Chapter 712: The Black Circle

Jarek was quiet for a long moment. The fire crackled in the hearth, casting shadows that danced across the walls. Somewhere in the back of the house, Tarin and Maya had stopped their chasing and were now giggling about something else entirely.

Tobias waited for Jarek to speak.

Sam shifted beside him but said nothing.

Finally, Jarek spoke.

"I know it is not my place to ask," he said carefully.

Tobias waved him off. "Given how I came to you, I must say it’s your place to ask. You can ask whatever you want to ask, Jarek. No need to be so formal with me."

Jarek doubted there was any way he wouldn’t be formal with Tobias, but he nodded either way.

He swallowed and then said softly, "Um... why do you want to know about them?"

"Were you in the square when Sophia told everyone about the war?" Tobias asked instead of answering.

Jarek nodded. "Yes."

"That is the reason why I want to know. Sophia told us of a war, one we cannot avoid, and we need to be prepared for the inevitable."

He paused, his voice dropping slightly.

"And honestly, I know some information about them, but for some reason, I cannot seem to recall their name or if there is more to them than I already know."

He met Jarek’s gaze.

"I need to know if you have any idea who these people are. Their names. Anything that could help us at all. Perhaps it was information in the black market that you may have heard and I haven’t?"

Jarek swallowed. His fingers drummed once against the table, then stilled.

"This faction is quite dangerous," he said.

Tobias nodded. "We know that, Jarek."

"I do not think you understand how dangerous I’m speaking of," Jarek said quietly.

"Honestly, anyone involved in black magic is quite dangerous. That is not information we do not know about," Tobias told him.

Jarek was quiet again for a moment. Then he exhaled slowly.

"That is actually true," he said.

He was quiet again and then he spoke up.

"From what I remember... they refer to themselves as the Black Circle."

Tobias’s eyes sharpened, and even Sam leaned forward slightly.

Jarek continued.

"It is a faction that has existed for a while now. Perhaps even before any of us were born. They have elders in the faction too—people who hold power, who make decisions, who have been practicing their craft for decades."

"Elders?" Sam asked.

Jarek nodded. "Yes, but I’m sorry, I do not know their names. No one does, I think. But I did hear that one of them belonged to the Duskveil Pack, though that was just a rumor. I have no idea if that is actually true."

Tobias exchanged a glance with Sam.

"Anything about the Black Circle is kept quiet," Jarek continued, "because of how dangerous it is. They do not want people knowing about them. They do not want people asking questions."

Sam frowned. "I’m a bit confused. According to what Tobias told me, these people always mind their business. They keep to themselves, right?"

Jarek shook his head slowly.

"That is what they want people to believe."

The room felt colder.

"Most of the time, yes, they mind their business," Jarek said. "But not all the time. Especially when they want to perform their rituals."

Sam’s frown deepened.

"A person who has no business with them can still become involved," Jarek continued. "Children. Animals. Anyone at all. That is how their rituals work. They take what they need, and they do not ask for permission."

He paused, letting the weight of his words settle.

"And they do it quietly. So quietly that most people do not even know it is happening until it is too late."

Tobias’s jaw tightened.

"And honestly, the Enclave should have tried to find these people. They should have tried to root them out. But nothing has been done," Jarek said bitterly. "Instead, they focus their attention on getting rid of rogues whom they made rogues."

He shook his head as his voice dropped further. "And, um... well, another reason this actually happened is likely because the Enclave is, well... the Enclave."

There was silence for a while, and then Tobias spoke again.

"What work are you involved in here? In the pack?"

Jarek blinked at the shift in topic. "I have not actually joined anything. I am mostly in charge of the children. Making sure they eat, making sure they sleep, keeping them out of trouble."

Tobias nodded slowly. "The children could learn from Philip. He teaches the young ones in the pack."

Jarek tilted his head in thought. "Will they be..."

"They’ll be accepted, Jarek. Don’t focus on that," Sam said.

"Anyways, I asked that question because I want you to work with me again," Tobias said. "What do you think about that?"

Jarek stared at him, his eyes wide. "R-Really?" he asked.

Tobias nodded. "Yes. It’s not work we did in the black market... the black market hasn’t been reestablished, and after what is going on, we have no time to be focused on that right now. The work I want you to do will not be easy. I can guarantee you that."

Jarek was quiet for a moment. Then a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"It will be my pleasure," he said.

---

Meanwhile, at the office, Orion and Sophia arrived to find Ronan already waiting.

He was leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed, his expression caught somewhere between boredom and impatience. When he saw them approaching, he pushed himself upright.

"Finally," he said. "I’ve been waiting for you both for a while."

Sophia smiled at him, then turned to Orion.

"I have to leave you here. I’m going to meet with Madam Tyler," she said.

Orion opened his mouth to argue—she could see it in the way his jaw shifted, the way his eyes narrowed slightly.

But before he could speak, she stood on her tiptoes and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek.

"Don’t miss me too much," she said.

Orion blinked. Then he chuckled at that.

She turned to Ronan then.

"I’ll see you later."

Ronan waved. "Preferably without my brother."

Sophia chuckled at that as she walked away.