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As I looked at the card it grew warm in my hand and I heard it speak to me. Meet tonight at six thirty to go over how you can help save the city and possibly the world, I will send you directions later. Then the card was silent and cool in my hand. There it was again, more of that magic stuff, I was so tempted to throw that card out the window but a small voice inside of me kept nagging me to keep it and to embrace the new life I had awakened into, and to use it to help find out why my family would have been murdered in front of me. I dressed in my uniform and went to work forgoing my usual run and I could feel it catching up to me, I would have to run double the normal tomorrow or at least try to just to make up for missing the last few days.
The day want by fast but well. Charlie and I had a few quiet moments where we talked about Providence and the sights I had come to see while being here, I told him how I loved the early morning when the sun hits the trees over on campus and the glisten of the rainbow effect on the dew as the suns first rays hit it and began to dry it up. We also touched on how crazy I thought most of the individuals were here, many seemed to think life was something they had to shove into one day. So many people missed out on the simple things the things that were nice and comforting and made a day worth slowing down to smell the roses. That was when we agreed that most people were in too much of a hurry and that is why they would always get hurt and need people like him and I to pull their asses out of danger and take them to the people whom could save them.
That afternoon I walked into my apartment at three, I quickly went to my room and dug through my closet. I found a long sleeved dress in Hunter green that had a high neck and a dropped back that draped low, the skirt swung and whirled about my calves, I pulled my hair up letting tendrils escape to hang in curls down the back of my neck and to frame my face, I pinned it up with a silver Barrett that was inlaid with rhinestones. I accented the ensemble with my silver necklace with my mothers birth symbol on it and a pair of small silver hoop earrings, I dug out my silver high healed strap shoes, I grabbed my silver shawl and looked at myself in the mirror, folding up my shawl I put it away knowing that too much silver would take away from the beautiful Hunter color of the dress. I grabbed my small purse put the business card inside and my handy can of mace as well as my apartment keys and looked at myself in the mirror once more, satisfied with the overall look I smiled nodded and walked out the door looking at the clock on the wall as I went, I would be able to walk and have time to think for it was only five thirty in the evening.
I walked into the Restaurant and the matradee looked me up and down at first I was a bit self conscious about how he looked at me as if he could swallow me whole in one bite, but he motioned me to follow him. I walked behind him watching my surroundings and was surprised to notice that the people there didn't seem to notice us nor did any of them sit close to us, I spotted Mr. Parker at the table and I couldn't help the smile that crossed my lips, my heart jumped into my throat and for a brief moment I felt all giddy like a school girl again, this was unacceptable, I am twenty - three years old, for Christ sakes I work for the man I need to get a grip. The Matradee pulled out my chair and I sat in it, I looked to the Sentinel from Consilium and smiled, "Hello" I looked to Mr. Parker and nodded a greeting and then noticed two more gentlemen walking towards the table both of whom had played prominent rolls in consilium, I watched them take a seat and look first at me then to Marcus.
"Good now that you are all here, Lets get down to business, as you know this is Stephanie White she will become a member of your cabal, and you will all be expected to continue on with figuring out what this is all about." I felt so confused at the words spoken by Marcus. "Mathias, you should continue to work with the people, get them to help, that is if you know where they can be found and all that is." I cold only watch their conversation back and fourth while making out that Mathias was going to talk to some sort of People about helping him figure out why the "No One Of Consequence" was trying to pull their combined skills and make the world of one mind and control us all. "you Mathias will take Stephanie with you, show her what she needs to know," those were the last words I heard Marcus utter, I noticed through the whole meeting Mr. Parker didn't speak much nor did he offer any information he might have known, in fact he left half way through the meeting and I felt my heart sink, until Marcus had told Lacroix to show me what I needed to know. That was when I first took a good look at Mathias, oh my I couldn't believe he was so, and if he would just put into his charismatic charm half of the yum he had in looks, no girl would be able to survive, oh be still my mind such thoughts didn't belong in this instance, he was about to become a teacher to me, but a girl could daydream and wish.
