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Description

    The case might have happened a couple of weeks back, but the details were still vivid and clear to Octavia as she recounted them. After a quick call to Captain Burke to let him know that she was revisiting Greystroke Manse, she had started bringing Providence and Agonistes up to speed on the details of the case as they drove their way there.

    “A total of sixty-three bodies were uncovered within the walls of the mansion as well as in the grounds surrounding it. Included in the list of the deceased are well-known folks that belong to old families that hold a certain influence in New Luxerion’s business industries, from factory owners, banking, even farming. The head of Greystroke Manse himself, Richard Greystroke, was identified amongst the dead. The rest of the dead seemed to be employees of Greystroke Manse, housemaids, butlers, cook, you get the gist.” Octavia spoke as they exited the car. “Reports from forensics noted that all the bodies had been drained of blood. Vampires crossed my mind, but the events of the case hints at something more.”

    “But they still don’t have a suspect nor any leads to follow for this case, huh? Must drive them mad having nothing to go forwards with the case, especially with that big of a body count.” Agonistes remarked.

    “Not like they can really release an official report that says what really transpired in that mansion. Try explaining to a regular person that a jawless and flayed mannequin suddenly came alive and even spoke. Coming from a normal person, they’d just look at you weird and assume you’re a bit loopy. Coming from an actual officer and an official report, you’d more than likely be put on hold and be made to take a psychological evaluation. Captain Burke knows this, and while their precinct is the one sent to handle trickier cases, he knows that some cases are better left to be handled by those more experienced.” Octavia replied.

    “Greystroke is an old family. Theirs was one of the first families that settled in New Luxerion. You may even go as far as to call them one of the founders of this city.” Providence spoke, eyes looking ahead.

    “Sound awfully familiar with them?” Octavia commented.

    Providence gave a slight glance, “I crossed paths with their family close to a century ago.” That earned a whistle from Agonistes.

    “Even back then, their family had an interest in things that existed beyond the veil. But their understanding of the other side and how it works was limited. None of them really had any magical or arcane talent. I warned them of the possibilities and dangers of what could happen should they tamper with things beyond their comprehension. The head of their family back then relented, though he became more of a collector, the usual magical trinkets and artifacts.”

    Agonistes let out a dry laugh, “Guess their descendant didn’t bother to listen to the lessons you told his predecessor. Always that one kid that mucks it up.”

    Providence paused to look up at Greystroke Manse. Even in the afternoon light, it had an imposing aura. Less of a mansion and more of a castle.

    “By the way, where were you a couple of weeks back?” Octavia asked. She knew Providence attended to other matters as well, but she had a feeling that with Providence there that night, maybe they could have solved the case earlier.

    “Scotland. Caledonian Forest to be more specific. A group of renegade druids found a dozen sealed Aberrant Geists and were attempting a ritual to undo the sealing and release them. They believed them to be Old Gods that could bring their sect back into power. Their mistake was in not properly understanding just what they were unleashing. The druids were ripped apart by the things they unleashed, and I in turn dealt with the Aberrant Geists.”

    Octavia could only sigh. You would think that people would learn not to dabble in things that were clearly dangerous, or even at the bare minimum try to understand just what it is they were messing with. A small part of Octavia laughed at the irony of her own thoughts.

    “I’m guessing stuff like this happens occasionally?” Agonistes asked.

    Octavia shook her head with a snort.

    “Oh please, occasional cultists are what you’d call the usual Wednesdays around here.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    It was as they were about to walk up the stairs leading to the main doors that Providence came to a halt. The abrupt stop didn’t go unnoticed by Octavia and Agonistes.

    “What is it?” Octavia asked Providence whose eyes watched the mansion with narrowed eyes.

    “The bodies they found, you said they were drained of blood, correct?”

    Octavia nodded to which Providence raised his hand forward, causing a wave of humming power to emulate from him.

    “Revelare”

Octavia took a wary step back as the veil surrounding the mansion was lifted and what was once unseen to normal sight was laid bare for them to see.
    If the mansion was intimidating before, now it downright exuded a strong, hostile and malicious presence. It looked as though someone took a picture of it and reversed its colors while at the same time adding distortion to it. Impossible colors of aberration shifted and swirled as though the walls of the mansion itself was being blended with different shades and hues.

    But what truly stood out were the arcane symbols that burned bright against the darkness of the mansion.

    “A sealing ritual.” Providence spoke as he lowered his hand. “I suppose we know now why the corpses were drained of blood.”

    “You’re saying they used blood to power whatever this ritual was?” Agonistes asked.

“Blood has always been a strong catalyst. You can trace its importance all the way to both old and new beliefs. The bible calls it sacred, being the very life of the flesh. The Aztecs believed in the importance of blood and how it is one of the greatest offerings that they could dedicate to their gods. All around the world, whether it be human or animal sacrifice, blood has always served a purpose.” Octavia remarked.

    There was a momentary silence before it was broken by Agonistes. “Well, lady and gent. You both realize this smells of a high-grade trap, right?”

    Providence simply summoned his cane to his side, while Octavia drew her custom revolver from its holster. She allowed herself a tired sigh and a slight smirk. “Always a trap or two when it comes to these sorts of things. I’d be more surprised if there weren’t any.”

    Agonistes himself reached inside his coat and drew forth his own firearm. A gun that resembled a Mauser C96, forged and consecrated by an angel and with more kick than a Mauser had any right to have.

    “Right then, good to know we’re all on the same page… Shall we?”

