Chaper 14: The Blessed

[Isvara Sharma]

Isvara stood by Li and Ruthevan with his arms crossed and holding a drink in one hand. He watched the fight between the burly black man and the caucasian boy; the one who holds monopoly rights on Manala Crystals. It was entertainment for a regressive race, yet at the same time Isvara couldn't help but smile. He hated monopolies. He viewed them as inefficient, clunky, bureaucratic, and evil. That was reason enough for him to enjoy watching the fight.

The robber baron boy was punched out in a matter of seconds and shortly after, a waiter walking by bumped into an old woman. The old woman fell into the pool and started pointing her finger at Rutheven, who stood around a meter away from Isvara, and 6 to 7 meters away from the old lady and the pool. Therefore it was obvious that her allegations were either politically motivated, or she was going senile.

"Ruthevan," he asked the vampire in a faint but audible whisper, "What is wrong with that woman?"

[Calithin Crest]

I'm happy that my plan worked. When in doubt, always turn to the animal kingdom. It works for possums, so of course it worked for me. Besides, Chris is a super nice guy, even if he did just hit me. I decide not to hold any grudges. It probably wasn't his idea anyway.

I wait for a long while before finally opening my eyes. I stand up in the room and look around. I try to walk around, but wobble a little. My head is really killing me.

Cautiously, I make my way downstairs and find the house to be almost abandoned with everyone outside by the pool. I head to the kitchen and wrap a few icecubes from the freezer in a dishrag.

I hold the ice to my forehead and feel much, much better. What a crazy night.

[Bambi Engel]

Bambi distracted herself from the damage such a social gathering was having on her fragile nerves by pondering on the party. She wasn't going to ask Aubrey to help pick out clothes, but she could use Aubrey's help in planning. Anyway, it wouldn't hurt to ask the creditor.

She has been mulling about when she recognized Annette's outburst over the crowd. After trying to make her way through the crowd politely, she becomes rather impatient and forces her way through just in time to see Annette change her attitude. How strange.

There wasn't a time she could remember Annette redirecting her fury. Her curiosity causes her to make a mental note to ask that Chris about what had occurred before she arrived. For now, she was busy listening closely to how Annette thought a party of The Blessed should be held.

How perfect! The brunette is pulled from her thoughts, however, by a shout directed at her. "I apologize, I didn't. I only just made it through the crowd when I heard you shouting." She says honestly, loud enough to be heard.

[Mollie Marionette]

Mollie looked up as someone addressed her, and her musical fingers ceased their tapping at the outside of her right thigh.

She offered him a smile and shook his hand. "Good to meet you, Lon. I'm Mollie."

Mollie paused to take a sip of the drink she held, and to swipe a loose lock of blonde off her face.

"Are you having a good time?"

[Tuesday DeCastro]

To Malak

As Calithin and Dinari were talking about rub downs and dental plans, Tuesday's attention was drawn to a book in the library that she'd wanted to read. Placing the puzzle on a table, she took it off the shelf, and read the first couple pages, before realizing that she was alone.

Replacing the book, she left the library and walked out of the hallway, following the sound of people by the pool. They sounded excited.

On her way to investigate, she found a familiar face, Malak. Wasn't he supposed to be in hiding? She grabbed his arm and pulled him into a hallway.

"Hey, what're you doing here?"

[Kaschei Bessmertny]

"I would like to hear more about your plans, Anthony. Why are you planning on creating a race of super humans?" Kaschei asks. He rests his head on his hands as he moves forward in his seat to listen. He isn't commited to working with Anthony, but he is curious about this new information. He assumed Anthony was a loyal follower of the Manalists. Of course, who really is then? Everyone is out for something.

"What is your vision of the world?"

He can tell that Machiavelli and Alfonso are growing bored, but, they will have to be patient for a little longer.

[Malak Al-Dabaran]

"Crap! I forgot that I REALLY AM suppposed to be hiding!" Malak says with sudden dread. Due to his memory problems, he completely forgot about the fact that he had been captured last spring and that he was in Manalist prison for over a month.

"Well, I don't think anyone will notice me. I am writing a story for the paper...about the wastefulness of these sorts of parties." Malaka says quietly. He looks around now, feeling freaked out and paranoid. But, if they didn't notice him thus far...

"The only people who would notice me are minor guards from a particular prison. I think...as long as I don't draw attention to myself...things will be ..a-okay." Malak whispers. "How...have you enjoyed the party thus far?"

