Dwindling Glory - Lament of the Fallen IC

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ALEXANDRE WHITE
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Alex swooped in near Leon's face, so close that their noses were barely a hairsbreadth apart and hissed "You might not bite, but I do." He still couldn't really tell what made him so angry at this Leon. Maybe it was the fact that he looked so much like Jason but acted so differently. Maybe he was worrying someone would recognize Jason in the Spiteful and see Jason's image marred. Maybe it was the gash in his heart and in his pride of being unable to solve just how Jason had died on that fateful day. Whatever the case was, he did not like the Spiteful to say the least... Perhaps even more than his dislike for people not handling his evidence properly.

In the moment's excitement, he had not noticed the other tangier, older smell in the air. It was unmistakeably True Feeder, but there was also a bitterness to the scent that made his hackles rise and his teeth sharpen into fine points. The beginnings of a mane was growing around his neck and his tailbone had become more pronounced. The threatening presence was beginning to ignite an instinctive transformation meant to protect humans. He would not let the other vampire in the station hurt the humans inside it. He walked towards the door, opened it and took a step outside.

It was easy to determine the source of the scent. The flashing anger in her eyes did not help hide her from the were-lion's keen sense of smell. A growl built up in his throat, but he strode into the room, closed the door and locked it. "David" he said, pointing out through the blinds at the True Feeder, "Don't open that door for that woman whatever you do." He was more concerned for Jillian than the three of them. Even if she was alone, there was no telling if she brought Celestial company.

The three of them could probably take on one as old as her, but against a Celestial, they wouldn't stand a chance, not even close. Jillian was beginning to ask questions. Big ones too. He was torn at that moment between lying and just outright saying the truth. The prior was more appealing, but with what she had seen, she was not likely to buy into it. Also, she knew too much already, even if she was ignorant to the world beneath the humans' feet, she would not be protected from it. It would be better if she knew what she would be going up against.

He had hoped that David would help him, but the first thing the gruff detective did was give a lame excuse and then give up. He shot a wilting gaze at David and sighed. "Really, David?" He started rubbing his forehead with his thumb and his forefinger and set his left hand in a fist on his hip. He glared daggers at Leon and growled. "This is your fault."

"Jillian" he said, addressing the woman by looking at her. "Before I say anything else. No one messes with my evidence." Still rubbing his forehead, he continued. "How do I say this? Well... All that arcane stuff you saw in the image and in the journal and whatever was mentioned in the paper, it's actual magic. I don't know enough about it to say anything, but maybe you should ask David about that." Inside, Alex was smirking. It was a bit immature, but he wasn't letting David get away without doing anything.

"Leon is a vampire... Well, a Spiteful, actually. He's a soul that returned from hell through Fallen magic. It's more complicated than that but..." Alex was now scratching his head. This was far harder than he had expected. "Fallen are angels that have well, fallen from heaven. They're the good guys. God wants to enslave all of you, at least that's how the histories go... and... Ugh. David. Help me."

"I did smell him. I'm a were-lion" he said simply. It was by far the easiest question to answer.
 
Jillian Aiya


Jillian was silent for a long moment. She wouldn't look at anyone in particular, instead focusing on a point far off in some imaginary distance. Finally, turning to look at Alex without reservation, she spoke quietly. "I'm sorry?"

Her hand tightened around the straps of her purse at her shoulder while the other balled into a fist at her side, both white-knuckled. A deep line creased her brows, her anger becoming more and more apparent with every passing second. She had been there all afternoon and into the evening now; she had been accused of the murder of her mentor and friend, been asked to help and denied the means to, and she was starving. She just wanted to leave this place and go home to resume her normal life. To mourn the loss of Vincent. To do something of value. And she was being held here by a handsome hot-head and a man who looked like he was living his own noir film. And now they were messing with her; the only thing she could possibly buy was the bit about Leon being a vampire, but he hardly seemed to fit the image from books and legends. Besides the fangs. He confused her and for now she was content to round on Alex and David instead of dealing with the newcomer.

Stepping toward Alex and David, her face gone red in her upset, Jillian actually began yelling. If she hadn't been so angry she might have been shocked with herself. "You mean to tell me that after you kept me here all stupid day, that you're going to really try and convince me that... that fairy stories are real?!" She shrieked, her voice becoming higher and more shrill as she continued. "I could believe he might be a vampire with a skin condition, but you two. Really? A wizard and a were-lion?" Jillian gave a short, terse bark of humorless laughter. "Do you two honestly think-" She was raising her hand to jab an accusing finger toward the detectives when she cut herself off.

Shock and then confusion and disbelief crossed her features. She was so upset and had avoided looking at him when they entered the office that Jillian was only now noticing the change in Alex's appearance. Backing up until she bumped against something- one of the desks in the office- she sank to sit on the edge of it. "Your face; it's true." She stared blankly, her mind working hard to comprehend this sudden tilt in her world view. She looked at David and Leon in turn as well, her gaze resting on the new man and really examining his features. She was opening her mouth to speak again when her stomach growled thunderously.

The tension slipped from her body and she looked down at her own feet. "Look, can I go? Get me those copies of the journal so I can work but I- I really just want to get something to eat and go home and process all this." Jillian murmured softly. "And if I'm going to be of any real help, I need to see that circle at Vincent's home." Looking tired and worn and small after her outburst, she pushed herself to her feet.
 
Leon the Spiteful

Dark brown eyes locked onto the blonde man's tawny gaze, a smirk slipping onto Leon's lips. Just as Alex began to pull back, Leon leaned forward and snapped his teeth together an inch away from Alex's nose. "Careful Detective. I said I wouldn't bite her..."

Leon wiggled his fingers at Jillian upon Alex's explanation of him, winking jovially. So, the human practices magic and the hybrid is a were-lion? That's quite an interesting duo...

He couldn't help but chuckle at Jillian's descriptions of the two men, as the image of Detective Stark in a dark blue wizard's robe sticking his head into the mouth of a lion wearing a suit popped into his head. He peered up at her, eyes softening again, feeling a twinge of guilt at his audible laughter. He felt bad for her; it must have been quite the ordeal, having first lost a dear friend, then made to wait so long in an unfamiliar place, then to find out that things of folklore and fairy tales actually did exist...

The Spiteful sat up straight in his chair as Detective White started to morph; if he were a dog, his ears would have perked up curiously. His dark eyebrows raised in surprise and awe at the sight of Alex's teeth and mane, eager to see the full metamorphosis... At Jillian's startled reaction, however, he relaxed a bit, the desire to see the detective fully change leaving him... for now.

