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Chapter 7      Seattle, Washington, 2004
~Isaac~
We didn't go anywhere until the next evening, when we left to infiltrate the second necromancer, Mr. Malacqua's, party. Lori had informed me we had to look nice, and I was wearing the dressiest thing I owned, black cargo pants and a dark green shirt, both of which Holly had bought me.
I grinned to myself when I saw what they considered 'dressing up'. They looked exactly like you would expect vampires in some old indie film to look, but they each took it in a different direction.
Callum was wearing black jeans, combat boots, and a leather jacket. His black T-shirt was tight, showing off his muscles, and as he stood by the door waiting for the other two, he kept flexing unconsciously, grinding his teeth. Holly was one step short of clubbing, in a plaid skirt, black tank top, and similar combat boots to Callum's.
Lori looked straight out of Dracula, in a long black dress edged with lace, her hair done up in some old fashioned bun. I wondered if she dressed like that when she was alive.
Once we were all together, we left quickly, taking the bus to a huge old house that was surprisingly close. I was going to ask why they didn't own a car, but when I opened my mouth I saw Callum glaring at me angrily and decided it would be wiser not to bring it up. I knew when not to get on the bad side of people like him.
The house was huge, standing alone at the top of a hill. So close to a mansion, in fact, that there was a guard standing at the door and a long walkway lined with white Christmas lights up the pathway.
"Who are you?" the guard asked gruffly. He didn't look unfriendly, just as if he were doing his duty as quickly as possible.
"We're here to attend Mr. Malacqua's party." Lori told him confidently, waving her forged invitation at him.
"Why are you invited?" It sounded like he had learned his words by heart.
"Pardon?"
"What relation are you to him?" He clarified
"We have business dealings." Of a sort.
"Very well, you may enter." He stepped aside and let us pass.
We split up, Holly and Callum going to wait in a deserted corner near the door.
Lori and I milled around, waiting for the time to create a diversion. Lori had pointed out who Mr. Malacqua was, and I could see him in the corner, laughing and talking with his guests. He looked much nicer than Mr. Strauss. I wandered over to the food table, suddenly realizing how hungry I was. There was still very little food at the vampires' house.
I felt myself stumble as I got closer though, my right foot catching on my left. Flailing for control, I grabbed the table cloth, realizing a second too late why that was a bad idea. The punch bowl tumbled down on me as I hit my chin on the floor, biting my tongue. When I looked up, Mr. Malacqua was standing under me. I froze, panicking. Don't hit me. I thought, unable to move. I had no idea what he could do to me, but it had to be bad.
"Sorry." I mumbled.  "I'm really, really sorry."
The necromancer looked at me for a moment, and then burst out laughing. I took a shallow breath, regaining some calm. "It's fine, here give me a second!" he paused, then muttered something in Latin. Waving his hand, all the food flew back into place. Another wave cleaned my clothes.
"I'm very sorry," Lori said, as I pulled myself up, apologizing as well.
"No, really, it's fine. I needed a good laugh."
He looked away from me, staring at Lori. "Have we met?"
"If we have, I do not remember it." Lori said smoothly. "We are friends of one of your associates. I haven't seen him here though."
"Hmm…" he paused. "What's his name? I'd think he would have mentioned you two before."
I frowned, knowing this could end badly. Just as Lori opened her mouth though, someone called, "Robert, you simply must see this! It's amazing."
"Yes Valerie, I'm coming!" He called back, before hurrying off after the voice.
"Let's go,"  Lori whispered. "Before he asks anymore questions. When he realizes we don't actually know him, there'll be hell to pay." We hurried from the room, around to the back of the house. I followed Lori's lead, sitting on the ground to wait for Holly and Callum.
"I've forgotten how slow mortals are." She muttered.
"Sorry."
"It's fine." She said, leaning back against the tree.

~Holly~
I was watching Isaac and Lori intently, waiting for a moment when no one, Mr. Malacqua especially, was looking our way. I must have looked away for a second, because when I looked back Isaac was on the ground, things scattered around him.
"Jesus." I muttered. "When I said 'knock something over' I didn't mean the whole table."
"Fucking klutz." Callum hissed back. "I knew this was a bad idea."
"C'mon." I said. "Lori can deal with it."
"You don't think he'll do something to her?" His eyes were on the necromancer now, who was staring down at Isaac in shock.
"She'll deal." I tugged on his elbow, just as the necromancer began to laugh. "See, it's fine."

