Chapter 208: The High Council
[Music recommendation: The Weeknd & Mike Dean - The Lure (Main Theme)]
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On the other side of the palace, Septimus followed the shifting shadow. He lost it momentarily, but with his spiritual senses sharp and heightened, he felt the presence resurface. Within seconds, he caught up to it again, and this time it led him into an empty chamber.
He stepped inside without hesitation, his senses fully alert. He spoke in a low and controlled voice, "Show yourself. I know you’re here."
Silence pressed against the room for a second....then the shadows stirred.
They rippled and shifted, forming into the silhouette of a woman. Septimus’s silver eyes widened ever so slightly as a stunning woman stepped out of the gloom. Pale blonde hair framed her face, and when she opened her eyes, they revealed the dark red, and Septimus knew instantly that she was a pure-blooded vampiress.
She met Septimus’s eyes without an ounce of fear, "You are sharp," she said coolly. "I’ll give you that, when even your king failed to detect my presence."
Septimus’s expression remained unreadable. "Who are you?"
The woman stepped forward, her chin lifted with unmistakable pride, "I am Evelyn’s closest friend, Cece Silver, daughter of Duke Regulus Silver of Versailles."
Her voice held no tremor, only urgency as she continued, "Unfortunately, we have no time for pleasantries. And spare me the introductions, I know who you are."
Her eyes roamed over his ceremonial attire, "Judging by those robes, you can only be the High Priest of Luminear. Unexpected to find you here, truly, but do not mistake my civility for trust. I will not drop my guard while you stand aligned with this blasphemy your king intends to commit."
Her gaze sharpened, "You’ve placed my friend in grave danger. And I will not and will never stand by and let it happen."
It was only then that Septimus’s eyes showed a hint of surprise at her being Princess Evelyn’s friend. Judging by the way she spoke, she carried no malice, only worry laced with restrained anger.
His gaze softened slightly as he asked, "If you know I am here with the king, then why reveal yourself and your powers to me? Don’t pure-blooded vampires usually keep their abilities concealed?"
"They do....and I intended to," Cece replied evenly, "But I’ve heard much about you from Evelyn. Believe it or not, she told me you were one of the good ones." Her jaw tightened as she continued, "And I witnessed everything that happened in her chamber earlier. I sensed no malice from you then, and I don’t now as well."
She stepped forward, her eyes sharpened at him, "Which brings me to my question: why would you allow this to happen to her? Why let her suffer like this?"
The more Cece spoke, the more her anger climbed, fueled not by hatred but by the hurt she felt for her friend. Evelyn had always told her Septimus stood by her side, the one who guided her, protected her, and taught her everything he could. Yet now he stood here, part of the system that allowed her fall.
It was then that Septimus’s eyes filled with a heavy, unspoken guilt. He spoke in a somber tone, "As you said, I am only a High Priest. No one can stop the king once his mind is set. I’m sure she told you that as well."
Cece scoffed, barely restraining herself from rolling her eyes at the elderly lumen. "Perhaps I haven’t seen the whole world yet, but I’ve met all kinds of people, but believe me when I say this.....your king is a terrible father. In that room, I could feel it. He holds so much resentment toward his own daughter. I’ve never sensed a parent carrying such hatred for their own child."
Septimus’s jaw clenched at her blunt conclusion, because she wasn’t wrong. He exhaled slowly, as weariness settled within him, "Did you seek me out only to tell me this?"
Cece’s lip curled in disgust, "No. I sought you out because I still believe you might open your king’s eyes and show him the abyss he is pushing his daughter into. Show him the kind of monsters he is choosing to stand beside!"
Septimus’s silver gaze sharpened, "Then say more words, Lady Cece."
"Words don’t even begin to describe their depravity, High Priest Septimus. I must show you." Cece replied firmly. "Follow me, if you will."
Shadows curled at her fingertips, gathering like a living cloak as she prepared to vanish.
Septimus frowned, "Why use your powers? Can’t you walk beside me openly?"
