163 Old Family

When I feel Kian's fingers run through my hair, I turn and open my eyes with a warm smile on my face. He returns the smile and lightly taps the tip of my nose as he says "Welcome back, dollface." I hmm at him and slowly sit up as I say "This is getting old. Did... did it work?" 

Kian gives me a small smile and nods his head before saying "Yeah, it worked. They're with Queen Cara in your guest room. Your Mom called you about an hour ago." I nod in thanks, checking my phone before sending her a quick message and standing up. 

I take a quick shower and get cleaned up before walking out in search of food. I can smell the coffee Kian has already started. Is that bacon and eggs I smell as well?? I smile and follow the divine smell but when the guest door opens, two large male elves walk out and block my way. 

I come to a sudden stop and look up at the both of them with wide eyes. They in return look down at me with hard eyes before giving me a warm smile and saying "You must be Eris." I awkwardly smile and nod my head before trying to look into the room. 

The one closest to the door opens the door further so I can see inside and says "She's sleeping. It took a lot out of her." I nod and say "It was indeed a lot..." I look back to the both of them before clearing my throat and saying "Would you like something to eat? I was just on the way to get something to eat myself."

They both give me wide smiles before saying "That would be delightful, thank you." I nod and step around the one closest to me before leading them to the kitchen. When Kian looks up, he smiles at me then looks past me. He nods at them with a smirk before saying "I take it you two are hungry as well?"

I look to Kian then back to the brothers with surprise written all over my face. They knew each other!? The two smile and nod as they say "If that's okay. We'd like to talk to our little niece and get to know her a little." I do a double-take on them before awkwardly smiling. 

Niece? Well... if Queen Cara's my Grandmother and these are her brothers... I guess that would make them my uncles. Great, great, great... X's a hundred granduncles. We all sit around the table as I ask "So you all know each other?" 

Kian chuckles and says "I grew up with Amaury and Atticus. I even fought alongside them both before..." He suddenly stops at the other two take on a sad look. One clears his throat and says "My name is Amaury, I'm Cara's older brother." 

Looking at him and his features, even though they look similar, he definitely has a slightly more mature look to him. The other leans over and says "It's nice to meet you, Eris! My name is Atticus. Cara has told us so much about you already, we kinda feel like we know you already." 

Atticus speaks up again and says "You and Cara really do resemble each other. Thank you for helping her save us." I give him a warm smile and ask "Of course! Do you mind me asking how you two..."

A large explosion hits and I see nothing but blinding white light! My chair was gone and I was falling back! I didn't fall for long before I hit my back. I blink in confusion and look up to see a familiar face looking down at me with a grim look. 

I cough out "Feathered jerk... why are you here?" His face falls even more as he says "Maro, my name is Maro, Eris Hallows and you would do well to remember that, especially now." I blink in more confusion before looking to my side. 

When I see several more men with big, white-feathered wings... I internally curse. Marco helps me up and whispers "Keep your mouth shut." I look to him with wide eyes before looking back to the others. He doesn't have to tell me twice!

They were all seated in tall, golden posts with large golden chairs. There was a total of ten of them and they all had me sweating like a whore in church on Sunday morning. "Eris Hallows! How do you plead?" A loud voice booms out making me flinch! I nearly cover my ears it's so loud! 

How do I plead!? I look around in confusion but I see nothing but white surrounding me. I look to Maro and give him a panicked look before looking back to the others. Was this... was I on trial!??? For what!? Did I suddenly die and this was my judgment day!? Maro steps forward and says "She pleads, not guilty." 

The ten angels before me scoff and disorder breaks out before they quickly quiet down and ask "How can she plead 'not guilty' when it was her blood found at the scene?" Confused, I look over to Maro with a frown etched on top of my confusion. 

He nods at me and says "She is confused about why she's been called before the heavenly council. May I have a minute to speak with her?" They look to me for a second or two before nodding. Maro walks back over and says "Do you have any idea why you've been called here?"

I look at him, still as confused as before, and say "Honestly, no! What the hell is going on!? Did I die or something?" His eyes flash in anger as he snaps "Language!" I bite my lip and awkwardly nod, quickly earning a look of approval from the feathered jerk. 

He clears his throat and says "Okay, two powerful male Elves were released from the Eternal prison last night and when investigating, they found your blood and the blood of another." My eyes become so large, they nearly pop out as I slowly start nodding my head and say "Wow... I mean... WOW. Someone really... Really broke out two male Elves in the middle of the night... and left my blood... and another's. Hahaha... hah... Haaa...." 

He nods his head, clearly missing my discomfort and says "It's against the heavenly law to break out anyone and if found guilty, they will be sentenced to death or to Eternal imprisonment." I continue to nod as I cross my arms and nervously bite my lip. 

I lift my hand to my mouth, nervously rubbing my lips before saying "Death... Eternal imprisonment... Both very befitting for such a horrible and serious crime. No mercy at all... None." Maro finally does a double-take on me before saying "You did it, didn't you?"

I start to nervously laugh as I glance at the ten before looking back to Maro, fighting back tears as I say "Yes, I did but I swear to..." He gives me a pointed look so I quickly correct it as I say "I swear that I didn't know they were in y'all's prison! If I had known..." I make a strangled sound and wildly gesture with my hands before he sighs and rubs a hand down his face.

He looks back up to me and asks "Who was the other party who helped you?" I bite my tongue and give him a constipated look. I shake my head and give him a pleading look as I say "This... Can you please explain to them that I had no idea that they were in their prison!?" 

Maro looks like he's losing his patience before he bites out "Fine, since you didn't know... hand the two over and once they're put back, your sentence may be lifted." My constipated look grows as I start wildly waving my hands in desperation. 

His face darkens as he says "Really Eris? You'd rather die or go to prison for eternity instead of just turning the others over? REALLY!?" I look at him with sadness before slowly releasing my breath and saying "Yeah..." He looks at me with confusion before the ten says "Times up, Maro." 

He gives me a look, as if giving me one last chance but I just shake my head and turn back to the ten. "How do you plead, Eris Hallows?" I grit my teeth, internally fighting for a way out of this but I really can't think of anything. 

They knock on something that makes the whole space vibrate as he yells out "How do you plead, Eris Hallows!?" I take a deep breath and close my eyes as I softly say "Guilty."