Chapter 7,By C.J. Ruby   11/03/06

__A Birthday Party and how Gabriela and her Friends intend to find out the true nature of the mysterious Austin Thorell.__

The cabal: Ike Black, Max, Ursula, What's-his-name (Macair), and Gabriela are having a private (by magical means) discussion.  Deciding who will break into Austin Thorell's home, while he attends the party. 

Ike and What's-his-name are worried about a lack of Spirit and Prime Spheres in the detective crew going to Thorell's house.  Ike believes that Austin's Mage powers are concentrated in these Spheres.  They are worried about traps that they may open on the spying jaunt.

Gabriela doesn't pay much attention to this conversation.  Her mind is on the success of the party and whether Jacek the vampire will attend as he promised.  She wonders what his game is and if her attentions to one such as he are inappropriate.   He could be dangerous or he could be an ally, or both - Probably both. A dangerous ally, she thinks.  He is very handsome and has a certain something about him (Figaro and her other pets are drawn to him and like him). 

She also wonders if she is attracted to Jacek simply because Ursula is as well.  Is jealousy playing a part here? 

Ursula's actions seem to becoming more unstable.  These binges and the need to purge her emotions by inflicting pain trouble Gabriela's mind.

But enough of those sober contemplations, what will she wear that will turn every head at the party is more important now.  (A red dress by Paula Civello is certain to do the trick.)

"Gabi, Gabi, what do you think." This brings her back to the moment, "I thought I was the absentminded one", remarks Ike.

"I think that red dress with the plunging neck line will keep Austin occupied plenty.  While you'll are on your expedition," she says.

Ike suggest to Gabriela that she maneuver Austin to her cozy bar upstairs and expose him to her Adoration chamber.  Then she should simply ask Austin about his expeditions to the Umbral realms. While treasure hunting and if he might happen to have taken more than his fair share, and if so what was it?

Gabriela's worry is that if Austin somehow counters her magick with his Willpower.  She would be in great danger.  She's a lover not a fighter.

Before the spying troop of Max, Macair, and Ursula leave for Thorell's Clearwater home.  Ike scans the house for Prime using a Correspondence trick of his.  He feels he is successful and he detects no Prime. 

            ***************************************  

Gabi has a surprise for Bert Skiles, the Birthday boy and Tampa's Water Commissioner.  She has taught a group of her parrots to sing Happy Birthday to amuse him and the other guests.  One white cockatiel named Marge sings a rendition of Marelin Monroe's Happy Birthday, that famous song for President Kennedy's Birthday.  This is a big hit and the guests applaud loudly and ask for an encore.  Which is performed, and then Gabi escorts her guests upstairs for the party, which has been set up on the 4th floor conservatory, dinning room and guest rooms - much better suited for a small gathering of 40 or so.

Gabi checks on Ike's tux and comments that he is looking handsome (which he is of course, because Gabi picked out this tux).

Austin Thorell arrives in his BMW, fashionably late, around 7 or 7:30 (he doesn’t know the guest of honor and has no reason to arrive on time).   

            ************************************

Meanwhile back at the ranch ... err, Austin's Bachelor pad.  Max, Macair, and Ursula are surmising the situation.  (Is that marijuana and Jagermiester on Ursula's breath?)

They decide to enter like they belong here, using the front door.  They check for traps on the lock - none.  Then Macair uses Entropy to determine the weakness of the lock.  While he's doing so Ursula tries the door which opens easily. 

"Women's intuition," she says.

No furry-animals are inside, just some fish which Ursula suggests they paint???  [Hey, I'm just the Narrator.]  Max and What's-his-name convince her that it's a bad idea.  Then they start their snooping keeping one eye on Ursula while they're at it.  Max thinks, it's a bad idea to bring Cultists on such missions. 

Odd, but they search everywhere and find nothing of a magickal nature here - not even the Time Life series on Witchcraft.  They determine this must be an alternative residence and his actual home is elsewhere. 

Now they must count on Gabi - Not another Cultist? thinks Max - to carry out the plan.  They make sure everything is as they found it, especially the fish.  Then they leave and decide to crash Gabriela's party to tell Ike and Gabi of the faux residence.

