Alyssa froze in place. The words echoing in her mind. Gabrielle tried to kill her. She considered Gabrielle to be a friend well, she did. Alyssa couldn't exactly call her a friend now. How many friends try to kill you?
Alyssa stood still staring at the two buys standing next to her trying to comfort her. Not really sure how to process the information she had just been given. Hamish gently took her arms and led her to the chai he had just been sleeping in. seeing Hamish's intentions Randall quickly walked to the chair and tipped it upright so that Alyssa could sit in it. Alyssa allowed herself to be placed in the chair still stunned form the revelation.
Gently Randall approached her. "Do you need a drink?"
Hamish looked at him like he had a second head. "its nine in the morning, what's wrong with you?"
Turning back to Alyssa "should I get you a cup of tea or coffee?". Alyssa gently nods still in some form of trance almost. With a worried look on his face Hamish looks at Randall. "Stay with her" he whispers in his ear as he walks to the kitchen to make some tea.
"What do you expect me to do?" Randall calls after him but Hamish ignores him and carry's on to the kitchen.
After a few moments of silence, they hear a groan emanating from jack's now human form on the floor. This noise snaps Alyssa out of her frozen state and she jumps out of the chair to check on Jack. "Jack?" she said gently moving his hair out of his face. His eyes flutter open slowly, "What happened?"
"Well you kind of lost control" Alyssa said helping him to his feet.
"I don't lose control" Jack said rather confidently
"Well you just did mate" Hamish said walking into the room and handing a cup of tea to Alyssa.
"Thank you" Alyssa said and sat back in the chair taking a sip.
"You say I lost control, but I don't know why" Jack asked taking a seat on the arm of the chair next to Alyssa. It was clear that he was very protective of her. Who wouldn't be after she had died and he had to bring her back.
Beep, a text message alert went off for Randall, Hamish, and Jack. They all looked at their phones and saw the same message from Vera "Temple Now".
Randall laughed and looked at Jack "saved by the bell".
Jack turned to Alyssa who suddenly looked terrified. "Are ready to go to the temple?" Jack asked and Alyssa's eyes shot wide. "No way they'll kill me!" she shouted.
"No they won't, right guys?" Jack answered and turned to Randall and Hamish who both nodded and he turned back to Alyssa smiling at her "We'll make sure your safe and you'll be allowed back, you'll see." He quietly leaned in close to her. "I promise nobody will hurt you, I won't let them" he told her with steel in his eyes.
Still looking terrified she drank the rest of her tea and stood up next to Jack "fine, can I at least get come of my own clothes though?"
"Vera wants us there now we can't wait" Hamish said and leaving no room for discussion headed out the door expecting everyone to follow.
Jack looked back at Alyssa and just shrugged and held his hand out. She grasped his hand as a form of lifeline and held on to it for dear life.
"Remember what I said" Jack said as he and Alyssa slowly start to walk out of the house "I'll do anything for you." He smiled at here and gave her hand an encouraging squeeze.
Vera was having a torrid time. Yes, she had pretty much decimated the Praxis and they were gone but she was the Grand magus without any magic. She's been hiding as best she can with the help of Hamish but how much longer could she keep the façade up? It was only a matter of time.
Especially now that Alyssa was gone. How was she going to get her magic back? Hamish had been trying to research things lately and hadn't found anything.
Most of the order had finally gathered due to Vera's summons. She couldn't wait any longer and started walking into the middle of the room. Seeing that she was preparing to address the order the room swiftly quietened.
"Thank you all for coming. Now none of you know the reason that you have been summoned to the temple on such short notice." She stopped and took a sip of her drink whilst making eye contact with many different members of the order. Their ranks had thinned in recent years, the order was currently a sad sight indeed.
"Tonight, I have the pleasure of- "her announcement was cut short as the main doors tot eh temple opened loudly, and Hamish and Randall entered.
"How nice of you both to join us" vera turned and stated sarcastically to the wolves. She couldn't help but smirk slightly at Hamish though.
"We're sorry were late Grand Magus and sorry we are interrupting but we have something urgent to discuss with you" Hamish answered respectively eyes attempting to convey the urgency. In truth it wasn't urgent however he didn't really want to have to bring Alyssa and Jack in when everyone was watching.
"Can it not wait until I have finished my announcement?" Vera asked slightly irritated.
