that mirror and
storing it magically is... dangerous. Likewise with my books. However...”
Claire looked around. “That chair you’re sitting in is another matter. In fact,
there’s no way we can fit it out the door physically.”
She withdrew a piece of chalk from her
pocket and bent down. She circled around me with the chair then elongated it
into a spiral. Within the tines of the spiral she scribed strange characters.
Many, many characters, precisely and mechanically. I shifted uncomfortably.
After what seemed like an eternity of chalk
strokes and weaving, she straightened. “That should do it. Sorry, but we’re
going to move the chair now. If you wouldn’t mind waiting over there,” She
pointed to the corner.
I didn’t need a second warning. Magic would
be here soon, my instincts screamed as I leaped out of the chair.
Claire fished around in her pocket again,
this time coming out with a strange pink powder which she casually tossed on
the chair. “Om-bala-mitsu,” she called and the chair trembled. The tines of the
spiral glowed blue and the entire armchair began to sink into the floor with a
soft squelch. Ripples spread from it as if the floor beneath it had liquefied.
Within a few minutes the chair had
completely sunk below the circle. “All right. Jason might as well get those
clothes in there too.”
He nodded and tossed them in a single
bundle into the circle, where they fell without a trace.
Roloth returned and his eyes fell on the
circle. “Oh hey. I’m almost done with the books.”
“Good timing. Get the desk too, will you?”
asked Claire. “Careful, don’t step in it.”
He rolled his eyes. “What neophyte do you
take me for?” He threw it in and it too quickly vanished. “Pretty cool, eh?” he
asked me.
Claire sighed. “Another hour should do it.”
***
Chapter 11: Goodbyes
The hour passed quickly, though
uncomfortably as it seemed that the other vampire, Roloth, was watching me
closely while trying to remain unnoticed. But pass it did and finally the room
stood empty of everything, except for Claire, carrying a paper bag, the two
vampires, and me with my purse.
Claire glanced around the room, satisfied.
“And it’s only midnight. Perfect. You two get down to the truck.” Jason and
Roloth departed.
She turned to me, setting a brown bag in
front of me. “The spells on this room will dissipate in one hour. I apologize
for leaving you here until then, but we can’t take any chances. Please take
these sandwiches until then and this cushion. ”
I nodded. “Thanks.”
“Again, I’m sorry we had to involve you in
all this,” Claire said apologetically. “With luck, this will be the last time
we have to trouble you.”
Jason poked his head back in the door.
“Take care, and only kill the assholes if you can,”
I laughed, although I felt uneasy and oddly
sad. “Fair enough. You take care of yourselves too.”
They departed together and the door shut
again. Silence reigned once more, except this time it felt even more poignant
in the bare unfurnished room.
I settled myself on the cushion,
cross-legged, and opened the bag. Inside were plastic-wrapped sandwiches and a
yellow envelope. Opening the envelope, I withdrew a signed note that read, “For
your troubles. Take care!” There was a stack of hundred dollar bills included
inside.
I swallowed as I counted the money. Two
months groceries and rent, assuming I didn’t spend it all in one place. And I
was tempted to, as I realized abruptly that I wanted nothing so much as to get
the hell out of town.
I looked out at the window and relaxed
against the wall. Soon, very soon.
***
A knock came at the window. I thought I had
imagined it at first, but then it came again... a persistent rapping noise. I
rose, stretching my legs.
I moved to the window and parted the
curtains. The street was empty below.
A familiar voice came from above, low and
menacing. “I’ve come for you, my cloistered Princess.”
I jerked
storing it magically is... dangerous. Likewise with my books. However...”
Claire looked around. “That chair you’re sitting in is another matter. In fact,
there’s no way we can fit it out the door physically.”
She withdrew a piece of chalk from her
pocket and bent down. She circled around me with the chair then elongated it
into a spiral. Within the tines of the spiral she scribed strange characters.
Many, many characters, precisely and mechanically. I shifted uncomfortably.
After what seemed like an eternity of chalk
strokes and weaving, she straightened. “That should do it. Sorry, but we’re
going to move the chair now. If you wouldn’t mind waiting over there,” She
pointed to the corner.
I didn’t need a second warning. Magic would
be here soon, my instincts screamed as I leaped out of the chair.
Claire fished around in her pocket again,
this time coming out with a strange pink powder which she casually tossed on
the chair. “Om-bala-mitsu,” she called and the chair trembled. The tines of the
spiral glowed blue and the entire armchair began to sink into the floor with a
soft squelch. Ripples spread from it as if the floor beneath it had liquefied.
Within a few minutes the chair had
completely sunk below the circle. “All right. Jason might as well get those
clothes in there too.”
He nodded and tossed them in a single
bundle into the circle, where they fell without a trace.
Roloth returned and his eyes fell on the
circle. “Oh hey. I’m almost done with the books.”
“Good timing. Get the desk too, will you?”
asked Claire. “Careful, don’t step in it.”
He rolled his eyes. “What neophyte do you
take me for?” He threw it in and it too quickly vanished. “Pretty cool, eh?” he
asked me.
Claire sighed. “Another hour should do it.”
***
Chapter 11: Goodbyes
The hour passed quickly, though
uncomfortably as it seemed that the other vampire, Roloth, was watching me
closely while trying to remain unnoticed. But pass it did and finally the room
stood empty of everything, except for Claire, carrying a paper bag, the two
vampires, and me with my purse.
Claire glanced around the room, satisfied.
“And it’s only midnight. Perfect. You two get down to the truck.” Jason and
Roloth departed.
She turned to me, setting a brown bag in
front of me. “The spells on this room will dissipate in one hour. I apologize
for leaving you here until then, but we can’t take any chances. Please take
these sandwiches until then and this cushion. ”
I nodded. “Thanks.”
“Again, I’m sorry we had to involve you in
all this,” Claire said apologetically. “With luck, this will be the last time
we have to trouble you.”
Jason poked his head back in the door.
“Take care, and only kill the assholes if you can,”
I laughed, although I felt uneasy and oddly
sad. “Fair enough. You take care of yourselves too.”
They departed together and the door shut
again. Silence reigned once more, except this time it felt even more poignant
in the bare unfurnished room.
I settled myself on the cushion,
cross-legged, and opened the bag. Inside were plastic-wrapped sandwiches and a
yellow envelope. Opening the envelope, I withdrew a signed note that read, “For
your troubles. Take care!” There was a stack of hundred dollar bills included
inside.
I swallowed as I counted the money. Two
months groceries and rent, assuming I didn’t spend it all in one place. And I
was tempted to, as I realized abruptly that I wanted nothing so much as to get
the hell out of town.
I looked out at the window and relaxed
against the wall. Soon, very soon.
***
A knock came at the window. I thought I had
imagined it at first, but then it came again... a persistent rapping noise. I
rose, stretching my legs.
I moved to the window and parted the
curtains. The street was empty below.
A familiar voice came from above, low and
menacing. “I’ve come for you, my cloistered Princess.”
I jerked
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