The mansion was huge, and it took us several tries to find any room with magical artifacts.
As I looked into a broom cupboard (who actually had broom cupboards anymore?) I heard Callum speak from behind me. "Holly, I think I've hit gold."
I turned, climbing under his arm to the room he had just opened. "Whoa." It wasn't large, but all four walls were covered with shelves. Many of them were filled with glass figurines, but just as many held books or ornately painted boxes.
"How the hell are we supposed to find the right orb?" Callum asked, following me as I entered. He froze as he passed through the door. "Security spells." He hissed angrily.
I paused, then answered, "It's too late now; I'm already in the room. Let's find this thing and get out."
I pulled the sketch Lori had made for us out of my pocket, staring at it. "Ok, it's round and wispy looking."
"Gee, because I couldn't have figured that one out on my own." Callum was pacing along the shelves. "Got anything a little more helpful?"
I stuck my tongue out at him and passed him the picture, walking along the shelves on the other side of the room. The glint of something shiny caught my eye. I turned, seeing a plaster hand with a ring on every finger, shoved to the back of a shelf. Pretty I thought, reaching forward to grab a large gold one with a blood red ruby set in the middle. As it parted company with the hand, an electric shock ran through me, and it was all I could do to stay standing. I twitched, shaking uncontrollably.
"You ok?" Callum's hushed voice cut through the buzzing noise in my head.
"Fine," I gasped out, taking a deep breath. "Fine." I dropped the ring. "But I don't think I'm taking that one." As I leaned back to grab a different ring, this one a silver snake, I paused, staring at the orb we had come to get. "Found it." It was beautiful, made out of spun glass that had just a hint of blue to it. It was placed on a base of silver leaves. It was delicate, and exactly the right size to sit in the palm of your hand.
"Brilliant." He breathed, coming to stand behind me. "It is sort of wispy looking."
I slid the ring on my finger and picked the orb up. "It's really pretty. Let's go."
Callum leaned over, opening the old-fashioned shutter window, jumping out. "C'mon." I heard him say from below. I was about to jump when I saw a small obsidian statue of a giraffe. I grabbed it, stuffing it in my pocket and following him.

I landed on the ground without jarring myself, looking around for Lori and Isaac. They were several windows down, under a large tree. They hurried to meet us, and I handed the orb to Isaac, whose hands were closest, before taking a running leap and returning to the window ledge so I could close the window.
When I dropped back down, they still hadn't moved. "Go," I hissed. "Go! He had a bunch of security spells, we've only got so much time."
"Do you want the orb back?" Isaac asked tentatively, holding it out to me. "I'm, er-"
"No, let's just go. Come on."
I turned away, hearing him mutter, "All right…"
"Let's go," snapped Callum. "This place gives me the creeps."
We ran as quickly as we could towards to edge of the grounds, although Isaac slowed us down considerably. I was just about ready to throw him over my shoulder and carry him when he tripped on a tree branch or his own feet or something and fell. The orb flew out of his hand and shattered against the ground.
We all froze.

Description
Chapter 7      Seattle, Washington, 2004
~Isaac~
We didn't go anywhere until the next evening, when we left to infiltrate the second necromancer, Mr. Malacqua's, party. Lori had informed me we had to look nice, and I was wearing the dressiest thing I owned, black cargo pants and a dark green shirt, both of which Holly had bought me.
I grinned to myself when I saw what they considered 'dressing up'. They looked exactly like you would expect vampires in some old indie film to look, but they each took it in a different direction.
Callum was wearing black jeans, combat boots, and a leather jacket. His black T-shirt was tight, showing off his muscles, and as he stood by the door waiting for the other two, he kept flexing unconsciously, grinding his teeth. Holly was one step short of clubbing, in a plaid skirt, black tank top, and similar combat boots to Callum's.
Lori looked straight out of Dracula, in a long black dress edged with lace, her hair done up in some old fashioned bun. I wondered if she dressed like that when she was alive.
Once we were all together, we left quickly, taking the bus to a huge old house that was surprisingly close. I was going to ask why they didn't own a car, but when I opened my mouth I saw Callum glaring at me angrily and decided it would be wiser not to bring it up. I knew when not to get on the bad side of people like him.
The house was huge, standing alone at the top of a hill. So close to a mansion, in fact, that there was a guard standing at the door and a long walkway lined with white Christmas lights up the pathway.
"Who are you?" the guard asked gruffly. He didn't look unfriendly, just as if he were doing his duty as quickly as possible.
"We're here to attend Mr. Malacqua's party." Lori told him confidently, waving her forged invitation at him.
"Why are you invited?" It sounded like he had learned his words by heart.
"Pardon?"
"What relation are you to him?" He clarified
"We have business dealings." Of a sort.
"Very well, you may enter." He stepped aside and let us pass.
We split up, Holly and Callum going to wait in a deserted corner near the door.
Lori and I milled around, waiting for the time to create a diversion. Lori had pointed out who Mr. Malacqua was, and I could see him in the corner, laughing and talking with his guests. He looked much nicer than Mr. Strauss. I wandered over to the food table, suddenly realizing how hungry I was. There was still very little food at the vampires' house.
I felt myself stumble as I got closer though, my right foot catching on my left. Flailing for control, I grabbed the table cloth, realizing a second too late why that was a bad idea. The punch bowl tumbled down on me as I hit my chin on the floor, biting my tongue. When I looked up, Mr. Malacqua was standing under me. I froze, panicking. Don't hit me. I thought, unable to move. I had no idea what he could do to me, but it had to be bad.
"Sorry." I mumbled.  "I'm really, really sorry."
The necromancer looked at me for a moment, and then burst out laughing. I took a shallow breath, regaining some calm. "It's fine, here give me a second!" he paused, then muttered something in Latin. Waving his hand, all the food flew back into place. Another wave cleaned my clothes.
"I'm very sorry," Lori said, as I pulled myself up, apologizing as well.
"No, really, it's fine. I needed a good laugh."
He looked away from me, staring at Lori. "Have we met?"
"If we have, I do not remember it." Lori said smoothly. "We are friends of one of your associates. I haven't seen him here though."
"Hmm…" he paused. "What's his name? I'd think he would have mentioned you two before."
I frowned, knowing this could end badly. Just as Lori opened her mouth though, someone called, "Robert, you simply must see this! It's amazing."
"Yes Valerie, I'm coming!" He called back, before hurrying off after the voice.
"Let's go,"  Lori whispered. "Before he asks anymore questions. When he realizes we don't actually know him, there'll be hell to pay." We hurried from the room, around to the back of the house. I followed Lori's lead, sitting on the ground to wait for Holly and Callum.
"I've forgotten how slow mortals are." She muttered.
"Sorry."
"It's fine." She said, leaning back against the tree.