He ran a hand through his messy black locks, looking up at the detectives. "Gentlemen, perhaps we can resume this meeting tomorrow? As you can see, Ms. Aiya needs to rest... You can't blame her after all she's been through today." He stood, crossing his arms. "I'll make sure she gets home safe and sound. Can I trust you two to make sure that True Feeder doesn't follow us?" He quirked an eyebrow, his words playfully antagonistic.

He flashed a grin as he held out an oddly gray arm for Jillian to take hold. "Shall we?"
 
ALEXANDRE WHITE AND DAVID STARK
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"Fuck you, White." David coughed. He'd thought he had been absolved of all responsibility when it came to explaining all about the Shadows, but no, Alex was far too smart for his own good. Even so, he probably wasn't the best to talk to when it came to magic and the history of the whole war between heaven and hell. After all, his training had been pretty concise, practical and more focused on the actual magicking than all the other crap that traditionally trained mages had to go through. He counted himself lucky. If his teacher had set a thick tome of history and shit in front of him, he probably would've picked it up and smashed the teacher across the face with it in disgust.

He had to stifle a laugh at Jillian's incredulous expression. Oh this was priceless indeed. Alex was more often than not the target of the cooperativeness and general calmness of the people they dealt with, but that girl had exploded all over him, completely red in the face. Rarely was it that Alex was yelled at, pointed at accusatorily, and blamed for pretty much everything that had gone wrong. That was always him. It was funny to see Alex bearing the brunt of it at the moment.

"Yes, Jillian, thank you for noticing that Alex has just about grown himself a scarf." David chuckled. He thought that was a pretty funny jibe at Alex's growing mane. All it earned him was a sharp glare from the were-lion himself.

"Yes, Jillian, it's true. I'm a were-lion" he said, sighing. A headache was beginning to pound behind his eyes and the fact that he was stuck in-transition from one form to the other just made it worse and even more uncomfortable. The mane around his neck and the base of his chin felt like a gigantic itchy fuzzy caterpillar and he wanted to tear it out. He mewled in discomfort, absentmindedly scratching at his nape with his left hand.

"I'll take care of getting all the paperw--" Alex began, beginning to calm down and revert. He was still tired, though, the day had been far too exciting. He just wanted to go home, sit on his bed, think about Jason, put on the promise ring, polish the dagger, remove the promise ring, set the dagger back in its hiding place and go to sleep. At this point, Vincent Moore could wait for another day for justice.

"No. You are doing no paperwork" said David, suddenly cutting Alex off before he could even begin. He was not about to subject his friend to the torment of going through stacks of papers. That was pure grunt work. Although, he knew Alex didn't really mind. The second anniversary of Jason's death was drawing ever nearer, and the were-lion was getting easier to agitate. That much was proven by him punching Leon right in the face.

He shifted his position beside the door, threw it open and bellowed into the lobby. "GREENE! Get your ass over here!" It seemed the woman was set in stone about going to Vincent's, and they had a Spiteful around to protect her too, and it seemed that Alex had no qualms about taking her to the crime scene, so he decided he might as well get the idiot to work on the clearances needed. The newbie was quick to comply. "First thing tomorrow, I want you to draw up paperwork to get Ms. Jillian Aiya over there clearance to go to Vincent Moore's residence. Not a fucking word. I want it done before either Alex or I get here. Well? Why are you standing there gaping at me? Are you daft? Bugger off."

"Fine. But you better make sure she gets home safely." Alex just glared at Leon. Even David saw the resemblance between the Spiteful and Jason, and that was dangerous especially a few weeks before the death anniversary of the were-lion's lover. He was pretty certain Alex had lost control because he thought Leon was ruining Jason's image. "I don't think I ever promised I won't bite... and maul anyone" Alex added.

"Calm down you two. GREENE! Get back here!" he yelled again. "Make sure that woman doesn't leave this precinct until these two--" he said, pointing first at the True Feeder, then at Jillian and Leon. "--have been gone for half an hour."

Alex had nothing to say to the new officer. He wanted to leave now too. "Yes, you may go now, Jillian. No dirty tricks, Spiteful." he addressed the two. "I'll be leaving in a few minutes too" he told David in turn. The gruff detective was probably going to stay to keep an eye on the True Feeder for a few more minutes before leaving as well. The night was deep and it was far beyond time to go home.

Unbeknownst to Alex, the home he'd shared with Jason for four years was having an unexpected, but very welcome visitor, even if this visitor was not aware of it. A shadow flitted across the condo unit in the milky bars of the waxing moon. The shadow was looking for something. It wasn't there.

The shadow slipped away before he could be caught, but the place was in a disarray, compared to how it had been when it first came.
 
Jillian Aiya


A female officer had shown Jillian and her unexpected escort the way out of the precinct via an exit leading to the police parking area. It had gotten dark, but the air was still balmy and the streets were well lit. The further away that Jillian got from the building, the more she felt the tension and irritation slip from her muscles to be replaced with a bone-deep weariness. And her head was pounding, almost as if it meant to split in two. She hadn't said more than a few words to the strange grey-skinned man since they left the two detectives; just enough to be polite but certainly not anything resembling companionable conversation. Her natural tendency toward shyness hadn't even been a factor. Leon was a little different in appearance but that didn't make him any less attractive and Jillian was notably shy around good-looking men. She was just too tired to let it worry her.

They were in her neighborhood when Jillian spoke up. "Hey look, Leon, I'm almost home and I think I'd like to grab a bite to eat. Thanks for walking all this way with me and everything. I don't think you really needed to, but I do appreciate it." Nervously, she pushed a bit of hair behind her ear before motioning across to street to where a large window shone with light and the bustle of the late evening dinner crowd beneath an outdated neon sign. "I don't know if you... y'know... eat." She paused, confusion wrinkling her brow. This entire revelation was going to take some getting used to. Whenever her brain could function properly she was more than likely headed for a meltdown but until then- do vampires eat?

Jillian cleared her throat, and briefly looked Leon in the face before quickly letting her gaze drop once more. "My place is only two blocks from here so I should be safe enough if you want to go home."
 
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GM POST
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Alex turned to David once the True Feeder had been successfully detained, or at least momentarily distracted. "Was it really a good idea to let her go with Leon like that? And what the hell was that? I thought you didn't trust Greene." The pair had left through an unconventional exit and they had had someone to escort them for a short ways, but he wasn't feeling very confident about it at all. The mage was just looking at him with a strange expression on his face and it was unsettling. He didn't really like David's gruff, tough ways, but it was moments when he seemed almost insightful that made him worry more.