            ****************************************

Ike and Austin chat about books and Ike breaches the subject of Austin's treasure hunts.  Austin describes some of them and Ike asks politely if he might go on an excursion some time.  Austin's surprised, but is not taken aback by the offer.  He tells Ike he may not have the specialties to fight in Umbral realms (meaning that Ike lacks in the Spirit Sphere to defend himself in the Umbra). 

Bert and his bureaucratic friends are impressed by Gabriela's home and the party.  Only Bert has been here before and never upstairs.  He's  only been at the grand parties in the courtyard and in the second floor ballrooms and theater.

At 10:30 a Jacek Smith is announced by Ira Levin, Gabi's doorman.  Her heart flutters a bit for she has kept one of her Minds waiting to hear such an announcement.

Jacek mingles with the guest and soon a Max Onyx joins the party.  Jacek starts at the name and appears a bit rattled by it, but quickly resumes his graceful demeanor.  Ursula comes in after short time.  Her eyes a bit glazed.  Then Macair slips in unannounced, Ira was talking with one of the beautiful cigarette girls for a moment.  Max and Macair tell Ike and Gabi of the phony home.

Ursula scans the crowd for that foul vampire Salo (he's not here, thank Gaia) and instead sees Jacek and makes a beeline for him.  He says hi and she clumsily tries to seduce him [she botches the roll 1,1,1,3 and spends Willpower so he doesn’t throw her off the balcony].  He excuses himself from this obviously drunk girl who has spilled her drink on him.

Ursula makes her way through the guest and finds one of Bert's bureaucratic buddies to take to her bed and forget about the Jacek disaster.

Jacek then speaks with Max and finds out this is not an Onyx he knows (and obviously fears).  Max tell him that he has helped Gabi with her security and brags (truthfully) that he is an expert.  Jacek tells him he may have some work for him soon, if he's up for a challenge.  Max agrees to help out.

Gabriela sees a way where she won't have to use the Adoration room on Austin, at least not until she learns of the truth about him and these Hermes who want the Magick Tomes.  She speaks with Jacek in a secluded balcony where they won't be observed.  She then tells him of the plan and asks him for his aid in exchange for a favor of course. 

Jacek is astounded by so generous an offer and tells Gabriela what he really needs is a place to go to ground in Tampa and quick exposure to   the established organization and night-life of the area. 

Gabi replies, "done and done."

She tells him a secure apartment will be available on the morrow and she would introduce him to her sleeper contacts in Tampa.

"If that will help you?" she says.

It will and he thanks her for her generosity, but mustn't make a decision until he knows what she requires in return.  She tells him about Austin Thorell and what they need to know.  He thinks for a moment - Figaro is climbing on his head now, and sings quietly.  The offer is something he desperately needs and he agrees.  He tells her he has discreet ways of spying for he has an obvious affinity with animals.  

Ike then bumps into Jacek while Gabi is singing for her guest and flirting with Austin, whom she has grabbed for the time being so he is kept out of sight of Jacek and the others.

Ike asks why Jacek had to leave LA so quickly and the vampire tells of the war in LA between the young vampires and the Elders who have controlled it so long.  Ike tells of the Mage's doings in LA to save sleepers from the riots that the vampiric war caused and about the concert to do so.  Jacek tells of the chaos in Los Angeles and more about the political structure of vampires and of vampires versed in magick.  Ike returns the favor and tells a bit about Mage society and about the Spheres of Spirit and Prime he may face at Austin's.

Ike then tells Jacek their suspicions about Austin's real home and about the Tomes that may be hidden there.  He also shows Jacek the Umbral dust, but Jacek knows little of such things (or does he?).

Gabriela notices a rat grooming itself on a balcony.  At first she's appalled, but then she uses a Mind 2 spell to gently probe its tiny brain and finds it to be a servant of Jacek's.  She keeps a Mind on it and lets it have free reign as long as it behaves.

Gabi invites Austin to the Tampa Opera where Giuseppe Verdi's Il Trovatore is being preformed. Gabi of course has a private balcony there.  How can he refuse and she has a date (but not with the one she desires.)

            *****************************************

Max makes sure some bullet proof shutters are installed on the Napolie's windows and balconies.

Ursula performs a large and energetic tattoo upon a Cuban gang leader.  He takes the pain well.  That Latino machismo demands it.

                        ###################