Vera half heartedly looked down at the written complaints laying on her desk. She wasn't exactly in the mood to deal with them, even though she knew she should. Still, her mind kept swaying back to that one big question. "Who are you?"

So instead of focusing on her work she pulled out an empty sheet of paper and a pencil and started sketching. It had been a while since she last drew something. A while? Make that a whole lot of years and it would be a more accurate statement. Back when she was still a student at Belgrave herself, there was barely any time for hobbies. After all she had to struggle with so many things already.

First off, she was one of the youngest students in her semester, if not the youngest. With all the others coming from some high end private high schools, unlike her, she had a lot of catching up to do. And on top of it there was the order, constantly demanding her attention. Vera was so busy back then that she barely even had times for friends, which ultimately led to her being a loner. Well, with one exception.

There was this kid, who had gotten into Belgrave via scholarship like herself. He was quite young as well and so weak all the time. Didn't take long for him to become a victim to quite some bullying. She couldn't say what exactly led her to stand up for him, but after witnessing him getting worse every day she ultimately stood up for him. Despite what many people thought about him, he was actually quite brilliant. His grades were matching to hers, just as his dedication to constantly learn more. It didn't take long until the order recruited him as well and Vera was actually happy to have him there, being able to share this secret with him.

With time they developed a sibling like relationship. She never had actual siblings but somehow he did feel like a younger brother to her. And with him it was the first time, that she didn't feel like a loner anymore.

One day it happened that he found an old sketchbook that she kept in her room. Of course he wanted to know why she didn't draw anymore. But it was no use arguing with Vera Stone. She had her mind set on education rather than wasting time with useless things and so he dropped the topic. It was only a couple day later that he asked her, if she could at least draw one picture for him. And so she did. It was a Sketch of the both of them, together in a library. He loved the library for it was always peaceful there. It was their safe place in a way.

Sadly he never got the chance to see the drawing. His death was sudden and unexpected, but shocking no less. After that she had made a decision to never let anyone get close to her again. Not like a friend or anything else. Well turned out that decision didn't last forever, considering her current situation.

Looking down on her work she was not pleased with herself. The proportions just looked wrong somehow, so she spent another twenty or so minutes trying to fix them. In fact she was so consumed in her work, that she completely missed the first knock on her door. Even the second went straight past her. It was only when the frame of Elizabeth Kepler appeared right in front of her, that she flinched. Quickly her hand shot up to cover the drawing but it was too late. Bitsy had already seen it.

"Aren't you supposed to work? And instead you are doing what, drawing?" The other woman was mocking her. Although it was true, Vera was here to work, not to reintroduce herself to her long lost secret skill that literally no living person knew about. "can I see that?" She mentioned towards the still covered drawing, while Vera was just sitting there, not knowing what to say. And after a while of silent starring she finally took the paper and handed it to Kepler.

And then something strange happened. Vera watched as Keplers face went from surprise to wonder to realization and finally to worry. "Vera, who is this woman." She asked the question that Vera dreaded to hear and answer. "She's nobody." She decided on a short answer but of course, that wouldn't be enough for Elizabeth Kepler.

"She's not nobody. You obviously know her if you can draw her face so detailed. Look, even the lock of a different hair color fits." And now the realization hit Vera as well. "Hold up, you have seen her too?" The other woman eyed her intensely now. Not knowing what exactly was going on here. "In my dreams, yes. And so has pretty much every other member of the council. She's been haunting our dreams for quite a while now. Well, ever since you became the temple magus to be exact. We all assumed that she was somehow connected to you so if you know something about this woman you need to tell me."

'Well that could explain why Bitsy didn't exactly want me as Grand Magus.' A fleeting thought that Vera quickly put aside.

"So you are saying you have had dreams in which this woman appeared? Most times pregnant and being hunted by something, sometimes even being burned alive?" Kepler furrowed her brows. "And she is always wearing these ridiculous dresses like she's from the early middle ages." Bitsy didn't deny any of the things Vera said. 'So maybe the pregnancy and flames are not about me after all' Still, this was starting to freak her out. Not that Vera would ever show her distress to Kepler, so she just kept a neutral face. "What has the council figured out about her so far?"

A normal day as Chancellor, nothing more. That's what this day was supposed to be about. But of course Bitsy hat to show up. "Well, if you must know, follow me." And without protest Vera did as told. Too curious to stay and follow her original plans. But when Kepler wasn't looking she quickly pulled out her phone, typing a message to Hamish. She didn't want him to get here during her break only to find her office empty. Also in case she would need magic, it would be better he knew where she was going.

She expected the council member to take her to the temple, but instead they got into a car and drove to her house. Well this was getting interesting. Vera couldn't exactly remember the last time she visited Kepler in her house. Although there was a time when the two of them could have been described as something like friends. They may have had their difficulties but before the werewolfs showed up their relationship hasn't been nearly as fucked up as it was now. However, this wasn't a friendly visit. She was here to get information.

