*Alwaysready64, thank you so much for editing this chapter!*
*****
Jaylon paced nervously in Lucius' house. Elena sat in the armchair watching him and Corban and Anton waited on the sofa. Impatiently, Jaylon stared out of the window again and Corban spoke up.
"Jay you need to calm down."
"How the fuck can I calm down? Luci is gone. Someone should have stayed with him." Jaylon turned on the assembled Council members.
"You really think that any of us could have stopped him going if he wanted to?" Anton lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.
Jaylon stuttered for a moment before sinking to the arm of the chair that Elena sat in. Dropping his head to his hands he sighed. "No but I still feel like shit for leaving him alone. Who knows what might happen to him going there by himself."
"He'll be OK. He's the craziest of all of us, he'll give Daddy a run for his money until we get there then we'll bring them home. All of them." Anton checked his watch as he spoke. His face was calm and his voice steady but inside his stomach was in knots. He had always been confident that he could beat whatever threat came his way but for the first time in his long life he didn't know if he could win.
A soft noise from outside grabbed the rooms attention, it was followed by footsteps on gravel and the sound of the door opening. Ealasaid walked into the room and they all took a moment to take her in. Her Fae form was still so foreign to them it took their breath away momentarily. She didn't say a word as she entered and before anyone else could speak another figure entered the room.
"Holy shit." Jaylon blurted out. His dark eyes scanned his Alpha carefully.
"So it's true. You really are an Entari?" Elena asked and Drago nodded.
Jaylon looked between them all and glared at Corban and Anton. "You've already seen this I'm guessing?"
"I have." Corban said calmly.
"I was there when it happened." Anton shrugged and took another drag on his cigarette.
"Always the last to be involved." Jaylon sulked and folded his arms across his broad chest.
"We can argue about who's favourite child later. Right now we need to find Lucius." Ealasaid spoke up and turned to Anton. "Is Baal here?"
"I was waiting for you." Anton offered and a dark look passed over his face. He didn't even need to speak this time and a strange crackling filled the air. A darkness fell over the room and a red light glowed from the floor. Baal rose slowly and Ealasaid felt her heart stutter. He looked more Devil like than ever.
"Cut the dramatics." Anton sounded utterly unimpressed and Baal threw his head back and laughed.
"You never let me have any fun! Don't you remember when we would do this all the time? Scare the shit out of good God fearing people with their 'the power of Christ compels you' bullshit." Baal grinned.
"I grew up." Anton said simply but Ealasaid could see the corner of his mouth curve into a minute smile.
"Why grow up brother? We'll live forever, why spend eternity in boredom?" Baal asked and Anton rolled his eyes.
"You can spout your poetry later, right now we have shit to do."
Baal shrugged a broad shoulder. "As you wish." Baal waved his hand. A door materialised in the middle of the room and they all went completely silent as the gravity of what was behind it hit them.
"Are you ready?" Drago looked down at Ealasaid. Her face was serious, her eyes shone and her jaw was clenched.
"I live for this shit." Her response was simple and Drago smiled as a rush of pride gripped him. She had come so far in the short time he had known her and now she was the most ferocious Alpha he had encountered.
Baal winked at her making sure Drago didn't see and she rolled her eyes even as she smiled. Baal pushed the door open and together they stepped through.
They entered into darkness. It didn't take long for their powerful eyes to adjust to the darkness and they could make out rolling hills and building in the distance. There was a warm light coming from the windows and spilling out onto the ground around it. Ealasaid lifted her head, her nose twitched as she scented the air and her eyes flashed in determination.
"They're here. I can smell them." Her accent was strong, lilting her words.
"What about Lucius?" Jaylon asked and Ealasaid nodded.
"He's there. How did he get here so fast?" Ealasaid looked at Baal who shrugged.
"Don't look at me kid. I haven't sent him anywhere." He responded
"How he got here isn't important. What's important is that we get him out as soon as we can." Drago spoke decisively. He had fallen back into the role as Alpha when surrounded by his Pack and for the first time since his change he didn't noticed the clawing feeling in his mind as madness threatened to take over.
"What do we do?" Corban was shifting on the spot as he stared at the church in the distance.
"We walk straight through the front door." Drago said. "He will already know we're here. He told you to find him so he'll be expecting you, no point in trying to surprise him."
Drago's nose twitched, mimicking Ealasaid's. A familiar scent danced through the air and he felt a cold weight settle in his stomach. He pushed the thought aside.
"Ready?" He asked and the assembled Pack nodded.
Drago turned and focussed on Ealasaid. Taking her hand gently in his he brought it to his lips and kissed her knuckles.
"Be careful."
She smiled. "I always am."
They ran towards the church. As they drew close they could hear voices coming from inside. It almost sounded like they were laughing.
"It's been a long time since I have been permitted inside a church. I bet the old man is loving this." Baal glanced up at the sky as he spoke.
