[h3][i][color=olivedrab]Casara Talbot[/color][/i][/h3]

Cas heard the news on one of her delivery runs.  Two Guild members were talking, not caring that she passed by.  "Do you think he's really dead?" one asked.  "Will that Dark Shadows group fall apart now, do you think?"  It was just a few words, but that was enough.  Cas went cold, then fearful, and it took a moment for her to regain her composure.  Luckily she had her back to the two talking.

Finishing the rest of the day's work was a test of endurance and control.  Cas couldn't risk taking time to find out more, for fear it would be true.  She wouldn't be able to handle that.  When her thoughts strayed, she reminded herself that Aloysius was a clever man, if perhaps lacking in judgement at times.  Still, by the time she finished she was shaky, and for a long moment she just stared at her phone, wondering what she'd do if it was true.  A vague idea had built up in her head over the last couple hours, a suicidal effort at vengeance.  She wasn't much of a fighter, and Shakti wasn't powerful enough to handle everything that would come at her if she started a fight in the Guild.

Aloysius's phone went straight to voicemail, but that could mean any of several things.  But the police report was more encouraging than the sensationalist media.  "Body not found", "missing": those were words of hope to Cas.  And how like Aloysius, not to tell anyone -- damn him.  Oh, she wouldn't know for sure until the meeting -- [i]"8Pm.  HQ.  Don't be late."[/i] -- but it made more sense than a random train accident.

To cool her head she went for a flight around town, weaving between skyscrapers with practiced ease.  She didn't have to worry about being spotted.  Air distortion turned into an art form saw to that.  The voice of her demon, whispering in her mind for lack of a convenient shadow, didn't help any, but they had a short and rather one-sided conversation on a hotel roof, explaining that the hurt Aloysuis had caused was inadvertent and [i]not[/i] by any means justification to harm him.

At six thirty, Cas checked inside the Dark Shadows' headquarters, then took up an overwatch position on the entry.  She didn't like being inside the building.  Underground and with only one way in or out, it felt like a cage.  There was no reason to subject herself to that until necessary -- and she wanted to catch Aloysius when he arrived.  It was just a few minutes to eight when he came into view, and Cas stepped off her perch and descended in a rush of wind.  She nailed her landing, touching down just far enough ahead that he had to use his own magic to keep her winds from mussing hair and clothes.  He looked none the worse for wear, thank goodness, but with the profound sense of relief she felt there came another emotion, a sharp stab in the gut.  She drew herself up and looked him dead in the eye.  "Bastard," she hissed, before turning on her heel and heading inside before him.