LES MUSICIENS DU MONDE ARC III 2011 TO 2016

by DanteVirgil09

This is the final arc of this particular saga where it is reaching closer and closer to its climax. When transcending choice for others and making them for some, where every emotion and motive for all characters will have to face and handle to the best of their abilities. Will everyone rise and pave their destinies or fall from grace? But all roads lead to the stars in the end.

5. APRIL 2012

LES MUSICIENS DU MONDE

A CROSSOVER STORY

2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

This chapter starts off slightly differently from the norm, but harbors back to when I tried different ways in introducing a chapter; by manipulating time placement and see how events unfold and interconnect. Hope this experiment will succeed. As well as the progressing development between the two teams, as well as the return of Gwen and Kevin as outsiders looking in.

Also for the first time, the orchestra will perform Romantic Era music alongside Baroque from Poland. This would be fun in letting them perform works outside of their usual sphere, Liszt and Chopin being the starter composers and their piano concertos to incorporate in this chapter, along with a piece by Telemann and perhaps a new baroque composer from the country to unveil.

For a while now of incorporating tracks from Game of Thrones, I decided that the main musical voice for this chapter is "Needle" from Game of Thrones Season Six soundtrack, as well as "Red Woman".

'Choice in our suffrage, for on whom we send,

The weight of all and our hope relies.'

Paradise Lost, John Milton

CHAPTER FOUR

WEDNESDAY, WEEK THREE

[TATRA NATIONAL PARK, POLAND, 4:45PM]

LMM and Alastair's magi team were chasing the rogues of WWAEI down the hiking trail in the mountains with blasts of guns and mana beams going all out. Gwen puts up her shield but did little with blasts are able to break through due to their opposite charge. But then, the groups is surrounded by more rogues to their left and right, "I'll lead one group away," Wilfredo shouted as he ran to the right with the group of five chasing him, "I'll lighten the load while you guys make a break for it!"

"No you won't! Come back," Cecilia shouted as she attempted to go after him, but to no avail. She then saw Wilfredo losing some of his footing as he was surrounded and struggled to fight them off. Then she saw him getting stabbed in the lower abdomen on the left side.

But then, "Wilfredo! No," Cecilia shouted as he saw him falling down the cliff face for the woods below, and sees rocks falling down with them.

Mayhem ensued as LMM and the magi fought off the rest to get to the cliff face, knocked some out or out right killing some. But once in the clear, they reached for the cliff face and find no sign of him in the woods below and his friends shouted in unison, "WIL!"

A FEW DAYS EARLIER

NEW YORK CITY, NY, USA

[CHINATOWN, SATURDAY, 3:39PM]

Wilfredo was meeting with Mr. Gonzalez-Reverte in a Chinese restaurant as he was eating some Chow Fun. The door opened behind him with the middle-aged Spaniard entering, the bell chiming, "Welcome, eating in or ordering to go," the woman at the register asked.

Mr. Gonzalez smiled, "I'm actually here to meet someone. But may I have some tea," he requested, which the woman complied and went to get tea for the Spaniard, which then he sees Wilfredo sitting with the back of his head facing Juan.

He silently made his way to the table and tapped Wilfredo's left shoulder, "Hola. Obtuve lo que necesitabas. (Hello. I got what you needed.)," he said and Wilfredo motioned for him to sit down across from him, which Juan did.

Juan opened his bag and took out the papers regarding who are financing the WWAEI. A total of fifteen stacks of documents for each high power individual, European and American which caught Wilfredo's surprise in learning, "¿Qué están involucrados los estadounidenses en este problema? Lo sabemos porque es un problema europeo que se extiende al mundo árabe. (What are Americans involved in this problem? We know because it's a European issue, spreading into the Arab World.)"

He told the bookseller, who responded to Wilfredo's surprise, "Lucro. La guerra siempre proporciona ganancias al lado ganador. Y tu lado, a pesar de tus mejores intenciones y acciones, aún está al nivel de los pícaros. Nadie está ganando por un margen considerable. (Profit. War always provides profit to the winning side. And your side, despite your best intentions and actions, are still level with the rogues. No one is winning by any considerable margin.)"

Wilfredo looked at him and then at the fifteen stacks of papers. He slumped slightly, thinking on what to do next regarding everything. Juan was right, even if they met the rogue group head on or clever guerilla style attacks in London and Tangier, they're still barely holding their own. But then, as he drank some of his tea, he thought of something, "¿Están estas personas anticipando algo por venir, además de las ganancias durante la guerra? (Are these people anticipating something to come besides wartime profits?)"

Juan looked at him incredulously, "¿Que quieres decir? (Meaning what)," he asked, which Wilfredo clarified, "Lo que significa que no hay manera de que un grupo canalla, no importa cuán bien financiado, participe en esto sin un motivo ulterior que se relacione con las vanidades de los quince que ha proporcionado. (Meaning that no way a rogue group, no matter how well financed, goes into this without some ulterior motive that speaks to the vanities of the fifteen you've provided.)"

The book dealer thought on this, "¿Quieres decir ... crear un verdadero ejército? (You mean…to create a true army)," he asked, which Wilfredo nodded and added something else, "Pero también, algo más nefasto, más allá de la caja del pensamiento convencional. (But also, something else more nefarious, beyond the box of conventional thinking.)"

Juan thought for a minute longer as did Wilfredo on what that other thing would be. Then something came, "Espere un momento, escuché de un descanso en el Museo de Historia Natural en Praga. Un libro y manuscritos fueron robados de una cámara oculta en el periódico The Eagle's Eye. Contenía magia ritual y ritos místicos. (Wait a moment, I heard of a break in at the Natural History Museum in Prague. A book and manuscripts were stolen from a hidden chamber in The Eagle's Eye newspaper. It contained within ritual magic and mystical rites.)"

Wilfredo listened, "Magia ritual y ritos. ¿Para qué? (Ritual magic and rites. For what)," he asked and Juan answered, "Conjurar espíritus, demonios, y criaturas. No estoy seguro si esto se conectará a la WWAEI u otro grupo, pero ahí lo tiene. (Conjuring spirits, demons and creatures. Not sure if this will be connected to the WWAEI or another group, but there you go.)," he told the young man.

This was an interesting detail and Wilfredo raised his hand for the check, "Tengo que ir. Tengo algo de lectura que hacer. Escuela y esta posibilidad (I have to go. I got some reading to do. School and this possibility)," and the waiter came with the check and paid for his meal, "Además de estos quince individuos. (As well as these fifteen individuals.)," he added.

The book dealer looked at the young man in front of him putting the fifteen stacks of documents into his backpack while he drank his tea calmly. He also looked at him closely regarding his aura and saw something about it, "Tienes un aura antigua, ¿sabes? (You have an old aura you know?)"

Wilfredo stopped and looked at Juan, "Huh," he asked and Juan spoke up, "Nada. Pero, cuídate Polonia será un cambio de juego para todos ustedes. (Nothing. But, take care. Poland will be a game changer for all of you.)," he worded it cryptically and Wilfredo nodded as he packed up and left the restaurant, leaving Juan to drink his tea.

WEEK THREE, MONDAY

KRAKOW, POLAND

[KRAKOW PHILHARMONIC, 10:23AM]

Music was being played inside the concert hall, the music of Frederic Chopin and Emily Nelson at the piano performing and rehearsing with the rest of LMM. Her piece selected is the Ballade in G Minor No. 1, Op. 23. Her command of the piece was to showcase the highlight of her skills performing Chopin's works, plus it's a well-known piece that is also an introductory piece to the composer's works. The American members of the orchestra, who also attend her own recitals at the school, approached her to perform this back at the Juilliard; she also joined by Francesca Moliere whom last performed with back in Colombia. The two will have a duel for one of Chopin's pieces as well and the two can't wait for their rehearsal later in the afternoon. Bernhard will perform Liszt while the rest of the orchestra will perform two pieces of Polish Baroque. Oskana has come today and will perform a vocal work by Antonio Vivaldi, from the Andromeda Liberetto, 'Sovvente il Sole'.

Another thing about Emily this time around, as she played the chords and thirds of this pieces beautifully, was her set of crutches and sitting in the piano stool to perform. For the past two years, she's been getting stem cell treatments, on part of Braithwate Pharmaceuticals with her doctor. So far, she's been making good progress and hope for walking unassisted is greater than before. Her friendship with Oskar Donovan is progressing nicely since their meeting in Aulamerta, plus their online chats have gotten more open and casual. He couldn't make it right now due to his own obligations in Vienna, but will arrive at the end of the week.

As the music played on stage, with some guidance from Mohammad, Wilfredo passed out ten of the fifteen stacks of documents to his friends who would really understand the gravity of all of this. The rest will be given out later, "These are what I gathered up with the help of a source," he said as he relaxed again.

The ten began to read the information and they now have the smoking gun on who are responsible for the WWAEI in the first place and where to begin. Asuka was the first to speak, "This is a gold mine! Did you give one to Dante already who may be able to look into this," she asked in a hushed tone to not interrupt the rehearsal.

Wilfredo nodded, "In a PDF yes. He'll relay this to Alastair later to his group and…" he noticed Oskana not reading her stack and instead, reading the newspaper, "What's wrong?"

She looked up from her reading and showed them the newspaper, no one able to read it, save for Eda who took up some basic Polish, "Murders…last night…separate," Eda struggled to read, but Oskana relieved her from translation.

"It says that in the past fourteen hours, two murders have taken place where one was found in a brothel and the other in a upscale loft in the city. One was strangled and suffocated while the other was murdered in a more bloody fashion. The latter was found while the former's body is missing," she read to them and for the orchestra, this was a chilling development.

Asuka looked at her, "And how is this related to our situation," she asked and Oskana responded, "The pictures depicted are the homes of two prominent esoteric people in the city, one a mage the other a mystic. So, safe to assume either the rogues are responsible, or one murder was and the other was…"

"Alastair," Dante spoke as he joined them and sat down, "Music is over you lot," he pointed out as Emily finished the ballade and then the orchestra got up to join the stage to discuss the rest of their rehearsals.

MEANWHILE

[PRĄDNIK CZERWONY DISTRICT, 10:45AM]

The loft was still taped off by the police as they continued their investigation. Inside the loft, two detectives were looking around for any sign of weaponry or hair belonging to the culprit. It was all a mystery to the two, "To pieprzony bałagan. (A fucking mess this is.)," the younger guy said.

The older one who is a woman in her mid-forties sighed, "Wiem, ale musimy postępować zgodnie z procedurą. (I know, but we have to follow procedure.)," she said as she methodically searched the living room before turning her sights down the hall for the bedroom.

"Gdzie idziesz? Policja stwierdziła, że nie znaleźli niczego w sypialni. (Where are you going? The police said they found nothing in the bedroom.)," her younger colleague told her, "Wiem, ale coś mi mówi, znajdziemy tam coś. (I know, but something is telling me we will find something in there.)," she said out loud.

