The Russo household was mourning John. After a few days, the search teams sent into the destroyed structure found what was left of John's body and confirmed his identity by his DNA. There was a simple funeral as John's body was cremated and spread into the wind at his behest. Alex had cried for several days straight and only Harper was able to be around her without Alex unleashing her wraith. The rest of the family were downstairs, working in the sub shop, trying to keep their minds off their loss. As the last of the dinner crowd was leaving, Jerry flipped the closed sign up as Max and Justin began to clean tables. Theresa was in back putting the condiments away as the doors to the sub shop were blown open, sending Jerry flying into the opposite wall. Justin and Max ran to their dad as several wizards entered through the destroyed door. Justin sent a few bolts of magic at the intruders as Max tried to pick up his dad and get to cover. Theresa came out the kitchen and ducked as several magical bolts impacted the kitchen door. Theresa moved behind the counter as Justin and Max finally got the unconscious Jerry behind the counter as well. Justin peeked above the counter and ducked as several bolts ricocheted off the counter.
"We are hosed." Justin plainly said to his family.
Max looked up to the stairs and saw Harper and Alex coming down the stairs, "Maybe not." remarked Max pointing at Alex as she drew her wand and took out the nearest wizard with a fireball. Harper used her magic to defend as Alex was sending fireballs and lightening at the intruders. As several more wizards entered with their golems, Alex and Harper dove behind the counter with the rest of the Russo family.
"Geez, what did you do to make them mad?" said Alex to Justin.
"I didn't do anything." Justin said as he put his wand over the counter and blindly launched a spell. "I thought you said we were done with all this." Justin countered.
Alex wiped her face, as she blindly sent a spell at the intruders.
"I thought I did." said Alex as Harper got in a shot of her own.
"Well I guess they didn't get the memo." Harper shot back as the counter was pulled apart and flung across the sub shop exposing the family as they backed up against the wall.
The Russo's watched as the wizards took their time to make sure their shots hit their mark. As they started to chant the spells, the wizards' eyes grew wide as they fell over with holes in each of their heads. The remaining wizards turned around as the golems exploded. Taking cover the Russos ran into the kitchen and watched as several men in black suits carrying grenade launchers and strange assault rifles quickly jumped into the sub shop firing at the remaining wizards. Blocking the bullets, the wizards sent several magic missiles at the mortal intruders. The wizards were shocked when the suits dodged most of the magic, while one was hit and quickly got back up. Leaving themselves open, the wizards fell as the suits closed the distance between them and put several bullets into each wizard. Looking around the suits saw the Russo family. Several of the suits took up defensive positions, while several went into the kitchen and simply grabbed the Russo family and drug them out of the sub shop to the awaiting convoy of vehicles. As soon as the door closed, the SUVs took off with the Russo family in their care.
Alex looked at the men around her family. Her dad, Justin, and Max were in another vehicle, while Theresa and Harper were with her. Theresa tapped the man in the passenger seat on the shoulder, "Who are you and where is my husband?" asked Theresa.
The man paid no attention as he was busy reloading his weapon. The suit beside Alex turned to Theresa. "Do not worry Mrs. Russo. You are safe. Mr. Russo is in the vehicle behind us with a healer. He will be fine. We will be taking you to John's lair for your own safety. I am sorry to say, for now, you can not return to your home." said the suit as he tapped the driver on the shoulder and pointed to an exit off the freeway.
"You still didn't answer my mother's question." said Alex as she readied her wand.
"I can't give you an answer Miss Russo. Suffice it to say though, we are not part of any organization you are familiar with, so you can relax your wand." said the suit watching Alex for her reaction.
Alex took measure of the men. They were frighteningly quiet and stoic as they watched through the windows for any sign of danger. "Why did you save us?" asked Alex as she put up her wand.
The suit in charge answered, "The Grandmaster ordered us to watch your family and keep you all safe."
"Who is this Grandmaster?" asked Harper as the suit put his hand up to an ear piece and listened intently. With a look of shock, he reached up and flipped down a small TV from the ceiling of the SUV and turned it on.
A young woman was behind a news desk, with tears in her eyes. "Excuse me for a moment" she said to the camera as she gathered herself.
"Thank you for waiting. About 30 minutes ago, the council hall was bombed and over half the wizard council is missing and presumed dead. Since the head councilor is missing, Councilor Pimpernil has taken charge and has decreed all wizards to report for duty to retaliate against the magi who are reported by the survivors as the people responsible for the attack." said the woman as an older man stepped into the shot and sat down beside her.
