July 26, 2005 – 21:15 (UK Time)
"I do not know what the official narrative is telling people, but they were certainly not meant to improve your national security. They weren't summoning a demon per se, but I believe the people behind them wanted to mimic demonic possession. Based on the global definition of witchcraft authorities gave folks to justify the witch hunt, what was researched in that lab does fit that definition."
"While we have unethical scientists playing God, you have unethical ones playing demons," said Nancy.
"I believe it is an accurate way to summarize it," said Coralis.
Jack deposited a recorder on the table.
"Some of the evidence we received was in holographic format, but we have a device that can read your holographic media files," said Nancy.
"There are no cameras in this room, but if you don't mind, I would like to hear and record what exactly was researched in that lab. I do understand that you probably haven't read the research data found in that lab, however, we do have evidence showing you and others healing their unconscious test subjects, which leads us to believe you came across this before," said Jack and pressed a button to start the recording.
"I haven't read anything found in that lab. Agent Eva Suri and I have handled and countered more than once what many of us consider an abomination of a spell," said Coralis, before proceeding to explain in more detail what she told Nancy over the phone that night about what the summoning spell intended to do and how it can be countered.
When she was done, Jack pressed to stop the recording. She didn't mind telling them what that spell was doing. After all, if her kind started injecting it into humans, they needed to be made aware of it.
"The type of research the humans who have been killed were working on can be classified as witchcraft, and they were working alongside people who fit the profile of a witch in the context of this witch hunt, of what this hunt was intended for, in our opinion. Therefore, as far as we are concerned, your actions at the northern Saskatchewan secret are justified, despite the very high death toll, and you will not be added back to our lists," said Nancy.
"What I want to know, considering you weren't working alone, is who else among the names that came up in reports does not belong to any lists currently being used to track witchy activities. Alongside yours, the names of Emery, Sebastian Larameer and Eva Suri came up, two of them have been removed from our lists in December 2003. I am aware that Nancy does know Agent Eva Suri. Were they involved in what happened at that compound?" said Jack.
"Yes. Simply put, if you saw evidence of me fixing what had been done to the unconscious ones, Eva Suri and Emery were among the people who helped reverse the spell while Sebastian Larameer recorded and sent the evidence. Sebastian and Emery did not shed any blood in there. They safely escorted outside the people who had been held captive against their will."
"Thank you. One last thing I need to confirm with you. We couldn't get any names, but according to what you told Nancy over the phone and rumours circulating, you found and took down that facility because your husband had been taken prisoner there. Was your husband among the people held captive there?"
"Yes," said Coralis, choosing her words carefully. She trusted them, but she was aware that their mate bond could be considered witchcraft. "I do not know if my husband had been taken out of revenge because of the previous times I countered that abomination of a spell or if he was taken by mistake, but he is the reason I showed up there that night. When I found out he was kidnapped, I saw red and tracked him there."
Coralis left soon after.
"I fail to understand why many people insist on pushing her against us. She is powerful, I reckon that, but isn't it better to have her fighting on our side than against?" said Nancy to Jack after Coralis left the building.
"Her husband is human, correct?"
"Yes."
"If her people underestimate her ties to the human race, it's to our benefit. I don't believe she still resides in the UK. Try to find out what you can about her husband and we make sure none of us gives him trouble."
During the week, rumours of what happened at the northern Saskatchewan compound kept spreading. Coralis and Frank returned home on Friday evening, and Frank bought a new phone the next day. He considered getting one before leaving for the UK but decided against it because he didn't want to get work phone calls while abroad. His family and friends, if needed, could reach out to him through Coralis' phone.
"I must say, it felt awesome not having to worry about phone calls for the last few days. It felt like a true vacation, especially when with you," said Frank as he activated his new phone.
On Sunday, they went to Frank's mother for brunch, and Mark joined them, along with Samantha.
"Welcome back to civilization," said Mark as he climbed into the backseat when Frank picked him up. "Hello Samantha, a pleasure to see you, as usual."
"To civilization? Dude, it was like having a second honeymoon in the middle of Secret Posse central. Someday, you'll understand true vacation."
"Wait, Blue, he is saying that you finally understood what lying low means?" said Samantha.
"Not exactly. More like, finally, the world let me do so for a few days."
"Well, no, the world didn't let you do so," said Frank, grabbing her hand to kiss its backside, "we made you to."
Frank pulled behind his brother's car, and the four of them climbed out of the car. Coralis was about to press on the doorbell when Molly opened the door and hugged Frank.
"Thank you so much to have brought my son back and making sure nothing else happened to him," said Molly, hugging Coralis.
"As if I would have left him there and let him out of my sight this week. If anything, I should be the one thanking him for bearing with me."
"Didn't you have to be in Winnipeg today?" said Sebastian after Samantha closed the door behind them.
"Until last week, yes. Whazk and Riwik are there today to represent the Shadow Elementals."
"There is something I don't quite understand. Whenever we hear about what happened in northern Saskatchewan, reporters tell us about you killing everyone in there, but there are barely any mentions of prisoners being liberated. We have to go to the web to read stories about the alleged prisoners or switch to news channels from outside the country," said Linda, searching for the remote control of the television.
Lizzy and Audrey were in the kitchen with Raymond, distracted by what was being said.
"Frank, you work for the media," said Lizzy as Linda found the remote to turn on the television to the news, "and you were there, why can't we get the truth?"