The wonder of the red waters fuels a hunger for destruction, death and desolation. The blood lust and slaughter that comes from these two peoples shall know no bounds. Reaping more than sowing ever could mend. Lives shall be shattered, stolen and destroyed. What is holy shall be desolated and the taboo shall be preformed on sacred grounds. The gods shall weep to see their children play at genocide, they in turn shall bleed as their children do.

When the last drop of blood has been split. The last life snuffed out, it is then in the gray light that those that survived shall witness it. The new world being born from the ground that was burnt to ash, the rivers that run red and the torched sky. It shall all be bathed in golden light and be reborn under the light of the first dawn.
Book of Lament: Sorrows words.





The city of Linus stands proudly on the board of two nations. Its towers may not be as golden as those of the Vatican or as glistening as those of the Empire but they are still strong and proud. The city sits in a valley with a river dividing it cutting right down the middle as it moves from Empire to human country regardless of the invisible line that dissects it. Possibly much like the city itself. The city refuses to take orders from either the Vatican or the Empire, it obeyed no one not even the king of the human nation it sat half in. For the most part it was peaceful, both kinds coexisting well. However every time there was a murder and it was proven one of the other side did it tension would arise. Suspicion creep in and the true frailty of the peace and balance would be revealed.




****



The room stank. It stank of blood and death, a few lazy flies circled the bodies; at least they would be bodies if they were whole. Instead they were in pieces scattered throughout the room. The ceiling lamp was still dripping, the chandelier had a new addition to its ornamentations, a severed head. Its tongue had been ripped out where the throat once was, the eyes had been removed and placed on an individual candle holder each. The walls had once been plain white washed but its current state was far from white. The blood splatter and spray had ensured that.

The window shutters idly slapped against the glass interrupting the silence with sharp cracks. The room hardly looked like a shop/workshop but it was. Destruction had changed the purpose and look of the room in such a dramatic manner that even the two guards posted at the door had a hard time thinking of it as anything more than a house of carnage.

Outside the only hint of anything wrong with this room was the two guards at the door, broken window and the blood splatter across the shutters.

As a woman approached the door the two guards crossed their halberds and gave her stern look. A tiny flicker of surprise flitted through her eyes, swiftly chased away by irritation at being blocked from her duty by some lowlife humans, and she turned a glare on them. The two twitched slightly at the level of malevolence visible in her gaze but stood their ground.

"Move," she ordered simply, tone subarctic.

"Can't do that ma'am," one of the guards explained somewhat nervously.

"Orders are not to let anyone inside," the other added, and gulped when she turned her glare solely on him.

"Your orders are to prevent the milieu from entering," she corrected. "I am not, however, one of this city's commoners. I am Indona Jehrul de Nisketti, investigating representative of the Empire and the Empress herself."

"Papers please?" the guard not currently being pinned by de Nisketti's glare managed to choke out.

Indona reached into the folds of her blood-red cloak and drew out a roll of parchment, tossing it to the guard who had asked without looking at him, using the same half-gloved hand to move back one of the halberds and slip through the door, not waiting for further permission.

It was hardly surprising that the guards had been intimidated; despite being slightly short, the floor-length cloak wrapped across her back and left shoulder made her seem much taller, and billowed impressively in the wind. The hem was heavily embroidered with gold thread in a repeated starburst pattern (conveniently concealing the darts stored therein), weighting the bottom and allowing the cloak to hang straight and conceal much of her outfit. What was visible wasn't any less impressive: black and red seemed to be the main themes, with accents in various precious metals. On her arms she had black gloves that bared all her fingers but the ring and little ones stretched most of the way up her forearm that were worked in silver and gold around several black-looking gems. A dark red breastplate covered a black tanktop, and leather pants in a matching red nearly covered well-fitted black combat boots. No blades were visible, but there was no mistaking that crossing her was a very bad idea.

The scent of blood as soon as she got inside made her attention spike instantly, and red-gold eyes narrowed slightly before returning to their usual aggressive glare as she inspected the room around her.

ooc: This NPC will be bringing you the towns gossip, also clues about evidence and generally letting you know anything I think you should know. Well this one of many NPCs to come.


