RPG The Ripper Program

[natchan]

Eclairs heart ached for young Ariana, and she could only hope that Rufus would be alright. It would be a terrible tragedy if the young lord didn't surive. Eclair shudered at the thought. She stood quietly over the two younger girls as Geni held Ariana as she cried endlessly. She couldn't help but remember every detail of Vincent's death, and she did not want ariana to experience the same grief.

"I'm sure he'll pull through Ariana. Rufus is a strong man." Eclair replied quietly as she crouched down to face the young girl. She placed a gentle hand on Ariana's back. "Besides he wouldn't dream of leaving you behind." She stated atempting to give the young girl a smile.

"Eclair." Nathan's voice came from behind her. She stood and turned to meet him. "How is she?" He asked quietly. She glanced over her shoulder then back at Nathan.

"She's distraught Nathan, and its most likely not going to get much better until she finds out whether Rufus will be alright." She replied almost silently. Nathan could see the sadness in her eyes, and without reading her thoughts knew exactly what she was thinking about.

"Are you alright?" His voice shown concern as he spoke softly.

"I am fine, its Ariana and Rufus that we should be worried about. But I do--" The blinding pain came for only an instent but still caused her to loose her balance. She did not loose conciousnessthis time as Nathan caught her. Her mind was empty of what she again wished to tell Nathan.

"Eclair? Perhaps you should sit down." Nathan suggested, eclair shook her head no in reply.

"Just dizzy for a moment I am fine." She replied, her voice barely audible.

"Commander!" A young man shouted as he approached them from behind. He was another junior officer.

"What is it?" Nathan asked, his voice turning official.

"Theres been word that the culprit has been sighted only a few blocks away."

"Very well then David and I will go after him, you will stay here and guard these women. I will send in Robert to join you." He replied then gestured for David to follow him outside.

"Yes sir." The young officer saluted.

"Milady are you well?" Geni asked quietly after Nathan had left the room.

"I am quite well dear Geni, there is no need to be concerned about me." Eclair assured her, of course she wan't about to tell her that the same spells had been happening all summer.

[Otori_Girl]

The tears came wihout end as Ariana cried into Geni's shoulder, and all she could see was the attack over and over in her mind. Then her memory of the other time came, the time where she had lost a loved one in a very similar way.

"Please...." She cried. "Don't take him from me...not again." Eclair bent down to join the two girls again. And there the three girls sat on the floor of the theater holding on to only hope.

"Please... please....."


OOC: Sorry its soooooo short I've been in bed sick lately and thats all I could get out of my tired little mind!

[0ber0n the Neko]

OOC: I am writing on the assumption that I'm taking Dante as well...

IC:

David hoisted Rufus onto his back with a resolute grunt. "Let's get goin' commander!"

The three men dashed to the forum, which was still crowded with people frantically running to their carriages. The chauffers couldn't keep up with the demand for carriages, and a few minor scuffles had erupted at the front of the people amoeba.

"Let us through! Please sir! Move, please!" Nathan cried, pushing noble by noble aside. His progress was nearly in vain.

He heard a vague rumbling, and saw Dante standing stiffly behind him. He stepped forward, about to collide with an agitated Lord. The Lord turned around and scoffed. "What's the hurry? We're all waiting, why can't-" And he was instantly thrust aside by an invisible force.

"I never was very good at waiting, scum! Anyone else want a piece!?" His voice shot through the silent hall. Almost instantly, people moved deliberately aside to accomadate the men. A few whispers were the only audible sound.

Nathan, David, and Dante ran quickly through the crowd and towards a similarly stunned officer, who pointed them in the direction of a cloaked figure, who was running quickly away.

Nathan felt himself gathering speed. He thrust more power into each stride, hoping his legs wouldn't give from all the stress. The cloaked man became closer and closer until...

*Smack*

The cloaked man was flattened against the ground. Nathan nearly ran past him, but was able to stop in time. He looked toward Dante, whose look of grim exasperation spoke volumes. Nathan could barely control the overflow of hate that emenated from Dante's rigid, erect poise. A thought continued to flow into Nathan's head...

[i]KILL HIM...[/i]

The cloaked man stood, despite the effort, and looked Nathan in the face. "Persistent buggers, aincha?" came his exasperated groan. He lifted the dagger towards Nathan, but didn't get close enough to cause harm before Nathan's sword was drawn, holding the man's dagger down.

"Ah, I see we've stopped playing with silly toys. My gratitude," the man shrieked with glee.

[i]Hospital. Now. I can take him. Run Rufus to the hospital, and hurry.[/i], came Nathan's thoughts into Dante's head. The rigid figure seemed to remember itself, and ran in the direction of the hospital, helping David manage the heavy load.

Nathan turned to his assailant. "It will be a pleasure to dash you apart, miscreant."

"But it is I who will be doing the dashing, Commander Nathan!" The cloaked man was on the attack. He stabbed wildly at Nathan, who easily deflected the blade. Nathan took a swing at the man, cutting through his cheek.

"En garde." Nathan muttered.

The cloaked man looked hesitant. He stepped back slightly, eyeing the hand that had brushed his cheek.

"Blood. You... You drew blood... No! Not blood! BLOOD!" The man yelled hysterically. The dagger he held wavered erratically, as if it had no definite shape at all. The man followed suit, laughing loudly, and then seeming to disappear into some sort of void.

Nathan stood alone in the courtyard.

"I must protect Eclair... No doubt that madman will strike again... and she may be next!"

Nathan dashed to the building, which had, by then, been cleared of most of its occupants. He ran to Eclair, who was holding a sobbing Arianna. The youth's body trembled violently, shuddering.

"Commander!" A voice yelled. It was detective Antony Briggs.

"I'm busy right now. What is it?"

"You need to come with us to Whitechapel. Something... strange just went down. We can have the women safeguarded at the station while we investigate... we just..." Briggs' voice failed him. "We need you. Now."

Nathan looked helplessly at the girls. "I've made my decision. I-"

OOC: Someone else take it away. Pointy Dagger Guy is still alive, by the way.

[natchan]

Eclair locked eyes with Nathan, he knew what he wanted to do but he also felt his duty as an officer pull at him.

"Sir." The officer spoke again.

"Go Nathan." Elcair spoke softly.

"But--" Nathan started but was cut off.

"Your men need you more than I, don't keep them waiting." She replied looking tothe officer waiting behind them. "Besides, I am not completely helpless if anything should happen." She stated her tone low and certain. Nathan stayed for only a moment longer then he sttod and the two of them left the theater.

"You don't don't suppose its another murder just as last time?" Geni asked quietly.

"I wouldn't put it past our dramatic friend." Eclair replied looking at the door where the two men had left. [I]'I hope Dante and Geni's father get Rufus to that surgeon in time.'[/I]

[Lord Dante]

[I]Drip... Drip... Drip....[/I]
Rufus' blood dripped constantly as dante ran with him, Geni's father close on his heels.

[I]Drip... Drip... Drip....[/I]

"damn it! this isn't working!" dante exclaimed to the night. hoisting rufus onyo his shoulder, Dante offered his hand to Geni's father.

[I]Drip... Drip... Drip....[/I]

"take my hand"

"what? Dante what are you doing? we must get him to whites!"

[I]Drip... Drip... Drip....[/I]

"take my hand"

GEni's father looked livid "WHat on high heaven are you taling about? we have to get him to the surgeon!!"

[I]Drip... Drip... Drip....[/I]

"we cannot get him there quick enough like this. I am able to get him there quickly. If you wish rufus to live, take my hand"

[I]Drip... Drip... Drip....[/I]

Geni's father hesitated for a moment, and took dante's hand.

