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Post by Evangeline on Sept 11, 2008 17:37:18 GMT -5
Sydney just managed to restrain herself from rolling her eyes behind Ebony's and Kamui's backs as she called Lenore in. Ghosts. What can you do with'em?
Wu Feng stirred uneasily at the periphery of Grandmother's compound. She was watching over that brat again. We can't get back to China soon enough.
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Post by ebonyviper on Sept 11, 2008 17:51:31 GMT -5
Phoenix picked up on Sydney's thoughts, but said nothing and waited for Ebony to announce the return of her father and Melody.
*****
Chase and Melody were able to pass through the wards undetected and came to the periphery where they saw Wu Feng. They kept themselves invisible, but stayed to watch and listen.
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Post by Evangeline on Sept 11, 2008 18:25:00 GMT -5
The black SUV with yellow pinstripes paced restlessly along the fence that separated the compound from the surrounding wilderness. It had been a while since he had last felt entirely safe here.
Wu Xian was settled outside the mesh-walled cell that now housed Stephanie, monitoring the input of subliminal recordings that she hoped would encourage a "constructive" attitude in the child when she re-awakened. She had several more soul-coins to expend if she needed to.
Sydney was recognizing that not guarding her thoughts around these women was not a terribly bright thing to do, and she hissed at herself for that rookie mistake.
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Post by ebonyviper on Sept 11, 2008 18:43:48 GMT -5
With Melody watching Wu Feng's position, Chase decided to go and investigate further and went farther into the compound, until he found himself at the mesh-walled cell. He phased silently through the mesh and looked around, soon seeing a sleeping Stephanie.
Chase thought for a moment as he silently phased through the mesh again, glancing briefly at Wu Xian for a moment, then went off to see if he could find a way for Ebony and the others to get inside the compound and the Stephanie.
*****
"Hm?" Phoenix blinked and glanced back at Sydney, "Something the matter?"
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Post by Evangeline on Sept 11, 2008 19:13:21 GMT -5
"I just suck at dealing with ghosts." Sydney admitted.
Veronica activated a noise-masking spell to cover herself and her passengers while they approached. She sent a text message to Kamui. Standing by.
Wu Xian paused and looked up. Was it just the house settling on its foundation or something else?
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Post by ebonyviper on Sept 11, 2008 19:23:09 GMT -5
"Me too, but you don't see me getting all huffy about it," said Phoenix.
*****
Delfina, aboard Veronica, was becoming a bit tense, anxious to go and rescue her daughter.
*****
Chase finally withdrew, collected Melody, and went back to report to Ebony.
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Post by Evangeline on Sept 11, 2008 19:46:57 GMT -5
"Not you too." Sydney winced as Lenore landed on her roof and gave her a peck.
"I think they're still getting the lay of the place down there." Veronica said. "I'm sensing at least two cars in the house and another couple cruising around the fence. Kamui, Ebony and the others are seeing what they can do about the wards."
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Post by ebonyviper on Sept 11, 2008 19:57:50 GMT -5
"No, that's not what I meant," said Phoenix, "What I mean is I don't know that much about ghosts and really don't know how to deal with them either. Ebony does and can, but I'm not that jealous of her."
Ebony was listening to the conversation, but turned her attention when she sensed the return of her two ghosts. "Guys, Chase and Mom are back."
*****
"I hope it doesn't take too long," said Delfina.
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Post by Evangeline on Sept 11, 2008 20:03:04 GMT -5
"My mom was good at that." Sydney admitted. "But I never really had it. She says it sometimes skips generations. I'm much better at talking to animals."
As Ebony announced her guides' return, she came back to attention.
"They have to be sure that the wards are completely down." Veronica said. "We'll still have to deal with the sorcerors, but I can handle life magic."
Aron took Delfina's hand and gave it a squeeze.
Zoe, as long as she wasn't actually using magic at the time, had no trouble with the wards. In her eagle guise, she alighted on a tree branch overlooking the compound.
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Post by ebonyviper on Sept 11, 2008 20:19:20 GMT -5
Ebony listened to her guides intently as they gave her the details, then turned to the other, "Okay, Chase and Mom say that the whole place is surrounded by a high fence and that Stephanie is under a mesh-style cage. Most of the attention is on her. They've also seen We Feng pacing by the fence and at least two others in another section of the compound. It doesn't look like it's that well-guarded."
*****
"I know..." sighed Delfina, returning Aron's squeeze.
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Post by Evangeline on Sept 11, 2008 21:43:40 GMT -5
"Who knows what they might have for supernatural defenses." Kamui readied her blade fan. "I'm not taking the appearances for granted." She checked her GPS again. "Another two miles. Let's get going."
Veronica was already scheming on how to deal with any supernatural defenses that might be in place around the perimeter. "They have soul coins, big ones, buried around the fence line. They take the spirits of condemned prisoners to make those, and they make it one big supernatural electric fence. The way to take it down is to free the captive souls. We'll wait 'til the cars are in sight."
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Post by ebonyviper on Sept 11, 2008 21:55:36 GMT -5
Ebony and Phoenix nodded and shifted into gear. "Don't have to tell us twice."
*****
"I hope they're doing alright down there while we've been flying around up here," said Delfina.
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Post by Evangeline on Sept 11, 2008 22:23:11 GMT -5
"They're within two miles now." Veronica located a tall stand of trees on a higher elevation to hide behind, "So far, so good. How about the rest of you?"
Kamui forged ahead with Ebony, telling herself not to get impatient and rush things. Soon, the shaded lights of a compound came into view.
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Post by ebonyviper on Sept 11, 2008 22:51:56 GMT -5
Delfina checked on the others who were aboard. "Yeah, we're good."
*****
"That must be it," Ebony said in a low voice as the compound came into view, "My ghost guides were right about the fence. Now how do we get in?"
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Post by Evangeline on Sept 11, 2008 23:25:03 GMT -5
Aron and Daniel were getting their "goodies" ready - flash-bangs and riot shotguns. Not that they were in the same class as magic, but more confusion was always a good thing.
Zoe flew from the tree branch to the top of the roof, below the camo netting.
"Gotta free those spirits first." Kamui said. "They don't wanna be in there, they're just imprisoned until they're used up. Once we let them go, they're no more trouble to us. The house head taught me an old Shooter remedy for that." She placed the spread blade fan on the ground, took out a shammy bag, and sprinkled some red dust over it, muttering something almost subvocally in a Japanese dialect. Each mote of dust flared bright pink as it hit the blades. Finally, Kamui said two more words, in English. "Be free."
Vapours rose from the fence line as a hundred spirits seemed to sigh and shake off their bonds as they ascended.
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