The Three Amigos

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...The Three Amigos
Ashford Manor, Long Island

Where could they possibly be? Almost a week had come to pass since William ashford had discovered that his parents along with his aunt and uncle had disappeared without a word or trace. What could have happened? It was dangerous as all the arcanists could sense the storm brewing behind the curtain of the shadow realm. Something was coming, something none of them could predict with the exception of the Diviner kin--even though he held no credibility to their so called prophecies. What good was having the power to tell the future if one couldn't foresee the enchanters current mess? Ever since the feud back in the early twentieth century between the necromancer and diviner families, communication between the arcane bloodlines had periodically deteriorated. The families only met when it was absolutely necessary and most only looked out for their own members with a few exceptions. To say the arcanists were cliquey was an understatement. For the time being he had been able to hide the fact that his cousins and sister were the only others remaining under the manor's roof. He didn't know what was going on with the other families but it would seem at the moment he was Head of the Enchanter family, which meant it was his job to see to their safety. What would his uncle do?

At the age of twenty-eight, William had been preparing to take over after his uncle--it was what he was trained to do after all but it was too soon. As the oldest it was up to him to assume his rightful place within the family. While his rise to power should have been an honor, he wasn't pleased with the situation. It wasn't supposed to be this way for the enchanter. To say he was resentful would have not been completely incorrect. Crystal blue hues stared at the papers on his uncle's desk in the vast family library. The end of his pen would tap along the reports he was supposed to review, and yet he couldn't concentrate. Fingers would curl inward as his fist slammed down against the desk, the sound echoing across the room. Lorelei had been worried about him, his minx of a cousin had no qualms speaking her mind. On this rare occasion the cousins agreed, Ashford Manor was the safest place for them. At the moment she was no where to be seen but he wasn't surprised to hear her raised voice all the way on the opposite side of the house to greet his old friend Gavin. Lips formed a straight line as he shook his head, those two never coulees share a civil moment although he had his suspicions. While the conjurer needed no invitation, William had asked him over.

It was time to act and reach out to the other bloodlines. Impatiently tugging at the tie around his neck, thumb and index finger would slip the first two buttons open of his crisp white button down shirt. He had taken the opportunity to leave work early that morning, William didn't feel right staying away from the Manor too long in their current situation. Jaw firmed, the confrontation was delaying his friend. Without bothering to wait, William reached over and tapped the mirror sitting on his desk. Some time ago the enchanter had taken the liberty of altering a few items found within his and his friends homes. Of course they looked like ordinary objects but true to his family, they had a knack for finding new functions for things lying around their home. In this case this particular mirror had been enchanted to project his image and receive the other using its pair. It had its uses. "Gideon, you there?". His voice would sound distant at first but would quickly grow in volume as he insistently tapped on the clear surface.