Chapter 24

Sarene had been in the dining hall awaiting for the council when she heard the massive explosion and while she attempted to find cover, she shouted to a number of her gaurds and ordered them to check the dungeons where Gabriel was being kept. The fear that Gabriel somehow managed to lure one of the human gaurds to do his bidding was evidant within her and she quickly got to her feet. A group of gaurds came in, their armor shined beneath the moonlight while a loof of concerned formed on their faces. "What's going on?" Sarene asked. "Did you sweep the cells to make sure that he didn't escape?"

Daryl the head command of the gaurd elite spoke. "We did and found that his cell is empty." 

Sarene’s face went paler than normal and as she took a breath she spoke with a calm tone, "We need to find him before he gets too far. Take your men and sweep the perimeters and the outskirts of the castle."

Darly bowed, "As you wish your majest." He looked to his men and said "Do as she says. We can't allow him to get fat. "His men and himself rushed our the door with the faces if determined  warriors.

A few moments later, the re-opened and in came Marcus, Blake, Nora and Marcus' protégé Emery. She was one human but was fated by the life if eternity through an accident caused by Gabriel’s recklessness. Had Nora and Blake not been there while the accident occured, Gabriel would of gotten to her first. 

"Your majesty, Marcus said as he bowed his head. "We came as soon as we heard the explosion, however, we being extra cautious prior to Gabriel’s men and we weren't sure what he had up his sleeves."

"It's better to cautious rather than not. " Sarene assured them. "Gabriel has escaped. I have my men scouting the castle perimeters and the outskirts just in case he hasn't gone to far." Sarene glanced at Emery and smiled. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you."

"Likewise, Emery replied with a small smile tipped at the corner of her mouth. "I've heard alot about you."

"I am sure it was under terrible circumstances." Sarene replied solemly. "For that I truly apologize."

Emery raised her hand to stop her. "Your majesty," shaking her head as she spoke. "No need to apologize. None of this was entirely your fault. I wn't judge someone unless I know their side of the story first before ruling out my opinions."

Sarene released Emery's hand and nodded. "I am certain we will be able to get to know one another once all this chaos ends."

Emery brushed strands of her flame red hair off of her forehead and responsed lightly. "I agree. We can't allowe Gabriel to escape and cause anymore damage than he already has."

The ground rumbled again and Marcus was the one that spoke. "What is the plan that you have established? I'm sure that you had your men do search."

"I have but they haven't returned to give a report on his whereabouts." Sarene said. "As for your banishment I would like to say that it has been lifted. You're free to come back to the castle's safety once everything settles or free to go where ever you please if you choose to."

"It's about time," Blake was the one who spoke. "All of us where getting sick and tired of that musty old cabin after being under careful watch of the Remus Pack."

"I will order them to stand down," Sarene said as she smoothed hair behind her ear. Her eyes glew from hunger and in the bottom of her stomach, she felt the it. It gnawed at her like a bug but before she could finsish Nora spoke.

"It's not going to be that easy," she went and stood behind the grand table chair and looked at Sarene. "All of them were tipped off by Gabriel so when they hear that our banishment is lifted who knows what they will do."

"Whatever they plan doing once the news hits," Nora said. "I don't plan on being anywhere near them."

"Let's not allow that to come to it," Sarene said. "Shall we?"

"We should do our own search as well." Emery spoke as if she had a plan but niether of them knew what it could of been. "All of us should start looking."

All of them nodded in agreement and without furhter spoken words, Emery and the others followed her out the door.