[Sarah]

Once they had finished shuffling through the sparse storage space they left the house. lil didn’t feel like they had learned anything from the house that they couldn’t have found on their own. She knew now though that the use of visiting other victim’s homes was probably zero. Right now she needed to find Ziel and determine who the next target would be. For a moment she wished the creature would target her, but there were too many unknowns to warrant using herself as bait. “I’m thinking we should visit the police station. They were the closest to the murders. It is likely that they are still a target if any remain,” Lila said heading back to the main road. It hurt her to think about the fact that so many innocents had been lost but she had to shove the feelings aside in order to remain focused and motivated.

[Sarah]

“If they are alive they may be able to tell us where Ziel is. However, at this point let’s keep our suspicions from the townsfolk,” Roxis said keeping his eye open for the police building.

“Do you think they work anymore?” Lila asked. The police station had a few lonely cop cars but when she tried to open the door it was locked and the building was dark.

“Who are you?” a voice hissed.

[Sarah]

Lila tensed, it had been a long time since something had startled her. She shot a glare at Roxis for not warning her before smiling sweetly at the woman who had… hissed at her. “I’m a traveler. My name is Lila, nice to meet you,” She said hoping she sounded friendly. The woman scoffed and continued walking without another word. Lila let her go, not only was the woman obviously hostile she doubted the woman would give her any useful information.

[Sarah]

“I hate this place,” Lila groaned and pounded on the police station in frustration. “It is run down and dirty and angry and I want to leave as soon as possible.” she stumbled away from the police station suddenly. From the reflection in the window she saw the outline of something. It was a pulsing gold and green aura. “It is right there,” Lila whispered hoarsely. Her body and mind were frozen and her eyes wouldn’t look away from the aura of the supernatural creature.

“Where is it?” Roxis growled turning his head slowly to scan the surrounding area. He was ready to shift and protect Lila at a moment notice but it would have been nice to know where the monster was.

[Sarah]

“Right on the corner behind us. I do not think it knows I can see it,” Lila gasped struggling to regain control of her body. Slowly she was able to turn herself around and it took most of the concentration she had to not hyperventilate. She could feel the power emanating off of the creature and she knew she had just involuntarily put her life at risk. The aura jerked and moved and a low rumbling growl rippled through the crossroads. Lila had barely enough time to share her sight with Roxis before she was staring through a blue filter and the monster crashed into the ribbon that Roxis had thrown up. Without any care about possible onlookers Roxis transformed and flung himself at the aura. His true form looked as if it had ripped itself out of the German shepherd and a roar erupted from the two of them. Almost instantly it was apparent that the aura had underestimated her familiar and its blood spilled and slickened the road. The ethereal ribbon trickled form guarding Lila to assisting Roxis in battle. It covered him in spots that were of the greatest risk at being wounded and thinned over his skin like a wetsuit. Roxis moved so fast it was hard to keep up with but the creature matched his speed easily. They blurred from one point to the other and from what Lila could tell Roxis was winning.

[Sarah]

The Aura must have realized he was fighting a losing battle as he resorted to more desperate measures. Roxis was still feeling strong and hadn’t even gotten a scratch. Roxis still stayed cautious, even if he could make out the general shape of the creature from this close he knew that without a solid appearance the aura could be misleading. Roxis wondered if he killed the beast would it die for good or would it be drawn back into its artifact in order to be healed. It was chilling to think that he may have to battle the creature again and again. In his thoughts he hadn’t realized that the creature was leading him farther away from Lila. He could still see her standing there in front of the police station watching them and lending him her power of sight. Behind her he saw something moving, he couldn’t make out what it was exactly, from that far away it looked like a shadow that had disjointed from the darkness. With all the strength he could muster he kicked the creature away from him and sprinted back to Lila. He was there in seconds but to be safe he shoved his ethereal band around her and hoped it’d protect her from the shadow. She shot him a confused look before turning to look around. at least she had regained her senses and wasn't frozen in place. Roxis reached her side and snarled at the shadow, this close he could see it was a pale husk of a man.

[Sarah]

“Ziel, we’ve been looking for you,” Lila said turning to look at him. He had come up from behind her, but his ragged breath and hobbling walk were enough to make any stealth he may have wanted vanish. Only a heartbeat later her vision was tinted blue, good Roxis knew what was happening. Seconds after that her familiar was standing next to her. Instantly confidence filled her.

       “What do you think of him?” Ziel asked a cruel smile split his face and he tilted his head like a curious bird.

[Sarah]

“I think that he has no form at all and it felt like I was fighting the air. From looking at you I realized that the beast is you, and that aura is just a projection of your thoughts.” Roxis said. “I also think that I could kill him,” He added. Roxis probably could kill him but he had taunted the man more to see how he would react than to show off.