She jiggled the door handle and opened the door, the bedroom untouched as when the time of the murder and disappearance occurred. But something was in here; she can feel it; so she started to look around. Her colleague arrived to the room and sees his older superior adjusting her ring on her right hand as she then stopped in front of the closet. She opened it and moved the clothes aside and looked around and beneath a basket of dirty clothes there was a door in the floor, with a lock on it, "Zastanawiam się... (I wonder…)" she muttered and took out her bolt cutter from her bag.

She pried the lock open and opened the door. Inside was a chest slightly larger than leather bound book. On the lid is script written in English, which she read out loud in Polish, "Diabeł jest tylko Bogiem; Gniew dyktatury złapał w pułapkę. (The devil is no more than God's pain; the wrath of a dictator caught in his own trap.)," she read so her colleague can listen.

The chest was locked as well and with no key in sight, "Musimy wrócić do naszego działu do analizy. Wygląda na to, że ofiara morderstwa mniej lub bardziej ukrywała coś ważnego. (We have to take this back to our department for analysis. It looks like the murder victim was more or less hiding something of importance.)"

The younger inspector nodded and picked up the chest, "Cokolwiek jest w środku, jest waga. (Whatever is inside, there's weight to it.)," he commented, which the older woman simply nodded and got up from the floor.

As the two left the bedroom and now back in the living room, the younger colleague went on ahead as she stood around by the baby grand piano. She played a few notes before heading out and locking the door to the loft.

[PLANTY PARK, KRAKOW OLD TOWN, 2:01PM]

After morning rehearsals, Oskana was in the park walking with a water bottle on hand. After morning rehearsals, her voice was warmed up and ready for more later, after their break around the city. She was alone and she made a call before the rehearsals started to meet someone here. There was something about the murders that felt off to her. Sitting down on one of the benches under the trees, the cool spring air blew, rustling the leaves and branches above. She closes her eyes and felt her inner core purring so to speak, in contentment. She then heard footsteps coming to her left and spoke in a relaxed tone, "Heinrich, nice of you to come."

The man in question, a native Pole from Warsaw, stood next to her in a relaxed manner, wearing a cream colored blazer, with a white Oxford shirt underneath and dark trousers with brown leather shoes, "Nice to see you too Ms. Yurlova. May I sit," he asked, which she nodded and sat next to her.

"I take it the two murders drew you to contact me today," he stated and she nodded, "It's a possible new development. One of them I know may have been committed by someone on our side; the other however, must have been the rogues," she relayed the information to him.

From which, he responded with a certainty that was natural to him, "I will bring my team to investigate the two areas where the murder and disappearance occurred. Also, does the team you're with at this time have a cameraman who may be interested in helping along?"

She thought for a moment, "Two of them not really, but one I know perhaps will be more compliant. He's a Polish American, Michael Stanislow. I'll give you his number," she said in a near bored tone when talking about the cameraman.

He smiled at her way of saying the American's name, "You sound displeased with him," and she looked at him and had a grimaced look on her face, "Well, he's just the typical liberal American who feels that tolerance and an open mind about different peoples and cultures will solve everything. That is noble, but sometimes, a bit shaky on its foundations."

"Ah, okay. I see," Heinrich then gets up and brushed off dust from his trousers and blazer, "I'll talk to you soon and send me his number by text," he told her who nodded in return, but she asked one more question, "Just to humor me, your team is already here in Krakow aren't they?"

He smiled lightly at her, "Of course. As soon as you called," he stated and then walked away. She looked on for a bit and then resumed to relax, as Heinrich's steps grew more distant. She felt another breeze and listens, as well as watches the leaves rustling above her.

TUESDAY

KRAKOW, POLAND

[KRAKOW PHILHARMONIC, 11:25AM]

The orchestra was taking a break after a long morning of rehearsals and Eda was relaxing in the seats with her laptop in hand, talking with Oskar via Skype and thanks to Dante's network setup, the signal came in loud and clear on her end, "Things are going well for me here. How are you in Vienna," she asked.

Oskar on screen responded, "Having a part-time teaching position suits me for the time being. Notation and theory for undergraduates is quite relaxing," he responded with a smile.

She smiled, "That's good to hear. My time at the Juilliard is wonderful. I may finish next year or the year after if I'm lucky," she said, which he congratulated her and she continued, "So my time here today is a welcome reprieve. Oh and…"

Emily moved her laptop to Francesca who sat next to her, "Good morning, Herr Donovan," she greeted and Oskar smiled, "How are you my old friend," he greeted in return as he brushed some of his hair from his eyes.

"You need a haircut," she stated, "I do not, I'm just not groomed properly yet," he said, as he was indeed still in silk pajamas.

Francesca rolled her eyes, "I remember how you used that when you and Hans ruled the academy with that little squad of yours," she said with a chuckle and heard him groaning, "That was from a time when I was younger and knew nothing of life," he explained himself.

Emily listened to Oskar and Francesca talk regarding their time in Aulamerta Academy and she just relaxed while listening to the orchestra performing baroque music on stage. Then after a few minutes, Francesca handed her back the laptop, "Hi there," she smiled at him.

"Yes fräulein, I will see your concert in a few days time. Saturday is it," he asked, which she nodded yes, "I'll see you then, take care. I must get ready for my workday."

She nodded and both said goodbye and she logged out of Skype, and the screen blinked back to her browser. She turned to her left and sees a smiling Francesca, "Yes," Emily asked in mock surprise.

"You like him don't you," the French girl asked and Emily smiled, "I know it's obvious, but I do. Taking things naturally, see where they go," she worded it and while the two girls talked, Yasmin was in the back of the concert hall, silently observing the orchestra on stage, thinking on the plans she and her parents were told earlier.

Her arms were crossed, while her facial expression was thoughtful, concerned, slightly upset, and resigned to this reality. She's known their dalliances in London and Tangier, not blind to it, but also did little to stop them. She rubbed the temples of her forehead and then felt a hand on her shoulder, "Lost in your head?"

She relaxed after being tense for a brief moment, now knowing it's Liam, "Yes, for them," she motioned her hand to the stage, "I'm worried for them, and no doubt you have your own concerns," she told him.

He nodded, "Yes, their plans to go south tomorrow and won't be back until Thursday. Your father and mother trusts them, but yes, their trip tomorrow coincides with the magi as they describe them, witches and wizards…if you hadn't told me or spoken on their behalf to me in confidence, I wouldn't believe it."

She nodded and looked up at him, "So…when shall we meet your parents and your grandmother," she asked with a light smile, attempting to change the subject.

He blinked and smiled a bit in return, "In a few months time. Most on my grandmother's part, but really, we call her nana," he chuckled on the last part, making him sound like a schoolboy, which she found charming.

"I understand. Let's sit and enjoy each other's company while music plays," he told her and the two sat in the back, enjoying their modest privacy and enjoying the music, "They're so talented," he commented.

She turned to him and puts her head on his shoulder, enjoying their time together, "Hard work pays off," she stated simply as she then sees Francesca take to the stage to rehearse her selected piece, also by Chopin, "Fantasie Impromptu".

[Music bit: Fantasie Impromptu by Frederic Chopin]

[MAIN MARKET SQUARE, KRAKOW OLD TOWN, 7:34PM]

Eda was walking about after a day of relaying information back and forth between LMM and the magi with Alastair still at the helm with his Elvish bodyguard, whom she is starting to sense a deeper connection between them. She wore a sweater but thankful spring was here, no longer too cold. They rehearsed Chopin again today, while also rehearsing two pieces of Polish baroque music and Bernhard also rehearsed his selected piece by Franz Liszt, "Reminiscences de Don Juan de Mozart, S 418", a challenging piece for any level of pianist, save for world class pianists. He worked on it for three months so he can get it down just right for a public performance. He was understandably nervous, but Mohammad continued to encourage him along. She smiled inwardly, knowing that at least, that was still a normal thing to see.

She however felt detached from the orchestra and the repertoire, as if this whole mess is ruining her experience of just being a violist, second violinist or being a burgeoning journalist. She wanted this to return to being a musicians and having fun also with her car on the road on the weekends. She sits down as the street lamps turn on, the sun setting behind the buildings and she, watching the city slowly transform from day to evening, one of her few remaining pleasures. She's also thinking about how their new cameraman, Mike is called in to do a favor for Oskana, which was odd and near out of the blue.

She breathed in and out and then got up to continue walking. Across the square, she caught the sight of Alastair and Ellie, arm in arm. This cracked something inside she longed to express, and a car passes where pigeons flew up in surprise; she looked at them, speaking to one another, comfortable, and her just standing there. Her mouth twitched and she continued to walk on, alone and just enjoying her alone time, for once, glad Asuka or others from the orchestra wasn't with her. If what she saw or suspected was to be the case, then she can begin to let go of her childhood feelings for Alastair for good and move on, but she needed confirmation first; otherwise this would be totally awkward later when they meet again. She sighed, and wondered what was really next now for her…

Across the square, as the car past by and pigeons, Alastair for a split second saw Eda who looked, resigned to their love now gone in her eyes. This broke him inside, not wanting her to get the wrong idea, or at least, an incomplete picture. Ellie, or Ellessar as her real name, looked at him as they walked, "What's wrong?"

"Eda she's…" he looked again and she was walking away, disappearing from sight, "I think she's gotten the wrong idea," he stated simply to the elven woman, who in turn looked at him as they continued walking.

Ellie then spoke, "Then you will have to set the record straight this week. Otherwise, this will have damaging effects for our alliance with her group," she stated the reality of secrecy kept without context he nodded in agreement.

"I know. I feel she may listen, but first, I know she will talk this out with her own friends and deciding on what to do next. Eda is by far, more level headed than most. But yes, you are right, we will have to talk this out very soon…it pains me to see her still distant from me," he admitted to her.

Ellie listened, "She will understand, just don't hold any secrets from her, especially with what you're doing in the sidelines on their behalf," she reminded him, which turned him silent as the two continued to walk.

[8:06PM]

After just wandering around the main square area, sitting, looking at the architecture, she arrived at a karaoke bar call "Reaktywacja". She was allowed in and sat at a table ordering a beer. She watched as some people took to the stage to sing some songs, a few were decent, the rest were, well, they gave their all with respect to the participants as she worded it to herself. She humored if she should take part, she had a few songs in mind to choose from, but refrained from doing so. It wouldn't make her feel better regarding Alastair or this alliance with the magi. She then heard a young woman who stepped up to the stage and began to sing "With You" by Avril Lavigne. The slow pop punk song was a departure from the rest of the karaoke repertoire and a throw back when she was younger, in the middle of her friendship with Alastair.

