The next morning they returned to the base, reappearing in a mass of shadows in their bathroom. Anryien shifted and Jack slowly began to rise to the surface. The shadows that clung to him dispersed into a dark mist and he braced himself on the bathroom door. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEp1jEUWsW
Luna wrapped a hand over his arm as if to help but he shrugged it off with a wry smile. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5XvsIcSmH
“I just need a minute.” He said and she nodded, stripping herself of the jewellery she wore as he gained his bearings. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡCje4sMH5Vg
After a minute he relaxed and rolled his shoulders, the tension leaving him. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NUzOddJaG
Shifting was uncomfortable to say the least and he was glad that the god had clearly taken on the painful part, leaving Jack with only a bit of discomfort. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlLDQel27I
He opened the bathroom door and they slid out, the early morning light flickering through the trees outside the window to fall over the bed. Luna stripped and walked to the closet, pulling out a ruby colored dress. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡJK1YOuKvzG
“You take the shower, I have to check in.” He drawled and she nodded, pecking him on the cheek as she slid back into the bathroom. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIuGiiUw24
He sighed and changed into his uniform, his clothes rumpled from the shift. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIpYlfcHij
Anryien was silent for the most part it would seem, though he could sense him hanging onto his mind like a koala. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡp13rZSVKov
The shower flicked on as he left the room and made his way through the halls, the others who lived in the main building already at work in the base. He released a sigh and rolled his neck, the slight cracking helping to relieve the tension that was already coming back in his shoulders. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡraeVQwdL2g
“Williams, the General wanted to see you.” Dayton called out when he spotted him coming out of the main building. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeYfcjvp1N
Charles Dayton was a middle aged man who had been working with them all for as long as Jack and Henry had been there. He had been trained beside the two of them, but the older man kept to himself for the most part, making very few friends despite being one of the most amicable people Jack had ever met.copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrOLSOEOy2
Jack grinned and nodded and the greying man waved him off.copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZcyV348O7
A few minutes later he found himself back in the main building, the General having redirected their meeting to his office and not the usual tent. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEmnTzGoYI
The General sat and threw his legs up on the desk, lighting a cigar with one hand before taking a puff. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡbG90s2O6Qn
They were silent for a time, Jack finding himself much more at ease with the man than he had ever been before. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bnlJioOrd
The older man’s keen grey eyes narrowed on him after a moment. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQRhdLQU9P
“Williams,” He began, his voice relaxed and casual, but Jack could sense another shoe about to drop.copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡClvMlYOa4F
“I am not going to ask where you and the girl have been, or why neither of you were caught leaving the base by the other men or hell, even the cameras. Or why when I sent McBride, he could not find you in your room. I don’t frankly give a flying fuck if you are off galavanting with the girl- but my higher ups do and it has been noted. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡydQVzzeYnF
“You are not to leave the base again within the next month but for your missions. Lucky for you, you have one on the twenty-ninth. I will not put my career on the line- and certainly not what I’ve worked so hard for- for you to go off and make hanky panky with the girl. I might not care, but I will care if I have to have this conversation again. And I assure you, you will not be in for a good time then. Am I clear?”copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjw3BKOsFY
Jack nodded with what he hoped was a fair expression on his face. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhjM3FKSPP
Anryien was grumbling in his head like an angry teen and Jack couldn’t help but feel like laughing at it all. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡxn3njCWxAk
The General sent him out with a wave of the cigar and he left, off to find Henry- his friend was good with knives of all sort and he could figure that it was time to brush up on the supposed skills he had been gifted with.copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMDKPfuEH9
Their next mission was to retrieve a missing painting that had been stolen from an art collector in Ireland. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYrVKvAvnq
Oddly enough, the painting had been tracked to an antiques dealer not even thirty miles from the collector’s home, and it was now in the hands of an old woman named Neve Conway.copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVOoi70fFB
This time is was just Jack and Luna who made the mission and they didn’t expect it to turn sour, but the higher ups thought that Sverila could steal it overnight.copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTndDds8R9
Jack and Luna had changed the plan since Sverila wasn’t exactly responding at the moment. First they would look through the shop and express interest in several items until Anryien could lead them to the painting which was supposedly kept in plain sight. Then the god would scan the old woman for answers and then they would come back during the night to grab it and wipe the woman’s memories. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡit7KpSgZoE
Seemed like a solid plan, or at least that was what Jack thought. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJze8Rl961
It did not go as expected. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGU8TymmHe
The shop was overcrowded with hoarded items and both the god and his host grumbled their way through the packed stacks, taking the lead and making sure to catch anything that fell from the high shelves before it could crush their heads. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0IDK7w17V
