tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84518798508746105742024-02-20T03:30:17.267-08:00Left Write and CenterWilliam Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323256287600942828noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451879850874610574.post-3278459216006810002013-05-16T11:55:00.001-07:002013-05-16T11:55:26.567-07:00The Age of IdeasOne of the hardest parts about any project is starting it. There are tons of different reasons for this. Some people get hung up on the perfect first sentence, or spend hours trying to come up with the perfect character name. Some people might have trouble fitting their character's description into the narrative. My personal problem? I never want to commit to a single idea. The beginning of a project always marks a time of uncertainty for me, a time in which idea after idea chases through my head, begging to be written. If I ever start on one, the others all suddenly seem so much more appealing.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>I'm sure I'm not the only one. The grass is always greener and all that jazz. I have a solid start on my current project, the one I've posted two chapters of. I know I can make it work if I stick with it, but at the same time another project, one inspired by a fanfiction I spent the better part of a year working on, is jumping and waving it's arms in my face. I've also considered rewriting my first book, and working on an old idea I had during NaNoWriMo one year.<br />
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I'll probably end up finishing my current project, which should be easier now that I'm home from college for the summer. If my new ideas are still demanding to be written by the time I finish them, I'll know they're more than just passing thoughts.<br />
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What do you find hardest when starting a new project? Do you have any tips for working through those problems? Leave a comment if you do.William Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323256287600942828noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451879850874610574.post-30107927735535970832013-04-20T12:50:00.000-07:002013-04-20T12:50:26.512-07:00Take a ChanceSo, finals are nearly upon us, and I've got tons of programming to do for the next three weeks, so I doubt I'll have more posted until then. I do have a challenge though, for you writers who may happen to see this. Next time you have a few minutes to spare, sit down and write something different. Something you don't usually write, maybe something you don't even read. For me it was a romantic short story written on a bet, and I was surprised at how hard it was to write. I've always known little details were a weak point of mine, and trying to hit at attraction or feelings subtly really brought that fact to attention.<br />
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So if you usually write romance, take a shot at horror. If you love horror, take a shot at comedy. If you want, share your work or what you learned in the comments. Even if it comes out as poorly written as mine did, trying and experimenting is how writers get better, right? Well, that's my two cents for the day. Back to sorting algorithms and proofs.<br />
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*Cries*William Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323256287600942828noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451879850874610574.post-52703815693182573252013-04-02T13:44:00.002-07:002013-04-03T16:28:17.316-07:00Chapter 2: Deal With the Devil <span id="internal-source-marker_0.7151635745540261"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I don’t make deals with spirits,” Sebastian said, pushing the journal away. He realized a moment later the journal was Master Ellard’s and snatched it from the spirit’s hands.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You haven’t even heard what I’m offering,” Ezra said with an exaggerated pout as he circled around them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Whatever it is, it’s not worth it,” Haley said. “Nothing good comes from dealing with spirits.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Well, alright then,” Ezra said, shrugging. “I just hope you’ll be able to care for poor little Alicia on your own.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What do you mean?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It should be obvious by now.” Ezra approached the desk and leaned against it with both hands. “Gaston Ellard is gone, spirited away by who knows what. Without him, your apprenticeship will end, unless you can find another kind soul to take you in as your master. Without your apprenticeship, you go back to being a gifted young man, wasting away in poverty, and Alicia goes with you.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“And you can keep that from happening?” Sebastian hesitated. “Just what are you offering?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“My help. I will give you what you need to find Lord Ellard.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“And what do you want in return?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ezra spun toward him and grinned. “I need a job done, and something tells me you’re just the man to ask.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What is it?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I need you to find a man. Gaston Ellard.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“That’s it?” Sebastian blinked. “You want... huh?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I need you to find your master. In exchange, I’ll help you find your master. Everybody wins.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What do you get out of it? Why do you want me to find him?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Well, it’d be a lot of work to find him on my own, wouldn’t it?” Ezra sighed. “I’m just not as young as I used to be.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“But why do you want him found at all?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We were working together on something.” Ezra circled the desk, sweeping his hand over the piles of journals and notes. The mirror behind the desk caught his eye and he paused to smile at his own reflection. He turned back to Sebastian, absentmindedly brushing his fingers through his hair. “He is and always has been one of the best. For a human.