seymoure

Chapter 26
“The Haze”

Sebastian Claus sat up in his bed and tried to see. They were preparing to bandage his eye, and it was his wish that he not lose that ocular orb.

But, for the moment, he knew the vision was to fuzzy to be of use.

As the nurse wrapped the gauze around his head, he tried to remember what had happened.

He realized that his eyes were not all that were hazy.

He had been aware of the light show that had filled the night. He also knew that Vaskania had provided the protection when he provided the rooms. The Baron had called the spell his own personal “Home Safe Home” recipe spell. It was meant to make the hotel a Safehouse from magical attack.

That may have been the problem. They all figured that they were beyond harm, and so did not examine possible clues all around them.

With his available right eye he glanced down at the tattered clothing falling from his frame. If he had been doing a play and wanted to show someone had gone through a paper shredder, the audience would have thought his outfit “overdone.”

When he emerged from his room he had seen Jeanne Gary reclining on the couch, with her eyes closed. When she didn’t respond, he assumed she was still napping. It was rather a short sleep they had all been granted, and jet lag is anything but a myth.

Little did he know she was bleeding to death.

His damaged eye burned as it teared. He drew a pained breath and his nurse gave him a shot.

He sat back and cursed himself for a fool.

At that moment Baron Vaskania and a cluster of women entered the room.

“These,” Vaskania said, gesturing to the women, “Are the Sisterhood of the King and His Men. They are the most protective mages on the planet. If they cannot prevent mystical attack then there is no protection on Earth.”

“Ladies,” Claus said, with as formal a bow of the head as he could muster.

“They will look out for all of you, while I have other things to do,” He whispered.

“Wait,” Claus attempted, vainly, to stand, “I’ll join you.”

“You will be called upon very soon old friend,” The Baron said as he piloted the big man back into the bed, and then he whispered, “But, this first part of the battle is something I must undertake on my own.”

“Be careful,” Claus whispered, “I can’t lose you.”

The Baron smiled, turned and bowed to the ladies. He then patted his friend on the shoulder and left the room.

Claus scanned the room with his new Cyclopean headdress. The ladies smiled back at him.

The American took his wallet from his back pocket and slapped it on the table that stretched across the bed.

“Anybody here play Black Jack?”