Soon enough, Flug and Demencia reached the manor with the girl on Demencia's back drowsy but holding onto consciousness. Black Hat and Lord Reaper were standing there waiting by the front door.
Black Hat spotted the girl on Demencia's back, spread his inky mass to cover the feet of himself and everyone else, and said, "To my office, at once."
In a flash of darkness, the whole group was standing Black Hat's office.
"And you call me dramatic," Lord Reaper said with an eye roll.
Sadie blinked and moved her eyes around in surprise at the sudden movement and the new environment, oddly enough more amazed than frightened.
Black Hat walked into the girl's line of sight, stepping with his cane in his hands.
Sadie looked back at him, unimpressed or at least trying not to be.
Black Hat said nothing but flashed his devilish grin and his venomous eye. Sadie looked away, pretending not to care.
"Allow me," Lord Reaper said, taking Sadie from Demencia's back.
Sadie hung as limply as a rag doll while Lord Reaper held her in his arms. He brought her to Black Hat to get a closer look.
Black Hat looked over the girl, barely able to contain his excitement, and said, "You shouldn't have come here, dear, but we're absolutely elated to have you here."
Sadie gave him a good glare, looked away, and defiantly said nothing.
"So, where should I put the girl?" asked Lord Reaper.
"I'm sure Flug can find a place to contain it in his lab," Black Hat waved off dismissively. "Flug, what do you have to contain this?"
"I believe I have the right cell for this occasion, Jefe…" Flug said, before Lord Reaper interrupted.
"Wait. Black Hat, don't you want to examine her first?" Lord Reaper asked, walking past Black Hat and telekinetically moving everything off his desk before he laid her there. "I'll read her soul and see what I discover."
"What are you doing?" asked Sadie, breaking her silence.
"Oh, still conscious, I see," Lord Reaper said, holding his hand over her head. "Don't worry, dear. I'm just going to examine you. It's not going to hurt."
"Reaper, get that FILTH of MY desk!" Black Hat's voice deepened and growled demonically.
Rolling his eyes, Lord Reaper telekinetically picked the girl up and placed her on the chair in front of Black Hat's desk and rotated it around so that she was looking at the rest of the group.
"Happy now?" Lord Reaper asked sarcastically.
"He's even nastier in person," remarked Sadie.
"You'll get used to it," Lord Reaper said with a shrug before turning back to Black Hat. "If you have no more complaints, may I get back to work?"
Black Hat raised his leg, kicked Flug over to his desk so that he would pick up everything that was taken off, and said, "Get on with it."
"Okay, then," Lord Reaper said, shutting his eyes and holding a hand over Sadie's forehead. "Let's see...She's about Melanie's age...1 year younger...13...too young to be doing something like this by herself...Her soul's origin is mixed but heavily Irish…wait…oh…She's fae…partly anyways…She has puca blood…the blood of the shapeshifting Irish fairies…They can fly, heal, change their form, and communicate with animals…That explains a lot…close affinity with Melanie…indicative of a strong friendship…OW…a connection to God…of course…That's all I can see for the moment. Would you like to look at her, Black Hat?"
"It'll hardly do any good. I couldn't get a reading with that divine connection around, unless you're fine with her mind being destroyed in the process," Black Hat said, looking at his flexed hand which rippled and mutated for a quick second.
"I hardly see any good resulting from that, especially if using her as leverage and a potential source of information are your goals," Lord Reaper said, rustling Sadie's hair as he turned away. "Besides, human-fairy hybrids are rare and this one put up a great fight. I'd hate to destroy her. It would be a shame. If I came across her kind sooner, I would have tried to join our families in marriage. I think for now we should discuss strategy. This recent development gives us quite an advantage. Don't you think? Would you like to discuss it now while your lackeys get her settled in for the night?"
Sadie sat there against the chair, paralyzed, drowsy, more confused than frightened, and oddly interested to see where this situation was going.
"Flug, Demencia, take the girl and get out," Black Hat said, making a shooing motion for all of them to leave.
Flug walked over from where he had just finished cleaning up Black Hat's desk and picked Sadie up in his arms. He then quickly made his way to the door with Demencia following behind and holding her injured arm.
"What are they gonna talk about?" Sadie asked quietly.
"None of your business," Flug said tersely. "Now, quiet down before I give you another dose of sedative. We have to go."
"But…" Sadie tried to protest as they left the room and the door shut behind them.
Once he was sure they were gone, Black Hat glanced at Lord Reaper for a moment and then asked, "You said she is close with Melanie, correct?"
"Yes, I can sense a connection between them. That strongly indicates a friendship," Lord Reaper explained for a moment before catching onto Black Hat's train of thought which caused a wicked smile to form on his thin black lips. "What are you planning, Black Hat?"
A large grin formed around Black Hat's face, causing drool to seep out of the corners once his grin was full.
"Perfect," Black Hat said.