The Inner Chamber of the Ministry of Magical and Paranormal Endeavors held the offices of the many Protectors assigned to this division of the organization. Not the least of which was the large office of the Central Protector, my guardian. He called me to his office before any civilized person should be up and at work; however, Corrin knew how to push my buttons. I also knew how to push his – which is why I went back to bed and didn’t show up until after noon.

I stormed into his office, pissed off at what I knew he was about to ask of me. I had my ways of getting information before hand, her name was Greta, and what she told me set my emotions on fire – literally – and Corrin knew better than to ask me to do this. He knew my feelings on this subject better than anyone.

His large office space, with its dark navy blue walls, was confining somehow. Corrin’s desk sat square in the center of the room, and slightly back. Along three out of four walls, were the black file cabinets, trying to blend in with the dark wall color, that held every file on every Myst in the Midwest and each file cabinet held very strong wards against opening them without permission. As far as I knew, Corrin was the only person keyed to the wards, which made sense, since he probably set them himself. Force Fields were one of his specialties. I knew my file was in there somewhere but every time I asked to see it I was denied. Eventually I’d see that file, I had to see that file.

Instead I paced the floor, my long, raven black locks sweeping furiously around my face and body. I could tell my control was slipping. I could feel my ice blue eyes darkening rapidly to the shade of twilight they would end up at when I was angry. I wish I could hide my emotions better, but my eyes always tell my moods. It’s a bit infuriating at times – especially times like now.

Corrin, the “Central Protector”, sat behind his desk looking relaxed and amazingly unimpressed by show of temper. He didn’t get where he was without skills of his own – he was the Central Protector of the entire Midwest region of the United States. His control over his abilities, the amount of power he wielded, and his ability to delegate missions to the appropriate personnel, had all led to his position at the Ministry. I’ve known him my entire life – Uncle Corrin helped me when I came into my powers. He taught me control; as much as he could. Different abilities required different levels of control, but control is something that has to be learned by anyone in my position and right now, my control was pretty sketchy.

“You’re making a big deal out of nothing Brenna. You need to calm down before you set something important on fire.”

I stopped my pacing momentarily to shoot a look of contempt and astonishment at my guardian, Uncle Corrin. “I told you no, Uncle Cor!” My voice was raised, I’m sure Greta could hear me at her desk outside, “I can’t go down there!”

“Brenna Nicole Monroe! This is all a bunch of superstitious hooey. The only proof you have is what you saw become of your mother, and at a young age, I know that was hard for you. You’ve been fed this line of crap from the moment you were born and it’s just not true. Your mother was a gifted asset to the Ministry, and my baby sister to boot. She had more skill with invisibility fields than anyone listed in any of the files in these cabinets. She knew what she could do, and liked to push the envelope of her abilities. Undercover work isn’t suited for everyone, but your Mother had the gift, Bren. She never regretted any of the work she did because she was doing it for you. She knew you would be strong, she knew you would face trials even she could never face, and so she did what she could to keep you safe, and make your future work easier. You’re stronger than you even know. Besides, if you don’t calm down, your going to do something rash and you and rash don’t go well together.”

“Don’t patronize me, Cor! You know as well as anyone how I feel about that place! That place changes a person, and I had to watch what it did to my mother. She never refused the Ministry of Magical and Paranormal Endeavors when they asked her to use her skills with Invisibility to perform reconnaissance, she went down there more than anyone in the history of the Ministry, and that changed her! Spending more time down there and Invisible more than up here and solid. That special spark she had, dimmed a little more each time from the use of magic down there! I won’t let the same happen to me.”

“Okay.” As the Central Protector, he gave in, “I understand completely why you don’t want to do this and I’m not going to force you into doing something you aren’t comfortable with. But, would you at least take the file and think on it for me? It’s not a decision that needs to be made this instant.” Corrin sighed and held the manila file folder out toward her. “Take it, Brenna. Look it over and let me know by the end of the week.”

I breathed heavily, a stern look on her face, “Fine.” I placed my hand out in a ‘give it to me’ fashion and the file floated across the distance, leaving the hand of Central Protector of the Ministry of Magical and Paranormal Endeavors, “But don’t expect a miracle, Cor. I’m not going to change my mind.”

“Just think on it Bren. You really are the best person for this job. I won’t force you to do anything against your will, you know that, but at least think about it, about what’s at stake. Look within yourself, you have strength to spare.” His reassuring tone fell over me, soothing the bestial nature of my powers, then smiled, “Now, get out of her kiddo. I have work to do.”

I walked back to the door of the Central Protector’s Office, placing my hand on the doorknob I turned back to my Uncle, “You know, Uncle Cor, you are the only person in the world that can get me this riled up one minute and then calmed down the next. You better be careful who you use that one. Someone might suspect you of being an Empath and changing their emotions without notice.”

Corrin only smiled back at me. He had more secrets than anyone I knew, damned if he’d tell me any of them though. He just shooed me out of his office with a hand gesture. I left his office, shaking my head as I closed the door behind me. He gave me a lot to think about. I looked at the file in my hand, “A Lot.”

I said goodbye to Greta, my Uncle’s secretary before leaving the Ministry of Magical and Paranormal Endeavors behind me for the day.