Ring, ring.
The bronze bells hanging beneath the upturned eaves finally clinked against one another, but not a breath of wind stirred in the side courtyard where the four of them were drinking tea.
A palpable murderous aura rolled outward from James in wave after wave. The bronze bells at the courtyard's four corners rang frantically for a moment.
Emma reached out and rested a hand on James's forearm, giving it a gentle shake.
"Mr. Howlett, you don't have to do this."
After hearing James's words, the Ancient One's hand, holding a dark tea cup, paused for just a moment. Then she continued drinking without reacting at all. Only after she slowly lowered the cup did she speak again, her tone still calm.
The terrifying aura vanished in an instant, and the small courtyard beside the Sanctum Sanctorum returned to its quiet. James's lips curled slightly as he braced his hands against his crossed legs and asked quite naturally,
"You don't believe me?"
"No, I do."
The Sorcerer Supreme took a small wooden folding fan from her sleeve and idly toyed with it as she continued,
"You're not an evil man, Mr. Howlett, but you can hardly be called a good one either. More and more people have taken to calling you things like the 'Wolf Emperor' or 'Romulus.' You're willing to do whatever it takes to achieve your goals. Yes, you are."
Laura's big black eyes darted back and forth. She wanted to burrow into the Ancient One's arms like she had when she was little, but she had grown up into a rather tall young woman.
She squirmed a few times before the Sorcerer Supreme lightly tapped her on the head with the little fan. Laura promptly settled down, wrapped her arms around the woman's arm, and stopped