"I don't. But I don't think I can trust you with this matter either. It's Jason, isn't it?" Oh how he hated it when David had these lucid moments. Needless to say, he was right on the dot. The case of Vincent Moore was awakening rage and hurt that he thought he had buried deep enough. Leon's uncanny resemblance to his beloved served only to inflame his passion more, hence the uncalled-for punch in the face. "Three days and it will two years to the day that Jason's been gone. You've always been more than a little agitated when that date comes around. Let it be. You were right. If we have any chance at building even a remotely convincing case for the Shadows -- we both know the mortal court will never rule with what little mortal evidence we have -- Jillian is vital. If she needs to see the sigil, then I say let her."

"Yeah. It's Jason. I just can't help but think people will think badly of him because... because they might mistake Leon for him." He winced when David laughed. "It's stupid, I know, but--" He caught a whiff of something. It was faint, but it was certainly not mortal, and certainly not a scent he ever wanted to catch again. It spoke of ancient, powerful magic and it was hostile. "David. Is it the full moon tonight?"

"Yes, Alex, but what does that have to do wi--" David stopped for a moment, eyes growing wide with realization. "No. You can't mean..."

At that very moment, they heard it. The Voice. It seemed Metatron had since stopped caring who would hear the command. After all, Shadows, especially those that had been exposed to magic, either through training, like David, or a relationship, like Alex, would hear an echo of the command if it was near enough and if Metatron had not cloaked it. The Voice boomed like thunder, despite the two hearing only the faintest whisper of it. "Get the girl" it said.

Alex and David stared at each other and broke into a run. Out the door they went, into the parking lot. By the time they were there, Alex had begun to shift into his middle-form and much of what he was wearing had already been tattered to shreds. He growled and mewled in protest and David shot him a look. "Oh goddamn it White. You have enough of those suits!" The older, gruff man seemed to be a bit short of breath already. Huffing, David told him "Shut up. Not a word about smoking."

The half-lion half-man whose clothes had been completely destroyed raised his hands as if to say "I wasn't going to say anything." David frowned and said "Good. Now where is the fucker?" Both of them had eyes darting everywhere. They were looking for both Leon and Jillian and the Lycan that was sure to be around. David was the first to spot Leon. Alex was the first to spot the Lycan... and its friends. Unleashing a roar that was sure to get Leon's attention, Alex bound towards the Lycans. David yelled "Get her somewhere safe, Leon!" before running after Alex.

The Alpha Lycan was a whole head and a half taller than Alex, who was suddenly beginning to feel pretty small compared to the Lycans. Two of them moved to intercept him and while they were stronger and larger, they were little more than beasts with a command to carry out, unlike Alex whose intellect was still intact. He dodged the first and swiped the second across the face with his claw before turning around and catching the first's feet out from under him. A quick jab at the back of the fallen Lycan's head made sure it wouldn't be getting up any time soon.

It was a pack of twelve, and Alex knew that if they did not get help any time soon they would be done for. Not even David's shields, which he was using quite effectively against the one Lycan that had moved to attack him, would hold out for long. He dodged the saliva-coated muzzle of the second Lycan and managed to get another swipe across the face. He dropped the Lycan to the ground and put it out of commission for the night as well. He then tried to aid David, but was accosted by a further three.

He knew he would not win against even the drooling, snarling beasts in front of him. There was one too many of them. He could not take on all three of them at once. He roared at them, trying to win the primal game of dominance, but it did little to faze them. Their Alpha was nearby. He took a cautious step backwards and ended up face-to-face with another two. He tried hard to not be afraid, but memories of the stories of what Lycans did to their victims -- those that they did not kill anyway -- made him fear for his life. In the animal world, mounting a weaker creature was a certain sign of dominance, and in their current state of mind, the Lycans were little more than animals.

He was sure they smelled his fear because they were soon snarling and snapping their jaws at him with a greater frenzy. Before they moved to pounce on him, he saw one of the creatures break through David's shield and with a powerful swipe of a pawed hand, send him sprawling across the parking lot. He was in the middle of grappling with one of the Lycans and kicking another aside, when all of a sudden, he heard a howl of agony nearby.

All he saw was a shadow flitting by, and the faint afterglow of a sigil hanging in the air, before the Lycans that were surrounding him were blown away by an invisible force. He saw two intensely familiar green eyes, and his own feline eyes went wide. Could it possibly be? Silver flashed in the light of the full moon and the shadow dashed from Lycan to Lycan, felling each with a single stab of the dagger, before vanishing once again.

A single tear rolled down the cheek of the Alpha Lycan who sank to his knees, in the middle of reverting back to human form, the silver taking its toll. He was sure the same tear was mirrored in his face as he roared in agony to the skies. Could it really have been Jason? No. It couldn't have been. Jason would have gone back to him. Jason would have stayed.

Not far from the parking lot, the mysterious shadow that had rescued Alex from the Lycans stopped in front of a small group of other hooded figures. "They seem to grow bolder and bolder each day" said one of the hooded figures. "We had best watch our moves, brothers."

"You did well, Daemon. He was right to choose you" said yet another. This one had his sleeves bared. He had a symbol similar to the symbol used by the Hand. The Hand of Thoth used the Eye of Thoth, but this man and all others with him, used the Eye of Horus.

"You did well, Dhampir" said the voice in the shadow's head.

"Welcome to the brotherhood. We are the true Illuminati. Forged from the light of the Morning Star. Chosen by the Dominus himself."

Perhaps Daemon had been someone else in his past life, a life he could no longer remember, but until his mission was done, the Dominus would not grant him back his memory.
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Leon the Spiteful

Leon walked along quietly, allowing Jillian some time to herself after what he was sure proved to be a trying day. His hands rested in his pockets, his gate a languid stroll. Chocolate eyes stole quick glances at his companion, unable to restrain his curiosity.

The resemblance really is uncanny...

Jillian's quiet, tired voice interrupted his thoughts, a small smirk slipping onto his lips as she spoke. He wondered briefly how he should answer, not wanting to freak her out any further, but figuring the damage had been done. Before he could respond, he stopped short in his tracks, body suddenly rigid; his head swiveled back in the direction of the precinct, then inclined to take in the bright, full moon. Eyes widening momentarily, he glanced across the street at the restaurant. Doubt
they could catch her scent in a crowded room...

