The storm lasted all night refusing to break.
Morning arrived with the sky still charcoal grey, the rain turning into a drizzle. Inside, the atmosphere was no less heavy.
Lucian stood in the grand foyer.
The Council's emissaries had arrived early, their white robes a stark contrast to the Black House's gold and black interior. They stood with their tablets out, reciting the terms of the "Observation" like a funeral rite.
"Seventy-two hours," the lead emissary stated, his voice thin. "Sealed tribunal facility. Limited outside contact. Continuous blood-signature monitoring to ensure public safety."
Lucian didn't wait for him to finish. He countered immediately, his voice a low, rhythmic vibration that commanded the space.
