Page 41 of Becoming One

“I wouldn’t piss on Heskel if he was on fire, so I don’t think it’s a good plan to make me one of the guys responsible for his safety. The man has a God complex. He’s egotistical, and he takes from his coven more than he gives. So, no, I don’t want to be a part of his army. However, I heard that you were the polar opposite. I heard you run your coven with pride and for your people,” the man stated.

“Why did you lose on purpose if you wanted to be in my Dire?” Ezra asked.

Nelson watched as the man turned away, not saying anything. He thought the guy wasn’t going to answer, and then he turned back to Ezra. “I was told that if I won and accepted the position, that one of the few friends I have would die. I cannot allow that to happen.”

“You were threatened? By who?” Ezra asked angrily.

Mr. Maxwell gave a short laugh. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. And it wasn’t me who was threatened, it was one of my friends.”

“Try me,” Ezra replied.

“Heskel and his henchmen.”

Ezra gave the man a neutral look. “Mr. Maxwell…”

“Can you please call me Sabien?”

Ezra gave a small nod. “Sabien, are you telling me that one of my Scion is… not fit to be the leader of one of my covens?”

“Heskel isn’t fit to be leader of the lollipop guild,” Sabien answered snidely.

“Who is this friend who was threatened?” Nelson asked.

“Strife. He and another of my friends came up with me to watch the competition,” Sabien explained.

Nelson could hear something in the man’s voice.

“I hear it too, Nelson. He isn’t lying, but he isn’t telling us everything either,”Nelson’s fox said.

“I agree.”

“Ask him about his friends. Are they still here? Did they leave? Are they okay?” His fox asked in rapid succession.

Nelson smiled.“I can’t ask if you keep talking.”

Looking at Sabien, Nelson asked, “Your friends… are they okay?”

Sabien turned away muttering, “I can’t find one of them. Strife and I have been looking, but he’s nowhere to be found.”

“What does your friend look like, Mr. Maxwell?” Jewel asked.

Ezra looked at Kagen. The Dire walked forward and took out his phone, then turned the screen to Sabien and asked, “Is this one of your friends?”

Sabien stood, his chair flying behind him, almost hitting Jael as he raced in the door. “Son of a bitch, I’ll fucking kill him!” Sabien yelled.

Nelson stood. “Is that the man you say you can’t find?”

Nodding, Sabien replied, “Yes.”

“I’m sorry for your loss, Sabien Maxwell, but may I ask you something?” Nelson requested.

Sabien never took his eyes off the picture as he nodded. Nelson asked, “Why would Heskel want you to stay put in his coven to the point he would kill your friends?”

Sabien looked at Nelson and then Ezra. “Heskel has kept me close ever since I can remember. As a child I tried escaping from his coven and was caught and brought back each and every time. The law says that when a Summoning Ceremony is held, all members must be given the opportunity to take the challenge for position. He kept me from that challenge every time. However, this last time, Strife put my name in the mix. He did it without Heskel finding out.”

“How did he do that?” Ezra asked.

“Strife is good with computers. I meanreallygood,” Sabien answered.