Sure she couldn't have heard the detective's plea, Leon looked down at Jillian, taking her hand with a smooth grin. "How about I join you? I'll answer any questions you might have over dinner, since I'm sure the detectives were less than forthcoming."

Without giving her a chance to respond, he gripped her hand tightly, darting across the street with her in tow. Thankfully, the traffic light had not turned green, or they would have been roadkill. He led her inside, breezing past the "Wait To Be Seated" sign and slumping into a booth at the back of the restaurant.

His expression was alarmingly serious, eyes trained on the front door. After a couple of minutes, he relaxed, smiling apologetically at her across the table. "Sorry about that... Just making sure we weren't followed."
 
ALEXANDRE WHITE AND DAVID STARK
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Could that really have been Jason? The thought bounced around in his skull until it was too painful to bear. Had Jason, for some reason, been brought back to life by one of the Fallen as a Spiteful? Could it be that his lover had never actually left? Why then, had he not come back to Alex? Why then, had there been not even a single word, a single clue as to where he was? It was far too painful for the were-lion to process, especially in his feline form where emotions of love and emotional bonds to people were intensified. Mewling pathetically, he sat down on his haunches, watching the Lycans twitch as they returned to human form and waiting for his own reversion.

He had just reverted completely when he heard groaning in the distance. "Oh shit. David." He had forgotten about the other detective in the ehat of the moment and the sudden appearance of someone, or rather some eyes that reminded him too much of Jason. What was it with that day and the Jason look-alikes? He wanted to strangle someone. And the fact that he had taken down three Lycans did not change that. He walked over to David, bare as the day he was born, no thanks to his transformation. The gruff detective was sprawled on the ground, all banged up and scratched. On the side of his coat, there were three gashes that were beginning to turn crimson. That was where the Lycan had hit him.

"Hang on, David" he whispered, looking around and quickly spotting the tattered remains of his suit. He would have to get a new one. He fretted since it was particularly difficult to find clothing he liked and that suit had been one of his favorites. "This is what you get for wearing a fancy suit to work" he berated himself. Then again, he would not be caught dead being casual in the precinct. He searched for his phone and found it quickly. He called his dad. "Da. We need a team down here. Lycans. Yes. There were Lycans. I have a suspicion they were set after Jillian Aiya. She's our only lead in the case. Yes. Thank you. Can you also call an ambulance. David was injured. And--" he blushed. "--can you bring clothes? Yes. Yes Da. I transformed. Can we not talk about it. It was an entire pack. I wasn't! No, Da, someone came and took care of the Lycans before they could gang up on me. I-I think it was Jason. Yes, Da, I won't. Okay. Love you."

He walked over to David. "David. Hang on. Help is on the way."

The gruff detective cracked open his eyes and weakly raised his hands in defense. "OI White! At least show the bleeding man some decency! When I said you could let it all out to me, I didn't mean you could let it all out!" he said weakly. The humor brought a smile to Alex's face. "Where the fuck is the ambulance? The damn hospital is just a few blocks away. You'd think they'll be faster" he continued.

"Don't talk. Save your energy. I don't think the doctor or the emergency personnel would appreciate being bashed anyway" he jabbed at the older man. A few minutes later, a car pulled up nearby. It was Alex's dad. Gabriel White handed the young man a suit.

"It might not fit as well, but it's the best I could do on such short notice." There was a sympathetic smile on Gabriel's face. Alex knew his Da wanted to talk to him, but his Da also knew that Alex would not want to talk. At least not yet. The older were-lion then went into the precinct as Alex struggled into the clothing. He was going to debrief pack agents in the precinct that probably helped keep the rest of the people in it unaware of what was happening in the parking lot.

Before long the sirens were blaring down the road. As David was being carried into the ambulance, he told Alex "You better damn well take Jillian to Moore's house. And don't forget to give Greene a good scolding for me for taking too long on the paperwork!"
 
Jillian Aiya


Eyes wide with surprise as Leon took her hand, Jillian opened her mouth to say something, to protest in some way before she was pulled along faster than she would have believed. She thought she had heard at shout, but in a city like Vancouver that was typical. She had already forgotten about it when they sat down without even waiting for the hostess. Poised to shoot her vampiric acquaintance a dirty look, she was instead rather taken aback by his serious expression. Glancing over her shoulder to the door herself and seeing nothing she turned back to him with a quizzical look on her face. An ambulance howled by outside.

"Followed? The woman from the precinct you guys seemed so bothered by?" Pausing to smile apologetically at a put-upon middle aged waitress who handed them each a smudged laminated menu and dropped bundles of silverware at the edge of the table, Jillian ordered a water and a coke along with the biggest burger they had on the menu. She was tired and starving and some guy who snacked on babies or nubile young women was sure a hell not going to stop her from eating. He had no right to judge, she figured. The waitress turned to him and waited expectantly while Jillian watched with interest. She wondered just what he might say.

Once the waitress had gone and come back to drop off drinks and gone again, Jillian turned to Leon and opened her mouth to speak. Those laughing chocolate eyes were on her, and she felt as if they were mocking her. Why did he have to stare like that? She had caught him sneaking glances as they walked and she wondered briefly if there was something on her face. Instead she reached for her coke and took a long sip through the straw to stall and gather her thoughts. Deciding to employ the tactic that had worked earlier when speaking with Detective White, she kept her eyes on the faded tabletop while she spoke.

"Alright. So just what have I gotten caught up in? Kabals and vampires and...and were-LIONS? If I hadn't seen it I would never even entertain the thought... did I see it? I'm so tired-" Jillian trailed off, rubbing her face and running her hand back through her hair. "I just want to help find my friend's murderer. But now, this all seems so much bigger than just that. It seems so much bigger than me and I don't think that against monsters out of horror movies I'm really much help." A flush of color lit her cheeks, hot and embarrassing as she realized just what she had said. She risked a glance up to apologize. "No offense meant."

When the food arrived she dug in with gusto and listened to Leon, hardly looking up except when she took a drink. Any other time she would have been embarrassed beyond belief to eat like this in front of anyone, much less an attractive man. But she was too tired and too hungry to think about that until she had almost finished her meal. She looked up, trying to be prim once more and not realizing that her wolfish devouring of the burger and fries had left a blob of ketchup on her cheek.
 
Leon the Spiteful

The serious look on the Spiteful's face had vanished, replaced with a half-grin as his body once again appeared to be boneless, conforming comically to the sloped booth in which he sat. He rested an arm behind his head, raising an eyebrow playfully at the woman across from him. "I'm afraid she's not the only one you need to be worried about... Besides, I think she was more concerned with me than you." He chuckled, seemingly laughing at a joke to which she was not privy.

