13th July 2009, 13:48

The park in Hradčany

Prague, The Czech Republic

'Why were you so harsh on her, Sophie?', Lok asked when Zhalia vanished from their sight.

'Me, harsh?', Sophie said innocently. 'I don't know what you're talking about.'

'She didn't want to break those windows…', the boy defended. 'Besides, she did it to help us, right? I suppose it justifies her…'

'She didn't even offer to pay off the part of the cost', Sophie snarled. 'As if she thought it was only our duty.'

'We should just thank her for the save that way…', Lok was proving it unshakably. 'If you want, I'll contribute to the repayment with my pocket money. You'll just have to wait until Monday, I've already spent the last one…', he added more quietly, scratching his head.

'That's not the point!', Sophie got angry. 'It's just… ah!', she raised her hands, then lowered them in a helpless way. 'We were supposed not to let anybody in on our mission yet you almost spilled the beans to her!'

'Zhalia's a Foundation Seeker', Lok noticed, 'so she sorta is in it already. And if she hadn't interfered, we'd have been in a spot…'

Sophie pouted her lips scornfully. She didn't find a counterargument for that.

'Such accidental acquaintances don't do any good', she threw in.

'Seekers should obtain as many useful contacts as they can', Dante denied, seeing that he wouldn't avoid interfering. 'You never know when they can come in handy.'

'Why didn't you think about it earlier? We could've asked Huntik agents from Prague to help us', Sophie said with a slight complaint.

'It appeared to me that we will manage in a four-man squad', he started with emphasis, 'especially with a bit of discretion. However, it's getting clear that the Organization knew about our plans. That's why I judged that meeting Zhalia works in our favour. Particularly because it turned out quite naturally.'

'Too naturally', Sophie noticed sourly. 'She's on a mission yet she leaves everything and comes to our aid? That's a bit fishy.'

'She said that actually she's been almost done with her job', Lok reminded her. 'Anyway, what's the difference how she got through to us? That's her business, and the Foundation big wigs that sent her. For us, the most important thing is that she helped us with the Suits.'

'Sure, after all, she was so amazing!', Sophie mocked him. 'Even better than me!'

'Oh gee, I didn't mean it!', Lok turned all red. 'I mean that… uhm… she used the Titans I've never ever seen before… and you can't say that this trick with the doors wasn't a real blast!'

'Literally', Sophie remarked tartly, still unconvinced. 'You're so easy to charm…'

'It's not the best time for arguments', Dante broke in before the quarrel got worse. 'We have to decide what we're gonna do now. The sun will set after few hours. Until then, we have to hide somewhere.'

'Why won't we just go to the local Foundation compound?', Sophie asked, addressing him.

'Knowing that the Organization is hard on our heels?', Dante shook his head with doubt. 'We can't lead them to the Huntik hideout. If they found it, they'd wipe itoff the map in a few seconds. They've got a huge advantage here, in Prague. Let's not give them the chance to use it.'

'Why won't we go sightseeing?', Lok proposed with zeal. 'I've never been to Czech Republic before!'

'Actually… Me neither', Sophie confessed. 'I've always wanted to visit Loreta and see its carillon…'

Lok apparently didn't have any idea what his peer was talking about, because he only goggled at her.

'Well, in fact I meant Strahov, the biggest football stadium in the world…', he said frankly.

'If you think I'll spend the whole time watching turf and terraces…', Sophie started angrily, putting both hands onto her hips in a way that showed her irritation.

'There's four of us, let's vote', Lok withdrew quickly not to start another oral fight. 'What do you prefer, Cherit?', he reeled up to the gargoyle.

'I have a hang-up about arenas after the Coloseum', Titan stated with distaste, wagging his tail. 'I'd rather go to a more peaceful place…'

Lok puffed with discontent, but right after that he reminded himself that everything wasn't lost yet.

'But Dante, you want to see the stadium, do you?', he turned to his mentor, seeking support. 'Just think about it, the Pink Floyd performed there…', he enticed him with this vision.

Then, in 1994, Dante was fourteen and hadn't even got addicted to the music yet, putting sports above it. Besides, during his youth Nirvana ruled. He furrowed one eyebrow; did he really seem so old for them that they rated him among their parents' generation?!

'I choose Loreta', he responded indifferently, ignoring Lok's bright stare; the boy was sure about the win.

'What?!', the disappointed lad moaned, the sparks in his eyes vanished like blown-out matches. 'You gotta be kidding me!'

'It makes no sense to take a roundabout way, we'll stay in Hradčany', Vale decided. 'Sophie will see Loreta, as she wishes, and you'll learn something, too. A bit of knowledge won't harm you. That's the Seekers' most effective weapon.'

