[img]http://i.imgur.com/QRij9MW.jpg[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/PgliDJM.jpg[/img] [u]THE AFTERMATH[/u] [center][b]The salon doors swung outwards and the bitter scent of kerosene stained every breath of air. [/b][/center] [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/gbinpvR.jpg[/img][/center] Opening to a cringe-worthy scene, it was softened only by the warm glow of lamps lit on every still standing table in the aftermath of the power outage. Broken glass and shattered sills were strewn as far as the eye could see, but the hustle and bustle of the city yet still managed to creep into such a place and it’s patrons, though few, had perhaps sought safety from the outage-induced chaos within the shambles of such a place. [i]There were worst things out there right now, after all ...[/i] Ricardo Vigil pushed through the doors, slapdashedly stepping over a fallen board that had come crashing down from the ceiling earlier. The man bore a series of bandages that ran from his neck down his left shoulder and through to his arm where dark spots behind his short sleeved shirt hint at recent wounds, dried blood caking underneath it all. As he made his way to the bar, he soon came to meet every alcohol addled look at him with a grimaced scowl and clenched his knuckles so tight that they turned white, quickly sending stares the other way. Only when he found a familiar face did his expression relent into something friendlier. [b][color=9e0b0f]"The usual,"[/color][/b] The man groused as he tucked into a seat wincing, the owner of the bar looked like she could use the business. [b][color=9e0b0f]"Thought you might want these back,"[/color][/b] He slid a few trinkets out from his pocket and into the ashtray before him, not coins, but bullets. Bloodstained bullets.[b][color=9e0b0f] "...didn't think you needed the police questioning you and making things..."[/color][/b] He said as he glanced behind at the wreckage of a room once more. [b][color=9e0b0f]"Worse." [/color][/b] Things had been continuously getting worse for some time now, and that hadn’t changed in the day since she’d last seen Vigil. She’d returned to her bar just in time to see that her bar was wrecked, with three imbeciles still there. She had scared two of them off, but the third… Well, after such an eventful night she had needed to replenish her strength, and she would have been lying if she said she hadn’t enjoyed exacting a bit of revenge. In all honesty she regretted letting the other two go... Max shook herself from her reverie, silently gathering the bullets in an old bar rag and tucking the bundle in a pocket before turning to pour two drinks. One she slid over to him, keeping the other in her own hand. [b][b][color=7bcdc8]“Come on,”[/color][/b][/b] she said flatly, turning to head towards the small rooms in the back, [b][color=7bcdc8]“It’s time you and I had a conversation, don’t you think?”[/color][/b] Her voice trailed off. Vigil looked down at his own drink, musing over it's swirling contents as she spoke, then she was already walking away on her own. She didn't even turn to see if he was behind and caught the eye of one of her employees as she went, signaling that Isaac was to take over the bar. [b][color=9e0b0f]"...great."[/color][/b] He muttered as he watched her disappear from the corner of his eye. ------------------------------------------------------ Max pushed open the door that led to her office, circling the heavy wooden desk that sat in the middle of the room before smoothly sitting down in her chair. A long, long moment later, Vigil entered the room holding yet another glass of absinthe. Looking at Vigil, she gestured to the smaller chair on the other side. Swiftly unlocking a drawer, Max pulled out the large tome they had found the night before, setting it down heavily between them. She narrowed her eyes at Vigil cheerlessly.[b][color=7bcdc8] “So,”[/color][/b] she said. [b][color=7bcdc8]“Would you like to begin, or shall I?”[/color][/b] He gestured for her to speak up first, still standing as he did so. [b][color=7bcdc8]“Were you aware of what we would find down there, for instance?”[/color][/b] She cooly arched one eyebrow before adding, [b][color=7bcdc8]“and hasn’t anyone ever told you it’s... impolite not to mention how much blood magic is going to be involved in something before you start?”