After Jillian placed her order, Leon looked up at the waitress with an impressive amount of smolder. "I'll just have a root beer float, love. With extra vanilla and an empty glass, if that's doable." He winked, eyes twinkling from the diner's dim neon sign hanging outside. Their waitress departed without batting a single eyelash, returning with Jillian's drinks and leaving once more. Leon laughed, shaking his head. "I guess the charm can't always work."

His lips turned downwards slightly at Jillian's confession, eyes dropping to the table for a moment then returning back up to her. "I know this is a lot to digest, especially in the wake of your friend's death. And you're certainly not wrong when you say it's much bigger than you... But you don't have to worry; there are quite a few people- strong people- dedicated to keeping you safe. They need your help to solve this mystery, and the vast conspiracy that surrounds it. Why they chose an ambivalent drifter like me to help, I haven't the slightest." He snickered, smiling genuinely. "I'm pretty much right there with you, though. It seems like I'm learning about new subspecies of fairy tale creatures every day." He laughed loudly at her apology, shaking his head. "No offense taken. I have no problem being regarded as a horror movie monster; better the hunter than the hunted." He winked jovially, the slightest hint of predation in his joking dark eyes.

Jillian's food arrived and as she ate, Leon sighed audibly, gazing at the burger longingly. "That's one thing I miss about being human... That smells delicious." He attempted to satiate his own hunger by scooping up a generous spoonful of vanilla ice cream from his float. Plopping it into his mouth, he grimaced at the coldness at first, his face smoothing out as he enjoyed the cold, sweet sensation on his teeth and tongue. Grabbing the empty glass, he spit the ice cream out, concealing the contents by wrapping a napkin around the outside so as not to gross out Jillian. He peeked over at her almost sheepishly, apologizing, "Hope you don't mind. I can't really... well... eat."

He caught her gaze once more, a soft smile crossing his lips. Suddenly, he leaned across the table towards her, raising his hand to her cheek as he looked into her eyes, voice dropping to a husky whisper, "Ms. Aiya..." He lingered there for a moment, then pulled back, revealing a red smudge on his thumb and a wicked grin on his lips. "You had a spot of ketchup right here." He pointed to his own cheek, eyes sparkling in amusement.
 
ALEXANDRE WHITE
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How David managed to retain his dry sense of humor even under pain and on the brink of life and death, Alex would never know. Perhaps he just didn't see death in the same sense that David did. Death was, to him, terrible. It had, after all, ripped his beloved from his arms, a few weeks before their wedding. But as the years had passed, death did seem to have a sweetness to it. He knew that under the laws of heaven, he would go to hell anyway upon his death, and he would probably be reunited with Jason. Regardless, he didn't feel like Jason would appreciate it at all.

He drove along in relative silence, broken only by the strains of sad love songs that drifted from the radio. Even in the days before he'd met Jason, he was notorious for driving to the tune of songs of longing, and that night, they were all the more powerful to him. He'd talked to Gabriel already, but he was certain the older were-lion would want to know what made him say he thought it was Jason. His Da meant good, he knew, but he wasn't ready to talk about it. Two years had passed, and he still wasn't ready to talk about it. He just knew if he did, the pain that was constantly clawing at the edges of his consciousness would come breaking through the barriers he had so painstakingly placed.

He was not talking about Jason at length. He probably wouldn't any time soon.

He pulled up into the hospital parking lot and before he made it very far, he had to pay for parking in the lobby. Healthcare system or no, the parking fee was ridiculous, he thought. It was 15 CAD an hour, and 5 CAD for every hour over that. Despite being paid a fairly good sum each month for the work he did, he understood that not everyone was as well-off and that the extra dollars spent on parking would be better spent elsewhere.

It wasn't long before he'd reached the room where David was being confined for the time being. The gruff detective would never stand for listening to the doctors telling him what to do, Alex was sure of it. The hospital might just end up a few IV needles short. And David might just end up having more needlings than necessary. He stood out the door. They had managed to get David patched up fairly quickly. Then again, they weren't mere mortal doctors. He was sure there was a druid amongst the staff that was assigned to caring for David.

"I wouldn't worry too much, the man's a fighter. Literally." Alex nearly jumped out of his skin when the man strode up to him. Thick wispy pale hair, prominent cheekbones, sharp silvery-blue eyes and weathered laugh-lines etched into the corners of those eyes, the man before him was an example of how some people aged elegantly. The white coat only added an unneeded touch of refinement to the man's appearance. He was surprised, few people could sneak up on him. He probably was distracted by his thoughts and worry for David's condition--No. There was something odd about this man. He had no scent to him.

"I... I can't smell you."

"I can smell you, were-lion" said the man. "Don't worry too much. You won't be able to catch the scent of everyone." Just then, Alex sniffed the faintest smell of lavender with a dash of lilac. It was a strange, intoxicating fragrance, but as soon as it was there, it was gone again.

"How did you do that?" he asked, suspicious.

"It does not matter. Not yet, at least. I'll make sure no harm comes to him. I can't say the same for myself. The man punched me before I could even get close. What caused his wounds? We have yet to be briefed. I hope it's not a feral member of the pack." The doctor looked Alex up and down. The were-lion, in turn felt uncomfortable. It felt as though he was being weighed.

"No. Lycans."

"I see. So it has begun, hasn't it?" the doctor made a show of waving away something in the air in front of him. "Oh how rude of me. I'm Craig. I think you'd best be going now...?"

"Alex."

"Ah. Alex. Yes, alright. I'll tell him you came by. He won't be waking up any time soon. The druid put him into a trance to help hasten his recovery."

"Thanks, Craig." Alex turned away, taking one last look at his infirm friend. For some reason, his worry had melted away. Meeting Craig set him at ease. David would be just fine for now.

"And oh, Alex? Be careful. Nothing is as it seems out there."
 
Jillian Aiya


Leon's antics and boisterous laughter had Jillian ducking her head in embarrassment. However, while she ate ravenously and watched his odd ritual of tasting and enjoying a simple float, she couldn't help but feel terribly for him. It seemed as if Leon was just as lost in this whole mess as she was; he didn't ask to be part of this. And up until this point she had been rather curt with him. Jillian felt a pang of regret at that, making a note to be kinder now that she was fed and quite a bit less grumpy.

