The room is huge and circular. Everything is made of marble, from the roof to the floors. There are no windows, only a chandelier that lights the place up (mages must have a thing for chandeliers). In front of me is a raised panel with a long wood table and 7 people sitting behind it. The moment I step into the room I feel slightly cooped up, as though I need to have a good stretch. It's hard to explain. The person in the middle of the panel is the one causing this weird feeling, or at least that's what Leo told me before we entered. She is a very special mage and the Head of the High Council. She is simply known as 'The Head', as her name is given up when she enters the position. To be The Head you have to have the Suppression gift. The Suppression gift allows you to block other people from using their powers. One person is born with this gift. They then become The Head. During his or her old age, somewhere in the world, another Suppressor is born. When this child turns 20, the current Head will pass away and the new Suppressor will be made The Head. It's very confusing. Right now, she's restricting me and everyone in the room from using their power, as is customary in these meetings.

The council is made up of The Head and the 6 Heads of their Continent's Council (excluding Antarctica apparently there are no such things as Eskimo Mages). To the left of The Head (my left if you know what I mean) is Gabriel Elías, the Head of the South American Council, a Magnetron. To his left is Lucas Keita, the Head of the African Council, an Aquis (control over water). To his left is James Lake the Head of the Australian Council, a Terrus (control over earth). To the right of The Head (once again my right) is an empty seat, where Natalia (a Telky) would sit. Seeing as she's appealing to the Council, she's on the floor with us. To the right of where Natalia would be sitting is Jonathon Park the Head of the Asian Council, also a Telky. Next to him is Genevieve Vifar, the Head of the European Council, a Pyro.

Lining the walls are other people sitting and watching. There are about 20 in total. Leo told me that they would be other high-ranking mages.

Normally, people bang a mallet on the table. Instead, The Head claps her hands and the room falls silent.

"I call this Inquisition to order. Welcome members of the High Council and esteemed guests. We are here today to discuss the discovery of Cory Sanchez and to hear Miss Natalia Favis, Head of the North American Council, and Mr Hamish Allen, Head of The Brooklyn Quarter. First, we shall discuss Cory Sanchez."

All heads turn to me. I just sit there and silently drum my fingers against the edge of my chair with anxiousness.

"Mr Fuller please stand and give an account of your finding of Mr Sanchez."

I didn't realise they were talking about Leo until he stood up and proceeded to recount those events.

"Head of The High Council, members of the High Council, esteemed guests. I was dealing with a Child of the Night that had caused problems within Brooklyn. When I was finished with my task, I turned around to see Mr Sanchez watching me. He then ran and I proceeded to follow. I then manipulated his emotions and banished his worries to bring him back to the Quarter. I felt some sort of blockage, or resistance when I tried to do this and it took a fair amount of effort."

The Head of the Asian Council, Mr Park interjected.

"Was it customary to take these course of actions when a Cion observed magic?"

"No. I had been wounded in my fight with the Child of the Night and as a result, I was weakened. Add to this the resistance I felt when entering Mr Sanchez's head, and it made it impossible for me to perform a memory wipe that would be lasting and complete. I decided the best course of action would be to take him back to the Quarter, rest, and then complete a memory wipe."

Mr Park nodded for him to continue.

"I sent him unconscious and took him back to the Quarter where he was held in a room until I could recover. Mr Tymond Roberts then attempted to wake him up and was launched across the room by an unseen force. At this point, we deemed he must be a mage. He was taken to Hamish, and things were explained to him. He then agreed to become a mage. After that, I proceeded to attempt to Awaken his gift. This was unsuccessful even after many tries stretched over 2 weeks. When he was trying to Awaken his gift, I peered into his head to see if I could learn anything."

I stare at Leo. He didn't tell me he was going to go poking around in my head.

"I couldn't. His thoughts and workings seemed somewhat...cloudy."

"What do you mean by cloudy, Mr Fuller?" The Head questioned.

"It's hard to explain. The best description I can give is that his inner workings seemed cloudy and vague, and I couldn't make out a proper picture."

The Head motioned for him to continue.

"I managed to train him in the art of Sabaid, which he excelled at and was gaining progress that would be seen from a year of training in a week. We moved on to weaponry but never started. This was because the incident happened next involving the Children of the Night. The Child that I had killed had been high up in the Clan of Rafael Of Brooklyn. They kidnapped him and brought him to what we believe was their hideout, though it has been abandoned now. When I and the others of the Brooklyn Quarter arrived, there were no signs of any vampires and the building had walls torn out and debris and blood scattered everywhere. Mr Sanchez was in a critical condition. He was brought back and healed. Once he had recovered Miss Favis and Mr Allen spoke to him and then he came here with us. That is all I have to say."

"Thank you, Mr Fuller. You may be seated. Mr Cory Sanchez, please stand and recount the events of your kidnapping by the Children of the Night."

