The Coming From the Shadows Series
The Newcastle Conspiracy: Part 1
Background:
Since Ancient times; the Imperium has operated as a unifying voice for the various Cultist groups; each seeking out their own goals, the Imperium allowed a greater cohesion between the different Cults, and prevented them from fighting one another – Cultists movements would spread, taking advantage of the Persian Empire during their invasions of Greece – moving their influences East – while to the West, they struggled, they had to follow the Greek Colonial settlements along the Italian peninsula – but anything further inland of Western Europe would be hindered until the rise of Rome – with Roman influence stretching from its Republic to the eventual Empire, the Imperium spread its influence, growing through internal systems of governance, operating through shadows – the Imperium had become a puppet-master.
The Imperium’s control would eventually explode in 1819 following the events of Peterloo in Britain centuries later from the days of Rome; the British Empire amplified the Imperium’s reach; no longer was Europe and Asia their only lands of influence – they had a global reach, the New World across the Atlantic and the modernisation of industry and technologies which allowed to explore deeper into the heart of Africa – with the Imperium came Greed – a hunger for power.
Amongst the more powerful voices; the Cult of the Minotaur stood out differently – run by George Smythe, a powerful Businessman that used his Families Wealth and Influence to not only influence smaller Cultist groups, but the Criminal elements that grew with poverty and the imbalance of power between the Rich and Poor.
Introduction:
15th of March, 1910 A.D.
Newcastle, England
The air in Newcastle felt much heavier for Norina – turning her cheeks the colour of overripe cherries; she huddled deeper into a market stall, the smell of ripe fruit and fish was sharp against her scenes; she could feel a prickling along her neck.
She had been close; almost within reach of the information to help Cathryn – her adoptive mother – now though; she found herself trying to evade unwanted attention.
Every step echoed along the pavement, amplifying her rising panic; her heart beating against her chest; she risked a glance over her shoulder; three…, no…, four men, they were emboldened by drink and the thrill of the chase; they were gaining,
The leers were as tangible as the chill wind through the narrow street.
Desperate; Norina turned down an alleyway; the stench of refuse and urine hit her full force, crinkling her nose as she glanced about; it sunk it quickly – a dead end, she was trapped.
Chapter 1
Whickham, Tyne and Wear
Early that day; the morning had been a promise of something fresh; the Whickham safehouse, a cramped and unassuming dwelling above a shop felt strangely like home – it had been awhile since they had been stuck in one place for a long period of time, though Lydia and Elizabeth were absent.
Elizabeth and Lydia were the Nineteen Year old twin daughters of the woman presently looking over some documents on the table; Cathryn Langdon.
Cathryn was Norina’s adoptive mother – she had rescued Norina alongside her younger twin daughter; Lydia after the two of them discovered the burning Fiorito Vineyard – Norina’s family had been wiped out, she had been the only survivor.
Cathryn had a history of fighting, she had led the growth of an Anti-Cultist movement in London, inspired a Chinese National that she encountered who would go on to build his own movement in his homeland, she influence smaller groups to rise up in Spain and Belgium – she had proven to be quite the leader, in 1908; Elizabeth had finally reunified with her mother after years of loyalty to her father; George Smythe – Norina was confused during her first interaction with Elizabeth – unlike Lydia; who Norina shared a twin-like appearance too – both of them sharing long raven-dark hair and silvery grey eyes, traits Lydia herself inherited from her mother; Cathryn – Elizabeth was the polar opposite, and not only her appearance – Elizabeth who had long blonde hair with icy-blue eyes was also a much more volatile presence due to her father’s influence – Norina had grown accustom to the more reserved attitudes of Cathryn and Lydia – but Elizabeth, she fluctuated regularly making it difficult to get a grasp of what she was really like.