[/color][/b] Vigil narrowed a look back at her, [b][color=9e0b0f]“Two nights ago, you were the last person I expected to be involved.”[/color][/b] Vigil then shook his head tiredly, this was going to go nowhere. [b][color=9e0b0f]”I didn't know what was going to happen. If I did then [i]THIS[/i] -"[/color][/b] He growled, pointing sternly at where the stab wound was on His own chest, [b][color=9e0b0f]"- would not have happened."[/color][/b] He then flinched uncomfortably when he crossed his arms back once more, scrunching his nose slightly, [b][color=9e0b0f]"You might be touching someone's skin by the way."[/color][/b] He remarked somewhat offhandedly. Max waved a hand dismissively. [b][color=7bcdc8]“The stuff it’s bound in is the least of our worries. It’s the contents I’m more concerned with. It’s not exactly light reading.”[/color][/b] Vigil reluctantly ran his palm over the cover, trying to confirm his suspicions and his brow soon furrowed. [b][color=9e0b0f]“Resin preserved. Dammar.”[/color][/b] He eyed the bindings and the inscription on the front, noting the font and style.[b][color=9e0b0f] “Masonian edition.”[/color][/b] Then he opened up the book, reading it’s first few phrases before closing it sharply with a loud thump. The dreadful book detailed disturbing necrotic rituals, something he was not in the mood for at the moment. [b][color=9e0b0f]“I see.”[/color][/b] [b][color=7bcdc8]“Sacrifices, reanimation, possession, it actually covers quite the variety of things. Some of it seems connected to the… spiderlike things we ran into. I’m sure some of it has to do with whatever got you involved in all of this in the first place as well.”[/color][/b] Vigil looked up upon hearing her words, then turned his gaze away from her and out at the nearby window, slowly, he took a few steps towards it and pressed one blind down with two fingers. His stare hardened. [b][color=9e0b0f]"Something is happening out there right now..."[/color][/b] He said, remembering her words last night. [b][color=9e0b0f]“This knowledge is valuable.”[/color][/b] Max looked surprised. “[b][color=7bcdc8]You want to sell it? I definitely know a few who would pay quite the sum for something like this. I hadn’t thought you would be interested in auctioning it off, however.”[/color][/b] Mentally, she was already thinking of clients who would kill, or pay, eagerly to get their hands on a tome such as this. [b][color=9e0b0f]“The book?”[/color][/b] He had not considered that yet, [b][color=9e0b0f]“...Give me a few days to duplicate it and we can sell it to more than one person.”[/color][/b] Vigil thoughtfully scratched his sideburns. [b][color=9e0b0f]“No point making just one sum.”[/color][/b] He mumbled. [b][color=9e0b0f]“But I’m talking about the note you found as well. Where is it?”[/color][/b] She produced the note from her desk with a flourish, handing it to him. [b][color=9e0b0f]“You ...We could earn more than a few favours from the police with this. They’ve been cracking their skulls,”[/color][/b] He held it and read it over, glancing sideways as he thought of someone in particular, [b][color=9e0b0f]“...on this. The missing bodies, the electrical disruption. We can make their job easier.”[/color][/b] Max scoffed. [b][color=7bcdc8]“The biggest favour the police in this city have done me was leaving me alone. Besides, they’re all as corrupt as can be. How would we even know we were giving the information to someone who wasn’t already involved?”[/color][/b] [b][color=9e0b0f]“We pray and hope our luck doesn’t run out.”[/color][/b] He said as a matter of factly. [b][color=9e0b0f]“Not all of them are corrupt ...I ...well, I won’t mention you if that keeps you sound.”[/color][/b] [b][color=7bcdc8]“Prayer, hope, and luck, huh? That’s got to be a first in this city. And I’d much appreciate it if you didn’t mention me.”[/color][/b] [b][color=9e0b0f]“And Wit."[/color][/b] She paused. [b][color=7bcdc8]“...Fine. We’ll involve the authorities.”[/color][/b] Vigil nodded, [b][color=9e0b0f]"Leave it to me.”[/color][/b] He said assuringly, picking up the book and turning towards the door, [b][color=9e0b0f]"I'll call you when it's done ...I have to take care of something now."[/color][/b] Then swiftly made his way out of the office, the bar and into the evening air. [center]::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::[/center]