Needless to say, Damon was able to take us to the city unscathed. We ended up at a hotel that he owns in the heart of the city. He managed to get us a secured room with at least a dozen of armed men. As soon as we were in the room, Dr. Hudson immediately filled the tub in the bathroom with hot water. I suppose he's enjoying it since he's been in there for almost an hour now.

As for myself, I went to the balcony and enjoy the view of the skyline and the bustling streets down below.

''Are you alright?'' Damon asked in a conversational manner standing right beside me. I glanced at him for a brief moment and gave him a lopsided smile.

''I think the proper question is, when will I be alright?'' I chewed on my lower lip, nipping the dried skin.

Damon snorted bitterly. I frowned then faced him. He was looking miserably at the streets below, his arms propped at the railing. I just stared at him in silence, looking very carefully at his features like I was in a trance. He is beautiful in a rugged kind of way. There is always something about him that pulls me in and it's something that I can't put words into.

He sighed heavily his hands smoothed over the railing. ''D'you want to hear a story?''
I nodded meekly. ''Sure,'' I said.

''Years ago, I fell madly in love with a woman. She's the only person who made my heart flutter and I knew that I'll be miserable for the rest of my immortal life if I don't have her, so I pursued her,'' he stopped and gulp down hard. His jaw was clenched and his eyes are blazing but then he continued ''then, in some extraordinary way, she fell in love with me too. I was a lucky fool but then again we were happy.'' There's sadness in his eyes and the way his voice cracked just by the end of his sentence proves it. Absentmindedly, I placed my hand on top of his and he looked at me surprised but it quickly changed into an unspoken word of gratitude. He then turned his palm up and interlaced our fingers, I squeezed it lightly.

''. . . The thing is when Erinyes' falls in love that will be it. We only need to fall in love once and that goes for the rest of our immortal existence. But the Fates are not in my favor for the woman I'm in love with is a sinner so the love I have for her cannot be. But I'm willing to give everything up for her―''

''The Fates?'' I interrupted him, he nodded.

''The ones responsible for destiny. Those wicked creatures never give me good fate in love. I was so ready to give up my immortality by marrying her but the townspeople acquired the information that she is a witch. It was 1739, London. They burned her to the ground and I can't do anything to help her, because she used all her remaining strength on casting a spell on me so I won't be able to move. . .'' He gulps down a sob. I can tell. My heart broke for him. The only woman he loved, the only woman he will ever love died and he's left to live a life without that love.

''Oh, Damon.'' Without any second thought I hugged him, he stiffen under my touch his arms limp on his side. If only I can take away the pain. If only.

We remained like that for a while before he pulled back and there is blood on his eyes, trickling down his cheeks.

''Damon, your eyes. It's bleeding.'' I gasped. My hands enclosed his face.

''I'm an Erinyes, that's one of our characteristics. Blood for tears.'' He explained pulling down my hand before wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. Offering me a small sad smile. I was about to say something when his phone rang.

''Hello?'' He answered tentatively, nodding a few times while his brows are knitted together. When the call ended he faced me.

''The conclave is waiting for us, they want to see you, Raven.'' My heart dropped in my stomach. I can feel all the colors in my face draining.

''Raven, your eyes. It's the color of a stormy sky. Are you alright?'' Shit, I forgot to wear back my lenses. I inhaled deeply.

''I'm fine, I guess I'm just nervous. Let's go, we have no time.'' I said firmly looking at him intently.

●💀●

We arrived at a rather dilapidated-looking building fifteen blocks from Damon's hotel. It looked eerie and dark and it makes my skin crawl. We walked in side by side and obviously, I'm the only one feeling uncomfortable as the two men trudge forward with big purposeful strides.

''Damon, this place looks like shit are you sure we're not lost?'' I asked warily. No answer.

''Dr. Hudson, don't you feel anything bad about this place?'' No answer. I groaned.

''Patience,'' Damon whispered. I was about to protest when we stopped in front of a huge bronze-colored door. ''We're here.''

Dr. Hudson pulled me close to him ''stay by my side.'' There's a warning in his tone. I nodded quietly feeling extremely terrified about what will happen next.

