The Master Hunter pulled the thick hood back revealing a very human, a very familiar face. He didn’t speak, but William knew that look. “What did you do now?” hung between them. Mathias shook his head and marched his way around the barrier.

By the time he reached William, his dad had removed his gloves and had been in the process of removing his winter robes, draping them neatly over his arm. The E.M.I. saluted, striking their closed fist over their heart. “Sir,” they said in unison.

“I’m assuming that the situation has escalated.” Mathias’ voice was firm, hiding the rage that William knew was coming in the form of being grounded forever.

“Sir,” the soldiers repeated. “Best to speak with Avery for details, but with all due respect, shits about the hit the proverbial fan.”

“Please contact Avery on my behalf and let her know that I wish to discuss today’s events in detail. If she requires anything of me while I’m here, it’s best she make that request tonight. I’ll report to Dezmond afterwards, if he hasn’t been made aware of the situation already. But first…” William shuddered under his father’s disappointed stare. “You have the choice to tell me what this is about, or you can wait until I hear it from the officer. Your choice.”

He couldn’t bring himself to look at his father in the eyes. “Why bother? You already know.”

His dad took a deep breath, a practice that he used to steady himself, to swallow his anger. He wasn’t sure if Mathias was going to explain himself. Sometimes he did, especially if he wanted William to understand the consequences of his actions.

A door opened somewhere beyond the row of metal chairs. “Master Mathers,” the woman greeted offering a manicured hand to the priest. “I’m sorry we had to meet under these circumstances.” The smile in her voice turned harsh when she spoke to the E.M.I.. “Really? Did he really need to be cuffed to a chair?”

“Yes, M’mam,” the soldier said.

“For four hours!”

“Absolutely! He’s an escape risk and a danger to Enhanced students. Wouldn’t want to increase your liabilities all in one go.”

“Uncuff him!”

“Leave him.” Mathias tone was firm. “Escape risk, William? A danger to Enhanced students? We will have words.”

He didn’t know after all. What had the school told him? Probably not much if they were in the habit of sending out non-descript form letters. His missing status for the past month might be an angle he could play up to reduce his sentence to maybe a week – depending on how mad his dad was.

William strained to hear the conversation between the councillor and his father. The school was twisting everything around, making it all his fault. Maybe they all knew that Astral was genetically Enhanced, but were afraid of what her grand-dad would do if they treated Omega’s princess like the scum that she was. What if they didn’t know? What now? She’d have to prove that she wasn’t Enhanced for one, and in such a way that the public would believe it. The problem there is that her grand-dad has so much money to make this problem go away, that no would believe her. Ever.

She was as good as done. Now she can get off her high horse.

There was no way his dad didn’t know.

The door opened. “Mr. Mathers will you join us please?” the councillor’s head popped out of the office. The E.M.I. lifted him from his chair. William’s legs wobbled beneath him. He figured it was because he’d been sitting for so long. “Would you please uncuff him! He’s not an animal!”

“Sorry, ma’am, we have to follow due process. I’m sure you understand.”

“This is ridiculous! I will be filing a complaint.”

“Fine by me, ma’am. Make sure you address it to Councilman, Dezmond Daamon, and sign your name nice a big, would ya?” William admired the brass on these soldiers. They were fearless in the face of authority. Maybe if they didn’t have the Daamon’s to hide behind they’d be a little more obedient.

The E.M.I. was gentle with him as they part-lifted, part-dragged him to his seat in the councillor’s office. It was small plain non-threatening room, with a handful of comfortable seating. The woman set her tablet down in her lap and scowled at the officers who took their position behind him. “This is a private meeting.”

“He’s a fugitive,” the soldier retorted.

Mathias pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s fine,” he said through grit teeth. He was in so much trouble. “They can stay.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

The woman’s nostril flared as she huffed and glowered at the intruders. “Anything said in this room is confidential.”

“The same conversation being recorded over there?” the female soldier pointed to a spot in the room, causing the woman to turn her head to look at… what exactly, William didn’t know. He had heard that rooms were monitored. But he was never sure to what degree. Either way, if their conversation was being recorded then he could use the situation to his advantage.

“How long did you know she was Enhanced?” William said both to his father and the administrator. William sat at the edge of his soft seat to make up for his bound arms. This whole experience was really uncomfortable.

His father would have had to have known even before William came to live with him some six years ago. His dad had known her father, did some work around Clearwater together. What work that was, he didn’t know and really didn’t care. When her dad died, Mathias took on the job of surrogate father. He must have known. She was always weird.

“Enhanced? My God, William! What have you done?” Frustration and fear lingered in his father’s voice. William supposed they hadn’t reached that part of the conversation yet. Or maybe she had down played it. The horror in his father’s eyes made him question his actions for the first time that night. What had he missed? He knew there was going to be fall out for him, initially, but that would all get fixed once they realized that he was right. It was just going to take a bit to get everyone on the same page.

He didn’t think he’d have to fight his father.

“Is she the one who hit you?” His father’s fingers hovered over the smarting bruise.

William laughed. “That weakling doing this much damage? No way! This was Seth. He probably thought he was saving a damsel in distress. He’s a good guy, really!”

“I see…” That didn’t sound like approval or forgiveness. It almost sounded like he hoped that it was Astral who had hit him. “She’d never harm you. Loves you too much like a brother.” He was clearly delusional.

Once the dust settled, she’d leave him and his family alone, for good.

“We’ve gone over much of William’s behavioural issues at the Academy. After we sent you the notice of collection, his behaviour had escalated to an extreme that we cannot tolerate at this school. Particularly within students who are not Military bound,” the administrator went on to say.

“Attacking Lady Daamon is one of them?”

“Yes, Master Mathers. In addition to the accusation, which for legal reasons cannot be ignored. However, due to the egregious nature of the accusation, should it be proven false, your son, will have to serve the term as a though he were guilty of the crime he accused her of.”

“What does that even mean?” William snorted.

“It means, William, that you will be serving on the front lines of the war when you turn sixteen, instead of her.”

“It gets worse,” the woman hesitated. “Because of the heinous nature of the crime, the intention to defame and ruin another human being to a state that is near impossible to recover from, in combination with the behavioural issues such as shunning members of a lower status, non-physical bullying, and your chosen association to interact with members of a particular class only, demonstrates a lack of desire accept ones position in society and to understand the contribution and worth of each member of our society collectively and individually. These issues indicate intent as a means to climb socially. You have a vested interest in her ruination.”

What did this all mean? They weren’t even going to verify that she was Enhanced. He was just some petty low-class boy from some backwater town who didn’t know his place.

“You’ll end up serving two tours and then your own. Twelve years on the front lines of the killing fields. Mr. Mathers…Master Mathers… I hope that for your sakes that the accusations turn out to be true.” She fought back tears.

His father clenched his jaw.