White hot, prismatic white light ripped through their minds, melding with utter darknes in a single, spectral vision. There was no heat source, but they were plesantly warm. There was no breeze, yet it cooled them. They shot ahead with the swiftness of an arrow, and yet glided with the slow grace of a turtle.

Abruptly, it ended.

[I]Drip... Drip... Drip....[/I]

They were just outside the surgeon's office, on the second floor of the whites club building.

Geni's father threw himself out of dante's hand, and staggered back, a look of absolute terror on his face.

"what in the hell are you??"

OOC: there yo go. Haven't posted in a while, but blame Bioware and their stupid Neverwinter nights.

[missrelena]

Lord David, Duke of Salisbury, prided himself in being a down-to-earth, practical man. It took a lot to shake his faith in the here and now. But after what he had just experienced with his daughter's companion and escort, Lord Dante, shaken didn't even come close to describing how he felt. The demand for an explaniation slipped out of it's own volition. Seeing hurt cloud Dante's eyes, Lord David decided that lengthy journies to understanding could wait till a time when tact and calm words could be used.

"Never mind. At least we are here." he said to the younger man. Leaving all pretense of decorum behind, Lord David kicked the door loudly to knock. Then without waiting for an answer, he leavered a hand free and thrust the office door open.

The surgeon, Dr. Lancaster, was halfway to his door and look quite surprised to have visitors bursting in on him at this time of night. "By all that's holy! What do --"
He cut himself off when he recognised Lord David's face. The doctor snapped to attention with a smart salute. "Sir! What's going on?"

"There's been an attack at the Queen's Ballet. A maniac took a knife to this man. Cut to the face, puncture in the left arm, and a nasty slash in the right leg. He needs your skills immediately." Lord David spoke sharply, in a military manner.

Dr. Lancaster nodded, then led them through his office and passed another door into his surgery. Everything was pristine, white and shining metal. The table had a fresh white linen covering it and the large tray of cedar sawdust below it used to catch the blood was fresh. The doctor shed his waistcoat and put on a white smock. As the two lords placed Rufus on the table, he grabbed one of his sharper knives. Crossing to the wounded man, he glanced at Lord David. "I hope his taylor will forgive me." With that, he slashed away the patient's pantleg and shirtsleeve to reveal the wounds.

"If his taylor will not forgive you, his wife will find a new one." Lord David reassured with a slight smile.

Taking a strip of gause, Lancaster wrapped a band around the victim's forehead, pulling his hair up and out of the way. Then he turned to the young man. "I have to take the tourniquet off his arm or we could lose it. I need you to apply pressure bandages to the puncture continually. Once one has soaked through, don't remove it, just place another bandage on top till you have six bandages. Then you take the top four off and start again." The young lord nodded and gabbed a large stack of the bandages off a nearby table. The tourniquet snipped off easily and Dante hurridly busied himself following the doctor's orders.

Lancaster took a deep breath, then started on the worst of the wounds, the leg. On closer examination, the doctor found that no major arteries or veins had cut, but the muscles were a mess. "Sir, if you would, watch the patient and if he starts to come around, give him a dose of ether." Recieving a nod from the older gentleman, he set to work.

Lord David had seen Lancaster at work more times than he cared to count. The man had served as a surgeon under his command in the army. He was a talented surgeon. He had been wasted in the meatgrinder surgeries of the local hopitals. That was why Lord David had recommended Dr. Lancaster when he had heard rumors that the club was looking for a discrete doctor.

David's mind began to wander away from the task at hand as Lancaster began to stem the flow of blood and repair the damage as best as modern medicine could. What had Dante done to get them here? They were on the street one second and inside the club - that had been a block away - the next. Dante had looked reluctant to speak on it, and had been hurt at the accusitory tone that David had used when they had re-appeared. As prickly as the young man was, Lord David liked Dante. He was honorable to a fault, resoursful, honest and seemed to have a connection with his daughter that no one else, including her own father, had been able to accomplish.

Geni had always been a loner. She never had any close friends as a child, and tended to enjoy reading in the library over picnicing or attending parties with other of her age group. She was an accomplished rider, but would never go on hunt parties. But this summer had been different. It had started on the same note as always, Geni attending whatever her had mother nagged her into. But after the party at thier home, things had changed. This young lord had entered his daughter's life, and so had smiles and outings and luncheons and other activities. It had delighted David to see his daughter so happy, so even when the biddies had begun to speculate, he had held his tongue about the ammount of time she spent in his company.

That was when a memory of Geni as a girl of ten or eleven came to him. He had been so excited with his purchase of a new horse for his daughter, that he could not wait to give it to her. The entire trip back to the estate, he had imagined her surprise at the gift. Unexpectedly, however, Geni had met them at the front door. When he had asked his girl why she was there, she had said somthing peculiar. "Father, your mind was so loud, it spoiled the surprise." Other memories of similar themes came to mind after that. Geni explaining that she didn't like groups because the thoughts were too overwhelming, or that she was never excited at Christmas because everyone's mind had already shouted to her what her presants were. He had never paid them any mind before this, believing she was just being precocious. But now . . .

The surgery went well, almost textbook, considering the violence of the attack. Lancaster's sutures were tiny and neat. There would be scars, especially on the leg and across Rufus's left eye, but the eye was intact. The doctor believed that Rufus would be able to walk again, but he would always have a distinct limp. The man would live, but it had been close. Lancaster even had a room for family or duelest's seconds set up near the patient's room so others could be near as his patient recovered. The doctor said he would clear Ariana's presence while the lords went to fetch her.

The two began the walk back in silence. Dante was watchful, but he never looked in David's direction. Finally, Lord David sighed heavily and broached the subject. "You have abilities like my daughter has." It was a statement, not a question. "I never really took her seriously when she attempted to explain them to me, but I cannot ignore your display earlier."

Dante stopped in his tracks and just stared at Geni's father, incredulity painted in broad strokes across his young face. "How did --"

"I may have been startled witless earlier, but I am no simpleton, my boy. When I can see with my own eyes someone do something that is hitherto unexplainable, and have heard my daughter also make claims of other unsusal abilities, and then add the fact that this said person and my daughter are becoming close, even I can reach the sum conclusion. So," David took a breath, "Does my Genieve also have the ability to transverse from one place to another instantly?"

"Uh -- well, no. She's a telepath -- that is -- she hears other's thoughts. The more open a person's mind is, the easier it is for her to hear them. I think she is also a bit of an empath, someone who senses another's emotions -- at least with me she is. I am the only one I know that does what I do." David was taking this with much more calm than Dante could have ever expected and it was leaving Dante off-balance.

"Well, it's nice to know that there is someone in this world who can understand what she can do. I'm sure that means a lot to her." David nodded to Dante and gave a half-smile. "You probably saved Lord Rufus's life with that little trick of yours. I apologize for reacting the way I did." With that, the elder gentleman resumed his walk back to the theater.

"Apology accepted." Dante whispered, then joined him. Now that speed wasn't so urgent, Dante noted that it really wasn't a large distance from the club to the threater. There were police everwhere, still, but Dante did not see Nathan among them. Perhaps he was making his report. Some of the officers recognised Lord David from the first attack in April, and waived them inside to where the ladies were waiting. They had to push past both officers and press people looking for tomorrow's headline, so the women did not see them till they were only a few meters away.

"Madam, your husband is alive and stable. The doctor wishes you to join Lord Rufus at the club." Lord David announced to the mass in general and Ariana in particular. All three women who were seated on the floor snapped their heads up look at whomever had spoken. When they saw Lord David and Dante, the younger two of the group jumped to their feet with as much alacrity as their binding attire would let them. Ariana found new tears, this time of relief, in a hidden reservoir, and they fell in full force as she raced to Lord David. The gentleman offered his hankerchief and placed an escorting arm on the lady's shoulder.

