Written by  BellaArtz

It was pouring.

Fast, hard drops rained from the sky all over the kingdom of Barcington, turning the sandy roads to mud and leaving only those made of concrete in the capital, Yaslen, safe to thread.

Not that anyone would be out by this time. Yet, there was a lone, nondescript carriage trudging its way through the capital's streets. With a single red lantern to light the way, they pulled up to a large gated estate.

"We're here, miss. A servant should be out any minute," The driver at the saddle announces.

"About time, freezing my bleedin' arse off in here." An irritated feminine voice called.

"We would have sent a more comfortable carriage but the Duke wanted to attract as little attention as possible." The driver replied.

"Of course he did," the eye roll was obvious in her words. The pitter-patter of footsteps was soon heard, followed by the groaning of metal against metal.

More footsteps.

And then finally a rap on the carriage door. The passenger steps out and takes the offered second umbrella.

She turns to the driver, gray steel eyes flashing, "When the next carriage comes, tell them that I said he must want outside."

"Yes, Miss," the driver nods.

The passenger then follows the maid through the gates. It takes a while but soon they are at the manor's entrance where she's shrugging off the heavy coat to reveal a rumpled white blouse beneath a leather vest.

A sword is strapped to the left side of her waist and a gun on the other. She takes off her gloves to reveal dark-skinned hands littered with scars and callouses.

Once the wet clothes are off, she's led further into the manor, letting its warmth wash over her while studying her surroundings. No flashy chandeliers are on and only dim wall lights guide their way to a quaint but well-furnished drawing room.

The room is empty save for a lone figure standing in front of the window that overlooked the moonlight garden being stormed upon. The figure turns to face her, revealing a man in his mid-forties probably. Given the dim lights, she wouldn't be able to tell, but she could make out hints of graying hair on his head and well-kept beard.

"Duke Everey, I presume," she gave a quick bow.

"And you're Analia Raycroft, the best detective in all of Barcington?"

A smile quirked her lips a tad bit, "Yours truly."

***

Being born without magic in a world governed by spells and noble supremacy could easily be seen as a death sentence. You probably offended the gods so much in your past life that they decided to make you the butt of the joke in the next one.

Analia was one of the few commoners born into that stratum, but luckily for her, she had the natural born ability to acquire skills at a rapid pace. She had an eye for detail and barely anything could escape her attention without drawing her suspicions.

And she was suspicious of everything.

She took a seat on a plush sofa without waiting to be offered one, "Tell the girl to put on the brighter lights."

"I'm afraid, I can't do that, it'll draw the attention-"

"You've got servants Dukey boy, so if you're afraid of the neighbors noticing, trust me they already know."

"Crass as they say it appears."

"If you want crass, you should meet my partner."

The duke grit his teeth before snapping his fingers. The maid scuttled about the room, lighting up the wall lights with some minor flame spell.

"Everything to your liking, Ms. Raycroft?" The duke questioned once the room was lit up.

Analia nodded, studying the small space, eyes moving from one spot to the other, "It's not easy being me you know? Once I get moving, all my enemies get moving too, no matter how discreet I am. There are traps everywhere."

She points to the maid, "Bet you don't even know her name, could be your first time seeing her for all you care but for me, she might be an assassin sent to poison the tea you'll offer at some point in our meeting."

"You are safe under my roof detective but since you seem interested in tea as small talk, let's...cut to the chase, as they say," He says, taking the seat across from her.

"I'm all ears, Sir," she places her hands on her lap.

"I take it you've gotten wind of some 'special' cases. Murders that happen to be done by magic." He asks, weaving his fingers together.

"What crime isn't committed with magic these days?" She asked back, dryly.

"Detective,"

"Simmer down, you need a sense of humor once you do the kind of job I do," Analia stands from the chair, moving out towards the door, "I have an idea what cases you're referring to but a couple of weeks ago, I received a royal warrant barring me from taking part in any investigations, My Lord." she waves her and dismissively, "And an interesting case nonetheless."

Duke Everey, watches her inspect the room with pensively drawn brows.

"If you want my help, I want to see the body, and if you let me see the body, you're practically going against the Royal council." She couldn't keep the smirk from her voice.

"I'm aware," he sighs.

"You know the punishment, for that?"

"I do, but this can't be kept under wraps any longer."

A delightful shiver runs his Analia's spine, "I'm quaking in my boots already."

"There are no signs of remorse on your face," He says, eyes on her with a half glare.

"Do you need my skills or my pity? I can only offer one at a time." she shoots back.

