It was just as Skullface had feared. His men were being put into cars and hauled off, but Kyle couldn't follow to see where they were being taken. HELLSING's interrogation of their new captives didn't prove helpful, either. It just took up more space at the facility. This proved to be problematic in many unnecessary ways. Not only was it a drain on resources, it brought them no closer to capturing Skullface.

They couldn't simply turn them loose. If they did, they might die by their boss' hands or reveal the presence of HELLSING. Even if they didn't want to. With a man like Skullface as their opponent, they would.

It wasn't yet the responsibility of the demonic duo, however. Thus far, all they were doing was living their usual lives while occasionally providing assistance or insight for Elizabeth. There wasn't much that they could do apart from that as a result. While they were a valuable resource, it was not yet the time for them to barge in and eliminate the threat. When that time comes, however, they will be quick to act.

In the mean time, the phone was ringing, beckoning them to pick it up. Ciel let out a sigh while letting it ring momentarily, obviously reluctant to actually answer. He simply had a bad feeling about what the call would entail for some reason. As history showed, his suspicions were not unwarranted. Thus, he allowed it to ring, knowing that it would ring again in due time if it was a truly urgent call, but his laziness was thwarted by his husband, who decided to answer it in his stead.

"Phantomhive office. Jim speaking." Although he didn't like using his actual name so casually, it was what he was officially registered as in the HELLSING database. It kept things clear, although he didn't like random people calling him that.

"Whoa, you sound so formal!" remarked a familiar voice on the other end, prompting the blonde to smile widely. "Grown up, too. Has your voice gotten deeper?"

"Mister Bailey!" grinned the menace, prompting the other demon to raise a brow.

"How you doing, Jimbo? Thwart any bad guys lately?" It was former Detective Bailey. The older one. "Y'know, you can call me 'Gabriel,' if you want. You don't have to be formal."

"Yeah, but you're one of the few adults from my youth that I actually kind of respect. I'm fine, by the way. Things have been kind of quiet for us, so I'm just focusing on other non-murder related stuff."

"I hear you've gotten to be quite the hard worker!"

"Ciel tell you that?"

"Ciel never stops talking about you, so what do you think?"

"Sounds about right." Alois said, his eyes wandering over to the now curious bluenette. "You wanna talk to Pooch?"

"If you'd think it would be better for me to tell him directly, then sure."

"Tell him what?"

"That I've come back to the force." Gabriel replied. "I'm not in as good a shape as I used to be, but I don't much care for retirement. It's much too quiet."

"Really? That's great! Yeah, I'm pretty sure he'd rather hear that from you. Hang on a second, I'll pass you to him." Leaning over the desk, he handed the phone over to his spouse, who suddenly became interested in actually speaking upon hearing that it was Gabriel. In fact, he took the phone quite eagerly. The former detective on the other end could hear the "clack" where the microphone hit the demon's earring.

"Hello?" he greeted with an arched eyebrow. He heard chuckling on the other end momentarily before he got his answer.

"Hey, kiddo." Bailey replied. "How are ya?"

"Doing good. What's got Jim all smiley?"

"Well, I just told him that I came out of retirement." There was a smile in Gabriel's tone, but Ciel was not smiling at all.

"What about your knee?" the bluenette inquired, immensely concerned about the status of his friend's health. He was human, after all. Humans are fragile, especially older ones.

"Well, about that… My new employer paid to fix it right up, good as new. Doesn't hurt at all anymore."

"New employer?" Ciel echoed. "You're not working for the yard?"

"No, I'm not. That's Michael's thing, now, and I figured that it's high time that I use everything I know to the fullest. I actually got in because of my association with you."

"You didn't..."

"I did. I am now a member of the HELLSING organisation's investigations department." the former policeman announced. It was a job similar to his own, but instead of asking about humans killing humans, he inquired about supernatural-related altercations as part of an offset of the Intelligence Department. The knowledge of this set the demon at ease, somewhat. For the most part, he would be interviewing humans and finding evidence to confirm or deny any actual presence of supernatural beings.

"How is that going for you?" he asked finally.

"Well, it is a bit awkward to be following around someone younger than me while being trained, but this old dog can learn new tricks." Gabriel answered. "Mostly, I just try to think of what you would do."

"You flatter me. Any interesting cases yet?"

"Well… Actually… That's what I initially wanted to talk to you about." he confessed. A sigh could be heard on the other end. "I don't know if you've been informed yet, but there were some dead supernaturals found washed up along the Thames. The media management department is in chaos at the over it. I checked to see if there was an order to get rid of them and maybe see if the clean-up crew was called, but there's nothing on it."

"Any idea how they died?"

"Probably die to the massive gashes in their necks."

"Bite marks?"

"No. Gashes. Slashes, whatever you wanna call them." explained the former policeman. "Their throats were cut. From that, I can tell you that they either drowned in their own blood and that is if they didn't just bleed out first. Autopsy is still ongoing."

"Does your handler have any ideas?" questioned the Watchdog, earning a somewhat exasperated sigh on the other end.

