Fangs of Fate (Untish #1)

Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

TATE

The antechamber to High Lordship Lee’s office was as offensive as the male himself. Draped in crimson and black, the entire room was excessive and yet, felt lacking. It was pure posturing. Lee liked to feel strong, powerful, untouchable—he liked his décor to speak for him, to put every visitor on their toes. I scoffed, such a typical power tactic from a male who clearly has his own daddy issues. Males.

The arche in the corner of the room hadn’t moved an inch since we arrived here twenty minutes prior. I hadn’t been expecting to be sent here upon entering the Glenn, but the guara informed me my pass had been flagged and I was escorted straight here. As if I couldn’t follow orders. Perhaps they thought I’d skip this summons? I exhaled through clenched teeth. Like I’d be stupid enough to do something like that. Anyone who didn’t appear for a summons to the Chief was immediately detained and usually severely punished or even killed. He was the High Lordship of the Guara, head of corrections, governing our city—not to mention, scary as hell. I chewed on my freshly manicured thumbnail, a bad habit. The neon blue polish chipped off, a tell-tale sign of my nerves.

I settled back on the black leather sofa, willing myself to calm. This was likely nothing. It would be alright; this was nothing to be nervous about. Lie. I was lying to myself and even I couldn’t buy the shit I was trying to sell. Something was wrong. My mother had often come home telling me of the way office visits like this summoning went; they usually ended in imprisonment or a scheduled Dispensary Hearing. I bit the inside of my lip trying to simultaneously slow my breath and thoughts. Breathe, just breathe.

The skin on my right wrist itched, I needed to stop scratching it, but stress caused it to flare up. So completely annoying. I just needed to focus on something else aside from my fate lurking behind the obscene cherrywood door framed in red velvet curtains. The interior design was glaringly bad—red on red on red, and in every shade. It truly was hideous. The high from my last feed last night was wearing off and left me craving more. More blood, more vengeance, more power. Ever since the fire perp from a couple nights back, the bloodlust was growing. This was what they warned about in school—what led to the human mortality crisis.

The door cracked open with a loud creek, the narcissistic asshole, and then a cool gust filled the room. It was stale, like that of dusty books, and held a note of mildew to it. I swore he had some unnatural power at controlling the air around others, but he never listed that as a gift—and of course, according to his own rules, all abilities must be listed on our personal profiles, save if you have a confidentiality clause issued by the council. To fail to do so was an infraction and possible trial. That rarely happened, but, last time it did, the vampire who was caught using undeclared magic was condemned. Swift execution followed.

“Tate.” My name on his tongue was both a command and a greeting from High Lordship Lee.I sat up, gathered my bag, and headed for his office.

This male had betrayed my mother, handed her over to President Dale without so much as a council trial. Her case was restricted along with the supposed closed notes that alleged her guilt. I hated him and hated that I had to play his games, follow his rules, live in the Glenn. I stalked in the office, my back as tall as I could muster. I refused to let him see my fear, to taste my hate. I willed my face into a neutral expression. A mask of boredom. The door abruptly shut with a slam behind me. I jumped, in spite of my posturing. Asshole.

He was definitely holding back on what his abilities could do. With a scarred hand, he gestured for me to sit, never looking up from the sheet in front of him. His long, crooked nose stemmed from a large space between his beady eyes that appeared to sink halfway into his obtusely large head. He was the father of ugly, scary, and the content of nightmares.

“Anything you’d like to report?” he spoke calmly, quietly without so much as glancing my direction.

I could sense the danger in his demeanor.“I have a duffle bag of one hundred and ten blood bags, Sir.”

“That’s all you have?” He looked at me then and the air in the room seemed to ice over, to freeze.

“I’m not sure what you mean, Sir.”

“Let me refresh your memory.” He pulled out a grotesquely decapitated head and thumped it on the desk. Mouth open in horror, blue eyes glazed over in death. Roy.

