Angela stopped, observed, and took a deep breath. Despite the
alluring sophisticated ambience, and the comforting softness of the room's
light... the elegantly furnished room was flooded with a heavy dark a
sense of dread.  Caution fell upon her mind and yelled 'warning' at her
from the back of her mind as she approached this stranger that seems the
be the central gravity of this negative energy she felt. Then she
hesitated, watching the man stand with his back to her, apparently giving
his his crystal canister of red wine his full attention. No. Business or
not, she did not like what her gut instinct was telling her. 
	She was started to take a step to turn back and leave when he
faced her and gave her a smile that rivals the beauty of the twinkling
star. 

	"1912. A very good year," He said as he offered a class to her

	His dazzling smile did not enlighten the coldness in his guarded
eyes. Never trust a man who would not let others take a peek through the
windows of their soul. Business is business... she pushed her gut feeling
to the back of her mind and forced her lips into a sardonic grin, "Thank
you. But I prefer chardonay."
	He looked at her quizzically but paid it no mind. 
	"I want you to solve this little problem I have." he said, getting
down to business. 
	"And this problem?" 
	"Quite easy... a mere mortal." 
	Angela looks at him with amusement, "A mere mortal causing YOU
problems?" 
	The man smiled back, "Mortal perhaps... but a worthy opponent. It
has been...  very stimulating playing with him... But the game is
beginning to get boring, and I have decided to put this one to an end." 
        "I see, " The magic smirked, "And you don't want your little hands
soiled, now do you?" 
        The man chuckled evilly and leaned closer, "I LOVE the way your
mind works my little angel." 
        Angela backed off and looked at him apathetically, "Who is this
little problem of yours anyway?" 
           "Quest. Dr. Benton Quest." 
          Angela raised an eyebrow, "You brought a meeting to India for me
to eliminate a man living a continent away?" 
          The man threw back his head and laughed, "Eliminate... such a
word to use." He looked at her with a dangerous glint in his eyes, "No.
Not eliminate . That's for later. I want to see him suffer first." 
          He moved to the the chess table and picked up the black queen,
then started tipping the rest of the major pieces of the opposite team, "I
want to see him watch helplessly as he looses everyone else important to
him...  dropping off like flies." He paused as he stared at the White
King. The head white chess piece floated to his eye level. Twirling in the
air helplessly, like a hanged man... before exploding into a billion
fragments of dust. 
            Angela shuddered as the man turned she watched a smile that
reached the man's eyes... giving her a very good view of his soul. 
	"Then... we eliminate him..." 
	She stifled a laugh, "A Magic, calling upon another Magic to do
his dirty work because a mere mortal has more business sense. Pitiful!
Just make some gold or something appear." 
	"No, that wouldn't be sporting. Humans work for everything they
have, we don't." he stood up and walked his fingers over her bare shoulder
and put his arm around her, she quickly threw it off in disgust. He let
out a laugh that was closer to a bark. 
	"You shun me? I called YOU for a reason." With that two nymphs
entered, not uncommon in Avalon, but strange in the light of the mortal
world.
	One was very beautiful. Her orange skin glowed as her blonde hair
cascaded down her bare back. She wore very little, as the other, and what
little they both wore was mostly see through. The other was a light green,
as if dew from the light of the morn still rested on her skin as the
lightest veil. Her hair and eyes an even more startling emerald color. Her
short hair framed her face perfectly. Both hovering around him, obeying
his every whim. 
	"I can have the beauty of Avalon right here," He said as he patted
the green nymphs head. "But there is no sport. They are mindless slaves...
you. You have fire and a lust uncommon for Avalon." he snapped his fingers
and her long white, sleeveless dress became something similar to what the
nymphs wore. He flashed a million dollar smile at her sheen attire, barely
covering her. She smirked at him. Snapping her own fingers, dissolving the
garment into nothing, letting her long auburn hair cascade over her
features. 
	"Wouldn't you rather have this?"  she whispered in his ear. He
smirked as he watched her inattentively, letting his mind do the actions
for him, in that same instant she slapped him. 
	"You'll never get it. Not as long as there is a breath in my
body." She hissed as a pair of baggy jeans and shirt appeared over her. He
rubbed his cheek in vanity, the smile still plastered on his face. 
	"Don't count on it." He retorted. "Well if that is all-" 
	"And it is." 
	"You may leave. But first, I must take some of your power, to
ensure your loyalty to me." as he mumbled some old Latin. A green mist,
light at first, came from her body, getting thicker, then tapering.
Leaving her lightheaded.  Though she still left as fast as she could. 

	Hadji woke from his meditation. Feeling much more relaxed he
returned home.  He noticed that Arabia watched him from her rooms window,
like a vulture looking for its next meal. He quickly ducked down into one
of the servants passages and avoided her piercing eyes.
	He soon found himself in a noisy kitchen. Women, mainly, running
around the kitchen, screaming the names of rare spices. It was very hot
inside, some working over an open flame. It smelled like exotic spices and
humidity that resulted from lack of ventilation. He pitied them, working
under such terrible conditions, but wanting to leave more himself.
Squeezing in between loud, obnoxious women, and frantic, younger, women,
trying to please the older ones, he escaped the kitchen from Hell. Walking
into the dinning room, sweating, dirty, and exhausted. 
	