We left the restaurant and hailed a cab, this is where we began to talk when his phone rang and he was chatting to someone, I know its rude to listen in but I did anyway and sure enough I found out that the people he wanted to talk to were being held up because somehow they were trying to convince her to join their fight against evil, or something like that. I watched Mathias whom I had heard sound very disappointed when he hung up the pone with his friend and I saw him look slightly frustrated, I felt slightly sorry for him and asked whom was holding up his friend. When he had mentioned a Lilly I thought this was odd, I mentioned I knew a Lilly and asked him if it was the same Lilly whom worked at the Occult bookstore down town, when he replied that it was I informed him that I was her new boss and she would come If I informed her I would be checking her wound, his face lit up and my heart picked up a beat. I opened my phone and called Lilly, "Hello hun, I heard your with some people and they are about to meet with someone I am with right now, why don't you go along with them and I can check your wound when you get here, if that is convenient for you?" When she replied in the affirmative I informed Mathias of this and during the conversation I had to ignore him and his ranting on about how he could charm her if she was pretty and more I have no clue why this irritated me slightly but I let it go and watched him eager to learn.
He took me to campus and then we walked into a frat house, he looked at me with such a serious look on his face I knew something was about to be said, "you do not come here unless you come with Gabe, Ethan, or myself, do you understand?" I could only smile and nod as he continued on, "This is a privet entrance, the numbers I gave you at the restaurant will get you into the other entrance, use that one at all times." I listened to him ramble on as we walked down the rather long tunnel, I noticed the tunnel seemed to dip and turn but continually and steadily slope downward, we came out into a large room that looked like a living area, I realised then that we never did go back upward. Mathias showed me around and pointed out that he, Gabe, and Ethan all had their own rooms and he was sure that Ethan would make me one if I wanted, I thought about it briefly and realised it might be beneficial but yet might be detrimental to be so close to Mr. Parker and to this sexy young suave Mathias.
That is when his phone rang, I listened in and heard the same voice that I had heard when he was speaking on the phone in the cab, they were mentioning something about needing help and how fast can he get there, I heard the urgency in his tone as he replied asap. When Mathias turned and looked at me he asked, "how fast can you run, do you think you can keep up?" I looked down at my high healed strap shoes and bending my knee I lifted my leg and took off my shoes then turned to grin at him and nod and as I looked I saw his form physically change and I swore my eyes went as wide as saucers as his ears took on the long shape of a wolf and he even sounded like an wild wolf as we went to the elevator and up I couldn't help but wonder when I could do things like this.
We took off and it was not long and I had to full out run I knew my feet would be torn up the next day from no footwear and running so fast as to not pay attention to what I was stepping on, after the first initial pain shock I let the Emergency Medical Technician in me kick in and the fear that someone was injured and needed my assistance over rid the pain. I ran and heard the sound of a wild wolf and was a bit worried that someone we were going to help had been attacked, Mathias had taken off so fast I found it a bit difficult to keep up and tried harder to run all out, I noticed he had stopped and so I began to slow down I saw in the moonlight the form of a woman on top of, Lilly I thought this was odd, why would someone be laying on top of Lilly? I looked at the woman and noticed that it was Kayla from the restaurant and dinner with Morgan, oh that was some odd karma, I quickly knelt and tried to assess the injuries of the people gathered and noticed Kayla was not injured nor was she allowing me close to Lilly, "I need to assess if she is injured." "No you really don't need to she is just fine or will be soon she just needs to stay close to the rest of us whom can protect her, are you with Mathias?" At my head nod she continued, "Ah I see, well either way you cant get close to her she is becoming like us and it is a painful and dangerous process," she paused and I took an opportunity to activate my Life sight magic and look at them both, noticing that neither were injured I turned and saw that Mathias was talking to an individual whom seamed a bit worse for the wear. This confused me slightly I thought that it was Lilly and or Kayla whom were injured I never expected this individual to be injured, for that matter when I closely looked at him I had to blink, poor guy looked like a dog man, no wait, he looked like Teen wolf from the Nineteen Eighty - Five hit movie Teen wolf with Michael J Fox; he must have noticed I was looking because he mentioned something to me and I for the life of me cant remember exactly what it was, all I remember was the thought running through my head that he was a Werewolf, and now Lilly was about to join their ranks and become a Werewolf also. This should have frightened me or even made me worry however as I listened to Kayla speak about how it was in her blood to become one of them I felt that it was natural for her to become half animal half human and somehow I figured this was the only way my mind could deal with this.