Norina watched her adoptive mother carefully “Cathryn” she ventured; her voice barely a whisper
“Hmm?” Cathryn shifted her gaze towards Norina “What is it love?”, Cathryn’s silvery-grey eyes softened as she looked at Norina
“I…, want to do me” Norina started “Like Lydia; and that Britannico saldato are doing Glasgow; they and Elizabeth could be facing chissà cosa; I want to be more helpful” Norina’s words just tumbled out in a rush; fuelled by a mixture of her guilt and a desperate desire to begin proving herself, she had been with Cathryn and Lydia for four years; she was now eighteen-years old, and so far, her only contribution had been map-reading and gathering information on ancient relics – she had been the families most vulnerable target since joining them, and she just felt she had not really earned her place
Cathryn watched her carefully; she studied her for a long moment; she knew what Norina was thinking “On my dear; you are” she said softly “Your are helping Norina, just be being here; being safe; it is enough”
“I don’t credo di si” Norina said looking down “Lydia and Elizabeth risk their lives; I do nothing”
“Norina; you do help, your remarkably skilled in places your sisters aren’t” Cathryn watches her; Norina mostly perked her head up in response to ‘sisters’, it brought a smile to Cathryn’s face “If you think that because you aren’t related to me by blood that some how makes you a liability, or a burden; you are wrong” shifting her position, Cathryn approached and sat down in front of her “Your my girl; and I don’t want you risking yourself to try proving yourself”
“I would still like to help though” Norina says locking her eyes with Cathryn’s
“Alright; there is meant to be a Cultist Informant meeting with someone in the market; it could help us if we could get an understanding on what they are discussing” gesturing, Cathryn indicated towards the documents “I was going to go; but, as you see, I have all that to work on…, so…” Cathryn looked at Norina carefully
Norina’s heart leaped “I can do that” she smiled brightly
Cathryn looked carefully; reaching her hand and gently stroking her face “Before you do anything, or go anywhere, you must promise me; if you feel threatened, sense any danger; you abandon what your doing and you come back here immediately, your safety is my primary concern Norina; do you understand?; even if it puts this safehouse at risk; you come back”
Norina nodded “I understand” she smiled “I promise”
Cathryn’s eyes held her’s for a long moment, searching for any hint of hesitation – finding none, she offered a small smile “Alright the; be careful little flower”
Chapter 2
Newcastle, England
The Newcastle market was a cacophony of sights, sounds and smells; Norina, armed only with a description of who she is searching for navigated the throngs of people with a growing sense of unease – the faces around her were hardened, wary and there were some she notices that bore the marks of the city’s underbelly.
Finally though; she spotted who she was tasked to find; standing by a fruit stall, a stout man with a greasy apron and shifty eyes was at present, deep in conversation with another man – this second man, whose head was shaved with an intricate two-pronged tattoo marked from the front to the back of his head, wearing a customised jacket with an attached hood and an added length reaching just below his waist, a sign of hiding something from view – on the arm was a patch with a strange emblem – it marked him out as a Cultist – it’s addition on a Minotaur-like shape within the symbol on his patch indicated to his loyalty amongst the Cult of the Minotaur specifically.
Norina edged closer, feigning interest in a basket of bruised apples.
“…there has been an increase in activity in the Port of Tyne” the informant told the Cultist; his voice was low and gravelly “There are more shipments coming in, more men have been hired; something big is being planned, but, I can’t get the information you need to counter what is going on, you may need to just take a risk”
The Cultist grunted in response; shifting his eyes about for a moment “What of Cathryn; has she been sighted with these men intending to interfere with our operations?”
“No.., no signs of Cathryn or her daughters” the Informant said “But, then again; we haven’t seen that Xian either; so, perhaps they could be operating from the shadows like they usually do to try stopping you”
Slowly the Cultist nodded “More than likely; we need to reorganise if we want to bend Newcastle to the Imperium’s will”
Norina tilted her head a moment; she wasn’t aware of any anti-cultist activity taking place under Cathryn’s organisation or even Xian; they’d only recently set up at the safehouse – that would surely indicate someone else has started getting involved – she thought carefully – the Cultist and his informant seemed to begin talking with more mundane topics – the shift indicating they’d been disrupted by something…, or someone – shifting her gaze, Norina looked to see the Cultists eyes in her direction.
For a fleeting moment their eyes locked – he was frowning as he looked towards Norina.
Panic though, seized Noria; turning abruptly, she moved, pretending to examine a pile of oranges; she knew been seen, she needed to move and quickly.
As Norina hurried away; she felt the weight of unwanted attention; a chorus of whistles and crude remarks followed her; she ignored them, focusing on her escape, but the voices grew louder; more insistent, she could feel their eyes on her – appraising, predatory.