Geni also burst into tears. She had been putting up a brave front for Ariana's sake, but she was deeply terrified by what had happened this night. Someone had been horribly injured in this attack. Not like last time. Somehow Geni had come to the conclusion that they would always be able to thwart "Jack's" attemps with no harm coming to anyone. Then she had been hit with the knowlege that Dante and her father were out there with Rufus. What if "Jack" sent the attacker back? What if they were all three dead in some alleyway? Guilt wracked her because she was more worried about her dear ones than Rufus, not that she wasn't worried about the gentle lord, because she sincerely was. Her thoughts had kept retruning to the danger that Dante was in, and her fright continued to grow exponentially. When she saw Dante, and knew that he was well, it all spirialed out of her control.

Uncareing about who saw her, she threw her arms around Dante's neck and cried into his shoulder as if her whole world had come to an end. She was so frightened, and she was so happy that he was all right.

Stunned, Dante gingerly put his arms around the sobbing girl in an awkward attempt to comfort her. He could feel her fright, relief and happiness; he just wasn't sure what to do about it. He heard a masculine chuckle just behind him. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Lord David wearing a smirk.

"Lord Dante, I must get Lady Ariana to her husband and then answer these fine officer's questions. I place my trust in you to escort my daughter to a safe place once she recovers from her vapors. In light of the fact that this seems to be the same attacker as the man who attempted to cause harm to my wife, I do not think that our home will be the safest place for her. I know that you will devise a location that will keep Genieve from danger." His smirk spread into an honest smile. "I trust you with her." With that, Lord David turned and escorted the sobbing Ariana out of the auditorium and out toward the street.


___________________________________________
OCC: Wow! This took forever to type! :animesigh I hope it helps move the story for everyone. Yay! Geni's dad has a name! :animesmil

[natchan]

Eclair stood slowly as she watched Geni's father escort Ariana to where Rufus now rest, and a smile crossed her face as she took in the sight of Dante and Geni. Dante noticed her watching but said nothing. Not having to play the part of the elder voice of reason any longer, Eclair sat in one of the near by seats and allowed her body to relax. She closesd her eyes for only a moment as she took a dep breath when she heard a familiar voice speak her name.

"Milady!" The voice was that of young Edward. Eclair lifted her head to watch him approach. A look of relief shown on his face.

"Edward, what a pleasant surprise." She spoke softly.

"Richard told us of the news and I came as quickly as I could. Knowing that Sir Nathan being an officer would be tied in the matter, I knew that you would need another--." He stopped, noticing the smirk on Eclair's face. He recognized it as the one she wore when she though he had done somthing "adorable".

"So you came to be by my side, and escort me home when the time comes?" Eclair asked quietly.

"Yes Milady." He looked back over his shoulder then back at Eclair. "What is the news on Lord Rufus?"

"He will live, no doubt with some scarring but he will live." Eclair replied. An officer approached the two of the them.

"I realize you are tired Dutchess and probably wish to go home, but I could get a statement from you please?" He sounded almost nervous.

"Of course officer." She stood to look the officer eye to eye and began. "I ws merely enjoying the ballet from the seventh row in the center. When all of a sudden this man swings down from the curtains shouting somthing, and unlike half of the rest of the audience I did not believe this man to be a part of the ballet. He didn't fit the scene at all you see. Then he lept from the stage and attacked the young Lord. He was interupted by Sir Nathan and Lord Dante, then he all of a sudden dissapeared. Naturally I stayed to help comfort the young lady Ariana while Lord david and Dante took Rufus to safety, and now I stand here befre you." She finished.

"Thank You dutchess it will only be a short while now till you may leave." And he gave a short bow and headed toward Dante and Geni. Eclair resumed her seat.

"Milady you seem pale, are you not well again?" edward replied in his usual tone of concern.

"No I am fine dear Edward, do not concern yourself with me. You only gain grey hairs out of it." She stated giving a smile.

Another two hours went by before the young nobles were allowed to retire for the evening. Eclair left right away, bidding goodnight to Young Dante and Geni as she past. Edward lead her out to where her carriage was waiting and helped her up. The ride home seemed eternal as she waited silently.

[Otori_Girl]

Ariana's heart filled with relief and new tears fell as the Lord told her of the news. The Lord offered to take her to the club and of course she accepted. The Lord of taking a carriage, but it was still impossible to make it through the streets, so went right on ahead and walked the one block to the club. Lord David led Ariana to a room upstairs where the Doctor had prepared for her stay. The doctor entered the room, catching Ariana's imediate attention, and before she could ask the doctor lifted a hand.

"Your husband has awakened and is asking for you. I'm quite shocked to say the least, I told him that he should rest but he is a stubborn man in love." He replied pointing to a door. Ariana did not need to be told, she hurried toward the door and opened it swiftly. She stopped for only a moment as she first glanced at her husband lying on the bed in front of her. Again the tears came as she approached Rufus.

"Theres my girl." He stated barely audible. Ariana knelt down on floor next to the bed. She could clearly see his injuries now, the bandage covering his eye, around his arm, and his leg.

"Rufus." She touched his cheek lightly with a trembling hand. "I thought I might lose you." Her voice shook as much as her hand did.

"Silly girl, I told you that I'd never leave you." Her replied quietly.

"Does it hurt much?" She asked quietly.

"Not near as much as the pain you must have been feeling." He answered giving a small smile.

Outside Lord David stood with the Doctor. They figured it would be best to leave the two alone for now.

"Your skills never cease to amaze me. Thanks to you this young couple may remain togther." David replied starring at the door.

"Thank you for getting him here so quickly, any longer and the young Lord probably would have had to lose his leg."

[Lord Dante]

Dante and geni strode out of Whites, and into the night in search of a Taxicab. A light rain began to fall by the time they were inside, and heading in the direction of Dante's manor.

"Geni, I had to use my... [I]Ability[/I], in order to get Rufus to the doctor in time. Your father was with me. He knows." Geni looked over at dante, Startled and puzzled.

"I don't understand, Is this a problem?" Dante turned his head, looked out the window and sighed.

"as I see it, we have two options. David is involved now, we will have to tell him what's going on. About jack, our supposed 'other selves', the extent of what we know of our powers, about the others. Everyting. WE would have to stress to him the importance of what is going on, and hope that he has enough intelligence to keep quiet."

"and the other option?"

"I kill him."

"what? what do you mean, kill him?"

"If word gets out about what we are, and what we're doing, we will be hunted down and burned at the stake. The church has a lot of power in this time" THe voice came from dante's mouth, and yet was not entirely dante's voice.

The taxicab rolled along in silence.

[I]Drip, Drip, Drip....[/I]

[missrelena]

Geni's eyes went wide. "Uh - I would prefer that my father stay alive. He's very dear to me." She stopped herself from getting angry. Taking a deep breath, she continued. "I understand that you are just trying to make me understand how vital it is for who and what we are and what we are doing to try and stop 'Jack' to remain secret. But my father has been an officer in Her Magesty's Army, and he understands the need for secrecy.

"Geni, I know you love him, but --" Dante began.

[I]: Dante, I'm trying to be objective. Please listen.: [/I] She waited for his nod before she went on. [I]: We do not need to tell him everything. At least -- not all at once. He does not need to know about the memory flashes or our "other lives". We can simply tell him that people with similar talents have gathered together - which is true - and are doing our best to use our abilites to investigate "Jack." If we tell him that Sir Nathan is - uh - supervising our investigations, he shouldn't balk at the thought. I think we should also tell him that "Jack" knows who we are. I am positive he will want to offer his services in any way that is helpful if he knows that this is a real and on-going threat rather than a one time occurance.:[/I]

[I]: But what if he tries to take you far away from here to protect you? You are his precious little girl, after all. What if he drags you to, say, India, in an attempt to keep you safe?: [/I] Dante countered, a frown that Geni could barely see in the ill-lit gloom of the streets was darkening his face.