We sat there and talked for a while they explained to Lilly who and what she was about to become and then described to her that she would need to stay away from me for a full week, they didn't want her to for lack of my better understanding 'go wolf' and hurt me. My mind raced but we eventually figured out that no one would need help and we walked back to the place Mathias had taken me and when I asked him what they called the place he told me that the Werewolves called it the Loki which they used the forest above and we using the land beneath called it our Sanctum. Once there they talked more and argued over what things to do but also Mathias showed me that with exerting my own will I could heal a wound on someone, this was interesting and I began to practice on plants, while I was practicing they let Mr. Grevinsworth in as well as his body guard Bill Williamson, somehow while I was practicing on a plant we got into a discussion of who could do what and why it was cool, eventually Lilly joined in and we got into a spitting match so to speak, I cast a spell on the Bill Williamson and he freaked out a bit but he was seeing numbers above peoples heads and it was when I looked at him with my own life site that I realised he was not alive. This did freak me out how could a person be not alive and walking, Mathias must have known what I was thinking and he explained that Bill had become one of the Walking undead, Bill was a Kindred, Vampire, I couldn't help the shudder that went down my spine. I needed a drink and Mathias handed me a bottle, I lifted it to my lips and drank deeply relishing in the feeling of the warm liquid as it slid down my throat and the feel of the warmth as it hit my tummy and spread throughout my limbs and I felt tingly and warm and less uptight. Shortly after I began to feel buzzed Mr. Parker entered the building and I couldn't stop myself from smiling and showing him how I had actually learned how to heal a tiny little plant, I am sure as I look back that he was chuckling but I am also sure that he noticed I was slightly inebriated, He placated me and listened to me speak, Mathias then stepped in and in a display of 'Look what I can do' willed himself not drunk, flashing his Nimbus which is his magical manifestation of his being, I tried it and then became slightly disappointed, one of the pleasures I had come to avoid was now being taken away from me so now I couldn't become drunk even if I wanted to, not that I ever had until now. The night slowly fell apart from there and I found myself at home with my mind racing.
When would I get to have another lesson and what would Mathias teach me and oh yes I am supposed to call him Lacroix something about shadow name, and I drifted off into sleep with a slight smile on my face and thoughts of Lacroix and all he could teach me. My dreams that night were full of men and women and strange happenings and a lone dark haired figure stood out above the rest, he stood there staring at me and when I moved he moved and when I heard a child crying in my dream I ran to the sound and noticed he followed, when I looked down I saw a broken bone, I pulled out a gauze bandage and spoke softly to the child as I quickly set the bone and then rocked the child till they stopped crying and when they had I bandaged the arm and the whole while I was using the new skill I had learned, I looked up as the child's mother took over in comforting the child and I didn't see the man anywhere, I looked but he was gone and then I was startled awake when I heard the sound of my alarm clock.
I Awoke refreshed and feeling slightly antsy to begin a new life with new found friends and understanding, I went for my usual run and then baked some divinity candy, when that was completed I called Kayla and boxed some up for her and put a bunch on a plate for Tina and Lilly and even made another larger box for Morgan and Alexis. I met Kayla and gave her her small box, dropped off the plate for Tina and Lilly and then walked over to meet with Morgan at her office and hoped against all odds that Morgan would be there. She was there and we spoke, she informed me that she was going to leave her practice for a while and then she would be referring her patients to someone else while she was away, I informed her I would not feel comfortable with anyone else now knowing what I know of not just the Fallen World but the Awoken world also, she was fine with this, She then gave me some information on the other orders, I liked the ideas of the Silver ladder I would feel needed in the Adamantine Arrow and I would not fit in with the Mysterium and the Free council would allow me to do pretty much anything (within reason) and I thought she made a compelling argument for the Guardians of the veil but I didn't feel I would fit in with the whole matter thing not to mention that Mathias was part of them and he was just a bit too off for my comfort. I walked home and continued my day as usual, it was normal and kind of boring, though my mind did still race about picking an order I didn't have a whole lot of time and I needed to be sure I would fit in wherever I went.
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I stepped into the building and practices using my new life vision as I walks the hall to the elevator. As I rode up it to the floor where Morgan's office was I couldn't help but let my thoughts run a bit rampant. I reached the correct floor and left the elevator walking the hall to the correct door. I took a deep breath and raised my right hand to knock on the door and waited for an answer. Holding the Small envelope and box in her hand. She whispers to herself. "I hope she is here.. Don't know where else to leave these off for Lil Alex." the whole time thinking.. I hope she is OK and feeling well.. I hope she and the baby are OK.. I think it is kinda Cool that Morgan and Kayla are pregnant at the same time. I waited a while, a tumult of thoughts run through her head. I jumped slightly when I heard Morgan's voice call out.
