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After he left, she fell asleep without the fear of Killian invading her dreams. Considering he’d escalated the level of pain and horror he subjected her to, she was thankful to wake up in Eli’s arms after being terrorized.
When she’d woken, Eli hadn’t returned so she took a shower. As much as she wanted to keep thinking about how good Eli made her feel sexually and otherwise, Killian kept occupying her thoughts.
That bastard meant to terrorize her. He’d won again last night. At least he hadn’t been around to see the aftermath of his torture. She knew one thing: she wasn’t going to let Killian break her. The long shower helped her clear her head.
When she emerged from the bathroom someone was knocking on the door.
Did he forget his key? Last time I was here I didn’t need a key to get into my room. Why is he knocking?
She opened the door. “Is there a reason you’re...” The rest of what she was about to say died on her tongue when she saw Phaedra standing on the other side of the door. “Hey... um, Eli’s not here. He stepped out for a minute.”
“I know. I’m here to see you.” Phaedra stepped inside without a smile and without invitation.
“Okay.” Willow shut the door behind her. This felt ominous. She was only wearing a bathrobe and after last night she still felt vulnerable. At least if she was fully clothed she’d feel like she had a shield or some sort of protection against whatever Phaedra was going to say to her. She wrapped his robe tighter around her body. “What is it?”
“I think you should break things off with Eli.” Her stare was unapologetic.
She wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting to hear come out of Phaedra’s mouth, but it wasn’t that. Her mouth hung open in shock and surprise. Phaedra was with Max, so it couldn’t be jealousy that had her in Eli’s place telling her to break up with him. “Why would I do that?” She turned away from her, trying to mask her hurt. Even though they weren’t friendly like she was with the other Protectors, she at least thought Phaedra liked her and that they were becoming friends.
“You’re new to this world. There are things you don’t yet understand.” Sometimes she wondered if the woman was a robot. Phaedra spoke in such an emotionless, matter of fact, no-nonsense tone it annoyed her, given what the woman was asking her to do.
“Does this have something to do with the anti-hybrid stuff that Eli was talking about?” A horrifying thought struck her. “Are you one of them?” She hissed at Phaedra and leaned away from her in alarm. Revulsion settled like a stone in her stomach.
“No.” Phaedra rolled her eyes so hard, for a minute she was afraid they would roll right out of her head.
“Why don’t you approve of us being together?” She was so confused.
Phaedra looked torn and exasperated. “This has nothing to do with me... I can’t say more than that... Things are about to get really bad for him. If you care about him, you’ll do this.”
The anger she felt was going to erupt any minute and she’d rather not have to apologize later. She crossed over to the door and ripped it open. Her body was trembling she was so furious. “I think you should leave.” Her voice shook a little on the end. The tight grip she had on the doorknob was sure to leave an imprint in her palm if she didn’t break off the knob first.
“Just think about what I said.” Those were Phaedra’s parting words. Willow slammed the door behind her.
***
WHEN ELI ARRIVED TWENTY minutes later she was fully dressed in a plaid shirt and jeans. The anxiety she felt as she waited for him seemed to increase with every minute. The door opened and she jumped up from her seat on the sofa. “Hey.” She wondered if Phaedra had already talked to him. What had she said to him and how had he responded. She looked at his face trying to gauge what had transpired since he’d left. His face gave away nothing.
“We have to appear in front of The Council in fifteen minutes. I need to get cleaned up.” He went to step past her.
“Wait. That’s all? Do you know what it’s about?” She knew after Phaedra’s visit there was going to be more to this meeting with The Council than he was letting on. “Tell me what’s going on.” He kept his back to her for several seconds before he finally turned around.
“Promise me whatever happens you’ll be as brave as you were last night.” That seemed to be the only explanation he was going to give her.
She came over and put her arms around his waist. Her eyes pleaded with him. “You’re scaring me. What’s going on?”
He rubbed her cheek. “Just trust me okay. I love you.” He kissed her and gently pulled her arms from around him and went to take a quick shower.
If she’d had more time she could have sought out Morgana, Zoriana or even Mathilda to find out what was going on, but something told her she wasn’t sure they would be so forthcoming with answers either.
After he showered they walked to The Council’s Chamber. She felt like a dead man walking. Eli didn’t say a word on the way there. He kept his focus straight ahead. She wondered what he was thinking about.
Before they entered the room, he took her hand in his and gave her a sad smile. She wanted to pull him away from the door and demand he tell her what was going to happen in that room, but she knew it was useless. He was used to being the Protector and that’s what he was doing now, trying to protect her. Why did she feel like he was the one that needed protecting?
