A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long, life got busy. New job, birthday, and got married in the last two months. Plus, I'm not very good with politics. Anyway, thanks for all the reviews so far. The pace of the story will be picking up in the next few chapters.

Not long after Mavra left me standing, I started reaching out, tasting the air with my arcane senses. At first, I didn't notice anything; I was still just relieved and excited to have magic on my skin again. But after a few minutes, I realised the milk was sour. There were about half a dozen odd taints in the air – individually, nothing I would have noticed. As a group, however, they were impossible to miss.

The hours dragged on quietly, and I touched Hellfire, pumping a little through my hands to keep warm. I kept checking my watch, knowing I had to get inside and call McCoy by midnight. My mind raced, but I could only come to one conclusion; the taints I was picking up were Mavra's partners. She'd brought magic-users, wizard level at least, with her. The Black Council.

A soldier relieved me at 12:02, still bleary-eyes himself, and I hurried my equal-parts tired and freaked out body into the church. The encounter with the bitch who had burned my left hand to a crisp had shaken me a bit, and after the adrenaline had worked its way through my system, I got a slight case of the shakes. I rarely have that problem during a scary moment; it's always afterward that I react.

Some of what she said rolled around in my head; Chicago is no longer a place for mortals. That has been seen to. Who do you think gave the author his information? You know what I am capable of.

And I did. She was strong, fast, deadly, smart, and thought even less of human life than the average dictator. And, apparently, had manipulated the White Court of vampires - the accepted masters of manipulation - into publishing Stoker's Dracula.

The remaining refugees and soldiers were bunking down in the nave. Subconsciously, many of them probably felt safer there, lying in a pew in sight of the altar. After my little encounter, I couldn't say I blamed them.

Sanya was in the main room, just in from his own shift at the front door to the church. "Harry? Are you tired? I should be, but I am not. I thought a game of chess or cards might help - ?"

I took his arm with one hand and started pulling him back towards the little safe room, with my other hand digging a small bag of sand out of my pocket. "No time, sorry. You mind just keeping an eye out?"

"Eye out for what?"

I pulled him in to the closet-like area, closed the door, and started pouring the circle. "Anyone who wants to disturb me." I looked him almost in the eye. "Maybe a Black Court vampire?" Ignoring his suddenly slack jaw, I willed the circle closed, and reached into my pocket, clutching the calling stone. I murmured the incantation that began the connection, and almost instantly, my vision darkened. When the proverbial lights came back up, the sound came with it.

McCoy had certainly rigged something, as promised. I could see the White Council Meeting Chamber, which is essentially a huge, hollowed out cavern under Edinburgh, Scotland. It's shaped like an amphitheatre, with a raised, semi-circular stage area against one wall, surrounded by dozens of rows of stone benches radiating away from it.

I and a few other wizards I didn't recognize were standing to one side of the stage. They were all dressed in their proper black robes, with various coloured accents indicating their specialties and achievements. Like me, they were just standing there in a rough semi-circle, around a fist-sized, pock-mocked rock, which seemed to be glowing. Also like me, they were semi-transparent. Freaky.

Meanwhile, six other wizards, the current Senior Council now that Gregori Cristos had been exposed as a traitor, stood centre-stage. One of them glanced in my direction, and gave me a quick nod, his face stern: Ebenezar.

At the front of the stage, currently orating in Latin, the official language of the Council, was a tall, white-haired man. Alfred Langtry was the Merlin, the head of the Council and pretty much the single most powerful wizard alive. He also did not much care for yours truly. He pointedly did not look at me.

"Filling the vacancy is of the utmost importance," he was saying in a powerful, rolling tenor. "With the removal of Wizard Cristos," he continued, to a low grumble in the gathered group, "the Senior Council is depleted, and executive representation of all wizards is reduced." This last was met with another grumble, albeit a more approving one.

