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[/center][right][b][code]East Araminta - Construction Site[/code][/b][/right][hr]

[i]Ring ring.

Ring ring.

Ring ring.[/i]

On and on it went. The longest sound in existence. He'd phoned back twice just to make sure. Hopefully it meant they'd already left and the house had been emptied. Either the Vanburens would have some good luck, or none whatsoever.

Shane turned to face his siblings, Tansy already reconciling back into her saccharine demeanour. Reminiscent of a werewolf turning back into a human after terrorising an entire town.

[colour=Steelblue]"No one's answeri-"[/colour] He'd sought to push past Tansy and Trisha, avoiding another pointless argument that wasted time. Instead, he'd been interrupted himself.

Shane was hardly the most emotive guy, but the contrast in voices was felt even by him. It's words like sandpaper to the senses as he turned to face a cloud of the void. Instinctively, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his gun. Realising a second after that it was liable not to do much against the horned skeleton that emerged from the shadows.

[quote=???]"For the children of the great and magnanimous James... Vanburen. You all are not as nowhere near as foxlike as he was. The man would stab his own brother in the chest before letting anyone see him as unintelligent!"[/quote]

Despite internally acknowledging it's unlikeliness to be of any use, Shane kept his gun trained on the skeleton while it spoke. It paid him no mind, indeed it seemed to be more interested in putting on appearances as it summoned and drank from a bottle of wine while laughing like an old family friend.

[quote=Tansy][color=springgreen]“If you know our father so well then you would know it is not smart to insult him. Who are you? How have you invoked the Triple Goddess’s ire?”[/color][/quote]

Until Tansy spoke up, Shane hadn't even been focused on the figure's words. Only his grandiose actions and mannerisms. It reminded Shane of the type of men James occasionally had surrounded himself with at his parties. The types who wore "eccentric millionaire" like badges of honour to live up to. It would figure Tansy would find her nerve as soon as James was brought into it however, her previously timid response fading as her powers activated. With the bright glow and chorus of voices, it was more likely than ever that her previous explanation of her abilities was downplaying at best, or a lie.

Regardless, her bright glow reminded Shane of his own abilities. It was still taking getting used to. Still aiming his firearm at the skeleton, Shane began to glow a deep blue. Prepared to throw up a defensive wall to protect Trisha and Tuyen behind him if need be.

[quote=???]"Aw... everybody's a critic... or are you all under the impression I'm an enemy? Or God forbid in league with that Triple Goddess? Trust me, she hates me more than she hates you all."[/quote]

Shane wished Oscar were here. He knew [i]a little[/i] of the types of strange beings they may encounter from James' writings, but he'd hoped they wouldn't factor into the Vanburens personal issues of removing the curse. All Shane could do currently was speculate, or at least not reveal he knew less than he really did. The horns and skull, maybe he was an enemy of the Triple Goddess, but that didn't rule out a connection to The Horned God?

[colour=steelblue]"You might not be an enemy. But firstly, we aren't friends. Make no mistake on that subject."[/colour] Shane's voice, low and direct in counter to his sister's haughty tone. Almost unconsciously weaving with and against her to project defiance against a being whose power they had no way of gauging.

[colour=Steelblue]"We're running out of time. If you're here to help somehow, answer my sister's questions then do what you're here to do. Otherwise..."[/colour]

Otherwise, do what you're here to do. Shane could only hope he wasn't as big a threat as he assumed. Considering the 'trap' plan seemed to have bottomed out some time ago.