Raw Power: An Urban Fantasy Novel (Demon-Hearted Book 1) by Ambrose Ibsen Page B

took over,” he said. “It was the night of the new moon. This was to be expected. We should have locked you in the containment room, but the doctor wasn't sure whether you were stable enough to make the transfer. I guess you were. The Veiled Order will handle the legal issues; don't worry about last night. We'll need to be more careful in the future, however.”
    I didn't need him to tell me the demon had taken over. I could still remember the moment the thing had gained full control, the moment I'd leapt from the window of the hospital.
    Glancing around the room, I asked Kubo a question of my own. “What is this Veiled Order everyone keeps talking about? No one's given me a great answer, yet I get the impression that I'm on their payroll now. What's up with that? And, uh... if they're so damn important, what are they doing hanging around Detroit of all places?”
      “The Veiled Order is older than any of us can say. It has descended from secret societies throughout history, and its core members are comprised of a lineage that has ruled since times immemorial. The Order has its fingers in every pie you can imagine; every field of influence, be it government, finance, biomedical research... the list goes on. When tinfoil-hat wearing kooks talk about secret societies pulling the strings, the man behind the curtain, it ain't the Bilderberg Group or the Trilateral Commission. Not the Illuminati, either. The real manipulators, the only ones, are the members of the Veiled Order. Nothing of real import happens in this world that they don't know about. They've got their ear to the ground constantly and have such a wide network of members and associates that it gives me a headache just trying to describe it.” Smirking, he added, “And Detroit? Well, ain't it just the perfect place for all of this secret shit? No one would ever think to look in Michigan for the high-ranking members of a secret society. Think about it, Lucy.”
    I didn't really know what to say, so I didn't say anything at all. Instead, I just shifted my thighs uncomfortably, trying to get over the cold spot that plagued the front of my shorts. Didn't they have a shower in this joint? A change of clothes?
    “The mission of the Veiled Order is to protect humanity from what dwells in the Beyond. There is a veil that exists between this world and the next, and sometimes, that veil thins out, grows weak. Outsiders cross over. It's our job to beat back those outsiders and maintain the status quo. If not for us, then the species would have died out long ago.”
    This was all a little hard to believe. “OK, that's pretty cool, I guess...” If what Kubo was saying was true-- and I guess I didn't really have any reason to doubt him, aside from the sheer enormity of this disclosure and its far-reaching implications-- then every other conspiracy theory I'd read about in the past seemed quaint by comparison. The JFK assassination? The moon landing? Who could possibly give a rat's ass about those when this group was keeping demons, witches and who knew what else hidden from the public?
    “I bet you guys know a lot about conspiracies and such, eh? What about, say, Kennedy? Was it actually the guy on the grassy knoll, or...?”
    Kubo arched a brow. “Actually, Kennedy was put down by a member of our organization. He'd infiltrated the highest ranks of the US government without the public realizing he wasn't human.”
    I chortled. “What? JFK wasn't human?”
    “No. A werewolf, as a matter of fact. The bullet that took him out was forged of pure silver and thoroughly blessed.”
    “Huh.” I folded my hands in my lap and straightened out my gown a little bit. “Didn't expect that.” I looked around the room. “So, what are we doing in here? You think I might be able to shower or something?”
    “We're getting straight to work,” he replied. “When we're through with this briefing, you'll be free to go, princess. Till then, you need to stay put.”
      I grimaced.