United. (Book 5 of the Lupus Antiqua Series)

"It's all changed, can you feel it?" Abby wonders, glancing at Endymion as they walk together through the campus. It's a rare break in their training and fighting practices. Whenever that happens they take advantage of it to spend some quality time together.

"Yes. Everything is more tense, has a darker edge to it. That is what happens when there is a threat looming." Endymion states. "We've all gone from training for the future to preparing for a war. I'm surprised it isn't more harried." He admits.

"Well, nothing has really happened, has it? Isn't that weird?" Abby wonders. "I mean, Ramaah wakes up and a ripple runs through the whole world and then...nothing. Zip. Nada."

"True. We all assumed there would be instant chaos. After all, Nephilim are not forgiving beings and he has been imprisoned for centuries. Something is holding him up but I couldn't say what." He murmurs. "Gathering allies perhaps."

"Does something as powerful as Ramaah is, need allies to destroy everything?" Abby asked, trying to think of the limited information she'd been able to garner about the new big bad evil in town.

He's hard for the seers to track because of that immense power of his, so intelligence hasn't been easy to come by. What little we did manage to get our hands on told the tale of the most powerful of the Nephilim hunted down and trapped by a squad of Fallen hunters and imprisoned ever since. That was about it.

"Have we heard anything new on the Nephilim Queen?" Endymion asks.

"Her, we know more about. Her mother, Annie Conway, came to the High Council shortly after her daughter Cadee was born. Cadee is the Nephilim Queen and the girls father, a vampire Enforcer with psychic ability told us that the infant girl was connected to all existing Nephilim and it was affecting her dreams.

So she petitioned to have the girl's true nature suppressed. The High Council agreed to do it but only for first eighteen years of the girl's life. It is against the laws of nature to permanently suppress someone's nature, so even that much was generous." She explains.

"And it's been eighteen years, I take it." Endymion muses.

"Yes." Abby chuckles. "Clearly she freed him, though why she would choose to do so, I couldn't tell you."

"She is his mate is she not? Perhaps she couldn't fight the pull of her mate, just as we could not fight the pull between us." He halts and pulls her into his chest, leaning down and kissing her hungrily. When he pulls back, his expression is hungry but also grim. "I have seen war before, my love. This will be war on a scale the world has not seen before, and when it is over nothing will ever be the same again. We are heading for a rough time." He kisses her forehead. "You must not fear your power. You must not fear it's scope or what it can do. You must embrace it if you are to survive.

I am a powerful being in my own right, but not even I can take on Ramaah. If he targets you and you have not fully harnessed your abilities, we will both die. And while I will happily die with you, I would rather have a life with you."

"Right back at you." Abby whispers. "I love you, Endymion."

"And I love you."

"As sweet as that is, the time for romance is gone. The sisters have arrived." Kani stands in front of them, the look on her face expectant and impatient.

"When did the sisters get here?" Abby asks. She kisses Endymion goodbye before falling into step with Kani as they move into the main building which has been repaired since her sparring session with Lorelei.

"They just arrived this morning, and have been in session since. They only now opened their space up to visitors and they have some alarming news." Kani states.

"Of course they do." Abby sighs.

"Get used to the bad news. It's early days yet. The world has switched its axis and we are rotating in a whole new direction now." Kani sighs dramatically.

"That is how it feels. It's just been quiet so far, like we're in the eye of a storm." Abby murmurs.

"The storm hasn't hit yet. And I have a feeling we're about to find out why." They enter the basement and it takes a moment for Abby's vision to adjust to the gloom, after the bright sunshine of the world above. The massive basement has been split into two by very large and beautiful curtains that look to be made of Sari silk.

The area in front had plush seating and portable wardrobes. But what really draws her attention is the massive circle drawn in black salt and the three women sitting inside of it, all of whom are swaying side to side ever so slightly. They are all covered in veils as well, completely hiding their features.

Abby has read about the sister, but she's never met them. She always felt sort of connected to them though, because like her, they always lived in seclusion. Their psychic abilities were so powerful it was painful for them to be around too many people, which is probably why they now reside in the basement and not one of the barracks or main rooms.

Kani stepped forward.

"Sisters. We seek your guidance..."Before Kani can finish her query the three sister speak all at once.

"The Nephilim King is awake and free, but his mate has lost herself inside herself, and he will do nothing before she is free. He seeks allies with which to align himself. The end will come, but not as soon as was assumed.

Ramaah seeks to raise a fellow evil. An ancient ally who has long slumbered in a watery grave.

Hear the words from out these hands,

Walking in the spirit lands,

Demons often whisper here; shadows come to visit near.

I hear the words, and hear the rhyme,

Darkness speaks, Evil unleashed.

God and goddess, Satan god, it doesn’t matter what it’s called.

Red eyes watch from the shadow, calling, calling; calling for your soul.

If he rises, fire and blood will be his vices.

He bides his time and waits for his savior.

Open your mind and know his might.

Take up the sword or use a word, take your choice of a thousand verbs.

Speak three times, to seal and bind thrice be true and twice be lies.

Soulless rise, He’s still alive.

The Destroyer’s dreams will awaken what was never meant to be.

He comes calling, calling; calling for your soul.

He comes; calling, calling; calling to make the old brand new."

Their voices trail off seeming to echo in the silence left in their wake and Abby tries not to show the shiver that runs its fingers down her spine.

"Thank you." Kani murmurs, bowing before leading Abby out of the room. The door shuts behind them, and even though there's no way that any of the sisters got up fast enough to get to the door so quickly, it locks with a firm 'click.'

"Hell's bells they are creepy." Abby shudders. Kani smirks at her.

"They always have been, no matter how new the generation the sisters are always kind of terrifying. They live half their lives in a world of visions. There is almost nothing keeping them anchored in this world at all." Abby nods, feeling pity for them. They were recluses, hermits, because their gifts set them apart so spectacularly from everyone else.

"I'm surprised they came here." Abby admits.

"Its a sign of the times. Normally they never leave their ancient seat in Nepal, despite the fact that our stronghold is the United States. This time they were on their way before we even requested them. If there were no other signs that everything has gone topsy turvy, that would be a very clear one.