A Bastard's Allure-Chapter 138: The Vote

Elena’s POV

Yesterday night, I had a dream. Not the kind you’d wake up and forget. No! It was a nightmare. In my dream, I stood across a hall. To my left were two people tied with chains, and they both looked in pain.

There was no mistaking those golden orbs. The first one was my Gabriel. He appeared thin with blood trickling down his scalp.

To his right was a woman. Her eyes were cast on the floor hiding her face. But Elena was familiar with her figure. This was Allicent, her mother-in-law.

She lifted her eyes as if she had sensed her presence. There was no warmth in her glare. It was the kind of glare that screamed, ’you have the audacity to show up?’.

I tried to speak or move but my body defied my very will, my voice suddenly caught up in my throat. What was this place? 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"Look what you’ve done to my son," she spoke. Both of our eyes traveled to Gabriel. He looked like one in a trance, his eyes staring into the void.

"He’s dying, and it’s all your fault. How could you be so selfish, woman? You were supposed to protect him with your life. That’s what mates do."

"But you." Her chains crackled as she folded them around her sleeves, her eyes never leaving mine. "What did you do instead?"

The chains broke from the impact of her strength before she started stalking towards me. I screamed at my feet to move but my whole body betrayed me.

"I should have been there," she said before grabbing my throat, lifting me a few inches off the ground.

"I shouldn’t have let them take him. And he’d be still alive!" Her grip tightened to block the air into my lungs. I let out a soft whimper as my life fleeted before my eyes before it turned all black.

I woke up with a start! My heart was racing, my vision blurred by the sudden sunlight streaming in through the overtly open windows.

Instinctively, I wiped the sweat on my face as I adjusted to the new yet familiar surroundings. I was in my own room.

*****

Author’s POV

"The scouts came back with a report. The vampires retreated at first light, Your Majesty."

Elena could sense enthusiasm in the Knight’s voice. Maybe he was happy they’d been left alone by the vampires. But at what cost?

"And Gabriel?" She couldn’t help but ask.

"We found several corpses dumped near the camp."

Elena swallowed hard.

"But your husband wasn’t there. They must have taken him with them."

Elena dismissed him with a wave of her hand as she let out a silent sigh of relief. But that didn’t mean she had given up on him. She had to do something before she’d regret. Gabriel would’ve done the same for her. She would do anything even if it meant going to war!

"Call the council!" She announced. "We’re going to war."

*****

"Going to war? We just came from one and we nearly made out with our lives," a council member reasoned.

"Our knights are tired and recuperating. We’re yet to rebuild the walls. I’m not sure the royal army is ready to join another war," the young commander added.

"The humans have never attacked Eldoria in history. It’d be walking into a meaningless slaughter!" The eldest of the council members stated.

Elena’s grip on the throne seat tightened. Her eyes swept across the hall, calculatingly sizing the council.

"You’re all right," she started. "But you seem to forget that it is for my husband that I am going to this war. Each one of you would do the same for your wives.

You seem to forget that it was Gabriel who sacrificed himself, turned himself in so that you’d be having this meeting now. If not, you’d be a pile of corpses lying in the open fields, drained to the last drop and left, a feast for the crows!"

Her voice had never been this loud and bitter. The hall fell deadly silent, all eyes trained on her.

"He turned himself in. He knew the consequences yet he did it anyway. Your families and loved ones are now back in the city thanks to him. The least we can do is save him."

Her eyes swept across the hall before she sank in her chair. Maybe they’d agree, she thought.

"I invoke the vote," the elder councilman said, struggling to stand on his feet. "Everyone of us has the right to this decision as you do, Your Majesty."

"Let’s vote," the murmurs started low in the crowd.

Elena’s hope started to wane. If the old goats were to vote, she was more than certain she wasn’t going to war anytime soon.

"Surely, there’s no need for such when we’ve all agreed..."

"Are you trying to deny us this ancient right, your Majesty," the young commander asked.

The hall’s murmurs died down as all eyes fell on Elena.

"Not at all," she replied.

"Then we vote!"

The council burst into discussion again as the herald dismissed the meeting for an hour.

Elena stormed out of the throne hall, furious at the sudden turn of events. If the votes were to be cast in her favor, which would appear to be a miracle, she’d lead the first human army towards Eldoria. In the meantime, she had to look for another alternatives.

She headed towards Darion’s room. It was slightly open so she stepped in after knocking. Jophiel was spoon-feeding him when she walked in, a sight that made her maid blush as she stood up to curtsy.

"No need for formalities," she dismissed the gesture. And turning to face Darion, she added, "I want to have a word with you, alone."

Jophiel took a quick glance at Darion before she collected her medicine and left.

"I thought you two were still at odds," Elena pointed.

"What brings Her Majesty to a sick man’s lair?" Darion asked instead.

Elena’s eyes scurried through the place before settling on Darion. "I need your help," she admitted.