Second Circle

Chapter Two: The High Priestess

‘Fuck!’ John crumpled into a ball, head in hands.

A second later the temperature in the room soared. The bulbs overhead flickered, then darkness. Stormont’s emergency generators kicked in bathing the room in pulsating red from the emergency lighting.

The sharp pain that had pierced Johns mind subsided enough for him to glance up and see Molly and Natalie standing arms outstretched, eyes fixed.

A thunderous roar shook the very foundations of the castle and another wave of heat washed over them breaking the women from their trance. Natalie grabbed her coat and locked eyes with Molly. ‘It’s not working, we can’t hold it from here. You know what to do. Go. And bring him with you.’

Molly looked to the ball on the ground and raised her eyebrows. ‘You sure?’

‘He's going to find out sometime, might as well be now.’

Molly pulled her bag over her shoulder and lifted the heavy crossbow in both hands. She gave John a friendly kick in the side as she ran past him and out the door. ‘Let's go, Crow. Time to see the show!’

John picked himself up, head still ringing, and followed her through a maze of corridors filled with office workers and agents running towards the surface levels. They reached a staircase and descended down countless flights of stairs, the air growing hotter with every step. Eventually they reached a large metal door with four guards wearing black business suits. Each held an engraved bronze staff.

Molly stopped short of the door, took a bolt from her bag and loaded the crossbow. She turned to the first guard. ‘Agent Morgan and Agent Crow requesting vault access.’

‘Yes Priestess, the request has been pre-approved but you are to wait for backup. We have two combat units flying in from Carrick. They just landed on the helipad.’

John wiped the sweat from him brow. ‘Priestess? Combat Units? Why do we need backup? What’s in there?’

Molly looked at John. Her emerald eyes sparkled. ‘ The Agency has a Dragon.’