"I'm sorry grand Magus but it can't" Randall answered seriously which was rare for Randall and showed the seriousness of the situation. Randall was never serious and was the first person to try to crack a joke whether inappropriate or not.
"Very well" Vera straightened "Come through to my office" she said and started walking towards her office.
"Grand magus" Hamish's voice stopped her "The issue we have to discuss involves us bringing something or someone into the Temple and due to the seriousness perhaps we could have some privacy whilst we bring them in?"
"Very well" she answered Hamish "Everyone into the temple meeting room for now" Vera then watched as the entirety of the order at this Temple filtered into the meeting room chattering starting regarding what the meeting between the Grand magus and the werewolves would be about. Once the order had finished filtering Hamish closed the door to the meeting room with a swipe of his hand and Vera turned on her heel back to her office. Hamish then gave a nod to Randall who ran out to the front of the Temple. Hamish then followed Vera into her office.
"Where's Mr Morton, shouldn't he be here with you? He was also summoned" she asked not looking Hamish in the face.
"He'll be here shortly" Hamish answered cryptically and said nothing more. Just stood waiting for the arrival of Randall.
Randall entered the office of the Grand Magus first with a large smile on his face. Second entered Jack which brought a smile to Vera's face she always did like Jack and thirdly came Alyssa. The smile vanished from Vera's face and was replaced with pure unbridled anger.
"You! What are you doing here" Vera shouted at Alyssa who took a step back in fear. At seeing this however a look of confusion crossed Vera's face. Alyssa had never feared her, she had never been visibly frightened of anything. Something was wrong. Then she remembered Alysa was dead. This can't be Alyssa.
"You're not Miss Drake you can't be" Vera said quietly sitting back down. Jack wrapped an arm around Alyssa's waist and brought her closer.
"It is Alyssa" Jack answered.
"But how? You were dead" Vera asked "It's not possible to bring someone back, it's never been done"
"Until now" Jack stated. He went on to explain in detail exactly how he had done. Detailing the Vade Macum the light and the incantation. From here on Alyssa explained the injuries that Jack had which he seemed to have no knowledge of. They continued until they arrived at getting the text from Vera.
"This is all well and good, but why are you here Miss Drake?" Vera stated looking at Alyssa with a steely expression. She was not longer stunned and reverted to the steely Grand Magus who filled acolytes with fear. Alyssa stood there mouth agape unable to utter a word.
"She'd come to re-join the order" Jack answered with confidence.
Leaning back in her chair Vera appraised the group. If she handled this correctly, she could have them all on side and she desperately needed that. She couldn't make it too easy for them though. "Why should I allow you back in? Why shouldn't I just wipe your memory and send you on your way?"
Jack offered a response, "Because where she goes, I go. I know you don't want me on the loose with the power granted to me by the Vade Mecum. Besides why not turn it into a positive. "Smiling mischievously "you could always say that you asked Alyssa to go in undercover to Praxis to bring them down. That and I'm sure if you let Alyssa back, she'll give you your magic back. Right Alyssa?" he then looked at Alyssa who nodded slowly.
Vera still sat in her chair not giving any indication as to her decision. She didn't move for a few seconds making them ait on purpose.
"Why do you want to come back anyway?" She directed the question directly to Alyssa. "The last time you were here you were adamantly against the order and completely committed to giving magic to the masses as you put it"
"Your right Magus I did want to give magic to the masses. But I saw what happens if we give it to the masses. Destruction is inevitable if we just give it to people. Instead I think we should be doing more good for the rest of the world instead of just for our benefit I still believe in that. That and the main issue was the vade Macum, but that's gone now so I'd like to try and do good from within the order." Alyssa answered truthfully almost pleadingly hoping against hope that Vera would allow her back.
"I must admit Mr Morton, I like your method of bring Miss Drake back into the order. But how do I know that the first time you disagree with me you both won't leave the order and cause more issues for me." Vera asked them both leaning forward and staring at them intensely.
"because" jack answered slowly looking down at the ground slightly 2Everyting I have left is here. The Knights, The Order…. Alyssa. I have nothing outside of here. I may disagree with some of your decisions, but you know me I voice them loud and clear as does Alyssa" he said nodding to Alyssa who was nodding herself. "But that's also why you're the Grand Magus you have much more experience than me and you can make the difficult decisions and can see the big picture when sometimes I can't. Most importantly because I respect you" he answered her truthfully and Vera was genuinely stunned. She'd never seen him be this honest to her before. She was impressed.