'But it feels like school, and the holiday's started already…', Lok defended his opinion tooth and nail.

'Not yet, just in two weeks', Dante corrected. 'Besides, one, especially a Seeker, learns the whole life… because otherwise he can lose it', he added warningly.

The boy opened his mouth, thought for some time, shut it, then opened again, and finally he sighed, not finding the counterargument.

'Oh maaaan…', he moaned, giving up. 'Fine, if you're putting it this way… Luckily, at least we're doing something interesting in the evening!'

The same day, 14:31

Loreta

Hradčany

Prague, The Czech Republic

Dante quickly started to regret that he hadn't chosen Lok's proposition and admired the stadium. He didn't have anything against tours with a guide, but Sophie's constant blabbering ripped the walk off its unique charm, outshadowing even the beautiful weather, clear sky and peace of the sacral complex surrounding them.

'Oh, just look at those carvings! Did you know that earlier this wall was covered in paintings? Just in the 17th century countess Elizabeth Apolonia Kolowrat paid for the panels we're watching now', Sophie speechified tirelessly, pointing at the next monuments. 'The famous monstrance incrusted with 6222 diamonds was also made in that period…'

A loud beep interrupted her elucidation.

'Lok!', she hissed, turning around with a reproachful face. 'There are chapels around here, you could turn your phone off!'

'Sorry', Dante touched his pocket when the holotome was hidden, 'it's for me. The Foundation. Don't disturb yourselves.'

Not giving them enough time to protest, he left them on the square with the fountain near the small holy house (which, as Sophie informed him, was designed by his fellow countryman, Giovanni Orsi) and hid in the shadow of the simple, smooth arcades. Choosing Loreta instead of the stadium definitely had its advantages – it was visited by less people, so he could expect some privacy. He sat on the low wall, leaning on the partition with his back, and drew out the holotome; then he raised it in front of his eyes and supported it with his knee.

A faint, greenish hologram rose from the open device. At first the view was blurring too much to recognize anything, but eventually the stripes stopped moving and formed an image of a fair-haired man in the prime of life, with a very wide face and flat cheekbones which gave him a straightforward, hale and hearty look of a folk guy. The picture was completed with small, blue eyes and stocky build.

'Dante!', the portly fellow shouted at his sight. 'Finally! What the heck was going on with you?! A moment ago, I received a message that the whole Prague hotel was put into a coma, and you and those youngsters could not be found among the victims! Can you imagine what I've been through?!'

'Nice to see you too, Guggenheim', Vale smirked.

'Be serious!', the man reproached him. 'You've gotten into a scrape again, haven't you?'

'Not voluntarily', Dante said sincerely. 'DeFoe's men must've been spying on us when they sniffed out that we bought tickets to Prague. I sent Solwing for a scout, but I didn't predict that they'd have attacked us in a secured hotel.'

'As if you didn't know that no place can guarantee you perfect safety…', the man called Guggenheim heaved a sigh, loosening his tie. 'However, you managed to get out of it if I can see you all in one piece.'

'Luckily, we got help from Zhalia Moon', Dante said, accentuating the name, and became all ears, waiting for his superior's reaction.

'Oh, so you've finally met Zhalia!', Guggenheim smiled widely.

'Do you know her well?', Dante inquired, quite curious about an opinion from the headquarters' chief.

'She's been working with us for a while. I introduced her to the Foundation ways myself, though she seemed to have some experience in handling her powers. She stayed here in America for a while, as an intelligence division member, but during a few missions she's taken, she showed her efficiency in the field too... Once we even had a mission together, I've mentioned it to you', Guggenheim added, a bit dissatisfied that his friend had forgotten about that. 'But do I really know her well?', he thought, raising his eyes. 'Hm, I wouldn't say that we're friends, since she mostly keeps to herself, but we spent enough time together to conclude that she's a brilliant operative. And a very attractive, smart girl', the Swiss emphasized, looking forward again as if he had been waiting for a comment.

'Indeed', Dante murmured laconically. 'Could you send me her detailed dossier from the database?'

'How detailed?'

'At least her skills, Titans, a mission list.'

'I guess I can do as much', the Huntik agent accepted joyfully. 'But you'll have to work for the phone number on your own!', he joked.

'I've already got it', Vale confessed slowly and not so willingly, knowing what would come next.

'Well, well, well!', the fair-haired man laughed heartily. 'Nothing's changed. You're attracting women's attention like a magnet.'

'Give it a break', Dante rolled his eyes, annoyed. 'I just want to make sure that the mission will be successful. And with my current team it's…', he stopped and waved his hand dismissively. 'Nevermind. I have to go to them, I'd rather not leave them in a city full of Suits for too long.'

