The ponderous door slowly opened with barely a sound. The chamber was just as dark as it was the last time he got chewed out, the only difference was the number of occupants. All five thrones were filled with beings at the peak of existence.
The first new Council Member was Beelzebub, representative of the demons and unholy beings. He was a monster of a man completely covered by full plate armor with his arms crossed across his chest. The armor was pure black with sculpted embossing showing scenes of demons falling upon prey. He had to have been almost eight feet tall and had a body that would make a professional body builder jealous. Logan almost shivered as he felt the power of the man. It was a common, if unspoken, belief that if the entire Council got into a free-for-all he would be the last one standing, though he would be a few limbs poorer and the world would be missing a part of a continent.
Across from Beelzebub was Michael, representative of angels and holy beings. He was a handsome man with lighter skin and pure white hair. As if in complete opposition to his counterpart, he wore regular street clothes. He was in designer jeans, a white shirt, a gray jacket, and had a golden cross hanging around his neck. He claimed that he would wear the common clothes for the era so as to blend in among the humans better. Logan’s theory was that he just wanted to be comfortable.
The final new Council Member was Anne Boleyn, representative of ghosts, revenants, and those who have returned to life. She was the second wife of King Henry VIII, mother of Queen Elizabeth I, and was executed by her husband in 1536. She was still a beautiful woman and wore what you would expect from an English noblewoman, though it was difficult to tell exact colors or style due to the floating intangibility. Even while she sat, her clothes and hair flowed through the air like she was submerged in water. He could even lightly see the throne behind her as she smiled down at him.
Out of all the Council Members, she scared him the most. Though Councilor Boleyn was supposedly different, most ghosts had the annoying habit of holding onto grudges from when they were alive and making them their sole reason for existing. Their obsessions were as legendary as they were mysterious.
Logan and Miyuki reverently moved forward before kneeling. Sarah was a few steps behind but quickly caught up and knelt next to them. There was a profound silence throughout the room while the three guests waited. He could feel their overbearing pressure. It was like he was standing under a freezing waterfall and was trying to keep himself conscious.
The first to speak was Councilor Beelzebub. His deep baritone was like a rockslide rolling down a mountain. “ Although we have already heard much from Sigurd, we want to hear your account directly.”
Logan swallowed nervously before repeating the events to them the same way he had Master Sigurd. Once he was done there was a quiet chill over the room. The only sounds Logan could hear were that of breathing and his overactive heart.
The silence was finally broken by a single word, “shit.” Everyone in the room, including Logan, looked to the origin of the curse. It was Councilor Michael. He was shaking his head while pinching the bridge of his nose. He turned to face the room. “The Light have finally brought themselves up from nuisances to an actual threat.”
Councilor Beelzebub scoffed at Councilor Michael’s statement. “They are nothing but a few humans that probably got lucky and found a few minor artifacts.”
The angel scowled at his opposite. “That’s bull and you know it. Normal humans can’t get their hands on those kinds of spells, especially in a relatively large number.” He turned to Logan. “Hand over the stuff you took.”
Logan quickly placed his duffel bag on the floor next to him and began searching for the requested items. It only took a few moments for him to find the pockets that held the clip, bullet, and amulet. He delicately withdrew each item and placed them on the floor before him.
After Councilor Beelzebub waved his hand the three items began floating. With another flick they rose higher and dashed toward his outstretched hand before stopping. While they hovered in the air his armored head moved as he examined them. He shook his head before waving them over to Councilor Michael who held up their own hand for them to float over.
Councilor Beelzebub crossed his arms before speaking like he just ate something unpleasant. “I am reluctant to say this but, I think Michael is correct.”
Councilor Michael smiled smugly at his opponent’s admission.
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“That doesn’t mean I agree with him either,” he continued. “Yes, I agree that these aren’t something natural for them to find, but I still don’t think they’re a threat. It was an ambush of six Crusaders with fully automatic weapons equipped with enchanted bullets and stealth amulets. They only accomplished ruining one car and temporarily wounding one agent, who was completely healed within twenty-four hours.”
