chapter 1 blood rites

"father ?"

"yes, my sweet "

"tell me surens story again ...please "

Susarine pleaded with her big dark eyes staring intensely .Eyes exactly like her mother. How he missed her mother , he could not deny her anything when she looked at him like that with a sigh he answered.. "Only one more my love and then it's time to sleep .You promise to go to sleep?"

"yes Father I promise ! "she yawns and settles in deeper into her bed looking at him with eyes barely open.

So he tells the story again and watches as her eyes drift shut. A few moments later soft snores came from her and he knew she was fast asleep. Now all that is left is to quietly creep out of the room without waking her. As he softly closes the door, he can hear hurried footsteps approaching him he lifts his hand to halt any speech coming from the person . He turns and looks directly into his sons worried eyes .

"i know Darius im late ,im leaving now"

"Father you really should not keep the council waiting ..."

"i know son ,but i also know why they summoned me ."

He could see the curiosity that flared in darius's eyes .

"walk with me "he said as he turned to walk out of his home .

They walked in silence for a few minutes before Darius' curiosity got the better of him .

"father ? !"

He turned toward his son but looked off into the darkness of night .

Another minute passes as he debates if he should burden his child with this news.

Father please ,what does the council want ?"

with a heavy sigh he answers

"they want, to perform the blood rites of Suren on Rin. "

Shock disbelief flashed over Darius's face before it settled in anger .

"Surly not, she is only 7 ,the rites can reduce a grown elemental to a sobbing heap on the ground ..to preform this on a child is unconscionable! No! Downright torture! The rites can be deadly for a grown elemental ,you can not allow this father ."

He lifts his hand to stop darius's tirade,

"I have no intentions of letting them do

anything to Rin; but we both know they have ways to get what they want with or with out my consent"

He turns and continues on his way to the council hall

"father, what do we do ?"

"I'm already doing it son. I have sent a message to your Grandfather to ask the Elders to intervene , meanwhile we have to buy time ,as much as we can ."

"Marcus your late "

Was the first thing that was said as he entered the council chamber ,the words echoed in the great hall. It never failed to awe him with its walls , floor, and columns where made out of gold and brown marble ,pollished to perfection .The tall stain glassed windows ,that stretched the length of an entire wall, were depicting Surens many great deeds. In the center were four great throne like chairs that at the moment seated the council members; one for each element .

Marcus hoped he would one day sit in one of them.What an honor it would be and father would be so proud .....

"When summoned by the council one should always be on time. You, Marcus should know this better than most .Your family has served as council for 5 generations. This does not do you credit .If you ever hoped to follow your forbearers footsteps you may want to rethink your priorities. Punctuality...."

"With all due respect to you council men Toren"

Marcus interrupted "My priorities are right where they should be; the welfare of my children is on top of the list and that is what I was attending too, I do apologize for the inconvenience and pray you Indulgence being a single father of 3 ,my time is somewhat streched thin "

A few seconds of uncomfortable silence passed between all parties ;

" Be this as it may ,and given the circumstances and nature of your summons you are forgiven but for the future, do be on time .Now that we have that out of the way ,do you know why you were summoned Marcus ?

"I do indeed. You wish to perform the rites of Suren on my seven-year-old child"

Marcus could not keep the utter distaste out of his voice.

"My dear council women Tara you must know that I can not and will not consent to this "

The council woman Tara sighed then spoke

"Under normal circumstances we would have never even considered performing the rites on your child ,or any other for that matter,but given the incident at her birth, the recent reports , sightings, and the increase of attacks we have no choice. You know this."

"There has to be another way, and I will find it, the great library has 10 thousand years of collected knowledge, all I need is time."

" Unfortunately time is a luxury we do not possess."

One of the council members said softly

Marcus had the heavy feeling that they are going to be here all night ,and right he was.it was almost noon when he left the council hall the next day . Fortified with the small victory that he has won here today, made his way back home. He just hoped there was enough time for his father to intervene ,or for him and his apprentices to find another way.12 days untill the next full moon, 12 days until the deadline .