To Rule In Shadow

"I believe it would be best to have this conversation in private. Follow me, please." The old man said gently, although there was a core of steel in his voice that brooked no disagreement. Without waiting for any kind of acknowledgement, the he started walking in the direction of the stairs.

Mentally shrugging at the slight, Adrian followed after, with the hoodie girl bringing up the rear. The grouping made it appear as if they were escorting him, or perhaps taking him into custody. It would be alarming to him, if he didn't feel confident about his abilities to escape when he needed to.

[That said, I can't afford to be complacent. Judging from what I saw of the one behind me when she broke into my apartment, they have access to some abilities that I don't fully understand. I should remain on my guard until I'm in the clear.]

His head throbbed with a dull pain as he tried to sort through his borrowed memories for any information on the Bureau, but came up with nothing. He wasn't surprised with this outcome, since most of the knowledge he acquired while sitting on the Throne pertained to the Hall itself, but it was frustrating nontheless.

Every time he encountered something from the supernatural side, he was reminded of his ignorance. Clearly, he needed someone, or perhaps something, that could fill that void. Which was one of the reasons he decided to negotiate with the Bureau. Even if nothing came of it, he could at least gather some information.

The senior agent led him downstairs and through a little used service corridor. Eventually, they arrived at a plain steel door, which the man opened with a key. He stepped through, and held the door open politely. "Right through here. Please feel free to use that chair."

Adrian followed his pointing finger, and took a moment to survey the room. Rather than the cold, utilitarian storage closet he'd been expecting, he found himself in a tastefully decorated parlor that looked as if it were ripped straight out of painting of Victorian England. Antique furniture occupied much of the available space, to the point the point of being cluttered. The walls and dr.a.p.ery were a mixture of dark brown and muted red that served to give the room a warm, almost cozy atmosphere.

The windows in particular were interesting, as streaks of orange-red light, like that of a sunset or sunrise, shone between the gaps in the curtains. This was strange, since they were supposed to be underground, and it was currently night. As he moved through the room, he caught glimpses of the view through the window, where a crimson sun was just barely visible over a grey and choppy sea.

Taking his seat in the appointed chair, an ornate wooden affair with velvet cushions, Adrian pondered his surroundings.

[Some kind of illusion? Possible, but I believe my connection to the Hall prevents the majority of those from effecting me. Then, could I have been transported somehow? If so, the Bureau has access to abilities similar to my own.]

Perhaps noticing his thoughtfulness, the senior agent walked over to the window and fully closed the dr.a.p.es, leaving the room illuminated solely by a pair of old-fashioned electric lamps that hummed audibly. Turning back towards Adrian with a stoic expression, the man spoke. "I apologize for the state of our break room. It is used by several members of our office, and not all of them are as serious about cleaning the facilities as I am."

Adrian suppressed a chuckle at the thought. As far as he could tell, there wasn't a speck of dust anywhere. "Its quite alright. I didn't even notice."

"You're too kind." The man replied while sitting down. "Before we begin, I believe some introductions are in order."

He straightened in his seat, giving off the aura of a disciplined soldier. "I am Cornelius Turpin, Agent First Class of the Bureau." He gestured back at the girl in the hoodie, who had taken up a seat in the corner and was looking sulky. "This is my protege, Abby, Agent Third Class. We have been charged with overseeing the events scheduled to take place tonight, and ensuring no harm comes to the...uninformed as a result."

[So that means they are less concerned with preventing incidents between members of the supernatural world than they are keeping them from the public eye. Perhaps they are not so much a law enforcement group as a government cover-up agency. Of course, that wouldn't explain their rather eccentric composition.]

Sensing that it was his turn to speak, even though the Bureau claimed they had in-depth information about him, Adrian flashed a confident smile. "A p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to meet the both of you. As I am sure you are aware, I am Adrian Veldt, the current ruler of the Hall of Shadows."

He felt the Hall stir a bit after being named, and the light in the room dimmed briefly in response, earning him a sharp look from Cornelius, who nevertheless continued after a few moments. "Unfortunately, time is rather short, and I suspect that this conversation will last a fair amount of time, so I trust I will not offend you by dispensing with the rest of the pleasantries?"

He went on after Adrian nodded his acquiescence. "Your...servant, for lack of a better term, has informed us that you are seeking entry into Esoteric Order's celebration despite not having an invitation. While I do not doubt your ability to acquire passage into the event, I believe we can offer our services in this regard."

"So, you'll be willing to escort me in, even though I don't actually belong?"

Cornelius nodded, "That's correct, although I suspect that the Order would have sent you an invitation, on precedence alone, if they knew of you and what you represent. While not as ancient as other groups, they have long devoted themselves to investigating the darker side of the world, and all that pertains to it. I would be greatly surprised if they had not heard of your...realm."

The man looked a bit discomfited near the end of his statement, almost as if he were unwilling to even speak the name of the Hall. Adrian wondered if that might be the normal state of things in the supernatural world. If so, such a reputation would likely have both positive and negative aspects that he would need to be aware of.