Luna laughed at Jack’s grumbles and he smiled when he caught her grin. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxFeLN67Wd
It took them a while, but they eventually found the checkout counter, which was covered in several layers of dust, a few spider webs dangling from the register and back shelves. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HT3QNCd9k
“I really hope the owner isn’t dead back there.” Jack muttered and Luna muffled her laughter behind a hand as she tugged her jacket close around her. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFk9j5gQ6o
“Never fear, my dear. I may not look it, but I am most certainly alive!” copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLVq0He6Ob
They turned around the see an old woman marching her way down the aisles, looking incredibly spry for someone so aged.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFh8N5lk6eZ
Her hair was near white and her face was filled with deep-set wrinkles, giving her the looks of a wizened crone. She sent Luna a grin, her crinkled eyes warm as she proceeded to smack Jack with her unneeded cane. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXTd1K1EXa
“Hey!” copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoQjyaoP0u
He rubbed his hand with a pout and she released a cackle. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMg8dgPrnE
“No hanky-panky in my shop, boy! I saw where that hand was going!”copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHCwUDgWie
Luna giggled at his expense and the elderly woman popped behind the counter, waving them into a back room. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gCXAb8Y09
“Come in, I have been expecting you!”144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEeGXsw6tD
“You have?” Luna tensed slightly and the woman grinned. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdVJm9ZcBn
“I have the Sight you see, I saw you coming a decade ago. And lucky for you, I have just what you need!”copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡRe4tLZ72Vp
Jack had positioned himself slightly in front of Luna and she wrapped her hand around his elbow to get him to relax. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2GT0g49e4
I cannot read her.copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHidrEnrRY
Great.copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIcSbXSi0O
Jack didn’t think the woman would attack, but he regretted leaving his recently acquired training blades in the car. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgQn9REe0S
He and Luna had a few days for the trip and he had wanted to see if she had any physical gifts as well. Luna had agreed and they had found her a couple of kni-copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiABw1gTs7
Daggers.copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhP4a122j2
Whatever.copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1iHpsy3Hz
-To test out with. The god had recommended them seeing as how his sister typically fought with a pair of her own if she couldn’t rely on her magic.copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0RxCozSh1
The woman introduced herself using the same name they had been given and told them to sit on a relatively tidy bench as she pulled a cloth wrapped painting out from behind a shelf. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09jQetRgvb
“That’s it.” Luna breathed. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmdC3D4CHM
“How do you know?” Jack asked as the god affirmed her statement. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDM3borKhJ
“I-I don’t know. I can feel it- it… has a will of its own. It doesn’t like me.”144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJsNpXhWC2
The old woman chuckled as she placed it atop an easel. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiT587y0n3
“Quit your whisperings, you two. I have ears like an wolf.”copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGqqit3n6K
Luna went silent and stared at the covered painting, worrying her lower lip beneath her teeth and making it swell. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hoWkzlMjC
It’s like she is a reflection of my power.copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5Voa4vI5T
Who?copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhAdHTGKgM
The old woman. I do not think she is human.copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡvq4TmpsIbM
Jack had tensed and wrapped his hand into Luna’s. Her hold was soft in return, distracted. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGSg52kBLp
“She’s awakening.” Luna murmured and he didn’t have to ask who. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyH5LoYs9f
Sverila, no doubt. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEGjy3I1LT
The woman appeared next to Luna in a heartbeat and grabbed her right hand, staring at it as she prodded it with both of her own. Luna barely looked away from the covered painting though. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6AFmGIHhu
The woman released her hand, gaining Luna’s attention. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6N2NSOcRgm
“You’re pregnant. Congrats, dear.”copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6v0NPzQxAB
Jack stilled but forced himself to relax, in his head he worried over the future, his hand gripping Luna’s tighter as he fretted over all the possibilities. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnH233IMK0
His vision- in his vision she had given birth to twins. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRNjFF7Rxo
She hadn’t been sick- he didn’t even suspect anything was going on. He didn’t have to ask Luna to know she didn’t either. He had known that she didn’t really get a menstrual cycle since they had lived together for so long, so they didn’t have that to go by. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡdETerINhgo
He glanced at Luna to see her eyes slightly glazed over as her hand fell to lay in her lap. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHLzJPDsCn
“What’s wrong?”copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSffcUVkMs
“She’s just in shock, boy. That and the Glass has that effect of some people. Here, take the glass out to the car and I’ll get her something to drink.” copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZ7Ceyl2PB
He begrudgingly released her to the woman and carted the painting out the shop to the trunk of a car they had taken. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIjch32UvE
