Chosen (9781742844657) (2 page)

‘I thought you were trained better than that, Jackson,' she growled, advancing, but Lady Miranda moved forward and caught her arm.

‘Leave him, he's harmless,' she said. She looked around at the now-disorganised circle. ‘Who has done this to him? Whose lust for power? Speak, whoever you are. Your cowardice is pathetic.'

‘There were only two liars, that I detected,' Lisandro said to Lord Gawain, leaning behind the high priestess and observing the council quietly. ‘The leader has covered his tracks. Boy!' He motioned to Peter, who miserably came forth. Lisandro was known for his natural charisma and interrogation skills. The fact that he was the only witch in the world legally allowed to study and practise dark magic probably wasn't helping Peter's level of confidence. ‘Who is your leader, Peter?'

‘Lord Gawain,' Peter said dutifully, but his eyes revealed his difficulty. He felt bad. He felt guilty. The guilty were the easiest to break.

‘Your other leader – the one you've betrayed Lord Gawain for.'

‘I…I can't say. I'm sorry.'

‘You must know what I'm going to do if you don't choose now to speak up,' Lisandro said, and Peter nodded.

‘I understand. I'll submit to your questioning, but you won't get anything from me.' He shot a final look at his French friend, whose bright blue eyes were filled with tears. ‘I
am
sorry.'

‘Take the ring off and put it on the ground in front of you.'

Peter knelt and did as he was told, removing the White Elm's weapon from his hand and placing it gently before him. Lisandro touched his wand to Peter's temple. For a moment nothing happened. Then the younger man screamed in unexpected pain and clenched his fists against his knees as Lisandro's presence entered his brain, forcing dark magic against his resolve.

‘Stop it! You're ‘urting him! Stop!' Emmanuelle begged, but she did not attempt to interfere, possibly understanding that this was Lisandro's job; this was what he had been trained for.

‘Why does he hide from us? Why does he not come forth?' Lisandro drilled. Lord Gawain and Lady Miranda stepped forth to stand at the shoulders of their colleague, subtly transferring their own power slowly into Lisandro. Peter looked more fearful. The others stood back in silence, except for the few who bound Jackson.

‘He is not afraid,' Peter muttered monotonously. ‘He says… He mocks you even now with your deep trust in him. He says it's pathetic. His victory grows greater with each moment that passes with your faith. I'm sorry, I'm sorry…'

So the hidden traitor was a man. This was not particularly useful information, as only four of the council's thirteen members were
not
men. At least, however, it excluded Susannah, Anouk and Emmanuelle – Lord Gawain knew already that it could not have been Lady Miranda, the person he trusted most in the world.

Well, he trusted everybody present, but two had been proven unworthy of that trust, and one other remained to be discovered.

‘And who is he?' Lisandro asked of Peter, his voice and his applied magic twisting together into a threat only Peter could feel.

‘I will never tell,' Peter said loudly, closing his eyes resolutely. Many of the others were now slowly pouring their own energy into Lisandro's interrogation and Peter was becoming overwhelmed. Lord Gawain let his magical senses probe the garden. Why was Renatus not helping?
It couldn't be him…he's too young…

‘You will tell me,' Lisandro murmured, his bronze-coloured eyes getting brighter with power.

‘I won't, I won't!' Peter cried tearfully, clearly in pain. He was completely unable to physically resist the increasing power of the strongest witches in the world being forced into his mind.

‘Fine. Then where were you before this council was called?' Lisandro demanded, mentally and magically pushing against Peter's resolve, now trying another angle, seeking the weakest point.

‘With him. Jackson and I were with him, planning…'

‘And who is he?'

‘No…' Peter choked on a breath and began coughing pitifully.

‘You will tell me. Do you remember who I am?'

‘Yes,' Peter mumbled, sobbing. ‘L-Lisandro, Dark Keeper of the White Elm.'

‘That's right. And you will tell me the name of your leader.'