The air is tense for a full minute, but right after, Duke Everey is up on his feet, pristine hands clapping softly as he walks past her and out the door. The servant rushes after him with a small fireball to guide the way.

Analia follows, shutting the door to the drawing room behind her after casting one last look out the window to the story night.

***

A long trip up a flight of stairs and past numerous leads them to stand before mahogany doors. Duke Everey pulls a small bronze key from the folds of his robe.

Analia notices the sharpness of his hands, his trembling breaths, and the hesitation once his hands finally rest on the knobs to push the doors open.

A large four-poster bed rests to the far right of the dark room. Wispy white curtains are still as the air around them.

Analia is already at the side of the bed within seconds. Swiftly but carefully, she pulls the curtains aside and begins the servant girl with the light over.

"And who is this unlucky little lady?" The brown-haired detective asks as she examines the corpse. It looks bone dry to the touch like all moisture was sucked out from it. The victim's mouth is open in agony and their face is scrunched in pain.

"Alise, my...niece, we raised her like our own after her parents died," The man answers, voice turning hoarse but Analia wasn't done with him yet.

"Get me more to work with, Duke. Remember, I know zilch about this case?"

He nods hastily, banishing the maid so it's just two of the in the room. The young blonde girl lights all the candles before leaving.

"No one is sure what it is, but every victim dies within three days. First, a dark purple bruise appears on some part of the body. Alise said it was extremely painful." He explains.

"Where was hers?"

"Her collarbone."

"How long has she been dead?"

"Almost a day, I sent for you as soon as I saw it," he clenched his fists at his side in an attempt to ground himself, "We didn't want to think much of it, we thought it was a commoners' disease. The physicians dismissed it as well. But I...I sent for Underground help. Some Alchemist took a lot of money from me only to declare the cause was magic related. That's when I sent for you.

"I wanted I met with the council on the second day but they pushed it aside claiming Alise must have caught it from a commoner somehow."

"You don't believe that? I thought you nobles we're all like good little dogs to the council that feeds you."

Duke Everey met her eyes with his sad brown orbs, "That was when I had something to lose. I have both nothing now, these are obviously murders, that's what was said before the council ordered the Forces to call it a disease. I want the person responsible brought to justice."

Analia gives him a pat on the shoulder, "I accept your case, Duke. Keep some gold aside I don't know how much this case is worth yet but just make sure it's a lot, put it in a safe place in case the Council decides to raid this lovely home before I'm done."

"Do you think they're aware I notified you?"

"Not yet but when they do, you'll know,"

She spins on one heel, marching over to one of the room's windows, "Has anything been touched in the last twenty-four hours?"

"I ordered servants to leave the room as is."

"That's weird, these floors were swept recently. Quite thoroughly, I might add."

"Why do you say that?"

She toes the carpet at the center of the room open, "There's no dust here and the direction of the fur is uniform whereas If it had been walked on within the last two days, it would be rumpled."

She walked back to the windows, The windows would have been open but they're shut, so why the hell is there a damp spot on the rug here? Also, note the faint smell of jasmine in the air. The smell is faint on the corpse but over here it's stronger to cover up the smell of wet fur."

Her eyes land on the Duke, "This was all done recently to cover up the presence of an attacker that came in the night before, mind you it was also storming then so they came in wet."

The duke nods, "Go on."

"One of your servants was in here covering up, we start by finding out which one?"

***

Analia sighs, scanning the line of servants before her. Sixteen in total; two cooks, a stable boy, a gardener, three maids, two manservants, four guards, and three drivers.

"Alright, let's get this over with, once I point, you tell me how your day went and if you stutter I'll be on you like butter on bread. Understood?"

They all chorused their agreement. The detective sits on a nearby stool, the Duke dutifully at her side and she begins her investigation. She has her suspects but this procedure is to make sure there isn't more than one.

Once all the stories are out in the open, she points to the blonde girl and the stable boy, "Step forward."

They both tremble as they step away from the line. Her eyes are resting, on the blonde maid, "You're lying, ya lil' witch," then she faces the stable boy, "And you know she is, now, tell me, what made you raise a brow at her story."

The young boy, barely sixteen, is looking anywhere but at her, "Lucielle said she was cleaning the music room earlier this even but...I...I was winter myself, I don't do it all the time, b-but the sound of the old piano...I like it," he confesses with shame, "I apologize master Everey."

Analia is already ignoring him at this point, "Where were you really...Lucielle? Certainly not spraying perfume in the late young mistress's chamber, huh?"