When they stepped through the door, hands clasped, all eyes were on them. She didn’t miss Silas’ hard look of disapproval the minute he saw their hands linked. All the other Protectors stood in a row in front of Elders of The Council. When they joined them and she glanced down the row, they all looked uneasy. Max was the only one that smiled in her direction and offered a slight wave. The corner of her mouth tried to tilt into a smile, but it was hard since she knew she wasn’t going to like how this turned out.
Phaedra stood with her hands clasped behind her back; legs shoulder width apart like she was waiting for a military inspection. Her face was hard and unreadable. The rest were just trying to avoid her looks. They knew something was up and no one had tried to warn her. An edgy feeling settled over her and she looked down at Eli’s and her conjoined hands. He squeezed her hand and she looked up into his eyes. The flash of a smile he gave her before he turned back to face The Council might have put her at ease if she wasn’t already sure that this was not going to go well.
The members of The Council took their seats now ready to call their meeting to order.
“First things first, did you recover The Book of Prophecy?” Silas had yet to take his eyes off his son.
“No, the book is no longer in Greece and it’s possible it hasn’t been in some time.”
“So where is it?”
She continued to grow antsy. Everyone was talking about the book, while the elephant in the room continued to grow at an alarming rate.
“We believe it’s in Egypt...”
“You believe? You don’t know for sure?” Silas condescension grated on her nerves.
“We won’t know until we go there. Willow...” His father interrupted him again. When he said her name with an edge in his voice she stood a little straighter.
“The Council was made aware of the change in your relationship with Ms. Stevens. Would you like to confirm or deny this?”
Ms. Stevens? Since when did things become so formal she couldn’t but wonder sarcastically?
Eli didn’t hesitate or stutter, he answered clearly. “I love her and I have it on pretty good authority that she loves me.” His chest seemed to puff out a little bit when he said the words.
She couldn’t help herself. Even though he couldn’t see her, a broad grin broke out on her face at his declaration.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Silas.
She wanted to give the man the middle finger, but he was still Eli’s father after all so she would show him respect. How did Josephine, Eli’s mother put up with his pompous ass?
“You’re aware of the Protector’s Commandment that you swore an oath to that states: A Protector shall not enter a relationship or fall in love with the Oracle?”
“I am.”
Willow’s jaw dropped open. It’s a commandment? Wildly she scanned the room. She felt dizzy.
“You’re aware of the law enacted by the Congress of Supernatural Beings this commandment was derived from that states: No supernatural shall enter a relationship or fall in love with the Oracle?”
“Yes.”
Her head was swimming and she felt sick to her stomach. There was a law that punished someone who wanted to be with her? Love her? “This is bullshit!” She exploded.
‘DON’T.’ He came through in her head, trying to warn her away from whatever she was about to do.
She ignored him and approached The Council. “ Was no one ever going to tell me what had been decided about my life? What gives you the right? A law? A law that I don’t have any say in? That’s set in place to keep me from loving and being with who I want?” She didn’t care that her voice was loud or that she might have been disrespectful. She wanted answers. Why had this law been put in place and why were they enforcing something so archaic?
One of the Elders spoke up, trying to reason with her. “It was set in place for a reason. All the supernaturals agreed. It was done for your own good...”
“For my own good?” Her voice lashed out like a whip.
Before she could launch into a further attack on The Council, Eli grabbed her hand. She looked at him, a little hurt, but feeling responsible for the mess they now found themselves in. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Maybe for the same way you’re acting now.” His face twitched into a smirk.
Was this what Phaedra had been trying to warn her about? Her eyes skittered over to the hard woman, but she wasn’t looking at them.
Why didn’t I listen?
Was he really making jokes right now? “This is serious, Eli. I can’t let you do this. I won’t. Just take it all back. Tell them you’re sorry. Say whatever you need to say to stay out of trouble.” She turned towards The Council again ready to tell them they were not together. “He’s lying...”
He yanked her into his chest and dropped his voice so only she could hear him. “That would be telling a lie. I won’t do it. I know I may have said that I love you for the first time in that hotel room, but Willow I loved you long before that. I fell in love with you probably after the first year of watching you, but I lied to myself and I tried to bury it away. I won’t live like that again.” He swallowed as he stared into her eyes. “Whatever the consequences are, I’ll take them.” He turned back to The Council. “I have broken the Protector’s Commandment and I have broken the law. I will answer for my crimes.”