“I…”

“Save it.” His words silenced any excuse I had. I could deny it, but something told me there was no use.

“You know, Aaralyn,” a slow sharp voice spoke from the back corner of the room. “I have been very lenient with you given your relative’s history.”

“President Dale.” I tried to conceal my utter shock and unease.

I’d only ever seen the male up close twice before, and not once had his attention been directed to me. He was in a military suit and held his cane, for show of course, in one hand while leaning against the blood-red wall. His grey eyes were piercing and at odds with the smile pulling at his lips. An expression that promised violence.

“I take my no-kill policy very seriously. Do you know why the law was put in place?” He took a towering step toward me, his cane clicking as he did so. “The Glenn was in danger. Our food source was being exterminated.” He paused balancing the cane in front of him on a finger before letting it fall and catching it. The dragon emblem at the top of it was gauche.

I said nothing. Clearly his question was rhetorical.

“We had just survived the great war,” President Dale continued, his focus now locked on me. “The Four Houses were formed, and we had been overfeeding for a hundred-and-fifty years. Humans were going extinct.”

“I didn’t think you cared for humans,” the words were out before I could stop them. His High Lordship’s strike hit my face before I could even blink or correct myself. I flew back from my chair and landed on my ass. The whole room was spinning.

“You will address the president only when appropriate and never with that tone.” Lee spat a glob of spit in my direction. I could hear footsteps approaching, the fine clip of dress shoes. The president came into my peripheral.

“Where was I?” he spoke, clearly enjoying himself. “Oh yes, discussing those disgusting parasites we feed from. Humans only exist because I protect them. I outlawed overfeeding to ensure the human population stays plentiful for our future generations. Their lives are a mere breath compared to ours. I saved our race.” He pointed to his chest with the cane. “The Glenn is stable because of me. I will not tolerate rule breakers and those who cannot control their own compulsions.” He tapped his cane on the floor. Once, twice, three times.

His High Lordship was on me before I could respond. He pinned me down and punched my face. Once. My left cheekbone was surely fractured. Twice. My nose was broken, blood began to spray everywhere. Thrice. My right eye would sport quite the shiner. The intense weight left my chest as Lee crawled off of me.

My entire head felt like it was splitting. I couldn’t open my right eye; the swelling had already taken over. The president pulled out his white pocket square and wiped speckles of maroon blood from his cheeks. He wiped my blood droplets off his left hand before neatly folding it and placing it back in his jacket pocket.

“I wasn’t careful enough with her mother. I will not make that mistake again. Schedule her Disciplinary Hearing, book her as a third offense.” The president turned to leave taking three swift strides to the door. “Oh, and Aaralyn,” he cooed. “One more misstep and I’ll have your head the same way I had Irene Aaralyn’s.” With that he opened the door and left.

“Clean yourself off and get the hell out of my office. You’ll be notified when your hearing is scheduled.” His High Lordship heaved his large body behind his desk.

Fury began to pound in my system. Just the mere mention of my mother coming from his lips had hate radiating through me. He was the one who took her from me. If I could have focused better without the world tilting, I very well may have lunged at him—a crime of death, but worth it.

“I said get out,” Lee’s voice promised more lessons if I didn’t immediately move.

I tried to rise, but the room kept spinning. I inhaled and willed myself to stand, the contents of my stomach threatening to empty.

“Don’t forget the bag. Take it to be cataloged and then head over to medical.”

I reached down for the bag and gripped its strap before turning toward the door. My steps wavered a bit, but my vision was clearing enough for me to make out the path to the door, dragging the bag behind me. My leg was throbbing again, as it often did when my body experienced shock, trauma, or high levels of pain. It sucked.

“And Aaralyn,” his lordship started, “make sure next time you’re outside the veil you do the damn job right and keep your bloodlust under control.” A wind followed his command and slammed the door shut.

I hastened my movements even as my anxiety heightened. I would never be trapped or killed. My anxious fingers dug into my free hand, biting my palm as I entered the hallway.