[I]: He wouldn't do that. Would you take your crack sharp-shooters from the field in the middle of the battle?:[/I] Dante quirked a questioning eyebrow at here. [I]: My father was a military man before he inherited his title. That's the way he thinks. In fact, he was going to make the army his lifelong career before his brother, my Uncle Andrew, contracted Tuberculosis while touring the mainland. He died just after I was born, and since he was still a batchelor, my father inherited. So, to get to my point, father always approaches everything from a strategic view. If we make him see that my leaving will benefit "Jack" and cause a lot of trouble for you and the others, he will do his best to protect me as he can right here.:[/I]

"Milord, where are we going?" Geni asked out loud, trying to change the subject.

"Your father gave me strict instructions as to your welfare before he left with Lady Ariana." He smirked at her, despite her obvious ruse.

"So, where are we going?" She repeated.

"Someplace safe." was his answer.

"You're not going to tell me, are you?"

"No. I'm not." His smirk turned into an evil grin.

[I]: Not nice, Keitaro.: [/I] Slipped out of her mind.

[I]: Never said I was. :[/I]

[0ber0n the Neko]

OOC: Since David seems to have disappeared, we'll just say he came with me?

IC:

Nathan let out a long breath. The scene before him was brutal, violent, and most of all, bloody. He looked to Detective Briggs. "Any clues?"

"No. There was only blood. No knife... No sign of knife entry save for the blood and lacerations. It's almost as if... Our killer was able to cut her without using a knife..." Briggs submitted uneasily.

David was taking notes. Nathan saw him underline "No Knife". He bent over the woman's body. She was a strange corpse. It looked almost as if she'd get up and start walking around if it werent for all the blood and stab wounds. The stab wounds looked... strange. There didnt seem to be any sort of infection, nor any signs of decay.

He beckoned for David to come closer. "These stab wounds don't look right to you, do they?" he whispered. David shook his head in reply.

"They're supposed to decay after awhile, sir. Plus, the boogs ain't actin' right."

Nathan paused. "Boogs?" he whispered harshly.

"Boogs, sir. Insects," David replied. He pointed to the floor. There was a line of ants that seemed to be avoiding the corpse entirely.

"Write that down, David. We need to look into this some more," Nathan said. [i]Why would insects turn down a perfectly good corpse? Why is it still fresh, still bleeding? And... what is that [/i]smell[i]?[/i]

He inhaled deeply. [i]It smells like a mauloseum in here... or something close...[/i]

He turned towards Detective Briggs. "You didn't embalm her, did you?"

"Uh, nosir! Why would we do that? They'll take care of it down at the morgue," he said. "Why do you ask?"

He paused, thinking. "No reason. guard the body, and leave it here. We need to investigate this a little more."

Briggs saluted as Nathan rose from the floor. "Absolutely, sir! I'll guard it with my life!"

Nathan remembered something. "I have to see Miss Eclair."

"But sir, she's all the way across town-" he barely finished his sentence before Nathan was swiftly racing down the steps. David delayed for only a moment to take the camera from the photographer. He then followed Nathan down the steps to the surgeon's office.

-----

When they arrived, Nathan was forced to search for the surgeon's office. The room was empty save for rufus and the surgeon, who was cleaning his tools.

"Where are the rest of them?" Nathan asked hastily. The surgeon eyed him warily.

"Ah, you're Commander Nathan?" he asked. "They all left me so I could get started. I think they're going to retire for the evening."

Nathan felt a tinge of worry, but let it pass. "How is... Rufus?"

"Oh. He'll be fine. You're lucky Lord Dante came on time. Our friend here might have gotten infected had he not been so quick. There's something odd, though." The surgeon finished washing his scalpel, and the opened a jar half filled with antiseptic. "The wounds seemed to have been completely absent of decay. It's as if they had just been made..."

Nathan froze. "They didn't coagulate, did they?"

The surgeon smiled and turned. "Basically, yes. Although, if I was being perfectly honest... They wouldn't have been infected, either. There's something strange about the wound..."

The scent hit Nathan like a brick. "Antiseptic," he whispered. "Our attacker is using some sort of anti-coagulant fluid... so that the blood flows freely, dispelling all poison from the body. The bacteria can't come in because the wound is still bleeding!" He paused.

The surgeon nodded thoughtfully. "And if it was still bleeding, it couldn't decay. This is all starting to make sense. But, wait. The only anti-coagulant fluid is found in leech saliva... There aren't any leeches around here..."

The scent. "Maybe... but our killer might not be from around here."

David stiffened. "Wait. In the river Dubh... there were many leeches. Me mum used antiseptic to get rid of the bruises that came from the poison..."

Nathan paused. "One thing is clear. Our killer is smart... he knows how to isolate the poison from the saliva... and most wounds he will make can kill..." Nathan's face froze. "The reason he can get away... is because he only needs to stab them a few times to make sure they'll die. Then, the wounds look fresh when he's long gone..." Nathan gasped. "That's how he's getting away!"

OOC: I guess i like mystery. In any case, i owe you a long one. ^.^

[Otori_Girl]

Ariana refused to leave her husbands side as he slept restlessly. He refused to admit the pain while awake, but now as she watched him sleep the pain was obvious. She attempted to stay awake as to keep a constent eye on him, but the emotional evening began to wear at her, and she soon fell asleep at his side, her head resting on Rufus' hand.

[COLOR=DarkRed]"Ariana." [/COLOR] She flinched slightly at the voice in her mind, but remained asleep.

"Who are you?" Her thoughts were confused and frightened.

[COLOR=DarkRed]"You know plenty well who I am Love." [/COLOR] The silken malicious voice replied.

"Jack"

[COLOR=DarkRed]"Theres a clever girl." [/COLOR]

"What is it you want?" She asked the intruder of her mind.

[COLOR=DarkRed]"My dear girl, I simply came to give you somthing of great importance." [/COLOR] The voice was smooth, almost cunning as it spoke.

"What are you talking about"

[COLOR=DarkRed]"The others are jealous of you dear sweet husband and you. Afterall you are the perfect couple, always smiling, never a grey cloud in your sky." [/COLOR] The voice joked now.

"Get on with it."

[COLOR=DarkRed]"The point is, I'm not surprised if somthin like this happened again. The clouds will eventually roll in to cover your sunny day, and snow shall somday fall upon the grave of your beloved as you satnd over it. This was merely a warning, I would take heed of it if I were you my dear." [/COLOR] The voice left Ariana, the rest of her night filled with nightmares.

[natchan]

Eclair awoke to a light tapping at her door and Darian's voice calling her.

"Milady. Are you awake?" He asked through the door. Eclair sat up in her bed and pulled the blankets around her.

"Come in Darian." She replied sleepily. The door opened and Darian enterd the room, gave a bow, then approached Eclairs bed. In his hand he held a small envelope.

"This came from Sir Nathan for you this morning. He wished to see you, but I told him that you were sleeping and I insited that he return later." He stated setting the letter on the bed. He then bowed again and turned to leave the room. "Breakfast is ready for you."

Eclair picked up the note, and studied the writing, it was simple but clean. She opened the envelope, and pulled the small folded paper from within. She unfolded it and read it silently.
[COLOR=DarkGreen]
[I]Dear Lady Eclair, I apologize for not being able to escort you home last night. I was pleased to hear that you arrived home safely and with no harm. I do hope that you are feeling well, I wish to come see you later today after my investigation. Your friend- Sir Nathan[/I][/COLOR]

"Friend. Is that all he wants to be?" She asked herself as she closed the letter.

