The Selection

Chapter 47: Father's Secret

Gabriel's Point of View

I watched Ember as her eyes grew heavy. She lay on her stomach, facing me as I traced her spine with my index finger. Her lashes touched her cheek as sleep over took but I couldn't stop watching her.

Her body swollen from everything she'd just been through a couple of hours before. She was so strong. I couldn't do what she's done. Tortured every single day while carrying our child then finding an escape. Then there's the way she held herself giving birth to my son, our son. Our beautiful son who lay sleeping in between us. His lashes as long as hers, his cheeks full of blush just like hers. After his hair had been thoroughly washed it began to curl. I didn't want to name him as I felt like it was up to her but she can up with nothing.

"I want him to have a strong name, maybe something from mythology," she suggested after the nurse let us alone with our son for the first time.

"Well there's plenty. Odysseus, Theseus, Orpheus-"

"Maybe not Greek mythology then," she laughed.

She'd finally settled on Christian. She'd given no explanation to it except that he looked like a Christian. His middle name matched mine. She was so sweet, if anything he should be named after her. For without her, he wouldn't be with us.

"Son," I heard my father whisper from the doorway. He stood, looking away from us as if he were embarrassed. He jerked his head towards the hall and I knew I was needed. I leaned over softly, placing a kiss on Ember's forehead then reached stood and changed my sweatpants for something more professional looking since my father was in a suit. I slipped my shoes on and met my father outside of the door.

"I know you're busy but I want you to listen in on a meeting we're about to have, it's much needed," he inclined his head.

"Of course," I turned to a man I've come to know as Officer Adam Bowen, who's become Embers personal guard and told him to get a nurse in the room and she was to stay there until I returned.

I followed my father down stairs and turned to head to the dining table but he led me astray.

"Not that kind of meeting, son," he answered, taking me further down the hall. I'd only remembered one other time I was invited into a meeting in which it was being held in the ballistics room where the Head General did his business. I looked down, wishing I had put a jacket on over my shirt that had been covered in Ember's sweat from her giving birth only hours ago.

The room was filled with every member of the council, head congress and head general with his trusted team. They stood as we entered and I followed my father to the end of the long crystal glass table. They sat as we sat, completely silent.

"To be truthful, Gabriel, we've been having this meeting for six hours," my father glanced up at the man to his left who'd become one of my personal friends over the lonely years spent in the castle. William Krampus, my father's right hand man. He'd coincidentally become a father figure for me, someone I could confide in when I was young.

Will now stared at me, his eyes apologizing without speaking words.

"Okay," I stayed, straightening my posture. "Why do you need me now, sir?"

My father shifted and I had never seen him more uncomfortable. He picked up a small remote and clicked a button. Sound filled the room. Not just sound, but blood curdling screams. I turned my attention the the projector screen that had been pulled down the wall that I hadn't noticed. I recognized the screams as I had just heard the same voice scream not too long ago.