She gave a bitter laugh, "Yesterday, they threw me, my brother, my professors, and Lord Edward Weaver into the dungeon. I cannot risk being seen."
Septimus’s brows shot up in shock. "Why would they do such a thing?"
Cece spat in anger, "That wicked queen tried to use my cousin....Prince Ivan as leverage to force Evelyn into this farce of a wedding. We only tried to protect them...when they imprisoned us."
Septimus inhaled sharply at the revelation, landing like a strike to the chest.
"Wait....are you saying Prince Ivan is here? How could he possibly be used as leverage?" Septimus could barely comprehend her words. The idea that the strongest man in the kingdom....an unstoppable force, could be weaponised to force his partner into marriage with another man was unthinkable.
Cece’s face darkened as fury twisted her features. Her hands clenched at her sides, making her knuckles white. "There’s too much to explain and too little time. You need to see it for yourself, see the filth that queen hides behind silk and crowns."
Her voice trembled with contained rage, "You must witness just how rotten this family is....the same family your king intends to hand Evelyn over to."
Septimus’s expression hardened, and he could tell that whatever Cece had to show him, he felt it would change everything.
He gave a single, decisive nod, "Very well. Lead the way. I will follow."
Cece returned the gesture, then let darkness swallow her form once more, shadows curling over her like ink in water. Without another word, she slipped into the corridor, and Septimus followed close behind.
.....
Back in the ballroom, murmurs spread through the crowd. Guests exchanged puzzled glances while whispering about the Queen and the crown prince’s prolonged absence.
Even Queen Elara frowned, wondering what was keeping her cousin and nephew for so long. Conversations hummed lightly across the hall until the grand doors opened once more and two figures stepped into view.
Heads turned, and voices fell silent as the eyes slowly widened as recognition struck across the room. Oliver and Aden shifted instinctively, both looking toward the entrance as well.
A slow smile curved over Oliver’s lips as his warm brown eyes locked with another pair across the hall. Beside him, Prince Aden stiffened, nerves prickling at the sudden tension their arrival brought with it.
Boots clicked sharply against the polished floor as two figures strode into the ballroom, one pair of warm brown eyes and another of deep crimson sweeping across the room, silently assessing every soul present.
By the time they reached the midpoint of the hall, Lord Renwick, the Queen’s advisor, stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"High Councilman Lucian Whitelance and High Councilwoman Amara Isolde. What a pleasant surprise to have you both among us."
His voice was steady, refined by years of court etiquette, but beneath the polished words, he was unravelling. Sweat prickled at his collar as his mind raced. ’Why were High Council members here unannounced?’ Something was wrong. And Renwick knew it.
The man named Lucian, with warm brown eyes and the same dirty-blonde hair as Oliver, met Renwick’s gaze without wavering. "Royal Advisor Lord Renwick, wasn’t it?"
"Yes, that is correct," Renwick replied while maintaining composure.
Lucian hummed thoughtfully, "Hmm... well, we happened to be nearby when we heard some rather concerning whispers about this kingdom." His tone was slow, yet measured. "So we decided to look into the matter ourselves. I trust Lord Renwick has no objection to our presence?"
His words were polite, but there was no warmth in them, leaving no room for refusal. And even if Renwick or the crown wished otherwise, they were in no position to turn away two High Council members.
After the Great War of Dark Ruins ended, twelve kingdoms were established. Each nation lived peacefully within its designated borders for a time, until minor disputes over land and border violations gradually ignited tension between them. As these conflicts grew, it became uncertain how long peace would last or whether another great war would erupt just as the world had begun to heal.
To prevent such a catastrophe, the rulers of all twelve kingdoms united and formed a High Council, an assembly composed of representatives from every race to uphold balance, resolve disputes, and maintain peace among the kingdoms.
To ensure the High Council could enforce law and order, they were granted immense authority and resources. Yet safeguards were put in place as well to prevent corruption within the Council itself, so that power would never again be used to destabilise any kingdom.