There was a yell behind him but he ignored it pelting down the stairs taking them two at a time. His dusty blonde short hair bouncing as he dashed away. Blue eyes glinting brightly the ten year old dashed past an open door taking a glimpse seeing blood splattered walls and a elegant looking woman in the midst of it all looking completely at ease despite the gore. He whipped his head back around to look where he was going just in time too. The street urchin ducked under the crossed halberds and out onto the street. He was in his realm down and he still has his prize to boot. ducking and dodging the people bare feet slapping on the stone roads he darted off.

Hopefully the loot would be enough to fill his belly for a few days to come, his well worn, frayed and tattered clothes marked him as poor. The dirt on his face and unwashed appearance marked him as street trash. Not worth a single copper coin. He was a thief but hey that was life. It meant survival after all most people had more than they needed they wouldn't miss a few nick knacks here and there or a few coins either. Only problem was as he had just found out the house he had chosen to browse (entering via a carelessly open top window) had been a murder scene. It explained the irritated city inspector walking in on his going through the desk and possibly all the yelling and attempting to catch him. Then again that was pretty normal. His kind wasn't really welcome. The young boy nicknamed Rateye ran off towards his den in a back ally of the slums.

((Next section is actually RDSR))

In a near by alleyway a young woman watched the goings on in the house with interest. Her short red hair, which looked as if it had been hacked off with a knife, was blown about her face by the breeze. She shivered and drew her knee length, dark brown jacket closer to her body. In doing so she revealed the short, ginger tabby marked, fur that covered most of her body, its colours matching her hair. A leather belt with a knife holster was loosely clinched around her waist. As one hand reached down to pat the black cat winding around her ankles, the other reached up and pushed some strayed hair out of her face, revealing that her ears ended in a point. As she waited her cat like eyes constantly scanned the streets and her nose twitched from the smell of blood coming from the house.

Kneeling down, she gently picked up the cat and held it close to her face. Mentally reaching out to the creature was made easier by the physical connection. *Hey there little one. How’d you like to help out Mia, Huh?* sensing agreement Mia quickly outlined what she wanted the little cat to do *alls yah got to do is go have a look in that house over there and tell me what you see, you up for that?* in answer the feline squirmed in her grasp, when it was let go, it proceeded to cross the street and enter the building, unnoticed by the guards. Mia watched it go, a worried frown on her face, se hoped she wasn’t putting her new friend in any danger.

Having no memory of anything before the last three or so months Mia had no idea if she’d ever lost a friend before but deep inside she suspected she had. And so she stood in the alley and waited, hoping that the little cat got in and out unharmed.

Kneeling down he scratched his short grey hair. The urchin had escaped, probably taking with him a piece of evidence. Sighing he looked through the remains of the drawer lying on the floor.

In the glint of a letter opener he caught the reflection of his badge.

Inspector General Marcus Sínim

Long Reach they called him back at the station, His nearly seven feet of height had become bowed with time and the events he had witnessed. The dark bags of his eyes spoke of too many scenes like this, and many sleepless nights trying to solve them.

A knock came at the bedroom door, spinning around Long Reach faced the officer.

" Yes? ~UAGHHH!!" He choked out as his spin sent him flying into a chair and then messily onto the floor. The officer at the door chocked back a laugh as he helped Long Reach up.

"Sir, There is a Lady down stairs she burst in with all the haughty charm of the Empress' minions...~!" Long Reach smacked the officer on the forehead, lightly as a reprimand.
"Now now, we can be saying things that might get us in trouble. That would be bad wouldn't it Chase? Didn't your wife just have twins? As much as we might not like whats going on these days, the Law is the Law. We are here to uphold it."

" Yes sir, it wont happen again. Although Nisty would like it if you came for dinner some time soon. Its only been 3 years since we invited you. " Chase laughed as they moved towards the stairs.

"She claims to be a investigative representitive of the Empress, seems a bit crazy even for one of them. But she has the attitude so the boys had to let her in." Chase moved off to look into the kitchen and Long Reach moved towards the murder scene.

Placing his bowler hat back on he slammed into the half open door and burst into the room. Looking up his black eyes glinting like onyx he rose up to his full height and looked down on the immaculatly dressed woman in the center of the room.

