[center][color=indigo][h2]Vanishers 4[/h2][/color][/center]
Alto's phone bleeped as he ascended the stairs. A quick message from the driver, two more students had been handed to him.

[i][color=lightblue]King...[/color][/i]

It was difficult to guess what his objective was, but as long as he was helping them resolve the situation quickly, his help was welcome. He assumed the two students were from the fifth floor which he had just passed. A cursory inspection had found no additional students. It had however found many imps, clearly slain by King's hand, but still more had been slain by someone else. Someone he knew the hallmarks of very well.

He rounded the steps and a very familiar face was there to meet him.

[b][color=red]"Ah, greetings, Child of Light."[/color][/b] Clara said.

[b][color=lightblue]"Likewise, Clara Deimos Erdrigan."[/color][/b] He replied.

There was no reason to greet Clara Deimos Erdrigan any way other than Amicably. Despite their reputation as cheaters and her clear position as the mastermind behind Mephsito's School for the Wickedly Inclined, there had never been any true evidence of wrongdoing. No, it would be more accurate to say it was clearly because she was the mastermind that there was no evidence.

[b][color=lightblue]"What exactly is your business here at this time of night?"[/color][/b] Alto asked.

[b][color=red]"Surely such a question should be posed from my lips,"[/color][/b] She replied curtly. [b][color=red]"You have far less reason to be here than I."[/color][/b]

They stood across from each other, neither one speaking.

Alto would be surprised if she didn't know what he was doing here. The evidence was fairly clear, unless King was fast enough there was no way she hadn't seen at least one of the missing students. In fact, King wouldn't be the type to interfere with her, if she had done something to them. He would be the exact type to bring them down disregarding anything else.

[b][color=lightblue]"8 Students are missing from our school."[/color][/b] He finally said. [b][color=lightblue]"They are here, and I've been tasked with retrieving them."[/color][/b]

He only said the basics of the situation which Clara would most likely know. None of the details, which wouldn't have helped anyway.

[b][color=red]"Hmm, is that so?"[/color][/b] She replied. He saw a flicker of a smile pass her lips. Any normal person would think little of it, but Alto could almost see the gears turning in her head. It wasn't as if they'd started suddenly, but there was a tiny stutter which had allowed him to gauge the flow. They had been turning for a while now, but it seems she had gotten a new idea.

[b][color=red]"Then perhaps I shall assist you."[/color][/b]

He froze for a second. Such a thing had been within his calculations, but not his expectations. He had been caught off guard but he couldn't show it.

[b][color=red]"Well of course I have my own objective,"[/color][/b] She continued, [b][color=red]"But we are in a position of mutual benefit. Helping you will eventually help me meet my own objective."[/color][/b]

He didn't know if hiding meant anything under that gaze. Those warm words of comraderie were just as calculated as his own. However, before he could respond, King crashed through a nearby window and rolled, end over end, until he reached their position.

He landed out on one knee, arms flared out to his side, cape fluttering down behind him.

[b][color=yellow]"Have you guys seen a black cat with an orange collar running around here?"[/color][/b] He asked.

[@rawkhawk64]