Gael stepped back, startled, "Alright, I was just trying to help. We should go check in with Brother Harm, he'll know what's going on."

As he turned and started back towards the shelter he added, "Why else would anyone go after the mother? THey're too frightened to see anything but death."

He had been right there! And then he wasn't, and I must have put twelve .50 rounds into him and not even a dent!

Simon was still confused by the not so much "sudden" as it was "immediate" dissapearance of the Books. But for now it seemed the threat was gone and that was all he needed to know.

But no, actually, it wasn't. It bugged him immensely. First hundreds of spirits possess the school, and now Sealers attack the manor. Neither of these things have happened before and now they happen just a few hours apart. Clearly something bigger is going on.

Spotting Tessa coming out of the manor, he walked over and asked, "So, any idea what the hell that was all about?"

"Yeah, Johnny's in here." Laurella called to Elissa. "Come on in."

Narzeal left a note for Duncan to find, letting him know that Narzeal was going to take up a job teaching in the high school, preferably one that involved history. However any one of them worked. He left this note at Duncan's door, figuring he would show up there sometime. And that if he had any questions, he would be in the den.

And that was where Narzeal was now. After all that just happened, he really needed another drink, and had poured himself one. Not only that, but he was lighting a cigeratte as well. He just needed something to take the edge off. He was feeling better though, since he finally gotten that sigil on the bandages to kick in effect, his wounds were healing nicely.

Caleb holstered his pistol and sighed. "Mainly because he offered me $500. Seemed like some easy money. Yeah I know sealers arn't the most, pro Laurella group, in the world. But some of them have been pretty helpful." Caleb began rubbing his shoulder with one hand, it ached pretty badly, he was getting old. He began walking towards the exit of the amusement park. "I saw some of these 'protectors' at the school today. They're all just punk kids, I trust someone has told them about the inherent dangers to the job?" Caleb didn't even wait for an answer. "No no of course not, they got told the general idea I'm sure but not the real dangers. Bloody kids always thinking its a game. I know I know, Its not my business anymore. Damnit I just wish people could work together!"

Caleb stopped to pull a metal flask from one pocket, unscrewing it he commented quietly. "I need a drink, bloody humans trying to kill me now, bad enough when we got demons."

Elissa opened the door, briefly scanned the room and then found herself the nearest seat to plant herself in.

"Sorry, Laurella. I have to watch him. Just in case he goes insane and imagines you or anyone else as an M&M or something."

Another Failed Mission OR Fire Escape
 

I...see... Rob stood there dumbfounded. He looked at his hands. Yup, they are visible. Around him was a flurry of activity. Hmm... Rob looked over the situation. So, the twins are being interviewed, the Old Guy is getting medical attention, and the scholarly looking guy has booked, with Duncan in tow. Deathbooks have left, and Laurella is safe. Rob Shrugged. Ah well. Success in my book.

Thats my cue. Rob exited the Manor, and called his sword. Can't forget you, can I?

Rob decided to wander around town a bit. I've been so lazy today, I should so get in another run.

A fair distance away, Rob stops in mid-stride, and smacks his forehead.

I forgot the damn homework...

Laurella scratched the back of her head. "Oh. In that case."
Here, she reached into her schoolbag and pulled out a yellow pack of M&M's, tossing it to John. "Hope you like nuts. Here, go choclify yourself crazy or something. I think I'll take the time to do some dancing."

She unfolded the Dance Dance Revolution pad before her computer and double clicked the application. "Anime theme song time!"

Josiah didn't bother to answer the idiotic medic's question. He scooped up a fist of dirt, and threw it at the man's eyes. He then got up, chanting. A few seconds later, a massive cloud of smoke erupted in the courtyard.

Josiah sprinted for the gate of the courtyard, chanting another smokescreen spell, in case one wasn't enough.

"Agh! fuckin' Ai! Jacob yelled. He rubbed his eyes, trying to get the dirt out of them, but was then lost in a smokescreen. He coughed a bit, then tried to make his way out of the smoke.

'Who the hell attacks someone who's tryin' to help them? Jeez, you'd think I had a crappy enough day...' Jacob thought while wandering through the smoke. He made his way out finally, only to grab a blurry glimpse of the old guy who threw dirt in his eyes, in the distance.

"Your welcome!" Jacob yelled at the man. Jacob stood there for a moment, a little ticked, then turned and moved for the kitchen. 'I need something to eat.' He thought.

My post in a Btter chronological area
 

In the aftermath of the attack Harm found himself studying the security footage of the attack. He found three students, a teacher and the old man who had intruded into the school. He recognized Rob, Trish and Troy as well as Mr. Silva, the substitute in Laurella's class from the school as well as the old man, Josiah.