'Obviously', Guggenheim nodded, his fingers had been dancing on the keyboard for a while. Dante's holotome beeped and brightened for a second. 'Here you go, those are Zhalia's records.'

'Thanks', Dante said shortly. 'I'll try to keep in touch, but it may not be so easy.'

'I can forgive you that if you won't get into any trouble again', Guggenheim warned him.

'Can't promise that… See you', he said his goodbye quickly and cut the connection. Guggenheim's face disappeared. A file with awaited document showed instead.

Zhalia Moon, he read the bold headline and scrolled down. He stopped at the picture – she hadn't changed much since it was taken, so probably she hadn't been in the Foundation for too long…

Joined the Foundation on: 13th March, 2006

Three years? How come he had heard about her so little? Hm, or maybe he didn't listen carefully enough… Surely Guggenheim was giving him the newest info about the Foundation's inner issues, he valued Dante's opinion on the changes and they both enjoyed a good discussion how to improve the association. However, Dante hadn't had much chances to meet the American operatives in person, especially the new ones; his field of work was mostly Europe and Asia, sometimes, and he haven't been to America in quite some time.

He continued reading

ID: 2006-03-10-314-079. Status: operative under contract. Base of operation: not determined.

So, a freelancer. She must've simply not participated in enough missions to rise to fame she deserved, according to Guggenheim. Either from lack of time or of willingness.

Bonded Titans: Gareon; Strix; Kilthane.

Hm, kinda short list for such a specialist… But not the amount, only the quality counts. Very few in the Foundation could form a satisfying bond with a Gareon or Strix. Though relatively common and easy to invoke, they were too capricious to handle, raising the possibility of misbehavior during the critical moments of the missions. He also hadn't met a person who'd have a Kilthane; though the researchers estimated their amulets to be densely placed all around the British Isles, in reality, finding one bordered with a miracle, due to their hideouts: treasuries turned into dangerous ruins or far away caves in the scraggy cliffs.

But Zhalia had taken control over all those unusual Titans and, what was more important, she had forced them to work with her so effectively that other subordinates, as he had noticed, were unnecessary for her.

He scrolled down again and opened his eyes wider in shock. The list of spells known by Zhalia was impressive even for him. He stroked his beard, skimming through them and developing greater respect for his new acquaintance, which only raised when he started to pore over her mission reports. She couldn't boast about their amount, but the tasks she had finished definitely weren't the easiest. Agent Moon apparently had a liking to difficult cases and maybe she was wearing herself out because of them, not participating in the playing for newbies. She had thrown herself in at the deep end right from the start… She had to like challenges. And have an immense talent.

Someone like that would be a great counterbalance for Lok and Sophie's inexperience…

Dante closed the holotome and looked at the sky, automatically tapping his fingers onto the device. Finally, he hid it in his pocket. Instead he drew out the cellphone and a tissue folded in half. The leaked ink hadn't erased the signs completely, though one of them seemed neither like a nine nor eight. He risked, choosing the first association.

He stood up before he put the phone to his ear, and then he started to walk in circles. Listening to the connecting sound, he planned a strategy. After all, a Seeker had one for every occasion. Even something like that.

The same day, 14:49

Hradčany

Prague, The Czech Republic

My phone rings right when I've finally got my fries. I know, I know that when you're abroad, you should try local dishes, but Czech cuisine doesn't really suit my tastes. Luckily fast food is everywhere, so I don't have to starve.

I hope it's not Klaus. I ordered my quasi-victims – the Suits (who luckily ran away from the hotel before the Huntik guys appeared) - to report and tell him that I'll contact him later, because I don't have anything to add for now. They whined a bit that first I beat them, then I was treating them like errand boys, but they didn't refuse. Is Klaus really so impatient not to listen to my subtle suggestions of leaving me alone for a while?

I take out the phone with one hand and open the flip. An ex-directory… but I know who's that anyway. I answer the phone immediately.

'Hello?', I threw in with my most natural, yet charming voice, brining the cell to my ear.

No one responds for a moment, so I have a time to find myself a comfortable place to sit in a niche of a crumbling townhouse out of the main way. I wait patiently. I'm great at it. Just like a hunter prowling to get the prey.

'Hm, good afternoon, Zhalia…', a low, male voice says finally; although it sounds a bit different through the phone, I've already known it. 'It's Dante. Dante Vale', he adds officially.

'Oh, hi. I recognized you.' Or rather: I guessed right before you even spoke. Anyway, I gave you my number, and you're not someone special to resist me, are you?