I stand shakily and proceed to tell them what happened. Every detail is still fresh in my mind. They question me, particularly over his words.

"He told me that he thought it was time for a change. And that change was already starting. He mentioned a serum supplied to him by what he called a mysterious benefactor. This serum allowed him and his brethren to obtain their human form at night."

"You are sure those are the exact messages he conveyed?" The Head demanded.

"Yes."

The whole council looked worried. Then suddenly that cooped-up feeling disappeared. The Head asked me what I had been dreading.

"Mr Sanchez can you please attempt to summon your gift."

I nod weakly and reach down inside me. I don't even know if I can do this. What if was just a fluke? What if I'm not really a mage? Then I know it was no fluke. I feel it, broiling, begging to be let out. When I call for it it comes like an old friend. I welcome the power and let it trickle slowly, so as not to let too much out, out of my hand.

A small wisp of darkness crawls from my hand. The Head remains expressionless. Some of the council members gasp, others merely widen their eyes in shock. The mages in the stands watch on in awe. The wisp turns into a stream. I focus and try to shape it. It forms into something that resembles a ball hovering in my palm. The ball gets bigger and the stream goes faster. I try to stop it but I can't.

"Mr Sanchez, you may stop now." The Head says fearfully.

I try to find the words but I can't. The stream just gets faster. It crawls under my chair and starts slithering along the floor.

"Mr Sanchez that is enough!"

"I can't!"

The darkness comes faster. It covers the floor and those sitting next to me yelp as their feet disappear in the cloud of darkness. It rises up and climbs towards the ceiling twirling and twisting getting faster and faster. Someone in the stands screams. Then the cooped-up feeling returns and the darkness vanishes as though it was never there. There is silence.

"Moving on. We will now hear Miss Favis and Mr Allen speak."

Natalia stands first and walks forward towards the centre of the floor.

"Esteemed guests, The Head of the High Council, and members of the High Council. I speak not to you today as a colleague but as a mage begging for you to listen. Xariel is growing in strength. We all know it. What Mr Sanchez has recounted from his experience with one of the highest-ranking Children of the Night can only reinforce this belief. We believe that during his time in the Void, he gained contact with an Ancient Demon. A Greater Demon."

She pauses and locks eyes with all the members of the council.

"We believe he is going to attempt to summon Sammael."

There is immediate outroar. All of the members of the council apart from The Head start yelling. Some in support, some against. The Head claps her hands to try and regain order. Still, the yelling went on.

"ORDER!" She bellowed.

The voices quietened and eventually stopped

"Miss Favis, you and Mr Allen are both aware of the implications of what you are suggesting?"

Hamish nods.

"Yes, Your Honour, we are both aware. If those in opposition will simply hear me out you may be convinced. The Archives are the perfect place for Xariel." Natalia says.

The protesting starts up again. Natalia raises her voice to be heard over them.

"Think about it. The Archives is on one of the largest convergences of ley lines, and it is there they keep the Sword Of Volrof, the very instrument used to slay Sammael by the First Mage."

Once again The Head (or Your Honour apparently) calls for order.

"The Council will consider what you have said. We will return with our decision."

She and the rest of the High Council stand up and exit through a door in the wall behind them. Natalia and Hamish sit down and start talking in low voices. The rest of us wait.

About 15 minutes go by and the Council re-enters the room. I can't tell what their decision was from their faces, they're perfectly plain. The Head proceeds to speak.

"The Council has decided to send you to Scotland."

Natalia nods curtly.

"However, we cannot afford to send military forces with you, in the case of spreading our resources should Xariel launch an attack elsewhere. As you have mentioned Xariel has had support for him growing. You are to go to the faeries as ambassadors and attempt to learn whether they are with us or against us. You will then continue to The Archives. If something seems amiss or seemed amiss with the faeries and the Council has reviewed your claims, which we will be doing, and come to believe and trust you, we will send military forces. You will leave in a week. During this time, you are to train Mr Sanchez in the use of his gift, as he may be the key to winning this war."

"We thank the Council for its consideration," Natalia says.

"This Inquest is adjourned." The Head says.

We all stand and exit the room.

Wow. That was a bit of a long chapter. Give yourself a pat on the back, you made it through.

I hope you enjoyed reading this. I had a lot of fun planning out the Council members, as well as how I was going to make a compromise that would get them to Scotland.

So, I don't really like to have a firm update schedule because I like to just write whenever I feel like it, and I don't want to turn it into a chore like 'urgh I have to write so I can get it up tomorrow' kind of thing, but it shouldn't be too long (touch wood) till I get the next chapter out.

Anyway, we're getting to the exciting part of the book. A bit more training (which is always nice I love reading training sequences) and some exploration of Chan Éil.

Then we're off to Scotland to see the faeries! YaY!

Well, that's all I have to say for now, sorry for rambling on a bit. If you have any thoughts/feedback pop them in the comments down below, and don't forget to vote.

Until next time!