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I heard her call "Come In Stephanie." I remember thinking it was slightly creepy that she knew whom I was without even opening the door and looking at me. She was sitting behind her desk her hands folded neatly as she looked at me. It was obvious there seamed to be something on her mind but she just smiled at me and gestured for me to sit "Have a seat, I wasn't aware that we had an appointment today. Thought it is probably good that you stopped by. After all, I should speak to you about weather or not you are planning on continuing treatment, or if in light of ... recent events if you have chosen to forgo future treatment." I noticed the folder with my name on it sitting on her desk and shrugged it off as something normal and common place in an office.
I made a gesture and sat the box on the desk the slight aroma coming from it as I sat down. "Thank you.. I actually wanted to talk with you about that. I personally would like to continue treatment I feel I am loosing my sanity however I am also worried about you so I think for now it is most likely best If I back off at least until your not under ," I looked left then right, "Attack." I could feel the frown on my face as I continued to speak. "I wish I could do more." I began to feel kind of inadequate and started to fidget. "But I have much to keep me busy.." I trailed off as my mind quickly thought of telling Morgan about Lilly and then thought better of it as I didn't want to give away Lilly's new secret. My thoughts a total jumble.. "so umm I do have a question though.. " I waited for her reply before asking my question.
Morgan began to speak about referring me to a gentleman by the name of Dr.Sanderson. She mentioned that he was a sleeper and not awakened. She tried hard to reassure me that he was more than qualified to assist me with more mundane issues "Unfortunately due to current situations..." she trailed off herself briefly, "I am having to temporarily shut down my current practice." I watched her open the folder and take out a business card as she handed it to me and she kept a professional attitude however I know if it had been me and I were giving up my life work. I would be a bit more than upset. She said she had some time to speak with me.
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"Well there are a few things, One I will not go to anyone but you... I just don't feel comfortable. Two.. How do i contact the people of The Silver ladder and the Adamantine Arrow.. I would like to learn a bit more of their orders. Three I want you to take care of you. I am sure sooner or later i will be back in this office and all with you as my Dr.. but now i know you must take a break and I can wait. I would rather you be taken care of first. And if you need me, though i don't know why you would... I am here for you too. I will also be calling Samantha to set up an appointment to talk with Mr Parker about his order ect.. "
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"Your loyalty is appreciated, but do keep Dr. Sanderson in mind if needed. As far as who you need to contact within those orders, Georgia would be the best for the Silver Ladder, as she is the provost. As far as for the Arrows... unfortunately I can't quite remember the name of their provost, though I would recommend speaking with Gabriel. He is of the Arrow, and should be able to get you in contact with who you would need to speak with amongst their ranks. " She paused for a moment before continuing. "I must say, I'm a bit curious as to why it is those orders you are interested in. After all, all have their own.. mystique, but why those in particular? I would have thought perhaps, with your solid belief that this was all... well nonexistent, that the Guardians would have appealed a little as well. "
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To her question I could only reply. "From the books the professor gave me I am well not willing to dam my soul by killing an innocent just because they may find out about the mysteries."
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Morgan could not help but shake her head while smiling. "Is that really what the Mysterium think of us now? Do I strike you as a mindless murderer? I should hope that your answer's no, or I may have a lot of PR work to do." Morgan chuckled a bit. "I assure, we are more than just the bogeymen that the other Orders make us out to be. Many of the other Orders don't care for us, but then again, that's also because we hold them accountable to their own actions." She paused to take a breath and continued on, "I like to consider us more of a... necessary evil. We do what is needed to protect the awakened. We're not the soldiers of the awakened, oh no, that job is handled by the Arrows for sure. We protect the sleepers from knowing the truth, because they have to come to the understanding on their own. And for some, they are so rooted in the delusions of the Abyss, they will never see." Morgan stopped for effect and let me take in all the information. "The Abyss is what separates us from the Supernal. Every.. spell we cast draws power from the Supernal world, into our own fallen world. The Abyss of course, tries to stop that. Though, I doubt you've experienced it yet, the more... noticeable the spell is, it is considered vulgar. Vulgar spells draw the attention of the Abyss, and as I said it can lash back, with well... less than pleasant results. We believe that every time the Abyss steps into the fallen world, it grows stronger, and therefore weakens our ability to connect and understand the Supernal. That is why we are here. The less, disbelief that is caused, the less that the Abyss is called into our world, the better it is for the awakened as a whole. We make the
sacrifices that others are not willing to make, and often times, we are the ones called on to deal with... messes, that other awakened cause. Now I'm sure you're probably thinking, 'Well, wouldn't you want more people to see and know what is going on so they don't disbelieve?' A beautiful ideal, but in practice, not so good. As I stated, not everyone is ready to understand, and most are so rooted in the Abyss, they'll never believe. But I do digress. Forgive me. I just, enjoy the 'Ooo Scary Guardian' stories that the newly awakened hear. So what draws you about the Ladder? Certainly I can understand with your helpful.. protective nature where the draw comes in for the Arrow, but you didn't strike me as a person who held their ambitions so dear.. like those of the Silver Ladder."