"Mr Morton I'm impressed by your honesty and logic. There may yet be hope for you yet" she looked back at Alyssa. "You can come back"
It was as if at once the whole room let out a breath, they never knew they were holding. "Thank you, Grand Magus," Alyssa said in relief.
"But first. My magic" Vera answered looking stone faced at Alyssa.
"Of course, Grand Magus" Alyssa said and pulled out a pendant and started swinging it in a clockwise direction. "accumsan magia ad te, ut erat semel capta" a large orange circle appeared in front of the swirling pendant and appeared to break apart before disappearing.
Alyssa then returned the pendant to her pocket and looked at Vera expectantly. Vera then raised her hand and pointed at the doors. With a swipe of her hand the door to her office opened and with another swipe of her hand the door closed again. With a satisfied smile she turned back to them.
"Ok you should stay in here until I make the announcement."
"No arguments here" Randall said.
Jack meanwhile hand leaned into Alyssa's ear. "I told you it would be fine." He smiled at her and she smiled back. Vera in the meantime had walked out of her office closing the office door behind her using magic of course. The with magic opened the meeting room doors. She then signalled for everyone to exit the meeting room and join her in the main audience area,
"Now, where was I? Yes, following our altercation with Praxis and our heavy losses there are three major changes that will be taking effect immediately. The fact that we are so selective as to who becomes a neophyte and further an acolyte has been a benefit in previous years however during our battle with Praxis it has shown to be a weakness. While our standards are not lowering, we are expanding the recruitment. No longer will only a specific number of students be able to join the order. Any number of students may be able to join in any given year however they still must pass our tests."
"Secondly during our battle with Praxis, you will have undoubtedly noticed that Alyssa Drake left the order and joined Praxis." At once murmurs began through the crown at the mention of her name. "What I have not told any of you, is that she joined Praxis upon my explicit orders to do so. She joined to assist us in identifying the leaders of praxis to enable us to take them down more efficiently. On that note please welcome Alyssa back into the fold." With a wave of her hand the door to her office opened and in walk Alyssa, Jack, Hamish, and Randall.
"Finally, there will as of right now be a large-scale restructuring of the order." Once again, the murmuring began. Vera continued raising her voice "Everyone apart from Temple Magus's will be subject to the restructuring. In line with this I have the first restricting announcement. Most of you don't know the history of the Hermetic Order of the Blue Rose. Many of you here consider the werewolves to be your sworn enemies. You. Are Wrong. Before they were considered enemies the Knights of Saint Christopher, the Knights were part of the order." Gasps were heard among the members of the order. "They were tasked with protecting the order from dangers within and without. In that light each werewolf will be raised to the rank of Adepti Interius they will answer directly to the Adepti Interior Major who is only answerable to myself. They will be tasked with once again protecting the order from within and without. I am sure you are also wondering who will be given the position of Adepti Interior Major. Hamish Duke will be taking the role. Treat them in their role with the same respect as you give to me. You are all dismissed." Vera then turned on her heel and walked back into her office leaving the order members left looking at the werewolves and Alyssa.
Some of the order members were glaring others looked shocking very few looked happy. Jack looked at Alyssa, "Want to get out of here?" almost immediately Alyssa responded "Definitely" quickly they walked out of the exit with Randall following closely. Randal intending to check on Gabrielle. Hamish however turned towards Vera's office and headed in not knocking and opening the doors walking inside and allowing them to close behind him.
"Mind telling me what that was about?" he asked Vera.
"I don't know what you're talking about" she responded, She had walked into her office once her announcement was finished sat at her desk and began to look at some documents on her desk. She responded to Hamish without looking up from her desk.
"Well, don't you think you should have asked us if we wanted those positions?" Hamish asked taking a seat on the edge of her desk. At this she looked up looked at where he was sitting and cleared her throat.
"Off the desk Mr Duke" She said and got up.
"I know your angry at me when you use my surname Vera" Hamish smirked at her but got off the desk and approached her. They were face to face with each other barely a foot away from each other.
