Everyone in the situation room stared in horror as Arthur walked up to the podium and shook the president’s hand before he was left alone in front of the microphone. Gawain and Abaddon stood behind him, both looking very pleased with themselves.
“Good morning to the press of the world,” Arthur began. “I am over seventeen hundred years old, and I am a sorcerer. We have existed in the shadows for thousands of years. We have tried to keep ourselves to ourselves, without interfering with human lives. This changed not long ago when a man by the name of Hellequin destroyed the peace that had existed between us. And in doing so murdered hundreds of thousands of innocent people the world over in his quest for power.
“This man, this traitor to the lives we all swore to lead, has been found and killed. It was not what I wanted. I searched for a peaceful resolution to this problem, I had hoped to end this violence without further bloodshed, but he and his people would not be swayed with reason or peace.”
Arthur looked appropriately sad, and Mordred felt nauseous.
“While I would like to say that these attacks are over and humanity can rest easy, this is not the case,” Arthur continued. “Hellequin’s followers are out there. And will need to be captured before they can strike at the heart of the freedoms that most of us take for granted. I have accepted the United Nations’ gracious offer of cooperation, and I will use the new powers my people and I have been given to hunt down these monsters before they can do more harm. This organization is called Avalon. It will be the barrier between humanity and the evil that lurks in the darkness. It will protect you, and it will keep you safe.
“My kind and I have remained hidden for thousands of years. Some of you will have heard stories, or myths, about us, but these are half-truths and fairy tales. You will find the real people to be much less fantastical, and I hope in the coming weeks and months to be able to place these people around the globe in new Avalon branches to help combat this terror. You need not be afraid of these operatives. Despite their power, or appearance, they will be there for your safety. Humanity and my kind have existed for thousands of years in harmony. It’s my hope that the bond between us will strengthen now that you know the truth.”
Hades switched off the TV.
“Well, fuck,” Sky said.
“Did he just declare war on everyone who isn’t on his side?” Remy said. “It sounded like he did.”
“And he outed us to the world,” Nabu said. “I’ve spent thousands of years living, quite happily, without everyone knowing that I’m not human. This is a big change.”
“This is a terrifying change,” Hades said. “All of those heads of state are in Arthur’s pocket. Or at least in Avalon’s. I imagine a few of them will be considered unhelpful, or unpatriotic, in the coming weeks and months. More than a few will vanish.”
“This was his plan all along,” Diana said. “Get the humans to welcome him, to think he’s their savior against a greater evil, and then slowly take over everything.”
“It won’t be slow,” Irkalla said. “I saw the look in his eyes. Whatever remained of the Arthur we knew is gone. It looks like Gawain got his wish. Arthur wants that power as quickly as possible. In a decade there won’t be a country on the planet that isn’t under Avalon rule. And he’ll start with the big guns.”
“The gift of peace with one hand and tightening the noose with the other,” Sky said. “As if I needed more reasons to hate the son of a bitch.”
“I’m going with you, Mordred,” Remy said. “I can’t do jack and or shit here. And I don’t think pissing off Sky as a hobby gives me a lengthy lifespan.”
“Good guess,” Sky said, although she smiled after saying it.
“Be ready in an hour,” Mordred said. “We’ll be a week or so.” He turned to Hades. “Keep Nate safe—we’ll need him more than ever now.”
“It’ll take a few months for Arthur and his people to get their claws firmly into everything. Until then he’s going to be busy removing people who won’t like where this is going. I wouldn’t bank on it, but you probably have time to go do whatever you need to. Arthur thinks Nate is dead. Hopefully it’ll stay that way for some time.”
“Mordred, wait up,” Sky said, catching up to him as he left the room. “You sure about this? What’s in the envelope could get you killed; you weren’t wrong about that.”
Mordred opened the envelope and pulled out the photos and directions to where Viktor was being held. After he’d burned down his home for betraying so many people to the werewolf pack in Moscow, Mordred had hoped never to see the piece of crap again. “Might do. But it might also make things easier for us in the long run. I’d rather Arthur, Gawain, or whoever is in charge had as few advantages as possible. Besides, after what I just saw, I feel like pissing them all off a bit.”
“Is there any point in telling you to be careful?”
Mordred shook his head. “It’s not like I haven’t been trying so far in life.”
“Then you suck at it.”
“Not arguing.” Mordred paused. “In my room, second drawer on the bedside cabinet, is a USB drive. It needs decrypting, but it’s Elaine’s, so maybe she can help get it done. I’ve had a month, and it just didn’t feel important considering we learned the prophecy was a lie and Elaine came back to us. But Elaine still doesn’t have her memories, and we’ve all been so busy finding Nate that I just forgot about it. Can you decrypt it?”
Sky nodded. “We can try.”
Mordred went back down to the main hangar, avoiding the dozens of people milling around, and entered one of the rooms at the far end, where a quartermaster asked him what he wanted.
Mordred handed over a list.
“You planning on fighting a war?” she asked. “Because I think Arthur just declared it.”
“Just going to blow up my bit of it.”
She collected the silenced Glock pistol, silenced MP5, and Accuracy International sniper rifle that were on the list, along with a stab vest, and several blocks of explosives. “This isn’t like human explosives. This stuff will fuck your day up if you’re anywhere near it,” she said, placing it all in a satchel.
Mordred took the bag from her, putting on holsters for the pistol MP5 and picking up the bag she’d just put the sniper rifle in. “I don’t plan on being near it. At all.”
“These are all Avalon editions of those weapons. Silver tipped, a few modifications here and there—these aren’t exactly available on websites.”
“I’ll bring them back. I promise.”
“You’d better.”
Mordred turned to find Morgan watching him. “Where are you going?”
“Bear hunting,” Mordred said.
She eyed the weaponry.
“It’s a bloody big bear,” Mordred said, miming how big with his hands.
“Does it live in a tank?”
“It might. Bears are smart.”
She crossed her arms. “What are you doing, Mordred?”
“What I can. You stay here. Please.”
“Why?”
“It’s dangerous, and I need to do this without worrying about you.”
“And Irkalla and Remy are going because?”
“I don’t mind if they get used as collateral damage.”
“You’re not funny.”