~Holly~
I was watching Isaac and Lori intently, waiting for a moment when no one, Mr. Malacqua especially, was looking our way. I must have looked away for a second, because when I looked back Isaac was on the ground, things scattered around him.
"Jesus." I muttered. "When I said 'knock something over' I didn't mean the whole table."
"Fucking klutz." Callum hissed back. "I knew this was a bad idea."
"C'mon." I said. "Lori can deal with it."
"You don't think he'll do something to her?" His eyes were on the necromancer now, who was staring down at Isaac in shock.
"She'll deal." I tugged on his elbow, just as the necromancer began to laugh. "See, it's fine."

The mansion was huge, and it took us several tries to find any room with magical artifacts.
As I looked into a broom cupboard (who actually had broom cupboards anymore?) I heard Callum speak from behind me. "Holly, I think I've hit gold."
I turned, climbing under his arm to the room he had just opened. "Whoa." It wasn't large, but all four walls were covered with shelves. Many of them were filled with glass figurines, but just as many held books or ornately painted boxes.
"How the hell are we supposed to find the right orb?" Callum asked, following me as I entered. He froze as he passed through the door. "Security spells." He hissed angrily.
I paused, then answered, "It's too late now; I'm already in the room. Let's find this thing and get out."
I pulled the sketch Lori had made for us out of my pocket, staring at it. "Ok, it's round and wispy looking."
"Gee, because I couldn't have figured that one out on my own." Callum was pacing along the shelves. "Got anything a little more helpful?"
I stuck my tongue out at him and passed him the picture, walking along the shelves on the other side of the room. The glint of something shiny caught my eye. I turned, seeing a plaster hand with a ring on every finger, shoved to the back of a shelf. Pretty I thought, reaching forward to grab a large gold one with a blood red ruby set in the middle. As it parted company with the hand, an electric shock ran through me, and it was all I could do to stay standing. I twitched, shaking uncontrollably.
"You ok?" Callum's hushed voice cut through the buzzing noise in my head.
"Fine," I gasped out, taking a deep breath. "Fine." I dropped the ring. "But I don't think I'm taking that one." As I leaned back to grab a different ring, this one a silver snake, I paused, staring at the orb we had come to get. "Found it." It was beautiful, made out of spun glass that had just a hint of blue to it. It was placed on a base of silver leaves. It was delicate, and exactly the right size to sit in the palm of your hand.
"Brilliant." He breathed, coming to stand behind me. "It is sort of wispy looking."
I slid the ring on my finger and picked the orb up. "It's really pretty. Let's go."
Callum leaned over, opening the old-fashioned shutter window, jumping out. "C'mon." I heard him say from below. I was about to jump when I saw a small obsidian statue of a giraffe. I grabbed it, stuffing it in my pocket and following him.

I landed on the ground without jarring myself, looking around for Lori and Isaac. They were several windows down, under a large tree. They hurried to meet us, and I handed the orb to Isaac, whose hands were closest, before taking a running leap and returning to the window ledge so I could close the window.
When I dropped back down, they still hadn't moved. "Go," I hissed. "Go! He had a bunch of security spells, we've only got so much time."
"Do you want the orb back?" Isaac asked tentatively, holding it out to me. "I'm, er-"
"No, let's just go. Come on."
I turned away, hearing him mutter, "All right…"
"Let's go," snapped Callum. "This place gives me the creeps."
We ran as quickly as we could towards to edge of the grounds, although Isaac slowed us down considerably. I was just about ready to throw him over my shoulder and carry him when he tripped on a tree branch or his own feet or something and fell. The orb flew out of his hand and shattered against the ground.
We all froze.