       “You haven’t even begun the fight,” Ziel insisted, the sadistic smile hadn't left his face but he was more contemplative now.

[Sarah]

“What would finish the fight?” Lila asked. She knew there was an artifact that the man had in order to summon the beast but she had no idea what it looked like or if he had it on him.

“You’d have to have this,” Ziel stated holding up a small carved wooden flute. There was a goat carved into the front as well as symbols of power and binding. Typically goats symbolized the devil but that wasn't it’s only meaning, and the symbols were excellently carved into the wood making it a very powerful and unique artifact. Blood dripped from the end of the flute and in the silence they could hear faint wails emitting from it.

[Sarah]

“Are those... souls?” Lila asked, a wave of dread washed over her and covered her in a cold that stole her breath. The binding runes weren’t to bind the monster to the flute, it was to bind the souls to the flute. Instead the flute probably found a master that was ready and willing to kill and unleashed its demon into that person. In theory the person might not have even been a murderer, one thought and a weak enough soul was enough to summon the beast hidden within.

“They are, I’ve gathered many over the years and their cries never get old.” Ziel cackled before dropping into a fighting stance.

[Sarah]

“Get ready, I won’t be able to protect you as well as before so be careful,” Roxis whispered to her. Seconds later he was locked in battle with the aura.

“Do you fight?” Ziel asked pulling two backwards daggers from his belt.

“I do, but it has been a while since my sword has tasted blood,” Lila replied and she returned his cruel smile. She wasn't a particularly cruel person but when she pulled out her sword bloodlust filled her veins so thoroughly that she couldn't help but smile. From the abyss she pulled out a strikingly red straight sword, its hilt was silver and the whole thing was made sharper and stronger via magic. It wasn't the fairest sword, one scratch and the victim was rendered paralyzed and unconscious, but it would suit her purposes of finishing the battle as fast as possible.

[Sarah]

Lila waited for him to make the first move, with daggers he should be fast and try to fight close. When he made the first move she would be ready to hold him off. He launched himself at her but he wasn’t fast enough to blur like the aura did. Lila easily held him back and worked towards the one small cut she needed. She was surprised to find that he was able to fight with the daggers before it dawned on her that she wasn't fighting the man but the monster he had unknowingly summoned. In a flurry of movement he was on top of her with the daggers poised to decapitate her. She could feel the cold metal on her neck and wondered why he hadn't done it yet. Instead he was chanting, preparing her soul for capture. It gave Lila enough time to chant as well and flames erupted from her mouth and into his face. The man stumbled back and now Lila stood above him. She drew her sword over his heart and softly pressed the tip into his skin. It wasn’t even enough to need stitches, just enough to allow her sword to taste his blood and add its magic into his body. His eyes flashed in panic before they closed and behind her the sounds of the beast’s battle screeched to a halt.

Lila tenderly took the flute from Ziel’s body and tucked it into her pocket. “I’ll take this back to the lab and see what I can do about the souls. Until then I’ll leave Kry to deal with the police that are coming in from the nearest city. She drew a quick summoning circle into the pavement and the white paint stood in stark contrast to the red-brown color that the pavement had taken. A tall dark skinned man appeared, red hair was braided thickly and hung down to the ground, and soft brightly colored robes rested on his shoulders.

[Sarah]

“Lila, I am at your service.” The man said his voice was deep and respectful.

“I’m sorry to call you for something so menial but I need you to wait with this man until the cops are able to arrive. He’s harmless but if he wakes up he’ll be very disoriented,” Lila explained.

“Will he wake up?” the man asked doubtfully. His completely black eyes that glowed like coals seemed to be watching the man closely.

[Sarah]

“He should, unless the demon he summoned killed him before I could contain it,” Lila said bending down to inspect the body. In the state he was in he was alive, but if he woke up there was a chance he might not live. “Either way I need you to watch him and be prepared for the police. Visit me at the lab when you're done,” She said dismissing him.  He nodded dutifully and sat with his legs crossed on the pavement.

Lila had a short trip back to her office. She elected to have a private plane pick her up just outside of town. Now that the proper people had been informed of the state of the town it would be rebuilt and repopulated. All she had to do was figure out the flute. It sat heavy at the bottom of her bag, wrapped in cloth and warded from activating. Roxis sat across from her in the plane and had so far glared at her bag the whole time.

[Sarah]

“I know its calling to you,” He said at last. He glanced at Lila for only a moment. Her skin had lost its pigment and she looked like she was sick.

“I wont answer,” Lila replied. She knew she sounded breathless and she probably looked sick, she felt sick. She was sure that she wouldn't be overcome but it took a lot of her concentration to keep the flutes thoughts from intermingling with her own.