“It killed two of our people and three civilians.” She takes a trembling breath before continuing.

“That's when they started their attack from the front. They barged in and over the dead bodies and began their onslaught.” She pauses, her eyes becoming unfocused for a moment before she shakes her head slightly.

“That's when Dolph came.” She smiles sorrowfully at the memory.

“He shifted straight away into his black bear and tore through them, throwing them and ripping the smaller shifters apart easily.” An avenging tilt forms on her lips.

A bear. Good ole sturdy bears. A small smile starts to creep its way onto my face.

But I quickly adjust my expression and continue listening.

“He told me to get whoever I could to the Vault. That the area is spelled and should be able to protect those left in the Library. He said he’d hold them off and follow, but the last thing I saw while I was making my way to the basement floor was him forced down by black smoke. Black murky spikes were ripping through his large paws…I fought to get to him, but I was pulled into the Vault area by the moving group trying to get away from the attacks. The walls started glowing, markings appeared, and before we knew it…we were in your basement.” She begins to sniffle.

“The last thing I heard as we moved was Dolph's loud agonizing roar…” She lets out a shaky breath. She takes a minute to compose herself before continuing.

“They also attacked all the protection artifacts and communication sources around the Library first…like they already knew where they were.” She furrows her brows at this.

“Is there anything else you can remember about them? Like what types of supes they were or what they looked like?” I ask, hoping for something more solid.

“There was so much going on. So much fighting, explosions from multiple places in the Library, people screaming. The Library was falling apart…I…They were horrible-looking beasts. I’m not sure what they were, though.” She shudders at the memory.

“And some smaller shifters too. I think maybe coyotes or jackals. And definitely black mages or necromancers. I’m sure that’s who had Dolph.” At this, murmurs and whispers ring out around the room.

I look at Isaac as he stares at Aileen, his eyes glossing over for just a moment before he turns away slightly.

Black smoke does sound like a necromancer trait, with Isaac himself having the ability.

He had never met another necromancer before, and now it looks like we’ll have to face off against them.

But I needed something more. Maybe if we knew more, we could figure out who they were or why they were attacking us now.

“Did they mention any names…or talk in a different language?”

At this, she scrunched her brows, then opened them slightly, remembering something.

“It's strange, but I think they called themselves the Interitus. I heard one beast shouting from the mid-level floor while fighting Jamie, a warlock, and one of our staff.” She looks at a dark-haired man, injured and laying in the arms of a small petite blonde.