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The Preternatural Council didn’t have a building of their own. To do so would attract too many thoughts of attacks and other unwanted behaviour.
Instead, they acted in various rooms underneath historic buildings throughout England. Only the Council members themselves knew where they would be meeting and when, for each monthly meeting was held somewhere different.
Last month for instance, their meeting had taken place in the vast expanse underneath Rievaulx Abbey in North Yorkshire.
People seemed to forget that in the days gone by, especially where it concerned monks and any member of the Knights Templar, subterranean cities were their life; both in hiding things from the general public and as a means of escape. Everything had been so well built back then, most underground rooms and chambers were still accessible and usable now—if you knew where to go and how to get to them.
If a trial was needed for some reason or another, then only one building was used—Nottingham Castle. This was their main ‘court’ as it dated back to the age and was situated in the very heart of where werewolves were first ‘discovered.’
If any of the elite families needed to call upon the Council whilst in England, it was done so by heading down into the dark underbelly of Nottingham Castle and lighting the seven torches that were positioned around the room; one torch for each Council member.
The Master and Mistress of the Amethyst Coven had created a spell that would act like an emergency call to each Council member, but only once all seven flames were ignited.
Above each torch, on the stone ceiling, was a ‘hot spot’ that would glow red once the flame beneath it had been lighted. It would then diagonally reach across the ceiling to its nearest neighbouring ‘hot spot.’ Once all seven flames were lit up, the zig zag of lines created a seven-pointed star. The instant the star was finished and alight, the seven-pointed star tattoo on each Council members wrist would warm and glow orange, alerting them to the fact they were being called upon.
To enable immediate attendance, each Council member had a small mobile phone, purely for Council use. When they dialled the number 777, they were immediately transported to the ‘courtroom.’
Councillor Bembridge was the first to make his call. Tall and slim, it was clear to see that Tobias’s physique had been gained from hours in the gym instead of being inherited.
With grey hair, a pointed nose and thin lips, Councillor Bembridge definitely wasn’t as easy on the eye as his son.
“Tobias,” he said, trying to hide the surprise in his voice. “And Katana. How lovely to see you both together. Was there not something that could have been said outside of the Council?”
“No,” Katana replied, stepping forwards into the middle of the room. “I’m afraid I have some startling news that quite frankly, only the Council can sort.”
Councillor Bembridge nodded his head but remained silent as he waited for the rest of his colleagues to fill their seats.
Katana looked at the dark wooden table curving around her and Tobias in a half-moon shape. Behind the table were seven ornately decorated mahogany chairs. Their high backs and intricate carvings gave them a certain feel of imposing that only a Judge could carry off.
Within two minutes, all seven Council members were seated in their chairs and looking at Katana for explanation.
The Council guards were the next to appear, their own tattoos and mobile phones alerting them and giving them access to attend court.
Fourteen men resembled ghastly ghouls, dressed in long black hooded capes and carrying a silver spear, commonly known as ‘persuasion sticks.’ The men positioned themselves behind the Councillors, awaiting their orders.
Katana took a deep breath. She looked down at herself, dressed in her official Red Riding Hood outfit and smoothed her clothes down.
“Councillors, thank you for attending court today. I’m sorry to call you but I fear the fate of the country if I don’t seek immediate help.”
Councillor Bembridge narrowed his eyes. “This sounds particularly ominous, Miss Kempe. Please inform us as quickly as you can so we may act accordingly.”
Katana took a deep breath and started from the beginning.
***
“WELL, MISS KEMPE, THAT is quite a story,” said Councillor Mayweather. “Do you have any evidence to back up your claims?”
Tobias stepped forwards and laid a clear bag on the table. “Inside the bag are Katana’s clothes containing the remains of subject H7A2. Any investigation into the DNA of the tissue will support Miss Kempe’s claims. I also am willing to provide a witness testimony and also video evidence of the creature attacking myself and Miss Kempe just yesterday.”
“Mr Bembridge,” said Councillor Stokes, a stout red-faced man who suffered no fools. “I’m curious why you didn’t approach your father outside of the Council about this matter first?”
“Because in my opinion there is no other action that can be taken.” Tobias reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a small black object. He laid it on the table and pressed a button. Malaceia Kempe’s voice boomed around the room.
Katana gasped when she realised it was the conversation they’d had with her father barely an hour ago. Of course, in it, he admitted his own guilt.
When the recording ended with Katana’s voice of contempt saying, ‘survive this,’ Tobias switched the recording device off.
Seven pairs of eyes fell on Katana. “You do realise, Miss Kempe, that you are putting your entire family at risk?” Councillor Stokes said.
“Yes. I understand the depths of this but it’s not something I could sit on and do nothing about. I believe my father needs to answer to someone and the only authority he can answer to is the Council.”
“Very well,” said Councillor Bembridge. “Based on the recording we’ve all just heard, we will issue a warrant for Malaceia Kempe’s arrest immediately. Please take a seat at the back of the room whilst the matter is dealt with.”
Tobias took hold of Katana’s hand and led her to the shadows at the back of the vast room. Murmured voices of the Councillor’s echoed around them but they were all too muffled to pick out exactly what was being said.
“You did good,” Tobias said, squeezing her hand. “Now all we have to do is sit and wait.”