Chapter 25: Chambers

Greta had chosen an embroidered floral shirt and green khaki parka for August to wear, and as she took Graeme's hand with one of hers, she buried the other hand in her pocket and blinked a few times to feel the rims of the contacts in both her eyes.

As she stepped over the threshold with Graeme, her eyes took in the open space that greeted her. People were scattered on sofas and chairs and a few sat at a long rustic dining table that she could see beyond a stone fireplace serving as a room divider.

The low buzz of friendly chatter that had greeted them upon entering fell to a hushed murmur as heads began turning to see the three figures who entered. Greta could sense the protective, dominating aura of Graeme quickly engulf the room, as could everyone else, and she slipped from behind August with a beaming smile to dissipate whatever tension it might bring. This is how they had always complemented each other so well as twins. Graeme was gruff and dominant, his mere presence overbearing at times, and Greta was the pin pricks of light shining through.

"Hey, everyone," Greta said as she walked forward and embraced one person after another, each who looked genuinely happy to see her. August wondered if it was because of the comfort she was able to give everyone with a simple touch. Who wouldn't love her? But was Greta always as happy as she seemed? She imagined the real Greta encapsulated within the calm and joyous bubble with her own unseen feelings.

Someone had approached Graeme as well and was chatting with him. August felt the man's eyes sweep over her with curiosity, and Graeme pulled her closer to his side before leading her forward and up a staircase where they passed more curious faces. She heard Greta's chipper voice skipping up behind them as she danced lightly between greetings.

When Greta caught up to them, she approached Graeme's other side and touched his arm lightly. It wasn't a gesture that would seem out of the ordinary to anyone looking on, but August now wondered what she had said wordlessly to her brother.

The corridor they were walking down seemed to extend forever before they turned to descend another staircase. Greta hung back a step and came up on August's other side as they hit the stone landing to another set of double doors. Graeme paused and turned to look at August and then his sister with a reassuring smile before opening the doors.

They walked into a tall, circular room with rows and rows of seats rising beyond the mezzanine above them. The mezzanine encircled the entirety of the room. A dome skylight far above was the only source of light, and sunlight cascaded in to illuminate the dark floor, which is where Graeme led them. August gazed up and had the sudden feeling of being stuck at the bottom of a well.

A door opened further up above the mezzanine, and, one-by-one, solemn looking men began silently filing in, winding their way around the room to find their designated spots. The well was filling.

Graeme was standing on one side of August while Greta stood on the other, and the three of them silently watched the council members filter in, slowly surrounding them. Greta was close enough to August that she could brush against her without grabbing hold, and she did this now—resting her hand lightly behind August's hand. August took a deep breath and looked straight forward, suddenly feeling calm confidence spread through her.

Because some of the men who came in took seats behind them, August lost count of how many there were. Once they all appeared to have settled and their eyes rose to take in the three standing people at the center of the room below them, August guessed there were about two dozen council members in the room. Not all of the seats were filled, and she wondered what other events caused the whole room to fill. Maulings? She silently cursed Graeme and Greta for not preparing her for just how intimidating this space was.

The direction and glare of the sunlight made it such that the council members' faces were partially obscured in shadow. Placards seemed to indicate that the three central men whom Greta, August, and Graeme now faced were primary amongst the others. According to the placards, Head Council Elder Andreas was seated in the center while Council Elder Auden sat to the left and Council Elder Pearce to the right.

"Greta Hallowell. August Cady. Graeme Hallowell. Thank you for joining us today. We are here to discuss the circumstances that led to Miss Cady's presence on pack land, what has transpired since, and plans moving forward," said the severe-looking man in the center, Head Council Andreas. "We encourage you to speak freely," he added, looking over his glasses at the three.

"Thank you, Andreas," Graeme answered.

"Graeme, why don't you start with how you came across the young woman and the exigency that led you to cross our border with her," Andreas said. All eyes focused on Graeme, but August could feel eyes on her as well.

"I was passing through the Grimm on my way to visit the pack. I caught an unusual scent in that area and investigated, and that's when I saw Miss Cady fleeing a man. It seemed likely, based on their clothes and appearance, that they were from Eliade—that she was likely a subject. Miss Cady lost him but was severely wounded and unconscious when I decided to bring her to the outpost, which was a few miles away."

"That's leaving out many details, Graeme," Council Elder Auden chuckled.

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"If you wish, I can elaborate further. Her hands were tied. She had a camera around her neck. The man was wearing a sweatshirt that said 'Eliade University' on it. He was chasing her but I scented his fear of the area. She slipped and fell down a steep embankment, hitting a tree in the process and losing consciousness…"

"Okay, okay," Auden waved dismissively. "We get the picture. If more details are needed for our records, we will go over them at another time."

"You say you deduced she was from the university's experiment, the same experiment we all know to be involved in pandemic-related genetic engineering?" Andreas asked, seemingly also uninterested in the details Graeme had begun rattling off.

"Yes."

"Did you also deduce that she was your mate?" Andreas asked bluntly.

"I did."

"I see," Andreas said, appearing to take note of it on paper in front of him.

"The following day when Marius arrived on the council's behalf to assess the situation and bring the girl in for assessment, did you tell him she was your mate?"

"No, I didn't. He knew only what Lucas must have communicated to him," Graeme replied.

"Why did you not tell him?"

"It was something I was still processing myself," Graeme replied.

"I suppose that's understandable given your prior attitude toward things involving destiny," Andreas's eyes narrowed. "Though it seems you have had a change of heart regarding your reaction to it." He gestured toward August. "Are you unconcerned with your mate's sudden strength that allowed her to incapacitate one of our men?"

"I am concerned that it may be a threat to her health. She was in a coma for three weeks following that incident. But I'm thankful. It saved her life."

"It saved her life from Marius?" Council Elder Pearce asked now, eyebrows arched.

"Yes."

"Miss Cady," Pearce shifted his eyes to the human girl, "Please tell us what you remember from that night when you found yourself in the forest."

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