'I don't want to bother you…', he starts cautiously as if he was trying to check my reaction, too. He didn't seem so shy in reality… If he is going to sneak like that, he won't say it until the evening.

'Need help?', I ask without hesitation.

Silence. A short cough in the background, which might have been an unisono laughter.

'I thought I'd make some kind of intro…', he murmurs, a bit embarrassed with my straightforwardness yet, seemingly, quite amused. 'I've got a whole speech prepared.'

'Sorry I spoilt it.' I hope that it's heard in my voice that I'm smiling. 'I just suspected what you're calling for. But don't mind me and keep going, I'll listen to your arguments with pleasure', I add playfully.

'I don't have many of them', he says with disarming sincerity. 'I just need someone more capable than my charges. You know, they're newbies. And with the Organization on our heels… It's a bit difficult to worry about them not getting into any troubles and finding at the Golem in the same time. That's why I wondered if you'd be so kind…'

'Alright, I get it', I interrupt before the stream of conventionalities starts to flow again. 'I'll join you.'

'However… it's not an official Foundation mission', he accentuates.

Oh, I understand. So I won't get any money.

'How come?', I ask.

'It's a bit… complicated.' Yeah, like always when one doesn't want to say something. 'But if you really care about the reward, I'll inform Sophie. She hired me to solve this case and she pays for all the expenses.'

The redhead pays him? Huh, a rich preppie if she can afford a secret operative's services… However, Dante sounds as if he didn't really enjoy that fact.

'That's not the matter', I respond. In fact I really expected that I'd get some cash, but I can't really tell him that, can I? I play an angel of altruism. 'I'm just surprised. You said you seek the Ancient Amulet of Will… The Foundation should pay for the quest of finding the greatest artifact in Seekers' history, shouldn't it?', I try to make it sound as a polite astonishment how one refuses to support the science development, and not like a gibe that Huntik is a bunch of niggards.

'Let's just say it's a private initiative.' Oh crap, all those euphemisms, cultured subterfuges and general terms he uses during the talk piss me off a bit. Just get to the point or shut up already! 'It's possible it'll pay off someday. But if it doesn't suit you, of course…'

'So when are we gonna meet?', I break in 'cause I slowly stop tolerating all his blabbering.

I hear that he lets out a held-back breath with relief.

'The sunset was announced at nine or so. Could you get there before half past nine?'

'I'll come even earlier', I promise solemnly.

'There's no need to, really…'

It sounds as if he was going to ask me for that but couldn't rush me into doing it because of being such a well-mannered, sophisticated and oh-what-an-awesome guy. Yuk. I hate hypocrites.

'I will.'

Then it gets silent. I suppose it's his breath humming in the speaker.

'Your presence will make many things easier for sure. I'm really grateful, Zhalia.'

Alright, alright, stop it because I really get sick of it, and my fries are waiting and can't go to waste.

'No problem', I respond lightly. 'See you later, Dante.'

'Yes… See you.'

He disconnects. Finally. If we removed half of the blandishments and pleasantries, this talk would last fifteen seconds at most. And my grub wouldn't get cold. Fine, just one thing more and I'll relax. I write a short message and send it to Klaus. Then, with a sigh of relief, I drop the phone to my pocket and reach for the pure potato pleasure instead. I deserve that. And to have the fries going to my tits.

The same day, 21:28

The central cemetery

Hradčany

Prague, The Czech Republic

The clouds sliding on the sky, dimming the moonlight or covering the full moon completely to leave the area in the reign of mysterious shadows sneaking in the darkness, among moss-stained graves made of gray stone, between reality and nightmare…

And me in the foreground, nonchalantly leaning on the shabby tombstone.

Such an ideal combination.

It would be more ideal if I wasn't standing here alone like an idiot. I don't mind loneliness, I don't have chills at mere thought about the surrounding corpses rising from the dead and catching me by the ankle, I like enjoying the night melancholy in my own companionship, but if I had decided to meet the dream team, they could've shown their ugly mugs already! I hate tardiness. Or rather: I hate the others' tardiness when I got here so punctually.

I catch a short, quickly dimming brightness with a corner of my eye. I hear the gate cracking and a murmur of lowered voices. So, they finally moved their butts! They're getting closer. They're making careful steps; their shoes sink in the soft soil.

'…in the middle of a city!', the blonde sounds surprised.

'That's why all the graves are part on the top of each other; there's no room!', the redhead's sharp, conceited voice responds.

'There'll be room enough for more if you're not careful', I remark out loud, not making a move – so what, let's make those late lazy-butts scared. Maybe they will piss their pants.

The little princess directs the flashlight to me; the brightness stops somewhere at my belly.

'Zhalia!', Sophie recognizes me. 'Are you stalking us?', she attacks me, giving away her discontent at once.