As the song progressed, she remembered the good times with him, them hanging out when they got out of school, weekends spent together when they had time to just relax. She can't remember if there were cloudy days where they didn't talk to one another, but that was memory for her, you remember the best moments first and the worst secondary. Plus, even now, she still has feelings for him. To go up to him and express how she really feels; but can't due to what's going on, but if this ends without her telling him so, then nothing will change and he'll leave again without a word. When the song finished, she made her decision…

Once out of the bar, she zipped up her sweater and walked back to her hotel alone, just thinking to herself and wondered about tomorrow's rehearsals.

[End music bit]

LATER THAT NIGHT

[PRĄDNIK CZERWONY, 9:30PM]

Mike was looking out the window of the taxi while next to him; Zach was listening to some Kode9 and the Spaceape from their first album, "Memories of the Future". Mike was unsure about this assignment to meet a friend of Oskana's and take part in a paranormal investigation. He had no direct experience in this so he was unsure how he would react to a supposed spirit, but he felt that the core members of the orchestra were hiding something from him, a big secret waiting to be revealed.

Zach on the other hand was curious as to why he was singled out and why couldn't Zane be here; he's the more familiar of the cameramen. Then again, he does have a passing fascination since joining the orchestra and knowing the talents of the mystics and the magi they are now allied themselves with. He glanced at Mike, "A penny for your thoughts," he asked while he removed one of his ear buds.

Mike turned his head to look at Zach, "What? Oh, sorry, just thinking about tonight," he said, "About investigating ghosts and the like," Zach spoke their collective thoughts on the subject with a slight grin.

The Polish American sighed, "Well, I hope we don't go down the reality TV shit for our group. I think we're better than that," he told the veteran cameraman who nodded in return and spoke, "We are, but think of this as a side project for us, not for the orchestra."

Mike had to agree this was like a side thing going on, but really he was still unsure. He looked at Zach again, who returned to listen to crappy dub step, in his mind anyway, and wondered again about the orchestra he's now a part of: Who are they and why does he feel they are hiding something? These same two questions kept popping up since he joined, as if he had to earn a specific form of trust unique to them. He wished he knew how, but for now, he'll just accept what he can have…

Minutes later, they arrived at one of the new apartment lofts in the city and as Mike paid the driver, they were left alone and see no one in sight. But as they walked across the street they see coming out of the lobby of the building and see a man in a suit approaching them, "I'm glad you can make it. I'm Heinrich, head of this paranormal investigation."

"I'm Zach Liebler and this is Mike Stanislow," Zach introduced themselves to Heinrich and the three shock each other's hands, "Perfect, now, follow me," he told the two young men and the three walked into the lobby and went down a hallway to head in one conference room.

Heinrich introduced his team to the two young men, numbering five in total after introductions, he spoke, "Now, this is our first location to find anything out of the ordinary before we move to our second location. We'll spend three hours here and move out. Understood?"

His team and the two cameramen from LMM nodded silently, "Then let's get started," Heinrich spoke as he clapped his hands and the team took the elevator upward to the fifth floor where the loft was. The police tape was still on the door and Heinrich opened the door using the master key the tenant granted him for the next few hours. Once inside, the team turned on their audio equipment while Zach and Mike turned on their cameras with night vision on to see around the dark apartment.

Heinrich then began to conduct an EVP (Electric Voice Phenomenon) session to ask whatever or whoever is still residing in the apartment. As Zach and Mike put their main cameras on tripods, they then took out small handheld ones to use, also with night vision, to see around the apartment. As they hear Heinrich conducting the session in both Polish and English, the two felt the temperature drop as they head down the hallway for the master bedroom. They headed inside and see the bed, the closet doors and everything left as it was since the murder and disappearance occurred. They then heard footsteps and it was one of the investigators, a German woman but spoke English well.

"Something here is missing," she told the two whom then looked at each other and then at the German, "Don't you feel it," she asked, but the two nodded a no, but silently acknowledged the cold.

She headed for the closet doors first, opened them and headed for the loose floor board, "Something is missing," the woman told the two while the two cameramen continued filming and trying to record anything with their equipment.

Time has passed and once the three hours were up, the team packed up their gear and headed for the van. Mike and Zach were unnerved, they felt something in the apartment and Mike swore, he heard something on the audio equipment. Once in the van, the team talked in German and Polish with Heinrich as the two LMM cameramen just sat in silence looking out the van's windows. The lights outside lit the way, but the dark of night really added something palpable to what they're doing, as if entering the actual realm of the spirits, rather spooky for them to consider.

WEDNESDAY

[MAIN MARKET SQUARE, KRAKOW OLD TOWN, 12:31AM]

The van stopped just off the main square and a few blocks over, a brothel, which surprised Zach and Mike, "I thought this was outlawed here," Zach said.

Heinrich heard this, "Well, it is allowed, but not on the same level as Holland. Anyway let's unpack and spend a few hours here to investigate the said brothel," he told everyone present.

But Zack and Mike were a bit lost, as they see no real brothel to speak of. But as they gathered their gear and headed down an alleyway where to the two Americans, they find a brothel here where earlier in the day, looked like a deserted retail space. Now, with red lights and in Polish said, 'Czerwona Lilia' or 'The Red Lily' in English. The Madame of the establishment greeted the team at the door, "Heinrich, thank you for coming," she spoke in English.

He smiled and kissed her hand in politeness, "It was urgent as Lady Yurlova had described. Had the authorities, Auror or otherwise investigated already," he asked, which she shook her head in a no, "Not yet. The local police don't have a clue, but rumors are circulating they may have found something relating to us, but know nothing yet."

Heinrich nodded, "Very well. Are we allowed then to explore the floor where it happened," he asked and she nodded yes, granting him and his team to investigate. So with this, they head upstairs and the American cameramen bowed their heads slightly to the woman of the brothel as well as to some who watch the team walking upstairs. Once up there, it was dark and deserted, all of the doors opened, allowing free access.

Zach and Mike felt a foreboding presence around, as if something went down, an assault of sorts. For Mike, he remembered something from deep in the past, like when he passed a murder scene in his old neighborhood, the police lights blaring, the yellow tape, the traffic cones and flares on the ground outside a home. That sense of dread and foreboding, that what occurred here he spoke out loud, "A murder happened here."

Heinrich and his team looked at him, "Yes that was in the report young man," he told Mike, but he shook his head in a no, "I mean…a real…important person died here and no one was identified? That's suspicious as hell."

As Mike said this, Heinrich nodded in agreement, something about this site was a bit off, "Well then, let us investigate," Heinrich stated and the team commenced their three hour search.

Mike as he filmed and recorded audio, couldn't help but shake off this sense of dread. Whoever murdered here sent chills, and it wasn't due to the location of where it happened, the house of physical pleasure. The air was heavy, laced with something abnormal for him. Zach however felt the air, noting how familiar it felt, when his mystic friends and the new magi allies, are about to power up or to put up a protection seal around a room or home. He looked at Mike's distress and puts is hand on his friend's shoulder, "Relax, we're gonna go to the mountains later today."

Mike blinked and chuckled, "Right, it's already Wednesday," he said and the two young men continued their investigation, while Heinrich and his team captured EVPs and infrared photos where there were shadow impressions of a spirit and also, orbs of light. But it was the EVP session near the end of the three hours where things turned really chilling.

"What happened to you," Heinrich asked as everyone heard only silence, while he heard only the faint hint of a whisper to his right while across the hall, Mike stepped in terror.

"Holy shit," he whispered, "I just saw a shadow walking past," he told Zach who motioned his camera with night vision to the indicated spot Mike pointed out, but saw nothing, "You sure," Zach asked.

Mike nodded, "I swear it. It was a shadow, weird, it was blacker than the room itself," he pointed out the curtains were drawn and it was pitch black, which made the sighting more disturbing.

Zach looked around, saw nothing but felt the room become colder. Then as he filmed, Mike heard an EVP through his headphones and his sound equipment, "Okay…I definitely got something. But we need to finish up tonight and process it all by the time the sun comes up," he told Zach who nodded in return. Meanwhile, Heinrich and his German psychic also picked up something and both were disturbed but said nothing and continued on their investigation.

[3:31AM]

They all packed up and headed out, with Mike and Zach silent and the former, shaken up. He always felt those tales his mom and dad, and his older siblings would tell from their experiences of the paranormal were just that, tales. But now he's gotten a taste of the real thing and he looked at Zach and wondered one thing, which in return, extended to the core members of the orchestra, 'What is he and the others hiding?'

For Zach however, it was more along the line of thinking of the magi and well, if Mike told him was true, then this raised the stakes overnight, 'Alastair is going to have a field day with this.'

[TATRA MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, POLAND, 1:02PM]

Alastair was silent as he learned about the victim from the Krakow investigation. One of the victims near the brothel area was his uncle who happened to be a priest who was at the wrong place at the wrong time. He felt that this will ripple across Europe if not checked, especially if the British Aurors would catch wind of it, using his death to fan the flames to drive out both the WWAEI as well as LMM before his plan can come into fruition. Ellie shook his shoulder, "Are you all right," she asked.

He shook his head as he returned to focus as they were hiking up the mountains and seeing the orchestra, or at least the core members hiking ahead and seemingly enjoying themselves, "Sorry, just the news they delivered to me this morning is still on my mind," he excused his lack of focus to her.

She nodded in understanding, "Look, as bad as that was, and truly is, we have to press on. Remember, you also have something to show in the next two days, your forces to come across the door on behalf of your aunt," she told him, "And your past exploits rewarding you with their loyalty."

He nodded and resumed hiking alongside her, "And to try to have Eda come to me alone perhaps tonight or when we get back to Krakow," he added and she nodded silently.

Meanwhile, LMM were hiking ahead, seeing the mountains just head and walking upward, leaving the trees behind. All of them in long trousers, or shorts with long-sleeved shirts on and backpacks with camping supplies, Oskana who joined and relished the outdoors after rehearsals took to the woods like a gazelle. Wilfredo stopped as his friends walked ahead, he looked around, hearing the rustling of leaves and the branches moving, as well as birds chirping above; sounding startled by something.

"Is everything all right," Cecilia asked, "Uh, y-yes," he said, but laced with uncertainty, which she picked up immediately. But she said nothing as they all hiked on ahead to reach their site and hang out to both, have a good time and to see if the rogues are nearby, based on intelligence Rachel gathered.

As the afternoon progressed, things went accordingly until near the end of it where they were ambushed…

[5:02PM]

Wilfredo woke up, blinking his eyes a few times to try to gain his sight again. His body was sore, barely able to get up. He sees the rogues around him, who fell off the cliff as well, lying down unconscious. He crawled to a nearby tree and hid behind it. Shortly after, the rogues began to wake up one by one and looked around, finding Wilfredo missing from their viewpoint.

