Bitten (Book 1 - Book 4)

Uri worked on his phone for the entire drive over to the Council meeting. After Bonnie parked and got out, it was another fifteen minutes before Uri got out. Bonnie stood with the door open, waiting for him. It was now after seven. Natalia felt like they were the last ones in, however, she noticed Kareen wasn't present.

No one was talking. No one said anything about them being late. She figured they knew they were outside since they could track them both.

Mirren gestured for them to sit at one of the tables to the side. Even after they had sat, no one talked. It was a few minutes later that Anna walked in

She stopped as soon as she entered the room, looking a little surprised when she looked around. “I was told my mother was here,” she said.

Kareen came up behind Anna.

“Stand in the middle, Anna,” Kareen said.

She closed the door behind Anna, standing between her and the door.

Anna suddenly looked terrified. Kareen had to put her hands on Anna's shoulders to gently guide her to the middle of the room

“Can you explain to us, Anna?” Mirren said, “Why you were in Hell a few nights ago? Saturday night to be exact.”

“That's not what I heard we were to be discussing,” Friesa said.

There were a few grumbles among the Council members about not following the proposed agenda. “Kareen?” Jada Lee said.

“I was told this was important. A last minute agenda change.”

She took a few steps away from Anna, leaving her alone in the middle of the room.

Anna now had tears running down her face. Her hands were shaking while she fiddled with her shirt. “Anna,” Mirren said. “Were you in Hell on Saturday night?”

Anna tearfully nodded.

A few members of the Council shifted in their seats.

"Who were you with?”

“The A-Abbess.”

The whole Council now seemed totally focused on Anna.

“The Abbess and who else?”

"Some priests.”

Anna sniffled.

Kareen stepped up to hand her a tissue, then stepped back.

"What were they doing there? What were you doing there?”

Anna stood there, seeming to be unable to talk.

"We need the whole story, Anna,” Kareen said, prompting.

Tears were running freely down Anna's face.

“M-my mother had nothing to do with this,” she said in a whisper.

"We need to know your story, not your mother's,” Mirren said.

“I-l was buying kite for a friend. I tried it and didn't like it.”

“Your friend is who?"

“Lisa.”

Natalia stiffened.

“She wanted to try it since she’s now an adult. B-but... the Abbess saw me. She said she would tell my mother if I didnt help her. I didn't want my mother to know. I-1 would disappoint her.”

"Where did you try to buy it?”

“Lisa said you had to go to the soup kitchen that the Church runs. There's a dealer there. Anyone with money can buy it. The nuns and priests ignored it all.”

“And the Abbess was there?”

“Yes. She knew my mother and me because we work with the orphans and volunteer at the Women’s Center in A'ppollo.”

“This all sounds recent,” Mirren said. “Do you swear on a bite you hadn't been doing anything before this?”

Anna seemed frozen, unable to speak.

Kareen took one step over to Anna and touched her shoulder. Anna jumped and started crying harder.

“I don't think you're telling us the whole truth,” Mirren said.

“Please don't bite me,” Anna said, sounding as if she was pleading for her life.

“You're not giving us a choice,” Mirren said.

Anna was now trembling.

“I was selling kite on the side,” she said, blurting it out. “I was making a lot of money.”

No one said anything.

“The Abbess helped me. Providing me with the information on where to get it and where to sell it. She got a cut. I also got money if I escorted them into Hell.”

"How did they know you could escort them into Hell?"

“I told them I knew what a Hollow smelled like and could detect them. That's all they know.”

“Do you swear on a bite?”

"Y-yes.”

She seemed to be trembling more.

"One lie will be overlooked. Two, never,” Mirren said.

“I'm not lying,” she said rather strongly, but she couldn't look directly at the Council members. She seemed to be looking over their heads.

“This is a serious matter. We need to make sure,” Mirren said with a flick of his finger.

Natalia recognized the flick.

Anna screamed when Kareen bit her.

Natalia cringed, noting a few others cringed as well.

Anna sank to her knees, shaking violently in obvious pain.

Kareen walked away to take her seat with the other Council members.

"What is your name?” Mirren said.

His voice contained no emotion,

"Anna."

Her voice squeaked.

"Why were you in Hell last Saturday?”

“Escorting the Abbess.”

"Why? A full story, please.”

“I-.." She was trembling more.

Mirren didn't press her, waiting stone-faced. The whole Council was stone-faced.

“I liked...having sex with the priests,” Anna said.

She took a deep breath and stopped shaking.

“I was mad at my mom for making me help with all the stupid Undent orphans and stupid poor Undent women. I had enough. I thought I could have an Undent baby and make her mad, but I couldn't get pregnant.”

