20. Remina

The flickering candlelight cast eerie shadows on the coven"s once-sacred space, now disrupted by the aftermath of the confrontation. My gaze shifted from Ryatt"s determined movements to the motionless figures of the bound witches, their previous fervor replaced by a subdued helplessness. We'd called for backup from the compound and a couple of enforcers had brought a van for transporting the witches.

As the last of the witches was secured, Ryatt shot me a sidelong glance, his crimson eyes taking everything in. I fidgeted under his scrutiny, my revealed secret pressing heavily on my conscience. The rhythmic clinks of the van"s sliding door being opened resonated in the dim room, punctuating the uneasy silence.

The cold metal of the van"s interior seemed to match the chill that settled over me. I stood by, watching as Ryatt efficiently loaded the witches into the vehicle. The van"s engine roared to life, drowning out the echoes of our recent struggle.

The question lingered in the air, silent but palpable: What now? My fingers unconsciously traced the outline of the pendant nestled against my skin. A sense of vulnerability crept over me as I contemplated the repercussions of baring this secret to Ryatt.

Ryatt, his posture stoic, closed the van"s door with a resounding thud. His gaze bore into me, a silent acknowledgment of the uncharted territory we now tread. The night, once pulsating with the frenetic energy of the coven"s dark ritual, now enveloped us in an uneasy stillness.

"Remina," Ryatt"s voice cut through the quiet, the gravitas of his tone demanding attention. I turned to face him, searching for any sign of judgment or apprehension. His expression, however, betrayed little emotion. "We need to talk."

The van"s engine rumbled, creating a dissonant background to the brewing storm between us. I followed Ryatt a few paces away from the van, the tension thickening with every step. In the moonlit darkness, his silhouette carved an imposing figure. In the darkness of his attire, silver accents catch the light—a chain, a buckle—adding a touch of rebellion to his otherwise somber appearance.

"So, a Dark Mage?" Ryatt"s words sliced through the air, his gaze probing as if to unravel the layers I kept shrouded in secrecy.

My shoulders tensed at the directness of his question. I nodded hesitantly, the admission hanging between us. The weight of my confession lingered, and I braced myself for whatever repercussions might follow.

"When were you planning on telling the council?" Ryatt"s inquiry held a hint of frustration, the complexity of our intertwined destinies becoming increasingly apparent. "What else are you hiding?"

His questions, laden with an undercurrent of urgency, left me grappling for words. His gaze bore into mine, searching for truths I wasn"t ready to unveil. The air thickened with the unspoken, and I could almost taste the electric charge of unresolved tension.

I shot him a measured look, the tension between us akin to a storm brewing on the horizon. "I wasn't planning on telling anyone, Ryatt."

Ryatt stepped closer into my space. His gaze locked onto mine, a glint of something predatory in his ruby eyes. The air seemed to thicken as he unleashed the full force of his hypnotic stare, a mesmerizing swirl of red that sought to unravel the layers I"d carefully shielded.

"Why hide your heritage, Remina?" His voice, smooth as silk, wrapped around me like a seductive caress. The intensity of his gaze bore into my soul, attempting to pry open the vault where I stored my secrets.

I felt the weight of his hypnotic power pressing against my defenses, an intrusion that set my nerves on edge. It was a battle of wills—one that I couldn"t afford to lose. I focused on the barriers I"d spent years constructing and pushed back against the invading force. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, a rhythmic reminder of the internal struggle to resist Ryatt"s supernatural allure.

"I"ve survived by keeping certain things hidden," I replied, my voice steady despite the invisible struggle taking place beneath the surface. "Not everything needs to be laid bare."

Ryatt"s brows furrowed in confusion, his hypnotic gaze losing some of its potency. I could sense the frustration simmering beneath his controlled exterior, the bewilderment at the resistance he faced.

"Why fight it?" he pressed, the magnetic pull of his charm still lingering in the air. "You are supposed to be working with us, aren"t you?"

The question held an undercurrent of insistence, an unspoken demand for transparency. I took a step back, breaking the direct line of his gaze, and shook my head. "Some things are best left in the shadows, vampire."