Lost in her thoughts and honestly exhausted, Jillian was surprised at just how close Leon had gotten suddenly.
"Ms. Aiya..." He breathed, that sultry look on his exotic features as he leaned in and rose a hand to her cheek had her heart hammering in her throat so that she couldn't even speak. She could feel the heat rise in her face. And then he pulled away.

She could have hit him.

Instead Jillian snatched up her purse and slide from the booth in one fluid movement, her face glowing with anger and embarrassment as she stomped toward the door. She didn't quite make it, turning on her heel to storm back to the booth and glower venomously at Leon her lips parted as if to say something before she yanked a twenty dollar bill from her wallet and slammed it to the table. Turning again, she stormed out of the diner and out into the chilly night air.

Of all the stupid jerky idiot things- WHY do I let things like that happen to myself? WHY? She berated herself as she walked briskly down the empty street towards her apartment building, thankful for the cold to help in returning her face to its normal color. She didn't have time to waste thinking those sorts of things anyway. She needed to get home and get rested. Tomorrow was, judging from what the detectives had said, going to be a very long and trying day. Jillian fumbled with her keys, thoughts filled with which reference texts might be useful to pull as she finally unlocked the lobby door and stepped inside.
 
Leon the Spiteful

Leon's face fell, reaching a hand up to Jillian and sputtering, "Wait, I'm sorry, I was only playing!" He watched her almost leave, pleading when she came back to the table, "Please don't be mad!" He sighed, raking his scalp with his fingertips as he watched her retreat to the apartment building across the street. Way to run her off, idiot.

He stood and fished out a few extra bills from his worn leather wallet, tossing them onto the table to add to their waitress's tip. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he strode out the diner, heading back in the direction of the precinct. He walked along silently, zoning out the world around him and focusing on his own thoughts, his legs mechanically moving him in the right direction. He passed the precinct, turning a corner and walking a few more blocks until he reached a towering, brightly-lit building.

Twin glass doors slid open as he entered, his pace quick and silent as he navigated the winding halls. Before long, he arrived at a gray door, its title stated in bold red letters above it. He rapped his knuckles on the observation glass three times, leaning on the wall to wait. A minute later, a mechanical buzz sounded and the door creaked open, revealing a small, older woman with a sharp blue gaze set amidst dark bags. Her brow knitted together in a scowl, her eyes fixated on Leon as if he repulsed her.

The Spiteful half-smiled, raising a hand and exclaiming merrily, "Evening Syl!" The woman snorted, turning her back to him and returning inside, letting the door fall closed. Leon stuck his foot in the door frame, wincing as the heavy door slammed against it. "Great to see you too..."

The woman flipped open a divider and stepped behind the counter, glancing at her computer monitor. "I told you not to come by for a while. People are starting to notice the cadaver traipsing around the hospital late at night..." Her fingers clicked furiously on her keyboard as she spoke, voice short and icy.

Leon sighed, leaning against the counter. "I know, I know, I just... It's hard to pace myself when I get stressed. And I've been all kinds of stressed lately... I've tried those tricks you suggested, but nothing seems to work and I end up binging." He pouted, turning big brown puppy dog eyes up to her. "Could I have next month's supply early, Sylvia? Pretty pretty please, with a drop of O neg on top?"

Sylvia rolled her eyes, continuing to work without glancing up. "And what choice do I have? We can't afford to have a starving vampire wandering the streets, can we?"

He snickered. "Like that's the worst thing you have to worry about." He coughed as a duffel bag hit him square in the chest.

"I swear, the Hand will be the death of me," she growled. "Go on, get out of here! And I don't want to see you again for two months!!"

The Spiteful beamed, bowing. "You're a life saver, Syl! Literally! Or, well, sort of literally-"

"OUT!"

He was gone.

Sylvia sighed, finishing up her report to mask the missing blood, while simultaneously sending the Hand of Thoth an invoice for her services.
____________________________________________________________________________________________

As the sun rose the next morning, Leon returned to Jillian's apartment building, clad in a black V-neck T-shirt and ripped up blue jeans, an outfit slightly more appropriate for the chilly weather. He had left the handcuff "bracelets" at home.

He slumped into a decrepit sofa in the lobby, careful not to muss the brown paper bag in his lap. The front door attendant glanced over at him several times, clearing his throat audibly in an attempt to get Leon's attention. The Spiteful ignored him, grinning to himself, reveling in being a nuisance. His unwavering dark brown gaze was trained on the elevator doors, waiting patiently for Jillian to step through.
 
Jillian Aiya


What, for all the worry and strange information of yesterday, should have been a sleepless night for Jillian was instead one of deep and dreamless sleep as a result of her exhaustion. She was glad for that, and woke rested and refreshed the next morning although once she had her first cup of coffee and was feeling functional some things were beginning to nag at her mind. When she got the copies of the journal today she hoped that things would be clearer and she made a note to ask Alex and David for some literature on their odd supernatural underground. Maybe there was a guide for beginners?

After dressing and preparing herself for the day, she took her coffee in a travel mug and made her way down to the apartment lobby in the elevator. When she stepped out, she was a little taken aback to see Leon there, apparently waiting and getting on the doorman's nerves. She should have been angry still from his mean little stunt from last night but the look on Charlie's face and the grin on Leon's were just too funny. Instead, she schooled her features to show no trace of amusement lest the Spiteful be too full of himself or the doorman decided he was going to be busy anytime she had groceries that needed carrying.

"It's alright, Charlie. He's a friend of mine." Jillian spoke as she walked nearer through the lobby and came to a stop before Leon. "You weren't waiting long, were you? C'mon, I have a feeling today might be another long one and I'm kind of eager to get over there and get started." Without waiting, the petite woman made her way to the doors and gave Charlie the doorman a small smile as he held it for her.

Once they were in the street, Jillian fell into a brisk walking pace beside Leon and briefly explained the way to get to Dr. Moore's home. Although some part of her wanted to apologize for last night's scene, she couldn't bring herself to. Instead she asked, "What's in the bag?"
 
Leon the Spiteful

Leon grinned toothily at Charlie, following Jillian out of the building with a slight spring in his step. As he exited, he clapped a hand on the doorman’s shoulder, boisterously proclaiming, “Thanks, Charlie boy!” He could practically feel the stab of icy daggers on his back, laughing to himself.

The lanky Spiteful walked alongside Jillian, matching her quick pace easily, thanks to his wide gate. He had almost forgotten about the brown paper bag in his grasp until she mentioned it.

“Ah! Yeah, this is for you. To… apologize for yesterday.” He handed her the bag, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly so as not to make eye contact. Inside the crumpled bag was a small, clear box containing a fresh blueberry scone.