"Point of order," a weathered older wizard from the far side of the Merlin said. Though his voice was lower than Langtry's, everyone looked to him; Joseph Listens-to-Wind was highly respected, as a leader, as a healer, and, speaking from experience, as a warrior. Hardly a wizard alive didn't know him. "This meeting was convened on an emergency basis to debate whether the Council should take action during the current crisis in America. I move we continue on to that vote."

"Wizard Listens-to-Wind," the Merlin answered, and there was hardly any malice in it, "your objection is noted, but the matter of the Senior Council's composition must be answered first."

Ancient Mai, who was pretty much the Merlin's closest ally on the Council, stepped forward. She was diminutive, possibly even smaller than Murphy. But like all the Senior Council members, her size was not related to her influence or the respect she commanded. Or the raw power she had access to. "Point of order, Merlin," she said. "From what we have learned of the activities in the Chicago area, minutes may be of great importance. I move that we forego the selection process – for now – and invest you with the absentee vote."

The Gatekeeper, the only person in the room who was actually taller than I was, raised his head and in a slightly cracked, dry voice, said, "Seconded." Rashid almost never spoke at meetings, but when he did, everyone paid attention. And this sort of direct, un-prompted action was almost unheard of from him. Which meant he thought this was very important. Interesting.

I stood silently. Oh, don't get me wrong – my mouth opened and closed several times while I debated saying something. I wanted the Council to get to a discussion about Chicago, especially now that I had more information to share. But Gregori Cristos had been a political appointment; he had been seen as a champion of non-western nations.

Currently, McCoy, Listens-to-Wind and Martha Liberty, the formidable black woman standing next to McCoy, were all from the States, and the Merlin himself was from England. Ancient Mai was from China, and the Gatekeeper was Indian.

I didn't like the game that the Merlin had set up here, collecting a little more power for himself, but by having the backing of the two members who were from the East, he was ensuring – at least temporarily – the stability of the Council. Cristos, from Greece, had been a key figure in the balance between New World and Old, and unless he was replaced with a similar champion of the unrepresented, the Council would be divided.

My town couldn't afford that. So, I was quiet. A rumble went through the crowd of wizards, but it didn't last, tapering off into a large number of nods.

"Very well," the Merlin said, and I thought he put the perfect amount of humility into his voice to really sell it. "I will accept this burden. For now." He turned to the other side of the stage.

I saw Anastasia Luccio, Captain of the Wardens, standing there, her small form covered in the grey cloak of the Wardens. To her right side, as ever, was a taller Englishman named Chandler, cloak over his impeccable suit, and under his bowler. Due to his preference in headwear, I had taken to calling him Steed, and he had weathered this with perfectly good, British humour.

"Captain," the Merlin said. "Are you prepared to speak on the matter at hand?"

Luccio stepped forward. "Honoured Merlin, I am. Though, there is one more qualified than I."

"Indeed?"

Ana briefly met my eyes, then said, "Warden Dresden has arrived from Chicago."

The Merlin turned his sceptical eye to me. "Ah, Wizard Dresden," he said, and I could barely hear the disdain. "I did not see you as the meeting began."

I opened my mouth to tell him where he could shove his meeting, but I caught a warning look from McCoy and closed it again, even managing a good-natured smile. It did not reach my eyes.

He turned back to the captain. "As I recall, Dresden was relieved of his Warden's duties some weeks ago."

"Yes, Honoured Merlin. By Warden Steiger, my predecessor." She tactfully did not mention that he had also been her replacement, for a little while, until he was killed. "I have re-instated him."

This was news to me, but I took it in stride, and kept the grin on my face when Langtry looked back at me with eyes could cut steel. "I was not aware of this… re-instatement."

"I apologise, Merlin. The paperwork was held up." She looked down at Jones, the nervous little clerk who had replaced Wizard Peabody - or as I liked to call him, That Traitorous Bastard. He seemed to shrink in on himself as he rapidly started sorting through papers.

I had no idea why the Merlin would need to know about every Warden's duties, though I suspected he'd made an exception in my case.

"Very well," the Merlin said, fully turning toward me. "Your report, Warden Dresden."

About 300 sets of eyes turned to look at me. Great. Lash? Ready?

