Chapter 42

**Merianna**


Councilor Ferina looked genuinely flabbergasted like she couldn’t wrap her head around the fact that Noch was physically standing right in front of her. “What on earth are you doing here? I thought you vowed never to get involved with the Council again after what happened.”

“Well, there’s a reason for that…” I pipped up. Noch definitely would have stuck to that vow at all costs if it hadn’t been for the current circumstances that we found ourselves in, as well as the obvious knowledge that the Council was the only place that we would be able to get solid information from.

Ferina’s hazel gaze quickly shot over to me and she instantly noticed the proximity between Thyrion and me. Of course that fact alone made her connect some dots, but she still seemed doubtful. “Is this someone new to the Order?” she asked cautiously.

I gave a rueful smile then gave a full on grin. After all, Ferina and I had gotten quite close after the fiasco with Dermon way back in the day. I was still young back then and whenever something needed to involve the Council I mainly dealt with Ferina. “Hi Ferina. Long time no see.”

She stared intensely at me for a second, focusing mainly on my eyes. Then I saw her eyes getting slightly misty. Before I knew it, she nimbly lunged at me and had me in a hug so tight that my feet were lifted off the floor. “Merianna! You little imp! Is it really you?!” She cried while only hugging me tighter.

“Hi Fer-ina. Yup, it’s - me.” I managed to gasp out.

“How is this possible?!” She yelled as she quickly pulled away to look me up and down.

“I know right? I’m starting to wonder if the Demon Spawn is an actual Demon Spawn.” Noch chuckled from the side.

“Oh please, if that were true then you wouldn’t have been able to put my name on the member’s slab in the first place. It would have instantly rejected my blood if that were the case.” And I really didn’t want to think of what might have happened if that were real. The slab where all the member’s names were inscribed on was a very special piece of magic after all. Not only did it announce the final deaths of all the members inscribed, but it also let you know immediately if anyone who wasn’t a witch wanted to join the Order. Violently at that.

“Magic is magic, where there are inscriptions and spells there are always loopholes.” Noch smirked.

I just gave him my signature deadpan glare. “Do you really want to have a pointless argument right now?” Somehow I had the feeling that my suspicion was valid.

“Of course. The quicker we get thrown out the less I have to deal with this place.” The grin he threw me was so childish that I couldn’t even articulate a retort.

“Is there somewhere we can speak in private?” Thyrion sighed as he tucked me against his side before I could punch Noch.

Ferina took a deep breath while whipping a stray tear from under her eye. “Of course! Just follow me, we’ll go to my office.” She beamed.

I spied Noch slowly inching backward out of my peripheral view as Ferina turned around to lead the way. I shot my hand out and caught his arm before he could try and disappear. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Noch sounded slightly sheepish as he flinched at my question. “Oh you know, I was just thinking that it would be a better use of our time if I left this side of things to you guys while I go and investigate other avenues.”

I turned my face to him so he could see that his obvious excuse was seen through even before he uttered it. The expectation of having him just effortlessly slip away under our noses was so high that I was constantly on high alert around him. There was no way in a thousand years that I would just sit back and read through the Council’s archives all by my lonesome. If I was going to suffer, I was most certainly not going to suffer alone.

“The quicker we get this done, the quicker we can go back home. Think of this outing in that way. Plus, you were the one that asked for my help in the first place.” I reminded with a sweet smile.

Noch obviously didn’t like what I said, but he also didn’t have much he could say against it either. When I couldn’t beat him in a sparring match, at least I was confident enough that I could beat him using logic.

With that being said, he reluctantly allowed himself to be dragged along as we marched ourselves to Ferina’s office. I also took the opportunity to look around and take in the scenery. I was surprised to find that they had kept some cathedral-like aspects that were easily seen in the previous building in this new and more modern one. The ceiling was beautifully decorated with patterns and the walls were sparsely decorated with paintings as well.

As we reached an elevator Ferina waved off the two guards that had followed her and ushered us inside. “I am extremely curious about many things but, I assume that you guys didn’t pop in here for a casual announcement that you have returned to us.” She guessed as she pointedly turned to look at me as the doors closed and she pushed a button for the upper floors.

I gave a shrug. “You definitely aren’t wrong. Although the reason for us being here does have a small link to my being back.”

Noch snorted. “Small my ass.”

“Try astronomical…” Thyrion muttered.

Ferina raised her eyebrow. “If it’s something I can help with, I will certainly do my best to assist you as much as I can.”

“Well if you are the only person that we’d need to talk to, then that would make things a lot easier for us. And more manageable for Noch as well.” I didn’t want to imagine what things would turn out like if we also needed to speak to the Council Head, Jernok in order to get into the archives. Noch wouldn’t like it at all, that was for sure.

He was being complacent right now, but I didn’t want to chance him blowing up half of this building just because of his nasty mood.

Ferina gave a painful smile as she understood what I was referring to. “I will most definitely try my best to not have you need to meet with anyone else.” She said as the doors opened and she ushered us into a big office close by. “Please have a seat. What exactly did you all come here for?”

We all made ourselves comfortable on the surrounding couches that reminded me a lot of Noch’s office layout. “What we need is access to the Council’s archives.” I said as Ferina walked around to her own table after closing the door.

“Well, if it’s the archives, I don’t see any problem with that really.”

“We need access to the Council’s sealed archives.” Noch elaborated. At the mention of the sealed section of the archives, Ferina nearly missed the seat of her swivel office chair, but quickly rightened herself before she fell to the floor.

“Y-you need to get into the sealed section?” She asked to make sure that she heard right.

“That’s right. Some things have been happening lately that warrant a thorough check of the documents in there.” Thyrion said as he pulled me snugly into his side.

Her eyes hardened and her demeanor changed instantly. “What has been happening?”

“I’m actually surprised that you hadn’t noticed anything yourself.” Noch shot from where he was lounging.

Ferina gave a sigh. “Our informants haven’t seen or experienced anything out of the ordinary lately. Not to mention that the Hunters have also been quite quiet during this new modern era. None of the covens had mentioned anything amiss besides normal internal disputes either. Now, if you can’t tell me exactly why you need to get into the sealed section, then I can’t help you get in there either no matter how much I’d want to.”

Noch glared at her logic, but didn’t try to be snarkey again. All he did was look over at Thyrion and give a small nod.

Thyrion gave his own sigh. “I suppose I should explain everything from the very beginning then.”