‘The enemy has been annihilated Emperor. A few Shades jumped and closed their gates before we could follow, but the rest were executed.’
‘Good. Thank you Captain. Take your men back to Carrick and send a report to Washington. Ask them to have NASA on standby to clear a window. We will return to Stormont and prepare the rocket for a lunar mission. The Emperors must go to Thoth in person.’
*
John woke with a start in the meditation chamber. It was empty. He raised himself slowly from the stone slab and groaned as he rubbed his neck and shoulders. A tannoy system sprang to life. It was Molly’s voice. ‘ Wakey, wakey soldier boy. We are in the Briefing Room if you’d like to join us.’ John dragged himself of the slab and shuffled towards the exit holding his head in his hands.
The door to the Briefing Room slid open and John walked in, trying unsuccessfully to look fresh and alert. His shirt was wrinkled and damp below the arms. The fluorescent lighting gave an almost translucent quality to his grey complexion. He ran his tongue around dry teeth in attempt to gain some moisture for speech. He raised his eyes from the floor to smile at the three figures before him. ‘That was awesome.’
The Emperor sat at the head of an oval table that took up most of the room. Screens covered the walls showing castle security feeds, 24 hour news stations, statistics and data charts. ‘ You fought well today John, but this was an incident that should never have occurred. Shades hit and run on isolated agents or hunt down regular humans, they don’t lead us into traps and they certainly don’t attempt pitched battles. They must have a new commander. Natalie, I need you to get regular police on this as well, they will have operatives in the local community.’
Molly slouched in her chair with her feet crossed on the table and yawned. ‘ Why don’t we just call Washington, get your brothers on the phone and have an Emperors meeting or whatever you call it. If the four of you stand together then Thoth can be persuaded to go to war and we can put an end to the Shades altogether.’
‘ I have already arranged for the rocket to be prepared and we will meet with Thoth. But an all out war could not be concealed from the Humans. Damage limitation on Shade activity is already stretching Agency resources beyond capacity. We need another way in.’
Natalie's eyes widened as she turned to look a John. ‘A spy?’
YOU ARE READING
Second Circle
ParanormalBelfast sorcerer John Crow brakes Agency protocol and as punishment gets partnered with a new mentor, crossbow wielding New York warrior witch, Molly Li Morgan.