"Find the mystic! He's hurt as we are," the leader of present company ordered and the four scoured the woods, one narrowly missing Wilfredo and disappeared into the dark woods.

His heart was pounding but also felt pain all around his body. The fall must have broken something, but for the moment, he's more focused on not being spotted and killed. So he remained still until he felt for sure he was safe to stand up and walk. Once it was clear, he got up and looked around in the dense forest and took out his radio, "Hello? This is Wilfredo. Come in," he tried to radio his friends, nothing.

He tried again, "This is Wilfredo! Come in," but again, nothing was getting through. He puts it back strapped to his belt, "Shit…I'm out of range," he told himself as he looked around the trees, feeling a thick air about it.

Just as he was about to start walking, he was ambushed and sees all five surrounding him and one leapt from the branches above and pinned him to the ground, facedown, "In the name of the old order and the old schism, you will lose your life for your heathen actions regarding our kind, traitor."

Wilfredo was pissed off, when he knew it was a mystic who spoke these words. If it were a mage, he would have been attacked and done with, "Do you have any last words," the rogue mystic asked Wilfredo, who in return only responded with, "I'm alive."

Immediately, Wilfredo used his aura to push himself and the man up and off, and then he delivered a left hook to him, knocking him down. Then he was surrounded by the remaining four who in turn, fought him with punches, jabs, kicks, and grappling each other's moves to submit the other; and when he had enough room, Wilfredo bolted for it ever deeper into the woods. He dodged mana blasts from the mystics and he fired back as he ran, but sprinted along. The heaviness of the air had an opposite effect on him from what he was expecting, it charged him up and his mana blasts got more intense.

Then he was shot at his right side and he fell forward brutally on the ground, screaming in agony and hearing the five approaching closer and closer as the shock of pain was affection his consciousness. His vision blurred and as he was knocked out, his aura formed a rune seal around his body, preventing them from killing him on sight, "What the," one mystic exclaimed.

But then, the five hear birds cawing and chirping and flew away. Then, an axe flew from the darkness, struck one mystic, instantly killing him. The four were caught by surprise and then, another was killed when another was struck down dead, in this case, a small hatchet in the back. Two dead and the three formed a tight circle. But then they see the source of the axes, charging for them with a great axe where the blade had Celtic and Arabic writing alongside the edges of the blade. In a fierce flash he cut down the remaining three in less than ten seconds.

He breathed in and out and calmed down to pick up his hatchets. He looked down upon Wilfredo and examined the wound. He made a serious expression on his face and picked up Wilfredo and walked into the dark woods and as if the darkness itself was alive, it surrounded them and in a second, they disappeared.

LATER THAT EVENING…

[8:45PM]

The orchestra set up camp in the woods, adjacent to where they think Wilfredo fell into, and also buried the bodies, which for them was not done by their friend's hand. Cecilia was a bit away from the camp and looked into the darkness, "Wil! Wil," her voice echoed out, but heard nothing, only the soft rain and wind around her.

Jane approached her and clasped her shoulder gently, causing Cecilia to look at her, "We'll find him. Don't worry," she said, adding minute comfort for the Afro-Brazilian.

Cecilia nodded but looked out into the dark woods, "I know I shouldn't worry, but if he's hurt," she said and Jane gripped both her shoulders and massaged them a bit, "If he is and has something on hand to help, he'll be fine. But we will find him, I promise that."

She nodded as she heard Jane said this and looked back at the camp, "And the others? Your friends feel the same way," she asked and Jane nodded, as if implying they don't care.

So Jane set the record straight for her mystic ally, "Despite our obvious differences as well as our different methods…we actually do care about our whole situation. If one of your own is missing, we'll find him or her. That's the truth and our word."

Cecilia listened to Jane and nodded in understanding. She still felt unsure, but at least, some comfort in this situation would be welcomed. So, after another minute of standing there they soon went back to camp. In camp, LMM were dressing up for sleep, it's been a long day and some skipped dinner due to exhaustion. For this first time, the magi and mystics were discussing on where and when to renew their search when the sun comes up next morning and the former pilots were preparing things in advance for the search, and if they see the rogues again. Alastair with Ellie in the meantime quietly left camp as he told those close to him he needed to find a necessary plant for this. But in reality, it was something entirely different, which by midnight, everyone will know what sort of man he really is…

[11:52PM]

Wilfredo was lying down on the ground, with a leather hide beneath his back so he won't touch the dirt. His torso exposed with bandages around him and the blood dried already. His eyes closed, breathing in and out softly, with his rune seal around him active, then the mysterious tall and strong man looked down on him as he carried some logs for the fire for a moment and then set he logs in the pyre. He returned to the young man and placed his big, sturdy hand over Wilfredo's wound and uttered something in a pagan tongue and amazingly, Wilfredo's rune seal was calmed down so he can look at the wound and placed a paste of forest herbs on it gently, while muttering a Latin prayer.

Wilfredo groaned as the would was deep, and the man looked over the young man's torso, "ללא שם: אני יכול לומר שאתה חזק אחד בטוח ... מוכר איכשהו אבל ... ללא שם: בקרוב תתעורר. (I can tell you're a strong one for sure…familiar somehow but…you'll soon wake up," he spoke, now surprisingly in Hebrew.

He gets up and tended the small pyre, while also skinning a rabbit for a late dinner and he can sense, the dark spirits of the forest stirring. Not due to his presence or the wounded young man behind him. No, there was something in the air, something both old, foul, like a stench of sweat and blood; something he swore to never sense again in his long life.

Wilfredo on the ground in the course of a minute or so began to stir due to the air stirring around him. He started to groan as if a nightmare was going on and the man by the fire noticed but continued to prepare the rabbit, "He'll wake soon enough."

MEANWHILE

Alastair and Ellie were now about two miles from camp and he uttered an incantation where the Door appears in a flash of light, "Is it that time now," Ellie asked as Alastair stood before the door.

He nodded in silence and moved his hands forward and a pulse of energy reverberated out and the door began to open. In the door was the landscape of an island fortress, industry contrasting with the palm trees in the distance by the sea. Before him was a legion of uruks and orcs with one, smiling at the both of them and, presumably the leader of the legion spoke, "What's the job here, boss?"

Alastair smiled, as did his elf, "Bringing the fear of lore, to my home," the British mage simply stated.

The uruks and orcs smiled and chuckled as to now they begin to cross the door and for the first time in many centuries, these creatures stepped out on open earth under the half-moon light. Which in the woods, the natural and dark spirits started to act up and Ellie noticed, "One or two fables are going to make their debut tonight."

Alastair listened and nodded, "That would be good for my own agenda, perpendicular to our current predicament," he added and she immediately understood what he meant by that.

THURSDAY

[TATRA NATIONAL PARK, POLAND, 12:30AM]

Wilfredo stirred and looked around, seeing tall twisted old trees, tree debris and grass around him mixed in with wet earth. He felt pain and something around his torso as he looked left and right and sees a man at the campfire, "Hello," he called out, but felt his voice dry to the point of silencing him.

He tried again, "Hello," he strained and the man turned to look at him, "Ah you're awake," Wilfredo can tell his accent is gruff but not relating to Polish, more mixed with Southern European and something else, "Are you hungry?"

Wilfredo nodded a no, "Thirsty," and the man took a pouch of liquid from his waist and motioned it to his mouth, "Drink," he told Wilfredo who then took some sips and drank the fresh water.

As he swallowed the water he slowly sits up, with some discomfort but not as much pain as he was expecting, "Where am I," he asked the man.

"In my home in the woods. I rescued you from those bad men. Though, you were handicapped by that fall and attack to your torso," the man pointed out and Wilfredo felt his bandages and was surprised how much he's healed since being struck.

He looked up at the man, "Who are you," was the first question to mind to ask, with the man smiling a warmth and gently patted Wilfredo's shoulder, "I'm just a humble woodsman. Now come, have a quick bite of food and some drink," he got up and headed for the fire to sit down.

Wilfredo slowly got up, with some pain of course, and went to where the woodsman was and sat down a bit away from him, but close enough to see him in the eyes for communication. He was served some of the rabbit and it was good, a bit of a smoky flavor with some herbs on it. He was offered some mead, which he drank and smiled lightly at the woodsman.

Wilfredo looked around, "Where are we? This is a different part of the forest I came in from earlier," he asked the man.

The woodsman looked at him and swallowed his bit of rabbit before responding, "In my portion of the forest, protected and far from the tourist trails, on the borders of the park. But, I saw your friends camping, we maybe a day's walk away from them."

He nodded at the man's words as he ate his rabbit and looked at the fire, "Sounds good, but my radio is not working properly here," he said this as he noticed his belongings nearby, which the woodsman responded and explained why.

"Radio towers aren't built in this part of the forest. But I assure you I will escort you back to your friends and allies in one day's worth of hiking," the woodsman said and Wilfredo nodded, agreeing to the situation, mostly due to not having any other option.

Wilfredo then asked, "What's with the dark spirits here? Are we in any danger," he asked and the woodsman nodded a no, "Not here. Nothing comes by my tree-line without my permission, so do not fret," the woodsman explained, which Wilfredo nodded in acknowledgment.

He pondered something as he looked at the woodsman who returned to eating, but he was too tired, hungry and thirsty to think any further. So after Wilfredo finished his food and bit of mead, he returned to his cot near the old oak tree where he rested before and lied down to sleep. Sleep came quickly for him and once he was out, the woodsman finished and got up to get a blanket made of fur, in this case made of bear and put it over Wilfredo's body. The woodsman looked on the young man for a moment before returning to his small cabin that was behind some old growth trees. Wilfredo would be fine outside, as he needs the energies of the forest to help speed up the healing process. The woodsman took off his clothes and boots and got in bed and let sleep take hold as well.

[6:35AM]

Wilfredo stirred and the air was very still, hint of moisture as well on the ground and on his bear fur blanket. He looked around and realized last night wasn't a dream. He felt little to no pain to where he was shot, which greatly surprised him, and now with a little more light due to the beginnings of the rising sun to the east, but it was still dark beneath the trees, that now looked more as they are; old, really old, thick trunks and old growth around, but somehow looked managed. He remained shirtless, as the bandages felt itchy. He slowly started to peel at the corner of them until, "Don't take them off yet."

He turned his head to the left to see the woodsman approaching him with an axe in his right hand and several logs under his left arm. He sets the axe by imbedding it in the tree next to him and the logs gently on the ground, "I have to check your wound first. Stand up."

Wilfredo did as he was instructed and stood up. Even standing tall at 6'1", he only stood at eye level compared to the woodsman, the stranger made him feel small by not only his height and build, but an aura about him, a silent confidence. So Wilfredo stood still as the woodsman took off his bandages and looked at the wound he tended, gently examining it with his sturdy fingers, but gentle enough to not hurt if not completely healed. But after his examination, "Looks all healed up. You're of sturdy stock," the man gave a smile and patted Wilfredo's shoulder.

