pte

ough the washer and dryer. She then stripped the bed and put the heavier ones back on. She swept the floors, vacuumed the rugs, scrubbed

had given her what the Council wished to speak with her about? Somehow she didn't think so. "Russell said it wasn't something bad, " she reminded herself. While

it the power switch and she felt free to mutter to herself as she ran it, knowing no one could hear her over

hat that could be. The listed deaths in Albert's files would be of interest to the whole Council, but it would primarily be a mage concern and something settled with just their clan's in

rs file, but none of her family, including herself, had been tested on the new system. They were all about thirty years too old to qualify for testing. It seemed plausible that there was some connection, but she didn't h

then, " Ivy said as

her closet had been rearranged. Her warm weather clothes had been relegated to the back and her cold weather gear moved forward. The weathe

closed her eyes and blocked out the random sounds of the storm. She similarly blocked out thoughts of Council summons and dead children, kno

ight of it. A large crash around two in the morning woke her completely as it sounded closer than the others. She lay in bed with her heart racing, e

the snow had stopped. Ivy popped some toast into the toaster and went to look out of the window. The world was blanketed in a thick coat of white and Ivy s

was able to enjoy her cinnamon raisin bread. She was also able to enjoy her coffee as it came from her coff

ot to think too much about the events to come. For a while she tried reading a book, but thoughts of her upcoming meeting

eemed to take a side step away from the spotlight. When faced with over a foot of snow on their doorsteps, national and international news seemed irrelevant, after all who c

n. She imaged the weathermen sitting up in bed, giggling and rubbing their hands together in glee. For

asily detectible. Combined with the body spray she used on her still damp skin when she stepped from the shower, the shifters present would have a hard time telling if she was lying or not. It would also help foil the vampire senses. The Fae, she kn

ing taken. "But as I don't know why I was called, any help is a good thing." She might not lie, but she would however be care

idea of what to expect. "Which is probably why they didn't feel the need to share." She sighed and picked up her suit from the hook, carefully layin

ren't entirely professional looking as the black boots were polka-dotted with pink skulls, each skull sporting rhinestone eyes, but she figured that combined with her thick woolen socks

en she frowned at her feet. While the boots usually made her smile, she ha

theory." She remembered the rain before the snow and thought there

id glumly. "A fire mag

try to start out on the right foot. She made certain to slip a brush into the bag with her heels incase her hat made her hair look crazy and some extra make-up into her purse for touchups after the wind had taken

acer before facing the world, and then opened her door. Her nose wrinkled at the light scent of burning she detected in the hallway, bu

rs and stepped outside. The cold air dove down her throat and burned her lungs each time she inhaled. Ivy tugged her

feet took and looking out for anyone who might be in a collision course towards her. She was unsurprised when she saw few people out and about. Those she did

ions of sidewalk Ivy had to traverse that hadn't yet been shoveled and a couple of them spilled snow into the top of her boots, making her mutter behind her scarf as her socks grew da

anger and fear she had swallowed down made her feel slightly nauseous. "At least I only have the toast in my

ew that if she stopped to read the office titles posted on the wall by the security guard's desk, she would no doubt

an office along with the main meeting chambers. In theory she could visit her clan's, or any other clan's, representative whenever she wanted. The likelihood

st stepped into an open oven. She thought about taking a seat and changing her shoes before going upstairs, but saw no place to sit. She was disinclined

desk, she had actually managed to arrive early giving her enough time to not only change her shoes, but sort out her hair and perhaps touch up her makeup in the bathroom before bei

a bathroom upstairs to set herself to rights later and walked over to the desk. Sh

politely. He checked a list

. She felt the guard watch her as she pressed the button and waited. She had the feeling he would watch the numbers indicating which floor the elevator stopped to make certain she went

te. She tried thinking of her head as a giant balloon, certain that any thoughts she might have would do nothing but get her into trouble. She promised herself she could wail and

the chambers and she had been flanked by her siblings. Everyone had been dressed as though attending court and

e politely smiling secretary behind the reception desk. Ivy walked towards her. The woman looked a bit like a mannequin. Her make-up was flawless and her face held no trace of any form o

receptionist said. Her voice wa

the waiting room and a little freaked out by the barely blinking receptionist. She w

