undergrounds | It's just one disaster after another

1) Statement issued to Circle Daybreak re: Gilbert Norrell, 21st June
For the attention of all Daybreak covens:

You may have heard by now that Mr Gilbert Norrell, High Priest of Circle Daybreak and leader of the Norrellite Coven, has gone missing. His assistant John Childermass is also missing.

We are treating these disappearances very seriously and a full investigation is underway. Attacks on witches, and particularly on senior members of our community, will not be tolerated. However, we do not yet have any direct evidence of foul play and so I would ask you to exercise discretion in this matter. We must not jump to hasty conclusions.

Once we have the full picture of what has happened here, you will of course be the first to know.

My best wishes to you,
Sylvia Redbright, Mother of Witches; Chancellor, Redbright Institute; President of the Night Council

(NB. You may notice that there is no mention here of fae magic or the black tower that appeared above Norrell's home on the day that he disappeared. Sylvia is trying to keep that quiet.)

2) For Lancelot – Norrell's house, Westminster 23rd June
The problem with Norrell is that he's a paranoid recluse. Even getting into his house required a full coven of witches to break the labyrinth spell that would otherwise have confused and trapped anyone who tried to search the place. And after that, the witches were nervous about entering. Though she had sworn them all to secrecy, some of them had seen the dark magic that had hung over the house for near on half a day, a black tower of smoke that had been an absolute nightmare to cover up.

She sent her top Guardian to investigate the matter, but her witches are so spooked that Sylvia deems it necessary to pay a personal visit to the house and confirm that there's nothing dangerous in there herself. Fingers crossed.

She approaches Lancelot first, nodding in greeting. "What have you found so far?"

3) For Natasha – Redbright Institute, 1st July
It's safe to say that Sylvia has a lot on her mind. From trouble with Islington to the mystery of Norrell's disappearance, this has not been a good month. So she's surprised and rather annoyed when she receives a request for a meeting in her office after sundown. Yet another too-long day.

But her PA tells her that it's important and so Sylvia is there at the agreed time, calling for her visitor to come in when she knocks at the door. This had better be important.

4) For Natasha and Simon – Westminster, 2nd July
The news that Simon O'Neill is dead but not gone is potentially game-changing. For one, it means that they have a witness to his murder, which is a huge step forward in their investigation. And it means that she still has a Guardian she thought had been lost – if he sticks around.

Natasha takes her to the street where Simon died. It's late by now, the traffic less heavy. And because Sylvia knows she's looking for a ghost, it isn't long before she feels the familiar prickle at the back of her neck, the cold sensation that tells her a presence is nearby. She doesn't specialize in ghost-related magic, but like all witches she's sensitive to ghostly activity.

"Simon," Sylvia calls, drawing her shawl tighter around her shoulders as she looks around. "Are you there?"

5) EVERYONE READ THIS – A statement from the Night Council, 4th July
On 4th July, the Night Council issues a controversial statement to the leaders of all factions, to be disseminated to their respective communities.

It speaks first of the death of Simon O'Neill, a Night Council Guardian. The evidence is now conclusive, it says, Simon was murdered by an Islington vampire in pursuit of the absurd policy instituted by its leader Raymond Harris which rewards members of the nest for killing werewolves and shapeshifters.

The Night Council strongly condemns this grotesque act, and further condemns this attack on a Guardian which can only be seen as an attack on the Night Council itself. Therefore it demands the Islington Nest cease this barbaric practice with immediate effect, or else it shall be forced to conclude that the Islington Nest is no longer fit to have a seat on the Council.

The statement is signed by Sylvia Redbright, Peter Vrinak, Nora Shannon and Yasmine Merad.

[ooc: Would you like a thread with Sylvia? PM me!]

Threaded | Flat

This is Natasha's first time meeting Sylvia Redbright directly. She's seen the which before in passing, of course, but she'd been determined to keep her head down, not to draw unnecessary attention to herself as a vampire among the ranks. It had been true when she arrived, a refugee from an embattled and self-destructing nest, and only more true when the local vampires started tilting strongly toward savagery. Then there'd been Jean-Claude's little clean up job, and hiding Alex after her disastrous assassination—Natasha had a lot of reasons not to draw attention to herself.

That had been true right up until she ran into Simon's ghost lingering in the alley where he'd been murdered. Natasha might not like it, but she knows when it's time to put aside what she likes and dislikes and does what's necessary. She might be able to find Simon's killer on her own. She has the skill set for it. But this is bigger than just her, and bigger than taking down one overzealous vampire.

In the end, Natasha knows that she needs the legitimacy that comes from an official investigation. Something needs to be done about Islington.

Which is why the vampire is there, and why when she walks in it's with the air that she absolutely belongs there. It's not ego. It's not even self-confidence. It's the stoic certainty of a KGB agent with news to report. She stands straight, hands folding behind her back and clasping there. "Chancellor Redbright," she says evenly. "Thank you for meeting me on such short notice. I promise I won't waste your time."

Yes, Simon's there. He can't not be. Now he knows what people mean when they talk about "restless spirits;" he doesn't need to eat or sleep or do anything to distract him from an extremely shitty street corner somewhere in London, so he's stuck pacing around and people watching at all hours of the day and night.

Maybe this is where horror movies start: with an extremely bored ghost who doesn't know what to do with himself.

When Sylvia Redbright comes to his patch of road, he perks up a bit. Of all the people who've come to pay respects since his death, his former boss wasn't one he'd thought would make the trek.

Simon manifests near the blood spot (considerably lighter, now, after all the rain they've been getting) and tries to put on a brave sort of face. "I'm here."

Lancelot sighs the sigh of a man who is not at all at ease with his current situation.

"Confirmed a lot of personal suspicions. Norrell is a paranoid hoarder who had a lot of money to burn. There's no sign of forced entry that I can see. Not in the traditional sense at least. I've been trying to trace through the house in the less traditional way but there's been a lot of magical activity here, no surprise. It seems strongest upstairs -- that's where his library was. Another labyrinth spell. I'm... not so sure if I know him well enough to judge. Was he always this paranoid or should we take it as sign he knew something?"

After all, Lancelot well knows Norrell has been in the spotlight. Is it a sort of madness brought on by the election? Or did he simply always believe himself a target? He really can't say he spent enough time with the man to say. Gesturing slightly to the staircase he begins to walk toward it and up regardless, regarding the house uneasily as he does. As if still a little unsure himself it is entirely safe to be there.