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Why would Master Ellard be working with someone like you? He always told me not to trust spirits.” Sebastian glanced at Brooks as he spoke. The cat floated helplessly in the corner, unable to balance inside the frictionless bubble.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“That does sound like something he’d say.” Ezra said, slowly stroking his chin. “Not that I can blame him. I mean, he knew me.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Why don’t you just find him yourself?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’m busy. There’s a whole world out there. Deals to make, lives to ruin, candy to steal. I can’t go running off every time a geezer gets himself kidnapped, can I?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Is that all?” Sebastian asked, crossing his arms in what he hoped was a defiant pose.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You don’t believe me?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I told you already, I don’t trust spirits. This tower is protected by some of the most powerful wards ever artificed, some of which are directly aimed at beings like you. Just coming in here couldn’t have been easy, which means this is important to you. Even if it weren’t, finding Master Ellard should actually be easier than slipping past the Academy’s defenses.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ezra clapped his hands once, beaming. “Oh, I can see why he likes you. The truth is a can’t find him, and I have no idea why. It’s like he vanished from this plane of existence.” Ezra stepped out from behind the desk and offered his hand. “So, do we have a deal?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What, no contract? No signing in my own blood?” Sebastian asked, arms still crossed in front of him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Do I look old fashioned to you? I save the contracts for buying souls.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sebastian looked back at the bubble in the corner. “What do you think, Brooks?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Oh, he can’t hear you. It’s soundproof.” Brooks noticed the group watching him and barred his fangs at the spirit. “He doesn’t like me very much.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’d like his opinion on the matter.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Oh, that’s an easy one.” Ezra waved his hand dismissively. “If he could hear us, he’d be saying, ‘don’t take the deal.’ Of course, we both know you will.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Why?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ezra leaned in closer. “Because there’s a little girl with no parents, waiting for her big brother to come home and tell her everything’s going to be alright.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”Don’t listen to him,” Haley said, touching Sebastian on the shoulder.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Hush. Let him make the decision on his own.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“For all we know, he's behind your master's </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">disappearance</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">.These deals are never what they seem,” she continued.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You know what they say about spirits. When someone makes a deal and becomes a witch, they’re cursed. Pain and misery follows them around, and it kills them in the end. Just like it did with Haley’s mother. That is the risk of accepting my help. What’s the risk of turning away?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ezra offered his hand again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You live in one of two worlds, Sebastian. A golden world where magic has ushered in a new industrial age. The rich get richer. The quality of life improves. Things are possible today that would have been a ludicrous dream ten years ago. Here in the shining capitol of industry, where even an apprentice will never go hungry.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ezra tilted his head toward the closest window. “And outside this brilliant city, the poor get poorer. You promised, didn’t you? You promised her that she’d never have to go back to that.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A moment passed in silence, and Sebastian took the spirit’s hand in his own. “I’m going to find him. If that’s all you’re asking for, then you can help.” Haley sighed beside him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Excellent. To begin, I have two presents for you. The first is the mirror.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The mirror?” Sebastian asked.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yes, I believe Gaston already gave it to you?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yeah. But it’s broken. I don’t even know what it does.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“That makes two of us, but he’s been obsessed with it for the past few days. I think there’s a reason he wanted you to have it. Second is her.” Ezra waved a hand in Haley’s direction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Sorry, what?” Sebastian asked.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Her. She’ll help you. Investigate, fight, get you coffee, whatever you might need.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The hell I will,” Haley snapped. “He might be dumb enough to trust you, but I’m not. I’m not going to have anything to do with this.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ezra held a hand up, opening and closing it rapidly as though to mimic a mouth. “How about I make you a deal?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“No.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Why does no one hear me out first?” Ezra sighed. “I promise it’s a good one.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’m sure it is. That’s exactly why I’m not</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Be quiet.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Haley cut off. Her mouth moved for a few more times, trying to form words, but she was completely silent. She clutched at her throat, eyes wide with panic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What did you do to her?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I told her to shut up,” Ezra said. “Compelled might be a good word.