. Go right in." She lifted a hand and gestured to a large set of double doors

beginning to rise now that she didn't have to worry abo

" Again the secretary gestured to the d

the receptionist. The woman had turned back to face the front and was sitting quietly staring off into space as though awaiting the

s she stepped into the chambers, the door swinging shut behind her with a muffled thump. She p

h mage and came from a well-connected political family in both their hidden shadow world and the world of the norms. She had heard rumors that at least five of the non-mag

they were on display. As she let her eyes scan the other councilors, she irreverently wondered if they realized that the elevation of their desk put their crotches at her eye level. Ivy also wondered why no one had thought to put a solid front on the desk. She doubted the

ike David. The Vampire clan's representative was wearing sunglasses even though the windows in the room had been tinted with a film to block the ultraviol

t would be a bad idea to pry for the sole purpose of figuring out what he actually was. The Fae tended to be insulted when a mere human managed to peek unde

eel the small licks of anger flare up inside her at his presence. Luckily, he was not the same representative from her last council visit. That Seer had cast the final vote splitting her family

d her with a smile. He gestured towards a small bench. "There is a h

had planned to use to fix her hair. The Council chambers were carpeted so at least her wet boots didn't squeak as she moved. As she didn't think pulling off damp woolen socks in front of the Council would look

iting Council and stepped into the center of the half circle. She glanced down at her boots befo

ormally as though she had some sort of choice. Ivy nodded. Now that she was here, her ne

er to the matter of David Lindgren, " Hamilton continued. "Will you plea

sumed it was the David that came to her apartment with Russell. As the shif

ront door and I went upstairs. Once inside I took maybe... two steps from the door before he knocked. I let him in and David arrived a few moments later. They searched

concluded deliberately not thinking about Albert's flash drive. Sh

d next, " Hamilton pr

. "It was snowing out so I stayed in for a quiet night." She had taken care of all of the tracking spells in her apartment and unless they had been pee

" he asked noticing she w

ise. "He didn't retu

couldn't quite read. "Tell us abou

ed the shielding... Oh, " Ivy said. She blinked three times in rapid succession as a thought hit her. "There was a burnt smell in the h

ng in the night?

f it had been the tree's destruction or David's return that had in fact woken he

Hamilton

rned?" she asked una

e turned to look at the shifter represent

mber of those from different packs and clans have been inside her apartment on several occasions and none h

ce, " Ivy told them when they both turned towards her aga

" Hamilton said. "Now, on to more pressing matters." He shuffled his papers importantly an

ally. You have shown an aptitude for dealing with a multitude of issues and a willingness to work with assorted clans outside

, many of the clans and families contact you only when there is an emergency situation. The complaint is that many of the unguents, concoctions and remedies, to name a few item

ving nothing to actually say. "I am glad they are pleased."

s as you create and would find it beneficial to The Society to have a more steady supply of such things. Therefore, it was the decisi

to say something. She blinked hard in surprise.

eded them as though she were a drug store? As many of them would expire within a given time, it didn't seem like a feasible plan to simply stockpile the items in her closet. She had been involved in a wide variety of things over the years and didn't think her clo

