Late this evening, an Inner Circle meeting was called to order in the bowels of the Club so that Erik could speak. This is what he had to say.

“Rather than waste your time with a detailed explanation or a list of excuses, I will be quick and to the point. I have organized this meeting to inform you that I am retiring from the Circle.

Many of you were here before I was. Some of you, I recruited personally. Most of you should have received more personal attention than you did, in the end. For that, I am sorry.

But I am not sorry for leaving.

You were recruited to this organization to improve it, and to be improved by it. I came for power in a time of weakness. My interests and intentions may sometime coincide with yours, but they are not parallel. You achieve your goals through deception. I prefer destruction. You manipulate people. I murder them.

I may have had some role in moderating the aftermath of Sebastian’s demise, and in recruiting, but I have been hands off overall. Those I have recruited owe their personal successes and advancements to Percival, Adel, and Emma. It is to them that you should be grateful. They should have your loyalty. I brought you here and lost interest. I do not have political contacts, nor do I know anyone in show business. I do not know who you should speak with, or how, or why. I was a teacher. I am now a terrorist. My talents lie elsewhere.

Should you encounter some great need for my presence nonetheless, I may be contacted through Emma, or Bahir. Despite my recent amnesty, I would not recommend that you approach me on the street, either. Not unless you are interested in having your personal life infested with prying government officials.

That is all there is to say. I trust that you will all survive without me. If not, I will send flowers. Have a good evening."