Wilfredo was a bit bashful but accepted the compliment nonetheless, "Thank you. Now, some breakfast and we head out," he spoke and the woodsman nodded and the two went to the cabin.

While this was going on, back with LMM, they awaken to a shocking appearance…

[6:47AM]

Eda screamed and her friends came out of their tents and they all see creatures that frankly came out of Tolkien's legendarium. They were all stunned and the magi woke up as well and they see the creatures, creatures not seen since their textbooks and lore. Even more shocking for both groups is seeing Alastair with his elven guard there so at ease with the creatures.

"Boss, why are they surprised to see us," Pazshra asked, who stood there in all of his uruk armor and tome attached to his back as is his great axe, towering over the people by at least one foot, "Haven't they seen an uruk before," he asked Alastair.

Alastair looked up at him, "Well, not really. Your kind here is mostly in mountains living out their lives away from people. But in any case, you are now here for something we are all contending with. Plus, you may kill some when the situation is called for."

Pazshra and others were talking cheerfully as they can still do some warfare in this new location. Angelina approached first and asked in her airy voice as if the creatures' presence haven't unnerved her, "Alastair, where are they to camp among us?"

He responded, "With us of course! They will set up camp as we also search for one of our own. He's not dead I can assure you," he alluded to Wilfredo's disappearance but his comment did catch the attention of LMM who came out of their stupor.

"How do you know he's all right," Alberto asked, calling out to Alastair, who looked at him in seriousness and answered with this, "The energies of the woods are reacting to another presence as well not taking a soul off this plane," referring to an old presence of the woods and the fact the ring on Basilio's hand had not reacted to a recent death in the area.

LMM were now discussing among themselves but Eda passed them and approached Alastair but when she got close, another came forward, but this time a man in what appeared to be pirate garb. She stopped and looked at him, the uruks quickly, the elven woman, and finally on Alastair, "What's going on," she asked.

He stepped forward allowing the pirate to step aside in acknowledgment, "Reinforcements. Since at the moment we are now on the back foot, its best to come out ahead. No?"

She nodded at his explanation but he then gave a slight smile and continued, "Trust me to have them here. They will not harm us under my command and will aid us to the best of their ability."

Eda nodded and looked at him, then again at the elven woman, the uruks, the pirate looking man and then the rest of the magi. She felt, at odds and deeply confused. Not sure what to say, what to say in front of her friends, not sure what to do anymore except, follow along. Alastair noticed this but before he can say anything, "I'm taking a walk," she said.

LMM looked at her, "What? We don't know if the rogues are out there," Gilberto told her, but she reprimanded him, "If they are, we would've been stormed by now. No, whatever happened so far, the rest are in Warsaw or Krakow based on Dante and Alastair's intelligence. Now I'm going to take a walk, if I am not back in an hour, send a search party," she said and went back to her tent.

Alastair turned to Ellie, "Follow her in the shadows," then he turned to Pazshra, maintaining his whispering tone, "If a rogue wearing a symbol as I showed you comes, crush him or her," he concluded and the uruk nodded and walked into the woods as the dark yet to be lit by the sun enveloped and he was gone.

Eda came out of her tent with her jacket, boots, cargo pants and her hair in a bun. She waved a see you later and headed into the woods along the dirt path for her walk, to clear head. She glanced quickly at Alastair as she walked past and disappeared into the woods…

(Time rolls by)

The sun moved across the sky as the day went on. LMM and the magi were now starting to mingle to discuss their situation, how Wilfredo hasn't returned yet, and just figuring out who was Alastair really. Even some of Alastair's old friends this is a surprise; they knew he came back from across the door, across the sea from Ledger Domain in Sairgoth, a whole new continent of various peoples, kingdoms and intrigue all its own. But as for the pirate and uruks, all new to them, save for three people who decided to remain mum for now, Rachel, Angelina and Basilio. Eda who returned from her hike a few hours ago was sitting in her tent, reminiscing of Warsaw and whether or not to approach him now or when they return to the city.

Meanwhile, Wilfredo was now hiking on the hilly land alongside the woodsman. He was better now to carry his things, but the light rain wasn't helping matters on their side of the mountain. Wilfredo stopped to catch his breath and sees the woodsman ahead, seemingly so calm and unfazed by the terrain, well, with the man claiming the mountains and forests as home it would be no surprise. After a few seconds, he got out his water and took a swig of it before catching up with the woodsman. Soon they were on top of the mountain and Wilfredo can now sense the auras of his friends from about fifteen miles away, "Almost there," he said with a bit out of breath tone.

The woodsman nodded and looked at Wilfredo for a second before sitting down, "Now a late lunch," the man stated, indeed, it is now just past three. So Wilfredo sat down on a rock across from the woodsman.

The woodsman took out some bison jerky and bread and shared some to Wilfredo. He accepted the offers of food and in exchange Wilfredo offered some dried fruit, nuts and beef jerky. The man accepted the offers as well and the two men sat in silence, enjoying their very modest lunch, feeling the cool breeze and the light rain they didn't mind. The two men made glances at each other, to see what the other was thinking, but said little during their meal.

Once done, they resumed their hike down the mountain to head for the valley below, and where Wilfredo's friends and allies are…

(Early evening)

Wilfredo and the woodsman by now are within three miles of the camp and the air was thick, "Do you feel that," the woodsman asked, "Yeah…it feels foul," Wilfredo commented.

The woodsman nodded in agreement and continued on now in a more cautious manner. Then Wilfredo stopped and heard something faint in the darkness, something resembling a past experience, and his pause did not go unnoticed, "What's wrong?"

"There's something nearby," Wilfredo whispered as he stood still, "Something behind us and…look, a werewolf to your left," he exclaimed, which the woodsman turned his head quickly and sees a man, with black shoulder length hair, dark tanned skin, an old-fashioned suit from the 1950s, and a pocket watch with its chain attached to his vest.

The woodsman was unfazed and greeted the man with a handshake, but Wilfredo was still uneasy as he looked around in the encroaching dark woods. The werewolf man looked on and asked, "What is wrong?"

The woodsman looked at him and then around, "Don't you sense the air, Charles," he spoke the werewolf's name, "Something is here due to what is nearby," he added as he stood still.

Charles sniffed the air, "Yes, but how can the young man have sensed it so soon," he asked in a whisper low enough for only the woodsman to hear, Wilfredo meanwhile made only two steps forward as Charles proved not a threat, but the dark energy around the three put him on edge.

"Malae procedunt formae; Aut moriar (Come forth evil form! Or you shall die!)," Wilfredo shouted in a commanding tone, that caught the two older men by surprise, "Teterrimus ille daemon! Qui fecit mihi occurrit ad aetatem iuvenis? (Foul demon! One who has met me at a young age!)," he added, now more angry and confrontational.

Then there was a laugh in the darkness and a reply came also in Latin, but one laced with a tone of dark speech, "Et ille iam puer puero: qui potest pugnare cum mihi quaedam cognata potestas mea. Quare ergo me ad detestabilis? (The young boy now man, one who can fight my kind with power akin to my own. Why so hateful to me?)," this caught the woodsman and Charles to now look on Wilfredo.

The Portuguese American looked visibly upset and stood his ground in an upright posture, "Possident me cogis me excitare conantur. Ego te perdere pro bonis: Percepit Asmodeus. (You forced my awakening and tried to possess me. I will you destroy you for good, Asmodeus.)," he spoke with command, the truth of what happened before, but the laugh came when the darkness came and formed in front of the three.

As opposed in the Dictionnaire Infernal, this demon formed in the body of a woman, young, but pretty to the extent of being off putting. Charles and the woodsman recognized her and see her coming down the hill and approaching Wilfredo, "Supremum exitum tuum est Ecclesia amentes procreantur. Tibi pura et occurrit ex accidente. Sed ... (Your awakening was the result Church idiots. You and I met on pure accident. But...)," she spoke and now placed her hands on his chest, "Non possum sentire libidine intus vobis, petens ut inde solveretur. Maxime quia fuerat, gloriam, et offer pro pulchra ancillis eorum amorem in te. Providebit vos a carnalibus desideriis quae ... non possum, quia emissio (I can feel the lust inside you, begging to be released. Lust for adventure, for glory, for the fair maidens who offer their love to thee. I can provide a release for the carnal desires you…)"

But then Wilfredo pushed her off of him and she leapt to a tree and stood on the trunk, "Possis temptare audes jam sim homo? Quæ abiit, et canis! (You dare to tempt me when you can already see who I am as a man? Be gone she-bitch!)," he commanded and the face on the she-demon turned and twisted into crazed fury.

"Tunc morietur (Then die!)," she hollered and blasted a ball of black energy at him, but he repelled it with ease and launched it back at her. She flew through the tree and landed meters away into the ground. She groaned and he was running for her, but she got on fours, her wings sprouted and flew into the air and flew off, in his eyes, the direction of the camp. A rune seal formed under him and he began to fly off after her, with Charles and the woodsman after him, running at high speed above the average human.

"That boy is talented," Charles said with a smile, "A strong fruit of the loins eh," he hinted at whoever ancestor was responsible for that power, but since the woodsman was silent, it was more than obvious, "Perhaps…but he is quick to go after the demon and barely healed to take her on."

The two men then see Wilfredo tackling the she-demon to the ground amidst the trees, "He's quite good," the woodsman casually commented, meanwhile the she-demon and Wilfredo were on the ground rolling around, trying to hurt the other with hand to hand and mystical/demonic attacks.

Wilfredo then pinned the demon firmly to the base of a tree, "Vestri 'iens ad abysso! (You're going back to the pit!)," he said in a harsh tone, while the demon smiled evilly wrapped her legs around him and pushed him down to the ground and pinned him with her hands on his chest, "Solum abysso volo ut experimur in unum inter pedes meos. (The only pit I want you to experience is the one between my legs.)," she said lustfully.

Then his seal activated and she was thrown back towards the tree behind her, which the energy wave had singed her body and she stood up in a limp, "Our fight is not done. Next time, we shall conclude this dance of ours, foul mystic," she declared and then vanished in the form of a scarlet seal with demonic script around it.

Wilfredo panted and leaned against the tree, staring into the darkness and then to his right and sees the camp and to his silent surprise, his friends, the magi, Alastair, and strange uruk creatures standing looking at him, "Uh…hello…" Wilfredo greeted tiredly.

"WIL," his friends rushed to him and hugged him, knocking him over. They were relieved and pissed off as well for his fool-hearty stunt from the day before, ball busting him as well for taking so long.

Alastair looked on with bemusement and he sees the two older men coming to him, "So, the son of Donkey Skin herself has summoned creatures of the Dark Ages. Mind telling us why," Charles spoke and demanded an answer in a calm demeanor.