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I could only smile and reply, "They seam very order oriented and i like order," I chuckled "but they do not inspire me as much as the Adamantine Arrow, and the Free council..I just felt that with more information I could make a better decision as i do not wish to be run out of town so to speak... As for the guardians.. Doesn't Mathias belong to them?" The look on my face I am sure was one that could be read easily.
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Morgan nodded and replied, "Of course, it is always good to make an informed decision on which Order you wish to join. After all, it wasn't until a couple days before my month was up, before I had made my final decision. And yes, you would be correct, Mathias is part of the Guardians, though you shouldn't allow that to deter you." Morgan chuckled a bit. "He's a good man, and someone I trust with my life. Or, more so, I would trust him with Alexis' life if needed. The Free Council is certainly interesting, though you may not find quite as much structure in them as you would in the Silver Ladder. Then again, the Ladders, they do believe in order, and structure, with them on top of course." Morgan grained a little as she shifted herself in her seat. "The Arrow of this city I know to be rather honorable, for The Duke would tolerate nothing less. He is a good man. And certainly I would never speak ill of the Free Council." she winked at me. "After all, that is Arthur's order. And Alice's. No, the only person I have any issues with within the Free Council is Bunny, and well, those really are on a more... personal level."
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I sighed and nodded replying what was on the top of my mind. "I fully understand... I am sorta confused on weather she attacked you or she was forced to attack you it seamed a little ... convenient for her to attack then.. but the whole thing with Mathias.." I trailed off as my thoughts touch briefly on how crazy insane and cute I think he is while a small smile crossed my face. "He is very ... LOUD. As for Free council.. I like their freedom and I plan to ask Mr.Parker some questions on it as well as Alice. My smile widened at the mention of Parker... but I couldn't help but bite my lower lip shortly after realising I may have given something away.... A small pause and I realise I am rambling again, but seam unable to help myself. "I Don't know much about the Arrow.. and I don't think I know this .. Gab person you spoke of." I then looked down at my hands are realize I have been fidgeting the whole time I cover my tattoo on my hand and place my folded hands in my lap neatly.
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Morgan seamed to notice this and tried to put my mind at ease. "There's no reason to be nervous dear. Do understand, that anything said to me in this office, doesn't leave here. I take my job seriously. As far as Bunny goes, I do believe that in this, particular case, she was under an outside influence. Don't get me wrong, the woman could take a long walk off a short pier and I'd be fine with it, but she's not dumb. She's not going to blatantly attack me, not when I'm carrying Arthur's child." Morgan couldn't help but smile as she picked up my surface thoughts about Mathias and the giddiness about Mr. Parker, but for now she said nothing. "Ethan should also be able to offer you assistance with the Free Council in the area as well. He is a good man, albeit a bit arrogant, but a good person nonetheless."
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I sighed and replied, "I have tried to call Samantha to set up an appointment but i seam to keep missing her."
Later that afternoon Mr. Parker called and he actually came over to my place for a visit, I was a bit nervous having him in my small home considering some of the more wanton dreams I had been having of him as of late and I was certain he could tell I was a bit nervous, I offered him coffee and tea as well as some divinity candy, but polite as he was he was also a busy man and so got right down to business. Mr. Parker took the time and answered some of my questions, I was then more than ever confused as to what order I should belong to. I like the order of the Silver Ladder, and the freedom of the free council and I would feel needed and like I could help in some way with the Adamantine Arrow, this made things harder for me to decide. I believe that I would have to narrow things down a bit more. Take a deeper look within and decide what was more important to me in the long run. I would chose an order then based on what fit me as an individual.
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