Chapter Text
"And now for the next order of business," Councilman Ebrues started. "The young Prophet is in need of a new guardian."
"What's wrong with Augustus? He's been assigned to the kid since his awakening," one of the younger women on the council asked.
Councilman Ebrues sighed. "The boy has big dreams. He plans to move to Los Angeles after high school graduation. Augustus is elderly. In a small town, he can offer enough quiet authority and his vast stores of knowledge to the boy, but he is not fit to take on the rigor of big city dangers."
Another council member cleared his throat. "Am I reading this right? He is in the company of two vampires?"
"Yes," interjected Councilwoman Circe. As Augustus's sister, she had a more intimate knowledge of the situation. "The halfblood has been close to him for several years now. She was orphaned as a young adolescent and raised by her mother's sister. The other vampire is the pureblood son of the aunt who raised her. She and her cousin both went to the same high school the boy currently attends, though the cousin has long since graduated. She was a senior when the boy started his band his sophomore year. Then a few months ago, the band's guitarist went to college, so she brought her cousin in. They've both been discretely screened, though both are still Bound."
"Three years in close proximity and his closest known associate is still Bound?" one council member asked.
"He is intimate with a Fallen?" another qurried almost at the same time. "Is that even allowed?"
There was a loud clearing of throat sound from Councilman Ebrues. "In all our years of research and the gathering of knowledge, as you all know, we have never truly been able to understand the laws and motivations guiding the Angelic, especially the Fallen. As far as we know, she is unaware of the boy's gift. Rest assured, the Fallen known to her kind as Talibah is being closely monitored. As of now, she has been nothing short of loving and supportive of the boy. In fact, we believe her love for him is the reason she Fell."
Silence fell over the council chamber a long moment, then one of the young Mystics who'd been tasked with guard duty approached the table.
"Not to speak out of turn, sir," he started hesitantly.
Councilman Ebrues eyed the boy skeptically. "What is your name, young man?"
"Ferguson, sir. Jeremy Ferguson." Despite his short stature, the boy stood with a quiet authority the Councilman had never seen in one so young.
"How old are you?"
"22, sir."
The Councilman nodded. "You are very young to be guarding the inner chamber. Tell me how you came to take this post?"
Jeremy shifted his weight onto one side. "I traveled a lot, sir. My parents are one of the missionary couples. As a result, I learned my magic in a rather, ah, nontraditional manner, but it granted me top marks in all of my exams. Which, by the way, I took at 16 rather than 20 like most."
"Impressive." The Councilman's eyebrows raised as he spoke. "Well, Jeremy, while it is rather unorthodox, we are at a loss as to how to handle the Prophet. Perhaps some insight from someone closer to his age would be helpful."
Jeremy pressed his palms together as he bowed slightly. "Thank you, Elder Councilman Ebrues." Straightening, he began, "Andy isn't going to respond well to traditionalists."
"You speak as if you know him," Councilwoman Circe interrupted.
With a patient smile, the young Mystic shook his head. "I've never met him. But I did run a short circuit with Ashley and his cousin Sandra the summer after my exams. Mostly just Ashley. Sandra was around for a few days every couple of weeks, but she had responsibilities to Andy and the band that pulled her away. Nonetheless, she had such praise for Andy. Over those few months I grew to see him in her eyes. I had no idea he was the Prophet, Andrew, until I heard about the two vampires in his company just now."
The council listened thoughtfully, taking in all he had to say. Then Councilman Ebrues said, "so what do you suggest?"
The young man took a deep breath. "Not to be bold, but I would like the job."
Shocked gasps and exclamations echoed through the council chamber. Many of the older council members were completely against the idea. The boy was too young, too inexperienced. Some of the younger members were skeptical, and perhaps cautious of the ambition of one so young.
"That is rather bold, young man," Councilman Ebrues boomed, silencing the room. "But if what you say about Prophet Andrew is true, perhaps bold is what we need." He motioned for a chair to be brought over, and Jeremy was seated at the table. "Shall we set up a meeting?"
"No," Jeremy immediately responded. "Look, this kid is gonna hate that. The council comes in and upsets his life, dictates where he should be, forces him to rearrange his schedule. No. Trust me, musicians, especially vocalists, hate that shit."
Some of the older council members gasped at his language.
"Ah, my apologies." He closed his eyes a long moment, seemingly arranging his thoughts. "I'll meet with Elder Augustus. There's still a few months before Andy graduates. I can learn from him for the time being. And as for meeting Andy? I have an in. I've known Ashley and Sandra for some years now. I played a little guitar as a teenager. Might be a bit rusty but...he wants to make it big in music, right? Having his assigned Mystic be a member of his band solves all the questions as to why a kid trying to make it in music has a random old man following him around - no offence. I just..." he bobbled his head side to side a moment. "I was raised with the general populus, not with other Majik children. I know how they think, how they perceive things. An Elder Mystic will not be well recieved, and may actually make him more of a target for beings who know how to spot Majiks. I know the L.A. music scene. I know how to blend in with the humans. At least let me try."
After a long moment of silence, Circe softly added, "For what it's worth, the kid may have a point. Augustus has been telling me for years that the Council is too out of touch with modern culture to know how to appropriately manage Prophet Andrew."
"Very well," Councilman Ebrues boomed. "Let's put it to a vote."