[COLOR=DarkRed]Of course he only wants to be friends. [/COLOR]

[I]Whats that supposed to mean?[/I]

[COLOR=DarkRed]You're useless compared to the others, why would anyone want to get close to you? [/COLOR]

[I]Thats not true, I'm not....[/I]

[missrelena]

?Dante, this is merely your home. You did not need to keep it a secret.? Geni chided as the carriage pulled up his long drive. It was a wonder she could recognize where she was in the dark.

?Did the ruse make you smile?? He asked her.

?Well, yes. I suppose it did.?

?Then the secrecy was necessary.? He smirked back.

Geni shook her head, then leaned into the back of her seat. It had been an especially long evening, and she felt worn and frazzled. Since her storm of tears had abated, she felt distanced from the whole incident, as if there were a invisible barrier between her and how frightened she had been. She could feel that Dante was a touch concerned over her emotional detachment, but she ignored it. She was just too tired to deal with it.

With a small smile tacked on her face, Geni allowed Dante to take her hand and help her from the coach. He tucked the hand he had taken in his arm and guided her up the front stair. His butler, Faustus, answered at the first ring, proving that he had been waiting for his lord?s return by the door.
?There was an attack during the ballet.? Dante informed his man. ?Lady Geni?s father has placed her in my care. We are going [I]?there.?[/I] Make sure that I am contacted if any messages are left, especially if they are from Lady Ariana, Lord David, or the police. Otherwise, I think we both would prefer to be left to sleep. We will breakfast whenever we rise. Instruct the cook that a cold meal will be fine.?

?Yes, milord.? Faustus chimed politely as he took their coats, hats and gloves. He did not, Geni noted, follow them to where ever Dante was leading her.

??We are going [I]?there?[/I], Milord?? Geni queried in a humored tone. ?So mysterious.?

?I am a man of mystery.? He gibed back, but only with half of his attention. Dante led Geni into a room she did not recall ever seeing before. It was plainly attired, save for a nearly monstrous chair that sat, throne-like, up on a small dias. He guided her up and behind the chair, turning her to face it?s back. ?This has been here as far back as I can recall. I am not certain of the mechanisms, but they work nonetheless.?

Dante stamped down on the floorboard located just below the center back of the chair. A sound like clockworks winding began, and the throne ? along with the floor beneath it ? slid to the side to reveal a narrow and steep stair. He went first, descending five or six steps before he turned and offered his hand to help Geni down.

?I don?t think whoever created this had gowns in mind when they designed it.? Geni sighed, and blushing slightly, she swept her skirts up in her left arm, exposing her legs to the knee. She gave her right hand to Dante, and prayed she did not slip. Her healed boots were just the thing for an evening at the ballet, but not so much for spelunking in dark corridors. Ever the gallant, the young lord kept his eyes steady on Geni?s face as they both made their way down the staircase.

When they reached the bottom, Dante released Geni?s hand and lit a candle as she rearranged her dress back to it?s accustomed drape. Once he had a source of light, Dante pressed a small silver knob in the plaster wall and the trapdoor above slid shut. Geni looked at him for reassurance, then glanced past his shoulder at wonders. All sorts a brightly polished metal objects glittered in the candle?s glow. Buttons and triggers and a wide assortment of unusual gadgets gleamed at her, but she could not even guess at their purposes.

?Don?t ask.? Dante said before she could. ?Those have been here since the first time I found this hideaway, and I have yet to remember what they do. The rooms I use are a bit further on.? Geni nodded and followed without comment. She knew she should be more curious, but it was like her emotions were wrapped in wool and tucked away. She walked by the strange items and into another room. This one held a number of swords that shined from their stands. All looked exotic ? possibly Asian ? and well cared for. Dante lit a small candelabra that sat on alter-looking stone box.

Gesturing around the room Dante smiled. ?These are my friends. They came to me during my travels. I always have one of their number with me.? Geni looked about her, dazzled despite herself. She stepped nearer to a blade and stared at the curved blade, being careful to resist the urge to touch it.

?They?re lovely.? She whispered.

?Come, there?s a parlor and a few bedchambers down here as well.? Again, Geni let herself be guided into another room. The parlor looked like something she might have found in any home of the ton. The walls were papered and the furniture was plush. Gratefully she sank into a small sofa happy to be off her feet. She looked about herself in the same detached manner as she had since leaving the theater. After lighting several more candelabras, giving the room a warm glow, Dante sat down next to her and took her hand.

?Geni, what?s wrong? What?s happened?? He asked her. She looked into his face, and the world sank into a memory flash . . .

?Jeni, what?s wrong? What?s happened?? Keitaro asked her. Jeni had attempted to find the smallest, most out of the way place to hole up in. She had barricaded every piece of furniture in front of the door. She didn?t want anyone to find her. She was worthless, and she didn?t want to inflict her presence on anyone ever again. She just never considered the idea that a teleporter might come looking for her.

?Just go away.? she sobbed at him, trying to curl into the smallest ball she could in the corner of the room.

?Jeni, your bleeding. What happened?? He persisted, crossing the room to her.


?Why can?t you just leave me alone?? she cried.

?Because that?s not what you want me to do.? He sat next to her on the floor, and despite her feeble resistance, he uncurled her and tucked her head under his chin and let her cry into his chest. The last two fingers on her left hand were mangled and bleeding. ?Jeni, where?s your ring??

?I lost it.? She stammered into his chest.

?Give me a break. I?ve known you since you were seven. You?re a terrible liar. Where?s your ring?? He demanded.

?Bobby took it. I?m a worthless freak, and fortunately he found out about it before it was too late. He took it back and sent me home.? Her sobs doubled in ferocity and Keitaro knew without asking what had really gone on. He had never liked Bobby, and now he hated him. If it wasn?t for his strict code of honor he would have been tempted to teleport poison into that jerk?s drink.

Gently he untied the full bow she had tied around her ponytail and used the ribbon to wrap her bleeding hand. ?You?re not any freakier than the rest of us.? He told her. She shook her head in denial and kept crying. This was very different from the wisecracking and strong face that she usually showed, but Keitaro chose not to comment on it. Jeni continued to sob his coverall soggy till she finally cried herself to the soothing calm of sleep . . .

Geni blinked hard, trying to bring the parlor back into focus. Her hands were trembling uncontrollably and Dante gripped the one he held tighter. She could feel his anger and it proved to her that he had seen all what she had. She was about to tell him that she was all right, but then the invisible dam broke with a rush and all the fear and desperation she had bottled up from this evening as well as the newly remembered pain of the past hit her all at once. She began to shake all over and the tears came unbidden.

?I ? I was so scared for you.? She managed to get out. ?If I l-lost you to J-jack or anything, I ? I ? wouldn?t . . . I?m so selfish. R- rufus was sta-stabbed and I was more worried about y-you.? She lifted her free hand to her face and sobbed, just like in the memory.

Also like the memory, Dante pulled Geni to him and tucked her head under his chin as she cried into his shirt. Slowly he maneuvered the two of them so that he was leaning into the corner of the sofa as Geni allowed herself to be encircled by his arms while she continued to soak the white linen her wore. Uncertain what would help her, he just let her cry as he held her. ?My poor Jeni.? He murmured into her strawberry hair. ?I won?t leave you alone. Not then, not now.?

Geni eventually cried herself to sleep. Decently comfortable in the sofa corner with her slight weight pressing on his chest, and not wishing to disturb her, Dante continued to hold her close till he, himself, dozed off.

