Chapter 17

We hadn’t even managed to get to the car before trouble was upon us. As soon as the door opened I could hear the roar of angry people and my eyes were drawn to the source. The gates to the property were bowing under the pressure of the growing swell of people. It resembled what could only be described as angry mob and there was no other word for it, it was terrifying. The shadowed faces flickered in and out of sight due to the flickering of the flames but every time I saw a face I wished that the grotesque face would melt into darkness once more.

“What’s going on?” I questioned as Lucius cussed before grasped my hand and dragging me over to the car. His eyes working over the people at the gate before shaking his head and pulling open the car door.

“Just get in, there’s not too many yet but if we stay any longer that gate is gonna cave and we will never get out.” His tone scared me because I knew it was the honest truth. Gulping I slid across the seat before taking Danny as he was passed into the car and then strapping him into the car seat. Lucius slid in beside me as Gabriel got into the driver’s seat and Ezekiel after a quick survey of the area got into the passenger seat. “Take the old servant’s exit. “ Lucius barked as the car was put into drive at the same time a crash came from the gate and the metal clanged to the ground.

“And where is the other exit?” Gabriel called out as he glanced at the angry hoards rushing towards us, knives glinting in the evening light with a multitude of other weapons that they had probably just creating from debris they had found on the way here.

“Go around the other side of the castle and between the old outhouse and the shed is a dirt track. It looks overgrown and unused but it is a glamour. Drive straight through it and it will take you to the other exit.” Lucius barked as the people were getting closer and closer. I could feel my heart race as I tried not to get into a full scale panic attic but when the bloodthirsty are upon you, there is only so much you can do to keep calm before you start to panic.

I could see the ‘glamour’ as it was illuminated by the headlights. The pathway looked like it was blocked by overhanging branched and a pile of dead branches and other debris. Gabriel looked in the mirror to meet Lucius’ eyes once before he put pedal to the metal and with a roar of the engine we disappeared into the thick brush. The shimmered around us turning to mist that caused me to shiver as if swept through the car but when I looked out of the back window it was there perfectly in place, appearing as if the track hadn’t been used in many years. It was strange to see magic so obviously. Most of the magic that had occurred around me was usually just felt, well except for the battle with the hunters. But there is was, right in front of my eyes.

We pulled onto the motorway a few minutes later after driving down the bumpy road. I was glad when we finally reached the tarmac, not sure whether the car or my butt could take any more of the bumps. The car was silent for a while and I bit my lips several times as I tried to restrain the urge to question the three men who being who they were knew more than me and were quite content to leave me in the dark. Finally, though I couldn’t take it anymore.

“So what is a session and who are the ‘uppers’?” I questioned as I toyed with hem of the top trying to act like I wasn’t insanely curious and would use some less polite methods to get the answers I sought if necessary.

The three men exchanged glances. “we don’t really want to burden you with more knowledge than necessary but as you are already in it up to your knees I suppose we should enlighten you a bit.” Gabriel murmured as he ran a hand through his hair. “The session is like a court session but this is the court of the Fey and no its not fairies. The Fey are magic, they are the earth. They were here before humans and even us. They live whilst the earth exists and when the earth perishes so will they. Essentially they are not just linked with it , they are it. The planet you walk on is alive.” I gaped and nodded my head dumbly as if it was the most normal thing in the world. I raised my hand tentatively.

“so are they going to help us?”

“I don’t know. Usually they don’t interfere with human nature. They keep secluded to their domain as they are disgusted with the presence of humans and what they are doing to them but this situation will affect them just as much as it affects us so there is a very good chance that they will help us. I hope.” The last part was a whisper but I still bit my lips feeling slightly overwhelmed.

So much had happened since I started working for Lucius and I couldn’t help but wish that it would all disappear; that I could go back to before I started there so I could go back to my blissfully ignorant life. It sounded wonderful but at the same time I knew with certainty that this would have happened with or without me, it just would have meant that there was no one there to try and stop them, I wouldn’t be there, and I would probably be dead.