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Spirit’s don’t have that kind of power.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“They do when they’ve made a deal with someone.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Haley didn’t make a deal,” Sebastian said. “Her mother did.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I know that.” Ezra whipped his hand forward and a roll of paper unfurled in his grasp. “I made quite a profit on that one, too. Good for one firstborn child.” He moved closer to Haley, turning the contract up so she could see the signature.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Surely you didn’t think this power came freely? You must have known there was a price. But I’m not without sympathy. I’ll make you a new deal. Help Sebastian, and I’ll tear up your mother’s contract.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Haley glared silently at him and tried to snatch the contract away. It vanished before she could touch it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Glare at me all you want, it won’t change anything. Right now, I own you, and this is your only chance to change that.” Haley glared at him a moment longer before shaking his hand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
William Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323256287600942828noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451879850874610574.post-4936912253624730602013-03-28T09:21:00.001-07:002013-03-28T12:14:36.442-07:00Chapter 1: The Apprentice and the Witch <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first chapter of my work in progress, which doesn't have a name yet. Any feedback is welcome and appreciated. To those of you who know me from other sites, I came up with the character Ezra before I started using it as a screen name, and he's not meant to be me.</span><span id="internal-source-marker_0.45049910666421056"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CHAPTER 1: The Apprentice and the Witch </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The mirror was broken. Not cracked; it simply wasn’t working. Sebastian sighed and wiped at his eyes. A few moments later his reflection did the same.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What do you think?” he asked, turning to look at the cat sitting on the table. It was huge, with lean muscle and shiny black fur. It stared at him wordlessly with deep, amber eyes. “A lot of good you are.” He leaned forward and tapped on the glass. His reflection tapped back silently.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I have no idea what’s wrong with it,” Sebastian admitted. “I’ll work on it in the morning.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The cat hissed and leapt silently to the floor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Alright, alright,” he said, holding his hands up in surrender. “Who needs sleep anyway?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The cat turned away with a dismissive flick of its tail and sauntered out of the room.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Damn slave driver,” Sebastian grumbled</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> under his breath before turning back to the mirror. He absentmindedly brushed his hair from his eyes before placing his palm gently against the glass. A faint blue light trickled from between his fingers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As an apprentice artificer, he’d been working with magical objects for two years. He’d advanced quickly, but every so often his master would send a particularly difficult job his way. The mirror was more complex than anything he’d ever seen, and he was no closer to fixing it than when he’d started. He didn’t even know what it was supposed to do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Minutes dragged by as he studied the mirror from every angle, muttering to himself. The candle flickered, sending the shadows of his workroom into violent dances. He slipped deeper into his seat and his eyes fluttered closed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was well after midnight when he awoke. He suppressed a yawn and pushed himself out of the chair. A quick glance around the room told him that he was alone, which was all the invitation he needed to go finish the night in his bed. He blew out the candle, stepped out into the hall, and ran face first into the burglar. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He stumbled back in surprise. His first thought was that Alicia was wandering the house, but the shadowy figure in front of him was much too tall to be his little sister. Before he could think of another explanation, the intruder punched him in the face.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sebastian reeled back, hitting the door frame as the intruder turned to run up the stairs. He stumbled after, lip stinging and the taste of blood on his tongue. “Stop!” he called thickly. The figure ignored him, climbing to the second floor landing. He reached the top of the stairs and held his breath to listen. Nothing moved in the darkness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A door at the end of the hall opened and a young girl stepped out, rubbing at her eyes. “Sebby? I heard yelling.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sebastian crossed over to her and gently pushed her back into the room. “It’s nothing,” he said, leaning to pat her gently on the head. “Go back to bed Alicia. Lock the door and don’t open it until I tell you to.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Why?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Just do it, please?”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“‘Kay,” she mumbled, pushing the door with both hands. Sebastian waited until he heard the lock slide into place. His sister mumbled through the door, “Brooks is gonna get you if you keep making noise.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yeah, yeah. Go to bed.” Sebastian pulled away from the door to search the other rooms, but a sudden blinding pain exploded at the back of his skull. The hall twisted as the ground rushed up to meet him. He blinked wearily while a steading ringing sounded in his ears. He was vaguely aware of somebody pulling on his arms and legs, and his head bounced off the steps as he was moved.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The ringing died away as his vision swam back into focus. He’d been dragged into the kitchen and was lying on his stomach with his wrists tied behind his back. He stretched his neck to get a good look at the room, but the movement sent a new surge of pain through his head. He moaned.