[Otori_Girl]

Rufus awoke to the sound of birds chirpping just beyond his window. The memory of the night before quickly became reality when he attempted to move his arm, and a searing pain shot through all the way up to his shoulder. He bit his lip to keep from cursing aloud, for Ariana was still sleeping at his bed side and he did not wish to wake her. Luckily she slept on his some what "good" side and he was able to gently touch her silken hair an brush her soft cheek.
"That was too close." He whipsered to himself, locking his eyes on Ariana. He remembered the morning he found Ariana crying from the nightmarish memory of another life. That morning he promised that he would never leave her, and he planned on keeping that promise, no force in heaven or hell could keep from doing so. His thoughts were interupted by the sleeping voice of Ariana mumbling his name in a worried manner. He placed a hand on her head and she relaxed beneath it, the panic passing, allowing her to sleep more peacefully. He dozed back into the realm of sleep, leaving his hand upon his beloved as he did so.

OOC: That was a guest writing by me Vince, Otori Girls hubby! I hope you don't mind. She said I could! :)

[Lord Dante]

[COLOR=Red]Dante.[/COLOR]
"what? who's there?" Dante
[COLOR=Red]Dante.[/COLOR]
"ah, I see. That's you isn't it? the one from last time."
[COLOR=Red]Your powers of deduction never cease to amaze me.[/COLOR]
"what do you want?"
[COLOR=Red]To help you.[/COLOR]
"that's what you said last time."
[COLOR=Red]And what else did I tell you last time?[/COLOR]
"that the others were jealous of Geni"
[COLOR=Red]Exactly! Why have you not acted on this information that I chose to reveal to you?[/COLOR]
"who are you?"
[COLOR=Red]It doesn't matter.[/COLOR]
What makes you think you know what's going on?"
[COLOR=Red]That is not your buisness[/COLOR]
[COLOR=Red]I am asking you why you have not acted upon the advice i benevolently bestowed upon you.[/COLOR]
"I don't know if you are telling the truth. none of them seem to be jealous enough of geni to want to do her harm. Quite the opposite from what I have seen."

"[COLOR=Red]You fool! They are trying to lull you into a false sense of security![/COLOR]

"they are?"[COLOR=Red]Yes.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=Red]kill them all...[/COLOR]

Dante awoke with a start, dreanched in a cold sweat. his eyes, darting wildly around the room rested on the form of geni, huddled against his chest, sleeping contentedly. Placing his hand on her head he recalled the events of the previous night. Dante instead of immediately getting up and fretting, let himself drop back into sleep.

[missrelena]

[COLOR=Red]Geni, you're pathetic.[/COLOR]

"I beg your pardon?" she asked, shocked at the words.

[COLOR=Red]You're pathetic. So frail and easily driven to tears. What a pain! You must be the most worthless creature imaginable. You can't even keep your own thoughts and feelings to yourself.[/COLOR]

"Who are you? Why are you saying these things?"

[COLOR=Red]I'm the voice of reason. Are your abilities so useless that you have to go foisting your emotions on Dante? Poor man. What a burden you must be to him. Far more distress than damsel is what you are. Not even worth the saving to any shining knight, let alone one as talented as "your" lord. He has the patients of a saint to let you continue to drag him down as you cling to him so smotheringly.[/COLOR]

"That's not it. That's not why we stay with each other. I know it's not." Geni was desperate. She could not see her assailent, and though the attack was purely verbal, it was slicing her to ribbons inside.

[COLOR=Red]Then what is his reason other long-suffering indulgence. What could possible induce a man of his calibur, any man for that matter, to want to be anywhere near you other than to protect you from your own idiocy and uselessness?[/COLOR]

"He -- he . . ."

[COLOR=Red]What, [I]loves[/I] you? What a joke! Is your castle built on a cloud, too? Has he ever said so? Or are you just arrogently assuming that he returns your little-girl crush? What a pathetic idiot![/COLOR]

"I don't believe you! I don't believe any of your poison!" Geni's words were defiant, but her heart was throbbing in pain.

[COLOR=Red]Believe or don't believe what you choose, girl, but that doesn't change the thruth. You're a useless, fragile little wrech that couldn't stand on her own two feet if they were incased in bronze. You drag the others down with you petty troubles and frailties. They didn't want you in the future, and they certainly don't want you now.[/COLOR]

* * * * *

Geni woke up to Dante's hand gently smoothing her hair. Tears were wet in her eyes -- again. She really was a crybaby.

"Shhhh. . ." Dante soothed. "It was just a bit of a nightmare. You're all right. I'm here, you're all right. Let's go back to sleep." He was only half-awake, and Geni knew it. Shaken from the horrible contents of the dream, she snuggled tighter against him. He tightened his arms around her for a moment, and then he drifted back off to sleep.

Geni did her best to chase the awful words away with Dante's nearness, but even as she slipped from waking to sleep doubt continued to grind a hole into her heart.

[0ber0n the Neko]

OOC: Forewarning: This one's gonna be short.

::Listening to amped-up version of "One Winged Angel"::

IC:

[color=red]Don't sleep, you lazy ass! She's in danger![/color]

Nathan was out of bed in an instant, his sword drawn, ready to kill. He saw nothing. "What... danger?" he muttered, still muddled from sleep.

[color=red]Nathan, you're letting yourself go... You're letting [i]her[/i] go...[/color]

"I'm sure she'll be safe...." he muttered, looking for the source of the voice. "Where are you? Who are you?"

[color=red]Merely a messenger, one unseen.[/color]

Nathan let his still feeble mind wrap itself around the idea. "Well, don't bother. She's safe in her mansion. She doesnt need me. She has guards."

[color=red]Guards will not stop Jack. You saw that. You know it's true.[/color]

Nathan felt himself tense. "No, she'll be fine. They're the best men in the watch, they are."

[color=red]But what if-[/color]

Nathan suddenly realized the presence of another mind. He closed his mind tightly, keeping whatever was inside his head outside of it.

One thought echoed through his head.

"Eclair!" he breathed. He stood to get dressed, and was out the door in an instant.

[natchan]

Éclair awoke with a start, sitting up in her bed. Sweat dripped down her frightened face, and her breathing came in panicked gasps. The door opened and Edward entered the room, rushing to his lady?s side.

?Milady are you alright?? His gentle voice was welcomed.

?It was just nightmare, I?m not surprised with all that?s happened.? She replied quietly. Edwards face became more concerned, and his eyes focused on Éclair?s.

?It didn?t feel like the same nightmare you had before Lord Vincent?s death did it. If I remember correctly, you seemed the same as you did now when you woke from that one.? He replied his eyes not leaving Éclair?s face. Éclair was silent, almost holding her breath as she thought back remembering the terrifying nightmare she about her husband. A little over a year ago she had a nightmare where her husband visited the mainland, and while he was there he became ill, and when he died shortly after he returned home. That nightmare had felt the same as this one, and it had happened. Would the same happen here with this one.

?What was it Milady?? Edward asked, bringing her back to reality. She thought for a long moment then looked out the window as she spoke quietly.

?There was a home, I have seen it before.? She took time to explain the whereabouts of the home so that Edward could get a clear picture of the dream. ?I don?t know what it was about this home, but there was an event there that caused?? She paused for a moment. ??my death.? Edward opened his mouth to say something when he heard the loud knock on the front door.

* * * * * *

Nathan?s mind was a blaze with anger, confusion, guilt, and concern. Who was the voice that had awoken him, and where had it come from, clearly it was in his mind but he could not pin point the intruder. Worry filled his heart as he raced toward Lady Éclair?s home.

?I never should had let her go home with out me, not after a night like last.? He spoke to himself. I?m such an idiot sometimes. Its clear that she cares. I should tell her, but what good would that do? His thoughts wondered until he reached the exquisite home that was Éclair?s. He dismounted his horse and skipped steps up to her door, then knocked loudly. Only moments passed , and as he was about to knock a second time the door opened. Edward stood on the other side, he was completely awake.