“You're too young,” Kareen said. “You don't even have your mark yet.”

“I hate her.”

Anna exhaled the remark with force, showing intense emotion.

“I hate my mother. That's why she had another baby. To spite me. She wanted me to mature later. Her hormones suppressed mine.”

"Yes, that will happen since you're living with your mother and exposed to her,” Kareen said. “Were you also selling kite?” Mirren said.

"Yes. I was selling it and making a lot of money. A ton of money. I figured I would have enough to move out as soon as I was eighteen. Forget this college stuff. The money is in selling drugs to stupid Undents. No one misses them when they die.”

Natalia could hear the hate in how Anna said Undents. She suddenly feared for Lisa.

The feeling must have been the same for others.

“Where is Lisa?" Mirren said.

“I don't know. She ran away,” Anna said. “She got scared when I tried to give her kite.”

Natalia tensed, sitting up straighter. Uri put a hand on her and breathed into her ear.

“Calm.”

“How long have you been doing this?” Mirren said.

"Since last fall. Aimost a year. You wouldn't believe the thousands I have in my account. I don't need any of you.”

"And were you responsible for the Drivers Guild attack?”

Yes”

The reply caused a ripple through the Council members. Bonnie even looked startled.

"Everyone thinks I speak for my mother. She sends me on errands as if I was a mere servant. It was easy to get them to do what I asked. I just had to say they were my mother's orders.”

"Why did you order the attack?”

FEIT

Anna turned to glare at him.

“Mother sent him to Hell. The Church had a patrol walking around Hell to protect their kite factory. Uri saw them and killed them all. He kills and gets away with it. It was time to kill him and his stupid Undent wife.”

Anna's eyes moved to her.

Natalia felt the hair on the back of her neck raise. She could see the hatred.

The room was dead silent and everyone looked a little shocked.

Anna moved her eyes to stare at the ground. She was breathing heavy.

"An adult would be put to death,” Mirren said in a soft voice.

“She is of age,” Kareen said in a soft voice, although she looked startled that she had spoken. There were a few moments of breathing while the Council members looked at each other.

"Strip her naked and put her in a cell,” Pearl said. “Let her think about what she has done. Make sure the cell she is in isn't one with a keycode. She probably knows them all.”

"We'll do a change of all codes,” Kareen said.

“I second this decision,” Jada Lee said.

"We'll take an official vote,” Mirren said. “Those who disagree, say so.”

The room was silent.

"You are sentenced to prison until further notice,” Mirren said to Anna. “May the silence and the solitude give you time to think.”

Anna was now crying again.

“Are you aware of why you are so sentenced?”

Natalia almost felt as if Mirren was giving her a chance to redeem herself by showing some remorse. “But I hate them. They are so weak and stupid,” Anna said with force.

“You wronged your own people,” Mirren said.

“But they like the Undents. They aren't any better.”

Mirren frowned and waved his hand. Friesa and Kareen rose and walked over to Anna. They pulled her to her feet and led her out of the room.

Natalia felt the stunned silence in the room. Tia's mouth was slightly ajar in total shock.

"She's only sixteen,” Sophie said in disbelief.

“Was anyone aware she had this hate?”

It was Alfie who spoke.

There were a lot of heads shaking.

“She seemed quite willing to help Lisa,” Natalia said. “We rescued her from the Church.”

"And does anyone know where Lisa is?” Mirren said.

“Her location is known,” Tia said, but she didn't say any more.

Mirren didn't ask for any more details.

Natalia wanted to ask if she was alright, but Uri squeezed her hand

Everyone waited in silent until Friesa and Kareen returned and retook their seats. They seemed very solemn.

"Grazie, you have a report,” Mirren said.

“Yes.” He stood. “I work with the branch of government that audits the Church. We informed them of a pending audit. We hoped that would spur them to reveal a few things and it did.”

Grazie waved a hand toward Moralis.

Moralis stood.

“We located a safe that the Church is using to stash and hide cash. It was in Hell, but we relocated it to a safe place. We have video of the Abbott at the safe depositing all the cash from Sunday's collections.”

Moralis waved a hand toward Uri

“The safe was opened and audited,” Uri said, standing. “There is, to say the least, millions in cash. There were also boxes of files. I reviewed some of the files and found receipts for large donations that I'm betting were never reported.”

Uri flicked his finger across his phone and an image appeared on the wall. One was a receipt made out to one of the wealthier families of A'ppollo for a quarter of a million.