Damon pushed open the huge doors and it groaned as it moved and gave way. I was almost blinded by the light coming from the inside, I shielded my eyes with my arm as we continue forward.
''What the hell is that light?'' I protested. But as we walk deeper into the room the brightness died down until there is only tiny dots in my eyes. I blinked and blinked until I can finally see properly. It is only then that I realized that there are at least a hundred people, or in this case Erinyes, in the room.

It is very different from the outside. It has a high dome ceiling with golden pillars, a crystal chandelier, and clean painted walls. There is also a hallway that looked like a mile long, shelves of books decorated most of the walls while there are elevated seats eating up most of the further right side of the room where at least a hundred Erinyes' are seated. They're watching us like a hawk and I don't like the feeling it gives me.

Damon jerked his head forward ''this way, follow me.'' And so we did.

We walk through the expanse of the hallway and entered yet another room. It looked like a huge office with a massive fireplace.

''We're here,'' Damon announced, and from the shadows, people started to emerge. I was baffled. Out of the group, a tall gangly man approached us, his hair in a perfect three-by-four cut.

''My, my, my. A sinner. . . Again.'' He spared Damon a telling look before staring at me. Damon looked haunted and uncomfortable but he did not say anything. Dr. Hudson cleared his throat.

''I'm Dr. Ryan Hudson. An Element and a former protector of an Iridescent.'' He stated somberly the man looked at him briefly. Something hurt on Dr. Ryan's words. The way he said former made me flinch.

''I know,'' he replied ''now let's start the council. We need to decide what to do with her.'' He pointed at me in a raking manner. I raise an eyebrow at him.

It was a long table, twelve seats are occupied by their elders. Which I think is inappropriate since they all looked like they were just in their mid to late 20's.
They are glaring at me, some did not even try to hide their tell-tale scrutiny toward me. I lowered my head, unable to withstand the tension of their hatred against me.

''The council is officially open. We are all gathered here because of the infraction within our kind. Also, because of Eris' curse that is threatening each and the existence of every creature both from mundanes and mythological descents.'' A beautiful brunette, seated at the head of the table stated loud and clear. Her voice commands attention and the way she talks is a stark contrast to her appearance. She has a small oval face, small pointed nose, thin rosy lips, and thick wavy hair. She looked like a doll but her voice is as stern as a commanding officer in the military.

A man from the other side of the table raised his hand. ''Head elder, let us discuss first what we will do to that young lady'' he suggested giving me a sour look. Damon scowled at him from my side, Dr. Hudson chastised him by placing a hand on his shoulder.

''Very well. There are only two options to settle this.'' She declares looking from left to right ''one, we bring her forth the other side of the infraction and kill her immediately, having the knowledge that it's against our law but making appeases with our comrades. . .''

Damon stood abruptly causing the legs of the chair to make a screeching sound ''that's ridiculous! Have you no morals? She's innocent for Zeus's sake.'' He growled vehemently, slamming his fist on the wooden table. All the other Erinyes just stared at him, unfazed with his anger. I slumped further on my chair. What if they decide to kill me? I feel sick.

The head elder pursed her thin lips ''which leads us to second option, protect the girl from the infraction and find a way to kill Eris, without killing her.'' The rest of the Erinyes on the table fell silent. Then one by one they start to speak their minds.

Some agreed some said no and others said TBD. They went on arguments after arguments justifying their own opinions. But I can't just sit here and do nothing while my neck is on the line. I've had enough.

''Enough!'' I yelled over their heated arguments. They all reverted their eyes on me.

The head elder raised one skeptical eyebrow ''and you were saying?''

''All of you don't get to talk about me like I'm sort of an object. This is my life we're talking about so I get to say what to do with it. Nobody gets to touch me without my permission. I say we fight the infraction and find out who the hell is orchestrating this because obviously none of you is digging deep enough.'' My hands were trembling after my speech, gladly they seemed to be listening.

''We here you, continue.'' The head elder said. I nodded at her and went on again.

''I believe that someone is deliberately doing this, to break down the Erinyes. We need to find out who. As for me? I can promise you all that I will not let Eris take over me. That or I'll personally take me own life.''

●💀●

Sorry for the late update, my internet connection is not working last night. 😞😒

What can you say about our Raven? She's brave isn't she?

Tap that star my modern bookworm 😚