Lord Gawain felt his power draining but kept it up. This was vital information. When Peter finally gave in and told, Lord Gawain would be too weakened to pose as an immediate threat to anyone with full power. But even if it proved to be Renatus, at least Lisandro would be able to overpower him. Maybe. Lord Gawain could not imagine who on his beloved council would betray him, and though he trusted the young man with the dark family tree, he could not believe it of any of the others, either. Unfortunately, despite his deep trust, it seemed one more of them
had
betrayed the White Elm, and that person could arguably be anyone other than Lady Miranda and Lisandro.

Though it killed him to admit it, that person could very easily be Renatus.

‘You will tell me
now
,' Lisandro said forcefully, punctuating his final word with a strong mental push against Peter's determination that even Lord Gawain felt.

‘NO!' Peter screamed, his features twitching with his mental strain. ‘I can't! I won't. He'll kill me if I do!'

Lisandro removed his wand from Peter's forehead and all energy transfers ended. Peter collapsed. Emmanuelle sank to her knees at Renatus's feet and hid her face in her hands, sobbing. A few weakened White Elm stumbled or sat down. None had expected Lisandro to use so much of their energy.

‘You are incredibly loyal,' Lisandro said, brushing some of his long black hair from his face and looking down at the twitching Peter with something close to admiration. He turned to Lord Gawain. ‘Any more would have killed him.'

‘Any more would have killed everyone else here, too,' Renatus said. Everyone ignored him. He was the prime suspect.

‘I'm sorry…You'll kill me…I won't…' Peter mumbled, twitching violently.

‘And you got nothing from him?' Lord Gawain asked Lisandro, trying not to sound too disappointed. ‘You couldn't dig deeper?'

‘I could get nothing. I probably could have dug deeper – but not legally or safely. There'd be nothing left of his mind.' The attractive American frowned and lowered his voice, adding, ‘As it is, I may have overdone it.'

‘I won't…I won't…Never tell…You'll kill me…' Peter whispered, his voice dropping away as his consciousness slipped.

Lisandro glanced back to Peter and shook his head, looking amused. ‘Like I said, he's incredibly loyal.'

‘To you,' Renatus said sharply. Lisandro turned to the much younger man. Lord Gawain glanced between them, their physical similarities appearing to him, not for the first time. The black hair worn long, the pale complexions, the tall and slim build, the strong air of unbelievable power and potential… But now he saw something else – the conviction in Renatus's eyes.

And Lisandro looked…surprised. Not offended, but just surprised.

No…That isn't possible…

‘That's right, to me,' Lisandro agreed. Long moments of silence followed. Everyone stared in absolute shock. Lisandro eyed Renatus over. ‘I never really liked you, Renatus. You always know more than you should.'

Lisandro? No…No, he couldn't. Not the White Elm Dark Keeper. Not Lisandro…

‘Why?' Lady Miranda said finally.

‘Because he's the same as the rest of his family,' Lisandro said, still eyeing Renatus with mild distaste. Lady Miranda frowned.

‘Why would you turn Jackson and Peter against us? Against their oaths?'

Lisandro sighed.

‘This council has become outdated, and it's occurred to me on numerous occasions over the last few years that it might be time for us to upgrade,' he said, as if discussing his requirement for a new phone. ‘Just think about it a minute – the magical community is fast losing faith in the White Elm. We haven't had the popularity we once did in a very long time. This council was never voted in; the power it holds is false. It is time for a newer model I'm afraid. It doesn't have to be a bad thing. Give the people the choice between what they've known and what could be. The White Elm has become obsolete, and Magnus Moira is the future. Peter and Jackson see what I see and want to create the same future for our world.'

‘Magnus Moira?' Qasim repeated sceptically. Others in the group looked as though Lisandro's words were swaying their judgement, but Qasim was difficult to manipulate.

‘It's just a name,' Lisandro answered casually. ‘A sort of club. Everything sounds more legitimate when you give it a name. Our people deserve an alternative option to the White Elm, and I'm ready to provide that. Jackson and Peter are VIP members, but you're all invited to join, too. This council is a sinking ship. I'm offering you all a life raft. There would be some serious reshuffling of ranks and responsibilities,' he conceded, glancing at Lord Gawain, ‘but I'm certain I could find spots for everyone. Even you,' he added to Renatus.

‘I'll pass,' Renatus replied coldly.

