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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYOxbgye7B
Luna wrapped a hand over his arm as if to help but he shrugged it off with a wry smile. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpqn3fxUYR
“I just need a minute.” He said and she nodded, stripping herself of the jewellery she wore as he gained his bearings. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsfGEv2PTz
After a minute he relaxed and rolled his shoulders, the tension leaving him. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ryRYJ7xYf
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IEz6IPDCN
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7fLOUgQJa
“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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMCYDBIK8H
He sighed and changed into his uniform, his clothes rumpled from the shift. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhpERvmG9Z
Anryien was silent for the most part it would seem, though he could sense him hanging onto his mind like a koala. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡtE6JpVDGLn
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbataN4Sxd
“Williams, the General wanted to see you.” Dayton called out when he spotted him coming out of the main building. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxuZblvy2E
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡyviFfIATol
Jack grinned and nodded and the greying man waved him off.copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfxrIHeMAM
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaju9vPF4S
The General sat and threw his legs up on the desk, lighting a cigar with one hand before taking a puff. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCnChDkRwI
They were silent for a time, Jack finding himself much more at ease with the man than he had ever been before. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOXLfGtus3
The older man’s keen grey eyes narrowed on him after a moment. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡgseAWo6M3b
“Williams,” He began, his voice relaxed and casual, but Jack could sense another shoe about to drop.copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmN2Y5FiXc
“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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1b0ZWgFpK8
“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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1AHCw5Ij8
Jack nodded with what he hoped was a fair expression on his face. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXvH0uMGNK
Anryien was grumbling in his head like an angry teen and Jack couldn’t help but feel like laughing at it all. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOVTORathV
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKWcrzJxh2
Their next mission was to retrieve a missing painting that had been stolen from an art collector in Ireland. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡFb0bS0FFGs
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzhlt5dDzu
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbfvnG57dm
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Tya4rbK7S
Seemed like a solid plan, or at least that was what Jack thought. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxruTVA6z9
It did not go as expected. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8kQEIxJPK
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZEE9J5ktc
Luna laughed at Jack’s grumbles and he smiled when he caught her grin. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGKEaDAKK9
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmhfcVXKEN
“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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKN9oWSuhl
“Never fear, my dear. I may not look it, but I am most certainly alive!” copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡHu1r9c5JXQ
They turned around the see an old woman marching her way down the aisles, looking incredibly spry for someone so aged.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17YHk8gWuf
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRc97p559J
“Hey!” copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEuFNTCFnT
He rubbed his hand with a pout and she released a cackle. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14o3wxfCgc
“No hanky-panky in my shop, boy! I saw where that hand was going!”copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡt94Fib5ogf
Luna giggled at his expense and the elderly woman popped behind the counter, waving them into a back room. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79TBPHvrnS
“Come in, I have been expecting you!”59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqFv8YfURO
“You have?” Luna tensed slightly and the woman grinned. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpXKsuhI6y
“I have the Sight you see, I saw you coming a decade ago. And lucky for you, I have just what you need!”copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzHZf0blos
Jack had positioned himself slightly in front of Luna and she wrapped her hand around his elbow to get him to relax. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwBu8rcDSz
I cannot read her.copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡveYtYrXg93
Great.copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4Dw3SwfeV
Jack didn’t think the woman would attack, but he regretted leaving his recently acquired training blades in the car. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOrjjzKvdD
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JS4cRv97E
Daggers.copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWJQsNJZ2X
Whatever.copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKMn35XOAa
-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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGTlK5cgfk
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsgEiJr1Jt
“That’s it.” Luna breathed. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEdL1hQY6r
“How do you know?” Jack asked as the god affirmed her statement. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8z72US778m
“I-I don’t know. I can feel it- it… has a will of its own. It doesn’t like me.”59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFK2tkgCJg
The old woman chuckled as she placed it atop an easel. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4PHI7q99a
“Quit your whisperings, you two. I have ears like an wolf.”copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8ORTQ9KOg
Luna went silent and stared at the covered painting, worrying her lower lip beneath her teeth and making it swell. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXPjZKb7Rk
It’s like she is a reflection of my power.copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡuipjZ7qqhA
Who?copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVIpMCfWm3
The old woman. I do not think she is human.copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡcx12R0M28D
Jack had tensed and wrapped his hand into Luna’s. Her hold was soft in return, distracted. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCWMWWUnmb
“She’s awakening.” Luna murmured and he didn’t have to ask who. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡXX7FnThCQE
Sverila, no doubt. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2bH42IR5Q
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡvttrgpnaMK
The woman released her hand, gaining Luna’s attention. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKItp5nHHd
“You’re pregnant. Congrats, dear.”copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡlogx5lAOcG
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡFH989qywBl
His vision- in his vision she had given birth to twins. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡhY5Zrv4PcM
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yak6gFG5S
He glanced at Luna to see her eyes slightly glazed over as her hand fell to lay in her lap. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKAxTJXsgy
“What’s wrong?”copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxwSwYnBOA
“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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡoR9zbgPRXV
He begrudgingly released her to the woman and carted the painting out the shop to the trunk of a car they had taken. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkGjRz3O1j
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPQTInS5ZG
He carefully popped the trunk and tucked it in inside, though something stopped him from closing the trunk. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnyQWK6MB3
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlnnFeXI3Z
It wasn’t a painting- but a mirror. What had the woman called it in there? Glass?copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qOSkxgcCf
It’s the Diviner’s Glass.copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjDr9zbfmN
What does it do?copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡj48GrNVpwY
It is supposed to show the viewer a brief look into the future. What do you see?copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyperJLIWo
Nothing.copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOHBgRbr6x
He wasn’t lying. It was just a simple mirror, only with an ornate silver gilded frame.copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpBn63b1tI
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Sgq6I9Sq5
He stared at the Glass and time seemed to slow to a crawl- and then to a sudden stop. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoUXZbPbDV
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡISlkgsoruR
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡauJqVQ94Iz
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZY5XYgM9T
Jack slammed awake and nearly slammed heads with Thomas as he rushed to sit up. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSM3c2vAtZ
His breathing was sharp and thick, desperate. How did he get here?copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEub4p2euL
He calmed as he felt a familiar hand rub his back. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFKLLHJ2tT
Luna. He was with Luna. Ireland. Old woman. Painting-Glass thing. Vision.copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbLIfXKLye
Fuck. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZSfbXFdba
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZQJLBruDU
Jack widened and blinked his eyes several times to wake himself up a bit more.copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡoz69il726F
The infirmary is quiet for once, most of the others asleep. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRF97Q6N4i
It’s night, but only an hour from dawn. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4hNN2pex3
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VDf5VBcYH
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfzwoGnvts
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrw5fk8EyG
The man had been suspicious about it all, she told him as dawn approached. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡHICkXHfyTd
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLtQiRwFn0
Would he try and separate them now? copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8csEiHYqlx
It seemed likely. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72fJndrDMk
Henry promised to tell him what was going on when he figured it out. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ36kTocq4z
Henry worked higher up than he did- they told him things that Jack was kept unaware of.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLnJtHSJEn
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcLSR3APuV
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBYCllQMZC
Henry eventually left and soon enough he was left without cognizant company. copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QFdayBmZG
“Me? Not cogny? Williams, I am offended!” Morgan chortled and the other men laughed as Beatrice began her shift, Luna in the back.copyright protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpSHiJLSzg
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 protection55ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWSNzd9pZ8
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