Private Finished An Unexpected Visit from a Burglar

“Thank goodness I’m almost home!” Zoraida sighed as she slowly walked up the small path of orangey red flagstones to the beach house she had just purchased a few weeks ago. The beach house looked directly over the ocean and was accessible (if one knew where to enter) and visible from the boardwalk. Despite lack of privacy, and being visible to all the walked by, she had fallen in love with it almost instantly.

Fumbling around in her shoulder bag for her house keys - Zoraida hadn’t yet installed a security lock system that used a code and a retina scan instead of keys - she noticed that the main door to the house was slightly open. Puzzled by this, sure that she had locked the door before she had left this morning, she cautiously opened the door wider, slowly peaked into the dark house and called out hesitantly. “Hello? Is there anybody there?”

Suddenly, a large dark figure darted past her, knocking her over deliberately, backwards onto the hard flagstones… Stunned by this, Zoraida didn’t move for a long moment as she stared up at the ever darkening evening sky wondering what had just happened. And as she stared at the sky, she slowly realized that somebody had been in her house. Angry at this intrusion, but not quite yet knowing what to think, Zoraida sat up and looked around her. Then as she got to her feet, she winced in pain and cried out realizing that she had fallen backwards and hurt her backside and probably her pride. “What the… freaking hell… “ She shouted loudly as she suddenly kicked off her shoes angrily sending them flying into a bush, for some reason, maybe it was a reaction to the situation, her shoes offended her... as calmed down somewhat, Zora began to realize that somebody must have been trying to burgle her house.

@Saber

"What a royal idiot I am..." Zoraida muttered to herself in quiet frustration as she hunted for her heels in the bushes by the side of the house, feeling a mix of embarrassment and ashamed by her little hissy fit. She was the CEO of an international company, head of a very influential family of Spanish witches, and she had just acted like a spoilt three-year-old who had her favourite toy taken from her. She knew it had not been her finest moment, and was very glad nobody had seen her acting like a mad woman.

"Here you are..." she said finally, as she pulled her two shoes out of the bushes, and then proceeded to put them back on, standing rather inelegantly in the doorway as she did so. Hearing the crunch of gravel, she looked up startled, her heart racing, suddenly scared that the intruder might have come back.

"Oh my..." Zoraida declared in awe, her eyes wide, very surprised to see a young man dragging a teenaged boy, well not dragging, for the teen's feet were not touching the ground, up the driveway to her house.

Staring at the dark-haired man for a moment, Zoraida glanced uneasily at the teenager he was holding. This was most likely the person who broke into her home. And as she looked at the teen, she started to feel angry, angry that she had been put into such a situation, that she should feel in danger in her own home. How dare he?!

"Thank you," Zoraida said very calmly as she looked at the stranger as she addressed him, her tone hiding the anger she felt toward the young thief, "Thank you for catching this... boy... " she said as she walked up to the young kid, feeling the dark urge to slap him silly - or worse - thankfully, her magic was not working or she might have froze him until he cried for mercy. "And yes, calling the police might be a good idea... that is if you don't mind," she admitted, knowing that it was the right thing to do, even though part of her wanted to not inform the authorities and just take matters into her own hands.

@Saber

Zoraida nodded gratefully when the young man offered to call the police for her. She felt vulnerable and quite useless right now... and it was a feeling that she was not that accustomed to. She could square off with powerful men and women, make important and sometimes dangerous deals with ease, but tonight, a teenager, not more than 16, had made her feel like she was the weakest woman around.

After an hour answering a hundred questions by the police, and going through the house to see if anything had gone missing or was broken - which it wasn't. The teenage thief must not have had time to steal anything, only a few drawers had been rummaged through, the police finally left taking the young boy with them.

"I'm fine... or will be," Zoraida said with a sigh as she unconsciously wrapped her arms around herself. "Thank you for everything," she added in a weary tone, "This has been one crazy day."

"Zoraida, I mean Zora, everyone just calls me Zora.." she said still somewhat flustered by everyhing as she looked at Aedan curiously. "It was lucky you were passing by here tonight. Do you live close by?" she asked as she watched the remaining police cars finally pull away. Then, with a shiver, realising she was cold,"Can I offer you some coffee - or tea? I'm afraid, I really need to get these shoes off and have a hot drink." she explained apologetically.

@Saber

"Tea it is." Zora said with a smile as she turned toward the house and gestured for Aedan to come in and make himself at home while she went straight to the kitchen, put the kettle on and removed her shoes, tossing them into a corner. She could deal with them in the morning.

Then she grabbed a large silver tray and brought the tea, some butter cookies, two mugs, some sugar, milk and slices of lemon into the living room. "I didn't know what you took in your tea, also there's some biscuits, I mean cookies, if you'd like." she said as she placed the tray with everything on the coffee table, remembering she wasn't in Europe anymore and not everybody called cookies, biscuits.

Serving Aedan some tea in a mug first like a good host, Zoraida then helped herself, adding some sugar to the hot liquid before she sat down on the couch, tucking her feet under her as she curled up on it. "Shit happens sometimes..." Zoraida said with a tiny sigh when Aedan said he felt bad that this had happened to her. "Although today has been extra crappy, I'm afraid," she confessed taking a sip of her sugary hot beverage, thinking of Altizica's untimely visit about her psychotic brother that morning and not sure what she was going to do about that yet.

"So, what do you do?" Zoraida asked curious about the person who had helped her out this evening.

@Saber

"You know, that's actually a relief." Zoraida said with a smile when she heard Aedan was from London himself, now noticing that faint accent. "No need to remember not to call biscuits, cookies, or wellies, rainboots, or anything like that. Most times, it's not an issue, but sometimes, people just stare weirdly at you when ask an assistant to hand you a biro or to get a sausage butty," she said with a little laugh, glad she didn't have to worry about something as small as that tonight.

"Yes, moving to Manta Carlos has been a bit of a challenge," she agreed. "I guess, to be fair, moving anywhere is a bit of a challenge at first." she added, not wanting to seem like a person who found it hard to adapt. Then she added for some reason, maybe because Aedan seemed like a good listener,... "I've just had a few problems, business problems actually and it seems like today everything has snowballed. First, my offices were not what I was promised, then some crazy cultist dude threatens... my, my br..." here Zoraida clammed up, realising that she was probably talking too much. "Sorry, again, long day... I shouldn't be burdening anybody with my problems." she said flashing Aedan a "don't worry about it" smile. Besides, that Altizica had managed to scare the crap out of her with his transformation into a demon stunt.

"Security? That's very interesting. What kind of security do you do?" Zoraida said as she looked at him interested in knowing a bit more silently wondering if perhaps he might be able to help her out. "Like home and business, or personal bodyguard security?"

@Saber