	Angela looked at the clock. She transformed her baggy attire into
a brown cloak with holes and evidence of wear. Still not having enough
magic to change her outwardly appearance, save the changes in her skin
tone from a light, sheer emerald, to a dark tan. Her eyes keeping their
rich jade colorings. She passed down the palace halls, looking at the many
paintings of the deceased.  Some looking quite mean, others sickly. Each,
their own story. Every bit different from the last. She heard noises
coming from the kitchen. 
	Poison! Of course! One of the best known ways to kill a mortal.
She again pitied the human race. They knew so many ways to kill their own
kind it was astonishing. Everything from poison, to a gun shot, to
snapping a neck.  Gassing. Starvation. The list seemed endless. They knew
too how to love, their race was not completely lost, not yet anyways.
	She felt sorry for this 'Hadji' person. He didn't even know what
he had done, only that he was born into the wrong family. She walked into
the dinning room

	"CRASH!" Both fell from their collision. 
	Angela laid sprawled on the marble floors. Her brown cloak
sprawled in such a manner that it revealed her light complexion and
immortal features. Hadji looked at the girl and was immediately intrigued.
Hadji got up and offered his hand to help her up. At first she kept her
face downwards, facing the ground.  But taking his hand stole a glimpse at
him. She too was intrigued.
	"I am so sorry. I must watch where I am going." Hadji said. 
	"Don't worry about it. Its not the first time I have fallen."
Hadji was starting to like this girl. She had a sharp tongue, rare in such
young women, who were mostly docile.
	"You speak english quite well." he said. 
	"You as well." she brushed herself off. "My name is Angela." 
	"Mine is. "He paused for a second. If she knew who he really was
she might become scared and leave, usually a strong front is a mask for a
weaker inside. 
	"Your's is?" 
	"I am sorry, my name is Adin." 
	"Pleased to meet you Adin." and she smiled warmly. Finally, she
thought, he might not be like most humans. 
	"Would you care to join me for lunch?" he offered. 
	"Why not?" She said. Hadji snuck back in the kitchen, looking for
a loaf of bread. 
	Well, I look like a pauper, might as well act like one. Besides,
you cannot steal what you own. 
	Finally, he found a loaf of bread and took it. 
	"THIEF!" one of the older women cried. Soon the kitchen was even
more active than before. He ran to the dinning room and as he ran grabbed
the girls arm.  Soon both were running out of the palace laughing. They
ran through alleyways and past a merchants stand or two before losing the
kitchen staff. Panting, both slid into an empty booth. 
	"That was insane!" she laughed. Hadji Broke the loaf in two,
handing her a half. 
	"Yes it was." he laughed, "We must do this again sometime." 
	"I," she panted, "Agree." She threw her head back and took in a
large breath.  Hadji watched her intently. He was captivated by her. She
turned to him, finding him staring at her. 
	"Are you okay?" She laughed. 
	Without thinking Hadji responded, "You are just so beautiful." he
said. "I am sorry. I didn't mean-" She quickly darted towards him, putting
her arm around his neck and kissing him. Hadji soon returned the gesture.
	"HEY YOU TWO KIDS GET OUT OF MY BOOTH!" An enraged, and rather
large man said. Standing over them. Out of shock both ran in separate
directions.

	Angela hid behind a large barrel. "I can't believe I did that."
she whispered to herself. "And I can't believe I want that to happen
again." She whispered even more quietly, with a smile on her face. 
	
	Hadji ran back to the palace. He snuck off to his room and changed
into more presentable garments. He went downstairs and saw his mother. 
	"Hadji where have you been?" 
	"I was... out." He smiled coyly. 
	"Oh well, you are here now, that is what is important. It is time
for dinner with Arabia and Razim." 
	"Yes mother." as he walked back to the dining room. 
	Soon he began to find himself picking away at Arabia and Angela's
differences. 
	Angela would never do that. I like Angela's eyes better. 
	"So Hadji, what is like in America?" 
	"It is very different from India. American women voice their
opinion and the people have many freedoms. The freedom of speech for
example." 
	"It sound terrible! It must be a mess out there!" Arabia said. 
	"It is not perfect, but I have lived there for many years. I agree
on many views shared out there." 

	Angela went into the kitchen. Finding the serving tray for the
refreshments, carefully laced one of the cups with a very strong, yet
delayed poison. Giving her time to slip away, unnoticed. She took the tray
and went into the dining room. She handed out the drinks to the others,
saving Hadji for last. She took the cup and was handing it to him when she
noticed his face, instantly dropping the laced drink, sending a shattering
sound through out the palace.  Hadji looked at the girl, instantly knowing
who she was. But before he could stop her she was already through the
door. 
	"Angela!" he yelled but to no avail, soon taking chase after her.