Days later, among snow-covered woods high up in the mountains a group of hooded individuals in thick winter coats trudge slowly through the forest and up the mountain. One by one or in small groups of two and three the members arrive at a warm cottage high up the mountain. With relish, some of the members huddle by the nice and warm, open fireplace to warm themselves after their hike up the frozen mountain. The individuals in the room are all easily identifiable by their golden eyes as members of the bio-evolutionary group known as Changeling. The group huddles and whispers as they wait for the host of the gathering to speak. The host is a young dark-haired man with different colored eyes, the left eye is midnight black and the right is indigo.

Finally, the last of the members arrive as Vincent nods at the gathered group and says, “Hello everyone, I am here representing the new agency, Hallow Corps, also known as H.C. for short. But I am certain that you are all aware of exactly, whom I am here representing. On behalf of my employer and benefactor, I am here to propose a truce on his behalf,” Vincent firmly stated.

The members are silent as the members glance at each other with heavy laden suspicion in their eyes. A lanky man breaks the heavy air by saying, “Your benefactor is just as infamous as the deceased Atlas Starr. What proof do we have of your statement?” The changeling’s in the cabin nod their heads in the accurate sentiment of all of those present.

“As a sign of goodwill, allow me to whisper the name of the pack leader, Adolf’s murderer,” Vincent innocently suggested.

The changeling’s become stiff and taut as an older woman roars, “Brat, tell us, who is it?!”

Vincent lightheartedly answers the question, “Why the Red Queen of course.”

The cabins temperature seems to drop at those words. The changelings gaze at each other with disbelief unable to believe the truth of the declared statement. A Changeling enraged shouts, “Impossible! Why would the Queen risk such an inconceivable act? In fact, it seems more unbelievable the more one considers the fact that the Queen has not been active in the affairs of the world for over twenty years. To be even more precise, the Queen never acts without something to gain. What would the Queen have to gain from pack leader, Adolf’s death, but war with the packs? The Queen would never be so foolish to act in such a manner given the current standing of the Sanguniem Vorpal’s after the incident involving Lady Clarice and the academy!”

Despite the changeling’s anger, the changeling was careful to not to mention the Queen Mother’s name. There were strange rumors that held a hint of truth about the Queen Mother’s abilities, one could never be certain of the truth of the rumor, but even if they were not true it would be wiser to err on the side of caution. Especially anything that concerned the Queen Mother.

“You are right to be suspicious, but allow me to prove my words. The Queen has a pet hound that can traverse and control the shadows. I wonder, if, that scenario would not coincide with the mysterious manner in which, Adolf disappeared from his office without any trace,” Vincent further asserted.

The changeling pack leader’s eyes fill with horror as pieces of the puzzle begin to fall in place in their mind. Over the last forty years, there had been a string of mysterious deaths among pack leaders that no one could prove were the result of foul play. But now, all the pack leader’s mysterious deaths suddenly made sense and pointed at the guilty culprit, the Queen. The fools they had been for believing that the Queen had been slumbering away when her evil minion had been afoot among the shadows fulfilling her bidding and systematically shaving down their ranks to weaken them.

A cold resolve appears in the pack leader eyes as the changelings wordlessly come to an agreement. They would destroy the Queen Mother. An elder warily speaks their unspoken thoughts, “Very well, suppose we accept the truce. What are the terms and conditions?”

“There are only two conditions asked in exchange for the truce. Firstly, the truce is to only last for a period of five years, which I am sure that both parties will find most agreeable. And secondly, a referral is required from the pack to install a member of the Hallow Corps at the Academy for the remainder of the school year. Naturally, H.C. will disclose our member's identity prior to the requested referral,” Vincent matter-of-factly stated.

The changelings find themselves nodding in approval of the suggested terms. The terms themselves were not unreasonable and did not require anything real on the changeling’s part. However, the older members were rather wary of the these two so seemly innocent terms. A hunched back old man stiffly asks, “Very well and what do we receive in exchange for the truce?”

Vincent smiles beautifully at finally having the question asked, that he had been waiting for. “In exchange, Hallow Corps, shall deliver blueprints of the Conclave itself, and provide accurate/daily real-time information on guard schedule and manpower for the period of one year. It will be up to the pack leaders to do what they will with said information,” Vincent matter-of-factly stated.

The changeling’s let out a breath at the viable and most useful information exchange. Hallow Corps would provide the means and the way to avenge themselves. One of the more cautionary member's grumbles, “May we have a day to debate or accept the terms?”

“I’m afraid not. The offer will only be available for the duration of this meeting,” Vincent replied.

The changelings quietly gather together and whisper to each other in heated debate. Vincent pretends to not to listen as he calmly waits for the expected verdict to come to an end. Finally, the group disperses as one of the pack leader stepped forward and says, “We will accept the terms offered, but we have one condition of our own.”

Vincent nods his head waiting. “We ask that a member of Hallow Corps be given to us as insurance for a period of 8 months. But not just any member, we ask that a captain of Hallow Corps reside at the community during that period of insurance,” the changeling pack leader demanded.

Vincent narrows his eyes and carefully answers, “I am not at liberty to accept such a condition. But please allow me, a moment to confer with headquarters.” Vincent fingers expertly type the message and click send. Seconds later, a response arrives. Vincent glances up with a happy smile, “That shall not be a problem. Is there anything else?”

The changelings shake their heads as Vincent says, “Wonderful. Now then, is anyone hungry, I made homemade donuts and hot cocoa?” Some of the younger pack leaders swiftly depart into the cold, but the majority of the pack leaders remain behind to sip on the excellent hot cocoa and homemade donuts. It was bloody cold climbing up the mountain and would be just as cold going back down the mountain. Some of them were in their elder’s years and would need time to catch their breaths. Why else, would they ever think to accept a murderer’s homemade food?