Taking a deep breath vera responded "I didn't think you'd have a problem with it Hamish. The announcement was as much a vote of confidence in the wolves as a warning to the rest of the order. I find its better not to ask permission and to ask forgiveness instead. So, am I forgiven Hamish?" Vera asked smiling mischievously at Hamish. She eased herself closer to Hamish, so close he could feel her breath against his skin. "You forgive me don't you Hamish" she said breathily and reach to tilt his head down to her. She leant in and captured his lips in hers. The kiss started out gently but soon both were hungrily kissing each other, like they were each their own personal drug of choice. They couldn't get enough of each other. All too soon for them both they pulled back in order to catch their breaths. Vera's har was a mess and her lipstick smudged against her face and Hamish looked exactly the same hair wildly everywhere and lipstick all over his face.
"You can take that as a yes" Hamish said with a smile. Vera smiled back then turned away and with a quick incantation her lipstick was once again perfect, and Hamish had also been cleaned up. "Your place tonight" Vera said not looking up from the paper on her desk "Don't be late" then with a swipe of her hand she opened her office door indicating to Hamish that he could leave now.
With a light chuckle Hamish walked out of the door closing it swiftly behind him. He carried on walking ignoring the stares that following him as he exited the Temple.
Meanwhile Jack, Alyssa and Randall had made their way back to the den and made their way to the bar.
"Well congratulations you two" Alyssa said referring to Jack and Randall. "Both of you have someone become some of the most influential people in the order with a large amount of power at your fingertips"
"You know that you can expect to be at least Magistratus right?" Jack stated confidently. Alyssa looked startled at hi declaration.
"you can't honestly think after what I've done, I'll keep my position let alone get a promotion" Alyssa said looking at Jack like he'd grown a second head. Meanwhile Randall had gone behind the bar and started looking for more alcohol.
"Of course, you will. Don't you remember what vera said in front of everyone. She hailed you as a hero instead of a deserter. She couldn't rightfully then turn around and demote you for being instrumental in taking down Praxis" he said confidently.
A look of realisation crossed Alyssa's face. Then a look of doubt crossed her face "but its Vera Stone she doesn't care about appearances" she said.
"She cares more than you think" a new voice said from the front door. Hamish was standing there having returned from the Temple after his conversation with Vera. "Now I don't know about you all but today has been a rather trying day so I'm going to head home" he said nodded to the all and headed back out the door shouting over his shoulder "get some rest"
Jack then turned to Alyssa, "Shall I walk you back to your place?" Alyssa nodded and stood up to walk outside with Jack. Her apartment wasn't far away but it was probably a good time to talk with Jack about them.
Jack followed Alyssa out of the den and then started the walk to her apartment. He walked next to her initially. "How are you feeling?" Jack asked with concern and worry across his face. Alyssa Looked up to him and then smiled.
"Really good actually Jack, I didn't think I would feel like me especially with necromancy"
"I don't think it was necromancy to be honest., the incantation didn't seem dark and there wasn't even a blood sacrifice involved. I honestly don't know what it was and if it was necromancy it wasn't any I've ever seen." Jack said.
They walked in silence for a while until Jack cracked a smile. "On the bright side were finally on the same side" Jack laughed, and Alyssa cracked a smile and started laughing as well.
A few moments later Jack and Alyssa arrived at her apartment building. Alyssa turned to jack "Do you want to come inside?" she asked with aa hopeful look on her face.
"Sure" Jack said and together they walked into the building to the lift and without uttering a word jack pressed the button for Alyssa's floor. Arriving at her apartment door and entering Alyssa's apartment was exactly as she had left it.
They sat down in her living area. The day had passed quite quickly, and it was now late in the evening and getting dark. "Drink?" Alyssa asked Jack.
"Sure" Was Jacks response with a smile.
Alyssa stood up and walked to the kitchen. After rooting in the fridge for a moment she came back with two ice cold beers. She opened hers and pass jack the other then took a long drink out of her beer. "So "she said "I don't know how to approach this"
Jack took a deep breath and a swig of beer. "I think I do" he said putting his bear down on the coffee table and looking Alyssa in the eye. "Alyssa do you know why I did everything I could to bring you back?"
After a moment of thought Alyssa said "Guilt. I think you felt guilty over one of the Knights killing me"
"No Alyssa" he said taking her hand in his "I realised that I couldn't live in a world where you were next to me. I couldn't go on knowing id let something so bad happen to you. I was willing to do anything to get you back even if it meant us swapping places."
Alyssa had been watching him closely and gently placed her beer down next to Jacks.
Jack continued to explain "I've said it before, and I'll say it again Alyssa. I'll do anything for you. Some people may think I'm being silly, but I know how I feel and how I feel about you."
