Chapter 16

Emil sat quietly in the back of the room as he watched and waited for the witches to talk with the council. He was anxious to hear what the board would say about the situation they were here for. His eyes lit up when the familiar people entered the council room. Madeline strolled into the crowded council hall, her cane clattering against the floor with every step she took. Ten members of the faction council were seated in front of her as she stepped into the center of the room. Madeline looked up at the council members and gasped when she saw two of the woman she had come to Silver City when she was younger looking the same as they did when she left. "Well, as I live and breathe, it's Maddy DeLancret," Abigail, one of the witches on the council, spoke out. "It's Warren now, Madeline Warren. I got married," Madeline corrected the woman. Abigail laughed. "That's right, you gave up all of this," she said as she waved her hand around in the air. "to keep a promise you made to your mother. How did that work out for you?" Abigail leaned forward, eager to hear how Madeline would answer. Another council member was leaning back in his chair, bored with sitting there and listening to unimportant things. "Gossip about her life on your own time. We have better things to do than listen to her life story," Reese commented and looked over at Madeline with a look of pity on his face. "No offense." Madeline lifted her eyebrow at him before she responded, "None taken." "Madeline Warren, what's your reason for calling upon the faction council and needing to us?" Felicia, another member, spoke out. Madeline gave Felicia a small smile and a nod. She appreciated that Felicia was trying to help move things along. "There has been word back in our hometown that Merga is coming," Madeline told them. A loud sound of hisses and whispers swept through the audience. Emil smirked as he watched the look of surprise on so many faces. "Silence!" Reese yelled out to the public. The room fell silent. "How did you learn of this?" Reese hissed. His eyes were now red with anger. "A witch told us she was coming just before he was killed," she answered. "What signs have you seen of this? Have there been sightings to prove this to be true?" Reese questioned. Madeline shook her head. She didn't know what they were talking about. "The omens that were foretold of Merga's return," an older member questioned. Madeline shifted uncomfortably in her spot. She was unaware of the omens. The stories that were passed down to her didn't talk of prophecies. Madeline stood there quietly, her eyes shifting from one member to the next. Madeline's nonresponse spoke volumes to the faction council. Madeline could tell they weren't going to lift a finger without proof. "No omens that we are aware of at the moment, but shouldn't we get ahead of it before they start to happen? Shouldn't we be prepared if Merga is as powerful as they said she was?" Madeline asked. There was talk amongst the crowd as the council talked in hushed voices amongst themselves. When they were finished, Reese stood up and said, "At this time, the council will not assist in the dealings with Merga. If and when you can prove she is truly a threat, we will reconvene and decide then. You're dismissed." Madeline wanted to object to their ruling, but something stopped her from talking. Madeline heaved a sigh before she nodded, bowed slightly toward the council, turned, and walked toward the exit. "It was great seeing you again, Maddy. I hadn't realized how long it had been," Abigail said with a cruel laugh. Madeline had stopped to hear what her old friend wanted to say. She didn't let her words affect her. With her head held high, Madeline squared her shoulders back and walked out of the council room with Zachary and Ruby following closely behind her. Emil watched the council with a careful eye. Were they not going to be concerned about this? He forgot about the omens that Merga had promised when she returned. He would need to research and find out what the prophecies were again. Emil vanished into a grey mist from the seat he was in. He reappeared in the place he was staying in. His faithful servant Quincy was waiting upon his return. "How did the council meeting go?" Quincy asked once his master appeared in the room. "Surprisingly, not the way I thought it would. They're not going to help," Emil answered as he started to walk through the quarters he was in. Quincy turned to follow his master. "Isn't that good for you, sire?" Emil shook his head as he continued to make his way to the library. "What's the fun if they won't be concerned or even afraid of what's to come?" Emil told his servant. "Yes, but it is the faction council, after all. Half of them have been doped up on the pheromones they've been feeding them for years. I'm surprised they know their names." Emil looked back at his servant with a lifted brow and a smirk on his face. "You have a point, Quincy. But still, it would be nice if there was a hint of fear from the council. But there was nothing." Emil continued searching the books on the shelves for something to help him. He was speed-reading through most of them and chucking them behind him if they didn't hold something of value for him. "Sir, is there something I can help you find?" Quincy asked as he walked over to pick up the books from the floor. Emil sighed as he finished looking through the one in his and then chucked that one back as well. "Do you remember the omens Merga promised that would come upon her return?" Quincy stood quiet momentarily as he tried to remember something for his master. "Not at the moment, but I believe we have something back at the cottage house that could help." Emil had a smile slowly creep across his face. "Splendid, call home and ask Rita to bring it for us. I've been bored anyway. Having someone to play with while we are here will be nice." Quincy rolled his eyes at the name of Rita. He didn't like the girl. Quincy was protective of his master and didn't like how the young girl tried to push herself into his master's life. "I saw that, Quincy. Rita's not that bad. She's just an adolescent, that's all." "If you say so, sir. I will call and have her come with the items we need to find what you are looking for," Quincy confirmed. "Thank you, Quincy. Now, I'm off to get some rest. Please see to it that I'm not disturbed." "Very well, sir," Quincy answered before he left the room, allowing his master time to sleep.