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Chapter3
Welcome Back
RAIJIN
The stench of death filled the air as the lights flashed through the glass windows. The wisps of black shadows dispersed as people ran back and forth. The authorities who worked for the Council quickly created a barrier of soft glowing mist to block even the sharpest eyed Being from seeing the alleyway.
The flashing of floating cameras overhead drew onlooker’s attention, but as excitement filled the air, so did ennui. Veil city was known to have the occasional dead body appear out of the shroud that encircled it. The only inquiry was whether or not it was human.
Human bodies were the real attraction. Whether or not their bodies would be returned to the human realm was another question. A big Ford truck pulled up to the scene. The windows heavily tinted.
The guards dressed in their dark blues, all eyed the truck with a mix of weariness and admiration. It came to a screeching stop right before them and all the doors opened immediately. The first person to exit was a man whose height caused of few of the guards to gulp.
Big couldn’t begin to describe the behemoth. His hair had been shaved on the sides a little above his ears. The top had been left to grow and hang in his face.
A face that was hidden behind a mix of leather and wire. A mask that had become a trademark for the very man who wore it. He shrugged his shoulders. His long black trench coat shifted as he turned his attention to one of the guards who unlike the others, remained close to the truck.
The guard’s aura was thick, cloying and immediately submerged the man in fear. His heart raced and palms grew sweaty. As the giant walked over to him, he barely noticed the three who got out from behind him. The male towered over him, before he seemed in slow motion to lean down. The smell of irony and blood grew as he closed the space between them.
“The body?” His voice was rough and deep.
Flinching, the guard worked his mouth before a single sound escaped, “Y…yes.”
Quickly, he moved out of the man’s way and pointed at the scene. “Right this way.”
Raijin didn’t give the little Blue Jay any more of his attention as he made his way into the circle of softly glowing mist. He was already in a foul mood after being summoned.
He and his men weren’t Blue Jays. They usually kept to their own territory. Yet because of one fucking annoying detail, he found himself walking down a back alley in Veil City, smelling the fresh rain upon the asphalt, intermixed with the stench of badPowder.
The neon lights overhead flickered and buzzed occasionally when a pixie flew into them. Raijin spotted his target but didn’t bother greeting the man. Instead, he walked up behind him,. reached down and grabbed him by the collar and yanked him up.
“Ouch,” the man exclaimed as he dangled from Raijin’s hand.
Not looking at the man, Raijin stared at the body that had been torn to shreds. There were limbs strewn everywhere. Blood splashed the walls like graffiti and the head was nestled safely on top of the neighborhood trash can. The face wore a look of terror.
“Hagen,” Raijin said, finally acknowledging the man hanging from his hold. “Why the fuck have I been called for a fucking Class B?”
Hagen—a brown haired male with a small frame and pug nose he inherited from his dogkin side of the family—nervously held a little notebook in his hand. He licked his lips as he thought over his answer. Class B violence cases were considered regular fodder in Veil City. Raijin had seen gory scenes of violence so often he knew this one to be the lightest case. Something this light was usually handled by the Blue Jays.
“I…if you would p…put me down I could answer,” Hagen said, a show of bravery despite his clear fear of Raijin.
Irritated, Raijin lowered the man down, but with little care. Shoving his hands into the pocket of his coat, he looked over to a Blue Jay who collected some of the blood off the wall.
“Your birdies are doing a great job.” He looked down at Hagen. “Why do you need my help?” He lifted his eyebrow in question.
The little man pulled a slim black card from his pocket and lifted it up for Raijin’s inspection. Raijin took it and read it. “Touch of “Shade? What does it mean?”
“It doesn’t mean something. It’s a place,” Hagen said. “We’ve been investigating the disappearance of women here in Veil City and in Nashville.”
Hearing this, Raijin felt his curiosity peak. “You’ve been dealing in the human realm?”
Hagen no longer trembling, shoved the little notebook in his pocket. Noticing a few eyes their way, he waved Raijin to follow him. The two walked to the alleyway exit.
“Yes, they’ve been sending inquiries to the Council because of it. Due to the nature of the issue, the Council had a few of their agents investigating the disappearances.” Hagen glanced around at the hexed cameras, flashing overhead before turning right, taking them away from the crime scene.
“What exactly are your rats looking into?” Raijin asked.
Hagen pointed at the card. “This is where that place comes into play. The women who’ve gone missing are all Dud witches.”
