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2024-10-29 19:42:56“Now remember,” Sophia said as we walked across the Canary Wharf complex, “You’re going to have to try very hard to keep your cool. If it looks for a moment like you’re not going to be able to do that I will kill not just you but everyone in your office, and then the Immateria Council will go to great lengths to keep that slaughter under wraps.”
I nodded in response, the statement had spooked me a little too much to be able to respond verbally.
The Canary Wharf towers loomed above me, monoliths of the London skyline that had stood since the 90s, though they hadn’t always been as successful as they were in the modern day.
Our offices were in One Canada Square, the premiere space for offices in all of London. At 800 feet tall it was the third tallest building in the UK, and we were situated right at the peak.
It was the lobby of the building that had initially attracted me to the idea of having our offices there and walking through it with Sophia brought all of those thoughts back.
We breezed past the receptionist's desk with a flash of my work ID card, and I tried very hard not to think about how much I’d noticed the woman behind the desk and the way her blood was pulsing through the jugular in her neck.
The next moment we were in another lift, this time on a journey straight up to the top of the building… where we would arrive just in time for the meeting.
“So, have you figured out what your excuse is going to be?” Sophia asked.
The truth was I hadn’t, not really, and my plan was to just tell a version of the truth.
I wasn’t planning on telling them that I’d been stabbed in the back, of course. None of them would believe that. But that I’d been put in the hospital and unable to make any outbound calls due to being on painkillers or something to that effect?
That they might be able to buy.
“A version of the truth,” Was all I said to Sophia.
She nodded, “That’s usually the best way to tell a lie.”
I took a deep breath as the lift came to a stop and let it out as the doors opened.
The offices that we kept was an open-plan space with desks strewn haphazardly around the main area for the desk jockeys to work at. There were also a series of managers' rooms and meeting rooms.
Outside of all that, though, was the receptionist's desk.
“Kasey, good morning, have they already started the meeting?” I asked the moment I stepped out of the lift.
By the surprised look on her face, I was sure they already had, she looked like she hadn’t even expected me to show up.
A spike of rage from deep in my belly had to be pushed down with a moment of silence and closed eyes. It faded as quickly as it arrived. Sophia was right, after changing into an Immateria my emotions did feel a little bit… peaked.
“Don’t worry, I can tell from your expression they already have, meeting room one, right?” I rattled off in rapid succession, I needed to get in there and fast.
The worried nod she gave me was all I needed to get moving.
We had three separate meeting rooms in our offices and all of them were side by side. They had concrete walls separating them so that no one in any of the meeting rooms could see anyone in the others and glass windows facing the front, with blinds that could be pulled across whenever they were actually in use.
Meeting room one was the only one with blinds pulled down.
I stalked across the room with Sophia close at my heel, a steely glare focused on the meeting room.
As I walked I could feel the eyes of all the humans trained on me, tracking my progress as I crossed the room, their heartbeats rising and their stinking fear hormones pumping out of their pores.
I took another moment as I reached the door of the room. I closed my eyes. Breathed. Tried to block out all the information my now enhanced Immateria senses were giving me.
And stepped into the meeting.
“So as you can see, this is why-” Alex Wood, the man who I had considered my best friend of many years, was standing in front of the board and speaking about something. Presumably me.
My first thought was that Wood was defending me, there was no way my best friend would turn on me after all, but that thought quickly fell away as I noticed the look of shock and horror pass over his face.
It was only there for a moment, but a moment was all I needed to piece together everything that had happened over the course of the past two weeks, and it stung me to the core.
It all made sense, in a sick and twisted way.
I hadn’t just been stabbed in the back literally with a blade between my shoulders, I’d been stabbed in the back figuratively too, and I was pretty sure that both of those things had been orchestrated by the very same man.
Alex Wood.
The man I had started the company with.
The man I had trusted with so many secrets of the years. Drunken nights out. Sad times and happy times.
He had betrayed me, there was no doubt about that.
Like a phantom pain, I could feel the knife jutting out of my back once again, wedged between my left shoulder and my spine.
I wanted to rage and rip and tear apart every person in the room for daring to cross me. I didn’t care that Sophia would murder me in return. I didn’t care if it would mean…
No.
I had almost told myself a lie.
I did care.
I wouldn’t let this ruin my company, and I wouldn’t let them take it from me.
