Mages Requiem

-The Council of Archmages Union Colonies Headquarters-

-In Langley, Fairfax County, Virginia, near Washington, D.C.-

"Hey Edward, have you heard the rumors about the Klan? This is truly unbelievable."

Whispered a middle-aged man, his voice trembling as he spoke to his colleague at the adjacent desk, where they were investigating criminal activities involving mages.

The man's friend leaned in, his expression tense as he responded.

"Yeah Alphonse, I heard about it... It's hard to believe what's happening."

He glanced around cautiously, noting the heightened alertness among the Council investigators in the office. Shadows of worry and fear flitted across their faces as they sifted through stacks of reports, piecing together fragments of a dark puzzle.

Only moments earlier, news had begun to ripple through the room—news so chilling that most hadn't believed it at first.

But as Council investigators returned from the field carrying sealed evidence, grim expressions, and files marked with warning sigils, the truth could no longer be denied: several headquarters of the powerful chapters of The Knights of the Klux Klan faction had been completely wiped out.

Entire strongholds, once fortified and teeming with members, had been reduced to ruins in mere hours.

The two men barely had time to exchange another word before the powerful voice of the Director, William J. Donovan, filled the room.

"Attention, all Council personnel!"

He commanded, his voice carrying an urgency that silenced the whispers.

"Effective immediately, this building is under lockdown. No one will be permitted to leave for the next forty-eight hours!"

The office fell into stunned silence as Director Donovan continued, pointing to the head investigator, Jean-Philippe, who stood by his side with a grave expression.

"We are facing a situation far graver than we anticipated."

Donovan said.

"The Klan faction didn't just fall victim to random attacks. They summoned an Aboleth—a powerful, ancient entity—something that should never be meddled with."

His voice darkened.

"What's worse, our intelligence confirms they had been working with agents from the Prussian Reich, who, as many of you know, are embroiled in warfare against the majority of Europe."

The murmur of shock and disbelief spread like wildfire through the room as William J. Donovan's voice echoed, silencing everyone's whispers. Faces, once merely concerned, now turned pale with horror at the Director's words.

The term Aboleth struck fear into even the most hardened of mages. Aboleths—ancient, malevolent beings from realms unknown—were known to possess dark, reality-bending powers, a telepathic creature that could bend the minds and bodies of others to its will.

Few had even encountered one and lived to tell the tale. Summoning it was an act of madness, and yet, it seemed the Klan had been desperate enough to try.

Jean-Philippe, the head council investigator, took a step forward, his expression grim. He looked every bit as disturbed as the others, but his eyes held a steely resolve.

"As many of you are now aware, The Knights of the Klux Klan, a powerful hate group organization that many of you have encountered in investigations, has been decimated in multiple locations. Preliminary reports confirm that their demise was not random. They were systematically targeted, with precise and almost surgical accuracy."

He continued, his voice steady yet laden with tension.

"We now believe the Klan was attempting to form an alliance with the Prussian Reich to gain influence and destabilize the Union Colonies. This partnership, however, came at a high cost. The Aboleth they summoned broke free of their control, unleashing chaos upon their own headquarters."

He gestured to a large map on the wall behind him, marked with red pins across various regions.

"These locations represent the Klan's headquarters and primary strongholds—each one wiped out within the span of a few hours. We've found symbols linked to Abolethic influence at each site. They appear to have been invoking the creature's powers."

The room fell into silence as each investigator grappled with the magnitude of the revelation. Jean-Philippe was shielding his nephew by doing a cover-up after Liam passed his grandfather's appraisal, yet the acts of treason committed by the Klan were indeed genuine.

One of the younger investigators shifted uncomfortably and spoke up, his voice quivering.

"But…why would the Klan make a deal with the Prussian Reich to summon an entity as dangerous as an Aboleth? They must have known they couldn't control it... Right."

William nodded gravely.

"Desperation and ambition, my friend. It seems they thought they could tame such a force, but clearly, it was their downfall."

Another of the younger investigators, a woman with a determined expression, raised her hand.

"Director, do we know where the Aboleth is now? Could it still be in our realm? and do we have any defenses that can withstand such a creature?"

Donovan's eyes narrowed.

