Phantasia

It may have been a different classroom, with a colour scheme of beige and sunshine yellows, and walls decorated by mathematical charts and geometry tables, but Veritas were the same as always: Phoenie proud, sitting behind the teacher’s desk and a selection of files; Andromeda alert, ready to take annotations and make observations; Katrina slouched, plush cat held tight in one hand, camera in the other; John focused, laptop at the ready and eyes scanning every corner of the room; and Theseus casual, lounged on a windowsill as he watched the dull afternoon rainfall. Phantasia and Faye were not the only honoured guests of the investigative clique, however – Joel, Kaori and Lyra sat at the side of the room, their ragged Raven clothes flagging their presence among the smartly-dressed Veritas crew.

“At last,” said Phoenie, clapping her hands together, “We can begin!”

Phantasia sat down on the closest desk, Faye hovering beside her. Everyone was looking at the Water faerie with their auras condensed, like shields to protect them from her scathing revelations.

Phoenix Rogan’s paranoid barriers are still in effect, said Faye, Lyra Byrne also maintains her natural protection. I am detecting feeble attempts at imitating her from Joel Gibson and Kaori Shimomura, suggesting that they have been hastily instructed on how to protect themselves. Theseus Armstrong maintains his strong will, although he does not hide his public thoughts. John Smith, Andromeda Blumstein and Katrina Ritches have not yet developed adequate mental defences.

Phoenie stood, then paced to the front of the room. “I’ve brought you all together for this top-secret meeting because I have a very important announcement to make,” she said, surveying her troop with a self-contented smirk.

“There a werebeast attacking old ladies down Wolfa Street?” asked Theseus in his usual sarcastic drawl. Phoenie’s expression didn’t change.

“Better than that!”

“Is it a pack of werebeasts?” retorted Theseus.

“With lasers?” added John.

In the past, Phoenie would berate the cynics and rant about how she was going to prove the existence of magic and demons with her latest investigation. This time she chuckled, her grin widening.

“Previously, we believed our memories had been tampered with as part of some dastardly Godhand scheme to alter our memories,” she began.

“You believed,” said Theseus under his breath.

“Well it has come to my attention that we may have been incorrect with our assumption and that instead we have been under the influence—” she paused and took a dramatic breath “—of hallucinations!”

“For a minute there I thought you were gonna say ‘faeries’,” said a droll Theseus.

“Oh, it’s much better than that,” said Phoenie, oblivious to the truth, “And the answer has been in front of us this whole time! Mr Gibson and Ms Shimomura and their – how should I put this? – dabbling in somewhat questionable affairs is the key to this mystery…”

All attention turned to the Raven couple, whose startled expressions suggested they hadn’t expected this revelation. Joel’s aura flared up, as if he’d been trapped in a corner by predators prepared to tear him apart.

Chapter 46
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