Aeress

     She walked around aimlessly. She wanted to go to the library, but knew damn well who would be there. 

     Aeress never thought she would ever complain about being alone, but this solitude was beginning to drive her crazy.  

     The castle was gorgeous, something out of a fantasy novel. It was at least one thing to keep her mood from plummeting. 

     The staff certainly listened to Warrick well. She felt absolutely alone, even as she knew the spotless furniture was not taken care of on its own. In some ways, she felt like Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Any day now and she would begin to talk to the broomsticks. 

     Aeress was dressed in sweatpants and a tight t-shirt. This was the attire she had missed so desperately before. 

      So she wandered downstairs, hoping that it meant she would avoid him. And not even was Mikya around, but he must have been actually working instead of tending to her like some personal butler. 

     She trailed her hand against the wall, trying to soak in every detail, to map out the house, but it was difficult for her, because she was sure that whomever originally crafted this castle had every intention for it to resemble a maze. 

     After about thirty minutes passed, she gave up and made it back to the front entrance with the intention to go back to her room and sleep away her problems. 

    There was a heavy knock on the front door, scaring the life out of Aeress. So startled that she had to take a seat on the ledge of the fountain up front. 

     A woman dressed in all dark clothes came out of nowhere and approached the door. It must have been one of the mysterious staff. 

     Aeress felt her stomach twist with apprehension as the woman opened the door. The shadows of the night blew in with a fierce wind. Snow whipped in, and she could feel the ice pricking at her skin. 

     There stood a towering woman. She was built and one of the most ferocious characters she had ever come upon. 

     The much smaller woman gasped in recognition and bowed until her chin nearly brushed the floor. "To what do I owe this honor?" 

     The woman said not a thing, wrapped in red and black. Her eyes were hard and judging, narrowed to a slashing slit. Just her wintry gaze alone caused those around to tremble for the fear of death. In many ways, it reminded Aeress of Warrick. The warrior woman thrust her hand out and in it was a scroll, crisp and untouched by the storm, rather like it feared her wrath if it dared wilt the edges of the paper. 

     The woman bowed and took the scroll with an unsteady hand. Before she could say anything else, the terrifying woman vanished, becoming one with the darkened outdoors. 

     The woman shut the door, cutting off the sound of the howling wind, so human-like it was that Aeress was sure there was someone wailing. She was visibly trembling as she examined the scroll, yet refused to open it. Her brown skin was flushed with awareness. 

     "Is everything okay?" Aeress asked, confused by the whole situation. 

     The woman jumped out of her skin. She clutched her chest in fright. Aeress immediately felt bad and went to the woman, helping her up after a few frozen seconds. "I didn't mean to scare you. I hate when people do that to me." 

     She swallowed, examining Aeress from head to toe. Recognition hit. "Godhead!" she gasped, bowing even lower than before. "Forgive me. I did not mean to ignore your presence." 

      "Please don't do that!" Aeress breathed when the woman attempted to get on her knees. She grabbed her hands, yanking her up until she was standing. The woman was flustered. "It was me who was at fault. I am sorry." 

    She looked flustered. "Premier gave us strict instructions, but if you believe otherwise, I will do as you wish, Godhead." 

    Aeress watched her, unbelieving of the woman. Her eyes spilled with worship, with love, and with fear. What a strange combination. "I think I am begining to understand why." She smiled at the kind woman who couldn't have been older than her late twenties. "Thank you for being so kind. Lately I could use company, but I wouldn't want to get you in trouble with Warrick."

     "Who was at the door?" A voice demanded from above. Aeress looked up to find the always quiet Warrick descending down the stairs. 

     "You are so kind, Godhead!" the woman exclaimed, taking her hand and kissing it. "I am your follower. I do not doubt you as others will-"

    "Servant!" 

     The woman snapped out of whatever trance she was in and presented the scroll to Warrick. "Forgive me, Godhead-" 

    He shook his head, sufficiently silencing the woman. Aeress felt bad, but wasn't sure what to say.