"The Aboleth has been expelled from our realm as of this moment. Yet, there's no evidence to suggest it hasn't left behind any offspring. Our oversight allowed the Klan to amass power, leading to the current lockdown. We're purging our ranks, identifying those with exploitable knowledge."

"At present, our best defense lies in information containment. The risk of a leak is too great to entertain."

Jean-Philippe added.

"Currently, our top priority is to identify any individuals still linked to this conspiracy. Anyone possessing information about the Klan, the Aboleth, or connections to the Prussian Reich must undergo interrogation. They are also required to report immediately for questioning."

"Those who are found to be deceitful will be charged with treason. It is crucial to determine the extent of the infiltration and the intentions of the Prussians in collaborating with such malevolent entities."

The investigators looked around, realizing the urgency and gravity of the situation. They were tracking the monstrous organization that the Klan had become, but also facing a potential threat from within. The possibility of hidden alliances, information leaks, and loyalties compromised by forbidden magic.

As the lockdown descended upon the building, the investigators steeled themselves. They had transitioned from mere observers of an escalating crisis to the final bastion against a European conflict that threatened to unravel their world as the Great War had.

The office remained thick with silence as the gravity of the situation sank in. Alphonse and Edward exchanged uneasy glances, each man acutely aware of the implications of their Director's words. They were not merely being asked to uncover information but were being tasked with protecting their world from a threat that had slipped dangerously close to their own headquarters.

Jean-Philippe continued with a commanding tone, his gaze sharp as he addressed the room.

"All of you will receive sealed dossiers tonight containing the names of suspected associates, intelligence leads, and possible weak points in our security measures. Make no mistake—this threat is insidious, and we cannot afford any oversight."

Alphonse shivered at the thought. Rumors had always circulated about the Klan's dark practices, but he'd never imagined they'd risk invoking an Aboleth. Even worse was the realization that this organization had willingly allied itself with the Prussian Reich, all for the sake of power and influence, jeopardizing the balance they had so desperately tried to maintain.

One of the senior mages, his face lined with years of combat experience, spoke up.

"What if the Klan with the Prussians help attempt to summon another creature like the Aboleth? They've shown disregard for their own lives before. What would prevent them from trying again?"

Director Donovan's expression hardened.

"That's precisely why we must act swiftly. We have operatives embedded in Prussian intelligence who will be relaying new directives immediately. We cannot afford another breach."

Edward leaned in to whisper to Alphonse, his tone edged with tension.

"If the Klan was willing to unleash something like an Aboleth… just imagine what else they might have hidden. Who knows what horrors they were preparing?"

Alphonse nodded, his thoughts racing. He could feel the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders.

Each investigator in the room now carried a part of the burden to root out every last remnant of the Klan's influence and prevent any other abominations from slipping into their world. He could sense the fear, yes, but he could also see the resolve hardening in his colleagues' faces.

"Jean-Philippe."

William addressed his lead investigator, his voice carrying the authority of his position.

"I want a full sweep of every agent assigned to Klan cases over the past decade. No exceptions. Cross-reference every mage in our archives with potential Klan and Prussian sympathizers. We cannot risk another oversight."

"Yes, Director."

Jean-Philippe replied, and with a nod to the investigators, he began to distribute assignments and dossiers.

As Alphonse received his own sealed file, he felt a surge of determination. This was no ordinary investigation; it was a battle for their very world. He caught Edward's eye and gave a slight nod. They both knew the risks, but they also knew what was at stake. And together, they were prepared to face whatever darkness the Klan or the Prussian Reich might throw their way.

-Bourbon summer mansion, Louisiana-

Liam lay awake in bed, his mind racing through a whirlwind of emotions. He had returned to a time and place he never imagined he'd see again—a life filled with both hope and suspicion.

He thought of Annabelle. The years hadn't seemed to touch her at all—she looked vibrant, her dark blue eyes sharp and full of life, her skin radiant. She had an aura of confidence and strength with a kind streak that he hadn't anticipated, with a touch of mystery that set her apart.

The Annabelle he'd seen through his brother's memories in Blackthorn prison had been shadowed by weariness, her spirit seemingly worn down by years of struggle. Now, he could hardly reconcile that image with the woman before him.

This version of Annabelle, who appeared much younger than he remembered, seemed almost unbreakable—a far cry from the defeated figure he'd once glimpsed through the bitter lens of his former life.