"Here." Kepler finally said, when they entered her private library. There was a certain shelf they were looking at. "Here? What is here?" The other woman rolled her eyes as Vera struggled to understand. "These books, they are all collections of the dreams the council had, concerning that woman." There were at least 40 books on that shelf and each of them contained some information about the stranger from their dreams. "Well, they are not all filled yet, but most of them." With that being said Kepler pulled out one book and handed it to Vera. "Since you are part of our dream collective, as I like to call it, you should add your dreams as well."

Sharing her dreams with the council? Vera could think of at least a dozen horrible things she would rather do than that. After all, her dreams were personal. But this wasn't something she could easily get out og. Kepler now knew and she wouldn't let her get out of it. "It is enchanted. Whatever you write into it will be sent to the other council members as well. They can analyze your text for new information we might not have yet. And hopefully it will help us figure out what the hell is going on." Vera still didn't like the idea of sharing, but there was no other way for now. Plus, the really private details of her dreams she could always keep to herself.

"Alright. But what HAVE you learned so far?" She wasn't just going to share if there was nothing in it for her. Vera wanted to know everything they knew. After all, this was affecting her just as much as them. "Well..." With that Kepler pulled out another book and flicked through the pages. The handwriting looked almost unreadable but when the other woman finally stopped and held the written text in her direction, Vera tried her best to decipher the scribbling.

"Two sisters
Black and red
Child of a demon
Child of a saint
Cursed to cause suffering
Cursed to cause pain
Cursed to kill the other
All over again"

Vera read out aloud, while the other woman was watching her. The words sounded familiar. Had she heard them in her own dreams? Maybe. She couldn't remember, no matter how much she tried.

"This sounds like some kind of prophecy." Immediately Vera had to think back when she made a joke about a non existent prophecy about Jack Morton. But THIS prophecy wasn't about him. It was about two sisters. But who were those sisters?

"Hold up, you said you thought this woman had something to do with me. But I don't have a sister. I am an only child." She didn't have to explain that to the council member. Vera knew that the order did very thorough background checks on every single member, long before they were allowed to join. But just as the words left her mouth an uncertainty filled her. Was there something she didn't know? Did she actually have a sister her parents never told her about?

"Oh we know." Kepler answered, obviously seeing the confusion building up in Veras face. "Another council member had a dream where the woman wasn't pregnant anymore. Actually she had twins, girls. One of them had black hair, the other one red." Vera still tried to make sense of it. If this prophecy was about two girls who were born centuries ago, then it shouldn't affect their current time. Or could it?

"Cursed to kill the other all over again." As if the other woman had read her mind, she tried to explain. "Maybe those two girls were reborn. Maybe it is a recurring thing. I mean we don't know much about reincarnation. It is something the order still knows little to nothing about." If that was true, then they would have to find those two girls. Apparently something was going to happen. Something that would cause suffering and pain. And considering so many people were having dreams about it, it would be something big.

"Great, I guess the short period of peace is over then. Well, at least you can't say that it ever gets boring here." It was supposed to be a joke, but Vera didn't really feel like laughing. If there really was something bad going to happen, she would be absolutely useless. Without her magic, what could she possibly do? The council would expect her to do something, that she was sure of. This was just great, a disaster. Dread was starting to settle in and for a moment her breath got a little irregular.

"Vera?" She was standing right there, but the spoken words didn't seem to reach her. "Are you ok?" Only when a hand touched her shoulder Vera finally snapped back to reality. "What? Did you say something?" Kepler looked a little worried. Was she worried about her? That was definitely something she wasn't used to. "You look a little pale. Are you ok?" Only then Vera noticed, she was shaking. Kepler surely noticed as well, since her hand was still lingering on Veras shoulder.

"I guess I'm just a little tired. After everything that has happened lately I didn't get as much sleep as I could have." It was a lie. She actually has never slept more than the past few weeks. She was sick, dying actually. Not that she would ever tell the council about that though. It was a fact better kept hidden from them.

"Well, if you wanna lay down for a moment, I have an empty guest room. Or I can bring you home. You're really not looking that good. A day off wouldn't be a bad idea." Seeing the council member this worried was a little creepy. But maybe it was just their old friendship shining through. Maybe there was hope for them to get back to what they once were. No, not with Veras condition. There was no time to reconnect. "I think I'd rather choose my own bed, thank you for the offer though."

"Alright. But please do keep the book and use it. The sooner we figure this all out, the better." With that being said they made their way back to the car. But Vera didn't exactly think about taking a day off to get some rest. No, as soon as they reached her house and said goodbye, Vera sent Hamish another text. She didn't trust the council. Not after everything that has happened. Hamish was the only person she could truly trust, so she needed to tell him about this, get his opinion on what to make of it. As soon as he read her message she got an answer, only it wasn't what she expected. Apparently there was an emergency with the wolves at the den and he couldn't leave. He would come see her later though.

But could she wait? For a moment Vera thought about laying down after all and getting some well needed sleep. But then she grabbed her purse and car keys instead, her mind set on getting him in the boat on this. And maybe the other wolves could be of help too.