Digging for answers

[Eliot]

Eliot chuckled. "I gave you all the information I have on Durante. I don't have his contact information. But you might find him in the database with more information. I leave you too figure it out."

He held out his hand and shook Nora's hand. "A deal then. You can find me at head quarters. It is my home most of the time." Though that would change pending the nuptials.

[Claude Saint-Clair]

Claude didn't really pay attention to what they were saying. It was mostly between Eliot and Nora anyways. It concerned him, true, but Nora would fill him in. He didn't often rely on that, but between the migraine and the realization that he had access to the god powers kept him not focused on the conversation happening.

Instead Claude's mind went back to Nora's puzzle. He let himself drift into that thought process. That weird symbol was in his mind and he couldn't let it go. He kept thinking about that Mayan calendar. Why was that important? And the text - the text that Nora said kept popping up. Prophecies. What was that thought in the back of his mind?

Finally something clicked. Something that might help Nora figure it out at least. Claude's thoughts returned to the scene as Eliot shook hands with his sister and left quiet. Claude gave him a polite wave as he left. No reason to be impolite about it all. He did after all (hopefully) gave Nora a way for him to figure all this crap out.

Claude sat back, his eyes still closed. "Nora," he said softly. "I have some thoughts about your puzzle. Now I know you're going to say that's not important now, but I need to let all of this sink in and I'd rather not think of it for now, so please just hear me out."

Claude sat forward and opened his eyes, looking at Nora. "Prophecies - in order to understand them, you need to understand the context in which they were written. I can't stop thinking about that symbol and it's similarity to the Mayan calendar. Now I'm not saying this is reality, but it will give you something to think about that may give you a direction to go in your research."

Claude stood up, slowly and moved to get another bottle of water. The medicine was beginning to work. "The Mayans and many ancient cultures didn't think of time in a linear fashion. They thought of it as circular - time repeating over an over again. You mentioned cataclysms - think of those as one event - repeated over and over again. A cycle. So maybe - the understanding of your puzzle lies not in the present, but in the past. Look at these cataclysms - is there a pattern there?"

Claude sat back down. "Maybe you've thought of that, or maybe you think I'm nuts, but it's another way to think of it. That quote - 'he who sees before the sealing may stand outside' - it keeps appearing. At this cataclysm was something sealed. It's a thought anyway - look in the past - you may find some clarity there. Or it may be a dead end. Something to think about." He sat back and waited for her response. Maybe the thought would give her more questions and they could work it out more.

[Nora Saint-Clair]

Nora exhaled, long and slow, watching the door close behind Eliot. The air in the safehouse still felt strange like it hadn’t decided whether to settle or break open again. Her fingers flexed at her side, her mind already spiraling through what he’d said: teacher, Brotherhood, secrets.

Claude’s voice broke through her thoughts.

Her first instinct was to wave him off. “You’re right, it’s not important right now.” The words left her before she’d thought them through, reflex more than malice. She wanted him to rest, wanted him to stop talking about symbols and prophecies while her brain was still sifting through everything else Eliot had dropped in their laps.

But Claude didn’t let it go. He never did.

She turned toward him reluctantly, arms folded as she listened. His tone was patient, his logic crisp, and even through the exhaustion she could hear that little spark of curiosity that always got him going. Context, he said. Cycles. Cataclysms.

She nodded, though her mind was a mile away. “The cataclysms… yeah, maybe,” she murmured absently, eyes drifting to the window. Outside, the streetlights shone, and she wondered if the Atharim had ever truly understood how many gods they were hunting and sheltering.

Eliot’s light still burned behind her eyelids. He’d used it casually and effortlessly. Not as a weapon, not even as a warning. Just as proof. There had to be more like him. More hiding in plain sight. How many of us are there really? How many godmarked inside the Atharim, playing at being mortal hunters?

Her mouth twisted at the irony. Policing the brethren, indeed.

And then the Brotherhood came back into focus. If Eliot wanted her to investigate them, she’d have to find a way to get close without tipping her hand. She could do that. She’d always wanted to work in the field; it was the kind of assignment she’d once dreamed about before her life had turned inside out.

Now it was finally happening.

Her thoughts drifted again to Claude: her brother, a channeler, like her. She didn’t even have time to decide how strange that was. If they could find this Nox Durante, maybe Claude wouldn’t end up like the others she’d read about. Maybe neither of them would.

She frowned slightly, trying to recall the names Eliot had given. Kallisti. The Almaz. They didn’t mean anything to her, but maybe Grym would know. Grym always knew the places normal people avoided.

Her brow furrowed as another thought struck her. Would they tell Grym about Claude? About all of it? The idea of sharing the secret tightened something in her chest. Grym would handle it, sure, but at what cost? Maybe it was safer if it stayed just between them for now.

“Claude,” she said finally, pulling her thoughts back to the present. “You’re probably right. The pattern isn’t linear. Maybe it’s never been. I’ll look at the past, see what I can find.”

Her voice softened then, quieter, thoughtful. “I guess I’m going to the Brotherhood tomorrow… you go find this Durante guy?”

[Claude Saint-Clair]

Claude had of course upset her a little bit. Well maybe. It was hard to tell. It probably wasn't his fault, but not talking about it probably was. Still she listened to what he had to say. Even so, she was distracted. Nora had a lot on her mind, and he'd just added to that. At the very least though, she had something to look at, and a field mission to boot. It would be a dangerous one as well.

He didn't stand up or answer right away when she spoke. Being able to channel just made things complicated. It was something they could both do without. He sighed as she he prepared to answer her. "Yeah - you go to the Brotherhood and I'll try to find this Nox Durante. Just... he looked at her. "Stay safe. I'll do the same."

Claude did stand then, getting himself another drink of water. "Think I'm going to turn in. Can't do much of anything until the migraine is gone. If you need me, wake me. I mean it." he said, although he knew she probably wouldn't. Right now, all he could do was rest up.

Claude went to Nora and wrapped her in a hug. She wasn't much for these types of affections, but she usually tolerated it from him. "I'm really glad you're here, Nora." There were words unspoken in his statement. Claude knew she had to go through what he was going through alone. He was glad she was here to help him with it. Claude gave her a final squeeze, and let go. "Good night - I'll see you tomorrow."

Claude went into his room and turned off the light before crawling into bed. He doubted sleep would come soon, so he just lay in the dark. When sleep didn't come, he pulled out his wallet, dimming the brightness and looked up Almaz and Kallisti. A fight club or a burlesque club. Neither were anything he was interested in or would be comfortable being at. Oh joy.