Author’s Note: This takes place after the events of Mythos, Book One. If you haven’t completed that story, you may want to wait before reading this, as it’s part of the lead-up to Mythos, Book Two.
The following is a transcript from the November 12th broadcast of “The Hennessy Report”, a nightly political talk show.
Good evening, America, and welcome back to the show. I’m telling you, folks, the absolute lunacy coming out of Washington these days is enough to make a patriot’s blood boil! I’m talking, of course, about this new version of DEI; the so-called “Supernatural Integration Initiative.”
When did we decide that our streets, our schools, and our jobs should be open season for things that belong in dusty old folklore books? How long before Vampires demand special, tax-exempt night hours? Why are they somehow considered a protected minority? Protected! The rest of us work dawn to dusk, but they get to float in and out of the tax system like a bat out of… well, you get it.
What about these so-called “human” Mages? They’re not assimilating, they’re taking over! Try to run a small business when half your payroll has an “arcane protection” clause. They’re demanding “Mystical Sensitivity Training”’ in the workplace and using their magical shortcuts to undercut honest, hardworking human Americans for high-skilled jobs. It’s a disgrace to the free market!
This isn’t diversity, folks, this is madness! This is what happens when you let the coastal elites, the progressive professors, and the government bureaucrats dictate your reality. They tell you to accept the “new normal,” but the new normal is a world where an honest, God-fearing citizen is treated like a second-class schmuck while a six-hundred-year-old bloodsucker gets special parking!
Let’s look back to how this all started: the horrific supernatural attacks in Baltimore a few years ago. As if that rat-infested stronghold of wokeness wasn’t corrupting the country enough, now it’s become the epicentre of all things corrupting the moral fabric of American society. What was once called “Charm City” is now nothing more than a sanctuary city for the creatures – and yes, they are non-human creatures – who threaten our very way of life.
Nation, we need to close the dimensional borders, enforce a one-species-one-law policy, and put the “supernatural” back where it belongs: in the shadows, not on the front page demanding a seat at the dinner table. Wake up, America! Before your neighbour asks to borrow a cup of your plasma!
The trio watched the TV in silent frustration for a few moments, but it wasn’t long before the quiet between them was broken.
By Tara, of course.
“This mother fucker,” she stated, eloquently.
“Yeah,” sighed Becki, idly perched on the arm of the sofa nearby, “he’s made a hard pivot into anti-supernatural rhetoric ever since… you know, that whole thing with the demons flying over the city.”
Lisa gave a sidelong glace to Becki, eyebrow raised. “Don’t you host a demon?”
Becki scowled, crossing her arms as she spared a little look down to the sleeping Sitri. “That’s different. It’s not like we’re evil about it.”
Tara was still staring at the man on the television, gesturing wildly as if she were trying to cut him off. “This bad, though! People have been pretty good about acceptin’ that magic exists, but he’s tryin’ to start shit!”
“To be fair,” Lisa offered, “I think his reaction is a lot more expected than how society has just kinda… went along with it.”
“It’s not like this guy is even doing anything,” interjected Becki, reaching out to try to calm Tara, “it’s just some whackjob conspiracy theorist that only other whackjobs listen to. It’s nothing to get worked up over.”
Tara growled, her fingers wrapping instinctively around her pendant. “Whatever. Lisa, do you know if Sylvia is workin’ on a way to like… counter this asshole?”
“Not this specific asshole, but yeah. She’s been doing doing PR for almost a century, I’m pretty sure she can figure something out.”
“I sure hope so,” mumbled Tara, turning away from the screen to stomp her way out of the room, “I need to get a drink.”
Once Tara had vacated, Becki turned her full attention to Lisa.
“I take it nobody has heard from Ky lately, then?”
Lisa looked down at the floor, grimacing. “Tara being more on edge than usual gave it away, huh?”
Frowning at Lisa’s answer, Becki looked back to the broadcast for a few more moments before snatching up the remote and switching off the TV.