'Take it easy', Dante throws in, stopping her from asking such questions with a gesture. 'I asked her to come, alright?', he explains with a reprimand in his voice.

'What?!', the shocked girl shouts; it takes her a while to accept this info. Oh my, no one told her? I'm so sorry… But it's a bit strange, as well. Does Dante really fear those kids so much to hide his actions from them?

Nevermind, it's not my business why he lets them boss him around (though I suppose it's due to Sophie transferring money to his account). I approach him very closely, stretching my leg out a little and almost stroking his hand with my fingers, just to reach the border of his intimate space. Enough for him to sense me and get wired by my presence, not enough for us to touch.

'Prague is a hostile place', I explain, letting Sophie feel that I know something about it. 'Foundation operatives have to stay close', I add, raising my stare to Dante.

'Not that close!', Sophie protests energetically, jerking the flashlight up.

Ouuuuch! That bitch did it on purpose! I raise my hand to cover my squinted eyes; my pupils are shrinking rapidly and very painfully. You'll pay for that…

'Come on, Sophie', Lok interrupts, apparently a bit disgusted with his peer's behavior, 'with her help we'll have a better chance of finding the Amulet of Will AND my dad!', he accentuates strongly.

Oh no, I'm gonna go crazy, I think, rubbing my lids which still itch a bit. An Italian cowboy, a vain princess with superiority complex and the protagonist right from the teenage soap opera. Damn them all for pissing me off!

'You've some faith, kid', I can't hold back a biting remark. What, if you wanted me to be nice, why did you make me so angry?! 'You must've had a pretty easy life.'

'I DID', Lok underlines, 'but… I'm a Seeker now.'

Yeah, I saw it myself. If hiding here and there during a fight was considered being a Seeker, my career would have started in the early childhood.

'We'll see', I just say.

Dante moves anxiously and turns around, turning his flashlight on. He gets the whole attention now, mine as well. And I've just thought that he got paralyzed realizing that he almost smoothed my hip…

'Jodis Lore's tomb is this way', he says emotionlessly. 'Keep your eyes peeled.'

And that's all for the comment. But from his behavior only, I can conclude that he doesn't like the atmosphere in the team. Shit, I don't want him to regret that he invited me to his jolly group… I have to do something to show my best side. Hope I'll have a chance.

Finding the tomb doesn't take us much time – someone (meaning: Dante!) prepared for the mission perfectly! Besides, the grave differs from the others – mainly due to its size. Besides, it wasn't squeezed by the others, just had some space left around it. People show their respect in odd ways –when you live, you have to fight for your place on Earth, and when you die, you get it nevertheless.

The youngsters rashly surround the tomb, assisted by Cherit who sits on the stone, examining it from above. I'll leave them the dirty part; I'm here not to dig into the earth or wipe the dusty marble with my knees. Dante also plays the boss here. He's got his cheap labor to do the grunt work - or maybe it's like some odd way of teaching the kids to put some more effort into their discoveries – anyway, his short order: 'Take a closer look at the grave' is enough for them.

'It's just a normal inscription', Sophie notices after further examination, touching the tombstone.

'Lok, wasn't there something in your journal about the Golem?', Cherit asks with resignation, sweeping the ground with his tail.

Lok takes out a thick, brown notebook full of shabby bookmarks, which looks as if it has been drowned in the toilet recently. Yuk.

'I've been trying to make it out, but the page is ruined', he explains, opening it just about the half and directing the light at it. 'I think it says: blood of the Golem…'

'The Golem isn't flesh and blood, it's made of clay…', Sophie whispers with excitement. Bravo for deduction. Even little Czechs know it.

To my surprise, she dips her hand into the earth and smears it onto the tombstone. I bet she wanted to recall the times she had play-dough. I didn't think she'd like to stain her aristocratic hands.

'Sophie, enough', I say condescendingly, playing with the flashlight's switch out of boredom. 'It's not going to do anything…'

'Just watch', Dante interrupts me halfway.

Huh? What's up? What's with this voice? Am I a puppy on his leash that he allows himself to scold me like that? I throw him a disgusted stare. I hope he catches my annoyance, but he apparently thinks that he didn't do anything bad. Moron. I snarl haughtily, but keep myself in check. He'll pay for every little wrongdoing, I swear.

'The clay didn't bring the Golem to life! A word did!', Lok calls back while Sophie is still smearing the tombstone with soil. Well, not really soil, it's clay…

'Ay, the word: truth!', Cherit joins in enthusiastically.

'Sophie, can you draw the symbol that represents truth?', Lok asks.