Lucielle is starting up with wide blue eyes full of shock and fear, she looks about ready to bolt but Analia already has her pistol out. "Move and I won't hesitate to shoot."

Her statement draws shrieks as gasps

"Detective, isn't that going too far?"

"This isn't a legal case so I'm free to use any means necessary," she explains, "You have six seconds, Lucy." Analia cocks the barrel loudly.

"It was a man, I met him and he promised he'd give me a lot of money to run away if I took off one of the protective charts at the Young Mistress's windows!" Lucille shrieks between sobs.

"You what?!"

"I assume the money never arrived, or maybe the rest if I consider the possibility he gave you just a little bit more incentive before you agreed. So you did your best to cover up, hoping to fool me while you wait for your prize."

"The young Miss thought highly of you, Lucielle, how could you?" One of the folks cried in surprise.

"You all don't understand..it...it I..."

All of a sudden, her words began to slur, and drool pour out of her mouth as her tongue began to swell. Amelia watched in quiet amazement as everyone else continued to scream, backing away while Lucielle stumbled and scratched madly at her face.

"That money was probably cursed Lucy, darling, once you took it, you agreed to its terms which probably went along the lines of shielding the perpetrator," the detective smirked as the poor girl collapsed at her feet, face purpling from the slow coming suffocation.

The brunette pulled out a pen and notepad, squatting down so they were almost at the same level, "There's nothing we can do to save you, dear, but if you want to go to heaven with a clear soul, do what you can." she places the pen and paper down.

Lucielle glances down with tearful eyes and fading breath before raking the pen with shaky hands. The room watches with frightful eyes as she starts to write but three letters later, she slumps, gripping the pen and still moving but no actual letters follow. Just lousy scribbles.

Analia moans in irritation as she picks the paper up, "How unfortunate and exciting at the same time."

'MAL...' she reads disappointingly.

"Detective...what do we..."

"Dispose of the poor girl, Duke. I'll be taking my leave," she announces nonchalantly.

"Wait! Is that really all?" The Duke calls after her.

"Fix your protective charms, my Lord." she winks before disappearing out the doors of the drawing room where they had gathered.

***

The storm had barely calmed since the night began. Stepping out the manor's doors, she's greeted with the roar of angry skies, lighting, and a person shivering beneath a heavy leather coat, but they bounce off before contact like some invisible bubble is present around them. There probably was actually.

"Serves you right for coming late you moron," she scoffs.

Pale stubby hands reached to the hood, pulling it down to reveal a handsome red-haired male, "You're the worst boss ever you know that right?"

Jaeson Hash, otherwise known as Jae; the only person crazy enough to work with the most wanted human being in the kingdom. Years ago, even Analia was man enough to admit her limits. The world of magic and corruption was dangerous for a powerless detective from a common home. So she held put out a notice for an assistant five years ago. In walked Jae, a year younger, always a few centimeters shorter (She'd never let that go) and constantly horny.

But he was good with his fists and smart enough to know when to be serious.

His magical ability was force field creation, either on himself or anyone else. Very basic and none too impressive but Analia couldn't count how many stray bullets she'd been saved from.

"The carriage came at the wrong time," he huffed, making the force field larger to accommodate them both as she started down the stairs of the house.

"Yeah right, who were you screwing around with this time?"

A grin unashamedly graced his features in the moonlight, "Those twins that moved in across the street."

"The both of them?"

"Correct,"

"I'm not surprised," she couldn't help the sigh that escaped her. Jae would bed anyone, race, gender, class, and attitude didn't matter to him. If he thinks you're hot, he's down. He could smooth-talk his way into a regular person's heart with almost zero issues.

Analia wasn't a regular person, which was why her reaction was to kick him in the nuts when he tries to make a move on her. Ever since then, they've been best friends, as well as the feared detective duo of Barcington.

"So what's the case, boss?" He asked as they stepped out of the estate.

"Our culprit's on a murder spree. No blood, no identifiable injuries that indicate a weapon, and it's not poison either," the detective states, eyes constantly searching the area with the aided glow of Jae's forcefield.

"How do you know it's not poison?"

"The state of the body. The victim looked like a skeleton with skin taped on. Using poison would mean that the culprit wanted the body in a near-perfect state to deceive others."

"So why use poisoning the body is still going to be disfigured? Right?"

"Right," Analia took in a deep breath, letting the cold night air fill her lungs. The thrill of solving magic-related cases was in their complexity. Magic users simply used magic, learning what they had to in their field alone and relying on instincts and 'feelings'.

