Bitten (Book 1 - Book 4) novel Chapter 29

Uri worked on his phone for the entire drive over to the Council meeting. After Bonnie parked and got out, it was another fifteen minutes before Uri got out. Bonnie stood with the door open, waiting for him. It was now after seven. Natalia felt like they were the last ones in, however, she noticed Kareen wasn’t present.

No one was talking. No one said anything about them being late. She figured they knew they were outside since they could track them both.

Mirren gestured for them to sit at one of the tables to the side. Even after they had sat, no one talked. It was a few minutes later that Anna walked in.

She stopped as soon as she entered the room, looking a little surprised when she looked around.

“I was told my mother was here,” she said.

Kareen came up behind Anna.

“Stand in the middle, Anna,” Kareen said.

She closed the door behind Anna, standing between her and the door.

Anna suddenly looked terrified. Kareen had to put her hands on Anna’s shoulders to gently guide her to the middle of the room.

“Can you explain to us, Anna?” Mirren said, “Why you were in Hell a few nights ago? Saturday night to be exact.”

“That’s not what I heard we were to be discussing,” Friesa said.

There were a few grumbles among the Council members about not following the proposed agenda.

“Kareen?” Jada Lee said.

“I was told this was important. A last minute agenda change.”

She took a few steps away from Anna, leaving her alone in the middle of the room.

Anna now had tears running down her face. Her hands were shaking while she fiddled with her shirt.

“Anna,” Mirren said. “Were you in Hell on Saturday night?”

Anna tearfully nodded.

A few members of the Council shifted in their seats.

“Who were you with?”

“The A-Abbess.”

The whole Council now seemed totally focused on Anna.

“The Abbess and who else?”

“Some priests.”

Anna sniffled.

Kareen stepped up to hand her a tissue, then stepped back.

“What were they doing there? What were you doing there?”

Anna stood there, seeming to be unable to talk.

“We need the whole story, Anna,” Kareen said, prompting.

Tears were running freely down Anna’s face.

“M-my mother had nothing to do with this,” she said in a whisper.

“We need to know your story, not your mother’s,” Mirren said.

“I-I was buying kite for a friend. I tried it and didn’t like it.”

“Your friend is who?”

“Lisa.”

Natalia stiffened.

“She wanted to try it since she’s now an adult. B-but... the Abbess saw me. She said she would tell my mother if I didn’t help her. I didn’t want my mother to know. I-I would disappoint her.”

“Where did you try to buy it?”

“Lisa said you had to go to the soup kitchen that the Church runs. There’s a dealer there. Anyone with money can buy it. The nuns and priests ignored it all.”

“And the Abbess was there?”

“Yes. She knew my mother and me because we work with the orphans and volunteer at the Women’s Center in A’ppollo.”

“This all sounds recent,” Mirren said. “Do you swear on a bite you hadn’t been doing anything before this?”

Anna seemed frozen, unable to speak.

Kareen took one step over to Anna and touched her shoulder. Anna jumped and started crying harder.

“I don’t think you’re telling us the whole truth,” Mirren said.

“Please don’t bite me,” Anna said, sounding as if she was pleading for her life.

“You’re not giving us a choice,” Mirren said.

Anna was now trembling.

“I was selling kite on the side,” she said, blurting it out. “I was making a lot of money.”

No one said anything.

“The Abbess helped me. Providing me with the information on where to get it and where to sell it. She got a cut. I also got money if I escorted them into Hell.”

“How did they know you could escort them into Hell?”

“I told them I knew what a Hollow smelled like and could detect them. That’s all they know.”

“Do you swear on a bite?”

“Y-yes.”

She seemed to be trembling more.

“One lie will be overlooked. Two, never,” Mirren said.

“I’m not lying,” she said rather strongly, but she couldn’t look directly at the Council members. She seemed to be looking over their heads.

“This is a serious matter. We need to make sure,” Mirren said with a flick of his finger.

Natalia recognized the flick.

Anna screamed when Kareen bit her.

Natalia cringed, noting a few others cringed as well.

Anna sank to her knees, shaking violently in obvious pain.

Kareen walked away to take her seat with the other Council members.

“What is your name?” Mirren said.

His voice contained no emotion,

“Anna.”

Her voice squeaked.

“Why were you in Hell last Saturday?”

“Escorting the Abbess.”

“Why? A full story, please.”

“I-I..” She was trembling more.

Mirren didn’t press her, waiting stone-faced. The whole Council was stone-faced.

“I liked...having sex with the priests,” Anna said.

She took a deep breath and stopped shaking.

“I was mad at my mom for making me help with all the stupid Undent orphans and stupid poor Undent women. I had enough. I thought I could have an Undent baby and make her mad, but I couldn’t get pregnant.”

“You’re too young,” Kareen said. “You don’t even have your mark yet.”

“I hate her.”

Anna exhaled the remark with force, showing intense emotion.