Looking into the camera as the news room seemed to shake as a boom was heard. "I don't know how much time we have. Wizards under council orders are downstairs storming our station. The magi didn't do it. It was our..." said the man as the room rocked with an explosion, sending ceiling pieces onto the news casters as the station went off the air.
Turning to the Russos, the suit turned off the channel, "It has begun." he stated as he pulled out his iphone and began to send out several texts.
"Was that the wizard world news?" asked Theresa looking at the suit.
"Yes it was. Unfortunately, it seems the other side has begun their move." commented the man as the SUV arrived at their destination in Brooklyn. Getting out of their vehicles, the suits formed a perimeter and lead the Russos upstairs as several carried Jerry gently into John's lair. The suit in charge motioned for them to set Jerry down on the couch as a robed figured entered behind the suits. Taking off her hood, Demetria smiled at the Russos as she kneeled down beside Jerry and healed his wounds. Opening his eyes, Jerry looked around at everyone and fell off the couch trying to run. Theresa grabbed him and told him it was ok as Demetria walked over to the window and opened it, as Bird flew in and sat on his perch. Alex walked over to Bird and gave him a scratch on his head as Demetria sat on a stool behind the large wooden table.
"You will all be safe here. Do not use any teleportation magic, it can be tracked. If you need to leave, you will have to do it the old fashion way. The kitchen is stocked with whatever you would like and those rooms over there have beds in them for you to sleep." said Demetria as Max and the Russos gathered around her.
"What's going on Demetria" asked Max first as the Russos looked on.
"The war has been kicked up a notch. With most of the good wizards in hiding now, and the council under the control of the dark ones, they have made their first move in taking out wizard families that have gone against them." explained Demetria.
"What about these suits?" asked Alex.
Demteria smiled at Alex, "They can be trusted. Though the magical defenses here will keep you away from harm and off the radar." answered Demetria as she turned to Max.
Taking Max's hand, "Max. I know you are young, but I need your help back home. You have a way of thinking that, quite honestly will help us fight off the renewed offensive against my people." said Demetria.
"What? You aren't taking my baby into battle." piped up Theresa grabbing Max.
"Mom, easy. I am 16 now. I know how to defend myself. Demetria and John have taught me a lot, and I am sure Demetria will make sure I am safe." said Max as he tried to get away from his mother's kung fu grip.
Jerry put his arm on Theresa's shoulder and pulled her to him. "Theresa. He is not a baby anymore. If he wants to go. We should let him." said Jerry softly.
"What are you saying Jerry. You want your son to get killed." Theresa retorted trying to pull away from Jerry.
"Of course not. But this is bigger than us." said Jerry.
Theresa's eyes welled up with tears. "Was John not enough. Do have to send all my babies off to fight this war? I hate magic." she yelled as she put her head into Jerry's chest.
Jerry motioned for Max and Demetria to go ahead and leave. Max and Demetria quietly walked out with the suits as Alex and Justin sat down on the couch and began to watch the news. Jerry walked with Theresa into one of the bedrooms as Alex put her head on her brother's shoulder.
"This is going to get worse isn't it?" she asked, as Justin simply nodded in agreement.
As the suits left, they dropped Demetria and Max off at a secure location to teleport back to Magi territory as they went back to one of the numerous safe houses. As they arrived, the suit in charge left his men to rest and entered the basement of the safe house. The suit bowed as a man in robes stepped out of the shadows with two men dressed in a modern form of armor surrounded the robed figure. The robed figure motioned for the suit to get up. "Is it done, Master Vance?" said the man.
"Yes, Master Sumer. The Russos are at John's lair, while Demetria has taken Max to their territory to help out in their defense." said Master Vance.
"Well done. We must prepare for what is next. Have your men keep an eye on the Russos." commanded Master Sumer as he walked up the stairs with his guards in tow and left the safe house in the awaiting vehicles.
After several minutes of travel, the vehicle stopped out front of an old warehouse as Master Sumer and company quickly went inside. As he entered, the guards bowed their heads in respect as Sumer walked quickly by them into the command center.
"So what have we got gentlemen and ladies." said Sumer as an aid walked up to him.
"Master we have renewed offensives in all active theaters. The Magi have asked for assistance as well as the Druid and Chen nations." said the aid.
"Very well ready our forces for deployment. I fear soon, that this war will spill into the mortal world." said Sumer as he watched the screens before him.