Chapter 1: The Pawn's Move

The Council Chamber was stifling, a clash of high Gothic arches and Venetian opulence that seemed at odds with the arguments echoing through the room. Around the grand oak table sat the delegates, their faces ranging from austere to utterly exasperated. Bellatrix leaned back in her chair, chin resting on her hand, the very picture of boredom. Her scarlet eyes flickered to each speaker, though she barely heard a word.

“Order! Order!” Councilor Matthias barked, his voice strained from overuse. He struck the table with his fist, and the crystal decanter at its center trembled precariously. “We cannot mediate every squabble between the Templars and the Dragon. This Council must prioritize!”

A Templar representative, a woman with a jawline sharp enough to cut glass, shot to her feet. “Prioritize? The Dragon deliberately sabotaged our operations in Bucharest! If you dismiss this—”

The Dragon operative across the table, a wiry man with a faint smirk, shrugged lazily. “If your operations weren’t so intrusive, perhaps we wouldn’t find it necessary to intervene.”

Bellatrix sighed audibly, drawing several annoyed glances. “Oh, by all means, let’s rehash this thrilling debate for the fifth time this week,” she drawled, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Who doesn’t enjoy an endless loop of blame-shifting?”

Matthias shot her a warning look, but she met it with a saccharine smile. “Bellatrix,” he said, his tone edged with reproach. “If you have nothing constructive to add—”

“Actually,” she interrupted, straightening up and clasping her hands as though inspired. “I do have a suggestion. Instead of bickering over Bucharest, why not redirect our resources to something that could affect all factions?”

“And what might that be?” asked the Templar woman, skepticism etched on her face.

Bellatrix pulled a folded document from the stack in front of her and laid it on the table. “Disappearances in Venice,” she said, her voice casual but pointed. “Six in the past two weeks. Merchants, scholars, even a tourist or two. Witnesses report eerie shadows and unnatural sounds before the victims vanish. Sound familiar?”

The Dragon operative leaned forward, his smirk faltering. “Rogue activity?”

Bellatrix shrugged, feigning indifference. “Could be. Could also be something older, something worse. Either way, it’s happening on neutral ground. That makes it our problem.”

A ripple of murmurs spread across the table. Matthias frowned, picking up the document. “Why wasn’t this brought to my attention sooner?”

“I only came across it this morning,” Bellatrix lied smoothly. “Didn’t think it worth interrupting the riveting debate until now.”

Lenore, seated at the far end of the room, shot her a sharp look but said nothing. Bellatrix could almost feel the archivist’s disapproval, but she ignored it.

The Templar woman spoke again, her tone grudgingly pragmatic. “She has a point. Neutral ground violations can’t be ignored. If this is a prelude to something larger…”

Matthias sighed, massaging his temples. “Fine. We’ll authorize an investigation. Bellatrix, since you seem so keen, you’ll lead the initial inquiry.”

Bellatrix inclined her head gracefully, hiding her satisfaction. “I’ll do my best not to disappoint.”

“See that you don’t,” Matthias said sternly. He glanced at the others. “Meeting adjourned.”

As the Councilors filed out, Lenore approached Bellatrix, arms crossed. “Venice, hmm?” she said dryly. “How convenient.”

Bellatrix slid her chair back, rising with a stretch. “What can I say? I’ve always been drawn to places with a bit of mystery.”

She turned on her heel, the echo of her boots fading as she strode toward the chamber doors. The faintest flicker of a memory tugged at the edges of her mind—Venice at twilight, laughter, and a voice calling her name—but it was gone before she could grasp it.

For now, there was work to do.