Donna struck him as more of your average suburban woman. Tan skin, even in the middle of winter, short brown hair, light brown eyes, average height. He saw steel in her expression though, too and decided that while she could probably pass for average, she wasn't. Not that he had expected average from anyone involved in the supernatural rights movement.
He just hoped they could also be trusted.
Jasmine made quick introductions. Adriana focused in on Nikolai for a moment. "Nikolai, you're from Russia?"
"Obviously," he replied. He kept his tone friendly, but Ed sensed a bit of tension in him that hadn't been there before.
Adriana arched an eyebrow. "I thought I knew all of the powerful mages in the Russian guilds. How did you stay out of their control?"
That comment got both Jasmine and Xavier to study Nikolai in surprise.
Nikolai shrugged. "Must have slipped their notice."
Adriana arched her eyebrows at his evasive answer, but didn't continue to question him. She turned her attention to Doc.
"It's been literal years, Roy. How are you?" She sounded casual but she studied him intensely.
Ed noticed that Doc had positioned himself in a shaft of sunlight from the window, even before the mages had arrived.
"I'm doing well. How are you, Adriana?" He stayed polite, but didn't offer anything.
"Quite all right," she answered before turning to Sofia. "I hear you have a problem with the Andersons."
Sofia nodded. "I'm surprised more people don't have a problem with them. They're unpleasant."
Adriana actually smiled. Donna laughed. "Everyone has a problem with them. Unfortunately, they have a particular asset that keeps them immune to repercussions. No one can stand against their demon."
Ed glanced at Jasmine and Xavier. They traded concerned glances. He didn't know how much Victoria had already told them.
"Ash is powerful, yes, but he's not omnipotent." Nikolai shrugged. "Could be defeated. Also, he is not terribly willing, so unless the person directing him knows what to say, he finds loopholes."
Adriana and Donna's eyes widened at Nikolai's casual dismissal of Ash's abilities.
"When the Andersons first began making waves we discussed controlling them. Not one of the more powerful mages was willing to try because of the demon."
Nikolai shook his head and muttered something disparaging in Russian. Sofia's lips twitched.
"We will handle Ash," Nikolai said. "We would be happy to handle the Andersons, as well, but will get messy."
"How, exactly, do you plan to handle the demon?" Adriana sounded incredulous.
Nikolai stared at her for a moment before shaking his head again. "With magic. Yes? Is there any other way to handle demon?"
"You really think you can simply handle him?"
"Yes, of course, or I would not say it. Sofia and I can manage Ash." He stressed Ash's name. "Doc, Ed, and Allan would need help with the other mages, however."
It was Adriana's turn to shake her head. "I was under the impression that Sofia was relatively untrained, and I do not think that anyone would be willing to join a fight against the Andersons with Ash still in the picture." She also emphasized Ash's name, but her tone held derision and a hint of fear. "I was prepared to offer to help relocate you all someplace safer and out of their reach."
Ed tensed. He did not want to leave Sunnyglade and he knew the others didn't want to leave, either.
"I can see from your expressions that you don't like that idea."
"No," He answered for all of them.
"It may be the only option," Donna said. "Any overt action would gain too much public attention. Especially now as we're starting to really make progress in the courts."
"Tell that to them," Sofia grumbled. "They attacked me in the middle of downtown Sunnyglade yesterday."
Donna and Adriana shared a surprised glance. "That is quite reckless."
"It's getting annoying," Sofia growled.
"Do you happen to know what they want with you?" Donna asked.
"They wanted to turn me into a host for a great demon. Fortunately, they failed and now they're just pissed off about it." Sofia left out a lot of details.
Ed thought that might actually be wise. Adriana kept glancing at Nikolai like she wanted to dissect him.
"You think we should move," Doc interrupted. "We aren't going to. You can't help us until Ash is dealt with. What can you do if Ash is out of the picture?"
"In the unlikely event they no longer have their demon to hide behind, the Andersons have quite a few crimes that we're aware of they need to answer for. The council can step in and arrest them under some quiet rules we've worked out with the various governments of the world."
"Arrest them?" Nikolai sounded dubious. "You think you can contain them?"
"Yes." Adriana didn't elaborate.
"Interesting." Nikolai looked thoughtful.
Ed knew the Russian mage's solution was usually just to kill the enemy, but he had grown up during outright war. They didn't have the luxury of trying to contain the enemy.
"So, once we contain Ash, how do we contact you?" Nikolai asked.
Adriana and Donna shared another surprised look. "He's a demon."
"Yes, yes." Nikolai waved his hand. "We know Ash quite well. I have a plan. Assuming plan works and Ash doesn't simply kill all of the Andersons in a fit of deserved rage, how do we contact you?"
"You're planning on releasing him?"
"Of course."
Ed supposed it was safe enough to admit that. The Andersons already knew that Nikolai could release demons, so the plan wouldn't be a surprise if it got back to them.
"That knowledge is lost. We've already explored that idea. No one