"I am Inspector General Marcus Sínim. I have a few questions for you, firstly, Who the hell are you? secondly, What the hell are you doing here? and finally What have you learned so far?"

The office was dull, deathly dull. Its walls had been painted grey recently and the furniture was all plain and boring. There was nothing that stood out in the room at all. The carpet was apologetic beige, the table was new made of some light coloured wood, unremarkable. The table had a small device that was called a console on it. Only the best technology for the law enforcers of town. At least that what they said the truth of it was probably far from it.
The few files on the desk were neatly stacked and ordered not a single sheet of paper out of place. The pens sat neatly in a cup all upright and ready to be used. The man behind the desk was as unremarkable as the room.

His mustache was so straight it might have been trimmed with the aid of a ruler. His suit was neatly irons and sat on him held in place with starch, his hair combed back neatly. Everything about him contrasted the person sitting on the other side of the desk. She clashed with the room completely and perhaps it was the cause of the small twitch going in the mans eye. This woman had an aura around her of darkness and death, it made the room seem even colder then the dull paint scheme. She sat here wearing black. All black from her knee high buckle combat boots to the unbuttoned coat. If she walked out onto the streets kids would follow her for blocks on end too shy to get close by over awed by the 'coolness' of this stranger.

Her long black hair hung like a veil over her face meaning that the man couldn't even look her in the eye. Not that he was sure he wanted to. This woman scared him a little and he was supposed to be giving the orders. He cleared his throat nervously and the woman stopped looking into space and gave him her entire attention. He could tell her gaze was focused on him despite the veil of hair. He could feel it boring into him and tearing at his soul.
"You are being assigned to other duties for a while. Someone else will be doing the ex......" he stopped short and chose another word. Something about the tiniest shift in her position when he had started to say that made him choose another word. "Doing your usual duties. You will be protecting the investigators at are looking into this series of vampire murders." She stood up and he wondered if he should repeat himself. Was she even listening?
"If that all?" she asked him in the barest whisper and when he spoke he could have swore that the window frosted up, the water in his glass froze and everything dropped below zero.
"That is all" he choked out and then all at once she was gone. Only the flick of a tail coat exiting the door betrayed her swift departure. The man sat back and gasped in air. The others creeped him out enough but this one especially. How she had ended up under his department he would never know but he did know one thing. Next time he was going to get one of his subordinates to deal with her. The further she was away from him the happier he would be.

Indona was studying the severed head with interest when the boy ran through. Unwilling to chase after a peasant brat, and knowing he would escape her with his knowledge of the city even if she did chase him, she merely watched him duck through the grasping hands of the guards and snorted, turning back to the crime scene. With the blood sprayed over the walls and floor and ceiling and, well, just about everywhere, she knew it wasn't a murder to feed. Which certainly was about to make life interesting.

A black cat wandered in past the guards and Indona's face softened minutely as she picked it up, cradling it in her arms as she turned to face the stairs to the upper levels where she could hear someone coming down. When the tall inspector barrelled out into the room and loomed over her, she was slightly surprised - and envious - of his height, but quickly squashed all emotion into an impassive expression as he barked out his questions.

"Since you have so kindly introduced yourself, I shall answer your questions. I am la Comtesse de Dalmatia, investigating representative of the Empire and her Imperial Majesty the Empress; and I have learned that your security is less than impressive, and it was not a crime of hunger. Now it is your turn: your findings, Inspector General Sinim."

Phased by the diminutive stature and outlandish dress of this Investigator LongReach scratched at his five o'clock shadow and looked at his watch 11:30am.

Five o'clock shadow at 11:30 in the morning? i must be getting old, i shaved this morning too!

LongReach whiped the excess of blood from his pants as he bent over to look the investigator in the face.

"Well this is either a crime of passion, of psycopathy or revenge. The criminal either knew of or was known to the victums. He or she had cause to hate these poor people to the point where ~WAAAAAH"

In his pacing he had stepped on a hand. Removing his hands from the rafters in the ceiling he lowered himself back to ground level.

Looking at the gruesome display sitting on the candlebra he turned to the tiny woman standing next to him. Kneeling down he picked up a piece of offal from the floor and held it before her nose.

