Moon Over Bourbon Street<br/>Something Wicked This Way Comes<br/>Ximen, Heirarch of New Orleans<br/>Drakon, Magister Mundi<br/>Alexandra, Apostate<br/>Frederick, Heirarch's Provost<br/>August 21st, 2005<br/>Royal Sonesta Hotel – Private Suite<br/><br/>Ximen stared out the window over the Big Easy. They say that New York is the City that never sleeps, but whoever gave that nickname could only have been a mortal. No Awakened individual would have been contemptuous enough to name a city. New Orleans was anything but easy, nor did it sleep. And tonight was no different.<br/><br/>Had she not foreseen this she might have been surprised with the ease from which they appeared in her office. They stepped from the shadows like Death itself. Silent and smooth. Both giants in their own right, both physically and mystically. Compared to him, she was but a mere child.<br/><br/>Swallowing the sand that seemed to take up residence in her mouth, she said, “Welcome. To what do I owe the reason for your visit?”<br/><br/>“You've seen what is coming. It is unavoidable.” said the man in a voice that had more in common with a distant rumble of thunder. She didn't even blink an eye when he went to her liquor cabinet and pulled out a fist full of glasses. Each glass seemed small against the size of his huge fingers. Methodically he went through her cabinet mixing and matching various mixers, liqours, juices, and pieces of fruit.<br/><br/>She shivered as she felt him draw down just a tendril of power, but it was as if the world itself shuddered at the act. As if in open rebellion to his act. But it was forced to obey. Such was his grasp of the mysteries.<br/><br/>“I have seen what comes and I have begun to take the appropriate measures. But you know the apathy of mortals. Some will not heed the warnings. Others will do as instructed like sheep, but others will stand in open rebellion of government instruction. All to spite 'The Man'.” said Ximen as she turned around to find a<em>perfectly</em>mixed Blue Tarantula Margarita sitting on her desk.<br/><br/>“What of the Seers?” asked the man his face still hidden from the shadows.<br/><br/>“For once, our actions are in concert. They seek to move mortals from the area. The bloodsuckers don't seem to understand the notion of a truce and send my sleeper agents back sucked dry. And the wolves, our spirit allies refuse to go to them. They say that only oblivion awaits for them.” sighed Ximen feeling all too well her age.<br/><br/>“Please. Sit.” said the woman. The Russian accent heavy on her lips. “We are your guests, there is no need for you to remain in discomfort. Had we been here to kill you... you would not have known we were here.”<br/><br/>“You ask me to relax when you have both of those man cannons unholstered?”asked Ximen incredulously. “I'd sooner be fucked by a cactus plant.”<br/><br/>The woman raised one of those huge weapons and hissed something but was interrupted by a sharp command from the man.<br/><br/>“Alexandra, please step outside. The Heirarch and I have business to conduct and I can't do that when you're threatening her.” said the man. The large glass slipping into the shadows, allowing for the clink of ice on glass to resonate through the air. The words spoken with the air of a request but carrying to power of a command. And it lingered with palpable strength in the air.<br/><br/>Alexandra took a firm inhale of breath as if contemplating something then merely lowered her weapon, “Yes, my Master.”<br/><br/>It was as if admitting that statement left a sour taste in her mouth. As if acknowledging anyone as her better made her stomach churn.<br/><br/>In that instant a lightning bolt came crashing down to the ground, illuminating the entirety of the Heirarch's office for just a split second. And in that instant, Ximen saw the man who could unmake her. Not kill her, or destroy her, but unmake her.<br/><br/>He was one of the Magister Mundi. A direct opponent of the Exarchs. A mage whose magic could reshape the mortal world. But who remained apart, aloof of the scheming of lesser mages. Entangled in their own battle against the Lie. Some said they were immortal agents of the Mage Kings and Queens of the Towers themselves.<br/><br/>As Alexandra left the room, he said, “Their names are enscribed on the glasses. Gather them. They are unformed and still openminded enough to not take anything for granted. They will be watching me and mine. And they will do what they can to keep you and the other leaders busy with damage control. But these are small enough that they can remain under the radar and still be destructive. Tell your Sentinels to stay out of my way or they won't survive my passing. There are some things best left bound.”<br/><br/>Then he was gone, as if a puff of smoke. Leaving behind only a sack with a dozen different other sacks inside.<br/><br/>Reaching down, she pressed a button on her phone, “Frederick, I have need of you in my office.”<br/><br/>Picking up the glass with her margarita, she allowed her senses to search for any manner of toxin. Finding nothing, she raised the glass to her lips and took a sip and sighed in satisfaction. It was perfect. Just the way she preferred it.<br/><br/>As she finished her drink, the door to her office opened and in walked the second most dangerous man she had the occasion to meet. Yes, Sho Peng was the premier Adamantine Arrow and Malachi was the Chief Sentinel but Frederick was by far the quintessential 'terror of the night'. And what scared her even more was the fact that he was so.... ordinary appearing.<br/><br/>“You summoned me, my lady?” asked Frederick calmly as he closed the door behind him. As his eyes flitted too and fro, he said, “I take it you had some unexpected 'guests'.”<br/><br/>“Guests who are welcome anywhere they damned well choose to make themselves if their 'hosts' are smart.” said Ximen tiredly and kind of just melted into the comfort of her overstuffed office chair. “It was HIM, Frederick. And that She-devil who calls him Master. God what did they eat when they were children to get that big.”<br/><br/>“Madam, it is not for us to cast stones. For are we not ourselves different from the rest of mankind, mortals though we be?” asked Frederick as he stood before her.<br/><br/>Ximen said nothing, but pointed to the array of partially filled glasses before her liquor cabinet. “He named those that he needed. Find them, bring them here before the Council. Tomorrow. I don't care what it takes, see to it that it happens. See to it<em>personally</em>.”<br/><br/>“Yes, madam.” said Frederick as he walked over to the glasses and lifted each one in turn. “My lady, these are all in Russian. You'll need to get Rupert in here to translate.”<br/><br/>Shaking her head she tapped into the Sphere of Mind, allowing him to read and write any language. “Try now.”<br/><br/>“Ah, much better. Perhaps one day you'll be kind enough to show me how you do that.” said Frederick as he once more looked at the glasses.<br/><br/>“Perhaps.” said Ximen. “Now please, leave me be.  I've had a rough night, and I doubt that I will be getting any rest.”<br/><br/>“I'll have room service send up some tea.” said Frederick with a bow before leaving. “Will that be all?”<br/><br/>“Thank you, Frederick, that is all.” said Ximen allowing him to go as she turned to face the window.