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Sorry about that,” a young woman said behind him. “I wasn’t expecting you to wake up.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What are you doing here?”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Shopping,” she answered. “I have to admit, I’m a little disappointed.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Well then, you’re a lousy thief. I’m just a poor apprentice. Do you want me to point you toward my master’s home?”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The woman laughed softly. “I think I’ll pass. So, what does this do?”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sebastian waited for her to continue, and shook his head when she didn’t. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“This mirror. This is odd.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Yeah, it’s broken. If you’re looking for an artifact, there’s a self-lighting candlestick in the study that should fetch a decent price. Just take it and leave.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">There was a long pause before she asked, “That was an artifact?”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Was?” Sebastian groaned, his head throbbing. He managed to lean to his side and look up at her. The woman was a little older than him, nineteen or so, with straight black hair and green eyes. Her face was angular with high, sharp cheekbones . She held herself with a certain nonchalance, and grinned at him when their eyes met. She tossed a bent candlestick onto the ground beside him.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Sorry,” Sebastian said casually. “There’s not a whole lot else to steal here. You should probably just go before Brooks gets back.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Brooks?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“He’s a friend of my master. Lives here too. Mean old bastard. You really don’t want to be here when he gets back.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The woman’s grin widened. “Liar. I watched this place for three days. Nobody else lives here.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Three whole days and you get to walk out with a broken candlestick. You really are a lousy thief.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You’re pretty mouthy for being tied up like that.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sebastian managed a lopsided shrug. “You should get out of here.” He paused a moment and sighed. “Too late.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The woman cast a quick glance over her shoulder before turning back to him. “Make this easy for both of us, and I can be on my way. Tell me where</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sebastian watched as a dark shape flew through the air, slamming into the woman. Her head snapped back and she dropped to the floor. Almost fifty pounds of black cat landed on top of her. It leapt to the floor and circled around him. He winced as sharp claws scraped across his wrists, but with a short tug, the cords holding him snapped.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Is she dead?” he asked, sitting up and wincing as his head throbbed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The cat gave her a quick look before answering in a deep voice. “No. Tie her up. She smells like a witch, so block her magic.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sebastian lifted the thief into a sitting position and used some copper wire from a bin on the table to tie her wrists together. He then wrapped the wire around each wrist a dozen times before pressing his hands to the thick bands of wire. A faint glow bled from between his fingers, and when he moved his hands away, the wire had melded into solid metal bracelets. She tried to pull away, but the blow had left her dazed.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brooks examined the bands with a practiced eye. “A little rough, but passable.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sebastian crossed to a spout on the wall, filled a glass with water, and dumped it over her head. She let out a startled gasp, arching away from the cold water as her eyes snapped into focus. He turned to Brooks. “Should I go ahead and call the city guard?”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Not just yet,” the cat answered. “I think we should take her to Gaston in the morning.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sebastian nodded and settled down in his chair. After a few minutes he looked back to the thief. “So, Brooks here thinks you’re a witch.” She turned her gaze downward, which he took as a confirmation. “We’re not going to hurt you.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Probably,” Brooks said, earning himself a pair of angry looks. He ignored them and curled up in the corner.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“They say the witches are cursed,” Sebastian said. “That plagues and disaster follow in their wake. You don’t exactly look plague-ridden.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“That is an imperfect explanation,” Brooks said. “It’s the spirits that cause pain wherever they go.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sebastian nodded. The spirits were common knowledge, even among the lower class. Witches made deals with the spirits to gain their power, but it rarely worked in their favor. “What deal did you make?”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I didn’t. I’m a second generation witch. My mother made a deal with a spirit before I was born. It killed her in the end.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Oh. I’m sorry,” Sebastian said. She shrugged and they fell silent. After another few minutes, he asked, “So, what should we call you?” She looked at him with an arched eyebrow and he continued, “I mean, if you’d prefer not to tell us, we could just call you ‘thief’, or ‘witch’, or maybe ‘hey, you’.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">She sighed. “Haley.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Well, it’s almost dawn. Master Ellard should be awake by now.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Wouldn’t it be easier to just give me to the watch?”