Welcome back to From The Fairest. Last time, the BAU arrived in the Realms and started investigating these brutal murders. So far, not much. But now the lead suspect has been brought in and, tragically, a fourth victim has turned up. But how will all this impact the case? Read on to discover...
(Our story resumes with Elora, Kate, Rossi, and Hotch. Rossi and Elora are in the minimally lit stone interrogation room with a blueish-ebony dragon with a prominent eyepatch while Hotch and Kate are observing outside.)
Rossi: So, you're Penumbra. The infamous Shadow supremacist.
Penumbra: I really hate that term, "supremacist". Makes us look bad.
Elora: Last I checked, you are bad. Do you know how many innocent drakes and dragonesses have died because of you and your sect?
Penumbra: I didn't sponsor any of that. The Umbran Sect is nonviolent, as I've told you many times before.
Elora: Bull. You just thought you were too smart to get away with it. Well, we've got you now.
Penumbra: Is that why you've brought me here? To gloat?
Elora: As much as it pleases me to, no
(With that, Rossi lays out photos of the three earlier victims.)
Rossi: You recognize them?
Penumbra: (Looking at the photos, intently) No. But they are very lovely shades... obsidian night itself must've blessed each of them. (Growls sexually) Are they single? I could definitely spend a sweet night with any of them...
Elora: News flash, pervert. They're dead.
Rossi: Not to mention that not a single one of them is Shadow elemental.
Penumbra: (As if a record scratch just played in his head) Wait what?
Rossi: (Pointing out each photo) Thunder, Ice, and Earth respectively. Each murdered, and then painted to look like this.
Penumbra: (Realizing what he just said earlier) How did I just fall for these freaks?! I think I'm going to be sick!
Elora: We're trying to solve a now quadruple homicide here. So if you'd quit being so bigoted for a minute and try to help, you might just be able to shave a few hours off your sentence.
Penumbra: (Fighting back the urge to vomit) I told you, I've never seen these monsters daring to impersonate my element before now. And I certainly didn't kill them if that's what your thinking!
Rossi: What about the paint? Is that something you would do to someone you've killed?
Penumbra: (Offended) We Shadow dragons are blessed to be as we are. We rule the darkness. Why would we belittle our gift with this cruel perversion?
Elora: Then where were you during their murders?
Penumbra: Wouldn't your lackeys know? You've been tracking my every move, have you not?
Elora: Answer the question, you racist scumbag.
Penumbra: Not until I see a lawyer.
(Now we transition to Kate and Hotch, observing everything.)
Kate: He's racist as hell, but I'm not thinking he's our killer.
Hotch: I'm seeing it too.
Kate: But this painting ritual is too important for it to not mean something. That and asphyxiation are the only commonalities between these three victims.
Hotch: Maybe the fourth will reveal the missing piece.
(As Hotch makes note of this, we transition to outside what appears to be a courtroom, where Spyro and Cynder, along with a few officers, have cordoned off the fourth murder scene, as JJ, Morgan, and Reid arrive, at which point JJ notices something odd about the crime scene agents, as one of them appears to be filming their arrival)
JJ: (Seeing the camera-carrying agent enter the scene) Whoa, who let the media in here?
Spyro: (Seeing JJ's confusion) Agent Jareau, these aren't reporters. Those are the officers who first investigated this place.
JJ: Then why are they filming the scene?
Spyro: Common practice around here, well, as of three years ago. We switched from photographs to narrated video. Makes it easier for a jury to follow the investigation if they can see it "alive as it was".
(JJ looks skeptical at the quote, but Spyro is prepared with an explanation)
Spyro: Not my words. That's a direct quote from the proposal. And so far, it's worked.
JJ: Interesting.
Morgan: (Seeing something odd about the victim) This is the first time the victim's been male, and the first time there's been markings painted on them. Other than that, same pattern. Asphyxiate them and cover it up with another method, looks like electric shocks this time.
Reid: I don't think that's paint... (Presses a gloved finger against the victim's head, causing some of the marking to come off) It's chalk.
Morgan: So this is chalkboard paint. That explains the smudges from the ME report, they must've tried to apply the markings before the paint was dry.
JJ: Looks like they had just enough patience to wait with this poor guy.
Spyro: His name is Pyrox Zephyrus. He was a soldier during the war against Malefor. Served with Ignitus, my mentor and Cynder's father. One of the bravest drakes I've ever known
Reid: (To Cynder) He served with your father?
Cynder: Not just that. He's my brother.
JJ: Anybody you know of have some sort of issue with him?