Of course, Harry. Latin is like a second language to me.

Was that a joke?

Did you find it humorous?

Yeah, a little.

Then yes, it was a joke.

I took a deep breath, stifled a smile, and started to speak.

My Latin is a well-known atrocity among the White Council membership. Oh, I can understand it just fine; speaking it, on the other hand, was another matter.

Of course, I'd never had the chance to speak to the Council while I had my own personal Babelfish. I raised my voice. "First, Honoured Merlin, I apologise for my tardiness."

Just saying that much without tripping over my tongue earned me a lifted eyebrow from Langtry. "The destruction and black magic currently reigning over Chicago is great. My duties - to protect the innocent, and to detect the foul stain of darkness - prevented me from arriving any earlier." I turned the gathered throng, and many of them looked pleasantly surprised. "And I ask the forgiveness of the gathered Council.

"Now, to business. The city of Chicago was recently devastated by a powerful Earthquake. This much you know. What news I bring tonight, is that a member of the Black Court of vampires has taken credit for the destruction."

A murmur ran through the crowd. I've never had a problem speaking in front of crowds. I get nervous, of course, like most people. But when I get nervous, I talk. It's a defence mechanism.

A voice called out, "The Black Court has not the power!"

I answered, "The vampire known as Mavra, who many here know, has developed her access to magic over centuries. She has power, but yes, I agree: she did not do this alone. She all but said so to me not a few hours ago."

McCoy stepped forward from behind me. "You faced down Mavra? Alone?" he asked. He sounded just a little impressed.

"Not exactly. I stood on holy ground while she did not."

The Merlin eyed me, and was silent. Ancient Mai spoke instead: "It simply revealed itself to you?"

"Yes."

"Why would the creature do such a thing?" The disgust in her voice was obvious.

"She wished to deliver a message. I quote: Chicago is no longer a place for mortals."

Another murmur ran through the crowd, and I saw a few angry faces. But I also saw several shaking heads. I didn't have them all, yet.

"Such threats have been made before, Warden," the Merlin said. "It is insulting, but hardly worthy of alarm."

My head snapped around in surprise. "Hardly worthy? She's threatening the entire population of a metropolitan city!"

A quiet voice from the audience asked, "What of the times when whole villages in Africa or South America have been threatened, and we gave no response? Do you say an American city is more important than them?"

"What? No, of course not," I said. I couldn't see who had spoke, so I addressed the entire crowd. "A life is a life. It's worth saving. I'm talking tens of thousands of lives."

"Are you unable to deal with the threat using conventional means, Warden?" Langtry asked. I looked at him again, and the smarmy son of a bitch was looking at me with pity. He was also calling in to question my abilities as a Warden. "I was given to understand that you had already dealt with the creature Mavra once before."

Fine, if that's the way you want to play it, I thought.

I pulled off my gloves and held up my slightly twisted, scarred left hand. "I did. And nearly lost my hand in the process, not to mention the lives of my companions."

"Nearly, yes," Ancient Mai said. "Yet you survived, and the creature was driven off. Though, not killed." I felt my jaw tighten. Even now, they couldn't resist taking a shot at me. Jerks. "One cannot help but feel, had you been more thorough the first time, this crisis would have been avoided."

"For starters, I was not yet a Warden when I faced Mavra the first time."

"And yet," the Merlin picked up, "this time you feel the need to request assistance from the White Council – which you did not, last time."

Careful, Harry, Lash whispered, and I saw McCoy saying the same thing with his face. I took a breath. Of course. The damn politician had just handed me a noose, and was waiting for me to use it. With a quiet voice, I said, "My feelings towards the Council at that time were well known."

"Yes," he said. "You did not trust us."

"After exposing Peabody, I think my lack of trust is understandable."

Another rumble in the crowd, this one, I thought, supportive. The Merlin didn't miss it. "Perhaps. But there is still no proof of the creature's claim that it caused the destruction of Chicago. Nor is there any practicality to its actions. That sort of exposure would bring the world of mundane humanity down upon it."