"Oh, almost forgot-" He reached behind, fishing a worn book out of his back pocket and presenting it to her; it was the Divina Commedia. "Some homework for you… I suggest reading through it thoroughly; I think you’ll find its words strangely familiar.”

As they neared Moore’s residence, the vampire spoke again, this time with a soft, reserved tone. “I don’t know what’s going to happen next, or what’s really going on under the surface. But I won’t let any harm will come to you, or the detectives.” He peered over at her, his chocolate eyes surprisingly comforting. "I promise."

A chill ran up the Spiteful’s spine just then, the tiny hairs on his arms standing on end. They had arrived.
 
Jillian Aiya


Taking the scone with a warm smile, Jillian gave Leon a little shrug in acceptance of his apology. "It's no big deal, it was a weird day." She murmured, managing to open the plastic container and tear off a nibble of the pastry. She didn't know where he got it, but it was fresh and very good. His second gift of the well-worn paperback she took almost reverently. Was this his copy or one picked up from a used bookstore? She was reminded that she knew so little about her new escort, and right now Jill found that she suddenly had the urge to get to know him. The supernatural aspect was new and different, but Leon had been a person at one point right? Besides his diet, what had really changed? "Thanks, I will. I really appreciate it, Leon."

Up ahead she could see the upper story of Dr. Moore's home as they drew nearer, the low white fence of the adjacent property giving way to the high brick wall surrounding Moore's. The bare branches of a large oak overhung one section where the tree grew in the late doctor's back yard. Jill was lost in thought as they passed below the branches until Leon's voice, oddly soft and sincere, commanded her attention. His admission and his promise made her breath catch as a shiver ran through her body. She tried to tell herself it was just the cold, and to blame her flushed cheeks on the chilly wind. Her eyes met his for a moment before flitting away nervously.

"Things will be fine, I'm sure. But... thank you. I don't mean to be a bother; I don't even know why the detectives might think that I would be in danger. I'm just here as a consultant, really." Jillian rambled before stopping herself. They rounded the corner and came to the front of Moore's property where yellow crime scene tape and a uniformed officer barred their entry. Fumbling in her purse, Jillian brought out her wallet to show the officer her ID. "Hi, I'm- uhm- Jilllian Aiya. I'm here to assist detectives White and Stark in identifying some evidence." She said, trying to sound official. Casting a glance at Leon she added, "He's with me, too. I think we should have some passes?"
 
ALEXANDRE WHITE
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Sunlight shone through the open window. Its golden glow bathed the entire room with its warmth. The ornate, finely carved chest of drawers right beside the large, evidently-meant-for-two bed was resplendent in the early morning light. It had been a gift from Jason's grandfather for the young couple's anniversary only a few months from the elderly Irishman's death. The secret compartment in its leg hung open, the gilded athame that it housed was elsewhere at the time.

A cool breeze wafted in, making the light curtains dance with the wind. There were birds tittering in the garden outside, and there was a pleasant gurgling as the shallow dish of the birdbath spouted water into the air. There was a pleasant aroma drifting from the kitchen which wasn't really anything new. After all, Alex's mother was a culinary genius. The morning was peaceful, calm, and serene... sort of.

The tranquil ambiance was disturbed by an incessant buzzing from Alex's alarm clock which had found its way from his bed-side table to a corner of the room under a pillow. To further spoil the idyllic morning was the unmistakeable stench of were-lion slobber and the muffled ringing of Alex's phone that had for some reason ended up with the alarm clock. The lean blond was wrapped tightly around a drool-soaked pillow. The blanket that had covered him minutes ago was splayed on the bed, with a good portion of it in a rumpled heap on the floor. In his right hand he clutched the golden athame, his most important possession second only to Jason's promise ring.

His lips were pursed in a sort-of pout, the kind that someone would make if they were leaning in to kiss another person. The tightness in his face wasn't there. His eyebrows weren't partly drawn together in a frown. No. Alexandre Ethan White looked at peace, maybe even happy if one dared to say so. He cracked his eyes open, yawning and grinning as he never had for two years now. "Goodmorning Lo--"

The gleam in the young were-lion's eyes was snuffed out almost instantly when they beheld a pillow, instead of a familiar pair of brilliant green eyes, boyish face and mop of messy dark brown hair. Alex let out a small choking noise. He should've known. He should've known it was too good to be true. Jason was as gone now as he was on that day nearly two years ago. He quickly sat upright, throwing the pillow against the wall and drawing the rest of the covers around himself since he was wearing nothing but a pair of not-so-flattering undies. There was a soft thud as the pillow hit the wall and yet another when it fell to the floor.

The blond drew his knees up to his chest slowly. It was, at least at the time, a herculean task. His entire body was racked with tremors as he inhaled shuddering gasps of air. He sat like that for a few minutes, battling the raging torrent of grief and anger that he still felt sharply even after almost two years.

Once he had a modicum of composure about him, he got up shakily from the bed to pick up the pillow he had hurled against the wall. Before long, the rasp of his feet being dragged about the carpeted floor joined the combined cacophony of the cellphone and the alarm clock which apparently still hadn't registered in the young were-lion's mind. His movements were slow and lethargic and unshed tears were in the corners of his eyes. He was glad no one saw him that way. Otherwise, he would never hear the end of it.

It wasn't until he picked up the pillow muffling the alarm clock and the phone that he was snapped out of his melancholic daze. "Oh fuck!" He nearly dropped the pillow after realizing the time. The room exploded into a flurry of activity -- and muttered profanity -- with Alex reverently tucking away the dagger in its secret compartment, fixing his bed, and trying to get dressed decently all at the same time. In the middle of putting on his coat he finally answered the phone which, at a glance, showed quite a few missed calls.

"Hello, this is Detective Alexandre White speaking." Alex didn't really have a private line, so to speak, and the vast majority of his contacts were business-related so no one except for the occasional odd caller asked questions about how he introduced himself. "Yes. I see. Well, keep them there. I'll try to get there as soon as possible. Yes. Paperwork has been, or hopefully, is being filled out by now. Do me a favor and get someone call the station and ask if officer Greene has gotten the paperwork done." He held the phone in the crook of his neck as he tried -- and failed -- to get his necktie just right. "I see. Well. I'm sure we can make an exception this one time. Do tell officer Greene that when David gets back he better be prepared for a grilling. Yes. Thank you. Keep your eye out for anyone who shouldn't be there and tell Ms. Aiya and Leon to not do anything stupid."

"Understood. Okay. Thank you, bye."

