The Four Protectors

Forty Seven

3rd Person POV

The meeting hall was ablaze with discussion, which was similar to the last time he'd been in it. Cassius sat beside Leila, at the head of the quarter of the room that had been given to the werewolves. Desmond was lost to the crowd of vampires in a section to their left. Rafia was easily recognizable at the front of the warlock's section, with Azriel at her side.

Cassius returned his attention to Leila, who squirmed nervously considering she was the youngest of the representatives in the room.

"It's going to be fine," Cassius, whispered.

Leila gave him a tight smile and when the room finally silenced, her calm, professional exterior returned.

These meetings were usually governed by whoever proposed the motion that was to be passed. In this case, it was Rafia. She stepped up to the center to speak, strong voice reverberating across all four walls of the room.

"This motion is an attempt to recover the loss in supernatural population suffered due to the attacks conducted by the operation. We're proposing finding a way to reverse these effects. Leaving those that were injected to live out human lives is only a partial solution. The chemicals the operation used didn't take away a vampire's immortality, only their aversion to sunlight, strength and speed. Injected warlocks have also not lost their immortality. They still belong in our world and passing this motion will help achieve that," Rafia finished.

A murmur started in response and after a couple of questions were thrown about, a recess was called for discussion. Cassius slipped out of the room, heading straight for Rafia. She leaned against a wall of the corridor, absentmindedly staring at a spot on the floor. She glanced up as he approached.

"You said finding a way? I thought we were going to tell them we'd already made the chemicals," Cassius asked bluntly.

"We cannot get caught in a lie," Rafia replied vaguely.

"We're asking people to pass a motion to do research to bring people back to this world, people they gladly sent out over a month ago. How is that going to work," Cassius pressed.

"Don't worry. It'll work out," she said cryptically.

She said nothing further as she headed back towards the room. Cassius had no choice but to follow. The support they gained might falter if talk of further research and funds came up.

He sidled back up to Leila's side.

"I don't know about this. I want to support you but I've received a lot of dissent from the other werewolves Cassius. I cannot go completely against their will, Leila muttered.

Cassius' stomach sank even further as the recess ended and Rafia returned to her position at the center of the room. Each supernatural faction would get to address her directly now with questions. Then a second recess would be called before a final decision was made.

"How much time will the research take, approximately," a man questioned.

Rafia gestured for a woman to come forth, one from the warlock faction. She looked nervous as she pushed up her glasses before looking down at the notes in her hand.

"Considering we have the formula that was used initially, finding a way to reverse it should not take long. Approximately two years," she twittered.

Another buzz of whispers started, which were silenced when another woman from the warlock faction came forth with a question.

"How much money will the project need," she questioned.