"He's at a loss." the other stated. "He says he doesn't normally investigate murders where supernatural beings are the victims. When he does, it's usually vampires, not orcs and ogres!"

"Someone managed to slash the throat of an orc and an ogre?" Ciel gawked. "Although orcs are only slightly taller than the average human, it would be tough to slash their neck while getting around them blocking them. Especially with an ogre around! Those would be even harder. My guess is that multiple people were involved. Three at least. Maybe more."

"What makes you so sure that it might be humans who did it?"

"There's no signs of coven activity, from what you've told me. Outside of that, murder committed by supernaturals is unusual. Meanwhile, the threat of humans organising to exterminate supernaturals is real and currently under investigation. They may be linked."

"But could a group of humans kill an orc and an ogre with knives on their own?"

"That's the question..." Ciel pondered, leaning back in his chair. He paused to think, leaving his friend in silence momentarily.

Could a group of humans kill an orc and an ogre with knives? Under what circumstance? Surely, if they had been infected with vampirism or lycanthropy, but there was no evidence of an attack by either. Black Annis could have done it, but all of that was destroyed. What else would have given human beings the strength to do this? Then, Ciel had an idea.

"Adrenochrome..." he said. "That could do it."

"What? What's that?"

"It's a drug. It's supposed to give you the highest highs, but as a side effect, it makes you impulsive and can increase a human being's strength and speed."

"So I should be looking for that?" Gabriel sounded unsure about this.

"No. At least, not yet. Let me talk to Elizabeth first and see what she thinks." the Phantomhive informed. "I'm sorry, but I'll have to call you later."

"Sure thing. Just don't keep me in the dark for too long, now."

"I won't. Bye, Gabriel." With that, the bluenette hung up and began to pace. His brow was furrowed and his arms were crossed with one hand reaching up to rub his chin. He was obviously very deep in thought.

"So? What's going on?" his husband questioned, taking note of his strange behaviour despite appearing relaxed in his spot on the sofa. "You look like you've reached an epiphany."

"I might have." Ciel replied. "I'm terrified for Gabriel. I don't think his new job is a good idea, but he did make something make sense for me. Remember Blackwood?"

"How could I forget? He's a creep!" scoffed the blonde. "Think his adrenochrome is responsible for that murder?"

"Maybe. Why did Blackwood suddenly take an interest in manufacturing adrenochrome? He's never shown any interest in that before. And where did he learn to make it? He shouldn't have that sort of expertise."

"Are you saying he was acting on orders?"

"Precisely. He brought it to Manchester. Why Manchester? Not to mention that he died of mysterious causes, like his soul was missing..."

"One of the demons from the laboratory killed him!" declared Alois, catching on. "And he was there to fulfill an order for Skullface! By bringing it there, he could have administered it to Belmont's operatives, who could then go in and take care of the supernaturals in the lab!"

"Right. It wasn't abandoned. They simply didn't have the ability to go in yet. They couldn't leave it. Constance was in there and they would need to get her out. That would make sense. By looking at things this way, Blackwood's actions and death no longer seem random."

"Still a follower until the very end..." remarked the menace with a bit of a smirk.

"Perhaps..." his beau replied. "Though when someone who can make you do anything by telling you to, who's to say?"


A/N: I was actually having a lot of trouble with this! I kind of lost interest until I made a few connections... That's what creativity is. It's just making connections between ideas. Now I'm back on track! The next problem is whether or not to continue with a certain subplot...

Eh, we'll get to it when we get to it.

Is this going too slow for you guys? Not the updating schedule, but the story itself? Do you think I should speed it along? Please tell me, because I'm not really sure, myself. I kind of need help...

I did get a question, though.

"Okay this is for you, Hate. I'm rereading DLTD, and around 150 you put all the seven to sins. Ciel wrath, Alois pride, Kris envy, Dan lust, Audrey gluttony, Preston greed, and Travis sloth. Do you still find these appropriate to the character, or do you feel they have changed over time? Any specifics you think should be switched about?" by READandWRITE1

I don't think any of them really fit their sins at all anymore. I don't think they fit into each other's, either. Kris isn't envious, Dan isn't lustful, Audrey isn't gluttonous, and Travis isn't lazy. I do think Preston is still a bit greedy, though, but he could just as easily fit into "wrath". Everybody else, though, just don't make any sense...

Until the next chapter, my duckies~!


CHARACTER SHET

Question: "I have a question for Alois and Ciel. What would you do if Alois was gonna have a baby(in female form of course) and was mysteriously kidnapped? If I were in your position Ciel, I wouldn't know what to do... Although, with you being so protective, I doubt you would let this happen in the first place." by PetVet1023

Ciel: "I can't promise that it will never happen. I do swear that I would do everything in my power to prevent it, however. In addition, if someone did take this hypothetical child... Well... That's an act of someone who is really opposed to the idea of continuing to be alive..."

Alois: "Same. Every possible preventative measure would be taken. There will be no prisoners taken, either. That goes for any member of the family."