Modern Magic: The Empire State Incident

A Visit to New York

Rachel stared up at the millions of sky scrapers that surrounded the taxicab she was traveling in with complete wonder. Her father was on the phone next to her, undoubtedly talking to his boss. He was on one of his many business trips for another new business transaction. Fortunately, he had taken Rachel with him this time, instead of leaving her at her friend Brielle's house. She was ecstatic. She travelled around more than most girls her age, but she had been wanting to go to New York for some time. Indeed, some of the most talented potion makers lived in New York. Of course, she wasn't concerned with the most recent beauty enhancing potion, but she herself ran her own blog that was pretty much her own news paper. Of course, she didn't have to get clearance like her father did. Or get a specific news story. This week she had promised her readers an article on the career of a particularly famous potions master that lived not far from the hotel that her father and her were staying at.

The taxi stopped, her father threw some cash at the driver, and they got their luggage started their way into the hotel.

"Yes sir, I understand sir. I'll be there as soon as possible, I'm just checking in and I'll leave at once." Rachel could hear a gruff voice on the other line. "Yes sir I have my daughter with me. No sir, she won't delay me from my work. No sir, she won't cause any trouble." Rachel rolled her eyes as they approached the front desk. Her father hung up, and sighed as he put the phone in his dress pants pocket. "We're checking into room number 311." the desk clerk nodded, and handed us two room keys.

"Welcome to The Plaza Hotel Mr. O'Hearn." he smiled, and Rachel's father absently waved, she smiled back to the desk clerk as they walked away. Her father stared down at the notifications on his phone during the silent elevator ride up. Rachel sighed after a while, and picked up her own phone heading to her blog. As soon as her father thought that she was comfortable in the hotel room he would leave, giving her the perfect opportunity to head to Professor Hofflehorn's Alchemy Wonders.

Her father continued to stare down at his phone as she unlocked the door, and dragged their baggage in. She settled on the bed closest to the window, and pulled out her phone and started scrolling down an imaginary website.

"I'm heading down to work. I'll be back at around 6:00 o'clock. Please be ready to go out, we will be heading to dinner with a few of my coworkers. Look respectable, and don't make me late, this a very important meeting."

"Sure," she paused, then looked up, "hey, do you maybe want to head down to this amazing ice cream shop. Jack told me about it when I said I was going. There's also this cool creature shop next to it, and,"

"Yes, yes dear, maybe later. I'll check my schedule. Any who, I've got to go, I'll see you later, love you." he kissed her on the cheek and walked out the door. She stared sadly after him. She wasn't even sure that he had known what she had said. Rachel sighed and stood again. Some other time perhaps. She knew where the place was, and could probably go by herself. Jack and Brielle would want pictures, so she would get them. Rachel had known that the magical creatures shop was a long shot. Her father detested animals, even though Rachel had been asking for her own pet for years.

Despite the sadness she was feeling, she grabbed her camera, and grinned with excitement at the thought of meeting the famed Professor Hofflehorn himself. She was within walking distance from perhaps the greatest article that she would ever write. After waiting a few more minutes to make sure her father wouldn't catch her on the way out. She left The Plaza Hotel, and turned towards the Alchemy Wonders shop.