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[right][sub]location: The Olympic Club
interactions: [color=EA7E5D]Athena[/color] | [color=007236]Heimdall[/color] | [color=918151]Xipe Totec[/color]
mentions: [color=#0054A6]T[/color][color=#145FA3]h[/color][color=#296AA1]e[/color] [color=#52809C]D[/color][color=#668B99]e[/color][color=#7B9697]a[/color][color=#8FA194]t[/color][color=#A4AC92]h[/color] [color=#B5B688]F[/color][color=#BDBB83]a[/color][color=#C6C17E]m[/color][color=#CFC679]i[/color][color=#D7CB74]l[/color][color=#E0D06F]y[/color] | [color=#5E74EE]Artemis[/color] | [color=#295751]Hati[/color] 
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Heimdall could barely believe his eyes as he looked down at that graphic scene before him. Two divine children laid dead in a broken bloody pile as if they were mortals. He felt a chill go down his spine as his mind began to race through the possibilities that this could lead to. Not only was it bad enough that the victims in this scenario were Greeks, but they were the children of Hades and Persephone. Though Heimdall had never met them personally, the few stories he had been told by Athena cleared all doubt of how they would respond.  

Heimdall crouched down, his eyes shining just a bit as he observed the bodies as best he could. Though the large amount of blood covered the finer details he was still able to make out some obvious facts. One was that Zagreus had put up a fight before being killed, the other detail was that the two children had been dead long before they ever touched the ground. Heimdall's eyes grew wide however as he noticed a small detail hidden on their body, there was a small clean cut like one left by a knife or blade of some kind. Heimdall looked up to the shattered skylight for a brief moment before standing and walking away from the scene.  [i]‘I need to find Athena and fast’[/i]

His walk around the event was a long and purposeful one. One filled with scanning everyone who entered and exited, of the mortals and divine alike. It was easy to fall into a sense of… boredom when attending the Festivals Hera hosted yearly. Nothing [i]exciting[/i] going on, enough to hold his attention at least. But it wasn't necessarily entertainment Xipe sought while stalking through the throng of bodies, rather someone. Xōchi had announced she would attend and yet he wasn't able to spot her. And when the bodies fell from the sky like the first heavy raindrops of a summer storm, he felt fear for the first time, believing one to be her.

After statements were made, divinities leaving after being dismissed he noticed Heimdall searching the scene; he would wait until they needed his expertise. They always did. Taking a glass of champagne and sipping it slowly he made his way to the bodies laying at his feet. Pools of blood stemmed from the young before his eyes, like roots of a weed it spread along the ground beneath them. His golden gaze sharp, examining the substance at a crouched level. Unlike other cases that had come across his desk, he would need to think with the mind of a killer. A simple enough task for Xipe Totec.

When his gaze turned up to look about the room, still bustling with too many bodies for his liking, he noticed that Heimdall was making his way towards the Wisdom goddess. [color=918151][sub][i]'They would be spilling what they know soon enough,'[/i][/sub][/color] he thought to himself and snatched up a few pieces of broken glass; a makeshift slide for him to use and examine at a later time.

Athena had returned to the scene of the crime and it was definitely a slow process, but progress was being made. She had the blood from the bathroom and she spotted Xipe Totec near the bodies of her cousins who were still laying motionless on the ground. She didn’t have much of an opinion on him but she didn’t trust him enough with the vile of blood that was in her purse. This would need to be kept in-house. 

[color=EA7E5D]“Heimdall,”[/color] she greeted him, casually glancing around the ballroom. [color=EA7E5D]“Any updates?”[/color]

[color=007236]“No way it was an accident.  Beside even the setting and the falling part, the boy had scarring on his knuckles from a fight.  My guess would be an altercation with the perp.”[/color] Heimdall paused for a second as he looked across the room seeing that the grieving Hades and Persephone had already been escorted out of the building. [color=007236]“Whoever did this, did it to send a message to your uncle and aunt.”[/color] Heimdall paused for another moment before turning back to face the goddess of wisdom.  [color=007236]“How about on your end?”[/color]

[color=EA7E5D]“That’s what I deduced as well.”[/color] Athena hummed, seemingly to agree with what Heimdall had deduced on his own. Did Artemis tell him about the blade yet? Probably not. Not much time had passed and that was the sort of thing to tell when there weren’t so many ears that could hear of it. Athena wanted to divulge it now, but now wasn’t the time. 

