Page 29 of The Lost Empress

“That was to protect our secrets from outside races or those seeking to abuse the system we created,” Gen answered sternly.

“Yes, that makes sense,” Raina stated, nodding thoughtfully. “But unfortunately, our attempts to translate the Founders’ language often lead to confusion and discrepancies between interpretations.”

Clark leaned forward. “The only reliable translations we had were from London Carraway and my daughter, Rose. As both half-mortals and half-magicians, they were considered demi-gods and could read the language without issue.”

“But the pair gave up their status and now can no longer read the Founde’’s language,” Haro offered. “But they did this for an important reason, in order to create an antidote to separateness, allowing for a way for all races to interbreed in the future.”

“It’s a very exciting time for the House of Fourteen,” Hester cheered. “And the future will definitely yield a new future for all.”

“Or a massive war,” Freek muttered.

Seraphine shook her head at the other councilor, obviously irritated by his negativity. “The point we’re getting to is that we don’t have a reliable interpreter of the Founders’ language, but also if you’ll consult with us, then we don’t really need one.”

“You want me to tell you the secrets of the Founders?” Gen questioned, trying to figure out what they were asking.

Clark shook his head, looking down at her from the high bench. “We just want clarification on laws and the organization of the House of Fourteen as the Founders intended, when questions arise.”

“We’ve never had a resource like you before,” Haro added. “And we think that with your input we can stop making assumptions about what you all intended and know.”

“You and your father and the other Founders were visionaries,” Hester said in a much louder voice than she usually used, her confidence coming through. “What you built, lasted. And not only that, but the magic that you imbued in the House of Fourteen was so powerful that it still holds the Chamber of the Tree together and protects in ways we’ve been unable to replicate.”

“We want to know how you did it,” Raina said plainly.

Gen thought about this for a moment. In one way, these were her people and there shouldn’t be any question in trusting them. But back six hundred years ago, things were very different. The world was facing an evolution. And seven magician families came together to create something to usher magic forward in a time when it was facing extinction.

The Founders took an oath to protect and guard their secrets. That’s why they created a language that only they could read and left behind little ways of it being translated. That magic kept six of the Founding families alive in the Land of Chimera of now, watching over the world and making appointments.

Gen knew the secrets, but they weren’t meant for all to know. They weren’t even meant for the current council of the House of Fourteen to know. The reason that the organization stood was that the way to break it was known by no one but her and those in another realm.

It wasn’t so much that Gen didn’t fully trust the people around her in the Chamber of the Tree. It was that secrets spread and fell into the wrong hands. She’d been proud that what she’d started all those centuries before was still standing, but if she shared the mysteries that held the House of Fourteen together, then it may crumble and that would all be her fault.

She shook her head. “I’m sorry, I can’t help you.”

Looks of shock covered all of the councilors’ faces. No one looked more disappointed than Gen’s relative, Clark Beaufont. He leaned forward, like he hadn’t heard her right.

“But Gen, if we know?—”

She held up her hand, halting him. “If you know how this place was put together and is incredibly protected, then others will find out and it will meet its demise. I know what my father would tell me to do if he were here, even if I can’t hear him anymore. I took an oath to protect our secrets and I must do that—no matter what.”

“But we are your people,” Freek argued. “We are magicians. We are the House of Fourteen.”

“Then you will trust me when I tell you that knowing where the cornerstone of this place is, will only lead to someone destroying it,” Gen stated. “We created the House of Fourteen during war and we knew that the only way to ensure it was never destroyed was for no one but us to know how it was put together. I’ve made my decision. I will not share the secrets of the Founders. They belong to us. We guard them to protect you.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

THE UNSEEN OBSERVERS OF LOS ANGELES

Roya Lane, London, England, United Kingdom

Gen had no idea how to eat the thing that Liv had ordered for her from the food cart. It smelled delicious with hints of savory herbs and spicy flavors. The long, thick, cylinder-shaped object, wrapped in foil, was warm to the touch and begging to be ingested, but Gen had no idea where to start.

“How do I eat this?” Gen asked, holding up the food and giving Liv a look of confusion as they backed toward a building on Roya Lane, out of the way of the busy thoroughfare.

“Without concern for appearance,” Liv advised. “No one looks pretty eating a falafel wrap, so just know that it’s going to cover your face and probably drip down your front.”

“Oh, is it like nachos, then?” Gen asked, pulling the foil down, copying what Liv was doing with her own falafel wrap.

“Nothing is like nachos,” Liv answered. “But this is pretty good and will definitely give you some fuel which I sense you’ll need.”

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