Mine

Part 71 (Colby's POV)

"Prophecy?" Andreas repeats. "What's this?"
"She found it a few days ago." Penny says.
"And what's this prophecy say?" Maxime asks, tilting his head.
"'He, who is born into arctic, thousands of years into recorded time, damned but altruistic, he will lead others into prosperity, with potent powers unknown'." Penny recalls the words.
"And how is this prophecy related to Colby's Regime powers?" Tiberius asks.
"He was born in January. 'Into arctic'? 'Damned but altruistic'. 'Potent powers unknown'." Penny says. "He's been able to invade the minds of others quite easily, undetected and without physical contact." She glances at me, then back to Tiberius. "And if I'm not mistaken, my Lord, judging from his expression when Lord Ramses and Maxime attempted to read his mind, and from his power, I'd make a guess he saw into your minds too."
I stare. What expression did I have? Or had she simply seen the realization in my eyes?
All eyes were on me. "Were you able to see into Ramses and Maxime's minds?" Andreas asks me.
I bow my head. "Yes, my Lord."
"So the prophecy is true." Maxime says, not taking his eyes off me. Then he looks to Penny. "When was this prophecy made?"
"Beginning of man." She replies. "It was created from the flames, and read by a human Indian."
"And what was this Indian's name?"
"We don't know." She says, dipping her head down. "I have my deputy on it. She looking for a name and living descendant."
"Good." Maxime says. "We want all information you have on this. As for Colby," His eyes flick to me. "We'd like him to stay."
Penny stares, her lips parting in surprise. "I'm sorry?"
"Colby will stay with us. You will wait outside."
"What? No!" I exclaim before I could stop myself.
"Colby!" Penny hisses. "Stand down."
I stare back at her, unwilling to believe this. "But they-"
"Stand," She says, her eyes flashing. "Down."
I send her an angry glare before bowing my head. Then I heard clapping, but I didn't dare look up at the Regime. Instead, I look up at Penny, seeing her eyes on me. Reaching my mind out, I push into her mind, and I blink in surprise when I see her thoughts.
'Just stand down and do what they want. You'll be safest if you listen.'
Pulling my mind back, I look away.
"Wait outside." Maxime repeats.
She nods. "Yes, my Lord." Then she disappears.
I stand there, staring at the spot she had been a second before.
"Colby," Maxime says, grabbing my attention. "We'd like to ask a few questions. And since we can't see into your mind, we ask that you answer truthfully."
I nod, knowing I didn't really have a choice.
"Good. Now," Ramses says, bringing his hands together. "First question. Maxime tells us that an ex-clan member of Penelope's clan turned you. Can you explain?"
I pause, scowling. I knew they were just asking to make sure, not because they didn't know. "Yes, an ex'clan member of Penny's turned me. He was hunting me down for revenge."
"Go on."
"Penny killed Micheal's One. It was unintentional and unknown. She was worked too hard by her past leader to the point where she was mad with hunger. She didn't mean to kill anyone." I explain. "I was told that when a vampire's One dies, the vampire will kill themselves to be reunited. Micheal didn't. He wanted revenge, so he tried to hunt me down. He only managed to bite me before Penny killed him."
"And she let you turn?"
I open my mouth to reply, but I stopped, not knowing what he meant.
Apparently Ramses understood my confusion. "She didn't want you to turn. Maxime discovered that when he read her thoughts previously."
"I thought you can't stop it. Isn't it immediate?" I ask.
"Clearly, you are different." Maxime speaks up. "Yes, the venom is strong enough to kill immediately, but not for you. From what I saw in her mind, it took quite a while for the venom to finally kill you. Why? We do not know. But we can suspect it has something to do with your mind."
"And so, we ask why she let you turn. Obviously, if it was taking longer than usual to kill you, she could have easily taken the venom out of you and let you live out your human life. Yet, she did not." Tiberius says.
"I don't know why." I say. "I didn't even know it took longer than usual."
"You don't remember your turning?"
I shake my head, momentarily forgetting who I was talking to. Then I stop when I see the raised eyebrows of Tiberius. "No, my Lord."
"Clearly, there is much she didn't tell you."