Jason Dolley as Cal Yorke

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"This is ridiculous. We're not asking for the moon for goodness' sake. I don't understand their refusal." I scream in frustration.

"Your proposal probably sounds like you're trying to replace them..."

"As if I'll do that."

"... or you're planning something new that will disrupt the way things have always been," Rafe concludes.

"If Esme and I are to lay the groundwork, which is getting all supernatural to live in peace, we have to start somewhere. And no better place than turning that awful compound in Nebraska into a school for all supernatural."

Rafe, Darric, Esme and I are in our den. I called a meeting after I received the third negative response from the ruling council on our project. The Nebraska compound we learned is under Julian's name. And all his possessions reverts back to the Klynes, so we decide to build a school for all supernatural on the land.

To do that, we need the permission of the ruling council, and their answer all three times has been emphatically NO!

"They have been ruling the supernatural world for centuries, they are not about to give that power to anyone else." Darric says.

"No one wants their power," Esme replies, sitting with her legs crisscross on the sofa.

"You know that and I know that, but they don't believe it," Rafe says.

"I'm done pussyfooting around this issue. Esme, we need to meet with them in person. We can't wait for them to get off their high horses."

"That will be a suicide mission. I don't recommend it." Darric cautions.

"I'll like to see them try anything," Esme mutters.

"Okay everyone, let's all calm down. Let's put on our thinking caps and find a way for you two to start this school without pissing off the ruling council," says Rafe.

"And how do you suggest we go about doing that when we have been turned down three times without a reason? I am done with their arrogance." I march over to the desk and pick up the phone to make the call.

"Wait, before you call them, can we talk in private," Esme asks?

"Sure. Guys, will you give Esme and me a minute, please?"

"No problem. Cal, we support you 110%. We're just worried that you may push the ruling council to their limit. And we know what happens when they go berserk." Says Darric.

"And what do you think will happen to all of us if Esme and I disobey the creator of us all?"

"Point taken. We'll see you later."

Rafe and Darric leave the den.

I walk over and sit beside Esme. "Okay, what's up? Are you in disagreement with the plan? I can't do any of this without you."

"No, the plan is perfect. You and I both know that to change the future, we have to start with the young ones. I like the idea where everyone is treated equally. It is a good start. The older ones will be tougher to change, case in point the ruling council. I just wanted to make sure you're up for this fight. Something tells me we're heading into a storm. I have to know that you are ready for whatever comes our way. You have mates and you have to think about them before we take on the ruling council."

"My mates know of the responsibility that the Ancient One placed on us. I would rather die than hurt both of them, but this is for all our futures and generations to come so I cannot ignore it. That's why I keep them in the loop, well... mostly. Besides, you have a mate too. Have you considered him?"

"Please, not now. I am not mated."

"Playing with words, now are we? I said you have a mate, not that you're mated. By the way, I have this recurring dream, about us and the ruling council..."

"... where we go head to head, but I always wake up before it ends." Esme says.

"You have the same dream too?" I ask.

"Yes. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Why didn't you?" I challenge her.

"Fine. Let's make a promise, from now on we share everything. We're in this together, right?"

"Right. One more question Esme?"

"Yes?"

"What about El Dargon? He is on the ruling council and he is your father."

"No, he is not. He has never acknowledged that I'm his daughter likewise I don't recognize him as my father."

"Still, he's your blood."

"And we are the Ancient One's direct creations. I think that supersedes anything else, don't you?"

"Got it. Now what?"

"As you said, no more pussyfooting about. We take the fight to the ruling council. We have been respectful enough of their positions, but their response is insulting and belittling. They think they are dealing with an Omega and a witch."

"They are. But with an Omega like no other and the bitchiest witch around," I smile.

"Why, thank you High Lord Cal."

"Don't call me High Lord, bitchy witch."

"Ready to go ruffle some pompous feathers?"

"As ready as I will ever be."

What the hell? My body freezes up, and I cannot move. I can see and hear everything. I roll my eyes to the side at Esme and she's frozen too.

"What the fuck is going on, Esme?" I mind link her.

"No idea. I can't move." She replies.

"Neither can I."

"The ruling council?"

"I hope not."

Suddenly, the roof of the manor disappears, clouds appear where the roof used to be, and the Ancient One appears. His face still glows like porcelain white, with the gold band around his head. I close my watery eyes, burning from the blinding light. I shiver from the heat radiating from his presence.

As viati excalio gret sotu ackrum.

"You have started well. I am pleased. Your dreams are warning signs of storms to come. There will be gains and losses. I will infuse you with powers equal to and above those of my grandchildren. They will resist and fight but you must be strong and above all be unified. Remember, you balance each other out and that is your greatest strength. Use your strengths and powers wisely. A powerful person must first learn to serve. A word of advice, when you meet ALL my grandchildren, say these exact words as you pay reverence to every one of them. 'Pue kaik ders sotu ackrum' . The result will be immeasurable. I am always with you. Halloweth be."

And the roof is back. He leaves as suddenly as he came. I am free so is Esme.

"What the fuck?" Esme screams.

Darric and Rafe come running into the den, up to me and look around for any signs of danger.

"Cal, are you okay? What's wrong." Darric asks.

"I'm fine. He was just here."

"Who? Original Drago, El Dargon, who?" Rafe asks.

"Ancient One."

"Shit! What does he want now?"

"To give us his stamp of approval, I guess. Remember the words, Esme?"

"What words?" Darric interrupts.

"Some words he wants us to say when we meet the ruling council," I tell them.

"I remember," Esme says. "I think we better go now before we forget it."

"I agree, are you okay saying it to him?"

"Very okay."

"I don't know what you're talking about but we're going with you," Rafe says.