Taking down notes Harm studied the movements and tactics used by the Death Books, it didn't seem as though they were making a serious attempt on Laurella, otherwise they would have sent more than one man into the mansion. Seeing this worried Harm, along with the "timely" intrusion of the unknown parties. Harm decided to talk to Duncan about getting some of the air cleared with a bit of a meet and greet at the mansion and began trying to get a meeting scheduled with the SECA agents on the scene as well as the senor protectors from each group.

Later that afternoon Harm sent the same message to all of them, including one to Josiah, Silva, Robby and the twins (he had managed to pull thier files thanks to his master key at the school and help from Duncan on Josiah):
"Today's attacks and lack of coordination and planning make it apparent that we need to spend some time together and form some cohesion between our groups. Those of you who are relatiely unknown to us can take this chance to reveal their intentions and improve later relations. Duncan has agreed to provide us with the west ballroom. Please plan to attend starting at 2200, semi-formal attire is suggested and the bar will be open"

"If nothing else at least the booze should get a good attendance..."

Trying to escape via the front gate probably wasn't the best idea.

After all, people tend to guard the front door.

In this case, in the aftermath of the Death Books withdrawl, two people had secured the front gate.

One of them happened to be a mage from the Society. Seeing the smoke coming towards them, he pulled a small paper from his pocket, and chanting the incantation, throws it. The paper vanishes, and in it's place is a very noticable burst of wind, which pretty much clears out Josiah's cover.

The second man was a S.E.C.A. agent. Seeing the target pretty clearly thanks to the wind, the pulled a grenade from his belt, and hurls it. But instead of being the stanard "death to all within 10 square feet" kind of grenade, this was a much nicer grenade.

If you could call a flash-bang grenade nice.

Josiah probably wouldn't considering it went off a few feet away from him.

He probably wouldn't refer to the two men moving in to subdue him "nice", either.

"I'm not even allowed to play a simple card game with her?" John asked as he started on that bag of M&Ms.

"What were you expecting me to do, turn into a giant tentacle demon and rape her into mindless submission? Normally I save that for you, but I'd hate to disappoint..." Tentacles were already sprouting from John's back as he mumbled a spell.

Laurella nervously backed away from John. "Miss Elissa, what's he doing?"

It looked like she about to be in trouble. "Maybe I should have taken Rick's (her adoptive father's) joke about wearing a chastity belt seriously." she said dryly.

"Yeah yeah John, I know. You're pretty docile for a world destroy hell spawn or whatever the hell they like to call you, but orders are orders."

She raised an eyebrow at him, "Now come on, we both know you don't like me THAT much." she gave a very sarcastic wink and went back to relaxing.

"Laurella, don't worry. I don't think he's really gonna do much. Demon's have a sense of humor too."

Laurella nodded. "I know they do. Playing the Persona and MegaTen series taught me that much."

Before the tentacles could go anywhere, John suddenly started coughing. His good health was gone, and the sickness was back. The coughing and blood spitting interrupted the spell's incantation, and the pain broke his concentration for the form change. Now he was just a weak human kneeling on the ground trying to deal with having his organs on fire.

"Just before the good part..." He muttered between coughs and blood.

~Somewhere Across Town~

The park was empty about this time of day. Few wandered about save a couple of homeless people.

One of the thick trunked trees shook ever so slightly. A tiny rune, carved into the bark of the tree, glowed a shimmering rainbow. As the anchor rune activated, it pulled an invisible specter towards it, bringing it slowly back to a solid form.

Thomas Silva, his shirt stitching itself up from after the fight, poofed into existence from a wisp of smoke. His hands smoothed down his hair, the thick spellbook held in his palm.

"Oh, Mother...how exciting a life you lead. And such interesting bodyguards." His eye flicked over to his shoulder, noticing the thread of spider web that was stuck to his body.

"I've been caught? Well, this is certainly a surprise...I'll need to record this spell. Quite useful."

"Oh my god!" Laurella exclaimed, getting angry. "Please get out, Johnny! You're ruining the carpet."

Despite himself, Nathaniel chuckled a little bit. "Are you kidding? I'm sure if they here from Duncan one more time about how they're all more than likely to end up demon-food than die of old age, they'll kill him. Besides, they got the job done...I don't care what their attitude is, as long as they get the job done."

As Caleb took a pull from his flask, Nathaniel shook his head. "That better all your having...I'm not driving your drunk butt home."

Caleb sighed heavily and screwed his flask up again. "Yeah, you got a point there." He picked up walking to the entrance again. "I get the feeling I'm not going to get the cash for this fiasco though. Just as well I suppose, probably would have given the sealers the idea I was there little errand boy. Fucking stuck up prats."

A thought occurred to Caleb, and sense it was likely to be the last time he spoke to Nathaniel for awhile he decided to ask about it. "You know, I have noticed a large increase in the number of low grade demons lately. Have there been more cults and occurences of late? You know, more of the big stuff. I ask because well," He paused for a second, figuring lying was probably better. "Its good for business you know. I get a little tired of little old ladies calling me because they hear a bump in the night."