The blonde mage looked up at him as he was reading and closes his book, "Simple. On the order of her ladyship, Duchess Florianne de Michon of Sairgoth's southern kingdom, as well as Lydia aka Snow White in New York, I am more or less inclined to use whatever forces I possess to bring this rogue mess under control," he explained himself.

Charles and the woodsman nodded, but still didn't like to see these creatures of lore out in the open; too crowded nowadays. Charles looked around and sees the shadows cast by the campfire and some of them caught his attention. The woodsman didn't notice as he was now talking with the elven woman who then talked with the pirate George Merry to see what can be done and not to worry about the presence of rogues in the woods, as he's already taken care of the situation.

The two older men stayed on guard duty adjacent to the uruks and in private, Charles talked in a whisper, concerning on what he's seen, "That Russian girl has my shadow," he said and the woodsman looked at him, "Apparently she's my descendant. Good to see my line hasn't completely disappeared."

The woodsman spoke, "And Mr. Rathbone has the shadow of Donkey Skin herself, no doubt she had a direct in him as you have had on the Russian girl's mother or grandmother," he said and the werewolf laughed under his breath.

Charles then said, "The Dutch girl is of Nemo himself, the farm boy is of the Beast, and the young man you escorted here, he is of your stock," he continued and the woodsman nodded at each one mentioned, including the link from Wilfredo to himself.

"It's not lost on me. But I will not reveal it to him, one he won't believe me, and second, let the boy figure things out. He's almost got it," the woodsman said as he cracked his neck to relieve tension.

The werewolf man nodded, "But he also needs a hint on how his line to you would benefit everyone here. Plus," he chuckled before continuing, "He's inherited your ability to charm women," and the woodsman looked at him with a dry look and then resumed standing in silence.

"He's a scorpion, as I am…or was," the woodsman said cryptically and Charles looked at him for a brief second, but said nothing.

[11:44PM]

Wilfredo wakes up and sits up, with himself naked and Cecilia as well next to him. The two made love before sleeping and he puts on his black sweats and puts the blanket on his girl. He gets out of the tent and zips the tent's opening and walked to a nearby tree to take a leak. The cool night air caressed his torso and he felt his scar now fresh but healed. Once done he walked into the trees a bit to see the moon above, "You're all better now huh," the woodsman's voice sounded behind him.

Wilfredo smiled a bit, "Thanks to you. Otherwise, I would be dead now," he replied before turning around, "I thank you, sir."

The woodsman brushed off the title sir, "Please, it was the least a man can do. And, looks like your girl rewarded your safe return with some loving no," he said and Wilfredo rubbed the back of his head bashfully, "Yeah…what can I say?"

The woodsman nodded in agreement and the two stood apart in silence and then next to each other as they looked out into the dark woods and the moon above, "A good night isn't it," Wilfredo asked.

"Indeed it is," the woodsman replied in a similar tone, silent contentment. Meanwhile, on the other side of the camp, Eda enters the tent of Alastair, "I need to speak with you."

He looked up at her from his sitting position, while Ellessar looked on with curious eyes. He sets down his pipe and adjusted his silk robe and motions for her to sit down, "Please, sit. I am to be honest, was expectant for you to come in," he told her as she sat down. He motioned for Ellie to close the tent and she gets up to do just that.

Outside of the tent the uruks noticed this and walked a few meters away but still close enough to be on guard, "The pretty pigskin went to talk to our boss," one of the uruks said as Pazshra nodded in silence.

"Indeed. The very woman he's heard in his madness, Vaskanaar," the uruk necromancer told his compatriot, "In the tempest of the high seas," George jumped in as he cleaned his pipe of the weed.

The two uruks looked and see the pirate now next to him, "Remember. He relayed he heard voices in the great gale when we were close to our fortified island off the coast of Sairgoth to the south. He heard his heart's true love's voice calling out to him and he despaired."

The two uruks nodded and the three now looked at the tent, wondering what the two destined to be lovers are talking about right now. But for the save of propriety, they dared not listen in on the tent. Meanwhile the nigh went on relatively uneventful as Charles stood guard close to the tent Oskana slept in, two meters away, but close enough to protect if anything does come up.

FRIDAY

KRAKOW, POLAND

[KRAKOW PHILHARMONIC, 10:34AM]

The orchestra came back and is put through the ringer and have one final rehearsal before the concert tomorrow evening. Mohammad was glad that everyone is safe and sound, but now in the concert hall, he makes sure his orchestra still delivers on the performances. Wilfredo was still in pain somewhat as he was sitting down in his seat but trucked onwards along with the others. Alastair and the rest of the magi were in the audience, looking on as the orchestra was rehearsing baroque music today, "How is it that a bunch of arseholes can perform so well," William just didn't understand.

"They work harder, harder than anyone I know. Plus with their side projects and this rogue mess to add to their brief, but impressive resume, of course they're arseholes. They have to bring out the best in each other while also expecting the same from others, which can blindside them," Henriette explained as she adjusted her legs.

The magi looked on and truthfully, only five consider them to truly befriend while the rest are either indifferent still, or want them to be brought to justice before even considering looking at them in a different light. Jane spoke, "The only reason Alastair won't arrest them is because firstly, he's working behind the scenes to make their trial work for all of us. And secondly, Eda, he still has eyes on her."

Rachel heard the last part and was honestly, not quite happy, but said nothing because right now, cooperation is still a tool preferred to be used. So they continued to look on at the rehearsals from Oskana singing, to Emily, Francesca, and Bernhard performing on piano, as well as two Polish baroque music; a morning of good music being refined for a concert for the people.

[Restauracja Polska Różana, 1:23PM]

Eda was having lunch alone and enjoying it outside to feel the cool spring air. She then after being lost in thought, looked up and sees Alastair standing over her, "Hello," she greeted simply.

"May I sit," he asked and she motioned him to sit down and so he did. She poured him some wine in a glass and he thanked her for it. After a few seconds of silence he spoke, "Any thoughts from last night's conversation?"

She looked at him as he asked this question, "Sorting out what you said yes. For now I would like to do so without being…judged," she told him and he looked at her with laser focus.

"It's not judgment, it is reconnecting with an old friend who's now, a beautiful young woman," Eda blushed slightly as he continued, "But someone who is in a situation she is not supposed to be in," and she nodded in silence.

Alastair then took out an envelope with a wax seal on it, "For you," he said and she accepted it, but asked, "For what," she asked in return and he smiled lightly, "An invitation. A ball for Sunday evening in Krakow, and I'm sending others out in our little group," he told her.

She looked up at him who now was standing, "Will you and your friends consider joining my friends and I Sunday evening," he asked and she looked at him and then her invitation. After a moment, she responded, "Of course. I'll come along."

He then smiled, but with some restraint, as if he would grin as a boy getting what he wanted for his birthday, "Perfect. I'll see you later then," he bowed slightly and made his leave while she sat at the table to finish her lunch. Once she was done, she asked for the check, but was told by the waiter the bill was paid for.

[POLICE STATION, 3:23PM]

While the collective esoteric forces across the city were holding their collective breath, the police detectives were still investigating the box. Still unopened, but the more they clean up the box itself, the more writing they uncover on its surface. Written in Polish, Slovakian, Latvian, and Russian lettering, this box seems to have the history of Eastern Europe around it, and their translators did their best to decrypt the messages that started with the first one from a few days ago.

The young man walked with the finished product down the hall to meet his superior who was currently speaking on the phone to the coroner. He knocked on the slightly open door and she looked up. Without missing a beat she motioned for him to enter as she finished her phone call. Once done she folded her hands and looked up at him, "Mam nadzieję, że to coś dobrego. (I hope its something good?)"

"W rzeczy samej. To jest gotowe tłumaczenie: diabeł nie jest niczym więcej, jak tylko Bożym bólem; gniew dyktatora uwięziony we własnej pułapce. Kiedy diabeł spadł z nieba, przyprowadził ze sobą swoich naśladowców, którzy reprezentują go i jego generałów o różnych twarzach. Zanim zdąży wrócić, aby zakończyć pracę jako zdobywca, jej przedmioty są rozproszone. Dopiero gdy zostaną zgromadzeni ponownie, a ci, którzy ją wezmą, będą zwycięską drużyną i uderzą swoich wrogów. (Indeed. It's the finished translation: The devil is no more than God's pain; the wrath of a dictator caught in his own trap. When the devil fell from heaven, he brought his followers with him, who represents him and his generals with different faces. Before she can return to finish her work as conqueror, her items are scattered about. Only when brought together again, and those who call upon her shall be the victorious party and smite their enemies.)"

The young man finished and looked at her, "Trzeba było tak długo tłumaczyć resztę, ponieważ zostały napisane w starym stylu (It took this long to translate the rest since they were written in an old style)," he further explained and continued, "Bez względu na to, co zawiera pudełko, jego coś, co czuję, kurator muzeum może mieć większą szansę na zrozumienie i przyjrzenie się. (Whatever the box contains, its something I feel, a museum curator may have a better chance to understand and look into.)"

The older woman detective looked at him and then at the box to her right, "Tak bardzo jak chciałbym się nie zgodzić, masz rację. Zadzwoń do ekspertów Historii Średniowiecza z całego miasta. Zobacz, czy możesz też zajrzeć do Krakowa; zostało to znalezione na miejscu zbrodni. Musimy wiedzieć, czy tak jest, aby rozwiązać ten problem. (As much as I would more than to disagree, you're right. Call in Medieval History experts from across the city. See if you can look into Krakow as well; this was found at a crime scene. We need to know if this is the case to solve this.)," she told him.

He bowed slight, "Proszę pani. (Ma'am.)," he stated and left her office, leaving her to her thoughts while the young detective walked back to his desk and made the necessary phone calls.

[6:15PM]

The sun was setting as Asuka was walking with Dante and Shinji, "Okay so based on your intelligence, the rogues will come later in the evening to try and steal this box from the police," Shinji asked and Dante nodded.

"Correct. And will head for any station to get out of the city. So for this measure, we fight," as he now stood on the ledge of the building, "Fight on the rooftops."

Asuka laughed a bit as she looked at the rooftops of the old city, "This is going to be a challenge because it's not let's say, kosher," she said and Dante looked at her, "Meaning," he asked which she chuckled.

"We're about to perform some stunts Danny and even that former Bellwood trio would approve of. Of course we're going to kill some, but hey, semantics," she explained and Dante gave a mirth grin as he looked about, "Sniper duty is limited since we're all out in the open. So we do have to don masks again," Shinji spoke up and the two looked at him in acknowledgment.

Shinji then stepped onto the ledge of the building and looked around the city, "Tonight, we make true headway, though I'm concerned about Alastair's new forces in those uruks," he admitted his fear of them.

