Prelude

“You are not permitted to be in here, boy.”

The patter of boots landing on the stone floor echoed around the cold room. A teen with messy black hair straightened to his full height as smoky shadows climbed up around his legs, wrapping around his torso and wrists. He rolled his shoulders back as he turned to face the eight hooded figures with a schooled expression.

 

The other eight people were huddled around a long rectangular table covered in books and old paper. Candles were burning low on the table and their light danced around moving shadows. Lit torches lined the stone walls but the light coming from them wasn’t strong enough to banish the darkness completely. Apart from the table and the light eating shadows, there was nothing else in the room.

 

“I have news that couldn’t wait,” he said.

 

“Everything can wait,” one of the hooded figures said

 

“Do we need to remind you of your place?” another added.

 

It was hard repressing the shiver that ran through his body when he was engraved with the memory of pain. Reacting to his change in confidence, the shadows wrapped around him tighter, creating a false sense of safety.

 

“A fluctuating power has been reported coming from the Human Plane,” he pressed.

 

“There are many of our kind in the Human Plane. You are trying our patience.”

 

“It doesn’t match any on the registry,” the teen insisted. “It’s passing through the levels with no hint of stopping.”

 

When silence was the only response, he clenched his fists and tried to ignore his growing nerves. He had waited to report until he was absolutely sure. With the power and resources the Council had, it would take barely any effort to confirm his reports.

 

“General Bandt,” the hooded figures said in unison.

 

A bulky man dressed in black and green uniform stepped out of the shadows and stood beside the dark haired teen. The sleeves were rolled up, revealing tattoos moving along his arms. General Bandt radiated with a bloodthirsty power.

 

“Yes, Council?”

 

“Send three trackers to the Human Plane to investigate Mackenzie’s claims. If they find something, you are in charge of capture,” the Council ordered.

 

General Bandt tilted his head towards Mackenzie with a crack of his neck and a wicked smirk. There was glee in those white eyes that told Mackenzie that whoever the fluctuations were coming from, their luck would be turning painfully.

 

“Don’t get in my way, boy,” General Bandt growled.

 

With a mocking bow, Mackenzie said, “As you command.”