Bowing to the Phoenix

[Eden]

Rumor sat at his desk gnawing on his lower lip roughly causing it to become swollen and red. He was never usually this nervous but today he had a good reason in the form of a letter he had received recently. The letter was written on paper of such an ugly red color reminding Rumor of blood and the words written in a flowing hand with the blackest of ink. It was short and too the point and no one knew better what ignoring the letter would cause then Rumor. Not only was ignoring the letter not an option but refusing what the letter instructed was also completely out of the question. By far the most alarming part of the letter was the signature that graced it. The signature was simple enough the most horrifying part of it was knowing who had put it there. It was a black scorch mark that singed the paper around it into an ugly brown. The burn had a defined shape showing that it wasn't some mistake and that it was in fact put there on purpose. The dark markings formed a large bird the wing tips raised upward almost touching above its head.

'Do not interfere in the lives of mortals or we will take action'

This was all the note said but accompanied by the unique marking that acted as a signature Rumor knew it couldn't be taken lightly. He had yet to tell any of his members from the British Library knowing that it would only cause a panic with their leader showing such a obvious fear of someone they had the pleasure of never having to meet and someone that Rumor had hoped to never have to hear from again. He was aware that he had become more bold in the previous years taking a number of risks that he wouldn't have dreamed of before. Helping to form a large organization that spanned the entire globe along with joining in numerous battles that helped to decide the fate of the mortal world. He knew that it went against all he knew and everything he was trained for. People like him weren't meant to interfere only to watch and monitor. They weren't meant to help the mortals learn from the past mistakes but instead were told to do nothing but sit by silently not allowed to raise their voice in help.

Having done these things he knew that it was only a matter of time before someone from his old life would come to deter him. He didn't suspect that it would happen so soon though and never would have imagined that it would come from the one person he feared above all else. As Rumor had taken on an identity years ago letting himself be known simply as the paper this person followed the path first allowing his name to be known in back alleys and hushed meetings as the Phoenix

[Eden]

After thinking about what his next move needed to be Rumor stood up and walked around his desk frowning at his lack of height. He never had a problem being older then the age he had been when he was turned but being younger always annoyed him beyond all belief. It wasn't that he wasn't able to fight or use his powers to the best of his ability it was really just the fact that he was so damn short. It now seemed that everything in his office was to big to be comfortable or helpful and it meant that he had been forced to buy all new clothes to match his new body size. He walked over to his bookcase pulling a chair behind him so that he could get to something on one of the higher shelves. It used to be that he could get this box without even having to be on the tips of his toes but now he needed to be on top of a chair and stretching to his full height. Once he had the box he wanted he turned sharply and fell down so that he was now sitting on the chair his legs dangling so that his feet just barely grazed the floor.

Inside of the box were the ancient artifacts he had been 'given' by his mother. He knew it would probably take him about a day to get back to the proper age but that wouldn't be a huge problem since he had all the time in the world right now. He jumped off from the chair placing the top back onto the box and left his office heading for one of the lower basement rooms. On his way he passed a number of library employees though none of them paid him much attention until he met up with Susan who followed after him.

"Rumor where are you going?" she asked concern leaking into her voice. Rumor loved the women like a mother even though he was old enough at this time to be a distant ancestor to her. He found that he was capable of having feelings for a number of mortal beings even though when he was turned he had been led to believe that feelings such as love and hatred would dissipate with age.

"I'm heading down to the ritual room in the basement for a while" he told her hugging the box to his chest and sighing. "I think its about time that this organization was run by someone who appears older then ten." he joked looking out of the side of his eyes to watch the small smile that graced Susan's features. "There is something I need you to do however while I am taking care of this. I need you to contact all of our operatives in the field and have them pulled out immediately. Take care of the wounded and bring the dead to the Russian branch and have them laid to rest in the lowest basement their. All other field agents are to return to their branches and leave the lines for communication working properly I do not want to have to go around and collect branches like I did the last time. Is that clear?"

Susan merely nodded knowing that Rumor would never do something to put his organization in danger. She had faith in him and Jouten and knew that the two of them would keep everyone safe so as long as she did what was asked it would all work out. She turned around and headed back the way they had come leaving Rumor to take care of what he deemed necessary.