His friends nodded and truth be told, all of them were wary of what sort of battle the night would bring. Scared, most definitely.

[POLICE HEADQUARTERS, 11:01PM]

The rogues broke in the department and quickly subdued any officers who were there for the night shift. The head detective stationed herself in her office and got the sense the intruders were after the box so she grabbed it and slowly opened her door. She saw her protégé and motioned to come to her quickly in silence, "Co się dzieje? (What's going on?)," he whispered, "Nie wiem, ale oni są po pudełku. (I don't know, but they're after the box.)," she replied with her left hand on the hilt of her gun.

He looked at her and she replied with, "Intuicja, teraz idź za mną i bądź cicho i cicho! (Intuition, now follow me and keep low and quiet!)," she told him and he nodded in complete agreement and the two ran low to the floor and quickly headed for the emergency exit, which led to the stairway and rushed down the garage.

Then they were stopped by one of the masked rogues, "Where are you going," the masked individual asked and held the wand up. The two detectives got out their guns, but the rogue made short work of them by taking them apart piece by piece.

The two detectives were vulnerable and helpless. Then as things looked grim, the rogue was attacked from behind and fell forward in an unconscious heap, and the two see another masked individual but spoke with an unmodified voice, "Come! We are running out of time!"

"Who are you," the head detective spoke and the person unmasked himself to reveal himself as Wilfredo, "Come please, we are trying to stop them from taking this box. I'll explain on the way," he told her, pleading her and her number two to trust him.

The older woman looked at him with a skeptical eye before responding, "All right, for now. Lead the way," and Wilfredo motioned them to follow but quickly. He led them from their rear and took out those from above and to their periphery. Once in the basement they ran, "Where's your car," he asked.

The woman took out her keys and pressed it to deactivate the alarm. The three got to her car, a Saab 9-5 and she revved to life and sped out of the garage, "What's going on," the young detective asked as Wilfredo asked for the box and took out his radio.

"Come in! I rescued the two," and in response it was Christine, "Head down on Karmelicka and once in Old Town, park and make a run for it! Alastair and his forces got our backs!"

"Fish in a barrel," he asked and she confirmed it, "Fish in a barrel," and then it died, "Floor it ma'am!"

So she did but the young detective was annoyed, "Answer my question," and Wilfredo turned his head to respond, poetically:

"You cannot enter, But you're sure it's there.

Could we but look more clearly and wisely

We might discover somewhere in the garden

A strange new flower and an unnamed star."

The older woman chuckled, "Quoting Milosz aren't we at this time," she asked and Wilfredo smiled, "What can I say, his writings are great to read," he responded as he held the box and now looked at it.

He looked out the window and saw nothing, but knew they were coming. She said nothing, but she can also sense a feeling of dread, so she activated her siren so the cars can get out of her way, now easier to drive, but now they were attracting attention from those after them.

As soon as they arrived at Old Town, the three got out and made a run for it, with them still carrying the box. He looked back as he sees the rogues after them and then, sees the magi firing upon them and rogues dispersed. People around thought this was an elaborate movie production and the three ran past the people and headed inside a building and ran for the stairs, "Where are we going," the young detective shouted but Wilfredo was silent as he led them to another room and inside, Oskana along with Rain.

Meanwhile, outside, the magi and the rogues took the fight to the rooftops, leaping from building to building either by their own physical prowess or by the assistance of levitating charms. The fight was fast and ferocious across the night, with the mystics of LMM hiding in the shadows to ambush some and take them out, lessening the numbers. Unknown to them, Roland was above it all, observing it atop the clock tower as he was pleasantly amused by the chase, "Whether or not the box would be acquired, is left to be determined," he told himself.

Then he leapt off the clock tower and then was ambushed by a ball of steel, which he deflected with his hand via a seal of runes revolving around it. Dante caught it and molded it to form a rapier, "Fun is getting started," he told him.

Roland gave an annoyed look as he took out his wand and readied himself. Roland gave the first strike, but Dante quickly dodged and launched strikes against the wizard. They ran up and down the cathedral and using the clock tower to hide and maneuver from each other. Dante used his AT Field in combination with his rapier to strike, but Roland thwarted them. The two now stood apart, with Roland having the ground and Dante panting near the ledge of the roof.

"You are quite talented, but out of your league," the older man said as he looked at the former pilot with amusement and mild annoyance. And in a quick movement, he fired a curse at Dante, who screamed, dropped his rapier and fell from the roof. In the last second, he activated his AT Field to lessen the fall, but the impact was still felt and now was unconscious.

MEANWHILE

As Roland fired his curse at Dante, a quarter of a mile away amongst the rooftops, LMM and Alastair's magi got the rogues on the run, but the last move the rogues made was a distraction of a collective attack while the opposition fired up their shield charms or protective aural shields and the impact was felt all over. The sound and light from it felt like a massive display of fireworks that got the attention from the public, especially from the esoteric communities away from Old Town.

After the flash dissipated LMM and the magi saw that the rogues were gone, "Dante! We were able to thwart them back but they disappeared," but radio silence was only heard, "Dante come in," Asuka radioed but only silence.

"Something is wrong," Alastair said as he puts his wand away, "Split up and search the area," he told everyone and LMM and the magi split up to find Dante. After a few minutes they searched most of Old Town and when they reached St. Mary's Basilica, they find a man lying on the ground and upon closer examination, "Dante," Fatma exclaimed.

She ran for him and tried to shake him awake. She turned him over and finds a mark done by a curse and some blood from his blood, presumably when he impacted the ground. Fatma's aura reacted with the cursed spot and Dante was groaning in pain. The magi and LMM arrived to the scene at roughly the same time and sees their second strategist on the ground, injured.

[GRAND MARRIOT HOTEL, 11:35PM]

The two detectives were along the side of the walls of Dante's room seeing Alastair and Ellie doing some sort of ritual right before their eyes, "I…I don't believe it," the young detective said in disbelief.

The older detective however was silent as they see the blonde and elf healing the now shirtless Dante and the magic aura forming around the torso. The chanting in a foreign language to her ears was a mixture of childhood nostalgia for those old tales, while also hinting at a portion of society she was totally ignorant of. Fatma held Dante's head, saying prayers in Persian to ease him into recovery, her own aura circling around his head in Old Persian script.

Then the older detective sees one of the magi approaching her and her partner, "Hello, come to the hallway with me please," and the two agreed as they stepped out and closed the door behind them.

Angelina turned around to face them and the two Polish detectives looked at her, "What is this about," the younger detective, which Angelina did not waste time in answering, "You and your lot have nearly gotten entangled in the esoteric mess we have ourselves involved with, which, as you can see…"

She stopped as she looked at the door, "We are prepared but also know the risks of our decision. Now for the box, what have you found out," she asked and just when the younger detective was about to speak of jurisdiction, his older superior interjected.

The older woman looked at Angelina, "The box is written in Eastern European languages, but in an old style. Plus it cannot open, not for lack of trying and it seems to need a key to open it," she told the young witch who nodded.

"And it seems the WWAEI, the people who were chasing after you two, wanted it. There seems to be a deeper mystery to this conundrum and I intend to figure this out, along with my colleagues of course," Angelina spoke and then asked the two Polish detectives, "May we have the box? We can provide a cover story to go with those who invaded your law enforcement office."

The two detectives looked at each other and the younger detective felt they have no cards left to play, spoke, "Would you also like the work we have conducted from he past few days? I might aid you in your own cause," he said and Angelina smiled, "More than adequate."

The older woman also softened her posture and facial expression, "Will you also wipe our memories of what has transpired," she asked Angelina who looked at her with understanding, "A Harry Potter reference as I understand. But regarding this situation, I won't."

The older woman blinked in mild surprise but then the door opened and came out Rachel who was relaxed now, "Dante will be fine, apologies for interrupting," she spoke the three in the hallway nodded, "Alastair will speak with you shortly on what will transpire."

Angelina nodded and smiled towards the two detectives in understanding. Shortly after, Alastair as appeared to the two out in the hall and explained what will happen from here to the end of this mess. Firstly, a cover story will be made to go in accordance with what happened tonight. Secondly, the two will now have a security team to protect them in the case the rogues return if they believe the box is still with them. Thirdly, their memories will not be erased in the case, even here, the trial to come will involve them.

Meanwhile inside, Fatma was singing softly to Dante's now sleeping form as the others in there, LMM and the magi just listened to her soft voice in Persian singing to her beloved. The orchestra, Oskana, the magi now looked at each other and realized that now, one of their own will be targeted and nearly have lost one to the woods to the south, this is more palpable and no longer a contest of strength or resolve. However, with this now visible, several others are now thinking: Do we really have a stake in this still or just in the way?

SATURDAY

[KRAKOW PHILHARMONIC, 7:30PM]

Finally after a hectic week the orchestra was able to perform at the famed concert hall as abled as before. Dante was all right, slight pain in his torso but regardless, continued to do his duty regarding the performances. Right now he was going over his score while Emily is performing her piece after Francesca and Bernhard. He sat alone while the rest of LMM were also preparing for their pieces to perform as a whole. Chopin, Liszt, and coming up, surprisingly, Telemann as well with the piece Concert for 2 Chalumeaux, Strings and Basso Continuo in D Minor, as well as two more obscure composers; an anonymous composer who wrote Sinfonia for Strings and Basso Continuo written around 1730, and another work by an anonymous composer as well, in this case, Concerto for Viola D'Amore, 2 Flutes, Strings and Basso Continuo in B Major written around 1750.

The eclectic repertoire this evening was something that has become almost a signature for Mohammad and for the audience tonight, it was lovely, especially for the incorporation of Chopin and Liszt, composers beloved in the country even if one is of Hungarian descent. But the renditions of Chopin tonight did garner respect from the people tonight. Again, the magi and Alastair attended tonight, again to keep an eye on them. It was becoming apparent that their good deeds are not out weighing the sin from London, but it was impossible to hate them due to the good music performances they give in the locations so far. Alastair as always, focused on Eda when she performed on the viola d'amore, something she practiced since last year alongside Ahmed as a tutor. Oskana who sang at the end of the concert, well, her voice was a smooth alto that peaks into mezzo-soprano and from it, a roaring applause for her singing, and the orchestra was now grateful she sang, for Mohammad's description was not exaggeration.

At the end of the concert, the orchestra was mingling about at the bar and Mohammad was then approached from behind by an old colleague, "A wonderful evening," his voice reached his ears.

Mohammad didn't look to his sides, "What are you doing here," he asked in a nonchalant tone of voice, "Just visiting and seeing you that's all. Oh and the maestro is wondering when you'll come out of your isolation from your old friends," he asked.