'It's a difficult symbol…', the girl hesitates; oh, little grind can't do something?, 'but it goes something like this…'

She makes signs on the still-wet clay. Alright. So, now what? It starts to make me bored. If Klaus wouldn't rip my head off for desertion, I'd love to go away right now, leaving them alone on those pottery lesson. They're total clods…

I give out a shocked sound when the ground shakes under my feet and the air gets filled with a strange noise, like a draft from below. Sophie and Lok jump to the sides and Cherit flies up.

'It's opening!', he squeals when the marble slides aside.

What?! They did it?!

I just can't believe it. I can't. But this unshaven asshole makes a face as if he didn't expect anything else… and he's not trying to hide it at all. He passes me by without a word, following the kids into the tomb just like that.

Oh no, lover boy. No one looks down on Zhalia Moon without getting punished.

Luckily, Klaus did his best – the men in cloaks are sneaking among the graves, waiting for us to disappear in the tomb. Perfect. I come to the fore with content, leaving the dirty work in their hands. It just pisses me off a bit that Dante puts the descending off. He's been so eager to go and now he's staying behind. Move your ass, idiot, or you'll ruin everything…

'Dante, you coming?', Lok asks.

'Right behind you', he responds calmly, joining us.

The underground smells of wet soil, rotting corpses and waste of animals living there. An odor of decay and death. A great background for the upcoming tragedy. But I can't complain, it's quite a nice lodging for a dead man. Spacious. Only the floor sucks. It's all in spots… as if someone mixed two different colors of plasticine carelessly.

'I smell a trap', I utter under my breath.

'The bricks are made from two different types of clay', Sophie notices.

'There must be a reason…', Lok guesses; our master of brilliant remarks which don't really bring anything into the discussion.

'We're running out of time, so let me explain', the organizer of The Freaking Dungeon, Inc. trip forces his way between us and makes it forward without hesitation, ignoring the subtle suggestion that doing so will most likely leave him at least crippled. 'Only step on the lighter ones. The Golem was made of Vltava's river clay, remember? It always drives light', he underlines.

U-huuuu. A cocky bastard or not, he's got some brains, too.

'Dante Vale earns his reputation…', I state with acknowledgment to myself, but loud enough for the others to hear it anyway.

The board with two-colored fields is behind us, but this game's riddles come in a row. When we pass the square hall, we find ourselves in an empty chamber, which is only distinguished from the other parts of the tomb by the simple door. When Sophie presses the handle, we discover it's closed.

'And what we're gonna do now?', Lok gets impatient. I know that the kid was raised in the age of stimulus attacking from everywhere, but does he have ADHD that he can't stand still for a while?

'You can break it with your head if you want', I propose him, 'but it'll be much easier if you are quiet for some time and let me solve the problem in peace.'

Lok observes with fascination how I kneel down next to the entrance and prepare for the subtle art of breaking-in, drawing out a necessary equipment – an ordinary hairpin, easy to buy in every chemist's (de-luxe version) or next-door shop (the economic option). I put it delicately into the keyhole and move it inside, examining the mechanism of detents. It requires a lot of patience and steel-hard nerves, you have to approach it with a sense. It's a bit like cracking my victims open. Every new target is like a lock which I have to pick in order to get to the content. I know I can do it, so I don't have a reason to be nervous.

'You robbed the banks in the past?', Sophie asks innocently, observing me from a distance.

I said: no nerves? I take it back. Everything was alright until the redhead wanted to hear her own voice.

'No, I took candies from the drawers of little girls like you', I answer patronizingly. And it's not a complete sarcasm. I continue my job, though I have to squeeze the hairpin harder, 'cause my hand is shaking a bit; from anger, of course. I'll thrust it into her eye someday, and press right through her brain, I swear.

I hear a quiet beeping behind my back; damn, do they want me to open the door or not?! If they intend to disturb me constantly… Lok's attention also gets caught by something, because he stops following my movements.

'Stay here', Dante says and I hear his boots pattering on the clay bricks.

A drop of sweat slides down my forehead. He'll spoil everything. He was supposed to stand her stock-still, with the whole team. But he somehow sensed that we were stalked. Damn, I was supposed to lead the Organization to Jodis Lore's secrets without any obstacles…

'Where did he go?', Sophie wonders with anxiety. 'We were supposed to stick together…'

'Could you shut up?', I hiss, fighting with the troublesome detent. 'I need only a moment of silence and concentration…'

'This door isn't more important than Dante!', Sophie revolts against me. 'If the Organization traces us here, they'll find him first! Alone!'