Description

    The case might have happened a couple of weeks back, but the details were still vivid and clear to Octavia as she recounted them. After a quick call to Captain Burke to let him know that she was revisiting Greystroke Manse, she had started bringing Providence and Agonistes up to speed on the details of the case as they drove their way there.

    “A total of sixty-three bodies were uncovered within the walls of the mansion as well as in the grounds surrounding it. Included in the list of the deceased are well-known folks that belong to old families that hold a certain influence in New Luxerion’s business industries, from factory owners, banking, even farming. The head of Greystroke Manse himself, Richard Greystroke, was identified amongst the dead. The rest of the dead seemed to be employees of Greystroke Manse, housemaids, butlers, cook, you get the gist.” Octavia spoke as they exited the car. “Reports from forensics noted that all the bodies had been drained of blood. Vampires crossed my mind, but the events of the case hints at something more.”

    “But they still don’t have a suspect nor any leads to follow for this case, huh? Must drive them mad having nothing to go forwards with the case, especially with that big of a body count.” Agonistes remarked.

    “Not like they can really release an official report that says what really transpired in that mansion. Try explaining to a regular person that a jawless and flayed mannequin suddenly came alive and even spoke. Coming from a normal person, they’d just look at you weird and assume you’re a bit loopy. Coming from an actual officer and an official report, you’d more than likely be put on hold and be made to take a psychological evaluation. Captain Burke knows this, and while their precinct is the one sent to handle trickier cases, he knows that some cases are better left to be handled by those more experienced.” Octavia replied.

    “Greystroke is an old family. Theirs was one of the first families that settled in New Luxerion. You may even go as far as to call them one of the founders of this city.” Providence spoke, eyes looking ahead.

    “Sound awfully familiar with them?” Octavia commented.

    Providence gave a slight glance, “I crossed paths with their family close to a century ago.” That earned a whistle from Agonistes.

    “Even back then, their family had an interest in things that existed beyond the veil. But their understanding of the other side and how it works was limited. None of them really had any magical or arcane talent. I warned them of the possibilities and dangers of what could happen should they tamper with things beyond their comprehension. The head of their family back then relented, though he became more of a collector, the usual magical trinkets and artifacts.”

    Agonistes let out a dry laugh, “Guess their descendant didn’t bother to listen to the lessons you told his predecessor. Always that one kid that mucks it up.”

    Providence paused to look up at Greystroke Manse. Even in the afternoon light, it had an imposing aura. Less of a mansion and more of a castle.

    “By the way, where were you a couple of weeks back?” Octavia asked. She knew Providence attended to other matters as well, but she had a feeling that with Providence there that night, maybe they could have solved the case earlier.

    “Scotland. Caledonian Forest to be more specific. A group of renegade druids found a dozen sealed Aberrant Geists and were attempting a ritual to undo the sealing and release them. They believed them to be Old Gods that could bring their sect back into power. Their mistake was in not properly understanding just what they were unleashing. The druids were ripped apart by the things they unleashed, and I in turn dealt with the Aberrant Geists.”

    Octavia could only sigh. You would think that people would learn not to dabble in things that were clearly dangerous, or even at the bare minimum try to understand just what it is they were messing with. A small part of Octavia laughed at the irony of her own thoughts.

    “I’m guessing stuff like this happens occasionally?” Agonistes asked.

    Octavia shook her head with a snort.

    “Oh please, occasional cultists are what you’d call the usual Wednesdays around here.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    It was as they were about to walk up the stairs leading to the main doors that Providence came to a halt. The abrupt stop didn’t go unnoticed by Octavia and Agonistes.

    “What is it?” Octavia asked Providence whose eyes watched the mansion with narrowed eyes.

    “The bodies they found, you said they were drained of blood, correct?”

    Octavia nodded to which Providence raised his hand forward, causing a wave of humming power to emulate from him.

    “Revelare”

Octavia took a wary step back as the veil surrounding the mansion was lifted and what was once unseen to normal sight was laid bare for them to see.
    If the mansion was intimidating before, now it downright exuded a strong, hostile and malicious presence. It looked as though someone took a picture of it and reversed its colors while at the same time adding distortion to it. Impossible colors of aberration shifted and swirled as though the walls of the mansion itself was being blended with different shades and hues.

    But what truly stood out were the arcane symbols that burned bright against the darkness of the mansion.

    “A sealing ritual.” Providence spoke as he lowered his hand. “I suppose we know now why the corpses were drained of blood.”

    “You’re saying they used blood to power whatever this ritual was?” Agonistes asked.

“Blood has always been a strong catalyst. You can trace its importance all the way to both old and new beliefs. The bible calls it sacred, being the very life of the flesh. The Aztecs believed in the importance of blood and how it is one of the greatest offerings that they could dedicate to their gods. All around the world, whether it be human or animal sacrifice, blood has always served a purpose.” Octavia remarked.

    There was a momentary silence before it was broken by Agonistes. “Well, lady and gent. You both realize this smells of a high-grade trap, right?”

    Providence simply summoned his cane to his side, while Octavia drew her custom revolver from its holster. She allowed herself a tired sigh and a slight smirk. “Always a trap or two when it comes to these sorts of things. I’d be more surprised if there weren’t any.”

    Agonistes himself reached inside his coat and drew forth his own firearm. A gun that resembled a Mauser C96, forged and consecrated by an angel and with more kick than a Mauser had any right to have.

    “Right then, good to know we’re all on the same page… Shall we?”