"If it were working alone," I said quietly.

"You have evidence the creature has compatriots?"

"Only what I was able to feel in the air. There is a… taint in the magic surrounding Chicago."

McCoy gave me a confused look. The Merlin lifted an eyebrow. "Interesting. The Senior Council was informed earlier tonight that you were unable to detect anything amiss in Chicago."

I licked my lips. Crap. I saw McCoy close his eyes and grimace slightly. He'd told them everything I'd said earlier. Probably trying to get the Merlin's attention, he'd instead handed him ammunition against me.

I'd just been painted into a corner; I couldn't get help from the Council unless I got them to understand how dire the situation was; I couldn't explain the direness of the situation if I didn't disclose how I figured out how bad it was.

I was about to give away a huge secret. "Yes, Merlin. There is a… stillness in the air. Any wizard's arcane senses would be dulled."

"A stillness. Dulling your senses. Yet you are able to sense a taint?" His words were clipped, full of disbelief. "How?"

"I found a way to pierce it."

"Oh?"

I took a deep breath. Here we go. "I have access to Soulfire."

Before, there had been murmurs and rumbles. Now, there was cacophony. Damn near every voice in the chamber started talking. I saw Luccio's jaw drop, and Chandler's eyes expand. Half the Senior Council reacted – McCoy, the Gatekeeper and the Merlin hardly moved. Ancient Mai looked at me with naked disbelief, Martha Liberty appeared to be in awe, and Injun Joe's hand found his chin while his weathered eyes studied me.

Even my transparent companions backed away. The sheer number of voices must have overwhelmed Lash, because I started to hear curses and shock in a dozen different languages. Jones was rapidly taking notes with a simple ballpoint pen.

Langtry never took his eyes off me. He let the noise roar for a ten-count. Then he raised his hand. That was all. Silence re-asserted itself in a matter of moments.

"Soulfire," he said, letting it roll off his tongue. "Such a tool, such a talent, is beyond rare, Warden; It is almost unheard of. And there is only one way I am aware of that a person may gain access to Soulfire." He stepped towards me. "It must be granted, as a gift."

I swallowed. Well, in for a penny. "Yes, it was a gift." In for a pound. "From the Archangel Uriel."

Another shocked silence, punctuated by a few little gasps. This time, even the Merlin looked surprised.

He recovered quickly, though he knew the game had changed. I was essentially blessed. If he didn't want to alienate the believers in his constituency, he'd have to play nice. Wouldn't he?

"Even with the gift of an Archangel," he said, "you still feel the need to draw on the Council's resources."

Obstinate old son of a… All right. Fine. "Yes. I do. As I said, the vampire is not acting alone. I need Wardens." Normally, bullies get my back up. Stupid people do that even more. But I let a little pleading note into my voice. For my city. "I need help."

There was silence for a second. Then a voice from the audience asked, "Why Chicago? Why not my village, when it was threatened?"

My mouth dropped open, but I didn't know how to respond. "A fine question," the Merlin said.

I started to panic. And get angry. I hadn't expected to get derailed like this, though I suppose I should have. As my blood pressure climbed, I felt a tightening sensation in my chest. My breath came a little too slowly. My vision started to blur, just a little.

"Something must be done," McCoy spoke up. "They've never gone after a target this big before. If we don't stop them in Chicago, they'll think it's because we can't. And that's the end of the delicate balance. Who knows what they'll try next."

I took a deep, steadying breath, and gave my old teacher a look of gratitude.

The Merlin turned his steely gaze to my grandfather. "'They,' Wizard McCoy?" Oh, crap. "And who might 'they' be?"

I ground my teeth. The Merlin's position – and, thus, the position of the Wardens, and the whole of the White Council – was that the Black Council did not exist. Partly, it was out of fear, but mostly it was to keep wizards from looking into it, and maybe starting to think about joining up.

McCoy could not be intimidated by a piercing glare. "You know who I'm talking about, Alfie," he said quietly, in English.

