Venice is a beautiful city; known for its lavish debauchery amongst the rich and bohemian in society. However she does not smell as delightful as she looks, even in the cooler weather of winter. That's why I'm grateful for the rain when we arrive via the door Road opened for me. It is the middle of the afternoon but due to the weather the streets are deserted. I have a small group of Akuma in their human form with me.

I lead the way towards the area of the city where the spectral lights have been seen. I allow the rain to pass through me; no point in getting wet if I don't have to.

The derelict house, when we reach it, is truly dilapidated, but you can see that it once was grand, tall and many roomed. Now its windows are empty, its paint peeling, the roof is falling in and it leans alarmingly towards the canal, the water of which has flooded its lower level.

From the bridge over the canal I can clearly see the glittering play of rainbow light under the rain stirred water. It is rather beautiful.

"Wait here," I say to the Akuma, "this won't take long."

I step through the door and into the hallway. I walk a few inches above what remains of the floor. Here and there are holes that go completely through, allowing the light up from the phenomenon, so that it plays along the mildewed walls and ceiling, the effect is mesmerising and I have to mentally shake myself to move on. I move towards the stairs and then allow myself to sink through the floor.

Very quickly I am in the turbid waters of the Venice water ways and very glad that my abilities allow me to choose what I touch.

The colour display is all the more beautiful under the water. The source is an opalescent sphere the size of an ostrich egg with strobing colours moving over its milky surface; it is spectacular. It is also without doubt innocence. As I close my gloved hand around it I feel, rather than hear, an explosion rock through the building and water. Ah, the Exorcists have finally arrived, I think. I debate momentarily if I should have a little fun taunting them with the lost innocence, destroying it before their eyes. I decide against it, my heart wouldn't really be in it as all I want to do is find Lavi. I don't know his location, the tease that was trailing him I re-absorbed while I was following him and I was not thinking clearly enough when he ran from Komui to set another after him.

No, I need to find him and I have been delayed long enough on the Earl's errands; it has been four days already since that night. I can't lose him, not now. I close my fist around the innocence and crush it, when I open my fist the destroyed innocence mingles with the water and drifts away.

I leave the Akuma with the Exorcists and using the Road's door I return to Rome.

Except it's not Rome, its... well I'm not sure actually. I curse my ability to get lost. You see a sense of direction wasn't something I needed down a mine, the 'where' was already decided by the overseer.

I return to the ark, moving though it, searching for the correct door. I end up in several different countries before I finally come out in Rome, severely frustrated. Every hour is another where Lavi is potentially further from me.

I return to the lodgings near the Vatican they were using when I last saw him, I don't expect to find anything there but I need somewhere to start.

To my delight and amazement I see the old Bookman entering the property, maybe they had further bookings in Rome and I've had nothing to worry about. I phase my way into the house feeling light with hope.

When I entre he is talking to the house keeper and what I hear dismays me.

"News?" the house keeper asks.

"Nothing." The Bookman shakes his head. "It seems that he truly has not been seen since I delivered him to the client last Wednesday. I have been to all the places he likes to visit, as you know. I've put out word on all the networks, and now today I have, against my better judgement, contacted Komui Lee at the Black Order, at least if he arrives there or is seen by their operatives I will find out."

"By the Will of God he will return soon."

"Humph! Stupid boy is costing me a fortune. I had several bookings lined up for this week alone. When he returns I'll make him wish he had stayed lost!"

I leave as quickly and as stealthily as I arrived. My heart is beating so it feels as if it would break my chest. He could be almost anywhere.

I make me way home (only getting lost twice this time). I need to contact some of my informants and formulate a plan. I will find him.

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I cannot settle. My home, despite its size, feels like a prison, and I have no information on Lavi. It is as if he has disappeared into the aether. No-one in my vast network of informants, who move in the same debauched scene as I do, has seen neither hide nor hair of him.
It is like the previous two years, except now I know who he is and two places he defiantly isn't. Neither with the Bookman, nor with the Order.

I take a mouthful of the wine in my hand, then throw the glass at the wall in frustration. At myself for letting my emotions and desires get so out of hand; I'm not only annoyed that I may not get the best whore for myself but that I care about his welfare. My mind is running through all the accidents and incidents that could have befallen him.

Frustration at myself for being so careless when he was with Lee that I let him go. I should have followed him. Or at the least set a Tease after him immediately. How could I not have thought? How could I let Joyd get so close?

"Arrrrarhhhg!" I roar in anger at myself, hurling the table and the contents of its surface across the room. "Damn it! DAMN HIM! Fuck!"

"Quite alright brother?"

Fucking Sheryl again, it's a wonder he doesn't have my powers how he can so suddenly and silently appear at times.

I stand with my back to him panting for a moment, and then run a hand through my hair, composing myself.

"Fine. Thank you Sheryl. Can I help you?" I reply curtly.

"Our Lord wants you. He's pleased about your last job. Come on, and tuck your shirt in, he's being a stickler for neatness today."

I tisk under my breath, but do as he suggests, tucking my shirt in my trousers and following him from the room.

We walk along several corridors to a large room, devoid of mostly anything, some bolting points are set into the walls, floors and ceilings at intervals and to me it has the sense of some sadomasochists play room. I know I haven't been to this room before, but given our nature, the house is ever changing, also, as I've said already, it's really big, so there is every likely hood I have just never come across this room before.

The Earl is stood in the centre of the room, holding the golem Lero by its handle, as if it were a usual umbrella.

"Tyki-pon! You have pleased me greatly of recent weeks. You have had much success; securing new 'clients' and financiers, and now destroying a quite remarkable innocence. Well done. Well done!" He does a little pirouette, apparently to overcome with joy at my performance to contain himself. All I can think is I need to go; I need to get back out there and find that infernal human whore. But he is not finished.

"Sheryl has been telling me you have been frustrated in your recent search for a certain prize." He pauses.

I nod "Yes Earl."

"Well I have a gift for you. A very special human that Sheryl procured when he was last out. He is very...unusual. And he has a very talented mouth." He croons.

"Thank you Lord." I bow with one hand over my chest.

He turns to an Akuma standing nearby, "Fetch the human that was fished out of the river. I wish him to service our Lord Mikk to show my appreciation."

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LAVI NOT SEEN DAYLIGHT FOR A WHILE. OCCASIONALLY USED BY SHERYL. SUMMONED.
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