She sighed out far more dramatically than she thought she might. [color=EA7E5D]“Unfortunately it’s not anything good. Anteros was distraught but not for reasons pertaining to the case. Apparently Pothos is missing. I was actually on my way over here to tell you--”[/color] Athena was cut off mid-sentence as she spotted the usually-snake-like Xipe, who always had a habit of slithering behind people appear out of nowhere behind Heimdall. Her partner hadn’t noticed but she did and the wisdom goddess folded her arms over her chest, glaring at him but decided to say nothing as her eyes said enough. 

Like a second shadow Xipe was there, hands in his pocket as he observed and listened to the goings on between the detectives. A type of social hierarchy going on between them, and if Xipe was any kind of mortal that wallowed in his feelings too much, he might have even been hurt by the clear and blatant exclusion he was feeling. But he wasn’t and he didn’t. He stood there, head held high, although his laidback and relaxed posture spoke volumes of someone with other thoughts on their mind.

[color=918151]“Seems as though this is more than just [i]death[/i]... targeted individuals, perhaps?”[/color] His eyes danced, the muscles around his lips twitching up into a small smile, [color=918151]“I would think that because it was their first time back into the world of the divine, they would have been the best ones to off. And in such a fashion as they did? [i]Tsk.[/i] The craftsmanship of the wounds and… display of their bodies could use a bit of work.”[/color] The way he spoke, like a master of their craft critiquing the works of a novice. So haughty and with distaste. Except, Xipe wasn’t upset about it, rather he saw the potential and wished to inform the killer of all the points they missed.

He didn’t know the Children of Death all that well, hell, he only really met Melinoë - an interaction he enjoyed. Having a domain over madness must be thrilling. Xipe was clearly only there for a few reasons; his affinity with blood would help - or at least they think so, and he was drawn into the commotion a pair of dead divinities offered. Truly a delightful end to what could only have been boring in comparison. [color=918151]“Do tell us though, Athena,”[/color] he dragged out, circling the pair of them like a vulture, [color=918151]“What is the significance of your niece’s disappearance? Clearly it wasn’t the killer, otherwise she'd be as dead as the others."[/color] Xipe couldn't choose between hiding his enthusiasm and looking unfazed by the whole situation, but with everything unfolding before him he was finding the latter very difficult.

Athena could never place it, but there was always something so unnerving about Xipe. His unwarranted commentary about the specific way bodies were carved up, the odd excitement he always seemed to show when talking about fatal blows, and just his energy rubbed the wisdom goddess the wrong way. That’s why she didn’t want to tell [i]him[/i] everything she found out. She wasn’t even going to tell Heimdall everything. She was simply going to inform him of the updates that happened on her end. She wanted to take this opportunity to inform Heimdall about the norse sword, but Xipe was the [i]last[/i] person she wanted to be privy to that knowledge.

Athena hated to admit it, but there was some merit to his questions. Pothos, to her knowledge, was not as connected to the murder of Hades’ and Persephone’s children. The crime scenes were different, as well. Zagreus and Macaria were murdered in a dramatic fashion. Intended to create a scene. Pothos was taken, presumably in the bathroom amidst the chaos. [color=EA7E5D]“She was taken in the bathroom - the one I just came from. Blood everywhere. There was a struggle. Not sure if it was god or mortal.”[/color] Athena knew she had to be careful with her answers and what pieces of information she wanted Xipe to be aware of (for a myriad of reasons). [color=EA7E5D]“Perhaps a stalker? Someone following her and used the disarray of the murders to take her?”[/color] Athena thought out loud, more for Xipe’s benefit. Indulging him in this may satisfy him enough so that he would stop digging.

Heimdall felt a small chill run down his spine at the way Xipe described the bodies and their injury almost as if he was a judge or a displeased instructor.  Even being a Norseman Heimdall had standards when it came to such things.  Sure he and his kinsmen had killed plenty but they usually had an honor about it rather than whatever atrocity this was.  There was no sense of honor or reason to this killing, more like that of a serial killer or just a deranged madman.  Of course though it could never be that simply as now a person had gone missing.

