The next evening, we all set out for the necromancers, Mr. Frakid’s, house. We had all dressed up, much to everyone’s displeasure. As we approached the door, a guard stopped us. This was the hardest part. We couldn’t enter personal dwellings without an invitation, which made stealing personal belongings very difficult.
“Who are you?” asked the guard. He didn’t look unfriendly, just as if he were doing his duty as quickly as possible.
“We’re here to attend Mr. Frakid’s party.” I told him, inserting as much confidence as I could into my half-truth. As long as the ‘we’ only referred to Isaac, and myself I was allowed to say it.
“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.
Isaac and I milled around, waiting for the time to create a diversion. I felt slightly guilty, Mr. Frakid looked much nicer than Mr. Vernopia. Isaac wandered over to the food table, and I followed. I wasn’t hungry, but it appeared Isaac was. Just as Isaac neared the table, he tripped. I saw it all on slow motion, as he fell forward onto the table, knocking it over, and spilling the punch on Mr. Frakid’s shoes. I shot a glance at Holly and Callum. Holly looked horrified, and Callum looked livid. After a moment I saw her recover herself and drag Callum into the hallway.
Isaac untangled himself from the tablecloth. “Sorry. Really, I’m sorry.”
The necromancer looked at him for a moment, and then burst out laughing. Isaac did look ridiculous, covered in food. “Its fine, here give me a second!” he paused, than muttered something in Latin. He waved his hand, and all the food flew back into place. Another wave cleaned his and Isaac’s clothes.
“I’m very sorry,” I apologized for Isaac.”
“No, really, it’s fine. I needed a good laugh.”
I stared at him. Something about him stirred something in my memory, but I couldn’t place it. Had I met him before?
He asked what I was wondering. “Have we met?”
Damn. Now that I’d thought about it, I couldn’t just say no. I compromised. “If we have, I do not remember it. 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 was saved trying to find an answer by someone’s voice calling “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,” I whispered to Isaac. “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, where Holly and Callum would probably emerge. We sat down and waited, Isaac was panting. I had forgotten how slow mortals were.
A window opened two stories above. Holly jumped down, and landed, catlike, on the ground, without jarring herself. She handed the orb to Isaac. It was beautiful, made out of spun glass that had just a hint of pink to it. There was a rose carved into the top, and was placed on a base of silver leaves. It was delicate, and exactly the right size to sit in the palm of your hand. I would have to think about getting a replica for myself.
Leaving us to examine it, Holly turned, waiting for Callum, who appeared a moment later. He jumped with almost as much grace as she had, although he stumbled slightly upon landing. As soon as he landed, Holly jumped, scaling the wall, and closed the window that Callum had left open. “Let’s go,” she hissed. “He had a bajillion security spells. We’ve only got so much time.”
“Do you want the orb back?” Isaac asked tentatively. “I’m, er-”
“No, let’s just go. Come on.”
Isaac gave Holly a calculating look, his eyes full of worry. “All right…” he muttered.
“Lets go,” snapped Callum. “This place gives me the creeps.”
We ran as quickly as woe could towards to edge of the grounds, although Isaac slowed us down considerably. I was just considering carrying him, which would still be faster than the pace we were going at, when he stumbled. The orb flew out of his hand and shattered against the ground.
We all froze.
Creative
Created on 10-9-07
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Story Rating G
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