“So what do they look like? Or do they look like us?” I questioned a million different thoughts running through my mind at the prospect of people who were around before the existence of humans.

The others laughed but then Lucius face dropped slightly and he shuddered and his face paled. “They look like us but at the same time they do not. Some are the strangest things you will ever lay eyes upon and trust me, they are stranger than even some demons, and it just depends which animal or plant they take after. They are earth and as such all things on earth were born from them. Thus some look human yet at the same time they do not.” I nodded but felt more confused. I was imagining strange misshapen people with horns or the snout of a dog because of the way he left that particular topic. I knew the only way to judge was to see it for myself.

“Sounds different,” was my only reply as I glanced out of the window the streetlights the only thing breaking the darkness on the strangely deserted motorway. “Hey Luce, where are all the cars?” I puzzled over how empty it was before turning my head to see him looking at the road intently before glancing at Gabriel with a smile.

“I think the uppers are giving us a hand.” He chortled just as we passed one of the slip roads to see that there was a huge line of cars backed up as far as the eye could see, their passage blocked by thick ropes of greenery as if it had been growing there for years.

“They can do that?” My mouth was agape as I saw people climbing out of the cars and staring at the greenery with scowls or looks of astonishment. One of them kicked a branch and instantly vines snapped out and wrapped around his legs and tugged so that he fell to the floor none too softly before they left him on the ground. “Never mind.” I trailed off as I turned my attention to the road.

The car ride was pretty much silent and I’m sure I fell asleep at some point only to wake up as Lucius took the exit for the channel tunnel. I frowned as I peered into the night.

“Are we going to France?” I questioned, trying not to get my hopes up. I always wanted to go to France, see whether the city is really as romantic at the others. I squashed the thought. Since joining Satani media I’ve turned into a wimp. I like to think it’s because I’ve found people I can trust but in truth, I think just too much has happened in such a short amount of time that it was finally catching up with me and not in a good way either. I could only hope I would get stronger and stop acting like a child that relied on the others to mollycoddle and parent me. I have my own son to care for.

“No, we’re not going to France; we’re going to the white cliffs. That’s where the session is being held.” I frowned at this.

“They’re going to have a session on the cliffs? Are they crazy?” I muttered thinking about how cold and in the open such a thing would be.

“No not on the cliffs, in the cliffs. They are earth remember. This is just one of their domains, they move every once in a while to keep seekers off their path.” Ezekiel laughed lightly. “You really thought something as important as this session would happen in the open?” I muttered a few choice words at his back before turning to gaze out of the window once more.

How was I supposed to know? To me the white cliffs are just that, not some secret courthouse for all that is old and supernatural.

I gasped as I looked out of the windows. It was really bizarre, I don’t even know how it happened but one moment were driving down the road at the proper speed limit when in the next breath I looked out of the car window and instead blackness, both sides were lined with white chalk walls that were illuminated by the headlights. The car was rattling over the smoothened surface of the stone, no sign of the tarmac could be seen and we seemed to be heading downwards into the cliff.

“What the-?” I started only to be cut off by the guys shushing me. With a huff I fell back into the seat, my arms folding across my chest I watched the white rock flying past.

I don’t know how deep we had gone before the tunnel we were in slowly opened out into a huge cavern and Lucius pulled the car to a stop beside another car. I snorted.

“What is this, underground parking?”

The three of them turned to look at me. “Yes.”

 I rolled my eyes before leaning between the front seats so that I could stare at the cavern that was now lit by glowing stones embedded within the ceiling. The boys climbed out of the car whilst I stared dumbly at the beauty. The rocks as I looked at them closer were in a weird and beautiful pattern that was entrancing to look at.

Hands on my waist drug me from the car so quickly that I hit my head on the roof of the car. As my feet planted on the ground I used one hand to rub my head and the other smack the hands off of my waist.

“Thanks for that.” I mumbled as I turned and felt my mouth drop to the floor at what was before. Oh my freaking god.

Lucius chuckled. “Welcome to the consulate.”