Chapter 5, By C.J. Ruby

Ike Black (Gabriela's friend and tenant), owner/operator of The Bookstore on the ground floor of the Napolie, has another meeting with the Order of Hermes in Jacksonville (these guys must be Gator fans).

All these meetings . . . Gabriela feels sorry for Ike.  She's sure Hermes' gatherings are nothing compared to the Cultist's parties Ike has been to in the recent weeks. 

Hermes are boring, boring, boring. Maybe that is the cause for Ike's absentmindedness?  Gabi thinks she may have to introduce Ike to some Cultist's chemical or natural stimulates, to add some excitement to his life.  That might break the pattern of his forgetfulness.  (Gabi's always looking to help her friends.)

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While in Jacksonville Ike meets another of his Order who also lives near Tampa in Clearwater, FL.  (It's just across the Bay.)  His name is Austin Thorell.  He has a European accent and drives a groovy-fast BMW.   They decide to meet for cocktails after the afternoon's meetings.

During the meeting Ike is asked to tell of the goings on in Los Angeles.  Ike also tells them that an influx of vampires fleeing LA have ended up on the East Coast, particularly in the Tampa area.

Edgar Peterson then takes the podium and quiets the murmuring in the auditorium. He tells what he knows of the Tremere clan of vampires.  They have knowledge of magick and he advises the Order to be wary of these vampires. A Eugene Manchester is next up and tells of vampires with a particular kinship with animals.

After the meeting there is much chatter among between the Mages of the news. 

Ike is given a proposition by two Mages, Median & Elisheba.  They offer a handsome payment of three rare books to add to Ike's collection if he will perform a service for them.  They tell him that they suspect Austin Thorell has taken a number of treasured Tomes from an Umbral realm and hidden them near Tampa.  Ike is asked only to determine and bring back evidence that the Tomes are in Thorell's possession.  He is not to take them.  They will take care of the retrieval.  They give Ike a vial of silvery umbral dust that will match dust in the book bindings to determine if the books are the ones they seek.

Later on Ike meets up with Austin Thorell to have that cocktail they had planned on.  Austin offers Ike a lift back to Tampa.  Ike usually travels in a much quicker fashion, but agrees.  Maybe he can learn some useful information and establish some trust with Austin.        

On the trip back Austin uses Forces to confuse police radar and the Beemer speeds all the way to Tampa.  The both speak of their love for rare books.  Austin says he a bit of a treasure hunter and is in Florida to search for evidence of the Fountain of Youth and Atlantis.  He tells Ike of his love for mundane treasure as well as magick items.  Ike can tell that Austin's knowledge of Lore is high, but low on facts concerning the Occult.

Austin drops Ike off at the Napolie and they pledge to keep and have dinner together sometime and talk more about books and artifacts.

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Meanwhile, Max tries to construct a copy of a high-tech fingerprint scanner, but it proves to be beyond his ability at the time.

Poor What's-his-name (Macair) has been afflicted with a paradox flaw.  His eyesight has been affected and light now appears to him as darkness and visa versa.  He is doing the best he can and has tried to keep his affliction secret in the hope that it will soon abate.

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Ursula is on a bender and has taken up residence on a stool at Gators a hole in the wall biker bar near the Tattoo shop.  (Is she feeling guilty for the killing spree she participated in while in LA?)  A slushy drunk starts hitting on her, she remembers that this guy has harassed her before.  It's Salo, the vampire, from the New Years Eve party. She starts thinking he's kind of attractive and what the hell. 

Suddenly Salo is struck from behind just as he was about to kiss Ursula.  He is knocked to the floor.  Ursula turns to find Jacek whose eyes are flashing red as he hovers over Salo daring him to fight back.  Salo retreats and leaves the bar flipping Jacek the bird as he goes. 

Still drunk and a little horny, Ursula attempts to seduce her champion.  He resists her fawning.  He tells her that she looks different to different people [cryptic, I'm not sure what this means].   

Brutus, one of Ursula's biker friends and regular tattoo customer, comes over to see if Jacek is bothering her.  Ursula waves him away and Jacek generously buys a round for the bar.  He's new in town and wants to be on Ursula's good side.  He leaves, but Ursula stays to continue her bender (and assuage a guilty conscience?).       

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The forgettable Macair hears a cell phone ringing; he scrounges around in the pockets of a grungy backpack and finds it (he couldn't remember putting it there).  It's an old Euthanatos friend of his named Uri.  He tells Macair that he located him on the FBI database (WOW!).  Uri is tracking someone down and asks Macair to watch his back.  Macair suggests they meet at Gators to work out the details.

Gabriela's work on her "Adoration" room is coming along slowly.  She asks Max for some help and he suggests some needed improvements. 

Gabriela is pleased that the Dragon float for Gasparilla is progressing nicely.  She hears that Ike has hired a college student named Andrew to work in The Bookstore.

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Ike calls Gabi, Max, Ursula, and What's-his-name for a meeting to discuss the Austin Thorell situation he has involved himself in and asks the others for their help. (Poor Macair's eyesight hasn't gotten any better and he is also suffering from terrible migraines.)  Ike also tells them of the information he learned in Jacksonville, particularly that concerning vampires.  

Gabriela is reluctant; maybe these people are trying to steal goods from an innocent and honest Mage (Austin). She doesn’t know the parties involved and will need more evidence.  But Ike knows she longs to get her hands on an accurate book concerning Vampire Lore, and he tempts her with access to one if she aids him.  Gabi is still unsure, but will agree if it can be proven that Austin has thieved the Tomes.

Gabriela is orchestrating a Birthday celebration for Bert Skiles (Tampa's Water Commissioner), a sleeper, and contact of hers in Tampa's bureaucracy.  It will be a black-tie affair with around 30 people in attendance, and will be held on the 4th floor of the Napolie, a more intimate space for such a gathering. 

Ike plans to have dinner with Austin at an area restaurant.  Gabi decides to go to the restaurant separately and to bump into them later.  After dinner Gabi "innocently" runs into her friend Ike and joins them for drinks.  She makes small talk and flirts a bit with Austin, and then invites him to her little gathering. "Ike of course will be there", she tells him.  Austin accepts the invite.  Later she tells Ike she'll send a tailor to his shop to measure him for a tux to wear at the party.

Gabriela also sends an invitation to the vampire Jacek.  Her friends will not approve, but Gabi is intrigued by Jacek and of course she likes to jazz things up (she couldn't abide a boring affair).  She believes he'll be an interesting party guest. In the invitation she asks Jacek to sate himself before hand. "Please refrain from snacking on my guests", she asks.         

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Macair meets Uri at the airport and Uri tells him of the people he is tracking.  He explains the reasons to Macair why these people must be given the "good death".  They find that the ones they are tracking have gone on to Miami (to hard to track there), but will return for Gasparilla.  That is when they'll bequeath the "good death" to them.