Dark Mage Strepitus walked up the stairs, his black robes billowing around him. Upstairs he took a right turn, ignoring the balcony. Instead he made his way to a black door. He didn’t wait to knock, calmly opening the door. The office was dimly lit and filled with people.

Strepitus ignored the other people and walked straight towards the far end of the office, where a woman, clad in the latest fashion, was sitting on a naked man. To say she was attractive woman was an understatement. Her skin was a soft brown, reminding of South-America and summer son. Her hair was a deep black and soft like silk. Had Strepitus been interested in such things he would have noticed her curves and perfect hourglass figure, but his only interest was her eyes, which were hidden behind large sunglasses.

She was writing something down, two more naked men forming her desk. She looked up and let a small gasp. “Mon cheri, I am so glad to see you.” She purred, but stopped when she looked at the dark mage’s face. “You are here on business.” She said, her voice becoming colder with every word. Strepitus lips curled into a smile.

“If I was here for anything else, I am sure you would find a way to make me join your furniture.”

He nodded at the lamp in the corner, who seemed to be pleased that his mistress glanced at him for less than a second.

“I would have loved to add someone of your calibre to my collection.” The woman admitted.

“People of my calibre do not become desperate enough to make those kinds of deals. We would rather perish.” Strepitus looked at the assembled naked men and women with distaste.

“Sit down, will you, I don’t like you looming over me.” The woman snapped. From the shadows a woman came forwards and kneeled down. She shivered when Strepitus gave her a look of utter disdain. He did however sit down.

“You are aware of the operation my colleagues and I have been preparing.” He stated.

“Yes, I called in a favour. I like to keep tabs on all the mayor players on the other side of the canal.” The woman stated.

“Then you are aware of what is hidden beneath Westminster?”

The woman nodded, an amused smile on her lips.

“You,” she stated confidently, “need a distraction, something big. Would a centuries old monster rampaging through the streets of London do?”

Strepitus took a moment to organize his thoughts, all parts of his fractured mind coming together, calculating, adjusting his plans, until he looked up.

“Yes, that will do, I need it released on the winter solstice.”

“Not so fast, what do I get in return?” The woman said. Strepitus smiled.

“How long has it been since you went home?”

The woman jumped up, as if she had been stung by a bee. “Everybody out!” She snapped as Strepitus calmly rose from his seat. Within moments the office had emptied. “You found a way.” She breathed.

“It is more that a way came upon my path. My niece, you see, is a light mage.”

“If you are lying to me, I will visit vengeance upon you like have never seen.” She breathed.

“Take off your glasses.” Strepitus said calmly.

“It is not allowed, if the Commission finds out they will come after me.” She said defensively.

“Take off your glasses.” Strepitus now ordered. She didn’t have to obey him, she knew that very well. This was after all her home, her seat of power. But when she looked into his eyes, she knew she was going to. She took off her glasses.

“It is said that those who look into the eyes of the summer court can tell no lie.” He started, clearly enjoying the experience. “I know this to be true, my experiments have confirmed as much.” He looked deeply into the woman’s eyes, if they could be called thus. “Every time I see them, I must admit that I desire them.” Strepitus’ voice had a hunger in it and if the woman had been less than she was that hunger might have frightened her.

The mage’s piercing blue eyes met the fae’s golden orbs of fire.

“Would you like to go home?”

ɸ

Meanwhile, downstairs Serena too was having a good time. It had taken some courage, but she had approached a group of young men and women who had been speaking in English. She had introduced herself as just Serena, her uncle’s warning ringing in her mind.

“There are plenty of people on either side that want you dead, simply because you carry the Cairn name.”

But the other young people hadn’t cared what she called herself. They had only been interested in one thing, what kind of mage she was. So, she had told them that she was a light mage and proceeded to set up a light show that put the light jockey to shame. After that they had given her a drink and a seat and they had started talking.

The group consisted out of two guys and three girls, but it was clear that a dude named Byrne was in charge. He was striking, with his big muscles, quick jokes and an openness which was refreshing. He wasn’t in Aram’s league of course, but the whole thing wasn’t a competition. He and two of the girls were in the apprentice programme. Byrne, Katy and Julia, who went by Jules, were the core of the group.

The vibe Serena got from them was that they were the more rebellious types. “Yeah, we heard there was a party in Paris, so we thought fuck it let’s live it up a little. The teleportation spell nearly went tits up, but Brimstone pulled us through, didn’t you?” Byrne poked the guy he had called Brimstone, who so far had remained silent.

“If you had your way we would have landed in the air, and last time I checked your momentum stopping spells are none-existent.” Brimstone sneered, but there was a smile hidden in there.

“Don’t mind Brimstone, he takes the whole dark apprentice thing a little too serious.” Jules said, grinning.

“What kind of name is Brimstone?” Serena asked, her lips set in a mocking smile. Brimstone seemed to swell up in indignance.

“I will have you know that the name Brimstone has been a respected one within both the light and dark mage communities for over five centuries.” He said pompously.

“But in the past century the family has fallen on hard times. His great, great, great grandfather has been holding the reigns, waiting for a new heir to rise, but before Manfred here popped up, they didn’t get any.” Byrne interceded.

“Manfred?” Serena asked and Brimstone discoloured. “I see why you went with Brimstone.” She said after a few seconds, in as neutral way as possible.

“I don’t see the problem.” The third girl said. “I think Manfred is a nice name, very unique, very exotic.” The girl had a foreign accent which Serena placed somewhere in South-East Asia. She shook Serena’s hand. “My name Saoh Ling, you can call me Sa or Ling, my master and I are in Europe for business.”

“So, Serena what brings you here?”