Spyro: There are plenty of people who have a grudge against Pyrox here. Notably some hyper-religious conservative fools out there who object to having children looking up to a gay war hero. Fools, each and every one of them.
JJ: (Noticing something in his speech) This sounds more personal than it seems.
Spyro: It is. They came after me too.
JJ: Why?
Spyro: Someone got the idea I was closeted, and that my relationship with Cynder was a cover. None of it is true. I'm bisexual, but Cynder is the only one I love.
Morgan: At this rate, I'm starting to think we may be dealing with two UnSubs. Electra and Terra were killed by one of them, while the other killed Glacia and Pyrox.
Spyro: Let's hope not. The last thing we need is two maniacs running loose.
(As this narrative is going on, Reid starts to look at not only this victim, but all three of them in a different way, as if he's put something together that nobody else has noticed, except everyone's noticed that he's noticed)
JJ: I know that look, Reid. You've got this figured out, haven't you?
Reid: Not entirely, but I think I've got the thread that starts to tie everything together. Think about it, what other reason would there be for painting the victims' scales like this if it's not to send some sort of supremacist message?
JJ: They're surrogates for someone.
Reid: Exactly. This is someone who believes someone has wronged them personally.
Morgan: Then why is the fourth victim male, rather than female like the rest?
Reid: I'm thinking this victim was the most important yet. Because of who he is.
Spyro: (Seeing where Reid is going) I think I see where you're going.
Reid: Our hate crime theory may not have been far off, but we were both too general and looking in the wrong direction.
Cynder: (Also seeing where this is going) I have a bad feeling I know what you're about to say next.
Reid: Cynder, I have a feeling all four of these people were surrogates for you.
(As this revelation is made known, we switch back to the BAU's borrowed conference room, where the team has rejoined, and is hearing Reid's theory.)
Kate: You're thinking this killer is targeting Cynder directly?
Reid: Or more likely the first three victims were surrogates for her, then they killed the fourth as a sign their working up the courage to kill Cynder herself. It's not that unusual for an UnSub to do this. We've seen it more than a few times. In fact this even explains the smudges in the paint on the other three victims
Hotch: Thus the UnSub is someone who thinks Cynder has wronged her personally.
(With that, Morgan gets the message and pulls out his phone, dialing a familiar number, and placing it on speaker)
Garcia: Wow. I'm actually surprised you get reception out there.
Morgan: Garcia, we need you to track down anyone with a grudge against Cynder. Real or perceived.
Garcia: (As we transition to her office back in Quantico) Shouldn't take too long. Just a few keystrokes and...
(At this point, Garcia is surprised at the sheer number of names that have popped up from the search)
Garcia: Holy mackerel. Apparently a lot of people hate our friend Cynder Ignerion-Zephyrus, since there are at least 10,000 names on this list, and it's still loading.
Rossi: I've heard of having enemies, but that's... insane!
Cynder: It's a really long story. (Shakily) But back during the wars, I was kidnapped and corrupted by Malefor, and... well... killed a lot of people at his command. Most of the names on that list are the families of the victims.
(Knowing this is not easy for Cynder to talk about, even to this day, Spyro reflexively throws a caring wing over her, as she rests her head on his shoulder, just narrowly avoiding tears.)
Rossi: There's got to be something we can do to narrow this list down.
Reid: Garcia, check that list for people who would have easy access to liquid nitrogen and chalkboard paint. As well as people who have enough space to hold a victim for an extended period of time with minimal disturbances, likely someone living in a rural area)
Garcia: That is a very specific set of criteria, but it should help narrow this down. I will call you back if we get anything.
(With that, Garcia hangs up as Morgan puts his phone away, and just as he does, Spyro receives a message, aside from the last seven from his stalker, revealing something he dreaded.)
Spyro: There's been another murder. A fifth victim's been discovered.
Hotch: Kate, Reid, Morgan, go with Cynder to check this out. The rest of us will help Garcia with narrowing down the suspect pool.
(Now with a plan in mind, the group splits up, ending our tale for today)
That seems like a good spot to end for now. So, it appears this isn't some Shadow supremacist thing, but a vendetta against Cynder herself. And now there's 10,000 potential suspects at least. If that number seems specific, it is. It's based on a statement from No Fury, my Law and Order SVU crossover. In the end of that story, Cynder reveals her full unwilling body count of 5,000 victims. So this list of people with a vendetta was essentially made assuming each of those 5,000 victims has two living relatives, thus 10,000 names. Now to be clear, this story is in a different universe than No Fury, that's just a fun little callback. So, what is the team's profile going to reveal? And when is this killer going to strike again, since it's clear they already have another victim just waiting to get killed. Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!