Shadow Council

Nuit reclined in her chair, the polished black table stretching out before her. She waited patiently in the darkness, occasionally checking a delicate wristwatch. She raised her head as the television screens flickered to life. They started a high pitch hum and the light drew back the shadows from her face. One after another, each screen sparked to life and revealed a different face, until a glowing screen occupied every seat around the table.

“Is there news of the boy?” One face asked.

“Nothing as yet,” Nuit shook her head.

“We should have used our own, rather than send humans,” another visage voiced it’s opinion. “Now they’re on their guard.”

“But there’s no indication that the orders came from us, is there?”

“None. They have no reason not to trust in us.”

“Then perhaps we ought to extend an emissary—we could use their disappearance as a pretence for concern.”

Nuit cleared her throat. “Byron will be suspicious of anyone who comes looking for them. He may not know it was us, but he knows someone was after them.”

“Then what do you suggest?”

She shrugged. “Give them time. They’ll come back on the grid once they feel safe again.”

“But the boy—“

“—Will be in seclusion with them. At the very least, this buys us some more time.”

“Has he begun to manifest his Beruf?”

“No.” Nuit considered for a  moment lying to the other council members. “He killed the oracle with a knife, not with any powers.” Of course, she failed to remind them that his powers could have manifested and grown at any time since his disappearance.

“Then we shall continue to be vigilant and bide out time.”

“Agreed.”

“And Mahan?” It was a voice from the far end of the table. A man with hair silvered with age.

There was a long silence before any of them were willing to speak in answer.

“We’ve heard nothing,” one finally spoke.

“Then we ought to prepare for another attack.”

“Perhaps.”

“Do we know yet what they were after at the museum?”

Another woman cleared her throat. “A clay tablet. We’re not sure of its significance though.”

Nuit ran this new information through in her mind. Another artifact taken. What was the bastard up to?

“We shall reconvene a week hence in that case. Nuit, keep us informed on any progress with the boy.”

She nodded respectfully, and then pressed a button on the table before her. She screens around her switched off and she was left to mull her thoughts in the darkness of the room.