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The Society of Immortals
Confirmation With the Elders

Confirmation With the Elders

Each new incarnation makes me more and more appreciative of setting up this society. After Will fainted, I found a calender; its been six years since my last death. In my past life I only had to use the Society once; and that was to get documents for identifying myself.

Will came to as I came back into the donations room. His brown hair, and frameless glasses made the young man appear quite intelligent.

"Are you awake?" I ask him. "This must be your first time meeting one of us." I say, probing him. He simply nods. "So, I came to, in this body, about six hours ago, I waited till sundown to walk here. Can you tell me who the current government officials are?"

"The ones you would be asked about would probably be the governor, president, and vice-president." He then gave me their names, as well as the remaining time on their current terms.

"Shouldn't you be calling the elders here?" I ask him, remembering the last time I had to use one of these places, nearly eighty years ago.

"I am only allowed to call if given permission by the one who used your passphrase. There is a phone next to my post for that purpose." He checks his wrist watch, still not looking at me. "I have an hour left on my duty, the person who will be relieving me usually comes early, he should be here within the hour."

The quick movement of him bolting back to the front door surprised me, but wouldn't be out of place for the night watch. I walked back to the front following him. "Go ahead and start making your calls. I am going to need paperwork to live in this city again." He nods, and finally lets the sword out of his hand, letting it rest against his hip with the point on the floor. I then notice the chips in the wood floor, all varying in age, from where this was obviously a common practice.

I sat down in the wooden folding chair, a design I had come up with five lifetimes ago, the only time I can remember waking up, and then living for fifty two years, as a man. Will was still making phone calls when a man, I would say he was in his late forties, walked into,the room from the back of the building. He looked at me, then heard what will was saying on his calls, as he hung up; then dialed another number from memory, then repeated it again.

"I am Trevor." The new man said to me. "Since he is making those calls, I am guessing you are a Trammel?"

"I am Taylor Grace." I affirm.

"What year was your last time in this city?"

"Eighteen ninety-three, the fourth of August." I answer.

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"A little more specific than I was anticipating. Mind if I ask what had happened?"

"I was ran over by the fire brigade's carriage. It was quite painful."

This seemed to shut the man up. Since I never fully explained how my immortality worked, I could assume that he believes that it hadn't killed me, although it had, I woke up three days later in the body of a five year old, in Manhattan. The youngest I had awoken to since the death of, my friend, Pontius Pilot.

Old men and women began knocking on the door, showing symbols to Trevor to be allowed in, as Will's shift was officially over. Most of the entrants gave me a passing dismissive glance, and then walked into the meeting room upstairs.

"Miss, I shall escort you to the Elder Sanctuary." Will said to me. He had already passed the guard's sword off to Trevor, and motioned for me to go in front of him.

I stopped at the door, knowing the protocol I had designed over four thousand years ago for this very purpose.

"An Immortal requests entrance, the signs have been spoken; the elders have assembled." Will spoke at almost a shout at the closed door, while standing behind me. I felt the point of a dagger rest at the base of my skull, good, the protocols are still followed.

"Has the neck been scarred?" An elder called out. The dagger is to cut a small incision at this phrase, I feel it break the skin after a brief hesitation. At Will's gasp, I already know what he has seen. The rapid healing of a Trammel's body is much faster than normal.

"The cut has been made, there is no wound or scar." Will says ceremoniously.

"Enter." A different voice calls out. Will opens the door, and pushes me into the room ahead of himself. "William, what is the meaning of bringing your girlfriend here, while she is wearing those clothes?" The elder obviously doesn't believe him. Now its my turn.

"Elder, your procedures are to continue. The guard is not to be asked questions until the identity is confirmed of the one who used the forbidden phrase."

This rule was never to be taught to a door guard, and once they were taught this, they were no longer allowed to be a guard. Will would never be a guard again. Two women stood, each one bringing an odd shaped piece of wood in each hand. The four pieces were set on the floor in front of me, and the women took two steps back.

Without instruction, I arranged the four pieces into one of the signs I had taught the Society of Immortals when it was in its infancy.

"I'm done." I said, and the pieces were promptly picked up, and the women went back to their seats.

"Young lady, how did you find yourself here?" The rude elder asked. It was a procedural question, not one of actual curiosity. The last step to confirming a Trammel.

"The dawn of the day changes slowly through the year, until what was once light becomes twighlight, and then darkness; then back again." I sigh. "With this much you should be satisfied, right?"

The man turned to face Will, "have you taught her these things?"

"Elder, the first time I saw this Miss, she asked me to give her a name." He seemed angry at being questioned.

"Elder," I began, "this man is not of sufficient age to have been taught the things he has witnessed here. Anyone who knows these things are to never serve as a guard for the Society for this very reason. Are you admitting to me that you have been teaching these things to the young, and disobeying the orders I made to keep myself safe?"

It was at this point I realized that this incarnation was going to be a pain in the neck. I don't think I can leave the Society alone this time.