As great a breakfast as he had smelled from his room, Alex had little time to do anything but grab a piece of toast, bid adieu to his parents and run off to his car. It was very uncharacteristic of him to be late, much less to be late and flustered at the same time. Then again, it was very uncharacteristic of him to dream of Jason so vividly. Once he was off, he drove in relative silence, keeping the audio off. The last thing he needed was to be reminded of Jason. With the playlist he had, it was highly likely.

It was a good half-hour before he pulled up by the Moore residence. Jillian and Leon, if the last evening's meeting had told him anything about the two, would probably be fuming by now. Sure enough, the two were standing not a long ways off and he could tell they weren't pleased. "Jillian. Leon. Sorry for the wait" he addressed them perhaps too stiffly than he should have. Alex wasn't exactly in control of himself at the moment. "There were some... technical difficulties." He had to look away, feeling the heat rising to his face.

Leon just looked too much like Jason.

He wanted to sock the Spiteful in the face. Again.
 
Leon the Spiteful

Leon quirked an eyebrow at the detective upon his arrival, a smirk forming at his lips; he could smell the anger exuding from the blonde man. Clucking his tongue, he chided, "Mmmhm. "Technical difficulties", right. Well, we've wasted enough daylight already, why don't we get a move on?" He clapped a hand on Alex's shoulder as he passed, tossing him a smug grin. He ducked under the caution tape is a single fluid motion, leading the way inside.

As he pushed the door open, another chill shot up his spine, his eager pace faltering to a ginger step. He stood perfectly still for just a moment, using every sense to scan the room for any sign of danger. Despite his general feeling of uneasiness, it appeared safe; he didn't smell anything non-human, save for the detective.

Glancing over his shoulder at his companions, he asked in a tone completely devoid of any humor, "Where was Moore found?"
 
Jillian Aiya


The wait for Alex hadn't been entirely unpleasant despite the cold. Jillian had her coffee and bites of scone and Leon to keep her occupied. If she were honest with herself, the delay was a good thing. Now that she was here at the front gate, she wasn't entirely sure she was as prepared to enter the space where her mentor had spent his final moments.

Her concern must have colored her expression because when Alex did arrive he was much more formal than he had been last night, and she softened her features as he gave a brief explanation for his absence. Before she could accept his apology, Leon had already made his teasing reply and slipped under the yellow tape. Glancing up at the handsome detective, Jillian's smile had taken on an apologetic edge. "It's no big deal, really. Things happen." Detective White looked so young with so much color in his face, like a boy, and she hoped that Leon hadn't made him that angry for his face to be so flushed. "Don't mind Leon, sometimes he takes the teasing a bit far."

Jillian slipped under the tape after her vampiric escort and followed him through the door and into the foyer, almost bumping into him with a small cry of surprise as Leon's pace slowed. There was and odd feeling in the home, even she could sense that; framing her answer in the form of a question, Jill glanced back at Alex while she made her way past Leon and into the room. "In his study?"
 
ALEXANDRE WHITE
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It was a warm and altogether too-welcome gesture from the Spiteful that sent tingles down the young were-lion's spine. He didn't like it one bit. Involuntarily, he stiffened and bit his lip. "Don't touch me" he growled under his breath, not caring whether the Spiteful heard him or not though he doubted that Leon was within enhanced earshot. It was nice of Jillian to offer her understanding and to extend a completely unnecessary apology on Leon's behalf and Alex appreciated it.

In fact, most of the fault was on Alex's shoulders. He had to sort his issues out. Everyone was right and if anything, the morning's incident proved it. Almost two years had passed, and Jason hadn't come back in any way shape or form. It was time for him to... let go.

The admission, though he tried his best to keep a professional facade, choked him up momentarily and he nodded his affirmation to Jillian's question. The lump in his throat dissolved not much later and he regained full composure. He would have to deal with his shit elsewhere. As many officers were around the residence, any Celestial determined enough could get to them.

At the moment, everything was just fine. Alex couldn't help but feel a sinking feeling in his stomach. The eerie silence of the household did not help one bit, but the young detective couldn't imagine that it was any noisier during Moore's lifetime either. It was a large, spacious house definitely too big for one person to live in. The fact that the deceased professor was an Anthropologist didn't help one bit.

Alex imagined the poor guy kept to himself in his study most of the time. It was unbecoming to assume, however, and he put aside those thoughts and devoted his time to warily watching their surroundings. There it was, a faint metallic smell hanging in the air like a spectre of the gruesome event that had taken place in the residence not too long ago.

Up the staircase they went, the oaken panels beneath their feet creaking under their combined weight. These stairs had probably seen more use the past few days than in all the years of Vincent Moore's professional life. A crystal chandelier hung not too far overhead, one more thing to tie together the Victorian elegance of the house.

It was an artifact, most likely, of an age long gone, when the world was still moving forwards instead of back. Everything that tied back to Moore spoke volumes about the past, and chillingly, the cycle that history seemed to take that would lead to the future. "No matter what, don't get distracted" Alex said, more to prepare Leon than Jillian for what lay behind the door to Moore's study.

He rubbed the side of his nose with his thumb. Alex was getting quite anxious. The sinking feeling had turned into one of encroaching doom. He put his hand into his pocket and fished out not one, not two, but three pairs of sterile latex gloves he'd gotten from one of the officers on the scene who knew full well how much of a stickler he was when it came to evidence. "Don't fucking touch my evidence without these on" he growled with the full intention of injecting some light-heartedness into the otherwise grim situation. Not that it sounded humorous by any stretch of the imagination.

He pushed the door open and the stench of dried blood and stagnant air was overpowering. Well, Alex was used to it. "I'm not quite sure what we can accomplish he--"

A soft breeze rustled papers strewn about the study and made the door creak on its hinges. "--as I was saying, I don't think we can accomplish much here unless you find the sigil legible, Jillian." The sigil burned into the floor wasn't the easiest to read.

A book toppled off of one of the bookshelves. It was the Divina Commedia. Alex knelt down to pick up the book, but before he could, a breeze flipped the pages to one of the most famous passages in the poem. Highlighted in neon yellow were the words "Abandon all hope ye who enter here."

Alex met Leon's eyes and beckoned the Spiteful closer to see what had just happened. "We have to leave. NOW."

To the two, perhaps, they saw the actions of an invisible force, but to one Jillian Aiya, they came with a familiar face. "My dear Jillian, I've been hiding for as long as I could. I knew you'd come."

It was a wraith. And it was none other than Dr. Vincent Moore.
 
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