Ryatt"s expression hardened; a subtle frustration etched on his features. "I can"t figure you out, Remina. You resist my charm like no one else. What"s different about you?"

I crossed my arms, a rebellious stance against the allure he wielded. "Maybe it"s because I"ve dealt with creatures like you before. My secrets are not yours to take."

A tension-laden silence settled between us, the unspoken clash of our supernatural essences echoing in the stillness. The candle flames flickered, casting elongated shadows that seemed to dance in tandem with our verbal sparring.

"You can"t hypnotize me, Ryatt," I said through gritted teeth, the challenge in my voice a shield against the vulnerability he sought to exploit.

Confusion flickered in his eyes, a brief moment of disorientation. "Why not? What makes you resistant?"

I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. "I"ve spent a lifetime building walls, vampire. Your little mind games won"t bring them down."

He chuckled, a low, mirthful sound that seemed to vibrate through the room. "You"re a challenge, Remina. I like that."

A spark of irritation flared within me. "This isn"t a game, Ryatt. There are reasons I keep my past hidden, and they"re not for your amusement."

He took a step closer, his charismatic charm undeterred by my resistance. "I"m not here for amusement, witch. I"m here because there"s more to you than meets the eye, and I intend to find out what."

I clenched my fists, the air charged with a volatile energy as our standoff continued. "You've seen my true powers, Ryatt. What more are you hoping to find?"

His gaze remained unwavering, a calculated intensity that unnerved me. "I survive by knowing the weaknesses of those around me. And right now, your secrets are a vulnerability I can"t afford to ignore. I know that"s not the only thing you"re hiding."

A surge of anger bubbled within me. "So, what, you think you can pry them out of me with a charming smile and hypnotic eyes?"

His smile widened, the allure of his charm undiminished. "I"m not one to back down from a challenge. And you, little witch, are the most intriguing challenge I"ve encountered in a long time."

I shook my head, a disobedient glint in my eyes. "You won"t get anything from me, Ryatt. My secrets are mine to keep."

"Why hide your heritage, Remina?" Ryatt insisted, his voice tinged with frustration. "What are you so afraid of?"

I met his gaze with a resolute stare. "Not everything is about fear, vampire. Some secrets are about survival."

His expression remained impassive; his eyes held a steely resolve. "When we get back to Astur we will meet with the council. Better for you to come clean about your true nature."

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. The very foundation of the fortress I"d built around my past threatened to crumble. "I don"t owe anyone an explanation, least of all the council."

Ryatt"s ruthless gaze bore into mine. "Your secrets affect us all, especially if they"re somehow tied to the disappearances."

The room pulsed with a frenetic energy; the air charged with the aftermath of our confrontation. My mind raced, grappling with the consequences of Ryatt"s discovery. The council, my supposed allies, would soon know the truth about my dark heritage.

"I"ve managed to keep this secret for years," I seethed, frustration boiling over. "Why did it have to unravel now?"

Ryatt"s tone was cold, uncompromising. "The stakes have changed, Remina. Lives are on the line, and we can"t afford hidden agendas. We need to know what strengths everyone brings to the table. Especially when dealing with dark magic."

The scent of the coven"s incense hung heavy in the air, intertwining with the metallic undertones of my anger. My gaze flicked to the dark mage runes on the walls. "Fine," I bit out, a bitter taste on my tongue. "But I"ll do it on my terms."

Ryatt"s lips curved into a wry smile. "You"re a stubborn one."

As I stormed down the footpath, the night air offered little solace. The cool breeze carried with it the weight of an impending storm. The walk back to the compound was a blur of restless thoughts and churning emotions. The familiar sights and sounds of the city, usually a comforting backdrop to my nocturnal excursions, felt alien and unforgiving.

My footsteps echoed through the empty alleyways. I was furious at Ryatt for uncovering my secret, but beneath the anger, there lingered a more insidious emotion—self-loathing. I had prided myself on keeping the darkness within me hidden. Now, it lay exposed, vulnerable to the judgment of those who already despised me.

The night air was thick with tension, mirroring the storm that raged within me. My steps echoed on the deserted street, a rapid staccato that betrayed the turmoil in my mind. The chilly breeze carried the scent of damp earth and distant rain, a fitting backdrop to the storm of emotions that churned beneath the surface.