In the silence that followed, I looked at the audience. I saw mostly confusion and uncertainty. Some people looked to be spoiling for a fight. Others were on the fence. I had to win the audience, or Chicago would be dead in the water.

Before I could say anything more, Martha Liberty, for the first time, stepped forward. "It should be put to a vote."

"Seconded," Ancient Mai said.

"Wait," I tried.

"Motion is carried," the Merlin said, cutting me off. "The question before the Senior Council is whether to intervene in Chicago, or to wait and see what becomes of the situation on its own." He shot me a look. "I cast two votes against intervention."

"I vote in favour," McCoy said without any hesitation.

"As do I," Listens-to-Wind said.

"Against," Ancient Mai said.

Martha Liberty, despite moving for the vote, took a moment to think it over. She glanced out at the audience several times, and at me more than once. "In favour," she finally said.

My poor heart started to dance a bit. Three-to-three. Well, that was par for the Council. Everything was contentious.

Everyone turned to the Gatekeeper. With his hood up, he almost blended into the shadow he was standing in. His hand found his chin, and his eyes found the floor. He thought. For a while. I started to get nervous. Then impatient.

The Merlin hit his limit before I did, though. "Gatekeeper? What say you?"

"I am… thinking."

Langtry rolled his eyes.

"Gatekeeper, please," I said. "Lives hang on your decision."

He looked at me, long, cold. Then back down.

That look of dismissal, that complete abdication of the responsibility of the Council, I could take from the Merlin. Probably even from Ancient Mai. But one glance at McCoy told me he was feeling the same way I was: betrayed. The Gatekeeper always had other things on his mind – he was known for thinking outside the usual ways. But there were thousands of lives on the line here.

"Gatekeeper!" I said. My voice was suddenly loud. And angry. "There are thousands of people waiting for your word, and not just in this chamber. Chicago is falling apart."

"Warden, remember yourself!" the Merlin said.

I ignored him. "And the powers that wrought that destruction will not stop there." I tried to step forward, but the room got hazy – I was moving out of range of the projection rock. I stepped back. "You know who I'm talking about, Rashid! You've watched the ebb and flow of time itself, and even you can't tell what's happening! You know that intervening is the right thing to do. Don't hesitate, don't wait, don't think, don't send it to a committee, just act!"

He looked at me again, then said nothing.

"We are the only thing standing between those forces and the rest of the human world. If we don't stop them now, who knows what could do? No, we haven't saved every village, or every single life, and for that, I am sorry, and I feel guilty. But I can't change what's happened before. I'm asking the Council to change what's happening now. To stop these people, or things, or whatever they are before they achieve their goals. We have to do something!"

Nothing. Not even a glance.

My anger got the best of me, and my voice got quiet. "Fine. I have to go. My city, and the people I'm entrusted to protect – by this Council! – need me." I turned back to the audience. Everyone was staring at me. "They need someone. I guess Peabody was right. The Council is a dinosaur, and deserves to die. Its time has come."

I put my hand in my pocket to sever the connection. The audience was looking at me, and at least two thirds of the faces were angry. Probably at me and my improper outburst. Well, screw them, too. I felt a burst of pain in my chest again, and knew I had pushed myself a little too hard. I was suddenly light-headed. I needed to rest. I turned back to Gatekeeper – to give him a parting rebuke, or the finger, I hadn't quite decided.

He was smiling. The Merlin was fuming, Mai was inscrutable, but the Gatekeeper had thrown back his hood and was smiling at me. "I vote in favour," he said.

I looked back at the audience. They were nodding, and rumbling. There were calls for action, and more than a few cheers. The angry faces, then, hadn't been directed at me, but in my favour. Huh.

The Merlin took a breath. He seemed to have accepted the will of the people, like a good politician, though he was obviously unhappy about it. Behind him, Ana was shaking her head at me, a tiny curl of a smile on her lips. Chandler touched the brim of his hat.

McCoy stepped up beside me. "Go home, Harry. I'll take it from here. We'll see you in about 12 hours."

I nodded, a little stunned. "See you then."