"Whoever did this wanted this to be painful and slow." Longreach stood up feeling all of his years and whiped his brow.

Red became more dominant in Indona's eyes as the bloody offal was held in front of her, then was forced down as she knocked the hand away. Glaring at the Inspector, she reined in instincts that told her sustenance was in easy reach, all she had to do was reach out and take it...

"I am displeased that you find it necessary to test my strength of will, Inspector General," she stated frostily, tone somewhere in the subarctic climes. "Nevertheless, we cannot be sure the family was know to the killer. A psychopath does not always choose his victims carefully, although revenge may be a possible motive for premeditated murder. What information do you have on this family?"

The briefing had been just that - brief - and contained little information more than 'vampire killed family, liaise and make sure you find them'. Not entirely helpful, but she did know how to interact with mortals, given her fief. As a territory ruler on the border with the human nation, she had more experience than she really wanted with mortals and their ways. To be honest, she wasn't really sure why she'd been sent for such an incident out of her immediate vicinity (wasn't it the responsibility of the city's Master?), but it was the Empress' will...

There was a brief moment of silence at the crime scene and then a bolt punched through on remaining whole pane of glass in the window shattering. Another followed it but both suffered the strangest of flight paths. Instead of flying straight in to hit the two standing in there they curved upwards and into the ceiling. Next to the chandler with a head and something that could be a spleen on the ceiling.

Outside people were screaming and running. Outside the window there was a flash as a figure in black leapt into the building opposite by kicking in a window. The front door to the place opened and then was pulled closed again without anyone exiting. Inside there was a terrified scream and then silence.

After several moments a man jumped out of the second story window followed by the figure in black. Where he stumbled and limped away she almost glided to the ground and landed softly sprinting after the man. Almost as fast as a vampire. The man halted as she was in front of him. He gasped and drew on of the new 'guns' that had recently entered the market. He cocked the weapon and then fell over dead. The woman in black stepped over him. As cool and calm as if she was merely out for a casual afternoon stroll. She walked back towards the crime scene. After all she had people to protect. Those were her orders.

As soon as the pane of glass shattered, Indona was on the floor, one hand raised with a dagger ready to throw. When the bolts curved to the ceiling she burst into action, jumping through the window and spreading the cloak wide as she lifted into the air, gliding down the street. When the man appeared she dove, ready to knock him out and take him in for questioning when he pulled out a gun and died. Cursing, she flicked her wrist and the daggers disappeared once more. She glared at the woman in black.

"He could have had information," she hissed, cloak settling around her as she landed in the street and once more concealing much of her clothing.

Just what we need. LongReach thought, slipping on his gloves as the first bolt shattered the glass.

Unfortunatly they were all dead before he had finished with his second glove.


He looked at the blackrobed figure standing in the living room.

"So? we have a new player, or should i say players in this game. I am Inspector General Marcus Sínim. Your a Dishra then? What brings you to this bloodied house on such a beautiful day?"

LongReach stretched up and took the bolts out of the ceiling.

Thumbing the blade of the bolt, Longreach looked at the newcomer "Whoever you are your good. Id much rather have you as my ~ YEOWWW!!!" his thumb now bled.

" Id much rather have you as my friend than as my enemy".

"I am a Dishra, yes." She remarked in a monotone. She looked at the imperious vampire before her and gave her no more regard than the inspector.
"You are unharmed?" She asked both of them, she blinked very slowly all the whilst keeping her eyes on the vampire. As she blinked her eyes slowly changed to all black, by the time she opened them they had returned to normal.
"I am here to protect you both. The sight seer is dead as is the only witness. The commander sent me to ensure the safety of the investigators. Please so not do anything risky or foolish." The woman then walked into the crime scene. She ran one pale long fingered hand over a side table in the hall and the regarded the blood painted room.

"Vampires have strength to tear a man limb for limb. Humans have guns to blow a man's head apart. Dishra are bound to do the bidding of both." She muttered and blinked that slow blink again. The eyes changed briefly and back again.
"I will protect you both"

LongReach's eyes traveled over the Dishra as it reported to him.