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“And deprive a lord of the Academy the right to personally oversee his estate?” Brooks asked. “Perish the thought.” </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sebastian pulled Haley to her feet and began to lead her to the door. “Come on, Sebby was it?”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Sebastian,” he corrected her, shoulders stiffening at the reminder of how close she’d been to Alicia.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Sebastian, there was no harm done, right?”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Don’t bother appealing to me. What the cat says goes.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You’re kidding,” she said.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sebastian held an arm up in answer, showing her the dozens of faint white scars crisscrossing his skin. “It’s easier to just shut up and do what he says. Don’t worry. Master Ellard is a good man. Strict at times, but he isn’t cruel.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“If you two are done talking,” Brooks said, pushing his way through the catflap on the front door. Sebastian opened it and led Haley into the cool morning.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Academy towered over the nearby buildings: a monolith of dark stone reaching toward the heavens. They walked for another ten minutes after the building came into view before finally stopping at its doors. Brooks led them wordlessly past the guards and up into the dim halls.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The precision of the tower’s construction had always impressed Sebastian the most. The perfect cut of each stone, the even spacing and gentle curve of the steps. The skill and patience of the artificers was evident in every inch of their home. They climbed the perfect stone steps, guided by bright crystals embedded into the wall every few steps. The masters’ living quarters were near the top of the tower.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The front room of Gaston Ellard’s quarters were in disarray. A chair had been knocked across the room. Papers had been scattered and the table overturned. A bookshelf laid on its side, its contents spilling out across the rug. Brooks’s ears flattened against his skull as he slinked further into the room.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What happened?” Sebastian asked under his breath. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brooks ignored him and led them further in. A short hall led to two rooms, Master Ellard’s bedroom and his study. The study door was ajar and a faint rustling came from beyond. Sebastian eased it open gently.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A young man with short, wavy hair stood before his master’s desk, rifling through a stack of personal journals. He reached the end of one and flung it carelessly over his shoulder before starting on the next.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brooks darted into the room, barely more than a dark blur. He launched himself at the intruder’s back with an angry hiss. The young man turned, bringing his hand up in an almost lazy gesture. Brooks slammed into an invisible force with a surprised grunt and a bubble shimmered into being around him.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Well, this is a pleasant surprise,” the man said, rapping the bubble with his knuckles to send it drifting across the room. Brooks clawed uselessly at the prison.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Who are you?” Sebastian asked. “How did you get through the wards, and where is Master Ellard?”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The lovely Haley,” the man said, crossing the room. “How good to see you.” He reached out, but she pulled away.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“How do you know me?” she asked.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Oh, I don’t. Not yet, anyway. But I knew your mother well.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Haley glanced at the bubble he’d effortlessly trapped Brooks in. “You’re Ezra, aren’t you? The spirit she made a deal with?”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“The one and the same,” he said, turning away from them.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What are you doing here? That deal was between you and her, I have nothing to do with it.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Debatable</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">,” Ezra said, reaching the desk and lifting one of the journals. “But that’s neither here nor there. You see, I’m not actually here about you.”</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Between one moment and the next, the spirit vanished. There was no light or sound, he just stopped being there. Sebastian blinked. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A hand grabbed his shoulder gently, and he flinched. “You see,” Ezra continued, reaching around to hold the journal in front of Sebastian, “I have a job for you.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>William Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323256287600942828noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451879850874610574.post-78918222613515666832013-03-28T07:01:00.003-07:002013-03-28T07:19:31.770-07:00A New Blog for a New ProjectHello everyone, and welcome to my new blog, Left Write and Center. Don't look at me like that, all the good names were taken. I'll be posting work on my newest project here, as well as ramblings, lessons I learn about writing, and detailing my trip through the publishing process.<br />
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While I hope my writing will speak for itself, it wouldn't hurt to talk a little bit about myself. I'm a college student majoring in computer science, and I've been in love with storytelling for as long as I can remember. I've completed two novels, though I've never been published. The only novel I've submitted to agents was far from being ready, and I still have the rejection letters around somewhere for when I need a good laugh. I've spent the past year or so working on my craft with stories I have no intention of publishing, and I think it's time to dive back in with a new idea.<br />
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Man the coffee maker, stock the pantries, and hold on tight.William Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323256287600942828noreply@blogger.com1