Analia didn't have 'feelings', she had her mind, an ever-working machine, amusing itself with analysis and predictions. She had several theories of her own regarding the concept of the force called magic but she'd never share them with the Magic Royal Council (MRC).

They were going to stay between her, Jae, and her cat, Mayz.

"Any clues?" Jake asked.

"We're looking for a man whose name begins with 'Mal,'" She pauses, the problem with magic cases was the fact they could never be limited to one location. She had run into teleporting bandits before, and for all they knew, 'Mal' probably had that ability too.

But every ability had either a time limit or a drawback.

"We're heading to the office," she said after a moment of thought.

"But it's so late already," Jae grumbled sadly.

"It's never too late for investigation Hash, if we hurry, we can come back and carry out a search with a profile tomorrow."

***

The hustle and bustle on Synde street would be enough to wake the dead on a normal day.

Detective Raycroft had instead chosen to ignore the sounds and get some much needed sleep. After combing through several textbooks and scrolls in her possession well into the early hours of morning, she'd finally succumbed to tiredness.

The constant shouts of merchants and vendors was enough to have her wishing her office slash home was located in some other district.

But higher crime rates meant more business and what better place than the shadiest district right outside the capital.

She turned over on the futon, throwing a fluffy gray cat by name of Mayz off her stomach. A scratch on the nose was what finally dragged her from her treasured rest.

That and the incessant banging on the front door she had been trying to block out. She had a very good idea who it was and she should have know better than to hope they'd leave.

She hadn't changed out of her clothes the night before so there was no need for a robe. She maneuvered herself around the small space consisting of only a couch, three large shelves and a desk till she was walking the short narrow hall to the front door.

She threw it open, breathing in the piss water scented air she'd gotten used to over her five years of being set up here.

The dull morning skies framed a very, pissed off (but good-looking) blond haired male that was glaring down at Analia with stern brown eyes. He was wearing a dark cloak with its hood pulled over his head to hide his identity but probably drew more attention than ward it off.

"Cyd, it's been a while, you're here early," she smirked coolly.

Cydian Caine, Captain of the Third division MRC Force. The force basically handled all crime cases in Barcington, magic related or not. There were times her help would be needed, and times they tended to place her under house arrest.

"Raycroft! It was reported that you left your office late in the evening yesterday, where did you go?" He demanded.

They'd dine this dance numerous times, he had to know he needed more than that to make her talk.

"Do you really want to know?" She leaned on the doorpost with a loud yawn.

His glare hardened, "You've received a warrant, detective, these deaths are merely the beginnings of on outbreak we are working to contain."

"Then shouldn't the Kingdom Disease Unit be handling it instead if the Force?" She asked thoughtfully.

"We're walking on it," he sighed.

"Spare me the BS, Cyd. We both know what's going on."

"This isn't in your jurisdiction, Raycroft so if I see you at a crime scene I will arrest you."

"Then I just have to make sure I'm not seen, as usual." She barked out laughing. Her world was a constant barrage of orders and insanity. Her enemies wanted her dead because she could end them, the MRC wanted her under their control so she wouldn't expose their corruption and misdeeds and the people who hired her just wanted a competent detective.

Meanwhile all she wanted was to climb out of the rut life had thrown her into. Her only leg up on life as a powerless commoner and people wanted to take it away from her. She looked past Cydian to the world before her, looking at clustered buildings and bustling streets from the second floor of the building where her office was located.

"The skies look like they might be gorgeous today," she said absently.

Cydian sighed heavily, like he was tired of this, "Detective Raycroft-"

"You know what my decision is Captain, now if you excuse me I have work to do," she tried to close the door but he held it back with a firm hand.

"You're a very irritating woman, detective."

"A lot of people actually like that in a partner these days, Captain so you better hurry up if you're interested," she teased, mockingly batting her lashes, she was pushing back from the other side.

"You and that partner of yours are menaces to the society and I can't wait for the day I put you both in handcuffs," he hissed through gritted teeth.

"Kinky," she smirked before putting more strength to her arms and slamming the door.

"Finally," she heard the grumbled word coming from the window in the main office. Jade was climbing in, a satchel tied precariously to his hip, "He's a ten but he drives me nuts with those lectures of his."

"To point you avoid him by taking the window?" She fell into her desk chair.

"Yeah, actually. Oh, I got donuts." He pulls a newspaper wrapped parcel from the satchel.

"Toss," she says easily.

Jade takes his and throws the other one to her. Analia catches it.