‘If this isn't a bad thing, why didn't you share earlier?' Elijah asked of Lisandro. ‘Why the secrecy and sneaking about?'

‘Most of you weren't ready – still aren't.' Lisandro elegantly brushed some of his long hair away from his face. ‘This has come out a lot earlier than I'd hoped. Peter wasn't ready, obviously – look what's happened to him. I didn't want that happening to the rest of you. I felt you needed more time to be able to understand.'

‘Understand what, exactly?' Lady Miranda demanded, her voice harsh. She was clearly upset.

‘That the time has come to let the White Elm dwindle to its natural end, and to start afresh.'

‘We don't know anything about your “fresh” council. Why would we want to give up on what works to follow you into the unknown?' Glen asked reasonably.

‘Well, you could trust me, but it sounds like you need something more convincing than that,' Lisandro said. ‘First of all, I'm not really seeing Magnus Moira as a council. A council of thirteen takes too long to get anything done. I'm seeing a totally different structuring.'

‘You see
you
in charge,' Lady Miranda guessed.

‘Well, obviously. It wouldn't be much fun otherwise.'

The council members glanced amongst each other quietly, uncertain.

‘What happens if we aren't interested in your proposal?' Susannah asked finally.

‘The council will fall, whether you're in it or out,' Lisandro said. ‘I'm not really fussed. I won't take it personally; neither should you.'

‘You want to end the White Elm?' Qasim asked, still the sceptic.

‘Yes. And I will. Slowly and decisively, I will bring this council to the ground, where it belongs, under the foundations of the new government – Magnus Moira. Or more precisely, me.'

Lisandro is an enemy. He led Jackson and Peter to betray us…

‘Is this a power grab, Lisandro?' Lord Gawain asked, letting his devastation show. How could the leader be Lisandro? Lord Gawain himself had elected Lisandro to the chair of Dark Keeper – the White Elm's secret weapon against uprisings of sorcerers illegally using dark magic. They had worked side-by-side for eleven years now. How could Lisandro have kept his intentions so well hidden?

‘Partly, yes.'

‘You are the third-highest ranking member of the magical world's government. You hold the most honoured and trusted position in the world.'

‘I hold a position that is secret outside of this council,' Lisandro responded coldly. ‘No one else even knows that the Dark Keeper exists. To any sorcerer on the street I'm just another White Elm idiot.'

‘Why do you need recognition, Lisandro? Isn't it enough that
we
trust you so highly?' Lord Gawain asked.
Lisandro…why you?

‘Your trust amuses me,' Lisandro answered. He looked around. ‘You've revealed me as a traitor and a rival – as the manipulator of Jackson and Peter – and yet none of you have your wands out. No one is prepared to attack me. Your trust is so innate and leaves you exposed and vulnerable.'

A few White Elm raised their wands. Lisandro laughed.

‘I speak and you all move – so predictable.'

‘You tortured him…' Tian said, staring at Peter, who had now fallen unconscious, fingers curling around the power ring he'd been trusted to protect for them. They'd have to grab that back before Lisandro tried to get it. ‘Though he was your friend and supporter, you tortured him. How can we expect any different if we follow you?'

‘I needed to test his loyalty. I had no idea he was so dependable,' Lisandro commented. He clapped his hands once. ‘So, who's coming with me?'

The council members glanced at one another again, and Lord Gawain felt his heart thudding in his chest. How many of his councillors were
his
and how many could be swayed by Lisandro's easy charm?

‘None of us,' Qasim said finally, apparently speaking for the group. ‘We are White Elm. We swore oaths to this council, and unlike some, we have the honour to hold to those oaths.'

Lisandro lifted his chin slightly as the other councillors nodded firmly, encouraged by Qasim's strong words. Lord Gawain felt himself relax. Lisandro was
not
the most powerful force here, after all.

‘Well, you had your chance,' Lisandro said with a shrug. ‘I'm sorry it has to end like this. You should know by now that
nothing
stands between me and what I want, so please make the effort to
not
be obstacles. I'd hate to have to kill any of you.'

‘Don't be melodramatic,' Lady Miranda scoffed.

Emmanuelle started pulling herself together.