The stench was more concentrated than fog; a noxious perfume that floated through the air freely at any rate. The smell, that virulent smell, forced itself into any crevasse it could. It lingered around the forest floor and clung desperately to every crumbling leaf or growing fungus. This was another day in the life of Dr. Azrael Claudia Echolyn. Her startling blue eyes gazed at the deceased more times than any Detective would have been comfortable with. The smell, while off-putting, happened to be nothing more than a factor in the equation. Ace towered over the body that had been removed from a tree where it once hung.

Five-foot-four-inches, Asian descent, female. Bruising consistent with domestic violence. Her wedding ring appears beaten up.

Ace knelt down, picking up the victim's hand and pulling off the simple silver gold band. She inspected the inside of the ring, finding that it had been smoothed down time and time again.

Often took off their wedding ring - a string of lovers was undoubtedly left behind.
She tilted up the female's head and peered at the dark bruising around her neck.

Her eyes narrowed at the inconsistent details.

"Dr. Echolyn?"

Ace released the female body's head and stood straight. She dusted off the particles that had landed on her shoulders while examining the body. Her eyes met the grey ones belonging to a short, stout man by the name of Emmanuel Travis.

"Detective Travis," Ace addressed the aged Detective, "I can assure you that this is no suicide. This was premeditated."

"How can you tell? It looks like the poor lady felt the need to end it all."

"She has bodily harm matching signs of domestic violence. The inside of her wedding ring is smoothed down, indicating that she takes it off frequently. Was there a phone on the body?"

"We don't know -"

"If there is, look at her hidden contact. You'll most likely find several numbers, all most likely male - should you find any females, talk to them first. Oh, and the angle the bruise around her neck would suggest a figure of five-foot-eight-inches put that woman on that rope and hoisted her up," Ace stated, "Should you need a second opinion on the body, you know where to find me. Do take care to put your men's full effort into it this time? I'd rather not have to safe your rear-ends in court by providing evidence again. It was annoying enough the first time."

"Hey now, let's not get -"

"Oh, and send you wife my greetings - whichever one you're going to see tonight, that is,"

"H-how do you know about Maddie -"

"Have a nice investigation, Detective Travis,"

Ace's boots crushed the leaves under them as she took long, quick steps out of the beginning rim of the forest. The dying greenery starting to fade from life and into their hibernated state floated around her, death continuing its path in her life. Ace had known not much but death in her life aside from a father that wished to force her into a stage of normality that would last for the rest of her life.

~o0o~

She worked herself through the book shelves, shifting a book or two that were out of order and straightening them out. It was always aggravating to Ace when books weren't put back into their proper place. This was the main reason she often helped out in the local library - Stellar Library Ace looked down at the clipboard and made multiple notes of what she had fixed, checking dates and editing some. She made a small note for the woman she was covering for the day. It hadn't been Ace's original plan to assist the library that day, but after a desperate call from the owner Madam Jennoa, Ace found herself between the tall, stacked up shelves.

Ace began a habit she had developed from a young stage to be sure her father wasn't near her. She had never felt safe with him around, his demanding standers, or his constant scrutiny for anything abnormal she did. Ace turned her head slowly to the left first.

Clear.

She turned to the right. Instead of the usually empty space to her right, she caught a glimpse of an outline belonging to a humanoid figure. They were standing near the corner leading to the next aisle over. Ace had had her fair share of males that liked to watch her, and even some females who did the same. Now, Ace wasn't one to care for physical looks. She dressed averagely, wore zero makeup, and didn't take pleasure in playing the game "hard-to-get". In her mind, she couldn't entirely understand why she would be a desirable subject for someone to stare at.

Ace attempted to brush off his gaze, making a note to keep her shields up in case of a possible approach or attack. But the gaze of this stranger - this sudden anomaly in Ace's system - was still there. Strangely enough, she enjoyed it. It was something different to the usually quiet library. Her mind created inquiries. What was the purpose of this figure watching her? What were they gathering from her simple actions? Why were they watching her? She felt her heart pounding erratically. She brought her hand to her chest, feeling the angry pulsing in her ribcage. This was... exciting.