You will of course need to produce as many of the components on site as is feasible in addition to making it blend with the environs so as not to draw suspicion from the norms. The venture will need to not be tied to the Shadow

d been wondering what sort of operation they wanted her to set up and hadn't

representatives looked bored by the entire conversation. In fact, they had looked bored since her arrival. Now she detected a

removed. You may speak with and get together with the others freely. You can even arrange weekly dinner parties if you would like. In fact, you may find that several of your ...s

he council as well, " Ivy added feeling dazed

e Shadow Council and the restrictions regarding her family have been removed." He looked at h

to do what they wanted and that there was a trap inherent in the question. "Do you h

we will make certain that informatio

strictions have been lifted before I tr

rictions. They will be aware of the changes no later than..." He looked down at the papers in front of him. He appeared to shuffle them as though looking

ks to work on the Shadow Council's projec

lton asked looking

lf she opened her mouth and asked. "You said it was voted that

gh she had finally done something interesting. "The vote was three for and t

hink about it at the moment. She also looked only at Hamilton, never letting her eye

r questions

nk of at the moment is whether or not there is a list of the items people w

ll be assigned so that as your questions arise

said at the moment. As if sensing her mood, Hamilton declared the session at an end and the various representati

e what else to do, Ivy moved to her things. She swung her coat to her shoulders and f

right with you, " Hackett informed her. It was no

"I walked though, so it may take

om. Ivy swung her scarf around her neck and picked up her packet of shoes. As she dressed for the cold, a well-tailored, non-descript man brought in a woolen overcoat, and

walking home. However like Hackett, she couldn't find a reasonable objec

o the reception area. The secretary was sitting exactly as she had before, which Ivy found intense

turned back to look at the secretary. The woman barely registered their presence, instead continuing to focus on the door and potential arriva

roudly. "The greatest compliment of all, having someone think

she found herself greatly relieved that Max used his skills to keep livestock healthy and to

nce. They crossed the lobby and he waved carelessly to the ill-tempered guard. As they stepped out of the fron

had the feeling there were several patches of near invisible ice that were waiting for her to attempt crossing them. As the distance wasn't great and could be accomplished quickly in a ca

cated silence. "My compliments to you on managing to hide the information he gave you from the shifters. Both Russell and David are known f

he had seen her going to the coffee shop or had gotten lucky on his way to her apartment. The thought that he migh

your official Council designated project. As you will no doubt need a substantial herb garden at the very least it should not be too much of a hardship to make

list, let him know so it can be dealt with. The clan funds will cover the expense. You may be honest with

k and was encouraged to work with them only to put them all in possible danger. Anger

e is killing our children is intolerable. That someone seeks to handicap our entire clan's

ow Council and her conflicting emotions about the day's events, Ivy found herself actually pro

tician's mask on again. It seemed a very easy transition for him and Ivy wondered if the anger had been any more real or jus

Hackett was already waiting in front of her building. To Ivy's surprise, he was not alone, next to him stood Russel

een floors." She told them. While getting stuck between floors was never a fun time, she thought it would be worse with the three of them stuck with her. As it was not a large elevator to begin with,

artment door and invited them inside, pleased that she had her burst of cleaning frenzy the day before. Once inside, Ivy stepped out of the way and after sett

l, " Hackett said after a while.

adbolt you say?"

ut it is inactive until

sell flashed her a smile behind the two councilor's backs and mout

iffing the deadbolt, neither apparently able to detect anything. As Ivy had taken great care to melt the metal around the shielding so that i

mention that half of the spell was in the deadbolt and half was in

"The lock was a little warm at the moment of activation, but nothing else, " he said, almost as if talking to himself. "I can see why your skill

all, " Hackett said h

" Russell

g Russell to close the door behind them and throw the bolt. Ivy wiggled her toes and realized her socks were still unpleasantly damp.

he order to unlock the door. Ivy looked down at her feet. One so

im. "And I had planned to take them off with my

ulled out a heel. "Wow, " he said mockingly. "They even

sell unlocked the deadbolt and opened the door. The two councilors stepped insi

ainst David for his actions, but that his injuries were a well-deserved result of an ill-fated attempt to gain forced entry into you

Hackett put a hand on his arm and he quieted. Ivy was surpris

cil appointed adjunct and will be bringing a more in depth file along with your family's contact information, but this is a basic list of some of the items y

uld answer. Hackett followed and even though Russell looked as though he wanted to say something, he kept his mouth shut and followed his cla