Though he could feel the tension between them, Athena and Xipe made good points about the kidnapping being unrelated to the murderers, in a direct sense anyway.  [color=007236]“We should make sure everyone else is accounted for in some capacity.  The last thing we need is more people to show up missing with everything going on.  Especially on the off chance that this all is connected.”[/color]      

His face contorted into that of a twisted grin. A Cheshire cat who caught a taste of the cream; as it were. [color=918151]"A stalker, hm?"[/color] He toyed with the words in his mouth, as if they were something new and delicious he was trying out for the first time. Weighing how it sounded before he spoke more on the thought. [color=918151]"Perhaps. Though, safe to say that whoever it was doesn't want her dead. Just [i]gone[/i]. Might have even posed a threat she didn't know she possessed herself."[/color]

Xipe halted his firing of the two, nodding along with what Heimdall said, about checking on everyone's whereabouts and cross referencing them; that was more [i]their[/i] style. The Flayed One simply sought out for himself, to gain answers for what he needed - not what others desired. It's worked out for him well so far. This time would be no different. Though this tine, he supposed, if he wanted to be kept in the loop he would need to play nice with his fellow immortals.

[color=918151]"Before I go, have you thought that maybe with her absence it was a ploy to pull attention away from one thing only to throw it at another?"[/color] He hummed aloud as if to prove a point. [color=918151]"There are many a people who have quite the scandalous history with Ares. It wouldn't be too far a stretch to believe this was done in a way to get to him,"[/color] and without another word, the Aztec turned on his heel and began to make his exit, waving back towards his colleagues, a wicked grin on his face, hand in his pockets, encircled around the blood slides there.

When Xipe was gone, Athena sighed out, a mixture of relief, tension, and ire built up. She never liked him, but his talents were useful. That didn’t make her feel any better when he was close to her, but she recognized he had his uses. [color=EA7E5D]“As much as I hate to admit it, Xipe has a solid point. Pothos being taken could be something that may be used to target my brother.”[/color] There were too many angles to consider, but she knew that was one she could certainly handle for herself. Of course, this meant talking to Ares, which, of course, was never something she was keen on doing. 

[color=EA7E5D]“But Heimdall, there is another matter we need to discuss. Not here, though. Let’s go somewhere… more secluded. There is a matter I need to discuss with you.”[/color] Athena started walking, looking back momentarily to make sure that Heimdal was following.

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Heimdall could a small part of the tension leave the atmosphere with the departure of Xipe as he heard his partner let out a held breath.  While Athena spoke to him about her brother, Heimdall nodded along, understanding the hesitation she had about talking to him.  He could understand where the wisdom goddess was coming from in that regard, from the bits that she had told him about her past in Olympus, her and Ares had a strained relationship at best.  If he was being honest it wasn't too far off from his own relationship with his brothers or his own father for that matter.  Heimdall quickly threw out those thoughts once he heard Athena asking him to move to a more private area for whatever she needed to explain next.   

With a slightly concerned look on his face he nodded and followed behind her.  As they continued to walk further and further away from the main plaza where the guests were gathered, Heimdall began getting a sinking feeling in his gut.  Finally their journey came to a stop once Athena had led him up the roof far away from any possible listener and by the looks of it where the bodies came crashing from above.  Heimdall could feel something bad was coming, rarely had he ever seen Athena like this before, of course she was always serious about her work, but this was something that exceeded that.

Athena didn’t like to waste any time and less so when it was about something important. As much as she had wanted to talk about why she was leading her partner away from the main plaza and to the top of the skylight on the roof where the bodies had originally fallen from, she couldn't risk it, especially if Xipe had suddenly decided he was going to follow them. And for that reason, she needed to wait until they were alone. 

[color=EA7E5D]“I do apologize for the over dramatic silence, Heimdall. It is not who I am. I like to get to the point, so I’ll spare you any more of it.”[/color] With a deep sigh, Athena came out with it. [color=EA7E5D]“During the investigation, particularly when I came to the roof at the request of both Hati and Artemis, which of course they put me in charge of the investigation. I’m not complaining. They know I’m really the only one for the job, but there was a weapon found at the scene of the crime. Right over there--”[/color] She gestured to the skylight, [color=EA7E5D]“--A weapon of Norse origin: Dáinsleif. It was the sword that killed my cousins.”[/color] Athena stood with arms crossed, feeling both anger at that fact and some apprehension. She didn’t know much about that blade other than it was norse and a formidable blade.