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As Sophia and I huddled together over the massive oak table in the heart of our lab, we meticulously compiled our findings on the ominous runes and the Cloaks' sinister intentions. Our research painted a terrifying picture: a plan to bring about the end of the world. I could feel the weight of the knowledge in the binder we carefully assembled, its pages brimming with secrets that could tip the fragile balance between the Immateria and human realms. Our hearts raced with the urgency of the situation, and we knew we had no time to waste.The moment we finished, we rushed out into the labyrinthine underground old city, our feet pounding against the cobblestones as we wove our way through its ancient passages. We exchanged glances, our expressions a mixture of determination and fear, fully aware of the importance of our mission.As we raced through the city, the shadows around us seemed to dance and flicker, as if they were alive. The air was thick with the scent of centuries-old stone a
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My eyes remained glued to the fierce battle unfolding before me, the sheer ferocity of the combatants sending waves of trepidation coursing through my veins. Sophia and the demon were locked in a dance of death, each striving to gain the upper hand and deliver the killing blow. The brutality of their exchange was both terrifying and mesmerizing, a testament to the deadly forces at play.Sophia's movements were fluid and agile, her lithe form gracefully weaving through the demon's lumbering attacks. The creature's strikes were powerful, sending tremors rippling through the ground with each devastating blow. Even as an Immateria, I knew that if Sophia were to suffer the full brunt of the demon's strength, it could very well be the end of her. To make matters worse, she had to contend with the sporadic potshots from the remaining Cloaks, their spells merely adding to the chaos and danger of the situation.Despite her agility and prowess, it was clear that Sophia's lightning-infused claws
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I groaned, the pain radiating through my body as I gradually regained consciousness. My head throbbed, a dull ache pulsing in time with my racing heartbeat. I hadn't anticipated the intensity of the spell I'd crafted, and the lingering disorientation was a testament to its potency.Shaking my head in an attempt to dispel the discombobulation, I squinted through the hazy aftermath of the magical explosion, straining to make sense of the situation. Though my ears still rang, muffled and distant, I could perceive the sounds of battle continuing to rage around me. It seemed that my desperate gamble had not been in vain.As my vision slowly cleared, I could see that my rudimentary spellwork had provided the opening Sophia needed. Some of the Cloaks were beginning to recover from the disorienting effects of the flashbang, their expressions contorted in a mixture of rage and confusion. But they were no match for Sophia's raw power and finesse.With the grace of a skilled dancer, Sophia had w
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Flashbang
“We don’t have time to plan, Parker,” Sophia hissed. “You’re new to magic, but I’m strong and you can hold your own. We have to do this, or Marcus is going to die… and gods know what will take his place.” Sophia, who I had previously known as someone who couldn’t ever be unnerved, someone who laughed in the face of danger and stayed cool no matter what… was practically beside herself with worry. I could tell she knew we needed a plan, she didn’t want to run in half-cocked, but she was also quickly running out of time and patience. “Fine then, the plan is we go in hard and fast. Take them by surprise and try to overwhelm them with superior force,” I said with a sigh. It wasn’t much, it wasn’t even really the beginnings of a plan, but given the circumstances, it was all we had and it’d have to do. The air was thick with the stench of blood and the smell of burning incense. Sophia and I broke cover and smashed through the door together, finally alerting the cloaks to our presence. T
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Hive
I walked through the darkened halls, my heart pounding in my chest. The air was thick with the stench of mildew and decay. The walls were covered in peeling wallpaper, and the floorboards creaked under our feet. I held my wand tightly, ready for anything that might come our way.Sophia walked beside me, her claws extended and at the ready. Her sharp eyes scanned our surroundings, searching for any signs of danger. She was the best partner I could ask for on this mission. She was fierce, smart, and unwavering in her determination to stop the Cloaks.We had received intel that the Cloaks were planning something big. Something that could spell doom for the entire Immateria City. We couldn't let that happen. We had to stop them at all costs.As we walked, the sound of chanting grew louder and more distinct. It was coming from downstairs. We shared a look of concern and horror, knowing that we were getting closer to the heart of the Cloaks' operation."Sophia, do you hear that?" I whispere
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Stakeout
I studied the map intently, feeling the rough texture of the aged parchment under my fingertips. My eyes traced over the faded ink lines, marking the location of the Cloak’s hidden lair. Sophia stood beside me, her intense gaze fixed on the same spot. I looked up at Sophia, and saw that her expression mirrored my own determination. "We have to be careful," I said, my voice low and urgent. "Who knows what they're up to in there." Sophia nodded, her jaw set. "I agree. We need to gather as much information as we can before we make a move." I bit my lip, thinking. "Perhaps we could stake out the hideout for a little while, observe their movements. That way, we'll have a better idea of what we're up against." Sophia's eyes brightened at the suggestion. "Yes, that's a good idea. We could hide on a nearby rooftop and keep an eye on things." I grinned. "I'm glad you agree. I've got a feeling this is going to be dangerous, but I'm ready for it. We need to put a stop to whatever the Cloa