Glancing at the vampire, LongReach drawled, "Well little girl, Seems the bigwigs think we cant handle ourselves or a couple of hitman wannabees. Althought it does seem that your reputation preceeds you DeathTouch."

He shrugged his shoulders and the chorus of pops and groans from his back reminded him that he should hit the gym soon.

"And here i was spoiling for a fight. Still being old you can see the benefits of having a protector."

He thrust his hand out towards DeathTouch. "Well heres to an interesting trio of partnerships."

Indona bristled in anger, only just reigning in the urge to introduce this Dishra to the sharp end of her blades. So she couldn't protect herself? Well, had DeathTouch not interfered, she'd likely have been able to knock out their assailant and actually get some answers. As it was...

"A vampire needs no mortal protecting them, Dishra or not," she hissed, just about ready to rip this one in half as she suggested one of her kind had done to this family. While it was likely, it was not certain just yet, and she was not going to stand by and let her whole race be slandered for the actions of a very few. "Watch your tongue!"

She looked at the hand then slowly, very slowly she took it for a brief moment. His hand was so warm in her cold hand. Almost like fire. She released it soon after clasping it. It was different from how the others had treated her. How strange this man was but she hid that thought behind a mask of emotionlessness.

DeathTouch turned and looked at the vampire. She blinked in the same slow way.
"Indona." she tasted the name "I know you could have knocked him out but there was no answers in his mind. Only what his employer had told him which was little. I am sure the empress will be pleased with your deeds once you succeed. Indeed she may trust you more as you imagine. Yes it is that easy to peer into you soul and know you. Death knows us all." she said her eyes slowly changed to a deep shade of red, blood like and full of fierce hunting pride.

She closed her eyes and her breath catched for a moment. The tiniest frown appeared and vanished. The first emotion that she had shown thus far. As quickly as it had come it was gone, she stood eyes open and blank of emotion once more. She turned and walked to the door.
"I will watch over you. It is my task" there was the tiniest hint of reproof there.

"Stay out of my fucking mind, witch," Indona hissed, much like the black cat she had dropped when the crossbow bolts came through the window. "I neither need nor want your interference, and keep your thrice-damned ability to yourself. And do not address me so familiarly. I am a de Nisketti, Countess of Dalmatia, and you will treat me with respect!"

Indona bristled with anger, eyes betraying her roiling feelings as they wheeled between red and gold, and she moved closer to the chandelier, peering at the head. It could be a kind of message...

Now ignoring the other two, she jumped up onto the chandelier, inspecting the way the head was angled and placed on the object.

Sighing as the vampire jumped up onto the ceiling. For what reason he did not want to speculate LongReach decided it was time for some breakfast.

" Who is hungry? i am, im going for breakfast. CHASE!!! FINISH UP HERE!"
Reaching into his coat pocket he pulled out a battered pack of cigarettes. Lighting one up he thought to himself, well these two will probably kill me before i die from these sticks... ill quit tomorrow.

As he walked out the battered front door he heard Chase's affirmitive from up stairs.

DeathTouch and an Investegator, this must be serious. Who could have done it?

A loud growl interrupted his musing. " Come on you two, my gut says its breakfast time."

DeathTouch chose to ignore the irate vampire and instead went to stand just outside the door. She lured a black cat over to her ankles and petted it. Then she spotted one of the wild Dishra that lived in the city. She let a lazy mind link flow over to them. Asking about the murder and city gossip. Maybe something about a boy she had seen dashing down the road as she had been coming up it.

From this she gained a map of the slums and the name 'Ratseye', the wild Dishra liked Deathtouch because she tended to help them out. She helped them escape those that would catch and bind them, they helped her with her job. That way she could be sure who was innocent and not. Not that the city always cared to listen to her voice.

LongReach interrupted her musing with the word breakfast, she pulled a bit of jerky from her pocket and broke a bit off for the cat giving the animal the meat. She then ate a bit herself, it was strange that this man was so kind to her. Most of the department couldn't get far away from her. and yet he was willing to shake her hand. Eat breakfast with her.
She offered him another piece of jerky from her pocket, wondering if like this cat he was willing to take it from her. She liked cats and other animals. They didn't fear her. They knew she wouldn't hurt them unless they hurt her.

LongReach looked down at the Jerky offered to him.