My encounter with Ryatt had left me seething, a cocktail of anger and frustration bubbling within. The glow of streetlamps cast long shadows, each one a reminder of the dark secrets I had tried to keep hidden. My breath came out in harsh exhales, visible puffs of frustration in the chilly night.

Why did he have to push? The question echoed in my mind, a relentless refrain that accompanied every step. The revelation of my Dark Mage heritage was a Pandora"s box, and I couldn"t shake the feeling that the contents would spill over, staining everything in their wake.

The street seemed to stretch endlessly before me, a path of uncertainty illuminated only by the sporadic glow of lights from nearby buildings. The world around me felt distant as if I were caught in a bubble of isolation, grappling with the fallout of my hidden truths.

The fabric of my dark leather clung uncomfortably to my skin, a tactile reminder of the vulnerability I had exposed. I prided myself on keeping the darkness within me shrouded, a safeguard against the judgment of others. Yet, in a moment of weakness, under the witches" attack, the fortress had crumbled.

The council"s imposing chambers loomed ahead, a daunting destination I couldn"t avoid. The thought of baring my secrets to the very individuals I had sought refuge among felt like a betrayal, a breach of the walls I had carefully constructed around my past.

I paused at the entrance, my hand resting against the cold metal of the door. Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door, the creaking hinges punctuating the gravity of the moment.

The council members turned their attention toward me, their expressions full of curiosity and expectation. The weight of their collective gaze bore down on me, intensifying the knot of anxiety in my stomach.

Ryatt"s insistence had set this chain of events in motion, and there was no escaping the reckoning that awaited me within these walls.

As I stepped into the council chambers, my Dark Mage heritage clung to me like an invisible shroud. The council members" expectant gazes bore into me. I had asked them to meet but only Ryatt was aware of why.

The very essence of my existence seemed to disregard the carefully constructed laws that governed supernatural society. Dark magic had been deemed taboo since the banishment of the Dark Fae and the extinction of the Dark Mages. My heritage, once a well-kept secret, now hovered on the precipice of exposure.

As I navigated the sea of curious eyes, a surge of anxiety washed over me. After the events that led to the Dark Fae"s banishment and the subsequent demise of the Dark Mages, supernaturals and humans alike started to fear dark magic altogether. Dark magic was a wild force that threatened the established norms. Cautionary tales of the danger of dark magic were whispered from one generation to another. I was already an outcast among the supernatural and I had a feeling revealing my true nature would only add to that.

The magic I harbored within me wasn"t merely a personal secret—it was a disruptive force that challenged the very foundations of our society. As I faced the council, I took my seat, flanked by the formidable figures of the council—Seraphina, Reaghan, Slade, Hael, and the enigmatic Ryatt. The impending revelation was a heavy burden, and I could feel the collective gaze of the council boring into me.

"Thanks for gathering on such short notice," I began, my voice steady, though the currents of unease swirled beneath the surface. The air in the chamber seemed to thicken, charged with the anticipation of a revelation that had the potential to reshape our understanding of the supernatural hierarchy.

The scent of ancient tomes and the subtle undertone of magic permeated the room, creating an atmosphere that whispered of the countless secrets concealed within these hallowed walls. My gaze swept across the faces of the council members, each with an expression of guarded curiosity.

"I need to share something with you, something that demands full transparency," I continued, my eyes locking with Seraphina's, seeking a semblance of understanding in her discerning gaze. "But, before I do, I request your consent to a vow of silence spell. I need assurance that this information won"t leave this room."

A murmur of dissent rippled through the council, the tension escalating as they grappled with the gravity of my request. The rustle of fabric and the creaking of chairs underscored the uneasy deliberation that unfolded.

"We can"t be expected to agree to such a restriction without knowing the nature of the information," Slade argued, his voice a low rumble that reverberated in the chamber.

I met his intense gaze, acknowledging the validity of his concern while remaining firm. "I understand your hesitation, but trust me, this is necessary. The vow of silence is not to stifle your freedom but to protect all of us from the potential consequences."

