Prophecy: Tome of Embers

7. Prophecy, Schmophecy

Coverage of the massacre was branded across every news outlet when morning broke. Every headline, every story was focused on the tragedy that had befallen the children and staff of the orphanage the night prior. Cliff had just gotten off the phone with the chief, learning all the details that had yet to be made public, and he alone knew that it had been the work of the Anchoress. When Myrna's spell had pointed the way they had hurried as quickly as they could, but they were too late, and they were the ones who'd called it in.

Lorelei too knew it had been the Anchoress the moment she'd seen it, and though her source was only her suspicion, it was enough for her to rely on as she arrived at Cliff's apartment. After conferring for only a short while they went to discuss the findings with Toby, knowing enough of him by then to guess that he would still be in bed, unaware of the horror. When they knocked on the door they received no answer, and when they had waited for a short period Cliff turned to go. Not Lorelei though, and she had the lock picked and the door opened in under a minute.

"Toby! Rise and shine, bad news," when she didn't immediately find him on his sofa like she usually did, she headed straight for the bedroom, throwing open the door and calling to him again. It was then that she saw him, nestled lightly under the covers as he just began to wake. Cliff stood behind Lorelei, and together they looked over to Austin, who was curled up on the bed next to him. When Toby had fully risen, a look of great displeasure clear on his face, he too noticed the man who was at his side, and instead of being taken by surprise like his visitors, he simply sighed.

He sighed because it was clear that despite his best intentions of not wanting Austin to have woken back to this world, it had still happened. Toby slid away from the bed as gently as he could, placing the covers over Austin and praying that he would at least be able to keep him asleep now. When he returned his attention to the two at the door he once again beheld them sourly, going only a few paces towards them before stopping and crossing his arms.

"What's going on here?" Lorelei asked, half out of amusement and half out of actual curiosity.

"There's a lock on my door for a damn good reason, next time you come barging in here I'll set you on fire. What the hell do you want?" The hotheaded hybrid had no time for her antics, and he resisted the urge to set her on fire right then anyway.

"Well while you were busy, uh," she looked passed him at Austin and winked, "sleeping, there's been a new development. Last night the Anchoress hit an orphanage-"

"Are you stupid? Not here!" Toby immediately reprimanded her, looking over his shoulder to see if Austin had heard before pushing them out into the living room and shutting the bedroom door behind them. "He doesn't need to be hearing that shit."

"That's cute, real cute, but I'm afraid there are bigger problems than your new boyfriend's fragile sensibilities. Didn't you hear me? She killed a bunch of kids, Toby, doesn't that mean anything to you?" Lorelei scolded.

"Of course it does. Are you sure it was her?" Toby asked, softening a little.

"Yeah, I was the one who found the scene," Cliff interjected, "well, me and Myrna. She cast some kind of spell that took us there, but we were already too late."

"So I guess that means she's done hiding." Toby looked between them.

"Dill said that one of his customers was talking about her. She's feeding to get back to full strength, and I don't think we want to see what happens when she does." Lorelei supplied.

"But the children?" Cliff was sick to his stomach.

"Austin said she likes kids." Toby stopped as he remembered something else Austin had said. "Shit. He also told me she has a cult-like worshipers. Maybe they're here, maybe they came looking for her."