[center][hider=Cast][img]http://i.imgur.com/9V7nZ19.jpg?1[/img][/hider][/center] [center][h1][i]Puck’s Ward[/i][/h1][/center] [center][h3][i]Part III[/i][/h3][/center] [center][b]Location: Shadow of the Moon Occult Curiosities – Chinatown, Lost Haven Time: 1 p.m., One Day after Present[/b][/center] [hr] [color=FFA07A][center][i]Horse and Hattock, Horse and go, Horse and Pellatis, Ho! Ho![/i][/center][/color] The words echoed through the shop, followed by the low howling of wind through crevices in the wooden frame. [color=FFA07A][center][i]Tout tout, a tout tout, Throughout and about, Here and there, hence and thence![/i][/center][/color] A dull ring sounded like the tiny jingle of chimes or twinkling of bells, heralding the arrival of some faerie creature or the beginning of a work of the Arte. [color=FFA07A][center][i]Fair is foul and foul is fair, Hover through the fog and filthy air![/i][/center][/color] Each charm added to the potency of the last, the long string of trasnvection formulae weaved together to invoke the witch’s powers of flight. Madalena sat astride an alder branch fitted with dark bristles recently collected. In the storage space behind Shadow of the Moon, she watched as her feet began to slowly lift from the ground. She had done it! With some luck, Madalena had achieved full levitation. Her sense of wonder was quickly interrupted, however, by a sharp bump on the head and a heavy plop on the concrete floor. [color=FFA07A]”GAAH, Goddamiit!”[/color] she cried, rubbing her head and setting herself upright. She examined the broom to make sure it wasn’t broken, then her leg to search for a sprain. Her priorities were a little mixed up, but she had taken hours to fasten all those twigs into bristles and she didn’t want to go through the trouble a second time in less than twenty-four hours. [color=FFA07A][i]That’s what I get for flying in doors . . . and on the clock.[/i][/color] Madalena mentally scolded herself, propping the broom against an empty shelf and making her way into the main store. Her bargain with Puck had gone over well. After signing his book, she was given a stack of books related to Old World witchery and magical lore, as well as a splitting headache from the knowledge Puck had imparted directly. It wasn’t much and she would certainly need to do her research to fill in the blanks, but it was enough to give her some extra leverage over the Hounds when they came knocking. Of course, Madalena did what any other aspiring witch would do first, or so she imagined, and went straight to the flying ointments. She’d seen too many stills of the White Witch not to want to experience such a thing first hand. It had taken her only a day and a half to induce complete levitation, but actual flight was a different matter entirely. Madalena hadn’t the courage to attempt full flight. With the threat of the Hounds still looming, she thought it best to practice such magic in private . . . or at least behind a locked door. Madalena positioned herself behind the register, thumbing through a few small journals Puck had left. Most were written, at least in part, in some foreign or mystical language with which she was now familiar, but it was still exhausting trying to mentally translate everything. Instead, she looked for pages and titles that stuck out. Her skimming was interrupted, however, by the familiar ding of the bell on the entrance and heavy footsteps. Madalena was confronted by the sight of five darkly clad, armed men barging into the store and moving hastily to her place behind the counter. [color=FFA07A][i]This is it,[/i][/color] she thought anxiously, [color=FFA07A][i]this is what Puck prepared me for. I have to stay calm, I have to hold my ground.[/i][/color] Madalena continued to coach herself as she stepped out from behind the counter to meet the leader of the small group, much to his surprise. She stood with her arms tucked behind her back, legs straight, sporting a welcoming smile. [color=FFA07A]”Well met!”[/color] she greeted the Hounds as she would any other customer, with as much enthusiasm as she could muster despite how internally distressed she was. [color=FFA07A]”What can I do for you gentlemen today?”[/color] The men positioned themselves strategically about the store, stopping when Madalena greeted them. They looked at each other and laughed, the leader, a tall man in slightly bulkier body armor and face fully obscured, stepped forward, mere inches away from Madalena. “Well now, what’s this? Hospitality?” the man’s muffled voice shook Madalena to her core. She knew that she shouldn’t be intimidated given all the protections the Puck had promised, but she couldn’t help herself. Knowing that she had the means to defend herself wasn’t enough to rid her of the fear of confrontation. [color=FFA07A]”Of course, you’re my guests aren’t you? What kind of owner would I be if I didn’t warmly greet my customers. Speaking of, isn’t it a little hot to be walking around in all that black? A moon and star print skirt or black mesh blouse is one thing, but you’re all decked out head to toe. Do those chafe?”[/color] Madalena rambled. It wasn’t uncommon for her to be overly chatty, though her nerves were likely driving this conversation. “You picked the wrong day to come into work, little miss. It’s about to be a lot hotter in here than in this armor.” The man readied his weapon, signalling for his men to complete their mission. One by one they began turning over displays, smashing statues and trinkets, dousing tapestries, rugs, and robes in accelerant. Their leader backed Madalena into the counter. “Must be sad to watch all your hard work go up in flames. Maybe you should stay here and go down with the ship.” He tripped Madalena and fastened a cuffed her left hand to a heavy display case by the register. She gasped as the wind was knocked out of her. [color=FFA07A][i]W-what do I do?[/i][/color] her mind raced, searching for an answer. They had been more forceful than she anticipated. She wanted to believe that they would go easy on her if she cooperated early on, but now she could see that Puck was right. They didn’t care if she posed a true threat, she was just in the way. [color=FFA07A]”WAIT!”[/color] Madalena cried as one of the men took out a lighter. He lit it without looking over to her. She would have to show more conviction. [color=FFA07A]”I can help you, you know! I can’t do any magic myself, but it’s my job to know about it! If-if you let me go, I-I-I can give you information! Yeah, I’ve heard some things from customers, I’ve read about magic for years, I could b-be an asset, please!”[/color] Madalena was genuinely pleading for her life. Puck’s promises did little to comfort her despite knowing that he would hold up his end of their bargain. Fortunately, Madalena’s desperate cries were to her advantage. The Hound leader ordered his men to halt their destruction, turning to Madalena and kneeling down in front of her. He held her head level with his, staring into her eyes through thick goggles that hid his own, then dropping her chin and turning back to his men. “What do we think boys?” He convened with his group. “You can’t trust the bitch, she’ll say anything,” one replied. “Yeah,” another agreed. “I don’t know, the General told us she was harmless,” the third member spoke up. “And he has been lookin’ for informants . . .” the last member chimed in. “Well then,” the leader said, walking over to Madalena. “I guess today’s your lucky day. It just so happens that the Witchfinder General needs the lowdown on bitches like you.” He unfastened her restraints, then shoved a simple, black, flip phone into her hand before signalling his men to leave the shop. “We’ll be in touch. Oh, and I wouldn’t leave town if I were you . . . he’ll know.” He slammed the door with enough force to shatter the lower glass pane. The few shelves that remained relinquished the last of their displays onto the floor, shattering them instantly. Shadow of the Moon was a mess, but it was still standing and Madalena was still alive. She slumped down onto the floor and let out a long sigh, fighting back tears. If ever there was a time to cry, to let out her frustration, now seemed most appropriate. But Madalena was tired of crying, she was tired of being taken by surprise. It may not have gone the way she wanted, but she had succeeded and was mostly unharmed. [color=FFA07A]”I did it.”[/color] Madalena whispered to herself, head turned up at the ceiling, lost in thought. Phase one was complete, but she dared not think of what was yet to come.