?Sir Nathan, this is an unexpected visit.? Edward replied politely. He opened the door so that Nathan could enter. ?Your timing is perfect Sir, Milady is awake. I shall tend to your horse, I trust you know where her bed chambers are.? He replied flatly as he closed the door behind him. Nathan did know where her bedchambers were and he made his way there quickly, taping on her door as he approached.

?Enter.? He heard her voice from the other side. He opened the door slowly, and announced that it was Nathan. When he entered the room Éclair had pulled her covers around her tightly. Her eyes lit up for a moment as he entered. Nathan could see the sweat on her brow and he frowned.

?Are you well?? He asked, taking a chair moving closer to the bed.

?I?m fine, it was a silly nightmare, nothing more. I see you couldn?t sleep either.? She replied kindly.

?I am sorry I haven?t been here.? He stated quickly. Éclair smiled.

?You have no need to apologize. You?re an officer and there has been a great deal going on, with the attack and the murder. You are simply doing your job, I understand.? Her smile was warm, and it gave Nathan a sense of comfort.

?I know I?m an officer, but I should be here with you. The others all have each other and well?? He stopped . Éclair reached out and placed her hand upon Nathan?s, he looked up to see her kind eyes now starring straight into his.

?Thank You.? She stated quietly.

[missrelena]

"Geni, wake up!" Geni could hear a voice she knew well shout at her. She could feel her shoulders being shaken, but she could not respond.

[COLOR=Red]No, I think you need to listen to me.[/COLOR]

"Why can you leave me alone?" She wailed to the frightening voice. She knew she was being lifted into someone's arms, and again she could do nothing.

[COLOR=Red]Because when you don't -- you suffer.[/COLOR]

"Geni, wake up! Damn it all, wake up!" The shouted voice came again. She could feel a growing sense of panic that was originating outside of herself, and that panic began to break down the barriers the cold voice had erected around her mind.

[COLOR=Red]Yes, do go. Your shining knight awaits. But be sure to give Dante a message from me. Tell him [I]'I warned you' [/I] -- tell him [I]'I told you so.'[/I] [/COLOR]

With that, Geni threw up her mind's shields, barring the voice from her. She felt an odd, shifting sensation, then an impact - but not hard. She opened her eyes to the new morning light. Then a barrage of coughs riped out of her lungs along with what felt like the fires of hell. Her whole chest burned and breathing was difficult. She curled in on herself a bit as she fought for air, and the arms that still enciricled her tightened their grip. She opened her eyes again and found that she had awakened to a true nightmare. The entire east wing of Dante's manor was engulfed in flames. Smoke blackened what waould have been a bright and fresh morning sky. The London Fire Brigade was there, using their horse-drawn pump to throw water from Dante's small lake onto the blaze. The servents too, had formed a line, tossing bucket after bucket of water onto the fire.

[I]: Dante?:[/I] She asked. [I]: What has happened?:[/I] He was sitting on the bedewed grass of his front lawn as if he had landed gracelessly and slid on the slik plants. He still held her in his arms.

[I]: You wouldn't wake up. No matter how I shouted or shook you, you wouldn't wake up.: [/I] He freed a hand by resting her weight on his legs and carefully brushed a stray lock of hair away from her eyes. [I]: The trap wouldn't slide - a defence mechanism, I think - so I had to use my talent to get us out. The flames and heat couldn't reach us where we were, but the smoke could. I woke because it was hard to breathe. I was afraid you had taken in too much smoke. You wouldn't wake up.:[/I] Geni could feel his panic rise again before the young lord forcibly damped it down.

[I]: I am so sorry I frightened you.: [/I] She coughed again, then continued. [I]: I heard you calling me, but the voice wouldn't let me answer.:[/I]
"Voice?" Dante was so startled he spoke aloud.

[I]: Yes, this terrible disembodied voice that said the most horrid things to me. Before he would let me wake up he instructed me to give you a message. He said 'I warned you' and 'I told you so.':[/I] Geni shuddered despite the heat of the fire. [I]: Dante, I'm afraid. I don't understand everything that is going on. I feel like a pawn in a game, but I can't see the board and I don't know the rules.:[/I]

Dante stood and helped Geni to her feet. They were both coated with a liberal splatering of soot and ash, but neither seemed to notice. [I]: I don't understand everything, either.: [/I] He reluctantly admitted finally. [I]: But we'll get throught this mess together.: [/I]

Heart in her eyes, she asked [I]: Will we?:[/I]

[I]: Never doubt it.:[/I] After seeing that Geni was well enough to stand on her own, despite an occasional cough or two, Dante made his way over to the large Fire Brigade chief to see what help he could be.

"Well, Milord," the big, gruff man said, "We just about got it all under control. The east wing'll be lost, but the rest of the house should ony need a bit of fixin' up before it's livable. The wing didn't stand a chance, though. Someone dumped fifteen barrells of lamp oil all though the halls. We found the empty kegs not far off from here."

"What?!" Dante was astounded at the man's revelation.

"Seems to me someone has taken a major dislike to you." Then the chief looked past Dante to Geni, who was still standing alone on the green watching the shrinking fire burn. "She's pretty. New bride?" He asked the young lord.

"Uh -- no." Dante was taken completely off guard by the sudden change of subject. He searched his mind furiously for a genteel explantion to Geni's presence at his home this early in the day. "We were going to go for a ride before the day became too hot. We were waiting for the rest of our party to arrive when the fire broke out."

"Uh-huh." The big man smiled at Dante's discomfort. "Well, the biggest help you could be is to keep that young lady safe. She looks to swoon at the drop of a hat, if you get my meaning."

Shrugging, Dante turned back to the lady in question, relieved in a way to be rid of the uncomfortable conversation. As he drew near her, Geni's eyes widened with a sudden thought.

[I]: Oh, Dante! Your swords! They'll . . .:[/I]

[I]: They are just fine. The fire and heat cannot reach them. They might smell of smoke for a time, but they will survive this unscathed. Why do you think I chose to store them in that room? :[/I] He was touched that she would be concerned over something that was dear to him, but that others often catagorized as an exotic obsession. Sighing, Geni leaned against him, resting her head on his bicep as they watched the fire become smaller and smaller.

"God in heven! Are you two all right?" Eclair exclaimed as she raced, unladylike, across the grass with Nathan not far behind her. "As soon as I saw the smoke, I simply knew that something had gone terrible wrong for the two of you."

"Not difficult to discern considering Dante's estate is the only thing for miles in this direction." Nathan commented. Then he addressed Dante. "Did you know that your gate is standing wide open? Is your gatekeeper working on the blaze?"

"No, now that you mention it, I haven't seen Milton since he opened the gate for us -- earlier. He would stay at the gate, even with the fire." Dante looked at the remains of his home and his shoulders slumped a touch. Geni took his hand in hers and lifted it to her face. Softly caressing his fingers down her soot-speckled face, she tried to convey without words that he wasn't alone.

He gave her a slight smile then turned in the direction of his main gate. "Let's see if we can't find what has become of my gate man, shall we?" He began to walk in that direction, not releasing Geni's hand. Nathan and Eclair went with them.

The front door of the small gatehouse rested at an odd angle, swinging on only one hinge. The latch had been smashed and large chunks of the wooden door frame were missing. Inside, however, there was no sign of a struggle. The four slowly went from room to room, Dante and Nathan calling for the missing man. When they entered the kitchen at the back of the tiny residence, Geni gave a horrified scream and hid her face in Dante's chest. Eclair managed to keep her composure, but she had to turn away from the sight as well.

A man in his late forties stood in an awkward manner directly before his wooden cupboards. His thoat was slashed and an impossible large pool of blood had gathered at his feet. The only thing that kept him upright was a large kitchen knife that had ben plunged into his chest, impaling him to the wooden cabinet door behind him. Pinned to his shirtsleeve was a note written in red ink:

[COLOR=Red][I]Hello Loves,

Just wanted to give you a smart reminder that no where is "safe" from me. Don't get arrogent. You can run from me, but you cannot hide. I will not be ignored. I hope you enjoyed the performance last night. Don't forget my earlier missive.

