The Clue

Aunora took a sharp breath, tugging her fingers through her tangled mess of hair. She had actually gotten up before dawn, solely on the virtue of her mind racing too fast for her to sleep any longer. The mission had made her restless- it was like she was chasing her own tail. What was supposed to have been simple was now a brick wall that she couldn't scale.

John brushed against her shoulder, making his way down the hallway with a smart grin on his lips. They locked eyes, and for a split second, she saw his irises flicker like a rainbow.  

Dumbfounded, Aunora motioned to speak, but a sharp cry from Lilith cut her off.

“I believe I've made a breakthrough!” Lilith stated, presenting herself in the center of the main room of the guild.

Sedna was the first to arrive, followed by Infinity and Selkie. Aunora was surprised when Matthew stumbled out of their sleeping quarters, a bleary Seraph and Victor slung over his shoulders.

“Did you find something, Lilith?” Infinity asked, approaching her in interest.

Lilith held her shoulders high, raising her eyebrows. “I did, in fact. I had a hunch that something was wrong, so I went back to those caves and I found this.” She held up her hand, a clump of long, red hair trapped between her fingers. “I knew I had seen this before, but then I realized where.”

She turned her head, pointing out a photo hanging on the wall. It was of Arktos, crouched beside a tall woman with scarlet hair bound in a ponytail. “I believe that women also commands a guild in this area, isn't that right?”

Sedna clenched her fists, nostrils flaring. “Katherine? We have known her for fifteen years.”

Lilith batted her eyes, shrugging innocently. “I'm just saying it's unusual that she would have been in those caves, especially if they were vital to Arktos’s research.”

“I think it's weird that the only trace of a person you found there was a piece of hair,” Matthew said dryly.

Infinity stepped between them. “I think it's worth a try. We really don't have any other leads. She could have been the presence Aunora smelt in the cave.”

Sedna forced herself to look away. “Do what you must. Selkie will show you the way. But I am staying here. I think it is time I finally forced my way into Arktos’s lab.”

Anger flashed through Lilith’s expression, but she contained herself.

----

“It seems that Katherine’s guild Prism primarily deals with the wildlife and husbandry of the area,” Infinity murmured, pushing his phone back into his pocket, “I wouldn't consider them much of a rival to Raging Hail, but we can't be sure.”

Prism was a flat, wooden building that appeared much more like a typical business than Raging Hail did, a painted sign even planted beside the porch.

Aunora kept her arms crossed, rocking on her heels as she waited for Infinity’s movement. He knocked on the door, his eyebrows furrowed.

“Yeah, what is it?” Katherine said, leaning against the doorway. She was a human, most of her body obscured by a heavy coat and a snow mask covering her head and lower portion of her face.

“We need to ask you some questions concerning guild leader Arktos,” Infinity said, folding his arms behind his back.

“Oh, him. What, is he in trouble? If you're gonna bag him for something, do me a favor and add the theft of gas can to the list. I swear, he always comes to me for fuel, but he can't even bother returning the can.”

“So would you say that you and Arktos had a strained relationship? Did you two ever come to blows?” Lilith asked, narrowing her eyes.

“What?” Katherine asked, gritting her teeth, “What's even going on?”

Infinity frowned, taking a deep breath. “Arktos is dead. We’re suspecting foul play was involved.”

“And we found a piece of your hair at a place we believe could be connected to his death,” Lilith added, holding out the strand.

“Are you serious?” Katherine snapped, “I've been away from the guild for weeks, training with some guys out in Russia. And-" she tugged at the mask over her face, slipping it off, her hair barely hanging past her ears, “I got my hair cut anyway. That can't even be mine.”

Lilith’s face became pale.

“I'm actually pretty insulted. Yeah, Arktos was a pain, but I wouldn't murder him,” Katherine growled, pushing herself into Lilith’s face, “Out here, we're a team, not enemies.”

“This was stupid,” Aunora muttered, “Let's just get back to the guild. We're wasting our time.”

Sighing, Infinity stepped forward. “Katherine, we apologize for making assumptions. Can we still ask for your cooperation in the investigation? I would like to have Lilith and John stay back to search the area for anymore clues.”

Lilith scowled, but John tossed an arm around her. “Can do, sir!”

Shoving her hands into her pocket, Aunora trudged through a fresh layer of snow, following behind Infinity. The sun had barely rose over the horizon, soft yellow light dripping across the bare landscape.

Sparing a look over her shoulder, Matthew looked exhausted, Victor perhaps even more so. She and Seraph seemed to be the only ones who weren't on their last leg.

I wonder what Umbra and Esper are doing, she thought, shaking her head. Probably drinking expensive coffee and getting their nails done. At least Esper’s getting the rest he needs.

Aunora faltered, running into Infinity, who had stopped abruptly several feet in front of Raging Hail.

“What's going-" she said, pushing him aside, only to be cut off by her blood running cold.

Sedna lay on her back, glassy eyes staring lifelessly into the sky, the snow around her stained with blood.

Author's Note- 😭😭😭 guys im sooooooo sorry for the delay im almost embrassed to even update now. i actually wanted to take a little break, bc tbh i actually had a nfh break in years. wanted some time to get a fresh mind to write