The Lebanese man glanced at the man, an Italian man his age with a coiffed appearance, his black hair in a side parting, but his tie undone for the casual evening and his glasses a designer label, "Funny, the same with the Russian woman a few months back nearly asked the same thing. But really, why care now," he asked.

"Cause the maestro would be in Marseille and Milan next month. He'll arrive in the former last to see you," the Italian said and Mohammad nodded, "Thank you," he replied simply, which caused the Italian to nod in return and headed back into the crowd of concert goers and disappeared.

Mohammad drank his scotch, enjoying the smoky taste and slight burn down his throat as he processed the past week; Wilfredo nearly dying, the battle over the old parts of the city, supposed uruks in the darkness of night that protected his orchestra on orders of a Brit, and now, the maestro coming to see him in a month's time had him think of one thing, 'Well, this is a load of shit isn't it?'

SUNDAY

KRAKOW, POLAND

[GRAND MARRIOT HOTEL, 8:34PM]

LMM and the magi lined up outside of the hotel where they were staying and on their final night together, they dressed up in their best clothes for a ball from gowns to suits. As they waited and the light rain began to fall, they opened their umbrellas as they soon see the carriages Alastair has arranged for all of them. Nine carriages have arrived; all black and drawn by black horses with drivers as well. The very sight of it made it look like a step back into the 19th century. Eda held her bag as she wanted to change and well, didn't have time as she finished her story online. Once all were in the carriages, they all carried on into the night…

WARSAW, POLAND

[9:10PM]

What would have taken an hour or two by train, the carriages took only thirty minutes via a route that led to a tunnel and now arrived at a manor outside of the city where it was quiet, wooded, and a three-story manor where it was constructed in the late 1700s. Everyone present was either magi, mystic, or familiars for both groups gathered in Victorian dress. LMM all stepped out and made their way inside and Eda was one of the last to exit her carriage in her elegant light blue dress, her hair up in a bun, sensible dance shoes, small earrings as her only jewelry. She walked to the doors and gave her invitation to the doorman and headed in. The walkway to the ballroom was elegant with the floor carpeted and wooded as well as the paneling along he walls and moldings were a mixture of nature motifs and faeries.

Then she entered the ballroom, which was a vast ballroom, where guests held drinks and sampled the food served. She sees the hired band for the evening and felt grateful Alastair had not surprised them with forced employed, but in her mind, semantics. She looked around and was, thrown, "Splendid," she muttered.

She then felt she was being approached. She turned around to find Alastair elegantly dressed in a suit, looking late 19th century and his demeanor felt more at ease than usual. She looked up at him and smiled, "Well, here we are," she told him and he nodded, smiling softly in return.

Then the waltz began to play and the host and hostess started things off as then everyone else. Alastair and Eda danced among them as well, "I should be more thrown with surprise, but I'm not," she told him as he held her waist while his other arm was behind him.

He listened but not responded yet, "And well, I know you have an ulterior motive," she said and he nodded and after a few moments of dancing, "Upstairs…once this waltz ends," he whispered to her.

Once the first waltz ended and the second began, the two made their way upstairs to the host's study. In the mahogany room and lit fireplace among old books and trinkets from days past, he closed the door behind them. She faced him and he to her. So many emotions between them, wanting to act out something in here, or say something more to add from the tent, but she asked, "What's going on?"

"The box we have now from the police, it's incomplete," and she found it odd, "What do you mean? All it's missing is a key and then," but he interrupted her, "No, it's a fake, a common trick we magi use for security purposes on valuables or secrets. The real key and keyhole are elsewhere, I'm only telling you this so you'll be the first to know and relay this to the others once this ball is over."

She nodded, now with this new bit of information, "And do we know where the real pieces are," she asked, he nodded cryptically but hinted a yes, which calmed her but only just, "Well…what now since we've beaten the rogues for now," she asked.

He smiled and opened the window and leaned on the ledge and held out his hand. She was skeptical but then, approached slowly and grabbed his hand, "How about a whirlwind tour of the city, but from my vantage point," he offered and she smiled, "After you, Al."

He soon leapt off and the two landed in a carriage below without much harm and he requested a tour of Warsaw and as it left the property, Ellessar noticed and followed suit unnoticed in the shadows of the trees.

NEW YORK CITY, NY, USA

[UPPER EAST SIDE, 12:15PM]

While the events and ritual in Poland have already transpired, a man was in his luxury apartment, surrounded by rare and old leather bound books. A collection that took him years to assemble, consisting of the occult, gothic literature, Guttenberg Bibles numbering five, and various other topics on religion and philosophy, numbering about two thousand. The man, who looked to be in his early seventies was writing a letter with his fountain pen, dressed in a smoking jacket, swede trousers, slippers and hunched over writing. As he finished his letter to his relatively young wife, he folded his letter and put it in the envelope.

He looked around; saw his aged reflection in the mirror on the wall. He breathed in; one last solemn shaking of his nerves and gets up from his desk. He walked towards his leather stool where above it, a noose he had set up ahead of time. He stepped up, stood on it, adjusted the noose around his neck, and stepped off the stool. His body twitched involuntarily as the noose snapped his neck and spinal cord, ergo, his body gave its final convulsions before death came and all was still in the man's study.

His valet entered and quietly headed for the desk and took out a velvet pouch tied up, "Have a safe trip," he said and quietly exited the study, pocketing the pouch in his breast pocket and made calls for the coroners to come for his now, deceased employer's body.

MONDAY

HANOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE

[DARTMOUTH COLLEGE, 9:23AM]

As young woman with black hair was brushing it before getting ready for class after her time at the gym and breakfast, she looked out her dorm's window and seeing the college before her. The hills dotting with new leaves of spring was a sight to behold but then she noticed her doll sitting now on her chair as opposed to the bed, "Something is up isn't there," the young woman asked.

The doll slowly turned its head to look at the young woman in question and the girl heard a whisper in her head. Sounding as if it's someone literally next to her, but in the dorm, it's just she and the doll. As the whisper told her what was what, she was surprised.

The young woman turned to her, "Why," she asked, which the doll responded with another whisper that the young woman felt and heard in her head, which wasn't overwhelming, but something she learned to live with since acquiring it when she was ten years old after a incident that left her shaken.

As the whisper finished the young woman stood up and looked out her dormitory window and sees the hills outside and then again at the campus below, "Looks like the major players out there are moving, and side players betting on the outcome," she said out loud to herself.

She then went to her closet to grab her denim jacket to wear over her black turtleneck that went with her blue blouse, blue stockings and black heels. She went to the doll and placed it on her bed, "I'll contact a man my father knows regarding this. Relax and I'll be back after lunch," she spoke to the doll before heading out of her private dormitory for class.

As she headed downstairs she got a call from one of her friends, "Hello...Hi Roger…Yes, the situation over seas is known, even to my parents…an investigation," she said as she took put her friend on speaker as she looked into Chrome to find the article.

"Did you find it," her friend spoke out, which Tiffany replied, "Yes, it's here," as she read the title of the article from the New York Times and headline:

Private and Wall Street financiers under criminal investigation for financing terrorism

Several members of the financial elite have been given solicitations for criminal investigations with regards to financing terrorism abroad in the Middle East as well as fringe far-right groups in Europe. Information was given to the Federal Bureau of Investigation by several anonymous sources, whom are still being looked into at this time.

As Tiffany read on, she spoke to her friend, now back to normal, "If this has anything to do with esoterics in any way, let me know immediately via email. Understood?"

Roger on his end replied yes and with this, the conversation ended. She stopped outside of the dorm but resumed walking, thinking about her doll, if it will remain there this time or found once more elsewhere on campus, not to her surprise of course. But she then recalled an image from a dream she's had, which she spoke to her doll about; random images of a scorpion, a landscape, a man, and then the moon illuminating armor and a sword. All of it flashed across her mind, trying to piece it together. Was this a premonition or something based off of her own research? She didn't know and after shaking her head to put it away for now, Tiffany continued onward to class.

NEW YORK CITY, NY, USA

[THE YALE CLUB, MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, 10:12AM]

A woman in her mid-forties was sitting in her leather chair, in this private room in the esteemed private club. As she listened to the financial risks and opportunities regarding the WWAEI and their fight against this loose resistance that have already garnered successful stand-off moments in North Africa and Europe and what will come after in terms of trade and the like. She then felt someone kneeling down to her ear level and spoke in a Spanish accent, "Your nephew has sent shipment to the French Auror office in Paris."

She drank a bit of her cognac, "Good, send the package to his safe house in southern France. He'll find it useful for his next delivery," she stated simply in her Kent accent, which the mysterious man nodded and walked away, leaving her to her thoughts. As she finished her cognac, and in his room, the last one allowing smoking anywhere inside the building, which, for those present, was a treat, she noticed a late middle aged man sitting next to her in the available chair.

"Looks like the fifteen are here," he said low enough for her to listen, but she caught the undeniable southern Spanish accent of the book collector, Arturo, "What are you doing here," she asked icily but more bored than hostile.

He took out a cut cigar from his inner jacket's pocket, "To meet up a client regarding some reading material, and to see if the fifteen are here," he replied, choosing English this time as opposed his native Spanish.

She nodded, "They all are in case you're wondering," she replied, "Plus myself, as a guest of course," she added which Arturo nodded in return, "Of course."

The two remain seated as one was drinking her cognac while the other smoking a cigar. The two observed the fifteen as well, and noticed a young man entering, who the woman in question, noted mentally as goblin like in appearance but sat down with the fifteen; a new player perhaps or one of them in reality. At this point the two adults just observed the buttoned up group, compared to her feminine robes over her business suit, as well as Arturo's shabby suit but allowed in for his profession and more importantly, connections.

Fifteen minutes have passed when she finished her cognac and he his cigar after much silent contemplation, "I shall inform this to my local contact who will notify your nephew in due time," Arturo was the first to get up and puts his cigar in the ashtray.

She nodded as she sees him getting up and meeting his business contact for the day and the two headed off for a private office upstairs, secluded like this parlor from the rest of the Ivy League clientele. She remained and looked around as she sees the goblin-esque young man enjoying the company of the fifteen as she thought to herself, 'Fools.'

TO BE CONTINUED

This chapter was for the most part, heavily a milestone regarding where I have been and where I am going with this story. Regarding the music, Telemann look to the rendition by Musica Antiqua Koln, for Chopin, Arthur Rubenstein, and the like for Liszt as well. For the two anonymous works however, look for the Warsaw Chamber Orchestra, since in my own search, hard to find Polish baroque music. Anyway, this chapter took a while to post due to an upheaval in family life, details to work out in this chapter, work, going back to college to raise my GPA and well, busy having a life with regards to a new thing, learning to box. I know I'm rather surprised by my own busy schedule as well, but hell, best to keep busy than to remain inert.

Read, review, critique, since there are many new developments here that are essential to keep in mind for later so as always, see you later readers.