Master Sigurd interjected. “I disagree. The only reason we were able to escape with no losses is because both agents were experienced hunters. If it were two normal Guardian-class agents, we would have lost the artifact, the newly cursed woman, and both agent’s lives.”
“Don’t you mean a Hunter and a Guardian?” said Councilor Kuzunoha with her eternally polite smile.
Master Sigurd didn’t give her the satisfaction of a response. “Because of this I agree with Michael. We need to consider The Light to be an actual threat. However, I will move to have that discussion at a later date. For now, we need to focus on our other problem.” He looked to the other Councilors to find them nodding in accent. “Very well.” He turned to Sarah.
Logan also looked to his side to find her shaking and sweating. If the auras were powerful enough to suppress him, he could only imagine what she was going through.
“For the record,” Master Sigurd said to her, “what is your name, what you were doing at the temple, what are you cursed with, and how were you cursed?”
The girl swallowed before responding in a shaking voice, obviously nervous and nearly frightened out of her mind. “M-my n-name is S-Sarah Jacobs, I was at the temple with an archaeological dig, I think it’s Dawon, and I pricked my finger on a tiger statue.”
There was a near imperceptible stir among the Councilors. Logan couldn’t tell what it was about, and wasn’t sure he liked it.
“I say suck it out of her.” Said Councilor Michael. At his recommendation the three subjects froze.
Before anyone else could respond a voice filled the room that could only be described as haunting. It echoed far more than it should have and sent a chill down Logan’s spine. “You are being rash yet again angel.” Councilor Boleyn spoke. The sounds didn’t come from her moving mouth, but from around her.
“She is but a child,” she continued, “I have a proposition. If I search her mind and am confident in her ability to keep our secret, will you allow the beast to remain?”
Councilor Michael rolled his eyes. “Yea, whatever. Just make sure to get everything.”
In one fluid motion she rose from her seat and glided through the air. Her hair and dress flowed around her as she approached. Although the woman’s smile had a motherly warmth to it, her eyes were empty. They had the blank stare of a corpse at an open casket funeral. As she passed by him to hover before Sarah he saw a thin line wrapping her neck at the point of her beheading.
“Now child,” she said while reaching out a finger, “do not resist.”
Logan had no doubt that if Sarah could have run, she would have. She shivered in place as she watched the specter inch closer to her.
She placed the very tip of her finger on Sarah’s forehead and kept that for a few seconds. With a single motion she pushed her finger two knuckles deep into Sarah’s skull. Sarah instantly tensed as her eyes unfocused with her face becoming lax. After a while Logan was getting worried about her health. He knew that some spirits were able to enter another’s mind and read what they found but had never seen it for himself.
They remained in the same position for another minute when Councilor Boleyn slowly pulled back. The very moment they were no longer touching, the girl began to tilt sideways. Miyuki was quick to jump up and catch her before she fell.
Councilor Boleyn waited until she was once more “sitting” before answering the unasked question. The entire council tensed as they waited for her verdict. “I deem her trustworthy, I feel secure in trusting her with the secret of our existence. I also feel secure that she has the willpower to control her beast and be an asset to us.”
Logan was honestly surprised at her final statement. Sarah had been an emotional mess. When she wasn’t pissing herself she was ready to tear someone’s face off. He knew the struggle of a newly-cursed as he had gone through much the same process. It was just how she reacted to everything that made him nervous. His surprise was replaced with relief as he no longer had to worry about her getting her beast extracted.
Master Sigurd scanned the three of them. “Very well, As the host I move to postpone the current meeting for it to be continued tomorrow in which we will cover The Light and what to do with them. Any objections?” hearing none he stood, “very well. Meeting adjourned."
As the Councilors stood more lights turned on and filled the previously dark room. The whole foreboding atmosphere was ruined by the reveal of curved granite steps leading up the flat level that held the seats.
The Councilors and their previously hidden seconds made their way out of the room. With the girl still unconscious he and Miyuki remained where they were.
Master Sigurd stopped a few feet away from them while passing by. “Meet me in my office when she awakens, we have much to speak of.” With that he continued until he and his second, a tall man with blond hair, a curved mustache, and a saber at his side, walked by them. When the final occupant left the doors closed themselves with a bang, leaving the three guests alone.