“I hate my mother. That’s why she had another baby. To spite me. She wanted me to mature later. Her hormones suppressed mine.”

“Yes, that will happen since you’re living with your mother and exposed to her,” Kareen said.

“Were you also selling kite?” Mirren said.

“Yes. I was selling it and making a lot of money. A ton of money. I figured I would have enough to move out as soon as I was eighteen. Forget this college stuff. The money is in selling drugs to stupid Undents. No one misses them when they die.”

Natalia could hear the hate in how Anna said Undents. She suddenly feared for Lisa.

The feeling must have been the same for others.

“Where is Lisa?” Mirren said.

“I don’t know. She ran away,” Anna said. “She got scared when I tried to give her kite.”

Natalia tensed, sitting up straighter. Uri put a hand on her and breathed into her ear.

“Calm.”

“How long have you been doing this?” Mirren said.

“Since last fall. Almost a year. You wouldn’t believe the thousands I have in my account. I don’t need any of you.”

“And were you responsible for the Drivers Guild attack?”

“Yes.”

The reply caused a ripple through the Council members. Bonnie even looked startled.

“Everyone thinks I speak for my mother. She sends me on errands as if I was a mere servant. It was easy to get them to do what I asked. I just had to say they were my mother’s orders.”

“Why did you order the attack?”

“Uri…”

Anna turned to glare at him.

“Mother sent him to Hell. The Church had a patrol walking around Hell to protect their kite factory. Uri saw them and killed them all. He kills and gets away with it. It was time to kill him and his stupid Undent wife.”

Anna’s eyes moved to her.

Natalia felt the hair on the back of her neck raise. She could see the hatred.

The room was dead silent and everyone looked a little shocked.

“I am thankful to those people,” Kareen said. “Keep up the good work. Good to know someone is keeping us honest.”

“When are you planning this media party?” Mirren said.

“Tomorrow. We don’t want them to find out the safe is missing.”

“Very good. Tell us what you need.”

“We have everything already. But a nod from the Council is most appreciated,” Moralis said.

“Those wishing to give the nod, please do so,” Mirren said.

Every member, including Tia and Mirren smiled and nodded.

“Just watch the news tomorrow evening,” Moralis said. “It will be interesting.”

“This meeting is ended,” Mirren said.

Everyone else rose, but there was the sound of the outside door, then the door to the Council room opened.

“Where’s my daughter?” Sherri said in a demanding voice.

She was almost wheezing from the exertion. Her hands were on her belly as if she was holding it up.

“You’re supposed to be in bed. Doctor’s orders,” Grazie said, jumping up and hurrying over to her. “You’re not well.”

“I’m concerned for my daughter,” she said.

“So am I,” Grazie said with force.

Sherri looked at him as if for the first time.

“You are supposed to be in bed. Everyone else can take care of themselves,” he said, taking her arm and turning her around.

Natalia saw him lean in to breath in her ear.

“That’s how you control a Viperian woman. Show her you care,” Uri said, whispering in her ear.

He took her hand, and they followed Grazie and Sherri out. Her car and driver were waiting outside the door. Uri paused to wait while Grazie helped Sherri into the back seat. He got in with her. The car pulled away.

“He’ll be the first man in Sherri’s house in a long time,” Uri said.

“Why doesn’t she allow men in her house?”

“Some has to do with her work. She often has abused women in her home. She’s designated it a man free zone. The rest has to do with one of her first men. He wasn’t nice. He fathered her son, but her son is a good person.”

Uri open the limo door for her.

“I’m worried about Lisa,” she said.

“Don’t be. Tia has her,” Uri said.

“When did you learn this?”

“When on the phone with Moralis, before you found me on Saturday.”

“Why don’t you tell me these things?”

“Because we need you to react when you hear certain things. Would you have stiffened when you heard Lisa’s name if you knew she was alright?”

“I guess not.”

“You don’t realize how closely the Council is watching your reactions.”

He leaned in to whisper in her ear.

“We’re getting away with a lot because of your honest reactions that are validating our stories.”

Everyone else was spilling out of the Council building. Bonnie caught up with them and got in the driver’s seat. Moralis ran over.

“I know tomorrow is a work day, but I need you at the Church with Nattie about two pm.”

“Me?” Natalia said.

“A man with a woman isn’t considered a threat,” Moralis said. “Also, I need you to do a bite, Uri. You’ll need Nattie to get the right emotion.”

Uri grimaced.

“I know you’re a knife guy, but there isn’t anyone else up for the challenge. And you’re giving Nattie her revenge.”

“I’ll try,” Uri said.

“No, do it,” Moralis said. “It crucial.”

Uri nodded.

“Main chapel. Two pm,” Moralis said.

He jogged off toward Tia, Mina and Sophie who had gathered together to talk.

“Two pm,” Uri said. “I’ll have to rearrange my calendar.”

“We can skip lunch if that helps.”

Uri leaned in to breath in her hair.

“Yeah, I think I can do this.”

“Do what?”

“Bite another woman.”