know what you mean."

"You told Marx to stay away from me." Mara said moving her hands to her hips impatiently. 

"And if you know this then he must not have listened." Makortax rumbled. 

Fear shot down her back, cooling every inch of her. She may have just made things worse for Marx by confronting his father. 

"Only because I trapped him until he finally talked to me and told me what was going on." Mara said, her eyes narrowing. 

"And Sir," Mara sneered "I have just one thing to say to you. I do not take kindly to the parents who try to control the life of their child. Times change and people change, and frankly, there is nothing you can do about it. You can let him live the life he is meant to. He can grow up and be a great ruler, a great king to his people. He can have his mate by his side, if he wishes." 

She paused watching his reaction closely. 

"Or you can try to rule his life and he will grow up just as bitter as you."

Makortax looked at her in shock. No one had ever dared talk to him in that way, only his wife had challenged him on occasions. He was curious whom this feisty witch really was standing in front of him, but from what he knew from stories passed down the family, she was just like Urissa. 

The thought pleased him as much as it terrified and angered him. Urissa and his great grandfather, the first Makortax had been romantically involved. They had borne no children, and she had left the man broken hearted. 

In his way, he was trying to protect his son from the same fate. As full of compassion as Urissa Crowland had been, she also had a heart frozen over, void of forming any connections. Untouchable by any person from the betrayals she had faced in her youth. 

Although he had never met the woman in person, he was afraid of seeing history repeat itself right before his eyes. His great grandfather had almost given up hope after her leave, only years later did he finally settle with a woman, having one child a year and some before he passed. 

Their line had almost died out because of one woman, and he would not see that tragedy happen again if he could help it. So he disguised his worry, fear, and anger of the past as his detest of a witch for his son's mate. 

It may hurt Marx to have to step away now, but it would spare him much heartache down the road if he were to be stomped on by the feisty flower standing before him now. 

Makortax finally found his voice. 

"When I make my decisions they are final. It matters not what you say, and if my son is smart, he will know this to be true." As he pushed on he found it harder to keep is cold demeanor.

"Well then, I'm sorry to inform you that your role as a leader has taught you nothing about doing what is best for your people."

He bit back a sour laugh at how ironic the statement was, for he was doing this in the best interest of his son. At least he believed that to be true. 

Mara turned away and stalked down the hall. As her footsteps echoed quietly in the contained space Mara slowed, a strange feeling crawling across her skin. 

She felt as if her skin was prickling with the sensation of eyes boring down on her. 

Mara kept throwing glances over her shoulder, each time believing she saw shadows in the corners of her eyes. 

A sudden feeling of claustrophobia overcame her as she felt like the walls were closing in on her. 

Mara suddenly started to run; trying to get out of the hallway before it completely closed her in. The twists and turns seemed even more an obstacle than before. She turned left and right trying to escape, and the shadows kept following her. 

Her breathing turned ragged, her chest heaving from paranoia until she finally broke free of the labyrinth and collapsed to the ground leaning back against the wall. 

She closed her eyes and brought her breathing back down to a steady pace. She could feel her body shaking from the nerves. 

She looked up at the clock seeing that it was past four and all her classes were over. 

Mara felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and she shakily took it out seeing a message from Trixle. 

                        Missed you at lunch :( we are heading for dinner. See you?

Mara had a hard time typing a response back with her hands still shaking, but she managed to get it sent. I suppose I should tell them all that Zander is back. Mara thought.

                       Yeah. Be there soon.

She slowly stood up and took a few deep breaths to calm herself. Once she had everything under control again she went into the cafeteria.

Everyone was already at the table. She sat down, tapping her fingers nervously on the surface of the table. 

"You seem on edge. What's wrong?" Emmett asked. 

"I was in a meeting with the Council all day." She paused as her fingers drummed a speedy rhythm on the top. "Zander is still alive."