"Looks good" he popped it into his mouth it tasted good. " its good!" he said around the mouthful. "Although i was thinking bacon and eggs. Besides it could give us a chance to share information. My treat" He rose to his full height and smilled widely.

Spotting a diner a few doors down on the opposite side of the road he began to walk towards it while yelling back to the Vampire.

"WHEN YOUR DONE WE WILL BE AT DENNY'S"

He then made his way into the diner and ordered thier special. The Mountain breakfast.

"On second thoughs.... make it two." He sipped his coffee and looked over at the Dishra.

"So what do we know?"

DeathTouch followed silently as he lead the way. The waitress near the door dropped her tray as she walked in. Deathtouch caught it and save the pile of dishes from breaking. Well most of them. Two in the middle of the pile cracked at the sudden stop. Deathtouch offered the girl her tray back, she was too terrified to take it. She put it down on the table instead and walked over to LongReach sitting down opposite without seeming to cross the distance between.

"The blood in approximately seven hours old. The bodies were hacked to death, not killed and then hacked. The arteriole spray shows it was fast and unexpected. They were herded into the room and then killed. It was not a rage, more blood lust. The head was displayed in defiance. It was supposed to be gory and offensive. To shock and weaken your resolve. It was will not be the last." She said it all in a monotone. Like reading a written report of the dullest military officer.

"Mmmmm i figured, the file on this family says that they were law abiding citizens. They didnt deserve this. "

The breakfasts arrived and he shoved one mountain of bacon, baked beans and eggs towars DeathTouch.

"Consider this my thankyou for this morning, now i wonder where the Vamp is?"

He set upon his food with a vengence that rivaled the crime scene he had just left.

Indona jumped down and darted upstairs while the others went to the diner, rifling through the papers in the study upstairs and looking through the bedrooms. Everything had been disturbed, but nothing told her how many there had been, or even if there had only been one. Threatening loved ones was a sure way to get a family to adhere to demands, and once they were huddled together nothing more could be done to protect themselves.

She went back to the study, picked up a folio of letters and a ledger and headed for 'Denny's' at vampiric speed, arriving soon after the others did. As she approached the table she saw the fear of the waitstaff for the Dishra and smirked; they practically ignored her threat in the face of, to them, the much greater threat of DeathTouch.

"At least I am no monster," she commented, sliding into the booth they occupied with an impassive face and plopping the documents onto the table, opening the folio first to flick through the letters.

Deathtouch watched fascinated at the man positively attacked his breakfast.
"Is it even legal to do that to a meal?" she asked making an attempt to make a joke. It was her first. Probably the last. Something about this man disarmed her.

She neatly and methodically cut up the meal into pieces and then began to eat them with efficiency and neatness. She ignored the vampire instead she plucked a letter from the folio.
"Its a design for a pair of swords. Designed and then sent to the craftsman. Unique too. Look at this. Its an empty space for something. They payment is a large sum, who pays that much for such a weapon? Nobles, Generals..." Deathtouch trailed off and continued eating examining the diagram.

Grunting around his meal LongReach absorbed what they were saying.

" So do we have any idea about who sent this? those swords look special."

He pondered as he ravaged the last of his meal.

" Firstly we need to find out who ordered these weapons." He looked towards the vampire " These look like swords you could use, they look to heavy for a human to use properly. Think you can track down who ordered these?"

Turning to the Dishra he added " Can you find out who was comissioned to make these?"

He stood up, his plate spotless. " Well i need to go report in."

DeathTouch reached into her pocket and then placed onto the table a radio which she slide over to LongReach.
"You should be able to report in via radio" she said and started to stare out the window. Outside a wide eyed wary street rat was making his way towards the crime scene. He crept along with the experience of one who knows how to not be noticed. She decided to say nothing. This was probably Ratseye checking on what is what. He had had the misfortune of plucking a living from the wrong house at the wrong time.

It was survival something she understood. You had to survive that was all that there ever was to things. Sometimes it was easy and other times you had to wrestle life from grasping hands of those who didn't want you to live.