"May I help you?" she asked as she turned her attention to the figure watching her.

Her full body turned to peer at this curious stranger. She blinked several times upon seeing the figure.

Approximately six-foot-eight-inches; jeans; red flannel - unbuttoned; black undershirt; black combat boots. Squared jaw, dark hair - unusual midnight blue; mid thirties. Rugged; handsome. Leader-like aura; shoulders set back - some sort of military experience.

These were the mental notes that Ace naturally made, but what made her heart pick up was his eyes. Deep, concentrated blue that seemed to be flecked with crystal blue bright enough that they seemed to glow. They mixed and mashed and created mesmerizing orbs of blue. She tried to calm her heart and breath, her mind connecting dots together. Their eyes were similar - not identical - but similar.

This strange man smiled and shook his head, "Forgive me for disturbing you,"

Ace felt her stomach twist upon hearing his voice. It. Rumbled. His voice rumbled. Almost like an engine. The octave his spoke at seemed almost inhuman.

"It was rude for me to stare, but I was curious to notice your skill when putting away the books. They're alphabetized without fault,"

She felt her heart picking up again, "You're sharp to notice the format. I've had quite some time for practice."

One of his midnight blue brows raised in a surprised manner, "How long have you been working here then? If you don't mind my inquiry,"

"Nearly ten years," upon his blue eyes widening in surprise, Ace clarified with a chuckle, "I've volunteered here since I was a child. I found it was a good escape from everything."

"Even so, you seem young," he commented. Ace noted his eyes running over her body. She felt a shiver follow after where his entrancing blue orbs once laid. Why was she feeling this emotion? It was illogical, imperfect, and frustrating. She didn't understand it.

"I happen to be twenty-two, so I suppose you could consider me young," Ace admitted, shrugging. She felt heat rising in her body, anxious. She needed to leave right then and there. She had to leave, "Is there something I could help you with? A book or a section?"

The stranger seemed taken aback by the sudden request, as if he hadn't been there for a book in the first place. He peered at the shelf, nothing more than a quick glance. ace followed his gaze and found that he had been looking at a book about constellations. Ace felt her face light up.

"You like stars, don't you?"

The man looked at her curiously, "Well, yes, but how -"

"This is the Si-Fi section, more specifically, you're in the Stellar Library - this place is known for its history about stars," Ace smiled patiently. She reached out and gently grasped onto the spine of the book. She peered down at the gold encrusted title, "The Signs In The Skies, a regularly checked out book."

"How do you know?" he wondered.

A small smirk rose to Ace's lips as she spilled out the obvious clues, "The spine is worn down, the title is pealing, and the book itself was written in the year 2006 - the badge on the front stating so,"

"You're observative,"

"You haven't a clue,"

The heat began rising inside of her again. She felt this nervous energy as her smirk began to fade. She tried to hide her anxious emotions with a short and courteous nod. Just as she was about to state that she needed to leave, her phone rang. With a sigh of relief, Ace held up her finger to the man with waiting inquiries, and answered.

"Dr. Azrael Echolyn speaking," she said.

"Ace, get your smart ass down here," the voice of Rocky Marsh entered her ear, "I'm about to start an autopsy on a John Doe and... man, he's fucked up, Ace. You gotta give me a hand here."

Ace's eyes widened. Rocky wasn't one for using foul language, let alone admit that he needed help. She abruptly turned away from the man and began walking toward the exit with her clipboard, "I understand. Are you at the usual location?"

"Yeah. Now hurry up and get over here. I've got military men up my ass trying to figure out who the hell this poor bastard is,"

"I'm on my way," Ace ended the call, a new wave of urgency running through her system. And yet, her mind wouldn't let her walk away without looking back at the man. But when she looked, he was nowhere in sight.

Damn... why am I so disappointed? He wasn't anyone I know. That's illogical - why do I feel this way about a man who's name I'm lacking? Why... why am I not okay with that?