The group of men began to approach; smiling and calling out for her – her fear lent her speed, she pushed through the crowded stalls; her breathing came in ragged breaths, spotting a nearby alley, she darted towards it hoping to lose her pursers.
Chapter 3
The alley turned out to be a trap; leading Norina to a dead end – she realised just what she had done, turning, she came to realise the four men that had followed her were now blocking her only way out; their faces flushed with drink and lust “Look what we ‘ave here lads” one of them sneered; a voice thick with an alcoholic drawl
Norina backed up trying to create as much distance as she could; her heart pounding she tried to speak, to reason; but the English words caught – in her desperation she had reverted to her native Italian “Per favore lasciatemi stare!, non voglio problem”
Her plea them only seemed to embolden them; they exchanged glances – their smiles widened with cruel amusement “She sounds foreign” someone said, the group stepping closer to her “Maybe she don’t speak English eh; all the better for us” another shouted with cruel excitement
Just when Norina thought the worst was about to happen – a voice, American by accent – cool, clear almost detached – it cut though the oppressive atmosphere of the alleyway “I highly advise against this course of action; I suggest you find somewhere else to entertain yourselves”
The men froze; their attention turning to the entrance of the alleyway – a woman stood there; she was bathed in pale sunlight, she was slender with long black hair that cascaded like a waterfall along her back, it stood direct contrast to her pale complexion and deceptively angelic-features – she just exuded something unsettling, something that caused the men to shift uneasily.
Two of them actually took a step back; there was just something about the woman, she seemed almost ghostly; ethereal – like she wasn’t real.
“Who do you think you are interfering!” one of them challenged, trying to regain his bravado
The woman’s eyes; emerald-green flickered towards him with a chilling disinterest “I’m someone who finds your type to be nothing more than an irritation” as she spoke, her voice maintained that same detachment; she slowly turned her head, her gaze settling on Norina – her lips twisted up into a terrifyingly beautiful smile “Come to me my Little Dove” she said; her tone adopting a gentle, almost silken purr
The voice; the nickname – recognition flooded Norina’s mind; Erin – It was Erin, she remembered Erin fondly from their last interaction; Erin had become Norina’s safety net during their previous encounter, without any hesitation she surged forwards quickly, desperate to escape the men leering at her, she rushed to Erin – a place of safety.
Erin caught her easily; wrapping her arm protectively around her, the contact sent a shiver through Norina; a strange mix of relief and something else…, something akin to…, longing.
Erin squeeze her gently “Are you alright my little dove” she asked, her tone gentle; soft and concerned, though before Norina could answer; the men, unnerved by Erin’s presence and the eerie presence she exuded caused them to disperse
“Crazy bitch” one of the muttered as he hurried away; though, Erin simply ignored him
Erin’s attention was only on Norina as she maintained her smile at her “Let’s get you out of here”
Chapter 4
Erin steered Norina out from the alley and back into the bustling street; the noise and the crowd were an overwhelming experience after the claustrophobic confines of the alleyway; but, Norina felt safe being by Erin’s side “What were you doing alone?” Erin asked, her voice soft, gentle
Norina began to string together coherent sentences alternating between English and Italian, her words simply tumbling out “Elizabeth…, Lydia…, Glasgow…, Information…, Market…”
Erin listened patiently; her brow furrowed in concern “Lydia has gone to Glasgow?” she asked, clarifying
Norina nodded frantically “Si, Si; they went to meet an informant to get informazioni; I was doing same here at markets”
Erin nodded slowly “And Cathryn?”
“Safehouse” Norina replied, her relief flooding as she managed to communicate “Cathryn is at the safehouse”
Erin smiled; Norina had grown accustom to the terrifying smile that had become a signature of Erin’s feature, to Norina, it was no longer that terrifying – it just seemed more beautiful to Norina, making her heart skip-a-beat “Let’s get you back then, hm?” she said with a purr
Erin held her hand out; her palm upturned in invitation.
Norina didn’t hesitate in reaching for her hand and intertwining her fingers with Erin’s; Erin’s hand felt warm – she could feel the soft curve of her fingers.
The two of them continued to walk; taking little notice of eyes that seemed to follow them with looks of confusion from some observers; they just focused on returning to the safehouse.
Written By: Westley H.
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