My hair had been beautiful and well-cared for even before they got her hands on it, but after Kym’s spraying, brushing and curling treatment, it fell past my shoulders in long, curly, shiny waves, with a single strand at the very front that was dyed to match the blood-red dress I wore, standing out against the rest of the white.

The dress itself was a short, wrap one that went just above my knees and tied around my waist with black sashes which had an unrecognizable label on it. The top part was thick enough not to need any undergarments underneath, but it also opened into a sexy but subtle V-neck. The shoes were my favorite thought. They were red with a silver bottom, high-heeled stilettos which were comfortable beyond belief and they went along with the gold pendant Kym placed around my neck. I weirdly felt like I was finally ready for war.

Lanthe wasn’t going to be joining the meeting till later on because of something that suddenly came up but she handed me into the hands of a now sharply dressed and dashing, Atlas. He wore a black, two-piece suit that fitted him like a glove and transformed him from the handsome and charming guy that I had met the day before, into an edgier and stunning man who looked so like Leukas he stole my breath away for a while. Despite my previously grumpy attitude, Atlas greeted me with a smile and a thorough appraisal when we met outside the house, before interlocking our arms and leading me towards a fleet of cars that now occupied the front of the mansion. The sight of them and the absence of the warmth that Lanthe positively radiated reminded me of what was at stake and just how powerless I was in the current territory, but I distracted myself by addressing Atlas.

“So you’re also part of the uhmm…”

“Council.” He assisted.

“Council.” I repeated.

“Yes,” he’s silent for a while as we slowly walk towards the cars and I think he’s finished but after a while he continues. “The moment anyone born into royalty is eighteen, they get the chance to choose whether or not to join the council.” He finished. So he had chosen to be in the council. I filled in the gaps, it probably meant he was interested in taking over from his father.

I had a feeling about his answer but I asked him anyway, “And Leukas? Is he on the council?” I trailed off in the end, realizing how tense he had become as soon as I asked. His jaw was tense and he looked more serious than I’d yet seen him when he answered tersely.

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“No.” he snapped.

I was little perplexed by his reaction, though I made sure I did not sure it as he helped me into a black, big car which had a red exterior and the most gorgeous leather seats with the big ‘H’ in the middle.

The seats were made of leather and comfortable as hell but I barely noticed them as I mulled over Atlas’ reaction to me asking about Leukas and the council. I guessed his reaction was either because he didn’t get along with Leukas as much as he first had me believe, or because of the reason Leukas wasn’t in the council.

I had never been a very curious person, my own life had always been too complicated for me to worry about someone else’s business, but for the first time ever, I was curious. Why did my question put that frown on Atlas’ face? Was it my mentioning Leukas in general or was it something more, something deeper? How exactly was the brothers’ relationship?

I sighed exasperatedly at myself. Clearly I was getting too comfortable here if I was busy worrying about things that did not concern my kids or myself. What I really should be doing was thinking about the meeting and the impact all its outcomes would have on my life. Could I even escape from this place that did not even exist in maps? And the bigger question, would I ever bring myself to tear my kids away from their father yet again, despite the outcome?

It was a good thing that Atlas had basically insinuated that the Hyades had a choice in whether or not they assumed royal duties, whatever those were. Leukas was living proof that my children could have a life beyond Abattohn; that they didn’t have to stay here forever. It also struck me that I was in a closed vehicle with a couple of strangers, going somewhere I didn’t know of and I hadn’t even assessed the situation like I always did. I was seriously losing my mind in this place.

The partition between our seats and the front seats where the driver sat was open so I could make out two burly men occupying the front seats, but the silence in the car was palpable.

The car was pretty big so, there was some space between Atlas and me but I could still see him from the corner of my eye. The tension had mostly left his face and his body but he wasn’t wearing his usual smile so I felt a bit uneasy. I had boxed him as the sweet and flighty one who was always smiling so the change in him was a bit unsettling.

Sure boxing people into one-character box was very unreasonable, but I had always needed to. I needed to have at least a slight idea of who I was dealing with at all times. I could prepare myself that way. I forced myself to get over my names and looked outside the window as we passed by more strange trees, a few small houses which I guessed belonged to the people who worked directly around the island and then nothing but the beach water. The ground was surprisingly smooth and even considering the fact that we were driving on an island, but then again, I knew next to nothing about how island grounds are supposed to be.