Indona took the letter back, examining the handwriting and sniffing the page delicately before turning it over to look at the signature. Hah, I'm right, she thought victoriously. I thought it was Loepen, he's always had a fascination...but it certainly means that it was a vampire crime, damn it all. These psychopaths make us seem like devils; such a pity the mortals don't recall the genocides they've committed as well as they remember ours. Life would be so much easier if they just accepted their inferiority and didn't complicate things with their pitiful jealousy.

She looked again at the date, and wondered if the craftsman had time to complete the work...and whether it was the vampire who commissioned the work or another who 'picked up' the finished blades. And what were the spaces for anyway? She couldn't think of anything offhand that would require it...she'd give it more thought later, for now let it stew in the back of her mind.

Indona almost smirked as she remembered what the human had asked of her.

"Look," she pointed on the paper, "it says right here who commissioned the blades: Ruciel Loepen. Though that doesn't mean he now has them, even if they have been finished. They're beautiful, works of art that most would want to possess."

Having watched the procedings through the cats eyes with interest Mia wandered over to the building and picked up the creature. Scratching behind its ears, she began to walk towards Denny's. She thought *these people seem like they know alot, and are good at finding things out, maybe, if i offer to help them, they can help me find out about my past*

Entering the Diner, Mia searched in her pockets for enough change to pay for a meal. She had just enough to pay for a small plate of food. Sitting down at the next table, Mia split her food with the cat. When the Waitress came over to complain about the animal being inside Mia Glared at her and without realising gave a hiss of anger.

As the Waitress backed away, Mia returned to her contemplation of the group and wondered how she could introduce herself.

Indona's ears twitched at the human-animal hiss behind her and twisted in her seat, curious as to why a waitress was asking a cat to leave. Upon seeing the black cat, her eyes widened, then narrowed at the girl sitting at the next table.

"Isn't that the cat that was in the house earlier?" she wondered out loud, eyeing the girl contemplatively, and with a fair share of disdain.

"Isn't that the cat that was in the house earlier?" Hearing this Mia Foucused on the Vampire.
"You are Indona de Nesketti, Correct?" Mia asked "and what might you do if this is the same cat that was at your murder scene but a few short mintues ago?"

"AH ! yes a radio!" LongReach sat down again and ordered another Mountain breakfast.
"You see i dont have much luck with these things." He said as he pulled out a handful of electrronic parts that might have been a radio at one point in time.

" So it was a vampire that ordered these swords? We should pay a visit to him." LongReach said his eyes glinting

As he reported to his superiors he heard the hiss and noted the Vamipires interest in it.


Leaning over to the girl he smiled as warmly as he could. "Hungry? that small plate can hardly be satisfying. DENY! Make that 2 Mountains. One for the girl as well as me! And as for your cat? yes i believe it was at our crime scene earlier." he said matter of factly

It gave LongReach immense pleasure to see other people content. He liked it when peoples bellies were full, they were nicer people that way. Whether vampire, Dishra or human a good feed went a long way to a good friend. So shouting a meal for this stranger was no stretch for him.

His nose twitched something didnt smell right. And it wasnt bacon burning

"The... radio has caught fire" DeathTouch pointing to the pile of pieces of what had been his radio and taking back hers. She smothered the flames with her bare hand unaware that it was an odd thing to do. She she lifted her hand it was perfectly unharmed.

Moving swiftly she moved to sit opposite the girl reaching out to pet the cat, at the same time letting a gentle mental nudge head towards the girls mind.
"Cats are always hungry" she remarked and pulled out another piece of jerky offering it to the cat.

Watching the radio catch fire Mia started to giggle. She took a few deep breaths and slowly calmed down.

Smiling at DeathTouch's remark Mia said "Your DeathTouch right? And the nice man who ordered me the food is Long Reach? Well I'm Mia and I may be able to help you guys."

She looked up at the Trio with a serious look in her cat like eyes "You dont have any witnesses to the horrible murder in that house do you. Well i might be able to find you one"

DeathTouch inclined her head an inch when the girl said her name.
"The inspector appears to enjoy buying food. And consuming it." She added and then looked at the girl again.
"Did someone see?" She asked petting the cat and looking at the girl with her full attention.

At the same time she sent a trickle of her power towards the girl. Testing for truth, lies, power and also weakness. Into the girls mind in the barest whisper
'Are you Dishra little sister?'