"And coffee." He tosses the flask rhggt after which she gratefully drinks from before sharing the two donuts between she an Mayz.

"How do we go about this case then? You seemed very deep into research last night before I left." He questionned as he helped roll up the futon.

"Yeah right...It's a stretch but I think the culprit knew the late Lady Alise on a personal level."

"Why so?"

"Because Lucielle had to have some ground to trust their words, maybe it was someone the Young mistress saw frequently or was on good terms with and since her maid was always with her, the other would be able to watched their interactions closely," she chewed her donut thoughtfully, "But like I said, it's a stretch but there are hardly any other options. I don't know where the other cases took place and I have no idea what exact spell was used."

"We'll figure it out along the way then?" Jade grinned.

"Bet. We'll be heading back to the capital this afternoon after I look into the Everey's connection and find any dashing young Lords she might have had a spat with."

"Anything else boss?"

"Yeah, let me know if Sols is in today."

***

Solanne Tersley, an underground alchemist on the wanted list for distribution of illegal chemicals, potions and if course trading of confidential knowledge.

Her shop was located anywhere and everywhere, but her home base was in Redwyn, not too far from Detective Raycroft's place.

Analia practically kicked down the rickety wooden door that led into the small alcove a cement wall between two buildings.

"We're home!" She announced cheerfully into the small room. A very small room lit by only a red lamp. A wooden tabled separated the customers' space from where Sols would answer them.

A plumpy blond lady about Analia's age popped her head out from behind the counter with a maniacal grin, "Detective, what brings you here?"

"I know you're the one you autopsied Lady Alise Everey's corpse, Sols. Tell me everything you know or the Force will know everything I know." She marched forward, planting a foot on the low table to have some sort of intimidation factor.

"You know you don't have to be rough with me, detective." Solanne said rolling her eyes.

"I'm still pissed about the botched info from last time," Analia scowled.

"So many bullets...everywhere," Jar shivered at the memory looking down at his hands.

"I told you I wasn't sure." The alchemist waved in dismissal.

"Oh yeah, you better be sure this time because, I on the other hand, am very sure of the locations for six of your precious warehouses."

Solanne's eyes narrowed thoughtfully, her lips in a half sneer, "How?"

"Info makes the world go round, and my job easier. What'll it be, alchemist?"

The blonde shook her head slowly, pulling out a large book from beneath the table and placing it at the top, "It was like nothing I'd ever seen, and trust me I've seen a lot of twisted stuff in the Underground."

She was flipping the book open, "I checked every spell I knew, and referenced all rare abilities that had come up in the past decades but there was nothing whose results would be petrified corpses.

"So I decided to leave logic behind and decide that it wasn't a humans work."

"Judging by the book of imaginary creatures you're flipping open, please don't tell me you think this is the work of a vampire." The detective sighed, disappointed.

"Wrong." Solanne exclaimed with a smug smile. She turned the book towards the detective and her assistant, "There were no bite marks so I went with the next obvious thing, a Plague Spectre."

Analia looked down at the diagram of dude creature. Mythical creatures were just that even in a world full of magic. Myths. People had searched and all were yet to be proven true.

Ghost like entities included. According to the text, Spectres sucked the life essence from their victims.

Analia burst out laughing, "Really, Sols?"

The blond slammed the book shut, "You asked for my opinion detective and that's all I have to offer."

"She maybe until something, boss," Jae said, "You said the corpse looked sucked dry."

"Yes but there's also the fact that Spectres don't exist," Analia pointed out with a sour look, she turned to Solanne, "Will you be in the neighbors tomorrow, we might have to meet again."

Sol sighed, twirling a lock of her hair in around her finger, "You're a demanding detective, you know?"

"You love it." Analia smirked before turning to head out the door with Jae but Solanne called out before chucking something at them. Jae caught it.

A small see through bag with a very thin lock of silvery hair, an uncommon color in Barcington.

"I picked that up in the room by the window. It has realistic qualities but there are signs of treatment indicating it's a wig." She said.

"You're a sweetheart, Miss Tersley," Jae winked.

"Get the bleedin' hell out of my shop you two."

***

After an hour long carriage ride, they were back in Yaslen and started their investigation in earnest. Analia had planned on visiting the Everey estate again to look for more clues but the crime scene had been tampered with too much and their only suspect was dead, leaving them with a very narrow profile as none of the Everey's connections fit the bill.

They were on good terms with almost everyone.

"Male, silver hair, had to know and interact with both women, as well as have a name that begins with 'Mal'? Shouldn't be too hard." Jae grumbled as they stood in the middle of the street.

