Calhoun's POV
Zenith Hall...
Weeks later, we all sat around the conference table waiting for Kael to speak. Earlier, he had said he wanted to meet at Zenith Hall. Rumours have it, whenever the meeting is at Zenith Hall, it has to be extensively serious. Professor Kael walked in and everyone adjusted.
" I don't have much time so I'll just go straight to the reason we're here. We're under attack. I mean our region is under attack. Rouges from the east region and everywhere and why? In search of the seven stones. Seven stones from the fallen Lord."
" Few weeks back, a great Lord fell. The Lord Morvain, the one with the seven precious stones and now the stones are scattered from place to place and are attracting rogues. We have the map," he turned the projector on and projected a map," each of these dots represent where each of the stones are located but there's a problem." He paused to check if we we're listening.
" What's the problem?" Raphael asked first.
"There's a complication in the map. As you can see, there are eight dots and seven stones that means one of these locations hold nothing so we'll have to be careful. Normally, these routes are dangerous, but this time, they're even worse."
"Rogues are everywhere and it's extremely dangerous. That's why the academy has made the decision to send you. The highest ranked individuals as a team to find these stones. To protect both east region and ours. We know it's not going to be an easy journey."
" Lemme get you straight," Ricardo adjusted," the 'academy' is sending us to find seven unknown stones in seven unknown locations with rogues tailing us and probably no where to sleep?" He laughed so hard I tried not to laugh as well.
" It actually does sound ridiculous like for real, rogues? stones?" Killian joined the laughter.
I didn't say anything because, yeah it sounded absurd.
" Can't we just you know, invoke the stones like oh seven stones of the Lord Morvain whatever, come unto us kinda shit?" Azazel said laughing.
" Seriously Azazel?" Lilith laughed.
" You think this is a joke, Belphagor?" Prof. Kael asked.
" Of course it is ! You want us to risk our lives for this dumb academy? That's not fucking happening, hottie. Look, Kael, I know you think you're some kinda hot dude but is there any heat in your brain at all? It's fucking impossible." Azzy laughed.
That's actually true," Claude chipped in,"it sounds selfish. We also have lives and that should matter."
" Thank you." Loothgate concurred.
" So none of you want to be patriots of your academy?" Kael sounded so dumb after saying that.
" I wanna be a patriot of your ass. Patriot my ass." Azazel laughed harder.
" I'll do it."
Everyone paused. Everyone turned. Carmen spoke.
" I'll do it. I love doing stuff like that." She said smiling.
" Are you crazy?" Ricardo asked,"You wanna get yourself killed?"
Oh, wow caring boyfriend. Since when?
" I can't die. It's impossible. I mean it's impossible for it to be that hard. I've lived around rogues, fought them and I know them. Rouges of different kinds. I know a friend in case you guys get lost or need help. It's rocket science. We can do it, it'll be so much fun."
" That's just selfish. How sure are we that your fucker isn't gonna ditch us to fuck you?" Astaroth spat.
Oh wow.
" Oh well," Carmen made a face,"my fucker is definitely gonna ditch you to fuck what's right. But for the sake of others, he won't."
" You're just fucked up."
" And you're just too weak to understand power and connections. I know things are really difficult where you come from and you always have to sell what you clearly don't have to buy sanitary towels. But don't worry, I'll sort your little bills."
Anger burned vividly in Astaroth as she made attempt to rush over to Carmen.
" That's enough, Ashenville." Kael said.
" Why? I was making suggestions and this empty whore was talking trash."
" Shut the fuck up blood sucking thing!" Astaroth spat.
" Trust me, if you sucked as much blood as I did you probably won't be this ugly."
" I'm not ugly!"
" Yes of course, you're just beautiful in your own way."
I chuckled. Carmen always had something to say.
" And you're such a..."
" That's okay, it's okay. If you guys can't forget your differences, then how're we gonna work this together?" Raphael interrupted.
" Together to do what? I'm not doing this shit with you guys." Azzy said.
"Me neither." Killian chipped in.
"I'm going if he's going." Loothgate pointed at Claude.
"I'm going." Raphael said.
"I'm not." Astaroth said.
" So, Raphael and Ashenville, what about you Claude?" Kael asked.
" I'm in."
" So, Raphael, Ashenville, Claude and Loothgate are in while Azazel, Killian and Astaroth claim they won't. Ricardo and Salvadore where do you stand?"
I sighed like a tired adult.
" I'll do it." I said.
" Then I'll do it too." Azazel said.
" I thought you wouldn't." Kael said.
" Well, I was waiting for my baby's answer. I thought it would be negative but since he's going then nothing will happen to me." Azazel bragged.
" Well then?" Everyone looked at Ricardo except for me of course.
"I will." He said giving me a stink eye. Seriously, what's the dude's problem?
" All said. Those who said they won't, I'll give you time. You guys need to think about it clearly and plan carefully." And just like that, he walked out.
Seriously?
" It's not going to be difficult, trust me. Look, I know what you think but trust it when I say it's gonna be so much fun." Carmen said, her smile creeps me out.
The room fell silent as no one spoke.
" We're better together," Raphael said," I know it seems life threatening but we can handle it together and probably with a little help from Carmen's friend..."
"Fucker, Carmen's fucker." Astaroth said and Carmen laughed.
Honestly, that laughter looked so real. Like she meant to laugh and it looked good. Real, genuine... maybe I'm being too observant but it looked really good on her.
"It'll be fun if someone dies." Ricardo said.
" Of course you'd say that ." Carmen laughed harder.
"Fine." Astaroth obliged and everyone turned to Killian.
"What? Look you guys have protection if something happens to you. I jeopardized mine the moment I declined ruling. The entire pack cut me off. If anything happens, i have zero back up since he cut me off already. I'd rather not risk it." Killian said.
" He cut you off because you didn't want to rule? That's sick." Loothgate said.
" Then I'll help you. I'll be your back up. I'll take responsibility of whatever happens to you."Carmen said and I cocked a brow.
Seriously?
Killian smiled like a fool.
I don't know why, but I hated the look on his face.
"Seriously?" He asked.
"Yeah, what do you say?" She asked smiling.
So now we're smiling at each other? Really?
" If you say so." He said.
" Yes! Perfect! I hate it here, a little fun will do." Carmen said even though we didn't really know what was awaiting us.