Chapter 218: Undreaming Order Headquarters
Siobhan
Month 8, Day 25, Wednesday 10:20 p.m.
Millennium wanted to accompany them to the headquarters of the Undreaming Order—Siobhan was deeply reluctant to call it a “church”—but Gera and her brother Lynwood insisted that the boy stay home. Their refusal to involve Miles only made Siobhan more apprehensive. ‘What am I about to walk into?’ She imagined a cabal of people staring out from the deep shadow of hooded cloaks, each carrying a pet raven in their arms and doing strange pseudo-rituals to give themselves imaginary powers. She rolled her shoulders to release the tension there. ‘It probably won’t be that bad.’
As they walked through the night streets toward the headquarters, Lynwood tried to make awkward conversation that quickly petered out, while Gera remained almost entirely silent. Siobhan grew tenser in turn, and found herself fiddling with her mother’s ring on her finger and brushing her arm against her side to feel the press of the black sapphire Conduit against her ribs. She forced herself to relax as they arrived at the building, which was a few blocks east of Lynwood Manor.
The Undreaming Order headquarters was a two-story, sturdy circular building, made of white stone that was stained brown with the signs of age and neglect. The shutters in the sparse windows had all been painted black and locked. There was no dome atop the roof, but several ceramic tubes to allow rainwater to run off the flat surface, instead.
Several enforcers and their dogs were visible along the street, some obviously on guard, but a couple seemingly just lounging around in plainclothes. Most were from the Nightmare Pack, but a couple she recognized from the Verdant Stag. None directly guarded the entrance.
Lynwood noticed the direction of her gaze. “About half are on the payroll. The rest…well, some volunteers have taken it upon themselves to start a protective roster. Giving a tribute of their time, as it were.”
“Have you had trouble with security?”
“Some,” he admitted, his amber eyes almost reflective in the light of the nearest streetlamp as he watched her warily. “Nothing that you need to be concerned about, I believe. We have handled it.”