Sheriff Kolmar had never seen something so disturbing in his long career in the Magistratum.
He sat at his desk in the smoky, dingy old office, absently sifting through the gruesome picts and trying to fight the bile rising in his throat.
What in the God-Emperor's name could have done this? What in-
The door abruptly opened and Constable Fennington stepped in, knocking Kolmar from his thoughts.
"I told you not to disturb me," growled Kolmar.
I'm sorry, sheriff," said the young chinless constable, withering slightly at the sheriff's tone. "But it's the back up you called for."
Kolmar sighed deeply and swiveled in his rickety, wooden chair, "better late than never, I suppose. They Adeptus Arbites? Provincial Magistratum?"
Fennington gaped, "I don't know, boss," he stammered. "They didn't say."
"And you just let them in?" Kolmar growled.
Fennington fell into dumb stammering.
Kolmar sighed again; he really could've used an amasec, or two, or three or fifty right now. He really couldn't blame poor Fennington for the mistake. Kolmar was a thirty year veteran and he'd barely stomach it but for all his greenness; Fennington had weathered it remarkably well.
"Alright, let 'em in," said Kolmar.
"Yes sir," said Fennington and he shufflingly backed out the door.
About half a minute later the constable returned with two people in tow, and Kolmar watched them approach through the window. The first thing he saw was they were far too young and far too pretty. One Kolmar was vaguely sure was male, vaguely.
His brown hair was long, down to his shoulders and parted on the right so the left side of his face was hidden beneath.
He was sharp featured, high cheek boned. He must've been quite the hit with the ladies or the men, if they liked men who looked like girls.
He most definitely was an off worlder his skin was far far too pale to be a local. His hazel eyes hard, determined despite his apparent youth. Indicating he either was older than he looked or his short life had been exceptionally hard for him; contrasting a almost content light smile on his freakishly red lips.
He wasn't Provincial Magistratum and he certainly wasn't Arbites. He wore a grey bodyglove with black pants and a black flak jacket, hands in it's pockets like many languid youth these days. He walked with an innate, smooth graceful confidence that only the very most dangerous were capable of.
The girl accompanying him was beautiful, no ifs or buts about it. Her long, red with gold streaks hair was pulled back into a ponytail; her extensively full, red lips smiling and her brow furrowed slightly. Kolmar could tell a hard to read character when he saw one and she most certainly someone who could be utterly unreadable if she wished to be. Her were extensively elfin; her pale skin covered in freckles and she didn't wear much make up but that just made her all the more attractive. But by far her most unique feature were her beautiful, stark, sea blue eyes. She too walked with a confident swagger and she too wore a grey bodyglove but without the jacket and pants of her companion, showing an exceedingly toned, slender body.
Kolmar's initial misgivings was quickly replaced by cold clammy fear. They were the hardcore of the hardcore, what the hell had they stumbled on for these two involve themselves? No wonder Fennington had let them through with no questions asked.
They walked into Kolmar's office, Fennington stayed near the door while the newcomers stood in front of his desk and although they were quite short (no more than around 1.65 metres or so) They still seemed to tower over him.
Kolmar swallowed down his fear and made the sign of the aquila across his large, fat chest.
"Greetings," he said. "I'm sheriff Kolmar and I'm gonna presume you're the backup I called for."
A grin suddenly spread across the young man's insufferably pretty face; it was an easy grin, a charming grin one would make many a lady's undergarments wet.
"Not exactly," he said, his voice soft but deep and seemed to reverberate the room with it's strength. "And there's no need to introduce yourself, sheriff. Besides the plaque on your desk. We've done our research."
Kolmar frowned, "so you know me then, but the problem is, that I don't know you."
"Oh! I'm sorry!" he said, shuffling awkwardly, which Kolmar found odd to say the least. "I'm Throne Agent Kaltos and this is my...partner, Throne Agent Helgen, of the Ordo Hereticus."
Kolmar couldn't help note this Kaltos hesitance at introducing his partner and he grimaces.
"Throne Agent? Ordo Hereticus?" said Kolmar, he'd never heard those terms before but he had a bad feeling where they were leading.
Throne Agent Kaltos sighed and slouched forward wearily, animatedly; then pulled out something from a pocket inside his jacket and held it for Kolmar to see clearly.
It was only through sheer willpower that the sheriff kept himself from shitting his pants with terror.
It was an "I" red except for black around the edges, but otherwise it was simple, unadorned, yet that just made it all the more terrifying.
"Inquisition!"