'He was protecting the four of you effectively not so long ago, he'll handle it now too', I taunt her due to her panic, though I'm also nervous as hell – they may want to rush to his aid… 'He's a big boy…'

Somewhere from the distance a stifled male scream, multiplied by the echo, is heard; then voices ringing under the ceiling. So they're here already.

'I told you something'll happen to him!', Sophie shouts, running away and disappearing in the darkness.

I don't move. DeFoe will deal with one prissy girl.

'Shouldn't we follow her?', Cherit asks with hesitation, yanking Lok's collar. 'Seems like Dante's really in trouble…'

'Oh, screw it!', I stand up in fury, drawing the hairpin out the lock. 'How do you expect me to work when you have an urge to snap you mouths all the time?!'

Lok doesn't respond, just pulls me by the sleeve, forcing me to run.

Oh, great.

The same day, 21:59

Jodis Lore's tomb on the central cemetery

Hradčany

Prague, The Czech Republic

Simply great.

If I knew earlier that twenty hours after the official announce of my mission I'd be sitting up to my ears in stinky clay, dirty like a swine, fighting with huge clay hands and trying not to choke after sinking under the surface, I'd have never accepted. Even knowing that the clay is a wonderful beauty mask.

But how could I know that Vale's pals are a bunch of idiots, and he can't even control them?! Those blockheads are barely avoiding the walls when they're left alone, hard to believe they're still alive. The blonde is the first Seeker I know who can't use Boltflare. In addition, it's him who put us in this mess, activating Jodis Lore's trap. And he was told: don't step on the darker bricks! Now he can put his efforts to summon Freelancer into his ass, I don't care.

I'm talking so much about the kids incompetence, but Vale is good-for-nothing as well. First, he let Grier catch him and then he stood idly when DeFoe aimed at him. Well, I have a feeling that losing consciousness after being hit by the acid is like a break for him after bickering with his dumb subordinates. Taking a nap, damn it, and leaving me with this shit on my own.

DeFoe isn't much better. He was supposed to take the journal, but when he saw it's trashed, he didn't want to stain his fingers, freaking fop. He'd rather watch me getting my hands dirty, and he only claimed the rewards and had fun taunting that he'd hurt Dante and observing Sophie in rage, while Lok tried to defend her. DeFoe recognized me, I know it, however, he seemed to enjoy seeing me in the large swamp without a chance to get out. We've never got along well and now he holds a grudge against me because I used Raypulse on him not to blow my cover. Shame Kreutalk shielded him. His hair would burn nicely.

I attack the mud hands with fury, imagining that they have faces of DeFoe, Lok, Sophie, Dante… all those twits whose mistakes I have to fix. This Vale blockhead ruined everything, spotting the Organization here. If he didn't do that, everything would have gone smoothly – DeFoe would have gotten the info and reached the Golem before us without any interaction with Huntik. It'd look as a coincidence. And now… They'll probably grow suspicious. Besides, I don't have a clue how to naturally save my group now without giving away my association with the Organization and making the dumb Suits understand that I'm doing it only for the sake of my mission; if they don't get it, they'll probably cause a lot of trouble.

I peek at the three agents… and I have the impression that Dante moved. I watch him carefully. No, it's impossible. The acid DeFoe used turned the stones into a pulp, and it must've made the clothes merge into Vale's skin… He got hit right in the chest. There's no way he could get up.

But he does. Lok also notices it, he gives out a quiet sound of surprise. Now we both observe how Dante leans on the floor with both hands, then stands up slowly, with his arm placed around his torso. He falters a bit, murmurs something under his breath. A golden aura covers him, getting under his skin. Oh, he used Everfight. Good.

He prowls to the Suits who make fun of our desperate attempts to fight with the swamp. I also itch to mock them when two of them land on the opposite walls, and the woman bumps into the third man, not letting him finish the spell.

'Not bad!', I comment with acknowledgment, though the clay almost fills my mouth.

'Any time you want to get us out…', Sophie giggles, looking at Dante with glistening eyes. Girls like superheroes.

'Yeah, let's check out that room', Lok reminds us, staying on the surface due to the brick on the wall he's leaning on. 'I bet those guys missed something.'

'As you wish.'

A rope stretches out from Dante's hand; Lok manages to catch it before the end sinks in the mud.

'Alright, now hand it to Zhalia and Sophie', Dante advises.

The girl's face falls. What for now? 'Cause he said our names in that order? What does she expect, really? She's fifteen and has a barely visible waistline, which she tries to underline with belts, narrowing, pleated skirt, whereas I've got the better effect without fashion tricks.