"Not this time my loves. Esme and I must meet with them alone, so we all know where stand."

I hug Rafe and pull him with me towards Darric and hug him too.

"I am scared for you Cal," Darric leans his head on mine and hugs me tighter.

"I'm a little scared myself. But mostly I'm annoyed and determined. We have to make a better world for our children, right? Think about it, what if we have an Omega?"

"I will love him or her regardless, you know that," Darric says.

"I know that, but I don't want our world to handicap him or her. So, we have to start this unification for better or worse."

"Listen, I hear you. Just always come back to us, okay. I can't lose you; we can't lose you." Rafe kisses my head and hugs me tight too.

"Always." I reach up and kiss both of them and walk over to Esme.

"Ready?"

"Born ready," she replies giving me a wicked smile.

"Esme bring your root back safely, okay?" Darric pleads.

"Come on guys. You both know how selfish I am, there's no way I'll let anyone harm him. My root dies, so do I, and I'm not ready to die."

"I'll hold you to it," Rafe tells her.

I punch her arm lightly, smile and wink at my mates and Esme teleports us to the place that houses the ruling council.

"Wow! This place is grand," I tell Esme as I turn around in a circle admiring the room.

The room is round with a dome ceiling. On the ceiling on opposite sides are really bright images of the moon and the sun. Surrounding the images is a gold-plated ring, sitting on gold-plated pillars standing about ten feet apart from each other. The only light in the room is a multi-layered chandelier. And I see only two doors on opposite sides of the room.

"The guards should be here any second so be..."

"State your business, witch, wolf!"

Two men, one a witch and the other a wolf appear in front of us. They are surrounded by a protective aura. The sorcerer is chanting while the wolf points a sword at me, with a silver tip.

"We're here to see all members of the ruling council. We come with a message from the Ancient One," Esme tells them. I look at both of them, reading their minds.

"Ancient One? That explains why my chants are not binding them" says the sorcerer.

"And did you notice that the silver on my sword turned to gold," replies the wolf.

"All right wait here," the wolf tells us.

"The chant didn't work, and the silver was useless," I tell Esme.

"Good. Remember the words?"

"Pue kaik ders sotu ackrum," I repeat.

"As we bow in greeting, we say the words to each and every one of them."

The guards return but this time there are five of them: the sorcerer, the wolf, a werecat, a vampire, and an unri.

"Follow us," the vampire hisses.

He leads the way. Esme and I are surrounded by the wolf on my side, the sorcerer on Esme's and the werecat and unri behind us. I guess someone must have told the ruling council that the protective chants didn't work on us.

We walk down a long and dark hallway. Esme reaches out and holds my hand. I squeeze hers back in support and encouragement.

Don't let go of each other's hands until you complete the greeting.

"Did you hear that?" I ask Esme.

"Yes. Ancient One?"

"I think so." I hold her hand tighter and she does mine.

We arrive in a dark room. They guide us to the center of the room and leave us there. The only light in the room is a lone small chandelier hanging way up in the ceiling. The room resembles the Coliseum of ancient Rome where the emperor and his cohorts sit high above and the gladiators fight below. Symbolic? Sun God, I hope not.

I count fifteen chairs high above us in a semi-circle. We wait and wait and wait.

"Do they usually take this long to make an appearance?"

"No. I think they are playing mind games. I don't think anyone has ever confronted them much less come bearing a message from the one who created us all. They are stalling, ignore it."

"I'll try. Just don't let go."

"Wouldn't think of it."

"I have an idea on who should run the school, at least one administrator."

"Who?"

"My sister, Minerva."

"Really? Odd choice, I know she is changing and even came searching for you. What about your past horrible relationship with her?"

"We're working on it. Second chances and all that. Honestly, my first choice was Katie Johnson, but I don't want to pull her away and disrupt what's she doing at the Blood Rose pack. Besides, she will end up working with Minerva when her wolves graduate to this new school, right?"

"And funding for this mega project of yours?" Esme asks.

"Of ours, you mean. My mates and I are on board. So are Georgiana and Raul. I need to speak with Alpha Salim, High Lord Tobias, and you."

"Me? I don't recall volunteering any money?" She smirks.

"You don't have to. I'm using your bonus money from Wood Inc," I tease her.

"Keep your furry hands off my money."

"Don't worry, these furry hands will only take half," I laugh, easing our tension.

And then the first chair lights up and out of nowhere sits a member of the ruling council I have never met.

"Elder Conan," Esme whispers.

And each chair subsequently lights up and sits all fifteen members. Esme tells me the names of the ones I don't know. Once seated, Original Drago is in the middle chair while El Dargon and Elder Alexi flank him.

"That was an impressive entrance," I mind link, Esme.

"Yeah, show-offs!"

"Ready?"

She squeezes my hand and we turn to Elder Conan and one by one we repeat the same greeting;

Pue kaik ders sotu ackrum.

When we finish greeting the last member, Wein Shade, we are suddenly jerked apart and fall to the floor. My body heats up like never before. Fiery heat covers my body and burns my whole being. I cry out in pain. Every part of my body is on fire and hot. I cry out and my tears dry up as they exit my eyes. I am writhing all over the floor, trying to put out the fire. The pain suddenly lessens but I am still encased in flames.

I see myself floating up, high above the ruling council members. I look at Esme and she's as high as I, but she's covered in ice.

"Vokasuy gret sotu ackrum," says the voice of the Ancient One, and I see all the members bow in reverence.

I float back down and so does Esme, right next to me.

I push my heavy hand towards hers and as I touch her hand, the whole place lights up.

I hear "Now you are ready," and the last thing I see are Esme's closing eyes.

What did the Ancient One do to our duo? Can they handle it? Can they live up to his expectations?

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