"So, what are you trying to say Jack?" Alyssa asked with a sexy smile on her face one that showed she knew what he meant but wanted him to say it to her.
"What I'm trying to say…" he said and leant in so her was close to her and took her other hand in his, so he was holding one of her hands in each of his. "Alyssa, I don't know what I'd do without you and I love you."
"Jack..." Alyssa said smiling at him "I know I've been the one holding… us back and I'm sorry for that. But Jack I love you too"
Jack let out a breath he didn't realise he was holding. "So where does this leave us now that were on the same side for once?"
Alyssa smiled at his "I'd say it leaves us right about here…." She said then leant in and gave him a searing kiss. One that was quickly deepened by Jack who smiled into the kiss. At last he'd finally got the girl.
After failing to find a drink Randall had gone to find Gabby. She hadn't allowed anyone to see her even since we'd found out that Alyssa was back. It was time to brave her wrath.
He'd walked into the den and slowly edged up the stairs to the room that gabby had claimed as her own. "Gabby?" he asked lightly tapping on her door.
"I said GO AWAY" the words go away came out almost came out like a growl. Randall continued to knock "Gabby we need to talk" he received no answer from Gabby who did her best to ignore him but Randall being Randall continued knocking until the door opened.
As soon as the door opened, he pushed his way inside and closed the door behind him to make sure Gabby wouldn't just run off. "Gabby stop" he said and tried to calm her.
"Why should I stop I killed one of my friends!" she screamed at him tears starting to run down her face again.
"No, you didn't Gabby" Randall tried to explain to her.
"Enough of you it wasn't you it was Midnight speeches Randall!" she interrupted him her eyes flashing silver as midnight threatened to make an appearance.
"Gabby! Alyssa is back" Randall screamed at Gabby to get her attention. She stopped still and her head slowly turned to Randall and in nothing louder than a whisper "What did you say?"
Randall walked up to her and sat her on the bed sitting next to her. "Alyssa is alive and with Jack right now." He gently said putting his arm around Gabby. "midnight made a mistake but its been fixed now. "
Gabby just sat there staring at Randall and then fell into his arms crying in happiness into his chest. Randall smiled wrapping his arms around her and kissing the top of her head. Suddenly Gabby's head shoots up "I need to see her I need to apologise" Randall responds by making an awkward grimace.
A frown comes across Gabby's face "What? What is it Randall?"
"Well…" Randall said slowly. "Jack wasn't happy even after he brought Alyssa back. Well I say jack it was Silverback".
"Why would Silverback be annoyed surely he would understand midnight's thinking behind what he … I mean we did" Gaby asked in confusion.
"Well Silverback has always been the most emotional werewolf. So much so that the emotions of his champion heavily effect Silverback. It's almost as if he mirror's his champion's emotions." Randall explains slowly.
"So, what he's a little upset we should eb able to handle him tight? I don't see what the problem is now that it's been fixed" gabby answers back a little annoyed at it.
"You see that's only part of the issue with Silverback. Silverback has always gotten more powerful the stronger the emotions he has been feeling is. When Jack first became a Knight, he pointed out that we should have been reading the books about us we had at the time so we did. We found a story which showed exactly how powerful Silverback could be. Long story short the champion got so emotional and upset that Silverback went on a rampage for a week and it took all of the knights including Alpha at the time to stop him and they only just managed it. There's less of us now so we need to be careful."
Gabby just nodded and looked slightly frightened by it. "I didn't realise he was that powerful"
"Neither did we. We just thought that the stories of Silverback being the most powerful was marginal. We didn't know it would be that large if a power gap. Equally Silverback has always been the most loyal meaning the pack was always safe" Randall explained, and Gabby relaxed slightly.
"If he's loyal he wouldn't kill midnight then" Gabby said slightly relieved.
"your right but that doesn't mean he wouldn't kill you." Randall said. "It will all be fine though gabby we won't let him hurt you. You should get some rest though Gabby I have a feeling that tomorrow will be an eventful day." Randall got up to head to his room when Gabby held on to his hand.
"Can I stay with you tonight? I don't really want to be alone" Gabby said almost pleadingly.
"Of course, you can. I'll always be here to help you if you'll have me." Randall said and walked with gabby towards his room still holding her hand.
"Of course, I'll have you" Gabby answered with a slight smirk. "Your too nice to throw away" she said with a laugh. They then headed into Randall's room and closed the door behind them.