Nikolai
It was exactly the same as I remembered as well. Long room with high ceiling and a red carpet that led straight to the elevated level. There were three thrones kept at the end of the room on an elevated level for the Heads and there were smaller thrones on either side of the room for their subordinates.
The Supernatural High Council had three main heads- one representing each race. And each head had three subordinates of their own race. So in total, four people represented a single race. They also had multiple committees which were utterly useless in my opinion. There was so much hierarchy that most of the cases were left unresolved. And all of them were so old that they didn’t have the mindset to deal with the new generation problems. And they didn’t take in anybody younger than two hundred years because they believed that old bats were the jewels of the society and it was only them who deserved to rule it. I did agree that with age came experience but it wasn’t always true. I wouldn’t be the King if it were. I had experienced in my twenty seven years of age more than most wolves did in their entire life time.
“Let’s piss them off.” I smirked as I strode down the carpet and took the throne in the middle. Max’s and Dimitri’s smirks widened as they took the thrones on either side of me.
“This is already so much fun!” Dimitri smirked. True. I remember that all of them thought of themselves so high and mighty, as if nothing could touch them, nothing could destroy them. They had insulted all of us and were going to turn us away from the door itself.
But I had run my mouth and insulted them for insulting Mom. And as the best brothers, Dimitri and Max had backed me up and done the same. Which led to them announcing that they would punish us for disrespecting the Elders by canning us. Mom had protested, saying we were just kids and didn’t know any better. That led to them threaten mom, saying they’d lock her up. Which got us more riled up and then they threw all of us in the prison. And while letting us go, they told us to lose any hope us them ever helping rogues because we weren’t a part of their society and the only reason they even took the effort to correct our behaviour was because Mom was the daughter of the Head of the Werewolf Council- Viktor.
“…. they wouldn’t.” Max said and I realised I had tuned out of their conversation.
Suddenly, the doors opened and the three old bats walked in, followed by their subordinates.
Viktor raised his eyebrows when he saw us. I didn’t even bother to stand up to greet them and nor did my brothers.
“I see you still haven’t learned any manners, grandson. Maybe the canning wasn’t hard enough to straighten you up.” He said fearlessly. “Viktoria was too weak to set you straight.”
I clamped down my temper before I lashed out. He didn’t deserve to say her name. Yes, he had helped us plenty by giving Mom money to buy the house we stayed in at Silverwitch Bay and start a small business to maintain a stable income. But money wasn’t a solution to everything. Mom was the one who made that house a home and turn that small business into a large company. And then I was the one who with the help of my brothers grew it into the multinational corporation it is today. They hardly did anything.
“It will be in your best interest if you do not talk about my mother, Viktor.” I said. “You are undeserving of having her as your daughter.”
His mouth twisted at the insult and so did the moustache above it. Did I mention that all three of the Heads had moustaches, long hair beards? It was apparently forbidden for them to cut their hair. How dumb! And they wore robes too. They could go to a theatre right now and look like they were there to play a part. Their costumes were atrocious.
“Why did you demand our presence, Nikolai?” Orlando, the Head of the Vampires asked.
“King Nikolai,” Dimitri corrected him, “or do we need to teach you all wrinkly raisins how to address your King?” He glowered at them.
Orlando turned red at the insult before he scowled, “mind your tongue, child. We are above your jurisdiction. We can overthrow you in an instant, if we wish it.”
“I would love nothing more than to see you try.” Max grinned at them, placing his elbow on the arm rest and resting his face on his hand as he taunted them.
“And as for your question, I believe Yolanda is already aware of the answer.” I looked at the old woman who stood in between them. She still looked old as fuck but a little better than the condition I had left her in the last time I saw her. She had a grim expression on her face but I couldn’t be too sure. It could just be her face too. Her think kohl-lined eyes narrowed, “I know nothing.”
“I think you know plenty.” I leaned forward. “And you better start talking or else I will have to start revealing your secrets.”
“I will not bend to your will. I am the greatest witch of all times.” Her shoulders puffed up further. “Chose your words wisely, King. I can do a lot of things without even lifting my finger.”
“Is that a threat?” I hissed.
“It’s a promise,” she spoke in her gravelly voice. “Now tell us, what is it that you want?”
I got straight to the point. “I know helped Adrik. Tell me where he is.”
She shared a look with Orlando and Viktor and them for a split second, all their expressions grew wary before they cleared.
‘They know something.’ Max mind-linked Dimitri and me.
‘Why aren’t they saying anything then?’ Dimitri asked.
“Leave us.” Yolanda said and then all the subordinates walked out of the room along with their slaves and the guards, leaving the six of us alone.
“We know that you know something,” I said lowly, “if you lie, or leave anything out, I will kill you all,” I warned.
“You really are your father’s son.” Viktor murmured.
“I dare you to say that one more time and see what I do to you.” I threatened. “These two can tell me the story too, we don’t need you. The only reason you are alive is because you are unfortunately my mother’s father.”
His mouth and moustache twisted again and his head inclined slightly.
“Firstly, we have no hand in helping Adrik.” Yolanda started.
“We will be the judge of that. Your Palace lies in Mystic Lupus. He doesn’t give anything out for free. I know you don’t have that kind of money. What did you all do for him that he granted you this land and palace?” I snarled.
“This was my land.” Viktor spoke. “I was the Alpha of Shadowlands Pack. Adrik’s father and I made a pact to unite our children since we were the only pure bred werewolves at that time.”
“You gave your daughter away to that monster so you could have a fucking palace? What kind of father are you?” I snarled.
Viktor growled in anger.
“Speak with respect! He is our King.” Orlando said.
I scoffed. “He’s a fucking monster, and that’s all he is!”
“It’s not true.” Yolanda spoke. “King Adrik is a generous and kind hearted man. He isn’t monstrous, he knows who he is-the King of Jivan, and to become the true King, he has to gain power over it first. He is simply ambitious.”
“Are you actually that blind?” If they really believed that, then I had no hopes from anyone on this entire island because their word was law here.
“We are not blind! It’s all true. He is immortal now and he will be the King of Jivan soon, it’s his destiny to become the King.”
“Oh? And who are you to decide whose destiny is to become the King?” I inquired.
They exchanged glances with each other before looking at us.
“A prophesy was made thousands of years ago by my ancestors in a now forgotten language.” Yolanda said. “But it roughly translates to something like this-
‘When the sun and the moon reunite,
The royal order will be restored again;
And their offspring shall,
with the help of a magic,
Save the universe and life as we know it’.”
“How we know it’s true and not one of your games?” Dimitri asked.