Your Friend,
Jack [/I] [/COLOR]

[natchan]

Eclair's hand brushed Nathan's as she turned from the grusome sight of the gate keepers fate. She grasped his hand instictively, holding it tightly. Nathan glanced down at Eclair's shivering hand, as it held his.

"Poor Milton was just a innocent victim in "Jack's" sick game." Dante replied quietly as he held Geni close, her small figure was trembling all over. Nathan let his hand slip from Eclair's as he approached the scene to take a closer look. He ran a finger across the writing realizing that it was not written with ink.

"This was written in blood." He looked up at the face of the dead man then back to the others. "Probably his poor man." He stated walking back over to where his companions stood. "I'll get my men on this right away." He replied almost sympathetically. The four of them left the small residence, Nathan left Eclair with Dante and Geni as he left to retrieve his men. Dante spoke to Geni in soft hushed tones as he comforted the young girl, still distraught from the scene inside.
Eclair stood off a few feet byherself as she watched the sun peak over the horizon, smoke drifted across her view. Her mind wondered as her thoughts reviewed the last couple of days, they had been very long for all of them. First the attack at the ballet, Lord Dantes home, it seemed that Jack was begining to want their attention more focused.
After what seemed like only moments nathan returned with the detective that had taken the case that was "Jack".

OOC: I didn't really know what to write so I wrote filler! :D

[Otori_Guy]

Rufus awoke as Ariana moved beneath his hand. He opene dhis eyes to find the mid morning sun streaking through the curtains.

"Morning love." His voice was quiet. Ariana gave a faint smile then looked out the window.

"How long was--" She started, rubbering her eyes.

"Well I'm not quite sure the last several hours have just kinda blurred together for me." Rufus stated.

"How do you feel?" Ariana asked gently touching the bandage across his eye.

"Well, I'm afraid I have to admit that I've been better." He replied truthfully, wincing as he adjusted his arm. "But you have no need to worry your little head about me. I'll be back on my feet as soon as---"

"I say so." The doctor chimed in entering the room.

"Theres the miricle worker himself." Rufus grined.

"I hate to interupt you two but a messenger just came from Lord Dante's estate. It seems that there was a fire last night. Him and Miss Geniveve are all right, but an entire wing of his home was destroyed, and they say that it was no accident." Ariana looked over at Rufus whos face had turned serious.

"You should probably pay them a visit." Rufus suggested quietly. Ariana looked like she was about to object. "I'm not going anywhere, I'll be right here when you return." Ariana nodded her head then turned to the doctor.

"I've already sent for your carriage to take you home. I figured that you might want to change, and freshen up a bit." He replied motioning at her dress. She looked down and realized that she hadn't even noticed that she was still where the blood stained evening gown from the ballet.

"Thank You."


OOC: Yay! my frist official post as a member!

[Otori_Girl]

Ariana returned to her home after a semi-long farewell with Rufus, the doctor tapping his foot and reassuring that Rufus wasn't going anywhere. Her personal servant Yvonne helped her change out of the bloody gown and freshen up for a new day. She then had her carriage take her to Lord Dante's. When the carriage approached she was stopped by an officer.

"Oh you're Lord Rufus' wife. You may enter."

"Thank You." Ariana replied greatfully. The carriage pulled up the drive and came to a halt near where Dante kept a close eye on Geni, and Eclair hovered near by.

"My dear, what on earth happened? Are you two alright, this is horrible." She was very concerned.

"It appears that some one wished to redecorate my home without asking me." Dante replied glancing at the ruined home.

"But it does seem that Jack was some how behind it." Eclair stated coming closer to the others.

"Jack?" Ariana whispered the name in fright. "He visited me last night."

"What?!" Dante asked sunddenly.

"In my mind I mean. He wasn't really there but he has the ability to speak to me. Horrible things he said to me, absolutely terrible. I'm not one bit surprised that hes behind this." Ariana replied.

[missrelena]

"Dante . . . that - that man. That poor man." Geni murmured into his chest as he held her while they waited for Nathan to return and Elcair to catch Ariana up with all that she knew about the happenings since Ariana had left to attend Rufus the night before.

"Shhhh - I know. The police are taking care of it. We're fine. You heard Lady Ariana, even Lord Rufus is recovering nicely. Shhhhh - don't cry." Dante whispered comfortingly into her ear.

"So the fire chief believes someone deliberately set fire to the manor." Ariana repeated what Eclair had just told her, increadulous. "Were they trying to hurt anyone or just spook us?" She wondered. "It would be just like 'Jack' to attack all of us psychologically since frontal assaults have not worked so far."

"My chambers and the guest chambers are in the East Wing." Dante entered the conversation to answer her question. "If we had been sleeping there, we surely would have died. No, I definately think murder was on someone's mind."

Geni shuddered in his arms but managed to force herself to turn around and face her friends rather than continuing to cower against Dante. Nevertheless, Dante did not let her go. He was impressed at her physical show of facing her fears, but he could still feel her fright pulsing in his mind. He knew she thought of herself as a quiet country girl, and all of this was just a bit much for her to handle all at once.

"I am certainly glad the architects placed the servants quarters in the west wing. None of them were harmed, thank heaven." He continued.

"Now that the fire is out, do you think the police will question the servants?" Eclair asked. She was interested to know what Nathan might need to do next. She wanted to be here for him, but she certainly did not want to get in the way.

"Most likely." Dante answered. "Though I doubt it was anyone on my staff. Faustus keeps a close watch on everyone. If there was any discontent, he would have alerted me to it immediatly so it could be addressed without anyone coming to blows or developing hard feelings. I think the questions will serve more to eliminate them from the suspect list rather than add any to it."

Geni didn't want to think about anyone who might want Dante and herself dead, or anyone who would burn down a building as a spiteful warning, or even about the dead man who had been brutally murdered. She didn't want to think on any of those things, so she just allowed her mind to go blank as she listened to the conversation without really hearing it. She simply enjoyed Dante's warmth and nearness and did not register much of anything else.

__________________________
OCC: Sorry there isn't much to this. I'm waiting for a bit more imput before I move the story on . . . (don't hate me!)

[Lord Dante]

Dante turned to face Ariana, deliberately avoiding her gaze.

"thank you for coming, but if you don't mind I must oversee the damage to my home. PLease leave us to it." He turned away, his soulders slumping. Ariana looked shocked.

"w-why of, of course. Call on me if you have need". Ariana turned, and went. Dante took geni's hand, and led her towards the smouldering wreck that was his east wing.

"Dante, where are we going?" Geni asked, but got no response.

"faustus!" dante called out, scanning the assembled for his butler.

"Yes m'lord?" came a voice from behind him.

he turned to face the man, dante's features becoming less tense visibly.

"there you are, tell me, Did magnus and Kain make it out alive?"

"that they did, you need worry not. Kain escaped unharmed, but Magnus has a nasty burn on his right arm." Dante smiled, looking relieved.

"Thank the magi that it wasn't too bad. But i'm afraid we may have trouble. This could have something to do with [I]last time[/I]." Faustus's eyes widened as he stepped back in shock.

"[I]LAst time[/I]? do you think it could be - " Dante cut across him.

"We'll descuss this later, when we are all assembled, but for now could you oversee the damage for me? there are a few things I must retrieve." Dante turned, and walked away, leading Geni with him.

"yes, of course m'lord!" faustus called after him. "ANd by the way, your obsidian is fine, there is no damage whatsoever!!"

Dante's face cracked into a smile as he led geni towards the east wing.