Seraphina, the epitome of authority, spoke next, her words measured yet laced with caution. "Remina, this is unprecedented. We need more than just assurances. The council cannot be bound by a spell without knowing the specifics of what you intend to reveal."

The room seemed to hang in a delicate balance, caught between the desire for transparency and the instinctive resistance to constraints. The scents of tension and uncertainty mingled, creating an olfactory tapestry that mirrored the intricacies of our deliberations.

Ryatt, a stoic observer throughout the discourse, finally interjected. "She has her reasons. The consequences of this revelation could be dire, and I, for one, am willing to abide by the spell."

A reluctant nod from Hael signaled a tentative consensus, and one by one, the members of the council yielded to the compelling argument for secrecy. Seraphina, the matriarch of the council, stood at the center, her commanding presence radiating authority. With a wave of her hand, she invoked the silencing spell, a subtle hum filling the air as unseen threads of magic wove a protective cocoon around our clandestine gathering. The atmosphere thickened with the muted symphony of restrained power.

"Remina, the floor is yours," Seraphina urged; her eyes were a pool of support that beckoned me to unravel the secret I had guarded for so long. I took a deep breath, the scent of aged parchment and the faint echo of mystical incantations swirling in the air.

"I"m a Dark Mage," I confessed, my voice resonating with a truth that had remained veiled in shadows. The admission hung in the air, a palpable revelation that cast a ripple of disbelief among the council members. Shock registered on their faces, an olfactory undercurrent of surprise and uncertainty threading through the room.

To dispel any lingering doubts, I allowed my magic to surge, a manifestation of shadows that danced around me like ethereal serpents. The play of dark energy was both mesmerizing and disconcerting, a testament to the forbidden power I harbored within. The scent of magic, both light and dark, mingled in a delicate dance, creating a sensory tableau that mirrored the complexity of my revelation.

Ryatt, the stoic enigma, remained unfazed, his gaze an unreadable mosaic of emotions. Seraphina, the orchestrator of our silenced discourse, observed with a composed demeanor, her expression betraying no hint of surprise. The rest of the council, however, buzzed with murmurs and whispers, the scent of their incredulity permeating the air.

"I knew she was hiding something," Slade muttered, his werewolf senses attuned to nuances beyond the visible. The aroma of his apprehension mixed with the residual fragrance of the silencing spell, creating a heady blend that underscored the heaviness of the revelation.

Reaghan, usually the calm and collected voice of reason, glared at me with an intensity that felt like a physical weight.

"What the fuck! How could you hide something like this?" he demanded, his voice cutting through the charged air. "Do you realize the danger this could bring?"

His accusation stung as I met his gaze with a blend of regret and hostility. "Reaghan, I had my reasons. Reasons that I don't have to give. The Order is aware of my heritage and in case you have forgotten, I only answer to them."

Hael"s eyes bore into me, his silence speaking volumes. The elemental, typically reserved, seemed to be unraveling the threads of my past with a single, penetrating stare.

Slade, however, approached the revelation with a different perspective. "Could this dark magic of yours be the key to finding the missing supernaturals?" he asked, his voice a stark contrast to Reaghan"s accusation.

The question caught me off guard, and I took a moment to consider its implications. "It"s possible," I admitted cautiously. "Dark magic has a way of weaving through the shadows, uncovering hidden truths. But it"s a double-edged sword, Slade. It comes with risks and consequences we may not be prepared to face."

Reaghan scoffed, his anger unabated. "And what if your involvement makes matters worse? What if you end up attracting the very darkness we"re trying to eliminate?"

Hael, breaking his silence, finally spoke. "We cannot deny the potential benefits of Remina"s abilities."

The air in the chamber crackled with the clash of opposing viewpoints, the scents of anger, concern, and uncertainty intermingling. Slade, ever pragmatic, seemed determined to find a solution.

"We can"t afford to dismiss any lead in finding the missing supes," he argued, his gaze fixed on me. "Remina, if your magic can aid us, we need to explore that avenue. But you do it under strict supervision and with safeguards in place while you"re staying in Astur. I won"t risk our people."

His proposal hung in the air, a tentative bridge between those who despised me and those willing to fight fire with fire. Or in this case, dark magic with dark magic.