[Tuesday DeCastro]

Tuesday put a finger to her lips when he raised his voice slightly. "Shhhh." But then he lowered his voice so it was alright.

"Just lay low, you should be alright." She states. "And if you start to feel...endangered or something, just vacate."

She shrugs. "I'm having a good time." She pauses. "Then again, I missed the whole animal slaughtering, which I'm pretty thankful for. Honestly, such a waste, I don't see the point." She shook her head a little.

"How did you get in, anyway?"

[Annette Rosenthal]

"No one around here is good for anything." Annette snaps at Bambi. She's been a little more ornery lately. She is stressed about the banking system though. She has put in long hours and has become even more no nonsense because of it. She sticks her hand in her jacket pocket with the hope that she might find her cigarettes. Even though the Manalists frown on tobacco use, no one dares tell her to stop smoking.

She becomes irrate when she can't find them.

"Someone has stolen my cigarettes!" She wails. She randomly pushes someone into the empty pool and bites her own lip.

"I need a glass of water. This party is making me stressed." She states. With that, she leaves the poolside area and heads to the kitchen for a glass of water. Maybe that will calm her down a little.

[Malak Al-Dabaran]

"The party set me up with a fake invitation. I am supposed to be some ...sort of geologist from Iraq, who works for an oil company. There are looking for any remaining oil reserves in the world. It seemed like a good story. You can call me Omar." He says happily.

"Yeah, the animal slaughter was a bit much. I must say, that a part of me was fascinated by it. I was impressed by the mammoth. It is amazing what science can do. But I do feel bad that it was just..killed." He states, shaking his head.

"Anyway, I am just hanging out here, gathering info about the party. That's all."

[Jumala Keitoleinen]

A little while after the fight is over, one of Keitoleinen's servants inform him that the food is ready. Keitoleinen is pleased and takes a moment to announce this to everyone.

"Since we are outside, we can start eating. The food today is unicorn, mammoth, and pterodactyl, which my servants have prepared in various ways. Meat, meat, and more meat. But...we are the ..the top of the world. We should take great pride in eating meat...since we are the top of both the world, and the food chain. Anyway, dig in, although, I may warn some of you that it should be messy." He says with a laugh.

After that, he leaves the group for a large table of meats. Besides the main dishes provided by Genetech, there are various pig products, since pigs are sacred to the Manalist.

[Tuesday DeCastro]

Tuesday grinned. "Omar? Nice alias. I like it."

"I thought the unicorn was really something." She says, and feels sad that it was killed. "Do you know if they did anything with the carcasses after they killed them? Or if they're just sitting around somewhere?" She wonders, since she hadn't found out that people were actually eating them.

She pulls a loose strand of blonde hair from her purple dress and makes a face, letting it flutter to the floor. "Have you talked with anyone about their thoughts on the entertainment? It might be interesting to hear about it from one of their points of view."

[Rutheven Dellacroix]

"That woman is just incompetent and old, you would do well not to anger her though, she's a powerful person as well."

Rutheven smoothed out his hair and looked at the food now being served. He just chuckled and then turned back Li and Isvara.

"Well then Madame Director and our new emerging business friend, I'm not so much in the mood to eat, I'll leave you both to eat food I'll see perhaps what else this party has to offer..."

Rutheven then walked off trying to find something else to perhaps pass the time or some other people to socialize with.

It was then he found a rather on edgge looking man conversing with an attractive looking woman.

"Hmm, two people who weren't drawn to the fight or to the food that our host has announced?"

Rutheven looked at the two judging them at first glance.

"I don't believe I'm familiar with either of you. Unfortunate, I should know of anyone here at this party, please allow me to know your names and why you both are here."

[Malak Al-Dabaran]

Malak turns and notices that they have attracted company, which makes him nervous. He has seen this person on M TV news, when they cover meetings of the Economic Council. He folds his hands on his lap as he is seated on the couch of the living room.

"Hello...well, I am Omar, just a geologist for a new company in Iraq...which is looking for oil reserves. It is really no wonder you haven't heard of me, since I am not very well known at all. This is my first banquet." Malak replies.

He turns to Tuesday, to see what she will say.

[Tuesday DeCastro]

Tuesday looks at the new comer, and is sure she has seen his face before, but can't put a name to it. She's certain that he's probably an important figure, but this doesn't cause her alarm, or make her apprehensive in the least. Even though it probably should.

"I'm Tuesday." She says, smiling. "I'm here with Calithin Crest, he invited me, but it seems that I've lost track of him." She shrugs.