It was not as heavy as he had believed it would be as he gripped the thick wooden frame, the ornate carvings cutting into his hands. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXxxdJs93e
He carefully popped the trunk and tucked it in inside, though something stopped him from closing the trunk. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMeJoshKv7
His attention was drawn to the black silk covering the actual painting and as if his hand had a mind of its own he flipped the silk off and released a choked gasp. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVPF87Ia1e
It wasn’t a painting- but a mirror. What had the woman called it in there? Glass?copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkcmSp5kz9
It’s the Diviner’s Glass.copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbWNUlgc5L
What does it do?copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqH96PgOZi
It is supposed to show the viewer a brief look into the future. What do you see?copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ODeavEgQd
Nothing.copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡqppmckHsxM
He wasn’t lying. It was just a simple mirror, only with an ornate silver gilded frame.copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRdV0jKg8K
He couldn’t deny it though- something was off about it. Something about its surface- or maybe below the surface- called to him- no, resonated with him. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbycqJH50y
He stared at the Glass and time seemed to slow to a crawl- and then to a sudden stop. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqXINa2vCz
He blinked once and something seemed to change in his reflection- something he could not name, could not properly see. He blinked twice and his focus became achingly singular and felt little as he began to slip down a rabbit hole of sorts. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRqwMrQwIZ
With the third blink he collapsed and began to slip away to the back of his mind as a vision came into alarming focus. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhaQtBzbGz
Bitter cold, he can barely breathe, his chest aches painfully and he knows he is not the one in control.He can barely see past the receding ice. He blinks and finds himself lying in a metal tube, the cold a different type of cutting. Each breath draws a shudder and he cannot bring himself to speak. He cannot think- where is he? Who is he? He can hear a man’s voice calling in his mind and he willingly slips to the back of their shared mind... copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZ0HHORKku
Jack slammed awake and nearly slammed heads with Thomas as he rushed to sit up. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDlK97c0EU
His breathing was sharp and thick, desperate. How did he get here?copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVb9LFLlRr
He calmed as he felt a familiar hand rub his back. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAqWi8L9T5
Luna. He was with Luna. Ireland. Old woman. Painting-Glass thing. Vision.copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdIYYS6aSK
Fuck. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RGg1sWMNN
It took a few minutes but he relaxed and looked up to see a worried Luna sitting at his side, her eyes weighed down by slight bags. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJoEGGNrQG
Jack widened and blinked his eyes several times to wake himself up a bit more.copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtTgsS8y21
The infirmary is quiet for once, most of the others asleep. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7TZoUrlHf
It’s night, but only an hour from dawn. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VZxAFdn63
Luna’s voice was soft to not wake anyone else in the infirmary as she fills him in on what happened on the mission. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ExYUZQ2yT
On how she had found him outside. The god had awakened briefly to slide into the passenger seat of the car, but she had driven several hours to make it to the transport in England where they had checked him over before sending them back to their base. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4R1XQqRiLz
They had taken the mirror when they had gotten back and Luna had gotten the Charlestons to cart him to the infirmary as she reported back to the General. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTuxq4dEsk
The man had been suspicious about it all, she told him as dawn approached. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxYfvSfmVO
She had never reported directly to him before and he heard from Henry in the morning that the General thought Sverila had disabled him. Luna had been asleep then in the back while he and Henry had spoken quietly about what they thought he would do. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZFiXwIOPt
Would he try and separate them now? copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡonnSVOX9sq
It seemed likely. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbXsrtlGQg
Henry promised to tell him what was going on when he figured it out. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7gapdG72v
Henry worked higher up than he did- they told him things that Jack was kept unaware of.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ija5ovpvK
That had been on purpose- they had wanted someone who wouldn’t be able to give Sverila information easily. No, he would have had to search it out to get answers to any question. It left Luna and Jack relatively isolated from the classified information and even his friendship with Henry would not get him to reveal any information to Jack. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrTYjPMhYf
Jack made sure to keep quiet about what had happened even before the god had commanded him to- neither of them were sure whether the vision was a result of the mirror of not, but they couldn’t risk letting anyone know beside Luna about the visions. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsqFUR9fy0
Henry eventually left and soon enough he was left without cognizant company. copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡw27Ncx1TE4
“Me? Not cogny? Williams, I am offended!” Morgan chortled and the other men laughed as Beatrice began her shift, Luna in the back.copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfvjeP8077
Jack chuckled at the other soldier’s words and fell back against the cot, already longing for when he would be deemed healthy and able to leave the barely heated infirmary.copyright protection140ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPzGvuxEK5
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