"We're just here to help, sheriff," said Attelus Kaltos. "Please, just keep calm."
Sheriff Kolmar was back on his feet now; pacing the room and seeming of the verge of having a panic attack. The young constable had the opposite reaction, he'd just frozen in place with stark terror.
Adelana Helgen had to hold back a frown, they'd only been working under Inquisitor Enandra for two years but were already tired of this. Unless they had accounted for such a reaction, of course.
"First this shit!" Kolmar yelled, "and now we've got the Inquisition on our arses! God-Emperor! Sometimes I wonder if he even exists!"
Adelana and Attelus couldn't help but exchange wide eyed glances at the exclamation.
The sheriff shrank back as he quickly realised his mistake, "I'm sorry!" he stammered. "I didn't mean that! I swear!"
"Look!" said Adelana, taking a step toward him and raising a placating hand; she could help fearing the fat sheriff might have a heart attack if it got any worse. "If you'd said that in front of other agents of the Inquisition they would've just killed you outright, but my partner and I are more than used to this and understand that sentiment than you would think. So please calm down, take a deep breath and relax."
The sheriff's, bright red, fatty face wobbled with his rapid nod.
"Yes, I'm sorry," he gasped. "Can you tell me, can you tell if the rumours are true?"
"Yes," said Attelus without a hint of hesitation. "They are true, all of them, but which rumour is true for each inquisitor, really depends on the inquisitor in question, If you catch my drift."
Kolmar frowned in confusion, but whether he was confused at Attelus' statement or his strange turn of phrase, Adelana didn't know.
The sheriff then cleared his throat, straightened and took his seat again.
"So, what is it you want?" he said and Adelana found she was already beginning to like the old sheriff, he was blunt, open and too the point; she just wished others could be more like that.
She couldn't help look sidelong at Attelus as she thought that.
"To help you, of course," said Attelus. "Look at the files pertaining to the case and every file of every case you've investigated for the last two years and to see the bodies of the victims, of course."
Kolmar's eyes widened with bemusement, "really? Two years?"
"Really, really," said Attelus. "Anything and everything could help with the case and you know, just in case."
Kolmar nodded again,"anything else?"
Attelus grinned, "and to see the crime scene, of course."
Kolmar cleared his throat again, "we've already got the…"
He trailed off, "we've already got the...bodies on ice and we've already searched the scene inch by frigged up inch-"
"We are sure you have, sheriff," said Adelana smoothly. "We're not questioning the ability of you or your men, we just want to see it for ourselves and we have access to more advanced equipment and hold more uhh...esoteric knowledge."
Kolmar swallowed, "alright, alright don't know what you hope to find, but alright. Fennington and his partner, Duval are on it; they'll take you out there. It's twenty kilometres east of here through-"
"We know," Attelus interrupted. "We've done our research."
He then slipped his hands from their pockets and approached Kolmar, causing the sheriff to lean back in his chair nervously.
"Now, I don't want to scare you again, sheriff," he said. "But I need to ask you another favour, okay?"
"Yeah, go ahead," said Kolmar.
"I would really like for you to not tell your superiors of our involvement, here. Not the Magistratum chief, not the Adeptus Arbites not any one, understand?"
"I-I think I do," Kolmar managed. "But can I ask why?"
"Of course you can," said Attelus. "But I'm sorry to say, I reserve the right not to answer you. It's strictly on a need to know basis, it's complicated. Do you catch my drift?"
"I do," said the sheriff hurriedly. "I do and while you travel out there we'll get the files ready for you."
"I did mention the files first, or atleast I think I did," said Attelus and he turned to Adelanaa. "Did I agent, Helgen?"
"I think I did, agent Kaltos," said Adelana, fighting the urge to roll her eyes.
"Yes, yes of course you did," said Kolmar. "Our clerk will be able to help you sort through it all."
"Thank you, sheriff," said Attelus and he turned to leave but stopped after Kolmar said.
"I'd like to ask a favour of you as well."
Attelus turned back to the sheriff, eyebrow raised, "why?"
"I want know the faces of people I work with," said Kolmar, showing admirable courage.
Attelus continued looking bemused and shared a glance with Adelana again.
"Are you sure?"
"I am," said Kolmar.
Attelus shrugged and pulled his fringe behind his ear, it caused Kolmar to flinch and pale.
"That's...that's one hell of a scar you've got there," the sheriff managed.
"There are worse things in this life than scars," said Attelus as he turned and made for the door. "Well, the physical ones, atleast."