The skies had turned darker much quicker thanks to the unfriendly seasonal changes. The interviews had yielded little to no results.

Apparently, the the young Mistress did come to town often to distribute gifts and aids to the lesser privileged.

"It's terrible what happened to her?" The lady at the bakery not far from the estate said.

"Real shame," the detective said with a subtle eye roll, she'd heard different versions of this same story several times in the day, "I should let you get back to packing up."

"Oh yes, it's hard since a few of my helps stopped coming some days ago, said they found easier work. Young people these days, am I right?" The woman chuckled.

"Really, what were they like?" The detective asked suddenly interested. Patience and thoroughness were a detective's most valuable skill. No detail could be left no matter how inconsequential.

"Just three boys, all rough around the edges but helpful. They help carry the floor into the back and fill up my tanks," The baker answered.

"How'd they look?"

She seemed to think for a few seconds before responding, "Two had dark hair and the last had brown..."

'Of course.'

"But mind you he got some part of it dyed silver, said it was all the rage. Looked ugly if you asked me."

Analia's eyes widened. Dye, that would make a lot more sense, "Can you write down their names for me?"

***

Analia stepped out of the store, looking down at the scrap of paper with a victorious grin.

She was just about to call Jae from his own investigation on the other side if the street when the instincts she'd honed for years on end flared to life.

She slid sideways, narrowly avoiding a punch from behind. What she wasn't expecting was to be decked from below, she reached a hand out to stop her face from bashing onto the pavement but the paper floated from her grip onto the ground.

It was snatched up by one of her two assailants and they took off down the road. Brown and silver hair caught her vision.

"Jaeson!" She screamed before taking off after them. Almost immediately she could hear footfalls behind her own.

"You called, boss?" He yelled as he caught up.

"Keep your eyes on the the guy with the brown and silver hair-" just then she saw the paper change hands, but for all she knew, it could be a decoy. The attackers split up, "Shit! You saw the other one right?"

"Yup!"

"Tail him," she ordered and they split up as well. Analia's breaths were coming in hard but she was use to this. The adrenaline, the rush, the excitement of getting somewhere after a long tiresome search. She couldn't wait to figure this out.

It the full picture and the process mattered all the same. Want and satisfaction hand in hand.

After several turns through narrow alleys and every emptying roads she and her target were spat out where one road led into another.

The second guy had joined up with his partner meaning Jae would be out soon as well.

Her lungs ached and she just had to stop, leaning on her knees to get her breath. She'd memorized the names so the list wasn't as important but it was more about those holding it. She was just about to continue on when a shrill scream drew her attention.

At that same moment, Jae appeared and she grabbed his arm in one hand and her gun in the other, dragging him towards the sound that came from a lady pointing a shaky finger into an alley.

The duo dove in without a second thought only to be shocked still by what they saw. A dark green, form that resembled a translucent ragged hood. Mist poured in around it and it held the two men they had been chasing.

They were corpses now, hollow cheeks jutting out front graying paper thin skin. The hooded form turned to the detective duo, the inky depths of its empty headless cloak drawing in the detective curiousity.

The apparition vanished, leaving only corpses and shredded paper behind as evidence that it really existed.

Jae's voice shook as he spoke, "W-was that a-a Spectre?"

Analia was silent for a brief moment, mind working, blood absolutely boiling with a mixture of excitement and indignation, how dare this godforsaken city do this to her? She burst out laughing, a loud mocking laugh, "Nice parlour trick whoever you are!" She barked out, silver eyes glinting with venom.

"Boss, don't tell me you've finally gone crazy?" Jae shrieked.

"You're the crazy one if you started believing in Spectres." She huffed out in mirth, holstering her gun and patting his back roughly.

"But it just doesn't make any sense, detective." He said, gesturing wildly at the corpses.

She walked over to them, grin on her lips, "And it's our job to make it make sense, right, Jae?" She beckoned him over, leaning over the corpses. Nothing, absolutely nothing to follow on. This guy was good.

She stood once more walking out of the alley, "I've never forced you to follow me Jae, and this is a case unlike any other we've had to deal with," she turned back to face him, tone serious and eyes gauging his reactions, "Do you still want to follow me into the madness of this new mystery?"

He watched her just like she watched him, coat billowing in the cold windy evening of the Barcington evening.

He sighed, eyes fond, "It's not every day you get front row seats to see the best detective in the kingdom work."

She smirked, eyeing where they'd seen their spectre, "Damn, right."