She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, in frustration over his stubbornness and also out of fear. He still held her hand. She moved closer and wrapped her other arm around his.
“So be it.” His father’s voice sounded weary and regretful. It was clear he took no great pleasure in what he was about to say. “You are hereby removed from your position as head of The Protectors. Phaedra will now take over. As the final consequence for your action you will no longer have access to the ancestors. You will be stripped...” Although she couldn’t see his face fully, she noticed the last statement had a visceral effect on him.
She heard the other Protectors gasp in shock.
What does that mean? I don’t understand.
“What does that mean? Tell me what that means.” She begged him, but he was still trying to recover from the shock. Two witches materialized from out of the shadows and were about to seize him.
“Give me a minute.” He didn’t ask. He made the demand calmly and the witches who’d come to take him away halted.
“What does all of this mean? Why didn’t you tell me about this stupid law?” Her lip trembled as she tried not to cry. She was trying to be brave like he asked her to. “I would have never pushed you...”
“You didn’t push me into anything.” He cleared his throat. “Remember I told you magic comes at a cost?” She nodded because her throat was clogged with unshed tears.
“Well sometimes love comes at a cost too.” Tears stood in his eyes. “I will gladly pay the price.” He stepped towards her and cupped her face in his hands. His eyes held hers and his thumbs rubbed her cheeks. She couldn’t stop the flood of tears. “You’re worth it.” He whispered into her lips before he pressed his lips against hers in a searing kiss that let everyone know how he felt about her.
When they pulled him away after a few seconds, she tried to grab onto him and Mathilda and Zoriana rushed to comfort her and keep her from running after him.
“Mathilda what’s happening?” She tried not to be hysterical as Eli was taken from the room. She wanted to yell, stamp her feet, punch someone or something, run after him and make them bring him back.
Zoriana spoke first. “He’s no longer a Protector.” Her head jerked back like she’d been punched. He’d worked so hard his whole life for that designation. “But... I just thought he wouldn’t be the leader anymore.” She said weakly. “But where are they taking him. Silas said stripping.” She looked around at their faces.
“Stripping is a form of punishment for witches found practicing black magic and for breaking certain supernatural laws.” Morgana’s voice was hollow when she spoke.
“He’s going to be stripped of his hereditary magic.” A tear fell down Mathilda’s cheek.
“What?” She said barely above a whisper. She was breathless now.
Max came over and hugged her. “Everything’s going to be okay.” She let herself be held by Max. Normally, his proximity would have calmed her, but right now her heart and her head were in turmoil. Morgana stroked her hair and Mathilda and Zoriana were both close by rubbing her back.
She didn’t have to look at Phaedra to know the woman blamed her. She’d come to her today and asked her to call things off. Why hadn’t she made her understand? This was all because of her. She couldn’t let him do this. Not for her. Before she allowed despair to swallow her whole, she thought about Cora. She was the real head of The Council. She would go to her and beg her to put a stop to this. She probably had no idea what was happening.
She broke out of their grasp and ran from the room.
“Willow.” Zoriana tried to stop her. She didn’t slow down. For a minute she worried someone would chase her down and try to stop her from going where she was headed, but no one followed her. Up the staircase she ran. The whole time her head full of thoughts.
Cora is the Chief Elder. They have to listen to her. She can reverse this. She can make them let Eli keep his magic.
When she burst through the door a nurse was taking the woman’s blood pressure. If the situation weren’t so dire she would have been astonished to find someone in the woman’s bedchamber, but right now she was too upset. The nurse seemed ready to try and stop her from reaching Cora, but the old woman waved her away and she dropped back to the shadows.
“Cora, please do something. You have to do something. They’re going to take away his magic.” She sobbed into the old woman’s lap.
Cora patted her shoulder. “There, there child. It will be alright. He still has magic. It’s just not as powerful as it was.”
Slowly, Willow sat up. “What?” She gave the crone an incredulous look.
“I said he still has magic. It will be okay.”
How could... How could Cora know who or what she was talking about, unless... “You did this.” The accusation nearly choked her when she said it. Why did she think this woman cared? Because she shared some things about her mother and gave her some letters? She felt like the biggest fool.
“It’s the law. I’m afraid it’s out of my hands.” The woman didn’t look the least bit apologetic over Eli’s fate.
She swiped the angry tears away and left the room with Cora calling her to come back.
Despite getting lost twice because her tears kept blinding her and she refused to take anyone’s help, she finally found her way back to Eli’s and collapsed on the sofa. She gave way to her emotions and wept until she passed out.