[Something else to add to the pile of things to be researched.] He thought before replying. "I see. So you believe that they would have no issue allowing me in, once they knew my identity. In that case, is there any reason why I would need your help at all?"

Cornelius's face remained passive, but Adrian noticed Abby react to his mild provocation. Judging from the tension that seemed to play across her face, he had hit a sore point for them.

"True, there would be nothing stopping you from simply announcing your presence and demanding entry, however, I was under the impression that you didn't favor such grandiose displays when they could be avoided. From what I've seen of your actions over the last few weeks, I cannot help but feel that you would be more inclined towards seeking a less obvious path. Is that not correct?"

"No, you are right. Given the choice, I would like to keep my identity a secret, at least until I have reached my goal. Which is why I would be willing to accept your help, provided that the conditions attached do not interfere with my aims." Adrian admitted.

[Sneaking in remains an option as well, albeit a risky one.]

"Since you've anticipated that we would ask something of you in turn, let me go ahead and get to the point." Cornelius said with a sharp glint in his eye. "Truly, there are only two things that we would like in return for our assistance. First, since you would be a guest of the Bureau, we would like you to avoid doing anything that would adversely affect our reputation. Second, we request that you visit our office and meet with our branch chief at some point in the near future."

Adrian pondered for a moment. Truthfully, their terms were agreeable, since they didn't ask for anything he wasn't already planning on doing. Still, in order to fulfill his contract with Stella, it might be necessary to act in a manner that Cornelius might not condone. If that was the case, he could very easily wind up making more enemies than necessary.

[All things considered, I suppose their deal is fair. The purpose of this event was to locate and make contact with Stella's former master. If violence is required, then I can pursue that course of action after the event.]

"Alright, I will accept your assistance." He replied finally, and was slightly surprised to see frowns appear on the faces of both Cornelius and Abby.

"I see." The senior agent muttered. "Very well. Then, assuming you have no issues with it, I would like you to pretend to be a junior member of our organization. One who is still learning the ropes, so to speak. While we would have a hard time explaining the addition of another agent, the presence of a trainee should be acceptable."

Adrian shrugged, "That's fine, just don't expect me to be able to answer any questions about the Bureau or what you do. You've been rather opaque about all that since we met."

Cornelius's frown deepened slightly, before his face returned to his normal, neutral expression. "Indeed, that may be an issue. We still have some time before the Esoteric Order opens their doors, so I suggest we take this opportunity to rectify the issue."

[Finally. Now we are getting somewhere.]

"Before that," the senior agent interjected, "would you care for any refreshments?"

---------------------------------------------------

It took her nearly a ten minutes of concentration, but Miranda was able to regain her calm. The tremors that had wracked her ever since she'd met Adrian's brother Ethan had finally started to subside, and she was left to contemplate the mistakes she'd made during the brief conversation.

[I suspect my parents have been underestimating the the Veldt family.] She thought to herself. Clearly, she was in a more precarious position than she'd originally anticipated.

Ethan had essentially promised her that, not only was she likely to be unable to negotiate with the rest of Adrian's family, but being his girlfriend actually made her a target for their hostility. A weak point that could be exploited towards some end.

Had she not been tied to Adrian by virtue of a supernatural contract involving her soul, she would have likely taken the opportunity to put some distance between herself and the Veldts, regardless of the damage it might do to her reputation. Since that wasn't an option any longer, she needed to figure out some manner of ensuring her place at Adrian's side.

[While I seriously doubt his siblings are capable of actually harming him, as individually powerful as he is, that doesn't mean that those around him are safe. I have to make certain that he considers me valuable enough to protect seriously.]

[I know its supposed to be somewhere in this building, and judging from the way Adrian described it, they should be meeting on one of the lower floors. However, beyond that, I really don't have a clue. If only there was someone I could ask for directions...]

"If I had a subordinate like Pavuk, this would be easy." She muttered to herself, not realizing that she was speaking out loud.

"Ahh, Miranda. So it was you that called for me. What do you need?" A sibilant whisper emerged from somewhere behind her.

She felt a surge of panic, but was able to suppress it long enough to glance back and confirm that nothing was visible with the exception of the restroom wall.

"While I'm not one hundred percent certain, you are male, are you not?" She asked once she felt confident her voice wouldn't quiver.

"That is true, although if you mean to imply something in regards to your location, then let me reassure you. I have no interest in your species. Seeing a female human in a compromising situation is, to me, no different than watching an insect go about its life."

[That's all well and good, but it doesn't change the fact that you are trespassing in the woman's restroom, asshole.]

She quietly cursed him in her head, before speaking once more. "In any event, can you take me to where the Esoteric Order's event is being held?"

"I can, but are you sure you want to get yourself involved? From here on out, things are going to get dangerous. Do you really believe that you are up for it?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

Pavuk chuckled, "Confidence. That's amusing. Let's see how long that lasts."