He stalked down the alley on near silent feet. Red eyes taking in more than most would expect. Coming to a stop in front of a heavy metal door, he knocked sharply twice. A moment later it was yanked open and he was waved inside.
Moving down the hallway, he passed a few private rooms, all empty, before coming out into the main dance floor and bar area. There on the floor to one side of the bar, was a covered shape. A female Earth Demon stood with her back to the spot on the floor, shifting nervously from foot to foot and wringing her hands.
His lip started to curl, before he smoothed his face again. Walking straight past the Earth Demon, Djuran crouched beside the covered form. Reaching out, he whipped the fabric off the body and threw it behind him. In death, the Shadow Demon looked peaceful. His eyes were open and staring sightlessly, his face was young, and there were no signs of fright or wounds.
"You said he was drinking and just fell off his chair? No fighting, arguing or unruly behavior?" Red eyes never left the body. He was sure he would not be able to keep the contempt for such a useless person off his face if he were to look at the owner of the dance hall.
"He was alone, kept to himself. Nothing stood out, just a youngling out for a drink. Oooh! What will happen once people hear there was a death?! My reputation will be ruined! We open in three hours, what am I going to doooo!" She was back to wringing her hands as her voice got ever shriller.
"Quiet!" His voice cut through the wailing like a knife, as he massaged the bridge of his nose. "If you are not going to be useful, go somewhere else and leave me to my work." A baleful glare from his red eyes sent her scurrying out of the room, and he turned back to the body.
He stood and walked around it, looking from all angles without touching. He muttered words of magic under his breath, watching as each spell ran its course. Red flared briefly from the Shadow Demon's left elbow; a light pink haze hovered over his head and stomach before fading; a grey cloud surrounded the body before winking out; faint golden smudges circled around the body, and stretched across the floor in many directions. Too many people had been in this space, too many people had come and gone in the time between when the body hit the floor, and when he had finally been called. Faintly, a sickly green light glowed around the Shadow Demon's mouth, running along his throat and lighting up his stomach before fading away again.
Djuran snarled silently. Poison. Just like the last 3 bodies he had been called out to see. And like the last 3, there was no signs of a soul. Nothing to call forth to find out what these 4 had in common. This latest was the youngest by far, two were past the 500-year mark, one just over 350. 2 Shadow Demons, 1 Air Demon, and 1 Incubus. Male, female, poor and middle class, none of them worked in the same areas. None of them appeared to know each other.
There had to be something he was missing. If only these people would call as soon as a body hit the floor, there might be a chance of actually finding something! But no, all of them freaked out and waited at least an hour, usually more. Some didn't call at all, he was sure. There had to be more out there, but who was going to call for just a random dead body in an alley?
He was pulled from his thoughts as three pairs of feet strode towards him. Looking up, he saw Gideon Reed and his friends.
"Anything?" Gideon stopped a few feet back, giving him room in case he was still working.
"Poisoned. Just like the last three. Other than that there's nothing. Too many people have been here to track, and his soul is missing, so I have nothing I can call back for answers." He sounded disgusted, and he knew it. But he was getting tired of dead ends everywhere. He was not used to not being able to find something. That was why he was in such high demand. The only saving grace, was that no one else had been able to find any clues either.
Winters was kneeling and rifling through the pockets of the dead Shadow Demon. Djuran arched a brow as those icy blue eyes met his. The Storm Demon shook his head and rocked back on his feet.
"Another dead end. Was Rialyn able to See anything?" Grey eyes met red, one hand hanging by Gideon's side, as he rubbed his chin in thought.
"Not a thing. He said it was all obscured, like the right questions were not being asked. But how are we to know what questions are the right ones?"
De Rossi spread his hands. "Not that I really want to ill-wish, but it would be helpful to actually be on hand next time it happens. Maybe we'd see something, or if not catch the guy red-handed, at least be there soon enough for a clue."
"The fact it has happened at least four times, is already four times too many. Laric, call the morgue to pick up the body. Herne, go talk to the dance hall owner, see if you can get anything useful out of her. Djuran -" Gideon paused, as though just realizing the Djinn wasn't actually his to order around. "Thanks for coming."
Giving a silent nod, he stalked from the room, leaving the clean up to the others.