Heimdall paused for a second as he thought about what Athena had just said.  If this truly was the work of a Norse blade then it was no wonder she wanted this to be kept in secrecy.  [color=007236]“I haven't seen that sword in a long time.  The last time I saw it I was still the watchman and that sword was still on the hip of its original owner.”[/color]  Heimdall paused for a moment as he thought back to the days of old trying to think of the best way to explain what the blade was.  [color=007236]“Well it's no ordinary sword that is for sure.  It was forged long ago by the dwarfs and placed with both a curse and a blessing.  The sword was said to never to miss its target, but if the blade is ever pulled from its scabbard it must cause bloodshed.”[/color]

Heimdall took a second allowing the information to settle with Athena as he took a few steps closer to the skylight that had been broken.  Paring down he could still see the broken bodies of the two children lying lifeless on the tile floor looking up at him.  Nodding slightly as a sign of respect to the dead Heimdall turned around to look back at Athena.  [color=007236]“What worries me most however is the fact that they simply left that thing here.  Besides trying to start a war between our houses, I don't want to imagine what they could have that could match that in power.”[/color]

Athena stood pensively, listening to every word her partner spoke about the sword and about what it could do. He described it as a blessing and a curse. Athena could see why that was so. A weapon like that was sure to bring great victory in battle. Athena had only what Heimdall told her and the little information she had beforehand about it, which wasn’t much. She didn’t know about it having a curse - only the name, origin, and rumors. These rumors were nothing compared to this sword causing death anytime it was unsheathed. 

[color=EA7E5D]“Heimdall, what kind of hold does this sword take over who holds it? Is there anything else you can tell me about this sword. How does the curse work?”[/color] Seldom did Athena find her without the answers, but as much knowledge as Athena has about weaponry, about strategy, and about most things war-related, she is not Ares. She hated to give her brother any props, but the fact was that this was bordering on being out of her wheelhouse. She is not so desperate to seek him out…despite having her own reasons of needing to speak with him.

[color=007236]“That's about as far as my knowledge goes unfortunately.  I don't remember anything about controlling people or how exactly it worked.  All I know is that we are dealing with a weapon on the same level as my fathers spear or my brother's hammer.  It never misses and is magical like the others as well”[/color]   He paused for a moment as he looked at Athena, his face still holding a serious look with the slightest bit of worry mixed in.  [color=007236]“So what is going to be our next move then partner?  Cause i agree that this needs to be kept on a need to know basis or else a war is going to break out between our houses and lines are going to be drawn.”[/color]  Though he dreaded the idea and believed they could solve this before time ran out, Heimdall couldn't help but get a dark feeling looming over them that threatened to tear both their pantheons asunder 

[color=EA7E5D]“I was afraid you would say that.”[/color] By all Gods that she knew about, she dreaded this more than any potential war that may break out. Athena was hoping there was some secret Norse knowledge that Heimdall, the Watcher, would know of, but it seems this blade was one that had a reason to be feared. Whatever secrets it held was out of reach of not one, but [i]two[/i] intelligent deities. That part angered Athena the most. The fact that, between Heimdall and herself, the most they put together was that Dainslief was of Norse origin and when it was unsheathed, it needed to taste blood. And that it can kill what is divine. The most dangerous fact of it all.

[color=EA7E5D]“Our next move is simple: solve it before another life is lost.”[/color] Athena had the habit of speaking arrogantly about impossible-to-solve cases. Particularly when the clues were nowhere in sight. [color=EA7E5D]“I know it won’t be easy, but between us, Artemis, and even that bothersome wolf, Hati, I have a feeling the pieces to this puzzle will reveal themselves somewhere. Until then, we work it like any other case.”[/color]

Xipe stood at the entrance of the roof, listening intently to the detectives. A mysterious, god-tiered weapon used against the divine? How inconvenient. This posed some real issues to his kind and though he wasn’t opposed to death and the natural - [i]or unnatural[/i] - cycle of life, this was anything but welcomed. Especially seeing as how there could be more out there. There was no way a person as twisted as this would halt after just two kills. No. With the reaction it’s garnering, they will want more. Xōchiquetzal flashed across his mind and in one fell swoop he was descending the stairs, two at a time, cell phone already to his ear and dial tone playing on a loop.[/indent][/indent]


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