Chapter 60

“Where is Jewel?” Henry asked before Emelia could say anything. The Branch Director’s eyes were shadowed, and she looked exhausted. “Is she okay? What about Ares? What is going on? What the hell was that?”

He wanted to ask more questions, his mind racing. Why the hell would she show him that? And what the actual fuck? If they knew how powerful Varkoth was, why hadn’t they sent more? It was apparent during that fight, that Jewel and Ares were out classed. It was apparent Varkoth had simply been toying with them.

“Henry,” Emelia said, her voice soft, tired, and yet firm. “Please, I need you calm for-“

“To hell with all of that.” He growled. His fists met the desk in front of her. “I need to know, is Jewel-“

Before he could finish speaking, the entire room erupted in golden light. Chains grabbed hold of Henry’s wrists and legs, suspending him in the air. Behind him, his D.E.D. were equally ensnared, and for a brief second, he once again saw that ominous, golden figure behind Emelia.

“I said, calm down.” There was no kindness in the voice now. No soft, pleading tone. It was iron. And the aura flowing from her instantly quelled Henry’s anger, replacing it with fear.

“I…” Henry didn’t know what to say. The animal instincts in him told him he was about to die, and he needed to get out of there, now. But he also knew, there was nothing he could do. Emelia was too powerful.

“I understand your emotional outburst.” Emelia continued, her voice regaining some of its composure, though the chains remained. “But first and foremost, you must do your best, at all times, to remain calm and rational.” She looked at him, her eyes flashing with power. “Its part of why I called you here, because from what I can tell, you, at the very least, think logically about things.”

He nodded to her, and the chains disappeared from him, though they continued to chain up his D.E.D.

“Good boy.” She said softly. “I knew you had a level head.”

“So,” he replied, not sure of what had just happened, and knowing better to ask. “Is Jewel alright?”

“She’ll live.” Emelia said. “The wounds Gae-Bolg inflict are deep, and not easily treated. She’s going to be out of commission for a couple of weeks, even with D.E.D. assisted healing factors. Ares will also survive, and his healing, thankfully, will be faster. It is amazing what we can accomplish with our D.E.D., once a certain level and understanding has been reached.”

Henry nodded, glancing back at his D.E.D. He could feel their awe, their fear, of Emelia. And for once, even his Blade Drake was quiet. He also noticed; his previous assessment of their situation was wrong. One of his D.E.D. hadn’t been chained up. His Evil Eye had been completely ignored. Did she not even view it was a viable threat? He was really getting tired of people not appreciating the Evil Eye.

“As for the fight,” she continued. “I called you here, and showed you it, for a few reasons.”

“Which are?” He asked hesitantly.

“First, the red flash on the side of the Greater Rift.” She started. “Varkoth acknowledged it as a powerful fire type D.E.D. Whose D.E.D. was it?” She asked simply. “I know for a fact none of our exorcists have any D.E.D. like that.”

“What makes you think-” Before he could continue, another screen popped up, this one showing a still image of Henry on the ground, the vet unconscious behind him, and JJ standing there with a shit eating grin on his face, having just knocked the guy out.

“That’s Allan’s son, Jeremiah.” She started, “or JJ for short. I know for a fact he’s a Demon Hunter, as was his father.” Emelia continued. “However, I also know JJ does not possess a D.E.D. of the magnitude that could have impeded Varkoth’s path through the Greater Rift. Nor was anyone able to get footage of where that D.E.D. came from. My guess then, is it was another Demon Hunter. And if so, I need to know who.

“I…” Henry trailed off. This was supposed to be a secret. JJ had made him promise not to tell. But even JJ had spoken positively, to some degree, of Emelia. And she just mentioned she knew who JJ was, as well as JJ’s father. Though, JJ reckoned his father had been hunted and killed by exorcists, which made the situation even more complicated.

“Look,” Emelia let out an exasperated sigh. “I’m trying to figure out contingencies if Varkoth comes again. Apparently, someone out there has an Ultra-Rare, or perhaps even Legendary Tiered D.E.D. capable of doing some serious work against Varkoth. I need to know who, so when the time comes, I can seek out their aid.”

“I don’t know who it was,” Henry started, flinching under the sharpened gaze of Emelia. “But I can give you JJ’s number…” Was this a good idea? At the very least, it would just be his phone number. Something an organization such as the Exorcists probably already had. “Or, have JJ contact you? Maybe he can give you the information you’re looking for?” It wasn’t like JJ’s secret wasn’t known by Emelia. Seriously, his best friend was apparently doing a terrible job at keeping his existence as a Demon Hunter a secret.

“So be it.” Emelia said, sitting back. “I’ll give you a contact number to pass onto him and have him contact me within the next day. If he doesn’t, given the dire situation, I may have to break my promise to his father. Tell him that.”

“I will.” Henry didn’t know what promise that may be, and JJ hadn’t mentioned something like that, but he was not about to tell the Branch Director no.

“The next matter to discuss.” She continued, “is what exactly Varkoth was speaking about. The fact it implied it was taking orders from another creature, is extremely concerning.” She pointed past Henry, towards his Harbinger Volture. “And I can’t help but notice a certain D.E.D. of yours has evolved in a way that, indicates you may know something about what is going on.”

THE END IS COMING. His Volture said in his mind. THE OLD ONES ARE GATHERING THEIR FORCES. THEY’RE PREPARING THEIR WAY.

Henry ignored the screaming in his mind from the D.E.D., and he knew then and there what he had to do.

“About that,” he started, “I was actually going to talk with you about it, even before all of this. From the moment JJ mentioned the implications of my Volture’s pass-“ His voice froze and Emelia’s eyebrows rose even more.

“It’s passive?” She pushed? “Tell me everything, now.” It wasn’t a request, it was an order, and Henry complied.