    There is a first time for everything... 

    She wrung her hands together and watched Warrick examine the scroll. He ripped the seal and straightened the paper out. His eyes traversed left to right and over again swiftly. His jawed clenched and there was a spark ignited in his gaze. He looked up and she shivered. 

    He whirled around. "Follow me." He ate up the stairs two by two. 

    Aeress bit her tongue, halting a certainly smart comment. Whatever was on that message, it was serious. 

     She sat in a chair, watching as he paced back and forth. The scent of books and the pages were the only thing keeping her semi-calm. 

     "You are sure?" he demanded. His neck and cheeks were flush with frustration. His entire body was wound, ready to burst. He got off the phone, ending the call. 

    Whatever was the bother, it aroused a violent reaction from him. He stood in front of her. Then he kneeled so they were eye to eye. Aeress swallowed. So it was serious. 

     "What's wrong?" 

    "You understand my position as Premier, yes?" 

     Aeress nodded. 

    "I am one of the sole ruling powers. But I am not the only power. My people, as do I, believe in balance. We have what you can consider a counsel. Think of them as the elite of the elite, those who would come in to power if anything were to happen to me. These beings, they are ancient. They rarely show their presence unless dire need calls for it." She had never heard him speak so much in one sitting. This was not a good sign. 

     She blinked and wished they weren't having this conversation. "Dire needs?" 

     He looked into, searched her eyes. "You." 

     Aeress sat back. "What about me?" she demanded. "I haven't done anything wrong!" 

     Warrick sighed and shook his head. "What I have not explained to you, what I was going to wait for... Your role as Godhead. You have more power than even I do. As Premier, since the beginning of time, I and prior Premiers have been appointed your sole protector as well as the protector of all werewolf kind. But now that you are physically here... many fear you and your powers and if..." 

     "If?"

     "If you are truly Godhead."

    She was winded. "What did the scroll say, Warrick?" 

     "The Counsel-they are called The Guides-have awoken. They demand our presence. And your participation in the Candor Trials." 

     Aeress shot up like a bullet, away from him. "No way!" she shouted. "I will not. I don't want any part of this! I didn't ask for this, Warrick. I don't want to be queen of wolves or even beyonce. I just want to go home-" 

    "You need to collect yourself." He had a hold of her arms, keeping her in place. "You know that once you walked into that nightclub, a decision was made. It is too late, they know who you are. There is no escaping this." 

     She pushed him away, though he did not move too much. She ran her hands through her hair, taking out her hair tie. It was hard not to have a mental breakdown right then and there. This many breakdowns and crying couldn't have been helathy. "There is no way I can just leave, right?" 

     He pushed his lips together in a stern line. "If you pass the Candor Trials, you can have any life you want, Aeress."

     Her face felt warm. "And if I don't?" 

     He frowned. "You will. I know that." 

     Aeress felt dizzy and collasped onto her hands and knees. She was breathless and overwhelmed. "I can't do this!" she repeated over and over again, "what you all demand of me. I can't be that person. That isn't me!" She was going to vomit. 

     Aeress didn't fight when he picked her up and placed her on one of the larger, more comfortable leather couches. She looked into his blue eyes with panic. "Help me," she whispered. 

     "I will," he replied immediately. "No matter what. It is my duty." 

    The way he said it made her understand that he didn't mean it in the way she had hoped. "What are these Candor Trials?" she asked after a few leveling breaths. 

     He sighed. "To summarize, a series of tests only the true Godhead could complete." 

     She laughed. "You make it sound so simple, but I have a feeling it is anything but."  

     "It is my duty to make this simple for you," he answered. "I will help you. You will not go into this blind."

     "Warrick?" He gave her his attention. "What happens to me if I don't complete a trial?" 

     He didn't say anything for a very long time. "We should start packing. The Guides want us there by tomorrow night. And it is a long trip."

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