“I also found receipts from families who have daughters that are now nuns. Regular payments, despite the Church states that nuns live a quiet simple life on the donations they receive. This one has writing on it, for the room and board of Samantha Coxwell. It's a recent date. We know for a fact that Samantha has been dead for some months, but the Church is still billing her family.”

“How did Samantha die?” Mirren said.

"She committed suicide,” Tia said. “The Church said nothing, but our inside girls were fully aware.” "So her family doesn't even know?” Mirren said.

“No,” Tia said.

“There has been a lot of discussion about taking out the Church or hitting them where it hurts. It seems we've started that,” Alfie said.

There were some nods around the room.

“It does appear we have started that,” Mirren said. “We need an official vote if there is anyone who thinks we shouldn't continue.”

There was silence.

“What is the proposed plan?” Kareen said.

“We're not going to be openly apart of this,” Moralis said. “I think having the Abbess and Abbot partaking of their own sins with a full media blitz would be appropriate.”

“A planned set up?” Alfie said.

“Yes, sir.” Moralis said. “We will need to evacuate the nuns. Tia?"

“We have the old school in Viperia where we've done renovations to the dorms. We can house them there and then slowly reintroduce them back to a normal life. Perhaps even return them to their families in due time.”

“Based on what I am hearing,” Kareen said. “There is more going on then what the Council has been aware.”

“The Council and everyone else had been unaware of Anna,” Moralis said. “But the people of Viperia have been aware of something.”

“I am thankful to those people,” Kareen said. “Keep up the good work. Good to know someone is keeping us honest.”

“When are you planning this media party?” Mirren said.

“Tomorrow. We don't want them to find out the safe is missing.”

“Very good. Tell us what you need.”

“We have everything already. But a nod from the Council is most appreciated,” Moralis said. “Those wishing to give the nod, please do so,” Mirren said.

Every member, including Tia and Mirren smiled and nodded.

"Just watch the news tomorrow evening,” Moralis said. “It will be interesting.”

“This meeting is ended,” Mirren said.

Everyone else rose, but there was the sound of the outside door, then the door to the Council room opened.

"Where's my daughter?” Sherri said in a demanding voice.

She was almost wheezing from the exertion. Her hands were on her belly as if she was holding it up. “You're supposed to be in bed. Doctor's orders,” Grazie said, jumping up and hurrying over to her. “You're not well.”

“I'm concerned for my daughter,” she said.

“So am I,” Grazie said with force.

Sherri looked at him as if for the first time.

“You are supposed to be in bed. Everyone else can take care of themselves,” he said, taking her arm and turning her around.

Natalia saw him lean in to breath in her ear.

“That's how you control a Viperian woman. Show her you care,” Uri said, whispering in her ear.

He took her hand, and they followed Grazie and Sherri out. Her car and driver were waiting outside the door. Uri paused to wait while Grazie helped Sherri into the back seat. He got in with her. The car pulled away.

“He'll be the first man in Sherri’s house in a long time,” Uri said.

"Why doesn't she allow men in her house?”

“Some has to do with her work. She often has abused women in her home. She's designated it a man free zone. The rest has to do with one of her first men. He wasn't nice. He fathered her son, but her son is a good person.”

Uri open the limo door for her.

“I'm worried about Lisa,” she said.

“Don't be. Tia has her,” Uri said.

“When did you learn this?"

“When on the phone with Moralis, before you found me on Saturday.”

"Why don't you tell me these things?”

“Because we need you to react when you hear certain things. Would you have stiffened when you heard Lisa's name if you knew she was alright?”

“I guess not.”

“You don't realize how closely the Council is watching your reactions.”

He leaned in to whisper in her ear.

"We're getting away with a lot because of your honest reactions that are validating our stories.” Everyone else was spilling out of the Council building. Bonnie caught up with them and got in the driver's seat. Moralis ran over.

“I know tomorrow is a work day, but I need you at the Church with Nattie about two pm.”

“Me?” Natalia said.

"A man with a woman isn't considered a threat,” Moralis said. “Also, I need you to do a bite, Uri You'll need Nattie to get the right emotion.”

Uri grimaced.

“I know you're a knife guy, but there isn't anyone else up for the challenge. And you're giving Nattie her revenge.”

“I'll try,” Uri said.

“No, do it,” Morals said. “It crucial.”

Uri nodded.

“Main chapel. Two pm,” Morals said.

He jogged off toward Tia, Mina and Sophie who had gathered together to talk.

“Two pm,” Uri said. “I'll have to rearrange my calendar.”

“We can skip lunch if that helps.”

Uri leaned in to breath in her hair.

“Yeah, I think I can do this.”

“Do what?"

“Bite another woman.”