Lok forces his way towards us, binding us both with the rope. Sophie's mood doesn't get any better when he starts with me. So what? I'm closer. He won't take a roundabout way just to rescue the princess first. Some ridiculous problems certain people have…

Dante stamps his foot on the flooring, checking if it's not too slippery. At the same time, he wraps the rope around his forearm not to let it slip away. Then he braces his feet against the floor and pulls the rope with all his strength. He seems to have some, as after few moves the three of us manage to crawl onto the landing.

'At last…', I sigh with relief, laying my dirty booty on the floor. I brush my hair with my fingers, smearing the clay on them. What the hell have I gone to the barber's for?! I hope that after such a treatment my roots will grow stronger, at least…

To bring myself comfort, I notice that Sophie looks as if she had a hairdo made by the Himba tribe, with her strands sticking with slime. Lok, on the other hand, resembles a kappa, all greenish-gray and cloggy.

Only Dante keeps up his appearance, so I'm a bit surprised when he reaches his hand out to me. Does he really want to get soiled?

'I dragged you into a pretty bad story', he starts. 'I'm sorry, it wasn't supposed to look like that.'

'I was prepared', I respond, accepting his help. He's got a strong, confident grip and a rough skin. He lifts me up as if I was a feather; though I don't really weigh much. But he pulled the three of us out of the mud, it makes approximately 150 kilos…

Boom!

I jump aside, feeling the cold stream flowing down my body; it washes down the clay, but also leaves my clothes dripping wet.

'A-a-re you n-nuts?!', my teeth chatter with the cold, I tremble and shiver.

'You were covered in clay', Sophie shrugs; despite her uncanny styling, she seems satisfied.

I snarl haughtily, rubbing my arms, but it doesn't really work, even my underwear is heavy with water.

'It wasn't very clever, Sophie', Dante remarks with reproach. 'There are better ways of cleaning.'

'Any example?', the girl responds truculently.

The man accepts the challenge.

'Stand together and I'll show you.'

I approach the other two unwillingly. Of course I stay closer to Lok than the red monkey, of two evils, I prefer stupidity and naivety over tantrums. Dante makes a quick gesture with a clenched hand and casts a wave of pure cerulean energy at us. We falter a bit, but after a moment the power wipes off every single piece of dirt from our clothes and faces.

'Wow!', the boy is astonished. 'What was that, Dante? Like a huge hairdryer!'

'Just an useful trick', he winks to Lok. 'It can be done that way, not by force, Sophie', he lectures the girl.

The embarrassed girl looks aside.

'Fine, but where's Cherit?', Dante examines the chamber.

'He probably chases DeFoe', Lok guesses. 'He'll trace him for us.'

'So, we will finish our part of the plan', Dante decides. 'Come on, let's move!'

The same day, 22:14

Jodis Lore's secret laboratory in his tomb

Hradčany

Prague, The Czech Republic

The only benefit from all that mess was that Kreutalk's acid melted the lock and now we get to the wise man's laboratory with ease. Unluckily, we won't find the key to the Golem's attic, DeFoe took it. I don't know why we are having a rummage around this old junk, but the rest seems fascinated with it.

'This is Jodis Lore's study, alright… Look at all this!', Sophie gets excited, taking her courage back after being reprimanded by Dante; I guess she's trying to fix her mistakes in his eyes.

He doesn't pay attention to her, though. He talks with Lok about his Titan; thanks to that I get to know that the pipsqueak possesses something more than just a mere Freelancer. He inherited Kipperin after his father. But is it gonna help him anyhow if he's hopeless and doesn't hold any promises for the future?

From Dante's rare sentences, I also learn that his knowledge about Titans is quite big and he knows how to bequeath it. In addition, his advices reach Lok's mind. He shows more patience towards him that I assumed. He was too lenient for Sophie, as well. I'd rather give her a wetting with the whole Niagara fall. And wouldn't dry her. As a punishment. But he just pointed out her mistake and came back to his duties. Well, she didn't wet his pants, so it's easier for him to forget about it. I'm not going to forgive her. She'll pay me off someday.

'There's nothing here', I remark, putting the book back onto the pile. I leafed through it only out of boredom. 'This is a waste of time…', I add so Dante raises his head, only slightly disturbed in the middle of a conversation, which, in my opinion, he shouldn't have had right here, right now.

'Maybe not', he remarks lightly, then he moves from his spot, approaching the table. He stares at it intently and then slides his finger on the top. Everyone peeks at the spot he marked. The shape of the key which lied here before is clearly visible in the thick layer of dust.

'Zhalia, I'm going to need your help', he announces.

I nod, slightly curious what he's gonna make of his discovery.

'Lok, Sophie, go find Cherit', he bosses them around. 'It's not over yet.'

Oh no, of course not. It's only the beginning. For the first time, I'll stay with Dante alone. And I hope I'll make a good use of it…