Immortals: Silver Lining Pt 12

    By the time they reached the council chamber, Dragon's arm ached from being dragged by the guard. She messaged her arm and rolled her shoulder to crack it when the guard released her.
    Can you yank me any harder?she grumbled mentally. Pull my arm out of its socket, why don't ya?
    She looked around the room at the council members sitting in their chairs, and found Sonja sitting silently in hers. She waved to Sonja, who smiled uncertainly and waved back.
    "So, Viktor," Dragon said, folding her arms and walking in a small circle, "what's up with the silver chains?"
    Viktor didn't answer right away, and the rest of the council murmured amongst themselves. It was clear to Dragon that they didn't understand her question.
    Oi, she thought, rolling her eyes. "Why do you need them?" she rephrased loudly.
    "The council has agreed to test you," Viktor answered, seeming more at ease with Dragon's revision. "To see if you are either a Lycan or a Vampire."
    "Right," Dragon said, drawing out the word. "I get it."
    "Excuse me?" Viktor asked.
    "I understand," Dragon corrected herself, not hiding the annoyance in her voice. "Just do it and get it over with, will ya?"
    Viktor nodded, and the Vampiric guard holding the shackles walked over to Dragon and clamped one end around her wrist, then took a small step back, still holding the other end.
    Dragon looked down at it and twisted her wrist to see the shackle at all angles, then tapped it. A metallic ring echoed through the chamber. She looked up at Viktor and shrugged. "What am I supposed to be feeling?"
    Viktor simply stared at her. "Are you feeling anything at all?"
    "Cold," Dragon answered bluntly.
    "Nothing else?" Viktor asked, his eyes narrow.
    "If you mean like burning and anything along those lines, then no," Dragon answered. "Can I take this off now?"
    Viktor gave the order with another nod, and the guard unlocked the shackle. Dragon's wrist was the same as it had been before: pale and scarred.
    The teenager shrugged. "Well, I'm obviously not a Lycan," she said. "Now what?"
    Viktor sat back in his chair. "Since you are obviously not a Lycan," he began, spitting Dragon's words back at her, "we shall have to see if you are a Vampire." He flicked his eyes to the guard. "How long until dawn?"
    "Three hours, my lord," he said.
    The hell's he getting at? Dragon wondered, noting the look on Viktor's face that said "Good enough."
    "Take her to the chamber."
    Dragon glanced at Sonja, whose face had gone deathly pale. The Vampire stood in objection as the two guards sandwiched Dragon and led her to two large wooden doors.
    "Father, you can't!"
    Before Viktor could rebuke Sonja, Dragon spoke.
    "Sonja, I'll be fine." She stared into the vampire's brown eyes. "I promise."
    Sonja said no more as the guards led Dragon into the chamber.