"No human or vampire, if any did they would most likely have been found by now, but humans and vampires are not the only living beings in this city" Mia replyed.

She froze when she heard DeathTouch's voice in her mind, she strained to reply in the same manner but all she got was a headache, apparently she could only talk that way to animals even if the other person could talk that way to her. Leaning in she whispered to her "whats a Dishra?"

DeathTouch's expression twitched for a second when the girl whispered that question. It was about as close to surprise as she ever really got, anyone else might get the twitch when a sneeze is on coming, they are about to get a shock, they feel a little indigestion coming on, something about their shoes might be uncomfortable...........


DeathTouch thought about it for a while and simply whispered into the girls mind.
"Not here not, now. Later little sister."
"There are many beings that are neither human nor vampire. Birds? Cats? Things of legends, ghosts?" DeathTouch said lightly trying to cover up that tiny slip.

Indona's expression twisted into a sneer of disgust. Yet another of these Others? How many of them would she have to deal with to get this whole thing straightened out. Seeing DeathTouch interact with the chit gave her information, though - clearly the bitch had a soft spot for others of her kind, and that would be good to know if she ever needed leverage. Though she would need to be resolute about going through with it - the bitch could step into her mind and see if she was not. And didn't that thought just give her the shivers!

She came back to herself, stopped staring at the trio, and went back to going through correspondence and ledgers. Let the bleeding-heart human look after the creatures. He seemed to like them well enough, she thought with a sneer.

"So... you... like... cats?" LongReach said around mouthfuls of food.

LongReach's neck was itching, something was up, this girl was not your normal kind of girl... Maybe she was a Dishra too. She felt like one to him. Still LongReach was not going to turn down any help today.

He continued making small talk untill all the food was gone.

" So shall we go meet the writer of this letter?" he said standing up and brushing the crumbs off his coat.

He looked down at the little girl. " That will give you time to introduce us to your little witness." Smiling broadly he paid for thier food and went outside for a smoke.

"Cats are interesting creatures, and who they turn to tends to match their complexity" DeathTouch said and looked at the vampire with another of her slow eye changing blinks. She then got up and followed the inspector wary of assassins. Though the probability of two attempts in one day was low, no reason to get lax.

"Why are you so trusting?" DeathTouch asked the inspector after a moment of silence. It was time to get to know her charge as his ways, it was easier to protect him that way.

" Trusting? Well i seen a lot in my years. Seen people good and bad. Been stabbed in the back and got the scars to prove it. I just like to believe that there is some good in most things. For everything else well there are my gloves." He grinned and gestured to the metal studded leather gloves he wore.

They looked about as old as he was. Brown leather grown dark with time and blood. Yet the metal glinted slightly, like it was alive from the inside.

"Besides, i have a sense about people. I know if i can trust then when i shake their hand." He grinned broadly.

"So i guess your not used to being trusted?" he said looking down and taking another drag of his cigarette

Mia nodded her understanding of DeathTouch's mind communiaction, and turned back to LongReach and Indona.

She looked at LongReach in confusion "I dont remeber saying that i had a witness, only that i may be able to find you one. the local animals may know what happened or there may even be a family pet or a guard creature."

Spliting the last of the bacon with the cat she sood up and streached, reaveling the fur that ran over her body as well as the fact that she wasnt wearing anything under her coat.

Indona sighed when she finished the folio; nothing else of particular importance was in there, so it looked like Loepen was their next avenue of inquiry. She sighed, not looking forward to meeting up with him again - he lived on the edges of reality at the best of times, and the borderlands he usually walked were incredibly creepy. Add the fact that he was far older than she and paraded around like a Renaissance noble...well. She'd leave the description at 'creepy'. Still, there was a job to do...

de Nisketti, Countess of Dalmatia, rose from her seat and walked calmly outside, dumping the ledger and folio into Mia's arms on her way past.

"Give those to the guards outside the house," she ordered tonelessly, waving a hand dismissively and exiting the diner.

Moving to stand in front of the Inspector General, she ignored the cigarette smoke and raised an eyebrow.

"Shall we go visit Loepen?" she suggested, ignoring DeathTouch.