And Charles, his grandfather, showed surprising signs of strength and wisdom. The aged man bore a gruff exterior, yet concealed a depth of kindness that reminded Liam of the family he had longed for during his imprisonment.

Settling down in the bed, he couldn't help but reflect on the surreal nature of his situation. He knew that in some inexplicable way, he had been given a second chance—a chance to alter the course of events, to prevent the catastrophic future he had once endured.

If only he could interpret the motives of the entity that had allowed him this do-over, he could be more certain of his path. For now, he could only press forward, holding on to the hope that his actions would lead to something better.

Then the door creaked open.

Liam's heart quickened, but he forced himself to remain perfectly still, listening. He sensed someone in the nude slipping into his bed, and a warmth pressing chest against him. A soft, familiar voice murmured in his ear.

"My boy… Aunty Bell's boy…"

Annabelle whispered, her voice warm yet strangely possessive. Her arm snaked around him, pulling him close. Liam could feel his pulse race, torn between shock, apprehension, and—unexpectedly—an undeniable spark of excitement.

He found his voice, though it sounded shakier than he'd intended.

"Yes, I'm…awake."

He murmured, attempting to control his voice.

She giggled softly, the sound almost girlish.

"You looked like you needed comfort, Liam. Life's thrown so much at you, hasn't it?"

She brushed her hand through his hair, her gaze softening as she looked at him.

"But don't worry. Aunty Bell will take care of you."

She was close, far closer than he could have ever imagined, her affection muddling the boundaries of their relationship. As she leaned in, her touch grew bolder, and his breath caught. 

Liam's mind reeled and struggled against the rush of conflicting emotions as she continued to hold him, drawing him into a space that felt simultaneously comforting and unsettling.

He could feel the walls he'd built over years of hardship cracking, the reality of his mission slipping away, leaving him vulnerable in a way he hadn't felt in decades. Despite everything, a part of him couldn't help but yearn for the comfort she was offering—comfort he'd been denied for so long.

"Hmmmm…"

She purred, Liam wasn't sure whether it was a motherly love or something slightly more disturbing, as she was taking his pajamas off. Technically they weren't as closely related as they were second cousins twice removed, and sure his mental age wasn't far off from hers, but she didn't know that.

"Don't worry, Aunty Bell will take care of you."

'Oh fuck, oh fuck, OH FUCK!'

The night blurred into an experience that left him shaken, bewildered, and exhausted by dawn. He lay tangled in her embrace, his mind reeling from the surreal intensity of it all.

Liam lay in the soft sheets, the warmth of Annabelle's body beside him both comforting and disconcerting. As he shifted slightly, the memories of the night before flooded back—an impulsive entanglement of bodies driven by desire and an overwhelming sense of longing.

He had never anticipated that his return to this time would lead to such a chaotic encounter, nor had he expected Annabelle to be so bold.

He took a moment to observe her, the way her hair spilled across the pillow and the peaceful expression on her face. Despite their strange family ties and the circumstances that had brought them together, there was an undeniable connection, one that felt both exhilarating and terrifying.

The thrill of having experienced intimacy for the first time was quickly overshadowed by a deep-seated worry about the implications of what they had done.

"How did I let this happen?"

He muttered under his breath, regretting not setting clearer boundaries, even amidst the haze of passion. The remnants of their night lay around them, a testament to their impulsive choices.

Liam glanced around the room, noting the evidence of their encounter—sheets tousled and stained, the air heavy with an intimacy that felt both foreign and strangely familiar. His heart raced with embarrassment, but he couldn't deny the warmth that spread through him at the thought of being desired, even in such complicated circumstances.

He turned his attention back to Annabelle, wondering how she would react when she woke up. Would she remember everything? Would she see it as a mistake or something more? Liam hoped that the house fairies would indeed be able to clean the mess—both the physical one and the emotional one that was bound to follow.

As he lay there, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and dread about what this meant for their relationship moving forward. He had faced many trials in his life, but navigating this uncharted territory might be the most challenging yet.

Would Aunty Bell still be the nurturing figure he had known, or had their bond shifted into something more complicated?

With a soft sigh, he resolved to figure things out as best he could. He just hoped he wouldn't lose himself in the chaos of it all.